Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-08-30
SEES FOREIGN LANDS
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CONTINUED from Page One.)
and most expressed preference fol
the Puget Sound. Our party of fifteer
from Washington were entertained al
5 O'Clock tea at the home Of Mr.
Smith, city editor of the Cablenews-
American, where we met many former
Washingtonians. In the evening (to
those who cared to go) we were en-
tertained at cockfght given by the
natives. They have a large building,
similar to the arena at the A-Y.-P.
fair. seating about 1000 people with
the pit or platform in the center,
about 25 feet across, enclosed with
small pickets. The judges and hand
lers were inside this enclosure. AS the
fighting-cocks were brought on and
exhibited the excitement began.
The arena was packed with Chinese
and natives. and it seemed all were
betting or wanting to bet at once from
the shouting and running around 1t
reminded one of the wheat pit in Chi
cago and New York during a panic
The first ring of the gong all was
still. with thousands of eyes turned
towards the pit; the second ringing of
the gong, the fight was on. 1t was, in
reality. a fight for life, as they fight
until one is killed or runs away, in +
the latter case the trainer Immediate (
ly kills him. 1t lasts only a few min
utes, They certainly get quick action
for their money, as they bring in the
other cocks as fast as they are needed.
Monday evening at the Hippodrome
5000 children sang, accompanied by
the constabuIary band, after which
Vice Governor Gilbert received, the I
program closing with a dance.
Government Question.
The government question is an ever ;
present subject with the foreigners. &
They are either for or against it. The /
few l talked with seemed to think 8
Uncle Sam gives the natives too much t
power. Whatever may be said, there t
is no question but what the United S
States government is making great j
improvements in the harbor and for i
the city of Manila A few more years s
of the same kind of work and this
harbor viii be one of the best forti- Il
fed in the world. [
On Tuesday, March %, at p. M, Ii
we steamed south for Borneo. A two Il
days run over a very smooth sea, but s
getting hotter as we neared the equa- e
tor, arriving on Friday at G a. sm in r
the small town of Victoria, Lauban a
island, Borneo. where we were enter "
tanned with a native war dance, spear Il
throwing and water buffalo race We e
did not see any real wild men one n
hears so much about. the widest was el
our own crowd for stopping at such a a
place. We spent six hot, swelterlng al
hours at this place and were glad to 81
be on our way again for three days D.
run for Batavia on Java island six CT
degrees below the equator W
Cross the Equator. &C
On March 27. at a. m, we crossed
the equator. when messeger from
Neptune arrived to report If we were al
1T subjects to be received by his sh
majesty The report was evidently all lal
light, as Neptune himself with his full wi
etinue boarded our ship at p. m ali
he next day when the ceremonies OF pl,
initiation took place. Many of our wa
'assengers were made full members VIC
y getting a ducking in the pool The its
ca at this place is as smooth as a col
ond, and If IL were not for the vibra- du
ions of the engines you would not be,
now you were on the water. The du
Nenings are very pleasant and the ed
unsets are beautiful. For the first OOt
me our shadows are south instead of hai
orth. March 2S, 6:30 a. m., anchored 1t
utside of the breakwater at Tand- eql
Dng-Prick, landed In coasting steamer mu
nd took train for a five-mile run to We
'atavia, a city of 800. 900 people. 1t is sor
he capital and chief city of the Dutch the
last Indies. This city is called the Do
earl of the Orient and sometimes the
arden City. 1t certainly is a very me
eautiful place with its miles of broad nor
reefs lined with royal palms and C
anyan trees which gives the Impress day
N or an immense park. Their homes wa,
re neat, one or two-storied plaster mo-
ouses with tile roof. and are set sew hist
al hundred feet back from the street, bell
wing a large front yard, completely Tho
laded from the suns rays this
This applies as well, to the better so
isiness houses. The vehicles used are said
e victorias. drawn by two horses, S25l
ur wheeled carriages with canopy top abol
ID the two-wheeled dos-a-dos drawn zoo
pony. 1t was the writer's luck to rese
aw the smallest one. necesstating abol
y crowding the driver almost onto erin
e pony's heels. otherwise my weight circl
'uld overbalance and raise the pony ing
its feet: as II was the native had a com
'at deal OF sport at my expense. II and
needless to say only tried this con- spire
'ance once. uuen
Good Street Car System. VINE
they have a good system OF electric
set cars and quite a number OF au-
loblles. The money used is the Tn
laN e.tffg.v .F ,,-lt-a. -....-.