Anting-Anting Stories

by Sargent Kayme

Pirates, half naked natives, pearls, man-apes, towering volcanoes about whose summits clouds and unearthly traditions float together, strange animals and birds, and stranger men, pythons, bejuco ropes stained with human blood, feathering palm trees now fanned by soft breezes and now crushed to the ground by tornadoes;-on no mimic stage was ever a more [VI]wonderful scene set for such a company of actors. That the truly remarkable stories written by Sargent Kayme do not exaggerate the realities of this strange life can be easily seen by any one who has read the letters from press correspondents, our soldiers, or the more formal books of travel. Show Excerpt "That is Mt. Togonda," he answered, pointing to the hills before them, "and this," swinging his hand around the plateau on which the camp's tents were pitched, "is La Plaza del Carabaos." The captain's eyes met those of Lieutenant Smith. "La Plaza del Carabaos" means "The Square of the Water Buffalos." As if with one thought the two men turned and looked out to sea. The sun had set. Against the glowing western sky a huge rock at the plateau's farthest limit was outlined. Rough-carved as the rock had been by the chisel of nature, the likeness to a water buffalo's head was striking. Beyond the rock three islands lay in a line upon the sunset-lighted water. Far out from the foot of the cliff the two men could hear the waves beating upon the sand. "This is an excellent place for a camp," the captain said when he turned to his men again. "I think we shall find it best to stay here for some time." Perhaps a month of respite from attack had made the sentries careless; perhap

118 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2012

Reviews

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I nice little book containing stories set in the Philippines. Gives the vast archipelago the Rudyard Kipling treatment, in that many stories focus on a white man interacting within this culture. It wasn't therefore quite the authentic experience of Filipino fiction I expected, but I liked it enough all the same. Fun but, in the end, probably rather forgettable. Three stars because two would be unkind.