rican officers
were present on the occasion, accompanied by a Spanish half-caste
who acted as their interpreter. The assembled guests were having
a merry time when suddenly the festivities were interrupted by the
intrusion of a _juramentado_ Moro fanatic, who sprang forward with
his _campilan_ and at one blow almost severed the interpreter's head
from his body. Then he turned his attention to the other natives,
mortally wounded two, and cut gashes in several others before he fell
dead from the revolver-shots fired by the American officers. After
the dead and wounded were carried away and the pools of blood were
mopped up, the wedding ceremony was proceeded with and the hymeneal
festival was resumed without further untoward incident.

Zamboanga is a clean, pleasant town, and what was left of it
after the Spanish evacution is well built, with many substantial
houses and public offices, a church administered by the Jesuits,
one large and one small jetty, a pretty esplanade facing the sea,
and other open spaces. A canal running through the town adds to
its picturesqueness. At the eastern extremity is the old fortress,
called the _Fuerza del Pilar_, a fine historical monument reminding
one of the Spaniards' many vicissitudes in this region, alluded to
in the preceding pages. Many of the natives concerned, or alleged to
have been concerned, in the Cavite Rising of 1872 (_vide_ p. 106)
were confined in this fortress. They overcame their jailors and
obtained possession of the guns and ammunition. The Spaniards were
consequently in great straits, for possibly their existence depended
on which side the townspeople took. The Zamboanguenos, however, helped
the Spaniards against the revolted convicts, who were finally subdued;
and as a reward for this proof of loyalty Zamboanga received the title
of _Muy leal y valiente Villa_ (very loyal and heroic town). Many years
ago a Moro attack was made on Zamboanga, and the Christian natives
joined with the Spaniards in repelling it. It would have gone rather
badly with them if they had not done so, for a Philippine Christian
was just as good fish for the Moro net as a Spaniard. However, their
co-operation was gratefully acknowledged by declaring the Zamboanguenos
to be Spaniards of the first class.

I have never been able to discern clearly what material advantage
this brought them, although I have discussed the question on the
spot. The disadvantage of this pompous distinction to the tow