in all means of escape and prevent what might be a general insurrection in case the band were not headed off, I made the request that two companies of American soldiers be furnished and that one be landed at Tubay to prevent the outlaws from passing south and over into Cagayan, where they would have found thousands of followers. About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 25th, 30 American soldiers from Cagayan arrived in Surigao, and at 11 o'clock two companies of Americans arrived from Iloilo. Leaving orders that upon arrival of Lieutenant Hibbard with his constabulary, he should go to Tubay and work up toward Lake Mainit, and requesting that the American troops be also ordered in that direction, I left at 12 o'clock on the steamer, going down east coast for the purpose of picking up American school-teachers and ascertaining the attitude of the people in that section, and to obtain any information of the presence of the outlaws or the possibility of their heading for those parts. On March 25 the following telegraphic report was made:

"CHIEF CONSTABULARY, Manila:

"SURIGAO, March 25, 1903.

"Arms lost, 10 Springfield carbines, 22 Remington rifles, 50 shotguns, 40 revolvers, 6,000 rounds of ammunition. Believe lawlessness will be confined to those only who possess arms, as there is no one of prominence connected with them nor appears to give them their sympathy. The band is yet together, and when they entered Placer some were carrying 2 revolvers, which indicates inability to recruit men for If troops and constabulary can strike the band and gain early success no serious consequences to be feared. If present movements are successful in breaking up band or capturing some of the arms the work will require use of many small detachments, and I shall continue to increase force of constabulary with a view to retirement when advisable.

every arm.

"TAYLOR."

I returned on the morning of the 27th, and in compliance with instructions from the chief of constabulary reported to Brigadier-General Lee, who had been placed in command of all the forces. Lieutenant Hibbard had gone south and started up the Tubay River toward Mainit. On the next day, learning that Captain Marshall was close on the outlaws near Mainit, I went to Placer with a detachment of American soldiers and arrived in Mainit the next morning. Captain Marshall had headed off the band and compelled them to seek the mountains to the east of Lake Mainit. Detachments were then sent out in various directions in the hopes of surrounding the band, and on March 31 Captain Marshall had an encounter on the east shore, killing 5, but with a loss of 1 man killed and 1 mortally wounded. The outlaws were forced to retire farther back into the mountains, and that night Captain Marshall returned to Mainit for more supplies, following up the band again the next day in company with some American troops who came over from Bacaug. On the same day of Captain Marshall's engagement a caché of 8 rifles and 6 shotguns and some supplies was found on the trail of the band. Detachments of constabulary and American troops then began a systematic persecution of the band, resulting in breaking it up, and from that time up to the present they have been run down, killed, or captured until there remain probably not more than 20 men, 17 shotguns, 7 Remington rifles, and 36 revolvers uncaptured. The prompt action of the military and constabulary and the persistent pursuit undoubtedly saved what would have been a very serious situation, and the conduct of the campaign under Colonel Myer has been exceptionally brilliant and successful. In addition to the other officers heretofore mentioned, I desire to commend the untiring efforts and energy of Captain Foster and officers of the coast guard steamer Luzon and the officers of the constabulary engaged, without exception. The work of Lieutenant Delaplane, of the Army, is especially commendable, and the other army officers engaged were by no means lacking in energy and interest.

Of the $5,500 stolen about $3,500 has been recovered. The court is at this writing in session and the trial and sentences of those implicated are to be included in a supplementary report. The question of suspending habeas corpus was considered by the Civil Commission the first day, and in response to request for opinion I replied by the following telegram:

“CHIEF CONSTABULARY, Manila:

"SURIGAO, May 28, 1903.

“No immediate necessity for suspension of habeas corpus. People assisting in every way and measures only required toward the armed band now near Mainit. A change in present status or further infringement upon civil rights would do Lore injury than benefit. If Trent advises change fiscals, believe time opportune. "TAYLOR."

The effect of this disaster was almost immediately noticeable in the province of Misamis, where, in the vicinity of Cagayan, rumors were rife of a new insurrection, and matters continued to grow worse until the provincial governor appeared to lose all faith in his municipal officials and in. the people and repeatedly called for the presence of American troops to prevent a general uprising throughout his province. A company of Philippine Scouts and afterwards a troop of American cavalry were sent into the province with good effect. One engagement, in which the scouts and constabulary cooperated, near the town of Agusan had a most wholesome effect on those who were seeking to bind themselves together. In the latter part of April and the 1st of May resistance to the census enumerators was incited among the ignorant people on the island of Caminguin, which resulted in serious demonstrations against the government, and a detachment of scouts sent to that island engaged a large force of outlaws, killing and capturing many. Captain Overton, in command of a detachment of United States cavalry, was killed in the mountains back of Cagayan by some montescos whom he, with two other soldiers, were holding as prisoners while the balance of the detachment was scouring the surrounding country. These prisoners were of a people who have always been quiet and with whom the constabulary has always been on good terms, and this unfortunate affair was probably occasioned by the fear of death at the hands of the soldiers. During the fore part of May it was reported that the entire west coast of Misamis was preparing for an uprising, but a detachment of constabulary sent there from Cebu was unable to encounter any resistance or to learn that conditions were as serious as reported.

In the fore part of April and shortly after the trouble in Surigao an uprising was threatened on the island of Samar, but failed to materialize into anything serious. At the same time the pulijan troubles in Cebu again caused the people of the island considerable anxiety, and the encounter of Lieutenant Luga with a band of 20 ladrones back of Talisay caused a great deal of excitement in the city of Cebu. Several pulijan agents from Cebu going into Negros Oriental served to occasion some excitement near Guinjuligan, but they failed to cause any trouble among the people of that island. Provincial officials and others, however, have not felt satisfied since the withdrawal of American troops and scouts, owing to the recent droughts and famine which occasioned manifest discontent among the ignorant classes.

During this month Captain Orwig succeeded in more thoroughly developing the strength of the ladrones and carabao thieves in Iloilo and estimated that they were possessed of about 100 rifles, which were scattered among various bands in the mountains, who occasionally united for raids in the lowlands. Some of these bands, however, were known to have many friends and hiding places not far from Iloilo and in the thickly settled portion of the province. The force of constabulary was increased to 300 men and a regular system of campaigning has been inaugurated against these bands, and the lucrative traffic in stolen carabao has been in a great manner curtailed. The persecution of this band has in a measure threatened the province of Capiz, and it may be necessary at a later date to increase the force in that province in order to continue a vigorous campaign. The provinces of Leyte and Samar continued fairly quiet, although there were during May some disturbances in the vicinity of Jaro and Alangalang, which were very creditably met by the presidente of Alangalang, working in conjunction with Captain Borseth. Reports from Dapitan, Mindanao, although within the military zone, resulted in a detachment of constabulary being sent there, but it was shortly afterwards withdrawn upon the arrival of scouts and upon learning that the evil reports were without foundation.

On April 20 a report was received that serious trouble was brewing on the island of Siquijor and the senior inspector of Oriental Negros went there and arrested some 20 persons, who were charged with attempting to incite an uprising.

In the fore part of May the reports of active organizations of pulajans on the island of Cebu assumed serious proportions when on May 4 the provincial governor, while attempting to land from the provincial launch at Tuburan, found the town in possession of a large band of pulajans. A force of 80 constabulary in three columns was immediately dispatched to that section, and the governor obtained additional forces from Barili and Balamban. The outlaws escaped from Tuburan before the arrival of the troops, and although some small bands were met and a few killed and captured, the larger portion of the band måde its way to the mountains of Aluguinsan, where on May 13 Lieut. and Supply Officer Ward V. Walker, who was on a pay trip to Barili, reported the concentration, and in conjunction with Lieutenant Tuthill, who had been sent to assist him, encountered this force, and after several hours of desperate fighting was himself killed, with 6 companions. Lieutenant Tuthill, and 6 men, who had become separated, made their escape by night to Barili. Seven Springfield carbines were lost in this engagement. On the 15th reenforcements encountered this band, killing 30 and wounding many; recaptured 3 Springfield carbines and completely

dispersed the outlaws. On the 18th the body of Lieutenant Walker was found in a deep canyon and taken by Captain Page to Barili.

From all reports it appeared that the remnants of the band were moving north to concentrate in Guimpilican. Captain Page proceeded up the west coast to Tuburan, where he learned that on the 22d Lieutenant Poggi, with 23 constabulary and about 80 volunteers, had surrounded the high, rocky retreat in Guimpilican, and after a most desperate engagement killed more than 100 and captured 30 or 40. Lieutenant Poggi states that he does not believe over 30 escaped, and native reports confirm this information. This exploit of Lieutenant Poggi, assisted by a civilian named McBride, was without doubt most brilliant, and the results obtained are so satisfactory that it is believed it will be a long time before such a band can again get together in that section. In this attack the pulajans used bamboo ladders in scaling the rocks to reach their higher trenches, and Lieutenant Poggi's men followed on the same ladders so closely that the pulajans had not time to remove them. The majority of the force of volunteers closed upon the outlaws at the base of the hill and cut down all those who escaped from Lieutenant Poggi. Captain Page returned from a three weeks' expedition on the 5th of June, and reported the towns along the west coast as having rendered every assistance and ready at all times to furnish any number of volunteers required.

The last month of the year has been very quiet throughout the district. Heavy rains have visited all sections of all provinces and a good crop of corn and camotes can not fail to result. If the rains continue at the same rate a good crop of palay is assured, and as half the provinces depend upon their palay the result will materially affect the peace and tranquillity. Since the heavy rains of June 2 all classes of bandits have apparently been engaged in other pursuits. With the exception of an engagement with a few pulajans in Cebu and Samar, there have been no operations of the constabulary worthy of note. Pulajanism in Cebu is a thing of the past, for the present at least, and the latest victory in Samar by Lieutenant Abenis, in which he killed several officers and captured much valuable correspondence, will have a salutary effect upon that province.

SUBJECTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

PULAJANISM.

Near the former pueblo of Dolores, in Tayabas Province, there is a sacred rock, to which the commonly called "Fanaticos" of the surrounding towns go at certain times to worship a form of native religion. In the mountains of San Cristobal and Banahao there live a sect which the people refer to as the "fanaticos." narily they are peaceful and live in various towns of Tayabas, Laguna, and Batangas. They have their anting-anting and have faith in its charms.

Ordi

In the hills of all the southern provinces live a class of people who are distinct from the Filipino of the cities and the coast, in that they are more ignorant, know little of the outside world, and love their solitude and freedom. Although some recognize it in a measure, they are disinclined to accept the authority of the municipalities in whose jurisdiction they may be. They have their own headmen and leaders, and prefer a form of tribunal government, or at least give recognition to the one who can assume datoship over them by reason of personal force or the possession of a sufficient body of armed men.

In Samar this class of people are the most numerous, and there they do not hesitate to call themselves pulajans, which means that they are followers of the fanatical religious sect of the mountains. They ordinarily live peaceably, but may be called to action by their leaders to assist the armed force which controls them and referred to as "soldados" or "soldados militantes de la iglesia.

This is the force with which the government is called upon to contend when a band of the soldados militantes proceeds to execute the orders of its chief and commits robbery or murder as the chief may elect, for the good and welfare of the "iglesia" or of himself. Long before the American occupation some of these chiefs sought to spread their power and doctrines by sending agents and “soldados militantes" to other provinces to organize societies and incidentally stir things up. The result has been that in Leyte, Misamis, Negros, and Panay there are to be found the followers of this religion. Leyte, Misamis, and Cebu have in the last year suffered from the operations of the worst element of these fanatics, and now Negros and Bohol are threatened. To what extent the societies in Panay may develop remains to be seen. There appears to be a bit of this activity in this line in northern Antique. In warfare these pulajans may be likened unto Moros. They array themselves in gorgeous uniforms with red trimmings and sashes. They raid towns and occasionally kill women and children. They charge fearlessly, with their bolos flourishing before

them to turn aside the bullets, upon forces armed with rifles. The animal-like ferocity of some drives them right into the ranks and they usually do some damage before they can be dispatched. The majority, however, will turn and flee if the fire against them is well directed and sustained. I have seen individuals, knocked down by bullets, rise again to their feet and failing again in their second attempt to charge, hurl their bolos at the constabulary with their last strength. Even when down and apparently helpless, the fear of their "playing 'possum" saves our men from approaching too near until satisfied the pulajan is without power to give one more cut. Pulajans, dios-dios, colorados, cruz-cruz, soldados militantes de la iglesia, Santo Niños, and Cazadores are all religious fanatics. Their character, no matter by what name known, is identical. Their following is composed of the ignorant people of the mountains and the vagabond, worthless characters of the towns. Their leaders are men with just enough learning and knowledge of the world to enable them to work upon the credulity of the "tao" element. They are opposed to any form of government and particularly hate the American, and there is some feeling that they are not entirely without sympathy of those agitators who have hopes that this continual strife may yet force America to still better terms or precipitate another general insurrection in which they can remain passively loyal until the tide is favorable. Their object, or first the leader's object, is for gain; for love of leadership, and for personal pride in being considered exalted and worshipful by the masses. In all provinces the chief source of gain is the selling of cedulas (identification cards), bottles, and inscribed papers of "anting-anting," or in our language charms against evil. You are told that if you do not buy these you will be killed, which is sometimes true.

The object of the followers and leaders as well can be attributed to many causes or reasons, as not everyone can be said to be guided by the same thoughts. There are some reasons which may be assigned to all alike, and those are: The characteristic savage instinct which makes paramount the desire to dominate, to kill their enemies, to live without working, a diversion, to have power to satisfy every brutal desire, to have independence, not national independence with a constituted government, but an individual independence, and lastly, and that which gains for them the sympathy of many educated Filipinos, their hatred for the Americans. They are anarchists purely. The following letter is a sample of the means taken to gain adherents to the cause:

"The PRESIDENTE,

"Municipio of Minglanilla:

"Immediately after you are informed of the present communication, you must consider our sorrowful situation. I being the envoy of the powerful God to arrange this province, undoubtedly I will fulfill what the Almighty God has disposed, because the time of liberty for the Philippine Islands has already sounded and undoubtedly will so happen.

"I have sent communications to all towns, asking their opinions, if they intend to take part in the general outbreak. I would like to know as soon as possible if you agree to take part in the movement. In case favorable, I will be pleased that you send here the guns and revolvers in your charge.

"ANASTASIO DE LA CRUZ,
"The First Teacher."

Their own objects and reasons they confess as follows: Belief in the powers of their leaders; belief that the anting-anting will protect them against bullets, bolos, or spears of their enemies; an opportunity to wreak personal vengeance upon municipal officials or residents of the towns, to kill unbelievers, and drive out the Americans; independence, a new religion opposed to the present established church, which they know is without power to punish them as of old; fear of personal violence. The last is the excuse when cowed and asking mercy. It is also true to some extent, but the savage delight in the opportunities offered readily overcomes any intellectual conception of right and wrong.

The cause can readily be deduced from the object and reasons. Some natives say hunger drives men to it. This may be an influence, but it only serves as an excuse, for the worst sections have heretofore been in hemp provinces, where a few days' work on what nature so bountifully provides will give them good living for an entire month. The principal reason for the continuance and spread of pulajanism is, in my opinion, the agitations of the unfortunate conditions in the islands; the loss of the prestige of the Roman Catholic Church, which gives opportunity to new self-styled divinities; agitators, nacionalistas; Aglipayanos and pessimists, who are continually bemoaning their fate and who can see nothing good in the future. The retired position of the American troops and scouts and their final withdrawal lent hopes to the leaders and gave credence to their statements that the Americans had given up hopes of opposing them and were leaving the islands.

Superstition in the natives is so strong that the belief in the invulnerability of the pulajan leaders, who are experts in the anting-anting business, is even manifest in our guides, cargadores, and even our spies who go into their camps. Two members of the constabulary serving in Leyte were dismissed the service solely because they told their companions that there must be something "in it," as they had repeatedly fired on pulajans and never killed any.

More prompt and energetic enforcement of present laws will be effective preventatives. The people really fear the sureness of a severe law more than the spasmodic operations of the armed forces. Imprisonment under the present law is without effect upon those left behind. A few prompt executions on the public squares of the larger towns would have a most wholesome effect. There have been many murders and convictions for bandolerismo, but as yet not one hanging in all the southern islands since the establishment of civil government. Reason and education can not help the present situation until after many years.

The events of the past year and the present situation is worthy of profound thought, and full consideration should be given to this social feature of these islands, which threatens to continue to be a menace to peace and tranquillity. These spasmodic uprisings may be put down as long as they come one at a time, but in the event that they should become general, the civil government might be sorely embarrassed to cope effectively with the situation. I have been informed by several Filipinos that in Spanish times the evolution from pulajanism to insurrection was but a step.

LADRONES.

Ladronism, beyond the ordinary, is confined to the provinces of Iloilo, Occidental Negros, and Capiz, where the stealing of carabao has been a most lucrative occupation since far back into Spanish times. The rinderpest carried off carabao and cattle in such great numbers that the price rose from 30 to 130 pesos a head within a few years. It is not to be said that all carabao sold bring the highest price, but that price is the one necessary to pay in transacting a legitimate sale. People who require carabao may purchase them at from 30 to 50 pesos from agents who are in communication with the ladrones and carry on this business as a regular occupation in conjunction with municipal officials who issue false certificates. As hereinbefore stated, the activity of the constabulary in the three provinces mentioned, with the assistance of the provincial officials and the courts, have materially reduced the illegal traffic in carabao in the past year. During the past six months the relation between the constabulary and the municipal officials has become more cordial as the result of a better understanding and closer personal acquaintance. There are to be found in all the provinces some presidentes and other municipal officials who are wide awake, energetic, and progressive, and who are aiding in every way possible to perfect their government under existing laws and to better the condition of their people. There are others who by lack of education and contact with and a knowledge of the world beyond their own province do not show those ideas of or efforts toward progressiveness which is desired. There are others, but I believe the per cent is small, who are known to be unscrupulous and crooked or who are at least strongly suspected of malfeasance in office. In many instances provincial governors and provincial boards have shown considerable hesitancy in taking stern measures against these crooked officials, because of the difficulty of obtaining proof, and in some instances because the crooked officials were the only persons in the pueblo with sufficient education and intelligence to act as such. Where proof is positive, and other conditions being equal, the recalcitrant officials have usually been prosecuted vigorously. Municipal officials are, as a rule, prone to sectionalism, in that their public spirit is confined to the limits of their pueblo, and a marked degree of selfishness is shown in the hesitancy to render assistance to a neighboring pueblo when attacked or threatened by a band of ladrones or outlaws. However, it has been found that when pulijanism or ladronism assumed such a serious nature as to threaten or to do harm to all towns alike, the people are readily stirred to united action and volunteers from different towns unite together and go out into the hills in conjunction with the constabulary, performing most excellent and effective work. Municipal officials were at first prone to look upon the constabulary as personal enemies who were imposing themselves without cause or authority upon the community, but in time of trouble they learned that the constabulary are bound by no favoritism, limits of time, means, or energy, and the cordiality there cemented is usually maintained.

CHOLERA.

The spread of cholera and the great mortality in all the provinces of this district during the latter part of 1902 was the cause of considerable agitation by reason of the