The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-07-29

brothers. They have most Of the traits
OF the people Of the peninsula. The
present population numbers about $780,
700. Spanish is spoken entirely, but
the people are not as rule we'll edu-
Gated.
The soil in the lower parts of the
islands is very productive and sufficient
gram and potatoes are raised to supply
the wants Of the people. Sugar was
formerly manufactured to q consider
able extent, but this industry has fallen
away, unable to Withstand the COMPETE
ton of other countries. In the higher
regions the vine has been widely culti-
waited and good wines were produced,
but this trade has not been remuner-
alive. The chief exports of the islands
are now raw silk and cochineal, togeth-
er with considerable quantity of wine
and dry fruits. The principal foreign
trade OF the islands is with England,
though there is no inconsiderable
amount with the United States and the
countries bordering on the Mediter-
ranean.
The ports of the Canaries are prac-
tically free and have been since about
1860. Santa Cruz, Orotava and Las
Palmas are the only ports engaged in
foreign trade, and nearly 300 vessels
enter these ports in the course of
year. Santa Cruz is the capital of the
Islands as we'll as the chief seaport.
1t Is situated on the northeastern side
of Tenerife and is said to be a vulgar
little spot, out of keeping with the
beautiful scenery which surrounds it.
1t is little town of white buildings
and narrow streets dropped down
among the purple peaks as if it had
come from the clouds which cloak their
SUBMITS. Tenerife and Gran Canaria
are so advantageously situated that
they are used as coaling stations by the
main line steamers bound for Brazil,
the West Indies, Australia or the cape.
The Canary islands are not Span
ish colony. They are a part of the
province Of Andalusia and are nominal
ly ruled by governor-general who re-
sides at Santa Cruz, and is chief in
command in civil and military affairs.
The actual administration is, however,
in the hands of two lieutenant-goyer-
nors, living at Santa Cruz and Las Pal
mas.
From the position of Importance
which the Canary islands once occu-
pied, they have sunk into comparative
oblivion. The reason for this is hard
to find. 1t is to be feared that it is
chiefly, If not solely, because they are Il
Spanish province. Unlike most of the
Spanish possessions outside of the pen
insula, this dependency has given
Spain little trouble. There have been
no instructions, and no civil wars,
simply because there have been no ma
tlves. So complete was the subsection
and the humiliation of the native race,
that Spain insured herself at the out
set from all uprisings among her col
onists, and the present inhabitants are
probably as strongly governed as the
Spaniards of the peninsular provinces.
Because Of their standing as a prov
ince and their proximity to the mother
country, there is little or no chance for
the Canaries to be brought into prom
inence through the present war with
Spain.
A Spanish colonial possession which
may be brought into notice through it's
connection with the Philippines is the
archipelago of the Carolines. The Caro-
lines, or New Philippines, as they are
sometimes called, are widely scattered
lying to the east of the Philippines and
north of New Guinea. They are about
1890 miles west of San Francisco and
about 400 miles north of the equator.
For the most part, they are mountain
Gus islands, sometimes reaching an
altitude of 5000 feet above sea level.
They are divided into the western, CEN
trail and eastern Carolines. The west
ern Carolines, or Pelew islands, have
an area of 346 square miles and are
nearly encircled by coral reef. Their
Inhabitants are of a dark, copper-col-
ored race, with traces of Malay and
Papuan blood. Fruits are grown
throughout the islands in abundance.
Not only the separate islands, but even
the villages form independent but CO.
operative republics. The people have
peculiar institution called the "cloeb-
bergoll." It is kind of a corpora
ton for the purposes of mutual aid
and defence. The women have "cloeb-
bergolls" of their own and possess
considerable share of political influ-
ence. The recognized currency of these
people consists Of beads Of ancient glass
and enamel. The population seems to
be rapidly decreasing, there being now
in the whole group about 10000 in
habitants.
| The central Carolines are more usu-
ally known as the Carolines proper.
They are divided into forty-eight
groups and embrace four or five hum.
ldred islands. Their area is $50 square
miles: They have in the neighborhood
OF IS, 600 inhabitant of two distinct
races; a black and red, which are
frequently at war. with each other. The
'Mortlock group contains three islands
and is Inhabited by the only worshipers
lot regular idols n,the archipelago. The