Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-25

tire length Of tho island. but these streams
have been q disadvantage rather than an
advantage because the development OF the
country has been limited to narrow
fringe along their banks and along the har-
bors of the coast Had 1t not been for this
fact railroads might have been constructed
and the development OF the interior mlght
have been more rapid. All Of these rivers
can be utilized more or less by the timber
industry.
Luxuriant Vegetation.
No spot on the earth contains more lux
uriant vegetation or a greater variety OF
plants than the Philippine archipelago. Al
ready the botanists have identified $500
species representing ISL families and LOO
genera. and they predict that thorough
exploration will disclose at least 10000
species of plants Only the Island of Luzon
has been partially explored, and frequently
between 200 and 800 different species nave
been found on areas not exceeding one
square mile. But in this brief letter 1t is
impossible to go into detail. The Agrcul-
tural Department is preparing an elaborate
series OF reports, and the commissioners 10
the exposition have n little volume sum-
mariZing the resources of the ISLANDS LOT
free distribution at st. Louis.
The word Manila is derived from Maynl-
lad a native term for species or shruD
which grows in profusion in this locality:
The most interesting of the many unique
odOrata, from whose flowers the famiilar
ylang- ylang perfumery is made. IL Is ma
tive to the islands, and although, 1ounu III
several other of the East Indies, 1t seems
to grow best here. and thrives in the neigh
borhood of towns and cities more than IN
the fields and forests. All through SOUTH
ern LuZon and the ViSayan lslands IL Is
grown for shade and for revenue combined,
and many of the native villages aie actu NY
hidden under it's luxuriant foliage. The
tree is propagated by seeds or cuttings, ana
grows in any kind of soil. The mowers pc
gin to appear In the third year. ana from
the time the tree Is eight years ola ~. ~,
century II will bloom every month the
year around. The leaves are dark owe:
about six inches long and two and a hali
inches wide. The blossoms are yellow ana
pulpy. often three inches long ana OF ex
traordinary fragrance. similar to that OF
the tuberose. A full-grown tree Will y1eld
an average of 100 pounds OF blossoms
year, which are good for pound or
pound and half of oil. which Is obtained
by the simplest form of distillatlon Inc
pulpy water is kept at n uniform temporal
ture of 800 degrees The vapor Is allowed
to escape through glass tubes and crop INTO
jars AS it cools it becomes thick anu
sticky. The oil is worth from $40 to $50
pound, most of it being shipped to France
Some Queer Animals.
Among other assets in the Philippines
Uncle Sam has mermaid or woman nSh
called "dudong' in the native tongue.
was not able to find one. They do not
grow in Manila but Prof. Worcester and
other learned and truthful men have seen
it and will tell you all about it. 1t IS
found around the Southern Islands In the
sea. with head, face. neck and breasts ike
a woman and a tail like dolphin IL
thrives in the air as we'll as In the water
and divides it's time between the land ana
the sea- 1t is fond of grass and may some
times be seen nibbling the tender heritage
along the coast The flesh Is edible and
tastes more like beef than fish. The ma
tives are very fond of 1t.
Another queer animal. known as the car
sier is said to live exclusively on CHAR
coal 1t nibbIes the charred ends or logs
and limbs that 1t finds in forests that nave
been visited by fire.
There is only one species OF monkey IN
the Philippines and its scientific name Is
Macacas Philippensis. 1t Is OF medium
size. very intelligent and easily tanned.
What Prof. Worcester calls "a Zooloslcal
puzzle" is the timarau, short-legged DeaSt
with sharply pointed horns and very
fierce disposition. 1t Is unique to our IN
s,llar possessions. and kind of cross De.
tween the buffalo and the antelope. 1t Will
not be tanned. Every attempt to domestl-
cate 1t has failed. When captured the ami
NAL will struggle until 1t kills itself or VIII
refuse food until it dies from starvation.
1t lives in the jungles sleeps in the day
time and comes out for a drink ana break
fast at the nearest water course at early
day