The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-28

millions more out of the superfuities of
their means" Bowring did not exagger-
, ate; that land Is simplytyirgin and frow-
sy with the wealth of precious woods,
spices. piles. fruits: with iron. coal,
copper. gold and precious stones. and op-
pressed and down-trodden peoples; 1t is
simply top-heayy with natural riches, for
the aspect of Spain In her four centuries
of occupancy is that of a worm boring
round the edge of a big, apple.
1t is a gorgeous group; its rolling hills
covered with dark and stately forests of
ebony, rosewood. teak. sapanwood, mo-
lave. and ipel; its romantic shores. its
plains, and valleys of orchard and plan
tation gardens of rich flowers, and groves
of beautiful birds. make 1t paradise on
earth. No deadly snakes are here, lizards
and a few aligators in Panay being the
chief reptiles; the climate is of the best,
and though just north of the equator. the
high mountains and sea winds spare the
group from the scorching heat of the
tropics. Silk. bones. hides, hemp. coffee,
cotton, sugar. tobacco. wheat. cocoa, rice,
cassia, indigo, pepper. sage, ginger. Gin
namon, the fruits, gums and drugs, betel.
bamboo, gutta percha, ebony, teak, rose
wood, ipel, molaye, sappanwood santol,
camagon, dongon. cedar and a hundred
other dmbers and dye and cabinet woods,
iron, coal, copper. gold, precious stones,
mercury, lead, sulphur. antimOny. arsenic,
granite, marble. distributed In profusion
throughout the entire group, is the fore
going wealth of things; they are common
and general to the land save where curbed
and varied a trifie by conditions of geol-
ogy, latitude, etc. The AetaS or NegritoS
are the aborigines, a race of dwarfs, cop
per-colored, small and handsome with
large, brilliant eyes, long lids, thin lips,
and small head; they stand about four
feet seven inches; tattooing Is practiced;
they are timid, superstitious. chaste but
cruel; they use the guitar and make use
of iron and copper: their number hardly
exceeds 1900, and are scattered thinfy in
the islands, but chiefly in the north Bow
ring writes: The Negritos are the saw
ages of the Philippines" This says well
for the rest The pure Indians" are,
with the Mestisos, the bulk of the people
lowland and highlanders; a quince-colored
race, graceful but strong, with black,
brilliant eyes and scant beard; they are
decently dressed and are industrious farm
ers. fishers and shepherds; have written
language and lyrical poetry, and are apt
musicians; they are distributed chiefly in
Luzon and the northern islands. The
mountaineers, though dirty and somewhat
savage, are skilled farmers. Webster
writing a dozen years ago. says they ter
race their farms, make good canals, and
work in metals; that their morality is
strict, and allows no divorce. They (Ta-
gals and Igorottes) number at present
probably 100000 The Mestisos dess than
two millions) are scattered in the Bisayas
and thinly in Mindanao and the Sulas;
Buzeta says they are graceful. with small
hands and feet and scant beard and are
industrious and skilled-very few are saw
age.
The foregoing are the people which
scare the iimid brand of Americans
Anyone with a fair idea of the ethics
Of administrative strategy knows that
the management would be easy. Dew
ely loaned them guns and he is as level
headed as the neX0 American. The trib-
al distribution of the people and the con-
fguration of the islands would be every
help to an astute military governor. But
with Spain driven away the people would
make no trouble-theyd be glad to get
work. But even surprising the impos-
sible-they could be brushed aside as
were the red men 'wherei Seattle and Ia
coma stand. The rest of the people are
Europeans, Mohanfmedans and a scat
tering of Chinese The first two need
no apology-the last are good brand
chants. bankers, shopkeepers and arts
ans. The Mohammedaps {Moross) num-
Der probably 100000 being largely the
people of the south: an Industrious. en-
terprising and frugal race; were govern
ed formerly by an HEREDITARY sultan and
nobility of great political influence, and
in certain parts of Mindanao are still
formed into petty sultanates; are of
Arabic extraction. Abdallah and Fa-
TINA being common names among them; |
they would welcome religious liberty. The
Sultan of Toudo said to Legazpi, first
governor: mot till the sun is split In
two will I be the friend of a Spaniardr'
These folks when given fair play be-
come good merchants. artisans, servants. |
farmers and fruit raisers; are expert |
sailors. Morality is high-robbery thrice
done and adultery being death. Leyte is |
larger than half of Connecticut in area:
Zebu is little smaller. Negros is more |
than twice the size of Delaware Minda-
mao is larger than Scotland; land of |
lakes and rivers the Agusan having a
course of over 230 miles. Wise nations |
being once in war would wade in blood |
to acquire this island. Palawan is like |