Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-06-17
OUR NEW TERRITORY
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIP
PINE ISLANDS.


There Comparatively Few-Natives Pur-
posely Kept in Ignorance by Spain.
The winning of a great victory by
American sailors in the Philippine
Islands, and the probability that the
Government of these islands, at least
for a time, will devolve on the United
States, has made them a centre of in
terest here. Almost exactly our anti
podes, little has been known of them in
this country. Yet they are large and
populous, and their possession would
be of enormous value to any country
whose commerce entered any part of
the Pacific Ocean.
The Philippine Archipelago has an
area of 114,326 square miles from lati-
tude SPA to 1888 N, and from longi-
tude 11721 to 1868 E. 1t is bounded
on the north and east by the Pacific
Ocean, by the Sooloo and Celebes seas
on the south, and by the China Sea on
the West. The islands, which extend
north and south from Formosa to Bor-
neo and the Moluccas, are more than
1,200 in number, but most of them are
mere rocks of volcanic origin.
The principal islands are nine:
Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Panay, Min
doro, Leyte Negros, Cebu and Bohol.
Luzon, with more than 10000 square
miles and nearly 100000 inhabitants,
is by far the most important of all the
islands OF the archipelago. Panay,
with 4,742 square miles, has a popula-
ton of 1000, 600 and Mindanao, with
$4,000 square miles, has scarcely 100000
inhabitants. The total population of
the archipelago has been variOusly
estimated at from 100000 to 100000.
The Philippine Archipelago was dis
covered in 1921 by Magellan, who died
in the same year from wounds received
in a fight with the natives of the
island of Cebu.
The name Philippines was given to
the islands by Villalobos in honor of
King Philip H., but SPANS DONNA
tion over the islands was not firmly
established until many years later,
when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was
sent there from Mexico with four ships
and a numerous force.
In 1870 Legazpi conquered the island
of Luzon and founded the city of Ma
Mia, which soon became the capital of
the archipelago. The Philippines
have since remained in the hands of
Spain. Manila, however, was cap
tured by an English fleet in 1862, and
retained for fifteen months, when it
was returned to Spain.
} The Negritos or Papous, a savage
and repulsive people, were probably
the aboriginal inhabitants of the archi-
pelago; but only a few thousands Of
them remain, scattered in bands over
mountains and forests, where they took
refuge from the invading Malay Ind
ians, who now fom the bulk of the
islands population. These Indians
are divided into two tribes, the Bisay-
, ans and the Tagals.
The Spanish residents of the islands
number scarcely $1,000 exclusive of the
army contingent, which was consider
ably increased at the time of the recent
rebellion in the Province of Cavite
There are also number of Chinese
and half-breeds. The Tagals and Bis
ayans are of mild disposition, gentle
and docile. They engage in fishing
=, and agriculture and practise some fine
! branches of industry, such as the man
ufacture of beautiful mats and elegant
linen fabrics.
: The soil of the Philippines is ex-
> tremely fertile. Among the agricult-
ural products are sugar, indigo, tobac-
h co, rice, millet, maize, sage, hemp and
D coffee. Besides the fruits and vege-
4 tables of all tropical countries, others
S from more temperate regions grow
q WELL and timber as we'll as dye-wood
and gums abound in every one of the
e islands.
g No wild beasts are found in the Phil
n ippines; but the lakes and lagoons, OF
$ which there are many, and the marsh
u es swarm with crocodiles and snakes
A species of buffalo, the carabao, is
i found in the islands, and used for all
d purposes of tillage and husbandry
S Horses, small but strong, pigs, sheep
!, goats and wild and domestic fowl are
- also found. The rivers and lagoons
s abound in fish. Swallows build edible
S nests in the chalk cliffs and parrots
y and pigeons are met with in all the
5 islands.
The climate is hot, but tempered by
great moisture. The rainy season
@ lasts from May to November. The
mean temperature is 81 deg. in summer
o and II deg. in winter. The island Of
;. Luzon is subject to typoons, which
d blow between May and December, Of
IS ten causing great destruction to ship
II ping and property on shore. Earth,
IS quakes and volcanic eruption are fire.
s quent. In the earthquake of 1914;
e 5000 lives were lost, and those of 1862
# 1912 and 1852 were also destructive O.