The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-03-26

| L
Jan. 3, 1909.
UNITED OPINION, Bradford, Vt.
Through the kindness of the
honorable secretary of the interior
| am with him on his long southern
inspection tour through the south
ern islands of this peninsula; and in
these four weeks have been given
an opportunity to see more of this
country than most people can see
in as many years The part of the
islands that we have visited has
been that to a large extent inhabited
by the least civilized peoples as the
non-Christian tribes are under his
especial jurisdiction.
The one fact that stands out
more and more clearly is that of
the enormous undeveloped re-
sources Of this country. Take for
example our trip for 1870 miles in
a launch up the Arguson river.
Here is a valley containing 5000
square miles of the finest hemp
and cocoanut land on earth, with
the merest handful of natives who
squat by the river bank cultivate
from I to 2 or 3 acres and the rest
is a mere wilderness waiting for
development.
To describe fully our trip would
require a volume and | can only
touch briefly on a few items that |
hope will prove of interest to your
readers. First hle me mention the
Penal colony.
Here is being tried an experiment
in teh treatment of criminals that
to me is of intense interest. Men
who have long sentences to serve,
whose conduct is good at the prison
at Bilbiddi are sent to the colony,
where some $50 acres of land are
under cultivation. Here are no
guards but the woods and the ma
tives. The quarters are wonder
fully clean. There are all kinds of
industries carried on carpenter
shops, blacksmith shops, tin shops,
etc., besides the farm work. The
men who are faithful are paid a
small sum per day. They have a
banda good one. If a man does
well he is allowed to take up a small
piece of land and given a part of
his time to work it. Later he can
build q house, and still later, if his
conG lct is good can have lis family
and all his time. About the only
restraints being those of residance
and being obliged to report once
in so often and all his produce must
pass through the government ware
house.
The visit and careful inspection
of the leper colony demands more
space than | can give it. In a beau
tiful situation, with fine running
water, the best of medical attend
ance, the cleanest of houses, hospit-
ais and grounds, these unfortunates
are gathered. Those who can take
care of themselves in separate
houses. Others who have passed
to the helpless stage are in the
hospitals and here they are cared |
for till death ends their miseries. |
A wonderful contrast to the treat
ment they receive in their native
towns where they are outlawed |
and sometimes starved to death.
If | had space | should like to
tell of going with Gov. Miller to take
three Moro murderers out of a
crowd of armed men. Two they
were willing to give up but one they
refuesd absolutely to let us have.
There were eleven in our party, five
Of whom were armed and when we
started on our tramp back to where
our launch was waiting for us-a
walk of at least a mile with two
small streams to ford-we found
in the midst of an ugly
'rowd of 200 or more armed men
rom among the worst fighters in
he whole islands. but we held to-
yether and took our two men along
md just before we started back
o the steamer, Governor Miller
vent in among them all alone and
old them in no uncertain language
hat if they did not give the man
Up he should take tue soldiers and
ome and get him and some one
vas likely to get hurt. We had
hown them that We did not fear
hem and half an hour later they
rought the man out to the boat.
Our trip up the Arguson is enough
Or letter by itself. In all our
rips in this particular part Of the
ilands one thing in the ladies' dress :
as amused me. While many of
hem are finely dressed all go bare
)ot, and many of the best dressed
mes have their legs tattooed up
} the knee of the marks
eing very handsome.
GEO. $. WORCESTER. /