Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1908-03-26
FROM MANILA
James Thornton Writes En-
tertainingly.
NATIVES UNCERTAIN
AS TO TRUTHFULNESS
Queer and Curious Facts Re-
garding Manners and
Customs in the Is
lands.


type have distinct Malay features
prominent cheek bones large and live
ly eyes and fiat noses with dilated nos
trils. They are of rather short stature,
very rarely bearded. and of a copper
color, more or less dusk.
Labor seems to be equally divided
among the sexes. It is common to see
the women and children at work in
the fields following in the tracks of a
carabo hitched to primitive agricul
tural implement, or carrying burdens
from the fields on their heads.
The natives have no idea of organic
alton on a large scale, hence success
full revolution is not possible if confin-
ed to the indigenous population. He
is brave but conviction of superiori-
ty in the adversary depresses him; an
expression of audacity Gains and over
awes him. Treat him with kindness
or allow him to become familiar and
his usefulness is lost.
The Filipino has many excellent
qualities which go far to make amends
for his shortcomings. He is patient
and forbearing in the extreme, remark
ably sober, plodding; anxious only
about providing for his immediate
wants, and seldom feels "the canker
of ambitious thoughts" In his person
and dwelling he may serve as pattern
of cleanliness to all other races in the
tropical East. He indifferently leaves
everything to happen as 1t may, with
surprising resignation and without the
least apparent emotion.
If a question be suddenly put to
native he apparently loses his presence
of mind, and gives reply most con-
venient to himself It is a matter of
perfect indifference to him whether
the reply be true or not. Then as the
quizzing proceeds he will amend one
statement after another until finally
he has practically admitted his first
expression to be false
One who knows the native character
would never attempt to get at the
truth of question by direct inquiry.
He would "beat about the bush, 2 and
extract the truth bit by bit. Nor do
the natives appear to regard lying as
| sin, but rather as legitimate
though cunning convenience, which
should be resorted to whenever it will
serve a purpose. The natives have an
| inherent passion for music. Musicians
are to be found in every village, and
even among the poorest classes There
| is scarcely village in the Island
| which has not band of music of some
| kind. Some of these bands have &C.
| quired great local fame, ami are sought
| for whenever there is festival At
an early age girls learn to play the
harp almost by instinct, and those
with some education quickly learn to
| play the piano. There are no native
composers they are imitators; nor are
there any Philippine vocalists of re-
pute.
Roman Catholicism appears to be the
form of Christianity most successful in
proselytizing the uncivilized tribes;
with which they are impressed more
with their eyes than their understand
ing.
| Mosquitoes abound throughout the
Islands. Few persons can sleep with.
out curtain. The hours from twelve
to four pm. are oppressive from March
to September, and most persons who
can do so, sleep the siesta during these
hours.
Natives among themselves do moi
kiss-they place the nose and lip or
the cheek and draw a long breath.
This is known as smelling. In the in
terror among the Tagals it is com
pliment to say, "You smell healthy.
Marriages between natives are us
ually arranged by the parents of thu
respective families. The hubble age il
about eleven years. The parents of tn,
young man approach those of tn,
maiden in an oratorical style, shroud
ing the object of their visit with mys
terry, and the matrimonial subject i
preached only when it is believed tina
both will agree.
1t is a curious fact that the Island
have no singing birds among the Phil
ippino Islands and to British Nortl
Borneo.
After l return from the south l vii
try to give the itinerary of my cruise
and what information can obtain 9
the Southern Provinces.
With best wishes ever, am respect
, fully, JAMES G. THORNTON
, Manila, P.L, Feb. 10, 1908.