Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-05-27
THE ISLANDS DEWEY WON.
Their People, Their History, Geo.
graphy, Resources and General
characteristics.

This wonderful group of islands
off the southeast coast of Asia, which
will 60 down in history as the first
conquest made by the American re
public in the war of 1898, was discov
cred by Magellan in his first voyage
around the world in 1920.
There are nearly 1900 islands in
the group, and they extend in q
, northerly direction from near the
north coast of Bornco to point soutl
of the Japanese island of Formosa.
Their total area is estimated at 145,
} 600 square miles, without including
many of the smaller groups.
The islands do not belong, of right
to Spain.
Magellan, the discoverer, was a
Portuguese, and sought service under
Charles V. of Spain because he was
ignored by the court in his own
country.
BY the bull OF Pope Alexander vi
Of May 4, 1893, which was then uni.
versally recognized as law, the earth
was divided into two hemispheres.
All lands thereafter discovered in
the eastern hemisphere were decreed
to belong to Portugal; all in the
western to Spain.
The Philippines were we'll within
Portugals rights, but as the use of the
log and the variation of the compass
were unknown, an error of 50 degrees
in longitude was made, and to Spain
the islands were given on the basis of
that error.
The natives were wearing Chinese
silks, and were able to visit the MAIN
land in their own boats when they
we're discovered.
England first acquired the right to
trade with Manila in 1889, when an
English commercial house was opened
there.
Until recent years the Spanish de.
crees prevented any foreigner from
visiting the interior.
Race enmities and prejudices have
been stirred up by the Spaniards in
order to pravent union of the people
against their rule.
Though situated in the equatorial
region, the elevations Of the noun.
tains give range of climate that al
lows the production of great variety
Of valuable crops.
Tobacco, sugar, hemp and rice are
the chief staples produced.
The swamps and rivers are infested
with crocodiles and the dense woods
with monkeys and serpents OF many
species.
Rich deposits of gold are known to
exist, but have been little developed.
Severe earthquakes have shaken the
islands in the years named: 1901,
1910, 1645, 1858, 1875, 1899, 1896,
1924, 1852 and 1863.
The last was exceedingly destruc-
tive. 1t threw down the fine stone
bridge over the river Pasig at Manila
and leveled 46 public buildings and
$40 private houses, killing several
hundred persons.
Cock fighting is the national sport,
the fighters being equipped with steel
spurs. This diversion holds the same
place of favor in the Philippines rs
bull-fghting holds in Spain.
In the cool of the evening the
society of the capital promenades, firts
and displays its toilets on the beach
parade, and when the vesper bells ring
! all halt in their diversions to pray.
Climatic conditions are those of the
tropics, sultry, damp and drying
weather throughout the year.
The coolest months are November,
December and January, as the islands
lie on the north side of the equator
The hottest months are April and
May, but these months are com.
paratively dry.
The typhoon, kind of hurricane,
sometimes visits portions Of the islands
and does great damage. One in Sep.
tember, 1865, destroyed much property
in the cities and drove II vessels
ashore at Manila.
Many dialects are spoken by the
natives, only a small percentage of
whom know the Spanish.
They are hospitable to strangers.
In some districts bands of robbers
infest the country, and pirates land on
the shores and commit depredations.
The national drink is a strong
brandy made from the palm. It is
very intoxicating, and the government
tries to hold a monopoly OF its sale.
There are probably 100000 Chinese
on the islands. They have a virtual
monopoly of trade and manufactures.
Professor Jagor, the German traveller,
says: Usually the people live to-
gether unmarried, because they can
not pay the expenses of the ceremony"
Government school teachers in the
country districts receive 81 a month
and find" themselves.
/, Bats, called panikes, are found in
the interior with wings five feet from
tip to tip. Flying monkeys also
abound.