Washington sentinel., 1898-06-04
The philippine IsIands.

The islands, says the ScSeAtff
AmeucaN, were discovered by
Magellan in 1891, and Manila, tn,
capital,w founded by Legaspi il
1871, and since that time they hav,
been under the dominion Of Spain
Their conquest and retention wa.
in marked contrast to the usuaI
Spanish methods of dealing with
conquered people, methods o
which Cortez and Pizarro are the
chiefexponents. Legaspi with six
Augustinians and handful OF sol
diers accomplished the wonderful
WORK Of conquest Without greed
Tor gold and without any exhibit
tion OF cruelty or persecution, these
devoted men labored among the
docile people until they won their
confidence, so that the islands were
seized wi h little bloodshed and no
massacre or depopulation. The
name "Islas Filipas" was given by
Legaspi in 1867, Contests with
frontier rebellious tribes. attacks
by pirates, earthquakes and ty-
phoons serve to break up the mon
otony OF an otherwise uneventful
history. Manila was captured by
the English under Draper and Cor
nish in 1862, and ransomed for
5000, 900 dolls, but was restored in
1904. The present instructions
in the islands were put down with
an iron hand and many atrocities
were committed, so that it is little
wonder that many OF the inhabi-
tants look upon the arrival Of the
Americans as deliyerance.
While none of the islands have
very high mountains (the highest,
Apo, in Mindanao, being over
5000 ieet). still all the islands may
be described in general as noun
famous and hilly. Volcanic forces
have had large share in shaping
the archipelago, but few of the
peaks are now volcanic. In 1914
terrible eruption destroyed Ia,-
900 people at Camalig, Budiao,
Albay, Guinobatan and Daraga.
In 1867 the same district was Wis
tied with another eruption. The
Philippines are also notorious for
terrible typhoons. In 1876 one Of
the storms burst over Luzon,
pouring down the sides Of the
mountain Mayon, bringing de-
struction to a number OF cities
completely running 6,ooo houses.
TYphoons on the coast are also
common. The third great evil to
which the islands are treated are
the earthquakes, which visit them
so frequently that they affect the
style adopted in the erection of
buildings. The most violent earth
quake occurred in 1880, destroying
an immense amount of property,
including the cathedral. The Phil
ippine Islands are peculiar in hav-
ing three seasons-a cold, a hot
and wet. The first extends from
November to February or March.
The winds are northerly and
woollen clothing and a fire are de-
sIrable, the sky is clear and the air
bracing, and Europeans in this
strange cline consider it the pleas
antest time OF the year. The hot
season lasts from March to June,
and the heat becomes oppressive
and thunderstorms of terrific Vio-
lence are frequent. During July,
August, September and October
the rain comes down in torrents,
and large tracts OF the lower coun-
try are flooded.
Manila lies on the western side
OF the island of Luzou and is about
600 miles from Hong Kong. 1t
has one Of the most spacious and
beautiful harbors OF the whole
world, The sho are low and
inland can be seen the outline OF
mountains. The city OF Manila
resembles a dilapidated fortress
surrounded by stone walls 800
years old. There is also a wide
shallow moat. The gates are
never closed andsZA is doubtful if
the city could make any defence.
There is also an old fort. Several
creeks branch of from the land
locked bay and afford a means of
communication with the suburbs.
These creeks are crossed by in
Vulnerable bridges, and canoes
thread their wav through .hese
narrow waterways, which some
what resemble a tropical Venice.
Around the walls and edge OF the
bay is a fashionable drive lined
with almond trees. 1t is here