An inspection
of the barracks of the civil guard
p. 22 is blank
{23}
showed the same collection of old spears and bolos as before with the addition
of two quaint old pictures on religious subjects doubtless of Spanish execution
which the Dr. and I made a feeble attempt to buy but did not. Then a good
lunch and quiet smoke looking out over the merrily dancing sea, and the fishing
birds inshore, then by a road through the woods home. On this drive I saw
my first tree top house, a little bamboo hut like a doll's house in a low
tree (dul-dul or cotton wood.) Now it grows dusk for dinner with the mess
the first time since landing a week ago. Hope I may keep free from fever
now.
{24}
Information concidered [sic] fairly trustworthy
<had been received which> indicated that a landing had
could best be made at the southern end of the island near the capital: and
that no opposition would be met <made>. So in spite
of the <obvious> fact that we should thus <the
force would> land when it was expected and where the inhabitants if hostile
would be prepared to meet it other conciderations determined Major Hale to
accept this risk and land on the coast near the capital. At Cebu, therefore,
[illegible] interpreter was obtained
{25} [continued from p. 11 ]
15
the expedition sailed <from Iloilo> on board the transport Elcano first
for Cebu where an armed ship was to be fished up added,
and thence to some port of Bohol. I had the privilege of accompanying this
expedition in connection with certain work of my own corps. (Insert
2). As a consequence <of the uncertain conditions and of its isolation
when the island should be have been taken> the expedition
was equipped with all completeness of equipment necessary
<for peace or for war, and contained all essential
[illegible]> to occupy and hold a hostile island for
many weeks. It consisted of two hundred men and 9 officers,
was provisioned for two months, carried an excellent hospital outfit under
the charge of a skilful physician who had proved his value as a sanitary
expert in the hospitals of Havana the year previous; and was in fact ready
to establish itself on any spot of the habitable globe and hold its own against
all comers. And thus equipped <the expedition> sailed about sunset
on March 14 for Cebu.
The men of the little command had just returned from an expedition against
the mountain town of ---- in Antique <in western Panay and were hard
as nails in excellent condition for the work ahead of it later
confinement for several days on the dirty decks of the hired
transport had undone some of the good still a finer body of troops are rarely
seen. Final dispositions made, plans arranged with the senior naval officer
of the station, it was decided to attempt a landing on the coast near
p. 26 is blank
{27}
the capital Tagbilaran and <island of Panglao whence
a good road was known to extend to the capital>. The gunboat Panay was
sent out some hours before the Elcano
sailed to await the arrival <of the latter> off the
coast of Bohol.
It was about twelve o'clock of a beautiful night, with a full moon shining
over forest and harbor, lightening up the salients of the grey old fort and
touching with silver the white walls of church and convent when the Elcano
started on her voyage. The distance was short and long before the bugles
sang reveille across the quiet of the slumbering sea <in the> silver
grey of the following morning, the men were active and preparing to land
on the unknown island. Presently as the sun rose we ran in towards the line
of a green well wooded coast and following it eastward approached a shallow
bay evidently our landing place <for far inland we could see the masts
of the gunboat at anchor>. A few canoes were patrolling <here &
there> across the [illegible] sea, and a larger craft <sometimes
[appeared?] under the [illegible], but everything was as peaceful
as a summer's morning <should be.>
Presently
we saw the signal flag of the Panay telling us the depth of water, [which?]
her boat sounded here and there in search of a channel. But no one appeared
to notice our approach and the fishing canoes at sea, and natives along the
shore continued their occupations as if it were nothing
{28}
This afterwards or not at all. [This editorial reminder refers to the
passage, beginning "three dignitaries <intelligent looking people..."
near the bottom of p. 29.]
{29}
unusual <for them> to see of a morning two steamers off their coast
<bringing> soldiers from the other side of the world to take possession
of this country. Appearances, however, may not be accepted in the Philippines,
and as the ship stole quietly into her anchorage about a mile from shore
four boats were called away, manned with native rowers and carrying <an
officer and> eighteen or nineteen men each were drawn up in line in advance
of the ship and preceded by a boat from the Panay in which were Major Hale
<commanding>, Lt. [Lubey?] of the navy, Asst. Surgeon Furbush and the
writer, proceeded with an interval of some twenty yards [i.e between boats]
towards the shore. But nothing occurred to mar the quiet of the scene, the
water broke gently over brilliant sands and corals below, the fishermen continued
to fish <their occupation>, the canoes rocked gently
on the waves, while on shore all was quiet <as the desert>
until.
As the water
shoaled men and officers leaped overboard and presently a long
<skirmish> line of blue <shirted soldiers> was advancing,
<muzzles of their guns in the air>, through the shallow waters to the
shore. Presently as we approached <nearer> a carriage appeared driving
along the beach evidently the Government come to receive us; and as the
commanding officer accompanied by the others of his boat stepped dripping
upon the sands the <representatives> of Bohol advanced to meet him,
three dignitaries, <intelligent looking people, evidently dressed in their
Sunday clothes> and a priest; but the President of the Republic was not
there. We learned then that word had been sent of our coming the day before;
but time and tide had prevented the representatives of the people from going
on board the transport. It appeared that the President would receive Major
Hale at the Capital, and would there surrender his charge but under protest
and because he had no means of
p. 30 is blank