'American inspector with detachment escorted Bishop Brent and Doctor Clapp from Bontoc to Tuguegarao, Cagayan, month of February.

"The honorable secretary of the interior paid us a visit, arriving in San Emilio February 28, where I met him and escorted him to Cervantes and later to Bontoc, and from there to Banauay, Nueva Vizcaya, and back to Bontoc again, after which he was escorted to Cervantes by Lieutenant Eckman, and May 22 to Loa, on his way to Baguio.

"Latter part of April several detachments were sent out in the mountains north of Angaqui and around San Emilio, scouting for escaped prisoners and so-called ladrones from Ilocos Sur. Captured one at Concepcion who was turned over to Ilocos Sur constabulary.

"Conditions in the province are very good indeed, and, after the lesson taught the people of Barlig, will steadily improve. A little trouble now and again arises with Igorrotes of the different rancheries, and after their crop is harvested they generally get restless and uneasy and would like to go on the warpath. This we have managed to keep down by choosing our men for the constabulary from the rancherias, who are deadly enemies, and thus bring them together.

"The crop this year, especially rice, is very short, but the camote, which is one of the staple comestibles, has turned out very well, and the outlook for food supplies, which six weeks ago looked very dark, has brightened considerably.

"It is recommended that immediately after the rainy season roads be put in shape. Especially is this true in the subprovince of Bontoc and Amburayan.

"Constabulary posts should be established at Labugan and Balbalasan. At Labugan an American inspector is indispensable, and constabulary force should be enlisted from there as well as from all rancherias, with whom they are at enmity. The post at Balbalasan, on the Saltan River, need not be large, and could be commanded by a good native subinspector, and I again respectfully call your attention to my letter of May 16, recommending my first sergeant to such position.

"It is also recommended that all constabulary posts be connected by telephone, and I think I can promise to cut and put up the necessary posts free of charge.

"I understand from reliable source that the district of Quiangan, now in Nueva Vizcaya, will in the near future be added to this province and a lieutenant-governor put in there, and when this is done we will need additional constabulary, but at present no recommendations can be made for this subprovince.

'Acting upon telegraphic authority of Gen. Henry T. Allen, chief of Philippines constabulary, dated at Baguio, Benguet, June 3, 1903, I have the honor to report that on May 6 I proceeded with a detachment of 45 men from here to Bontoc, where I increased same to 96 men and on May 10 left for Talubin, on my way to Barlig. The people of Barlig, as you will remember by my May monthly report, started a petty insurrection of their own May 20, when Lieutenant Wiseley, with a detachment of 33 men, went there to arrest some criminals, put up a fight, and refused absolutely to recognize the American Government. Lieutenant-Governor Wager, of the subprovince of Bontoc; Lieutenant Wiseley, of the Philippines constabulary, and the provincial supervisor, accompanied the expedition. We left Tabulin at 12 o'clock that night, it being bright moonlight, ascending the Polis Mountain range. The trail (footpath) is a miserable one, straight up and down, the highest point reached being about 7,000 feet above sea level, and the grade easily averaging 30 per cent and in places much more simply steps cut in the mountain side. The trail leads through a dense forest with thick underbrush, and in places entirely covered with long grass (runos), which makes it decidedly dangerous for this kind of work, as the enemy is entirely concealed from view and has all the advantages over a detachment coming up the trail. Sharp-pointed bamboo sticks, at an angle of 45°, are set in the trail-particularly is this true when one is descendingwhich serve to inflict wounds, as well as make the advance tardy, as it becomes necessary to halt and remove them, and usually the enemy is close at hand, ready to run a spear through one while so engaged. It is a blessing they do not know anything of poison, as it certainly would prove very fatal, and as it is I had three men wounded by these sticks, two so badly that they had to be carried home. A lot of these sticks were removed by our party, but nothing of interest happened along the trail. About a mile and a half out of Barlig the trail leads over high rice dikes, over which traveling is very difficult. We arrived at Barlig about 11 a. m., and about a mile out of town were met by the presidente, who pretended friendship. I told him we were there to demand the deliverance of the five criminals whom Lieutenant Wiseley had come over for some time ago, and further told him to proceed on ahead of us into town, as we were coming in. He seemed surprised at this, but started on ahead, and that was the last I saw of him, as it was impossible for me to keep up with him over the dikes, which are 20 to 30 feet high and extremely hard

for an American to travel over. Upon entering the town many bunches of warriors in arms were seen squatted down on the mountain side watching our advance. Women, children, animals, and everything of value had disappeared and were hid in the mountains. I shouted to the men in sight and asked them to come in, but instead of complying they went farther up. Shortly after our arrival an Igorrote, who lives in Barlig, and who is a brother of one of my soldiers, came in and told me, The people will not come in, but are anxious to fight you.' This man did not take any part in what subsequently happened. I told him to go back and tell the people that I wanted the five culprits and that they were very foolish if they showed any demonstration whatever, as it surely would have but one outcome, and that if they did not come in and act friendly I would punish them severely. This was received by laughters, sneers, and defies, and they commenced drawing near, getting within a hundred yards of us, dancing their war dance, displaying spears, axes, and shields. I could have easily killed a number of them, but acted entirely on the defensive, waiting for them to make the first move, which would justify me in punishing them. I had not to wait long; that night after dark (the moon did not rise until about 10) they came very near on all sides, yelling and shouting, and commenced throwing rocks into camp, but doing no harm. Our position was everything desirable from a defensive view, up high about 15 feet above the paddies, and so surrounded on three sides, one side only being accessible to the enemy, and this was heavily guarded. But a few shots were fired during the night. At dawn the next morning a big demonstration was made by them, but it did not amount to anything, and after breakfast I ordered several detachments out and we soon chased them away, burned the town, and destroyed many rice paddies. I had some dynamite with me which I used on the rice-paddy walls, but not successfully, as the resistance is not great enough, as all but one side is composed of earth; a dozen crowbars would have been better.

"It was this day that my soldiers were wounded in chasing the Igorrotes over the hills. Several spears were thrown at us, none of which took effect.

Early next day we started on the return trip and expended considerable ammunition in clearing the trail. During our stay in Barlig the home trail had been literally studded with sharp-pointed sticks, making the journey slow and tedious. Lieutenant-Governor Wager says he will write a letter giving them thirty days to bring in the five culprits wanted, and if not complied with, the constabulary will again visit their town and this time camp there until the prisoners are apprehended. "I believe the lesson taught these people will have the desired effect, as it certainly will on all the rancherias in the province, who closely watched the outcome of this expedition. During Spanish reign the Barlig people twice got the best of them, once during the early part of the eighties and the last time in 1883 or 1884, when they professed friendship, invited them into their town, fed them, and when the soldiers carelessly were sitting down to their meal rushed in and speared them, and, as I have it, but a few got away.

"It seems that the people of Barlig are composed of a lot of law breakers from other rancherias. It is the haven for the criminal, and he is received with open arms by the people living there. Should we ever have occasion to make another expedition against these people, I would respectfully recommend that we camp there a sufficient time to bring them to the realization that fooling with the American Government is no play."

LAGUNA.

Senior Inspector, Capt. WINFIELD S. GROVE.

Authorized strength, 162.

There are 6 stations in the province and 7 officers. There were 274 expeditions during the year, aggregating 4,346 miles. Engagements, 7; outlaws killed, 9; captured, 59.

Arms captured: 36 Remington rifles, 1 Krag, 6 Mausers, 79 shotguns, 29 revolvers, and 387 rounds of ammunition; 36 stolen horses have been recovered; also 15 carabaos and 2 cattle; 38 horses have been captured from ladrone bands.

Most of these have been returned to owners. The senior inspector reports capture of 200 pesos. Warrants received, 184; executed, 133. Number of arrests without warrants, 227. Constabulary casualties, killed 1, wounded 4; arms lost, 3 rifles and 2 revolvers.

The police of the towns of Santa Cruz, San Pablo, Pila, Calanan, and Paete have assisted the constabulary, and are fairly good; the remainder are worthless, poorly paid and disciplined, and have been of no assistance. The country between Lake Taal and Laguna de Bay is being mapped by Lieutenant Sims. Ladrones passing from Cavite to Laguna must pass through this neck, and it is hoped that more

effective work can be performed after all trails are known. The barrios of Santo Tomas and Tunasan harbor any outlaws coming their way. A telephone line should be constructed between Alaminos and Santo Tomas, and Alaminos and Tiain, to facilitate communication and assist in intercepting ladrone bands. The constabulary at Santo Domingo and Alaminos have more than 20 per cent sick with malaria; the health in remainder of province is fairly good. The loyalty of the people in San Antonio and Paete in capturing Rios and his band is in striking contrast to those of Bay, who undoubtedly gave aid and comfort to the band which robbed the Tabaccalera Company and Chinos in that town in June.

There are no organized bands of ladrones in the province, but there are a lot who are none too good for this occupation, and are only prevented by the vigilance of the constabulary and through fear of death or capture. During the year a number of poor people from Batangas Province drifted into Laguna, and are living there apparently contented, are working and giving no trouble.

Rios's band, which has caused much trouble for the past two years, was trapped, and the whole band captured by the people of San Antonio and Paete. The people invited them to come in and make themselves at home, representing that they were in sympathy with them. After coaxing them in under the guise of friendship, they captured the whole outfit. They can not be blamed for this deception, for these outlaws had harassed the barrios in that district for many months.

Macario Sacay took up his abode about Mount Cristobal in May and recruited a few men. He passes as the president of the Philippine republic. Governor Cailles objected to sharing his authority with this self-styled governor, and by force of arms compelled him to move on. He then secretly went through part of Rizal and Batangas and enlisted other recruits. At this time he is in the mountains 25 miles from Bosoboso. An expedition will soon follow him there. It is believed that this man is crazy.

Agricultural interests in the province are improving, but locusts promise to destroy the present crops. There are 6 telegraph stations and 12 telephone stations in the province. There are military stations at Calamba, Cabuyao, Santa Rosa, Los Baños and Biñan.

NUEVA ECIJA.

Senior Inspector, Capt. R. B. KAVANAGH.

The authorized strength of this province is 200 men; miles covered in scouting 3,000; one engagement; outlaws captured, 7; arms captured, 2 Krags, 3 Remingtons, 2 revolvers, and 25 rounds of ammunition; stolen animals recovered, 6 carabao. There have been no casualties among the constabulary, but 8 carbines have been lost. The municipal police are practically worthless. They have lost 5 shotguns and 2 revolvers. There have been two attacks on towns by ladrones, in which police gave up their guns. While there have been no serious disturbances, conditions are unsettled. Felipe Salvador with about 30 religious fanatics, with 15 rifles and 6 shotguns, occasionally creates some disturbances. Martin Concepcion has about 20 followers with guns.

Everything was peaceful in this province, generally speaking, until the month of February. The native population were then, although the harvest had just been gathered, very poor, and consequently there were numerous petty robberies of food, clothes, and occasionally carabaos. On the 10th of February the constabulary barracks at San Jose was attacked at 3 a. m. by a body of fanatics called Santa Iglecias, numbering about 100, who, through the help of the traitorous corporal of the guard, succeeded in entering the barracks, taking 7 Springfield rifles and 1 revolver, afterwards firing on the soldiers. They were repulsed, pursued, the deserting corporal being shot and captured, losing right arm, and is now in jail awaiting trial. After the attack this band dispersed, but about a dozen have since been captured, and are in jail awaiting trial.

During March and April, present year, these small robberies increased to a great extent, and small armed parties of from 3 to 10 were occasionally seen, even in the daytime, in remote places. The town of Peñaranda was attacked by an armed band of 10 or 15, and although there was a municipal police force of 11 men, armed with Remington shotguns and Colt revolvers, they were unable or perhaps unwilling to drive the robbers out until they had robbed one house of 175 pesos, clothes, etc. In consequence of that attack the presidente requested a detachment of constabulary; his request was so strongly indorsed by the provincial governor on the grounds of not alone protecting the pueblo itself but as being of strategic importance, that 15 men were placed there, making a subdistrict of it.

WAR 1903-VOL 7———5

On May 4 constabulary from Tarlac were escorting a carabao train from Victoria, Tarlac, to Santo Domingo. They were attacked about 6 miles north of Aliaga by ladrones, who succeeded in stealing one rifle from the constabulary, afterwards shooting the owner through the leg and capturing his ammunition and revolver.

During April and May a band of 9 or 10 armed ladrones operated in the country between Santa Rosa and the Tarlac border and south to San Antonio, under a bandit named San Pedro. After much work the band was broken up, 1 wounded and 3 captured. On June 9 the police barracks at Jaen, 2 miles from San Isidro, having a municipal police force of 8, with 5 shotguns and 3 revolvers, was attacked about 10 p. m. The police were, according to local information, all asleep save the sentinel. The ladrones, without the least trouble or firing a shot, took 4 shotguns and 2 revolvers with ammunition. They also carried off the presidente for a few hours. On June 20 the same band attacked municipal cuartel at San Juan de Guimba, taking 1 broken shotgun and 40 rounds s. g. ammunition. There were 18 police armed with 5 shotguns, 2 Hongkong revolvers, and 11 bolos, but they made no resistance, although the attacking party probably numbered no more than 40.

The attack on San José, Jaen, and San Juan was directed by the same individual, Felipe Salvador, alias Apong-Ipi, a native of Pampanga, their object being to secure arms; the people and their property remaining unmolested. The efforts of all constabulary here are now directed toward the killing or capture of this band. The natives sympathizing with them will not give any information about them, even with the promise of large rewards. The greatest obstacle encountered by the constabulary in their pursuit of ladrones is the sympathy of the natives of almost all classes with robbers.

Cholera has carried away during the past year one constabulary officer (native) and six soldiers, and has now broken out again. The nearest constabulary hospital is at Tarlac, 41 miles away.

The senior inspector recommends that more authority be given constabulary officers over municipal police. Section 13 of the regulations should be again introduced, but changed, so that one or more police might be dismissed for just cause, and the senior inspector be authorized to put in the place of the men dismissed, persons of good character recommended by him. This would be of great advantage, as we would then have confidential persons in the ranks of the municipal police.

NUEVA VIZCAYA.

Senior Inspector, Capt. LEWIS PATSTONE.

Authorized strength, 162. There are 5 stations and 7 officers.

No arms were captured; 18 stolen carabaos and 2 horses recovered. No casualties among police. Efficiency fair.

Several expeditions have been made with a view to establishing shorter postal routes. Also several visits have been made by the senior inspector to mountain tribes of Igorrotes. They are well behaved and are giving no trouble.

A detachment of 4 men leave Bayombong twice a month to guard mail between that point and San José, Nueva Ecija.

The municipal police should be placed under the constabulary. Frequent visits of the constabulary into the Igorrote country are advisable to prevent quarreling among the tribes. The senior inspector and governor of the province have spent a large part of the time quarreling about provincial matters. The interests of the province would no doubt be improved by making a clean sweep of both and putting new material there.

The constabulary has been extensively used during the past few months, guarding parties taking the census.

The province of Nueva Vizcaya is about 40 miles long by 30 miles wide and is entirely surrounded by mountains. There are two main trails leading into it, one from Nueva Ecija through the Carabello pass, the other from Isabela over Mount Rosario. There are other trails passable for foot travel leading into all the provinces that surround it. There was one trail built by the Spaniards, known as the Padre Juan Villaverde trail, that should be put into serviceable condition, as by it the journey to Manila is shortened by about three days. All the trails in the province need much repairing. The population of the province numbers about 50,000 people, divided as follows: In the towns live about 15,000. They are Gaden, the natives of the province, Ilocano, Pangasinan, and Tagalog. In the mountains and the country generally are found the Igorrote, numbering about 35,000, divided into 3 principal tribes, viz.: Ifugao, Ysanas, Ylongote. The principal towns are Aritao, Bagabag, Bamban, Bayombong, Dupas, Solano, and Ibong. Pindugan is the largest of the

Igorrote towns and is in the Quiangan district. The province is governed by special acts of the Philippine Commission, the towns by a presidente and counsel.

The road from Bayombong to Bagabag is the only one over which a wheeled vehicle can travel; all the rest of the roads are simply trails, that are nearly impassable in the rainy season. Many of these trails were good roads during the Spanish régime and could be restored to usefulness without much cost to the provincial government, under the direction of the supervisor. The matter of good roads is of vital importance to the constabulary.

The schools are generally in good condition, are well attended, have competent teachers and good school buildings. The scholars are attentive, intelligent, and diligent and are fast learning the English language. More American teachers are needed.

The general conditions in the province are quite satisfactory. There are but few ladrones and no organized bands are known to exist in the province. Sometimes small bands do come from other provinces, who are driven out just as soon as located. The Igorrotes are living much more at peace with each other than they have lived for many years. No cases of headhunting have been reported during the last six months. If properly cared for and advised there is no reason why this habit may not be eradicated. The following domestic animals are raised: Carabao, horses, and a few fine-grade Hindoo cattle. Formerly many of the latter were owned here. The province is well adapted to the production of domestic cattle. The province produces much wild game, deer, hogs, ducks, pigeon, doves, wild chicken, cranes, plover, and many other kinds of birds. Rice, tobacco, sugar, coffee, cocoa, maize, cotton, beans, peas, onions, pumpkins, squash, peppers, eggplant, okra, lettuce, and nearly every vegetable that is grown in the United States can be grown successfully here. Many wild vegetables are known to the natives. Guava, oranges, lemons, bananas, mangoes, chicoes, cocoanut, betel nut, grape fruit, and pawpaw. In the mountains wild raspberries are found but they are tasteless. The valleys are very fertile, but are not more than half cultivated, there being no market for the products, which, on account of the long distance to a market and a bad road, render such small returns that it does not pay. The Igorrotes in the mountains raise a large quantity of vegetables which they carry a long distance to market, they being satisfied with a small return for their labor. The province does not appear to be rich in minerals. There are two salt mines that are worked by the Igorrotes. From one, situated on the river about 10 miles from Bamban, much salt of a good quality is produced in a very primitive manner. Evidence of iron as well as black oxide of tin have been observed.

A semimonthly delivery of mail is on the 1st and 16th of each month. The duty performed during the past six months has been escort and general garrison duty. From January to May, 70 men were on duty with census enumerators as guard. Lieut. J. Velasquez and Sergt. José Calata were appointed as special census enumerators to take the census of the Igorrotes, which duty received special commendation from the chief of the province for the thoroughness and the manner in which it was performed. A guard is maintained at the office of the provincial governor, treasurer, and jail in addition to the regular guard. The men are quartered very comfortably at no cost to the government. The officers hire what they can get. The men have been paid once in three months for the past year. should be remedied.

observed, mail leaving for and from Bayombong It is received on the 6th and 21st.

This

The maintenance of a pack train is a matter of vital importance to the province. In February of this year there existed a train of 20 native ponies, 5 chino ponies, and 5 chino mules. Of this number 17 of the native ponies, 2 chino ponies, and 2 of the mules have died from the effect of surra. It may be stated that the mules, not being thoroughly acclimated, became an easy prey to the disease. The senior inspector believes that mules will do better as well as give better service than ponies. It is economy to maintain a train at the simple cost of production, as all the land needed for such purpose could be had for the asking. A competent man should be engaged to have entire charge of the pack train; one who understands shoeing and is familiar enough with the common diseases of horses to administer medicine to same when sick; further, to know enough about packing an animal to get the best results; to go with them on journeys, and be responsible for the care and condition for the entire train. In the rainy season he could superintend the planting of food for the train. This recommendation is made after a careful consideration of the subject. It has been found by experience that the natives need constant watching; few of them take interest in animals even when they own them. It is believed that it would be economy to have a packer. The cost of the hire of ponies for the journey to San José and return is now 34 pesos for 3 ponies and 1 man for care of same, so that in