The sun., 1898-05-29
THE PHILIPPINES
A Valuable Possession Long Neglected
BY Spain--Life in the City of
Manila.

BY spain.-Life in the City of
Manila.
These islands, away out in the South
ern Pacific, 6,470 miles from San Fran
cisco, $50 miles southeast from Hony
Kong, and in the vicinity of the Jap
anese archipelago, have suddenly be
come subjects OF public attention TIN
world over.
There is scarcely a more unique par
OF the world than this is-in the uncom
mon composite nature of the population
the wide diversity of customs among {
people under one flag and in the mar
velous luxuriance CT the products of the
soil.
They have had total experts amount
ing to $35 ,0O0,0 900 year for long time
even under the Spanish oppression o
every legitimate enterprise. For genera
tions the Philippines have been the col
ony to which the scions OF the rich and
influential families OF Spain have been
sent to make money enough in few
years to return home and be nabobs fol
life.
When Jose Cavallas Weyler, the pres
ent military leader of Spain and the re.
cent oprressor of Cuba, was Governor
General here, from 1854 to 1892, his sal
ary was S4O,0 900 a year, and he had per-
qustes from the lotteries and from a
hundred other sources that amounted to
about $4,000 annually.
The one all-important island in the
Philippines group is Luzon. 1t has
l4,0OO more square miles than Cuba and
the metropolis and capital OF the islands,
Manila, is situated on the eastern side OF
the island on beautiful great bay of
that name.
The population of Luzon is over ,OOO,-
600, and of Manila about 250,OOO The
population OF the Philippines is not ac-
curately known. The Spanish have had
no time or money to bother with a census
in the islands. They have been too busy
devislng ingenious methods of raising
revenue, and at the same time keeping
harmony and subserviency among the
Philippine people. A more mixed popu-
lation can hardly be found anywhere
than at LuzOn.
There are 240 tribes, indigenous and
mixed, among the population. Some are
the negritos, who were the aborignes;
about 5000 Spanish born and few hun
dred English, Americans and Germans; a
considerable body OF Spanish mestizos,
the offspring of Spanish father and native
mothers; several hundred thousand
Chinese and Chinese mestizos-that is to
say, the offspring of Chinese fathers and
native mothers; but the great bulk of the
inhabitants are Malayas, who conquered
the island long before the Spaniams
landed and resisted iiercely but incffect-
ually the European INVASION
They were originally mild, gentle,
kind and hospitable people, but centu-
rles OF cruel oppression have generated
among them warrior class which has
learned to outdo the Spaniards in
ferocity. In the rebelions of 1872 and
1898 they made no secret of their pur-
pose to grant no quarter.
The Spanish number about 5000 on
Luzon Island. There are only few
thousands more scattered among the
other is .ands in the Philippine group.
When there is no rebellion on in the
islands, the troops number about 1000.
but, inasmuch, as there has been a revolt
among the natives here once in about
every three years in the last decade,
thcr. have been troops to the number of
10000 and l5,0O0 living off the islanders
almost constantly.
Military expeditions Of rebc,IiOus
natives have occurred every week at the
garrison, known in Spanish countries az
the castle, at Cavitc. From last August
to February over 500 rebels were shot to
death in squads OF eight to ten BY the
Spanish troops.
The islands are Of volcanic formation
and are traverscd bya chain of noun
talns from north to south, rising in some
OF them to an altitude Of 5000 feet.
Smoking volcanoes are seen about 4
fourth Ul the lime in the Philippines.
On Ncgros Island a volcano has been
in eruption for seven years. The
coasts Ul most OF tlic islands are deeply
indcntcd by the sea, and the larger
islands are well watrrcd by large
streams, with cstuarics, which form
excellent harbor:.
The Philippine group is within the
range of the monsoons, and violent hlr-
rcancs are Of frequent occurrence.
From Nav TO September the west coasts |.
of the Philippine Islands are dcIugcd
with rain, while the October monsoon
brings rain to the east coasts, which are
-lry at other seasons.
The high temperature and abundance
)G moisture produce luxuriant vegcta-
ion. The mineral products are gold,
copper, iron lead, mercury, sulphur and !
'Oal. The islands were discovered bv .
Magellan in 1921, and were settled by .
he Spanlards in the reign OF Philip H.,
utter whom they were named.
The city Of Manila is very quaint,
lncient place. There have not been a
lozen new buildings erected there in
wenty years. Those that were built
we're to replace structures shaken down
~ one Of the earthquakes.
All the buildings alc low--very few
'ver one story, and none overtwo stories.
earthquakes occur sometimes every week
md general.;' every month. In the
winter Of lS93-W there were earthquake
hooks several times day for month