- Author:
- Olivares, Jose de.
- Publication Info:
-
St. Louis:
N.D. Thompson,
1899,
pg 616
Text on page 616
6i6
OUR ISLANDS AND THEIR PEOPLE.
a CARROMATAa AND PONY, AT MANILA.
teeth; and for these and other reasons it is conjectured that they descended from shipwrecked Japanese crews, who, being without means at hand to return to their country, took to the mountains inland from the west coast of Luzon. They are said to be unfamiliar with the use of the bow and arrow, but carry the lance as the common weapon and for hunting and spearing fish.
Their conversion to Christianity has proved to be an impossible task. A royal decree of Ferdinand VI., dated in Aranjuez, 18th of June, 1758, set forth that the infidels called Tinguianez, Igorrotes and by other names, who should accept Christian baptism, should be exempt all their lives from the payment of tribute and forced labor. Their offspring, however, born to them after receiving baptism, would lose these privileges, as well as the independence enjoyed by their forefathers. This penalty to future generations for becoming Christians was afterward extended to all undomesticated races.
The Tinguianes appear to be as intelligent as the ordinary subdued natives. They have laws of their own, they are by no means savages, and although they live in trees they are not strangers to the rules of domestic life. A great many Christian families of El Abra and Ilocos Sur are of Tinguiane origin, and these natives of Ilocos have the just reputation of being the only industrious people of the Philippine Islands. As servants and workmen they are preferred to most of the other tribes.
In the Morony district of Luzon is to be found one of the most curious of all the races that inhabit this island. They are a distinct people, having none of the characteristics of the other tribes. According to tradition, they are descended from the Indian Sepoys, who, it is said, formed part of the British troops during the military occupation of Manila in 1763. The legend is, that these Hindoos, having deserted from the British army, migrated up the Pasig River and established themselves near their present location, where they intermarried with the Malays and produced the singular race now found | in that region. They have black skins and sharp features, and are I decidedly of a different stock from the ordinary native. The notable I physical differences are the fine aquiline nose, bright expression and reg | ular features. If they are descended from the Hindoos, as sur-
mised, they have not adhered to the faith of their people, for they have been Christians as far back as their known history extends. They are an honest, law-abiding people, and far more industrious than the average natives. During the Spanish era they were the only natives who voluntarily presented themselves for the payment of taxes, and yet, on the ground that generations ago they were intruders on the soil, they were more heavily burdened with imposts than their neighbors, until the abolition of tribute, in 1884.
In various portions of these islands there are numerous hybrid types known as Albinos. Many of these are possessed of a preternaturally white skin and extremely fair hair, sometimes red. Foreman relates that he once saw in Negros Island a hapless young Albino girl with marble-white skin and very light pink-white hair, who was totally blind during the sunny hours of the day, although she could see well at night and during the twilight of morning and evening. Conditions of this character are sometimes due to leprosy, and this may have been the case with the young girl to whom reference is made.
All of the races described in the preceding pages are represented in the single island of Luzon. Others equally curious in their general characteristics are found in the southern islands, and are noticed elsewhere.
PORTION OF THE OLD SPANISH CITY WALL AT MANILA .
GENERAL LAWTON ON SCOUTING DUTY.
At the beginning of the war with the natives there were representatives from nearly all the Luzon tribes in Aguinaldoa s army, but they soon discovered that spears
and bows and arrows were no match for modern firearms, and their military ardor cooled accordingly. Some of these people were captured and brought to Manila, and are thus described by a correspondent :
a Among the prisoners were a number of Tinguianes and Igorrotes. These, when captured, were armed with bows and arrows. They wore their hair long and decorated with feathers; their only clothing was a diminutive breech-clout. These have now, without exception, cut their hair short, and wear anything they can get, generally a shirt and stiff hat, the shape of which is certain to recall the German
