- Author:
- Olivares, Jose de.
- Publication Info:
-
St. Louis:
N.D. Thompson,
1899,
pg 717
Text on page 717
Our islands and their people.
lose interest in the music and his surroundings generally. There was neither a pout nor anger on his features, but just a blank, unreadable expression. Presently he looked thoughtfully at his two coppers, and wound up by tossing one in an absent-minded manner on the ground. Then he walked listlessly two or three steps further on, looking about him disinterestedly, and stopping, dropped the other coin. He seemed on the point of leaving them is something which brought with them more trouble than pleasure, when one of the soldiers gathered them up and placed them in his hand again. He looked at them carefully, as one who would be wholly impartial, and then inverted his hand, letting the coins fall where they would. Here was a caprice which puzzled and irritated the soldier, and, taking up the rejected treasures, he threw them away into a crowd of other children, who pounced upon them with great avidity. But scarcely had they touched the ground when he who had so coldly renounced them set up a cry which literally a beat the band/ and tears rained from his tiny jaws as if
from the shoulders and leaving the back uncovered. The head is also often incased in a huge ugly mask, generally representing some animal head in outline. They are fond of personal adornment, and tattooing is carried on extensively. Some of the more influential members of a tribe are often covered from head to foot with grotesque and highly-colored tattooings, while enormous ornaments of iron are worn on different parts of the body. These peculiarities are borrowed from the Papuans and the Negritos, with whom such savage adornments and arms are common, and their employment among certain classes of the Moros has led to much confusion in describing the dress of these people. Several of our illustrations show the wild Moros wearing the extravagant adornments of the Papuans, with tattooed bodies and other accessories; but these peculiarities are not common among this race of people.
Foreman says that the Sulu Islanders, male and female, dress with far greater taste and ascetic originality than the Christian
MODE OF CONVEYING THE DEAD AND WOUNDED FROM THE BATTLEFIELD.
This form of conveyance has been adopted quite generally by our armies in the Philippines, for the purpose indicated. The native ponies are sure-footed, gentle and easy of gait, and are more serviceable in such work than men would be, as they are stronger and move more rapidly.
they were watersheds. He was too young, I thought, to be taught candor and straightforwardness by such heroic methods, and so I gave him an amount equal to that which he had lost. There was nothing at all a high-strunga in his manner of accepting in this case.a
The costume of the Moros, like their religion and social customs, differs radically from all the other natives of the Philippine Islands. They are not naked savages in the sense of this term as it applies to the others, for they wear clothes cut and made according to an invariable stylea a style that has been in fashion for centuries. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule; the children are usually naked, and in the wilder regions of the islands adults are often found in comparatively the same condition ; but this occurs only among those who live in secluded localities, and under the influence of wild tribes with whom they associate. It is said that in some instances the costume of these piratical warriors is often a ridiculous cape of small iron disks hanging forward
natives. The women are fond of gay colors, the predominant ones being scarlet and green. Their nether bifurcated garment is very baggy; the bodice is extremely tight, and, with equally close-fitting sleeves, exhibits every contour of the bust and arms. They use also a strip of stuff sewn together at the ends, called the jabtil, which serves to protect the head from the suna s rays. The end of \hzjabul would reach nearly down to the feet, but is usually held retrousse under the arm. They have a passion for jewelry, and wear many finger rings of metal and sometimes of sea-shells, whilst their earrings are gaudy and of large dimensions. The hair is gracefully tied with a coil on top of the head, and their features are more attractive than those of the generality of Philippine Christian women.
The men wear breeches of bright colors, as tight as gymnastsa pantaloons, with a large number of buttons up the sides, a kind of waistcoat buttoning up to the throat, a jacket reaching to the hips, with close sleeves, and a turban. A chiefa s dress has many