Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-03-04
by special arrangement with the
Chicago Tribune Syndicate
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE

-
IN TWO PARTs-PART ONE
Z.
TN the tropics are the mysteries of
earth. Where life began it is still
almost as secret as its start. Near
the equator the soul of man is direct
and simple, allied with the hot, fec
und nature of his jungle and seas.
The land crawls with parasitic
growths which climb the erect and
strangle their supporters. The waters
are quick with fish and reptiles that
devour n another. Strange birds
and beasts haunt the dark solitudes
of forest and swamp. Hurricanes,
floods, and earthquakes again and
again lay low all achievements. Man
knows a tenure az insecure as the
garden ant from the foot Of the
passerby. The amazing and wanton
aspects of nature are reflected in his
primitive heart. His thoughts are as
spontaneous rs lightning.
Except for the savage first comers, ex-
PEELED to the mountains, man has stayed by
the water. The rivers are the living AFTER
les Of the social body; the brooks and
creeks 1t veins. To these Malay these are
the most familiar ways Of movement. On
them he Is more at home than on the soil.
ii.
The Rio Tinto, though a broad river
when 1t reaches the high plains of the
Island of Luzon, still p~ulsates with violent
currents, the curse of its mountain birth,
and its memories of torture in narrow,
bouldered gorges.
1t the village of Palma the river knows
a quiet moment and for hundreds Of years
the only crossing in q dozen miles has
been there. Though far away from any
city or even considerable town, and itself
with only a thousand or so people, the
passage over the Rio Tinto made the vii
lage notable throughout Luzon. In the dry
season there was a bridge OF strong tim
bers which each year at the approach OF
the torrential rains was taken down or
more often caught by a sudden rise Of the
river and swept In fragments to the dis
tant sea.
But the absence Of the bridge did not
detract from the Importance Of Palma nor
Of its people, the Palmenos. Then began
they made the ferry OF the Rio Tinto, car
rying all who willed, with their animals
and even vehicles, to the other side, where
were the wild country Of the blowgun
the head-hunting Igorotes, with gold ore
and pine woods. The Palma people were
masters Of the river, unequaled In skill In
the handling of ancestral craft in the cur
rents Of the Rio Tinto. But they them
selves made little Of their incredible COM
petence.
Harrison and / came to Palma for the
first time in the late afternoon, wearied
with travel and the heat OF a July day. We
had chosen a lul1 In the rainy season to
go hunting in the lower lands Of the
Igorotes.
"'Susmaria p said Harrison, a Cali
forniaa. This is the first really true
story I've heard in the Philippines. Look
- - -L-Iu $500 .-l tLN xn ha.,aor
Did you see the people bowling from the
windows? How about a couple of green
cocoanuts before we cross the bridge? Sup
pose ! ask that pretty s~enorita under the
palm there to sell us two2 They're worth
a couple Of centavos for copra. Hombre
"Spera I" he commanded the c0chero, the
driver of our cart. We dfsmounted an6
sought the shelter OF the grove In which {
native girl was gathering the fragrant
pink blossoms OF the Cadena de Amour
the Chain Of Love.
She looked at US shyly and saying, "Muy
buenaB diasi' GA very good day to youP)
went with her handful Of flowers into thu
nearby house.
g"A GOOD day won't wet my throat said
Harrison Quizzically. Almost immediately
a Filipino came out with several cocoanuts
a packet Of cigars, and a bolo-a huge
working. knife.
ssSenores." he said with a flourish, "my
"a - 49,
We talked in Spanish Of the weather ant
Of the crops, especially OF the price OF
copra, the dried cocoanut, which, In Amer
lea, makes the floating soaps. In a Few
minutes the ~senorita Of the grove came oul
and we were presented to Inez, the host
daughter.
"Inez has been at the convent in Manila
he said. "She has just returned after i've
years. She is now sixteen"
Inez smiled at us with the sweet limo
cence of the gentle Malay girl, her blacl
eyes, large with curiosity, her white teeth
small, and beautifully set in a mouth al
mink as a kittens. Her mass of very darl
brown hair was a swart halo about her ex'
quisitely poised head and arched neck. Sh'
wore the bizarre Filipino dress, which be
comes only the young and beautiful. Hel
rounded, satiny, pale yellow rose shoui
ders and arms were bare, a tight cottor
bodice disclosing only a suggestion OF he
maiden bosom; and her avender coloret
p~anuelo, a gauzy kerchief OF pineapple
weave, enveloping her torso like a summel
cloud, through which peeped the outline o.
her bewitching form.
.You go far, senores 2" asked her father
with a light undertone Of interest, and no
of mere curiosity. Manila corrupts manners
ITO hunt across the river" replied
Eve must push ON now to make the village
on the other side before night"
We rose to leave, and the planter stood
up, too, and made a gesture of regret.
"Ah, senores, you must wait a while. Thu
bridge is down a month, and we have M
bancas or balsas. A typhoon, a few day
ago, destroyed them all.
well, I'll be darned. That's hard lucl
for us! 70 exclaimed Harrison.
"PacIencia! Palma will see that you cross
the Rio Tinto,' said the Pakmeno.
Yes" drawled Harrison, "Manana! Yo'
say you have no canoes or RATS. We mus
take our cart and mule, With our guns AM
ammunition and baggage. I'm afraid W
must turn back and drive another day O.
two, to Salamit."
sSalamit, senior! - exclaimed our host, II
a high, panied voice. "Madre de dos! Cal
Salamit do what Palma cannot? Jamais
Never; / will go at once with you to tn,
presidente. He will arrange for you. 4
balso is being made. Ny daughter, too
wishes to cross to visit her aunt, a lev
miles down, after all these years away Il
Manila. She has Been awaiting the nes
balsa. No hay de prisa! There is plent.
The Village of Palma had but one wild
street. ON this were the houses OF tn
leading residents, large roomed, two stor'
FOR sALE-M6CELLANEOU6