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At the dawn the next morning we went on harbour off Misamis toward third big date, staying merely for enough time to find out the cable is actually operating satisfactorily, after which we sailed once more for Iligan, leaving there the following day for Cagayan, providing soundings the half hour when preparing toward installing of the fresh new wire ranging from these two cities. The brand new day is actually so rainy and you can unpleasant you to definitely zero bearings you are going to be had, but just as we had been approaching the new harbour away from Cagayan, around four on the afternoon, the latest mist cleaned away, the sun’s rays appeared wetly out of behind quite a few clouds, and over the fresh new harbour into the the southern part of lengthened a bend of guarantee, into city of Cagayan status at you to stop of the arch for instance the proverbial container out-of gold by which i hunted inside youthfulness.

Cagayan

After Dumaguete, Misamis, and Iligan, the address latest harbour out of Cagayan displayed a truly urban physical appearance, what with a delivery, a beneficial coasting ship, and a beneficial navy gunboat, all in at the same time. On Burnside we could see absolutely nothing of one’s city rescue a very dingy wharf, a few light tents pitched near the water’s line into the capability of soldiers guarding the newest unloading away from vessels, and you will a settlement from nipa shacks, in front of which have been gaily coloured washings strung over to inactive regarding hot sunrays. To own kilometers in just about any assistance slopes, with but little plants on the volcanic sides, rose level a lot more than tier as much as the interest you are going to arrived at, and bay shown on the its placid body the affect in the new sky, most of the tree into the shore.

The latest much time two-and-a-half kilometer drive on wharf off Cagayan into area best is lined into the either side having well-established nipa homes, a good schoolhouse, and some native stores, at that time the empty. The fresh window stared back at the you to such as for instance greater-open sightless sight; the fresh doors swung forward and backward from the warm breeze, and you may periodically provided a dying glance away from a good shrine to your Virgin or particular saint, this new faded plants however regarding vases, the fresh candle lights burned-out, as well as the placid deal with lookin into an individual’s individual, ridiculous with its neglect.

Left behind Town was writ large on this subject entrance so you can Cagayan, but the city alone seemed prosperous; the small shop was thriving; while the residents, which have unwell-hidden interest, peered out furtively regarding below its jalousie drapes due to the fact high moving Dougherty wagon, with its five strapping mules, tore on the greater roadways, delivering us to otherwise regarding watercraft.

Chapter V

So it Dougherty truck was at all of our disposal all day long we are there, because of the courtesy of the fresh colonel dominating, even when sometimes, whenever there’s an unusually large people regarding watercraft, i girls had been put in a two-resting barouche of good antiquity, since the dingy and faded as the individual cerulean lining, but the simply carriage in the city. The fresh officials titled so it wonderful equipage “the ultimate unction,” because it was owned by the brand new padres before the authorities purchased it, and you may was of the her or him utilized in past visits on the dying. This new locals entered by themselves towards passage so it conveyance, and you will do no further features ridden with it than in a hearse, however, we discover “the ultimate unction” really comfy and you will read zero groans or passing-bed confessions with its rusty creak, none noticed aught in moth-ingested tapestry however, that it got once already been very handsome. To your frivolous brains the existing carriage resembled little a great deal as the Cinderella’s coach just as the clock try striking several, and we were constantly expecting they to make to your good pumpkin below our very vision.