The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-29
THE PHILIPPINES.
What and Where They Are and Who
People Them.

The Philippine islands form the most
northern group of the East Indies They
lie south and southwest of Japan and
China and north of Australia, forming the
eastern boundary of China sea. They
number nine large and about twelve hum
dred small islands. The largest island.
sas and has population of about 5,O0O,-
600.
island, is the capital of the Philippines
and lies 62S miles southeast from Hong
Kong. These islands are about 10000
miles southwest of the United States, lie
almost under the equator and naturally
have hot climate
A great part of Luzon is subject to ty-
phoons. which blow between May and
December and last from six to eight hours,
often causing destruction to the shipping
and property on shore.
The agricultural products of the Philip
pines include sugar, indigo, tobacco, rice,
millet, maize, sago, hemp and coffee. To-
bacco thrives and forms a staple export
in the shape of Manila cigars Rice is
widely cultivated and forms the princi-
pal article of food of the bulk of the pop
ulation. Fruits and vegetables introduced
from more temperate regions grow well.
The trees with which many of the
kinds of valuable timber. as well as dye
woods and gums. Among the animals are
strong buffaloes, which are caught and
trained when young and used as beasts
of burden and for all purposes of tillage
and husbandry; small but hardy horses,
introduced by the Spaniards; goats, pigs
sheep and large numbers of water fowl
as we'll domestic poultry.
There are no Wild beasts, but crocodiles
and snakes infest the lakes and marshes
Swallows build edible nests in the chalk
cliffs parrots and pigeons are met with
in all the islands. The sea and rivers
abound with fish. which the Malays pre-
= The population is extremely mixed. The
pure Spaniards do not exceed 5000 in ALL
MetiS, Chinese, Chinese half-breeds and
Mohammedans from the East Indies. The
ulation, and are divided into two tribes,
the, Tagals and Bisayaps. They make
cloth and tissues of every sort, cordage
and leather, and are clever workers in
pecially expert in needlework. Their ag-
ricultural implements are very simple, and
their pIow is remarkable for its lghtness
The race called Negritos by the Span
tants of the Philippines, and are still
found in considerable numbers the
Nliiy' dying out, and When the Spaniards
first landed had. already been driven back
The Spanish laws. for the Indians are
extremely simple. Every Sownship annu-
as mayor. justice and magistrate. In i'm
portant affairs he is dependent upon the
Subordinate to the captain general, whose
seat of government is at Manila; the
by lieutenant governors Every male in
habitant must, besides paying a small per-
to the public works department, besides
which in some parts of Luzon, the polls
taS, or cOOl1eS, numbering a million or
more, must cultivate tobacco for the gov
ernment, but from this service they may
purchase exemption.
The Philippines were discovered by Fer
nando Magalhaens in 1921; but the Arabs
had already established communication
with these islands by. sailing along the
shores of India, and thence crossing the
Bay of Bengal. Magalhaens was killed
one of the islands. In 1864 Philip II. of
Spain sent a squadron under Lopez de
at Cebu, and soon subdued it. In 1870 a
second fleet sailed from Panay for Luzon
and finally, after repeated engagements
with the native chiefs, effected a settle
lowing year the Spanish admiral proclaim
ed Manila the capital of these possessions
for his royal master, after whom they
they were thenceforward called.
With the exception of fruitleSS attempts
on the part of the Dutch and the Chi
nese during the sixteenth century to OBJ
tain a footing the islands, which had
meanwhile opened a valuable trade with
Japan. the SpaniardS remained in undis-
turbed possession till 1852 when the English
stormed Manila under Admiral Cornish
and Sir William Draper. The city saved
itself from plunder by agreeing to pay a
ransom of s.. 5.OOO,O ,OOO
The smaller islands long suffered severe
ly from the attacks of pirates, who had
always infested those seas. In 1851, how
ever, their depredatiOnS were checked by
a successful naval expedition against the
island of Sooloo, the sultan of which was
Inent was established there.
The Philippine islands were explored in
1868 by a Mr.. Semper and more recently by
the German naturalist, DR.. Meyer. Many
restrictions still hamper commerce, and
only four ports are open to foreign ship
ping: Manila and Saal in LuZon, Zam-
bOanga in Mindanao and Iloilo in Panay.