La Junta tribune., 1898-05-04
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in that section Of the world, and
the question "Where are the Phil,
| lippine islands," is often heard, but
not often answered. The Philip
pine group lies SO completely off
the usual line OF travel that, save
in a general way, little is known OF
il or its people.
The last remaining Spanish pos
session in the East Indies COM
prises over 400 islands in the
Philippine group alone, the greater
number, however, being mere dots
or islers, inhabited by only few
families. The most southern OF
the Philippines lies four degrees
north OF the equator, and the most
northern twenty-one degrees, so
that the islands cover very con-
siderable portion OF territory, near
ly 1900 miles from north TO south,
and half that distance from east to
west. The total area OF the entire
group is II6, 900 square miles. or
about equal in extent to that Of
Missouri and Arkansas combined.
The islands, like most others in
that quarter OF the world, are all
of volcanic origin and each has a
mountain range as backbone,
generally terminating with a volca-
no at each end OF the island, with
two or three in the middle for
good measure. Most OF the vo!ca-
noes are lofty, but. situated as they
are, almost under the equator,
snow seldom appears on the sum-
mits OF even the highest noun
tains, although the uplands OF all
the islands have temperate eli
mate, and during the summer are
much frequented by the better
classes OF the population. Rivers
Of any considerable size are, of
course, few, but small streams are
very numerous, for there are two
rainy seasons, and when il rains
on the Philippines it rains in earn
est, a precipitation OF eight inches
in twenty-four hours having been
observed on more than one oc-
casion.
The Philippine islands have be-
longed to Spain ever since their
conquest in 1865, which was effect
ed by fleet bearing an armed
force from the western coast OF
Mexico. The Spaniards did not
accomplish their conquest without
difficulty, for, although the natives
were poorly armed, having only
the weapons common to savage
peoples throughout the world, they
made stout resistance, and all the
military strength and strategy of
the Spaniards were needed in or
der to subdue them. The island.
ers have since shown, by oft.repeat-
ed-indeed, almost continuous
insurrections, their objections to
Spanish rule, and between 1865
and the insurrection OF the present
year it is said there has hardly
been decade in which Spanish
troops have not been called upon
to pacify. in a Cuban fashion, one
or another of the disturbed prov
tinces,
Manila, the capital, is city Of
300, 900 population. composed of
Malays and Chinese. The popula-
ton OF the entire island is about
5000, 900.
The mean annual temperature Of
Manila is about ninety degrees,
which indicates that in the summer
the thermometer stands above 100
regularly every day. and hugs the
century mark pretty closely during
the night. Even in what is face
tiously called the winter season a
temperature of sixty-fve to eighty
FIVE degrees prevails. SO that a
Philippine winter would be deemed
a tolerably warm American sum-
mer. The heat is rendered almost
uncomfortable by the moisture in the
atmosphere. for day and night,