298 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



somewhat frizzled ; the others are blacker, have more agreeable forms, and 

 waving locks. The islanders mastered these blacks with great difficulty, 

 and drove them away from the level country. Those found by the 

 Spaniards on Lugon had made some advances in civilization. They were 

 under a government composed of chiefs, assisted by aged persons, who 

 were to guard the laws. The Aetas still go naked, only tying a piece of 

 stuff around the hips. Their occupations are hunting, fishing, and search- 

 ing for wild fruits. Bows and arrows are their only weapons, and are 

 handled with dexterity. Among the children, some are met with who in 

 spite of their black parents are almost entirely white ; they are known in 

 Manilla by the name of sons of the sun. A few missions are still kept up by 

 the Manilla government for the conversion of the Aetas, but as the priests 

 know that at the first opportunity the converts withdraw from the clerical 

 authority, they baptize only children, who are bought by the Spaniards or 

 Mestizos at an age when the mode of life practised by their fathers has not 

 yet been engrafted upon them. The soil held by the mountaineers is so 

 productive in fruits that they resign themselves to great indolence. In 

 former times they were pleased to restrain the Spaniards in cutting wood 

 upon their mountains and make them pay a tribute in tobacco. At present, 

 being less numerous and having become intimidated, they allow their ene- 

 mies to extend themselves wherever they like, and before long will have 

 entirely disappeared from their native country, if they do not embrace the 

 civilization which is confining them on all sides. 



The Inhabitants of the Marian Islands. 



The missionaries describe the inhabitants of the Marian Islands as a 

 handsome, vigorous race, whose principal traits are childlike simplicity, 

 affection, and mildness. Here likewise, immediately after their occupancy 

 of the islands, the Spaniards introduced the laws of their native country 

 and Christianity ; but according to what may be inferred from the accounts 

 of travellers, the inhabitants appear to have been by far a more civilized 

 people than the Spaniards themselves. They are also physically active, and 

 swim and dive admirably. The men are dusky brown, tall, muscular, with 

 strong limbs, expressive face, the latter, however, not without a trait of 

 wildness. Formerly they went naked, without tattooing or painting; the 

 women alone wore short aprons around the hips, an ornament of small 

 shells around the neck and arms, a decoration of tortoise-shell on the fore- 

 head, and similar ones attached to the girdle. Their dwellings were built of 

 palm trunks, thatched with leaves of the same tree, and lined on the inside 

 with bast mats. Their food consisted of cocoanuts, bread-fruit, yams, and 

 rice, and the flesh of birds and fish. A spirituous drink was also made by 

 them (pi. 40, Jig. 3), but they were temperate in their habits. Women were 

 treated with a respect otherwise only to be found amongst the most civilized 

 nations. It is said that in consequence of this treatment they really were 

 beautiful and delicately formed, evincing cheerfulness, good-nature, and 

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