Unofficial letters of an official's wife [by] Edith Moses.

AN OFFICIAL'S WIFE

After the interview with Piang, thinking the fun
was over, we went to look for curios, but I found
only two, a kriss and a sarong, or native skirt,
striped in brilliant yellow, red, and green. An officer
took us in an ambulance to the top of the hill from
which there is a fine view of the valley of Cotabato.
Through this valley winds the great river of Mindanao. From our p6int of view one looked over the
green valley ad1 scores of miles of wonderfully fertile plain, dotted with clumps of cocoanut and bamboo, while vast stretches of sugar cane lie between
them, and Moro towns nestle in the wide green
expanse. It was late when we returned to town,
and we drove immediately to the club. There we
found a number of mestizas and natives assembled
with the members of the garrison. A lunch awaited
us, but the Commissioners were late as usual, and
it was half past one when, half starved, we sat
down to an excellent luncheon. I believe that the
Commissioners would rather listen to the talk of
natives than to eat. As soon as luncheon was over
we were escorted to the plaza where brilliant awnings had been spread to protect us from the heat.
We waited some time for the show to begin, but
the natives were gathering in crowds and it was
interesting to watch them, as it was probably amusing to them to observe our strange attire and pale
faces. Finally the Commissioners appeared with a
train of gorgeously arrayed Dattos with their slaves.
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