The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-05-13

| by the Spaniards, who associated every
thing pertaining to Islam, with their
neighbors at home, the Moors. BY pre-
ference they live along the coast fishing
being their principal occupation, and
they seem to take as much pride in their
boats as their co-religionists in Arabiado
in their horses. Their boats or "barotos"
are made by following out log to the
desired shape and placing bamboo out
riggers on each side to prevent capsizing,
and quite sea worthy they are too. l
have seen some as much as seventy-fve
or eighty feet long. On these small
crafts the Moro is at home sleeping,
eating, and cooking his food very dex-
terously in small kettle. This consists
generally of rice and fish which has
hung in the sun long enough to acquire
gamey favour and vigorous aroma,
which is undoubtedly only appreciated
after long years of constant practice in
acquiring the taste. In dress they
show preference for fantastic goods of
bright colors. AS head covering the
men wear strip of cloth twisted to
form turban, or fez. The upper part
of the body is usually covered bya close
fitting waist, and the neither extremi-
ties by pantaloons, either skintight or of
very generous proportions. On dress
occasions a bright colored cloth or bath
towel thrown over the shoulders, com.
pletes the toilet, if nothing more elabor-
ate is at hand. BY nature they are
treacherous, simple minded and ignorant
and it is considered good practice to
keep at least one eye on them while in
their presence.
One old fellow who lives down the
coast, was in my house some time ago
and it was amusing to see him look
around in wonder at everything. The
chairs, table, beds, ETC., were all reve-
lation to him. But the greatest novelty
of all was Mrs. Wilson, who was the
first and only white woman he had ever
seen.
The mountains Of this island are peo-
pied principally by sturdy but inoffen-
sive race called Tagbanuas. They live
in very primitive style, the dress con-
sisting as a rule of the ever popular and
stylish 'gee string" for which yard of
calico is ample. These people are i'm
posed upon most numerically by the
Moros who collect tribute from them
whenever they can, or by loaning small
sums, keep them in a species of serfdom
all the time. The Tagbanuas use the blow
gun, which is about seven feet long, and
made of bamboo They have peculiar
alphabet of their own, which they carve
in bamboo instead of writing on paper.
And now we come to the true Filipi-
no, of whom the major portion of the
population of the islands is composed.
They are divided into two large groups,
the Tagalogs, of Luzon and surrounding
islands, and the Visayans inhabiting the
islands between Luzon and Mindanao.
These groups are subdivided into differ
ent tribes. The average Filipino prob
ably as great parcel of Inconsistencies
as can easily be found anywhere. Gener-
Gus, kind hearted, and hospitable, or re-
vengeful and fiendishly cruel, as circum-
stances favor, or inclinations dictate.
Of course as in all cases there are excep-
tions. have met some remarkably fine
people, just and generous in their deal
ings. industrious, and noticeable trait
which might we'll be initiated by others
making greater pretentions. scrupulous-
ly honest. A man who has practiced
medicine afew years will be likely to rec
ognize this virtue very readily. In my
dealings with the natives here have
never lost anything due me.
From what see by the papers from
the home land, the information there
about the Philippines has been CLEANED
as rule from the most biased sources.
] Our "brown brother" has been repre-
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