PHILIPPINE EASTER TROUBLE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9139, 11 July 1906, Page 6

PHILIPPINE EASTER TROUBLE.

One of the many curious customs practised by some persons in the Philippine Islands is the way in which they observe the week before Easter, says the New York Tribune. For the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before Easter the streets or roads on the outskirts of some villages, and sometimes the principal streets of the town itself, are filled with, crowds who have come to see the natives inflict self-torture.

The willing victims are stripped to the v.aisfc, their faces are covered with a thick cloth, and around on© hand is a heavy hemp rope, with a cluster of from fifteen to twenty smaller hempen cords. To each of these is fastened a small piece of hard wood. The whole thing is just long enough so that, when flung over the shoulders, it will not reach quite to the waist.

When the penitents aj?e ready to start cut, a Filipino, who has been appointed as a sort of overseer, takes the flesh of the back between bis thumb and fir, ft finger and cuts the skin with a long bolo. This is done all over the back. He then cries, "All, sigie!" ("Go ahead!") Then the penitent begins to beat, his back by lashing his cluster of little pieces of wood and coTds, first over one shoulder, then over the other, until the back is so lacerated <|ihat it somewhat resembles- raw beef. All the while the onlookers and victims also are singing — or, rather, chanting — a roost dismal, unearthly funeral chant.