“If they find people sleeping or resting, taking the siesta, it makes no difference to them; they go into the most private parts of the house as though they were walking in the street.

“In the shops they take what pleases them and if the owner wants payment they threaten him with their rifles.

“One can hardly believe and my pen refuses to write all of the perversity, and evil and bad habits of these people.

“Their habits and manners are a disgrace to the country where they were born.  In no history have such customs and manners been described even in that of the most ignorant people.

“They search women who pass, feeling all over their bodies, taking from them money and whatever else they carry and if they come on them in a lonely place they strip them naked after violating them and do not leave a rag on them.

“Are these those honest men of whom we have heard?  Are these the people who were going to teach us good habits?  Are these the people who were going to guide us?  The race which does these things is the most hated one in the world, it is the race which commits most cruelties, it is the race which does not treat its mother with respect; in this race there is not the slightest idea of personal dignity, it is a race which does not know what honour is, which does not possess the slightest vestige of regard for good manners.  Are these the people who are going to protect us?  It is better for us to die at once than fall into the power of these unequalled malefactors.

“iDown with the bad men!

“iKill the Americans!!

“iLet the people of the United States be exterminated!!!

“iNotice.—­This sheet is distributed gratis.”

[409] “A light upon the treatment of women by these people is given by the fact that after an American detachment had captured Lukban’s papers and family on August 18, and came so close to taking him that he was able to recognize their guide, one of his correspondents wrote to him that to their surprise the women, who had fully expected to be abused, had been treated with respect and given a house to live in. (P.I.R., 1143.4.)”—­Taylor, 84 HS.

[410] In a letter to General Ambrosio Moxica from ------ dated March 2,
1900, occurs the following:—­

“The guerillas quartered in the neighbourhood must render mutual assistance and keep up communication, so as to get the news as to where the enemy comes or goes, and the time at which they will pass certain points, endeavouring also to arrange that all the guerilla bands should have regular couriers, with you or with general headquarters, giving advice daily of any occurrence and carrying correspondence.  They must select trustworthy women to carry correspondence, charging them to hide the letters underneath their skirts, bearing in mind that the Americans do not search them; and in sending to the towns for arms or food, the orders must be sent by women and for small quantities, so as not to attract attention.”—­P.I.R., 2035. 3.