the legendary white tribe that is said to wander in the mountains of mindoro is but distantly related to the great white tribe now scattered through the greater part of filipinia. extending from the babuyanes off luzon, to tawi-tawi and sibutu off the coast of borneo, the great white tribe has made its presence felt throughout the archipelago.

the following pages are the record of my own impressions and experiences in the philippines. the few historical and geographical allusions made have been selected only as they were significant, explanatory, picturesque. a logical arrangement of the chapters will enable the reader to survey the islands as a great bird hovering above might do—will make the map of filipinia “look like a postage-stamp.”

i promise that the reader shall be introduced to all the most important members of the great white tribe, as well as to the representatives of races brown and black. we will peep through the hedge together as the [4]savages and pagans execute their grotesque dances or perform their sacrifices to the god of the volcano. furthermore, the reader shall attend the oroquieta ball with maraquita and don julian, or, if he likes, with “foxy grandpa” and “the arizona babe.”

i ought to dedicate this book to many people,—to that wonderful brown baby primitivo, who has written that he “loves me the most best of all the world;” to “fresno bill,” that charter member of the great white tribe, with whom i have knocked around from zamboanga to vigan; or to that coterie of college men in old manila who extended me so many courtesies while i was there. i send them all my compliments from the homeland, and ask the reader, if he will, to do likewise.

cincinnati, ohio,

december, 1903.