The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-31
THE LADRONE AND SULU
ISLANDS WON FROM SPAIN

Philippines. and a mixed race of partly
Spanish descent.
ON the island of Saypan there exists
a colony from the neighboring Caroline
islands. These people are active and
industrious. The rest of the population
is said to be slothful in the extreme.
There is little announcement offered
them to improve their condition. Schools
have. il is true, been established, but
most of them have fallen into decay
and disuse and have finally been ADAM
doned.
Spanish is the language generally
spoken. The natives are fast forgetting
their own speech, which was a dialect
resembling that spoken by the habit
ants of the Philippines.
Originally the islands supported an
extensive population. Before thelr
subjugation by Spain the Inhabitants
are supposed to have numbered from
40. 900 to 60, 900 souls.
In 1867, the Spanish government es-
tablished a regular settlement on Guam.
The natives gave the settlers a cordial
welcome, friendly relations prevailed
and the natives were progressing rapid
ly when their new friends began the OLD
system of oppression. rs a result war
broke out between the natives and the
Spanish settlers. 1t became almost a
war of determination. In 174l the popu-
lation was reduced to 1,S00, in less than
a century the population had been re-
duced to less than one-fifteenth. Con-
frnnted by this situation, the Spaniards
began to ~colonize the Ladrones from the
| Philippines. BY 1856 the population had
reached 5000 or 10. 600, but a severe epi-
demic breaking out swept away more
than One-third of his number. The pres
ent population of the islands is reckoned
In the neighborhood of 5000 or 10000.
The governors residence is at Aqua
L. 10 VEAn fAnfffia1 hnH-
Dor of Umata.
The islands are of volcanic origin, and
present a very rugged aspect from the
sea. on Pagan and Uraceas, or the
northern group. smoking craters exist.
Here the highest peaks reach up almost
1000 feet, a considerable height when
the size of the islands is considered.
The surface of the islands of the south
ern group is more regular, there is less
mountainous formation than on their
| northern sisters. These southern Islands
are, in many instances, surrounded by
reefs and shoals, navigation is also made
difficult by currents which run between
the stands.
Thick woods cover the slopes OF the
islands: Farallen and Mangs alone are
sparsely wooded. On all the others the
vegetation Is Iuxuriant. resembling that
of the Philippines. All the islands are
well watered. Grass grows ab~undantly'
The soil is very fertile. Bananas, CO.
| coanuts. rice. maize, cotton, sugar, to-
| bacco, indigo and bread fruit all thrive
J there.
! Yet with every natural advantage,
| agriculture is at a complete standstill.
Very little land is cultivated by the
indolent natives.
European domestic animals ave been
| imported. Hogs and oxen are permit
| ted to run wild in the woods. When
| they are in want of meat the natives
| hunt the animals in the forests on the
mountain sides. The climate is, of
course. tropical. Ii is humid but ~,
unhealthy. The heat is tempered by
the trade winds and is less extreme
than i'm the Philippines. The greatest
heat occurs in August n September.
There is a rainy season and a dry sea-
son.
Spain derives little or no revenue
from the Ladrones. A pearl fishery ex-
lists on the coast of Saypan, but ii is
neither extensive nor very profitable.
These islands must not be confused
with two other groups which bear the
same name. One of these is at the
mouth of the Bay of Canton on the
coast of china At one time 1t was the
resort of pirates. The other group -
also in the Pacific. 1t is situated 10
miles off the coast of Colombia.
The Sulu islands have also been
brought into prominence by recent
events. 1t is said that they have BEEN
coded to Germany by Spain in order II
save them from falling into the posses
sion Of the United States.
This chain Of islands. more than llS
in humble lies between the southern
end of Mindano. the second in impor-
lance of the Philippines. and the north
ern shore Of Borneo. The most of the
islands which form this archipelago are
small. They are separated into three
groups. named for their principal ISL
ands. Sulu in the center.
Tawi-Tawi to the west and south'
while the Baseelan group lies on ths
northeast. nearest 10 Midano. The ex-
act area of the Sulu islands is un-
known. but it is estimated at a good
deal above 1000 square miles, The pop
ulation is variously calculated at fo.VV'
and loo ,000. Many of the smaller ISL
ands are u~ninhabited. The larger are
peopled by an industrious race VINO
profess the Mohammedan religion
These islands, with a portion OF BOZ
neo. formerly constituted an independ-
ent state. ruled over by a sultan. These
was a powerful nobility devoted chleL'
y to piracy.