- Author:
- Olivares, Jose de.
- Publication Info:
-
St. Louis:
N.D. Thompson,
1899,
pg 599
Text on page 599
OUR ISLANDS AND THEIR PEOPLE.
599
peddling, women buying, women selling, women with babies astride their hips, old women squatting and smoking, young women going along hand in hand, women everywhere.
Chewing the betel nut is a common habit among both men and women throughout the islands. The nuts, as they lie exposed for sale in the markets, resemble our butternuts, or white walnuts. Near them there is always a little pile of wet lime with some palm leaves lying by it, in which particles are wrapped for the convenience of customers. The nut is a product of the areca palm, ground or cut into small pieces, and when chewed a little lime is mixed with it. The effect on the nerves is similar to that of tobacco. The habit is very disgusting to those who have not become accustomed to it. As the nut is chewed the tongue becomes red, the gums seem to drip blood, and the chewer apparently spits blood now and then, just as a tobacco chewer spits the colored juice of the weed. The habit is derived from the Malays, who have chewed the betel nut from time immemorial, not
the round, fat, dusky, uninteresfing face of the average native of Luzon's isle. Her hair is long and blacka but all Filipino women have an abundance of hair. Her eyes are large and lustrousa typical Filipino eyes. Her hand is the long, slender, fascinating hand characteristic of the pure-blooded Filipino. Her age is probably thirty-five years. During the interview, her little darkeyed son stood by her side and gazed wonderingly at the kind-hearted American ladies with such beautiful white faces and bright eyes, but he neither smiled nor uttered a word while they were present. Senora Aguinaldo can neither read nor write, and she speaks only the Tagalog dialect with a few Spanish phrases that she has picked up. As her visitors departed they expressed a wish for a speedy solution of the trouble in the Philippine Islands. The face of the little woman lighted with a smile as she whispered, a Gracias, gracias, serioras,a in acknowledgment, but it was a smile that spoke more of tears than joy. She has great faith in her husband and believes that if he lives he will yet succeed.
a SAN ROQUE OVERLAND.a
This was a temporary tramway built by the soldiers over the causeway uniting Cavite with San Roque. The wheels were four little trucks that had been used in the navy yard, while the car itself was composed of bamboo and other materials picked up by the soldiers. A set of wagon springs served to break the jolts. The large man in his shirt sleeves, standing second on the right of the group, is Colonel Smith, of the 1st Tennessee Regiment, who was soon afterward shot through the heart by an ambushed Filipino.
only for its narcotic effects, but also for the black coloring matter that it deposits on the teeth, and which they consider a mark of beauty.
Senora Aguinaldo, the wife of the Filipino leader, by reason of her husband's position, may be regarded as the leading lady of the islands, and anything relating to her will naturally be of interest. She and her little son, together with her sister and several native officers, were captured by the American forces on Christmas day, 1899. The Senora and her son were conveyed to Manila, where they were comfortably lodged with friends, the landlady being a Mestiza, and a warm sympathizer with the native cause. A number of American ladies visited the chieftaina s wife, and tendered their sympathies, avoiding, with w-ell-bred feminine delicacy, any reference to tinpleasant topics. From these ladies it was learned that Senora Aguinaldo wears diamond earrings. Otherwise she greatly resembles the 10,000 Filipino women whom one may see on the streets of Manila. She is inclined to embonpoint, and her face is
Previous to her capture, Senora Aguinaldo had endured many hardships. The native army was constantly retreating, and during a portion of the time the women and children were compelled to travel in chairs borne by Igorrotes, of whom they were in constant dread, for murder is one of the pastimes of these savages. In the flight from Bavombong her infant child was killed, and it was reported that her husband and their eldest son had been captured by the Americans. Under such conditions her mental anguish was extreme, for the Americans had been represented to her as bloodthirsty savages who would murder every armed Filipino that fell into their hands. Her capture, therefore, came as a benignant relief, bringing news of the safety of her husband and son and daily evidences of the extraordinary kindness and humanity of her captors.
The natives everywhere had been taught to believe that the Americans would treat them worse than the Spaniards had done, and the universal kindness of the soldiers to the women and children was a revelation to them. The Americans were really more
