Affairs in the Philippines 513 trolmen were to be assessed and would be forced to pay the tax, whether they wished to do so or not. Such an accusation as this could not be allowed to pass unnoticed, and a resolution was therefore adopted by the Assembly which provided that seven of its members were to be formed into a committee to investigate the reports and charges. Full power was given to the Commission to prosecute its inquiries in whatever direction it might see fit. Under this resolution every department of the city government can be brought under the Committee's search light, and if there is any wrongdoing on foot, it may be found out. For the honor of our city it is earnestly to be hoped that the charges may prove to be without foundation. Assemblyman Robert Mazet has been appointed Chairman of this Committee, and the idea prevails generally that he is well qualified for the work. He was a member of the Lexow Committee which was appointed to investigate trusts in 1897, and gained considerable experience then of the proper methods of conducting such difficult and delicate tasks as will confront him and his associates. The Committee intends to do its work thoroughly, and will hold sessions throughout the summer if necessary. There seems to be little doubt that the defeat of the rebel forces at Malolos has been a severe blow to the Filipinos. Affairs in the The statement that the removal of the government from Malolos was part of a precon ceived plan, is completely refuted by the fact that when our troops took possession of the town, twentythree thousand dollars was found in one of the safes that had been left in the building formerly used by the Filipino officials. It is reasonable to suppose that if the Filipinos really had as much time as they claimed to arrange their plans, they would have been careful to remove their valuables. The probabilities are that the evacuation of Malolos became a panic, stricken rout. The native inhabitants who fled from the territory between Manila and Malolos, on the advance of our troops, are said to be returning in large numbers, and putting themselves under the protection of the Americans. Our generals are receiving them in a friendly spirit and offering them every protection, but are using great care in order to guard against treachery. The natives are coming back in such hordes that they might complicate matters very seriously for us in case they should become unfriendly. Aguinaldo has endeavored to keep the rebellion active by reporting that he had gained tremendous victories over the Americans, and that the occupation of Manila by the United States was merely a clever piece of strategy, and a part of the great plan of which he has been boasting. He has also been at great pains to convince the Filipinos that the Americans waged a fierce, savage, and relentless war; that they tortured their prisoners, and put their enemies to death in cruel and inhuman ways. In the fight around Malolos the natives have had the opportunity of seeing for themselves that the Filipinos run before the American Where the Caribbean Breaks 515 forces, and that we neither torture nor murder our prisoners. The rebellion seems to be losing ground, and it is becoming more apparent than ever that Aguinaldo's power has been broken. A message from Manila dated April 5 stated that the Filipino government is so dissatisfied with the conduct of the war that Aguinaldo is to be deposed from his position as leader of the Philippine forces, and General Antonio Luna will be installed in his stead. Where the Caribbean Breaks. FIFTH TRAVEL PAPER. GUINEA GRASS-TICKS-JIGGERS- -COCOANUT TREES FIBRE-PIMENTO. TRAVELING east from Montego Bay the tourist passes fertile lands where cane cultivation was formerly conducted on a colossal scale. To-day much of this acreis given over to the raising age of guinea grass. This is strong grass, reaching a height of three to four and one half feet, and has great nutritive qualities. Horses and mules grow fat and lazy after being "put to grass" for a few weeks. The penkeepers who rent grass pens acquire a good, steady income. When they deliver a very small bundle of grass they receive threepence (six cents) therefor. Every horse requires from four to eight bundles per day when kept in the stable. In "tick" time, when the fields are infested with silver-back ticks, horses and cattle suffer greatly. The tick, or grass louse, drives them almost frantic. If the poor beasts are neglected, and not properly "ticked,” their ears and other parts of the body will gradually be eaten away by these pests. There has been no remedy discovered for their extinction. One was tested, but the process was tedious and costly. To be successful each individual tick had to be touched with a drop of the liquid. The remedy was almost as bad as the disease; it could not cope with the millions of grass lice which abound at certain seasons. "Jiggers," too, are very annoying, and must be cut, or dug out, wherever they have burrowed under the skin. Happily for the bare-footed natives, there are far fewer jiggers than ticks. On the road towards Falmouth, the next town of importance, hundreds of beautiful cocoanut trees are found. The cocoanut tree or palm is one of singular beauty. It often reaches a height of forty feet. There is no foliage except at the top. The trunks are fairly smooth and the trees grow very straight. They are largely used for telegraph poles, and as piles for wharves. Their age is supposed to be indicated by the rings which rise, one above the other, along the trunk. A tree usually requires ten years before it begins bearing nuts, but after that it keeps on bearing for several generations. Its value is supposed to be from one pound sterling (say $5.00) to five pounds ($25.00), according to its age. The nuts are found in clusters, under the spreading branches at the top. A good tree yields abundantly, and often at a sin Where the Caribbean Breaks 517 gle picking there will be sixty or more cocoanuts gathered. Boys climb the trees like monkeys, rapidly detach the nuts and throw them to the ground. This does not cause the nuts to crack, as they are protected by a husk which is itself encased in a hard outer skin. Between this and the shell (or kernel) of the nut, there is a very tough, fibrous matting. The nuts after being gathered are allowed to dry. They are then shipped "in the husk" to England. For the American market they must be husked and packed in bags containing one hundred large, or one hundred and fifty small. These latter are known to the trade as "nubbins." It is most interesting to watch a burly negro husk a nut. He does it very dexterously by tapping it with a small cutlass (machette) and making a slight opening. Then he inserts the point of the cutlass and gives a peculiar twist by which he pries off the entire outer husk. English buyers utilize this husk for making door mats, scrubbing brushes, brooms, and mattresses. Americans, with all their inventive ability, have not turned this waste product to account. (This is a suggestion for THE GREAT ROUND WORLD readers.) The United States Government utilizes the fibre as a means of protecting some of its cruisers from the enemy's shells. The fibre forms a better protection than the |