Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/449

 THE AMERICAN

JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

VOLUME VIII JANUARY, IQ03 NUMBER 4

AROUND THE ISLAND OF CEBU ON HORSEBACK.

Two OF us made a trip around the island of Cebu recently on an observation and inspection tour in connection with the department of education. We left at night and on horseback. The glory of a tropical night, with the full moon flooding the great stretches of cocoanut palms and dancing on the sea, can never be described and never be forgotten.

The island of Cebu is one hundred and thirty-five miles long and only ten to fifteen wide. Down the center runs a mountain range of no great height, but making communication difficult from coast to coast. All the towns are along the sea. Owing to the condition of the roads and the absence of bridges, one cannot travel far by vehicle. Two-wheeled rigs called quilezs are met with in the towns, and the picturesque but painfully slow Caraboo carts along the country roads.

We traveled on American army horses. There is no more striking contrast in the Philippines than that between the great powerful American horse and the tiny little native pony. The natives admire and fear our horses greatly, and if they were as ugly in disposition as the native ponies, they certainly would be dangerous animals.

Cebu was the first of these islands discovered and settled by the Spaniards. It has a population* of over five hundred thou- sand, and has the reputation of being one of the richest in the group. It produces sugar, capra, hemp, rice, corn, and tobacco.

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