Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-11-13

+ Aoi 90 piopOltlOh Vi Tie dSdDl6 area
being entirely unaeYoioped. The
soil Is of extraordinary richness and
fertility. All economic plants OF the
tropics being successfully grown. The
| chief industry or the islands Is the
production of hemp, sugar, copra
! and tobacco, and the leading pro-
duct is hemp, a fiber obtained from
species Of banana or plantian. The
plant Is found wild on all the noun
tain slopes, but Is cultivated most
extensively In the islands Of Leyte
and Province of Albay, Luzon. The
sugar industry is second in import
ance. the chief centers of production,
being Luzon and Negros. The cocoa
nut plantations are very profitable,
and the production of copra (dried
kernel of cocoanut) is constantly in
creasing. The culture Of tobacco is
also prominent This plant was in
| troduced from Mexico in the six
tcenth century, and the island pro-
duct Is the finest quality grown. We
also, have cocoa; rice Generally the
staple food Of the natives). Indian
| corn, sweet potatoes and tropical
fruits, uncultivated, grow in all parts
Of the islands.
The forests are very extensive, and
as yet practically untouched. The
mountain ranges are thickly clothed
| with trees and light undergrowth.
Many varieties of rare hardwoods,
suitable for interior woodworking,
manufacture of furniture, shipbuild-
ing, etc., abound; other trees afford
dye wood, gums, resins and flowers
used In manufacturing perfumery.
Numerous palms, including cocoanut
and bamboo, grow in profusion The
entire uncultivated low-land Isl a
sold mass VI ferns, vines and small
trees.
All the tribes have some kind Of
| religion which they hold sacred. This
religion Is always founded on some
principle, which is considered the
most sacred thing in existence. How
ever, we have some people in the
philippines known as the non-Chris-
tian tribes, and in our view this is
true. We also have Protestant mis-
sionaries, who are at present estab-
fishing churches, and the Aglepays,
who separated from the Roman
church because they did not believe
in making known all their sins to
the priests, but the larger part Of
| the natives are Roman Catholics,
and it Is the people Of this religion
that am going to describe.
During the Spanish reign the church
represented the wealth of the islands.
To-day they have large and beauti-
full churches and many costly images
and decorations. In these churches
they do not have any seats because
the people, while in church, are sup
posed to be on their knees in solemn
prayer, and during services you never
! see young people making eyes at each
other; but after leaving church they
seem to think the remainder of Sun
day was intended for dances and
other pleasures.
The Filipinos, as a rule, are very
polite to the Americans and to each
! other. When one visits Filipino
home he is treated with all the hospi-
tality possible. The first thing after
being seated one must make a cigar
| or cigarette, and by the time it is
finished the servant will be ready TO
serve wine, after which comes ano-
ther smoke, etc.
the dances, (waltz, two-step and rig
adoon), and in the towns Of any size
they have dance almost every
| night, which never comes to a close
before IL o'clock. About IL o'clock
they serve coffee and dulcie, a Fill
pino name for dessert, after which
the dancing Is resumed. The Fill
pinos are good dancers from the
cradle to the grave" and after the
music starts they seem to be lost to
the world, guided by the sway of
music. After the dance all the seno-
ritas must leave with one married
couple, whose duty it is to make the
round and see them all to their re-
spective homes. The musicians gen.
orally go In front, ladies second, and
the married couple last. After the
last senorita reaches home the musi-
clans are dismissed.
When a young man Is in love with
girl he must first make love to the
| old people. After making things
right with the old folks he may make
frequent calls on the sirll, but the ell
ders are always present. The Amer
leans have an easier time, because
very few can speak the dialect, so
they pass the old people without ex-
animation, and after this they talk
English tc the girls. Thus the old
folks cant learn anything unless one
says something to make the senorita
blush.
In discussing this question I shall
only deal with the wealthy and edu-
Gated class. because the dress Of the
poor and uneducated does not need
any explanation, and those between
these two classes will, naturally, try
to follow the best. The dress for the
men Is almost the same as in the
States, except that they never change
the style, and their clothing Is all
made of white. The ladies never
wear anything on their heads except
when they 60 to church or other re-
ligious gatherings. On these occa-
sions they wear a large silk veil,
which is fastened on top OF their
heads so as to hang evenly around