THE PHILIPPINES 7S 



undergrowth, and it is the best wind catcher in the world, and 

 looks unsightly when soiled. 



The single-piece W B. V. D." or Bunion" underwear is the most 

 practical underwear. It is needless to say that all clothing should 

 be washed as often as practicable. Laundry work costs about 

 9 centavos (4Y 2 c. U. S. Cy.) a piece in this country. At night an 

 abdominal woolen band should be worn to ward off intestinal catarrh 

 from chilling. 



6. FOOD. 



The principal articles of diet should be fresh, well cooked vege- 

 tables, fruits, rice, nuts and bread. Meat is not necessary at all 

 though often desirable to give a palatable change. The Philippines 

 have the reputation of having the most delicious fruit, the mango y 

 in the world and the Pili nut, though not so well known, is not 

 excelled even by Brazil nuts. Of bananas there are more than 

 75 varieties and they can be eaten either raw or cooked. Filipinos 

 know how to cook rice to perfection and this cereal should form 

 the main article in the traveller's commissary. One word of special 

 caution here by no means should one economize in his food. 

 Good, well cooked food in quantity is absolutely vital to good field 

 work in this region. 



There are many little tricks in the preparation of food which it 

 is of value to know when living in out of the way places where 

 cooking utensils are not easy to carry or buy, one of these is the 

 cooking of rice in a bamboo joint. The Filipino stove, reduced ta 

 the simplest terms, consists of three stones placed near enough to 

 each other to support a pot and the natives are adept at building 

 fires under difficult conditions, of which more in a later paragraph. 

 A coconut shell makes an excellent bowl and a good spoon. 



Canned or tinned goods are generally everywhere easy to get in 

 the larger Provincial towns, but these should be used as reserve 

 only. Of canned goods available in the Philippines the writer 

 would recommend the following: 



Soups 



Crackers 



Preserves, jams and jellies. 



Bacon and tinned meats. 



One should never take any of the crackers or cakes sent out 

 from America in paper cartons. Everything of this kind should be 

 in sealed tins. The traveller is cautioned not to delude himself 



