22 METZGER— THE FILIPINO. [March , 7 , 



excepting the Moro, is but a myth. To lie is but the manifestation 

 of a second nature and to prevaricate with a nicety is an accom- 

 plishment with him. The native of this class is so contumacious 

 to all bidding and so averse to social order that, I am inclined to 

 believe, he understands and appreciates no law except force. Sen- 

 timent and honor are lost virtues, and there is nothing in which the 

 average male delights more than to pillage and torture. Intuitive 

 modesty is as foreign to the average Filipino as it is to the dumb 

 brutes of the jungle, while the domestic habits of many are very 

 little above their animal surroundings. 



Early in the sixteenth century the marriage custom was estab- 

 lished among certain tribes through the good offices of the church, 

 and as a result of which nuptial vows are held very sacred, and the 

 husband is extremely jealous of his wife after wedlock, notwith- 

 standing his indifference as to any indiscretion she may have been 

 guilty of before entering the nuptial state. This, I believe, is but 

 a selfish vigilance and not a virtuous sense of chastity, for it is the 

 universal practice with this class of islanders, or at least a large per- 

 centage of them and more especially the touis, to barter their daugh- 

 ters. These poor creatures are virtually sold or given in exchange 

 for a loan to pass their youth as queridas (kept-mistresses). As 

 this transfer of human chattel is, in many cases, for the payment of 

 a gambling debt or to secure a loan for some equal moral turpitude, 

 the poor victim not infrequently becomes the permanent vassal of 

 the money-monger. 



The cheapest thing in the Philippine archipelago is human life 

 and the dearest object to this oriental's heart is his pet game-cock. 

 He will risk his life many times over to save this idol of the race, 

 while he would tranquilly stand by and see his family in peril 

 rather than expose himself to possible harm in effecting a rescue. 



Notwithstanding the Filipino has so many undesirable character- 

 istics, he is not totally devoid of good qualities. Of these I would 

 mention his temperance in the use of alcoholics. During my three 

 years of service on the islands I saw but one native inebriate, yet 

 these same people have liquors more powerful than the worst of 

 moonshine whiskey. Then again there is a certain hospitality ex- 

 isting among themselves which is evinced in the fact that even as 

 an utter stranger they are always welcomed to such food and 

 shelter as may be at hand and no remuneration is expected. 



