Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-05-12
THE PHILIPPINES.

Sieutoot oiOhiPoi"6ooS W
Th, y lie in the north tropic zone and
separate the South China sea on the
west and Pacific ocean on the east. On
the south the Celebes sea, 300 miles
across, separates this archipelago from
islands of the same name. On the
southwest two island chains-the Sulu
and the Misunderstanding to within
few miles of the coast of Borneo, in
close the large Sulu sea.
The eastern shore of the principal
island is about 600 miles east Of Hong
Kong; it is the largest and most north.
ern great island of the group-a group,
which, extending from S to 20 degrees
north latitude, and over longitude OF
10 to III degrees east Of Greenwich,
covers a north and south line of 1850
miles, and an astand west line of about
700 miles.
CHARACTER OF THE GROUP.
Exact information concerning this
important archipelago, its geology. re
sources and population has never been
officially collected, but the files of the
Philadelphia Commercial Museum fur
nish many authentic facts. It is, how
ever, a pure estimate that this group
comprises 400 islande, of which by tar
the larger part are mere islets. They
are of coral and volcanic formation the
latter often having tremendous erup
tons. The largest Of them are Luzon
on the north, of nearly Al. 900 square
miles area, and Mindano, on the south.
east, having an area of 37,456 square
miles. The total area Is computed at
ia 900 square miles.
The chief seaport of the group is Ma.
Mia, overlooking a capacious bay on
the southwest shore Of Luzon. The
other chief ports are lloilo and Ceba.
on islands of the same name, IN the
central part Of the archipelago.
THE POPULATION.
There are half dozen other islands
in the central and western part of the
group, the areas of which range from
that OF Rhode Island to that of Connec
ticut. They are inhabited, in round
numbers, by about 100000 people, Of
whom dwarfed race Of Negritos, now
driven into the mountains and interior
lands, seem to be the descendants Of
the aborigines. The bulk of the popu
latlon is Malayan, of whom there are
numerous tribes the dirtlest and most
pagan is known as the Igorrotes, and
yet they display very exemplary quail
ties. They are one of the most impor
tant mountain tribes of Luzon, and are
amongst the population who virtually
escape omniverous Spanish taxation
They are good farmers, laying out ter
raced fields on the mountains, construct
irrigation canals, and having a consid
cradle reputation as metallurglsts
Their domestic morality is favorably il
contrast with that of their neighbors
THE CHINESE.
Another element Of the population is
the Chinese and their Msstizos, or de-
scendants of mixed Sinitic and native
blood. There is scarcely community
on the Sc islands where the Chinese are
not found. Petty trade and banking
are almost entirely in their hands
Europeans and their descendants are
not numerous herr, although there is 6
considerable breed of half castles, de-
rived from European fathers.
On May 81, 1881, the Portuguese, Fer.
nando de Magalbaens (Magellan)
landed on little island south of Samal
on the eastern coast of the archipelago
Forty six days later he persisted off the
coast of Cebu, enc of the center islands
This exploit made the country known
to Europe. 1t was not until the close
of the Sixteenth Century that the archi
pelago passed under the Spanish domi
nation, during the reign of Philip II.
THE REVOLT OF 1895.
The history of these islands during
the Nineteenth Century has been one
of oppression, restrictions on commerce
and ferocious taxation in which the
eccleeiastics used their inhence for the
support Of the Spanish sovereignty
The last revolt broke out in 1896. The
conspiracy wss discovered before the
day appointed for the rising, and the
plans Of the insurrectionists were dis
concerted. Yet when the authorities
proceeded to arrest those known 10 be
involved the rebels mustered in force,
amounting to several thousand, but
were dispersed when they offered battle
in the neighborhood of Manila. The
insurgents established themselves in
the Province Of Cavite on the South