Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1912-05-30
LIFE AT MANILA
HAS MANY CONTRASTS
NATIVES CLING TO PRIMITIVE
CUSTOMS IN MODE. OF
LIVING
American Industry Is Slowly Trans
forming Possessions.
The Industries

forming Possessions.
The Industries
Manila, Philippine Islands, March
%; There are many handsome
roads and drives around Manila, but
one of the most interesting trips is a
launch ride up the Pasig river. "A
long the banks of this stream is
seen the real native life of the Fill
ipinos who seem to be care worn
and unhappy people, different it is
said, from the natives further in
land, who have not come into such
close contact with modern civiliza-
ton. The river trip reveals many
things of live interest to the visitor.
1t seemed to be grand wash day
for the entire population, for men,
women and children were down on
the banks and in the water threshing
out the wash The clothes are wet
and whipped over stones and laid
out in the hot sun to bleach and dry.
Buffaloes were being washed and
bathed in the river also, by their
drivers. These beasts do most of the
heavy teaming. in Manila and the is
lands. They will draw big loads for
a certain length of time and then
strike. They will not return to work
unless we'll watered and fed.
Primitive Dwellings
Along the river We passed many
native houses, the cheapest, frailest
human habitations we have yet seen
in the tropics. A bamboo frame rails
ed on stills, with one or two rooms
constitutes the Filipino house. when
covered with matt or grass or palm
leaves. A flap door that serves as q
window can be raised and lowered,
and a steep thatched palm roof, are
all that are needed to complete the
house Pigs and chickens run un-
derneath, and nature runs riot out
side.
Characteristic Features
A good many freight boats from
up country are poled down the river
and carry cocoanuts, fruit, hemp,
sugar cane, tobacco, copra and dmany
other products. for Manila manufac-
turers, or for shipment direct. Sew
eral large saw mills were at work
on logs floated down the stream. A
steam dredger was deepening the
channel. The men wear red trou-
sers and no shirts, or hats and whole
families live on the boats. even the
roosters and hens tied down by
straps, and pigs, dogs and children
scampering around to get out of the
way. The freight is protected from
the weather by mats. The native
canoes have out riggers the same as
other parts of the tropics. We saw
the old fashioned water wheel pump
ing. water from the river to the shore
by foot power.
Stop Work at Noon
The natives get about rs cents q
day in gold as wages and spend their
money at the stores. It Is now consid-
cred safe to 60 into the interior.
Manila is the great commerce and
social center and is bound to grow.
Business closes down at 12s o'clock
and most everyone takes clay or. !.
at lunch and nap until 3 or o'clock
to avoid the heat Of the day. This
practice is general in all tropical
cities and towns.
Women Smoke Cigars
% Much of the rice land near Manila
is high in price but millions of acres
Of land in the interior can be had
cheap or rented on easy terms. The
stores contain fair assortment of
American goods. The sale Of cool
drinks and ices is large. Chinese
merchants handle a good deal Of the
native trade, but there are few ia.
spanese. The better class of stores
are in the hands Of Americans and
the newspapers are prosperous be-
ing we'll filled with advertisements
and paid government notices. The.
natives, make pretty fancy embroi-.
derry and many Cleveland ladies'
bought shirt waist patterns. The:
native women wear q queer garment
the camesa, full sleeved full coli
lar and back shirt waist Of fancy col
ors of light cotton. 4 red skirt with
70 black apron, both tucked In at the
l waist constituts the svailins.