The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-28

who first noekcd to the shores OF Santo
Domingo to gaze at the sun-sent ships OF
Columbus, and, as among many native
tribes. they possess an organized slavery
and slave trade.
They arc colored race, these abor-
iglnes, but anthropologists would not
range them up beside the African negro.
The mountain men, especially of the Ba.
tao tribe, are quick and agile possessed
of an energy that seems seldom to tire.
But they arc not pleasant people to
meet, living as they do, an animal life.
Stunning in some cases with adherence
the thought Of bath in stream. they
are IN consequence afflicted with infec-
tious, wasting diseases.
Chief Tribe of tho Island.
The main tribe of the island. how
ever, the Tagbanuas, should not be
classcd with the rougher clans Of the
mountains. These have built for them
selves the semblance of barbarous
civilization. incorporating in their body
polite principles born Of necessity, or
which have leaked in through n very
occasional visitor. Their government
strange as 1t may seem, whether from
one or the other of these reasons, re-
sembles very closely ancient European
hlerarchles with power in a council of
nine old men of the tribe. The chief
of this council, who is lord Of the tribe,
has power Of life and death over his
subjects; But there is little regal splen-
dor in the council.
Justice is administered by sub-lords,
or "ehiefs OF rancheria,' and there is
little corporal punishment, fines OF
plates or earthen jars or musical instru-
ments being imposed. Theirs is sys-
tenn of Justice which in case of crime,
relmburses not the Government, but the
injured party or his family. Lynch law
privileges are extended in murder and
other serious cases for period of TWEEN
ty~four hours after the crime but, If
the criminal is not made away with
before the time limit expires, the coun-
ell of wise men steps In as q tribunal
with officers. to catch and try him.
Caught and tried, however, he usually
has an easier time Of it, being fined
probably fine equivalent to $50, to be
paid to the family of the injured party,
But the inability to pay such a fine will
expose a convict 10 even greater dam
gers, for slavery is by no means for
bidden. On account of debt, an organ
lied system of slavery remains from
days of former generations; men and
women bound over to more powerful
members of their own tribes are sold for
a few bright plates to a visiting Jolo
merchant. Until 1900, a hourishing
slave trade existed with the nelgnbor-
ing tribes, especially with the Moros of
the south. Rare contact with a civlliza-
tion of different sort may in time have
its influence upon this, at least, of the
Philippine institutions.
These Tagbanuans are so far ad-
vanced as to have system Of writing
of their own, composed of a series of
oddly shaped symbols. And, as their al
phabet goes to show, they are now given
more TO peaceful pursuits than to wal,
all internal difficulties being settled by
is a striking feature of the island
life. Senior Venturcllo, author of the
paper, was welcomed with surprising
cordiality TO the houses of the chiefs,
dined on rice, and wined on native IL
quors. Seated on the floor of the ten
by-twenty executive mansion OF the
tribe he was served on curious metal