The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-05-13
Under the Southern Cross.

Puerto Princesa, p l., Mar. 10, 1904
Down herein the Orient, where the
flying fishes play, an the dawn comes
like thunder, outer China crost the Bay,
the natives present many characteris-
tics of interest to a foreigner.
The vastmajority of the nativesof the
Philippines with few exceptions, are of
Malay origin. In the interior of some
of the islands is a race entirely distinct
from the Malayan stock known as
Negritos. They have kinky lair and
features resembling somewhat, that of
the African type They are of short
stature, and are physical and mental
weakllngs and are said to be incapable
of any considerable advancement. I'm
doubtedly these little black people were
the aborigenes of these islands. They
are found also in the forests of the Malay
Peninsula. The archaeology of the
Nile country shows traces of them and
explorers. have found them in the heart
of Africa. 1t is a scientific theory, that
the Philippines, Borneo, Java, New
Guinea, Sand all this chain of Islands
were originally joined and peopled by
Negritos. When the geological change
took place, it, left the resulting islands
populatedlby the same race as aborigines.
They are essentially forest people, On
this island, Paragua, branch of the
tribe is found, about two hundred in all,
called Battacks. They build no houses,
simply putting up a few branches to
form temporary shelter. Their cloth
ing is of the most primitive character,
and very scanty, being composed of
, grasses and leaves and of the fibre of GER
tain trees beaten until it forms species
of cloth. Their weapons are wooden
spears and blow guns, from which they
blow small arrows with great dexterity.
They areIextremely ignorant and know
absolutely nothing of the great outside
world.
The primitive Malayans of the Islands
are supposed to be the head hunting
Igerrotes found principally in the island
of Luzon. They live in the mountains,
and are built sturdily, as are all
mountaineers. The limit of their gov
ernmental system, is the community.
The race presents succession of village
communities, each at war with the
other. The head hunting proclivity of
the IgorroteIis born of the village feud.
If one of village is injured. the entire
village, is bound by the most solemn
obligations ito retaliate in kind. Often
in this pursuit for the heads of another
community, the aggressors lose many of
their own, and the villages are some
times annihilated. They live in the
most mountainous portions of the noun
tain provinces and the land they cult
yate has been reclaimed by terracing
the declivities ofsthe mountain sides.
The tribe at present most prominent
in the public eye, is the much talked of
Moro. They occupy about all of Min
danao, all of the Sulu group, and the
south half of Paragua. On this island
we have about two thousand. all peace
able, more as matter of necessity than
of choice. In religion the Moro is Mo.
hammedan, and by nature and instinct,
pirate and cut throat with all the cum
ming and treachery of the Malay, COM
bined with the fanaticism of his religion.
AS the killing of christian is supposed
to insure safe and speedy entrance in
to the highest heaven of the Mohamme-
dan, the Moro who Graves the special
favor of Allah, shaves his head and eye
brows, and immediately proceeds to
run amuck." Those who see him ap-
preaching: in this condition, immediate
ly take to the nearest cover, and woe be-
tide the luckless wight who falls in their
hands, victim Of the murderous bolo,
crese, or campillan.
Their name was first applied to them