the ancient crowns or diadems.  This they removed, as they now do the hat [sombrero]—­which they have adopted, in imitation of us, abandoning the potong, as they called the towel or diadem which they formerly wore.  As among them it is not courtesy to remain standing before a person whom they respect, they seat themselves upon the ground, or rather on their heel-bones.  Seated in this way, with head uncovered and the potong thrown like a towel over the left shoulder, they talk with their superiors.  The mode of salutation upon entering or meeting anyone is as follows:  They draw the body together and make a low reverence, raising one or both hands to the face, and placing them upon the cheeks; they next sit down waiting for the question that may be put to them, for it is considered bad manners to speak before one is spoken to.  Their greatest courtesy is in their form of address; for they never speak to one as “thou,” or in the second person, whether singular or plural, but always use the third person, saying for example—­“Does the lord, or the chief, wish for this or that?” There are many examples of this to be found in Holy Scripture or sacred language, and particularly in the Psalms.  In the relations of man with woman, woman with man, or woman with woman, they are very careful—­even when they are quite equals, and, too, among the middle class—­to use, after every important word, nothing but “my Lord,” or “my Lady;” as, “My Lord, as I was coming up the river, I saw, my Lord,” etc.  This term and pronoun are used as agreeable and even affectionate, even in the languages of much greater importance, as Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, which are the three most venerable tongues.  In polite and affectionate intercourse they are very extravagant, addressing letters to each other in terms of elaborate and delicate expressions of affection, and neat turns of thought.  As a result of this, they are much given to musical practice; and although the guitar that they use, called cutyapi, is not very ingenious or rich in tone, it is by no means disagreeable, and to them is most pleasing.  They play it with such vivacity and skill that they seem to make human voices issue from its four metallic cords.  We also have it on good authority that by merely playing these instruments they can, without opening their lips, communicate with one another, and make themselves perfectly understood—­a thing unknown of any other nation.  The Bissayans are more rustic and less civil in manners, just as their language is harsher and less polished.  They have not so many terms of courtesy, as formerly they had no letters until, a very few years ago, they borrowed theirs from the Tagalos.  As we have already treated of their languages, it would be advisable to make some mention of their letters.

Of the Letters of the Filipinos.  Chapter XVII.

All these islanders are much given to reading and writing, and there is hardly a man, and much less a woman, who does not read and write in the letters used in the island of Manila—­which are entirely different from those of China, Japon, and India.  This will be seen from its alphabet, which is as follows: