LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 5 (Supplement)

LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

CONVICT SETTLEMENT.

In addition to the military and native population of Corregidor Island, off the mouth of Manila Bay, there are between 1100 and 1200 Filipino convicts. The native population! in about 1500. Even the peaceful natives must live under the -strict discipline of the island. . Upon arriving at the island and presenting his countersigned order for -employment, the native is escorted by a guard .to the office .of the provost marshal. Here his photo., thumb prints, and ' Bertilion measurements are taken, and he is then given an identification card. No single girls of marriageable age arft permitted on Corregidor unless their parents reside there. A native cannot leave the island for any purposes without a written permit from the provost marshal's office, . and upon returning he must first report to the same office for "registration." Should he lose his job he is immediately deported; no idlers are permitted on the island. Chief among the, duties of the soldiers is that of guarding the convicts. These are confined at night •in a large barbedwire stockade. Their sentences rang© from five ; years to "99 years and a day" (life imprisonment under the old Spanish law, which is still effective). Over 70 per cent, of them are. murderers, and all are hardened and desperate criminals, hence the strictest discipline is maintained .at all times. . Both the exterior and interior of the stockade is patrolled day and night by Philippines scout guards. _ The ankle and leg irons which are riveted to the convict when he enters the stockade are never taken off until he is discharged. Some of the convicts have worn their irons for 18 yearfe, continuously. The convict upon arriving is given a hat, a pair of shoes, one striped suit of thin cotton material, no socks or underwear, and a mess tin and cover, and one large soup spoon. Convicts are not allowed knives, but they sharpen their steel spoon on a stone until it has a razor edge, and use this for shaving and cutting the occasional meat rations. Their chief ration is rice and fish. '

On the occasion of the writer's visit to Corregidor a gang of convicts set upon one of their, fellows and cut him to death with their spoons. Next day the suspected ones, were placed : in the sun, without water, and manacled and shackled, until the murderess were revealed. On Sundays the " good conduct" prisoners are permitted to listen to religious services held in the stockade. They are also given a email allowance of native cigarettes, a privilege much prized. On the sea level section of the island the free natives have their homes— of bamboo frames, covered with liippa palm leaves. The floors, and also the beds, are of bamboo strips. The fund for the payment of the native police and street-cleaners comes from fines imposed in the Justice Court and the revenue from the public cock-pit permit Cock-fighting is the favourite sport of the natives.