Menage Expedition to the Philippines 139 



11. 



Manila, March 19, 1891. 



We have the honor to submit the following- report of the 

 second quarter's work of the Menage Scientific Expedition. 



On December 26th we sailed from Iloilo for the town of 

 Bais, a small place on the eastern coast of Negros, where we 

 arrived on the 28th. We at first thought of settling down in 

 Bais for a couple of weeks and making a collection of sea shells, 

 but found it impossible to get a suitable house. Just at this 

 time aid came to us from an unexpected source. We received 

 a call from a Spanish gentleman who introduced himself as 

 Senor Ignacio Simo. As we afterwards learned, he is the son- 

 in-law of Senor Joaquin Montenegro, the wealthiest sugar planter 

 in this part of Negros. 



Senor Simo said that he had heard of the trouble we were 

 having in finding a house and he wished to offer us the use of 

 a small house situated on their plantation. We were very glad 

 to accept this offer and moved out that afternoon. Instead of a 

 small house, we found a large and well furnished one, usually 

 occupied by Senor Montenegro's son, which had been vacated 

 for our especial use. More than this we found that we were in 

 reality the guests of Senor Montenegro and his family. They 

 aided us in every way possible, furnishing us with men, horses, 

 or carts, whenever we required them. Their kindness was 

 greatly appreciated as it not only made it pleasant for us, but 

 facilitated our work greatly. 



We worked there for two weeks and then moved into the 

 mountains. Our friends furnished us with twenty-two or twenty- 

 three men, so we were able to take all necessary baggage and 

 food. We went back about a three hours' journey and took 

 up quarters in a native house conveniently situated on the bank 

 of a small mountain stream. We were well located as the forest 

 came up almost to our doors. 



The people of the region are all savages, called by the 

 Spaniards Monteses (Mountaineers). They are of course 

 Malays, but have not been converted to Christianity and retain 

 many of their old manners and customs. For instance, one of 

 the old customs which still clings to them is observed when 

 one of their number dies. In the belief that the departed spirit 



