Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-07

The government was not always
prompt to pay for goods received; ma
tives refused to cultivate their lane
and fled to the mountains; soldiers fol
lowed and killed whom they found; al
night the natives returned again ant
fired the crops in the field. In this way
AIindoro's once flourishing business has
been annihilated. Spain now took an
other step; not only must all tobacco
raised be sold to the state buyers Tor
credit, but every family should owl
and care for at least 1000 tobacco
plants. Tho abuses resulting from
this last statute became SO horrible
that even Spanish officials protested
to the home government; the CASTELAR,
statesmen. realizing the sponge was
squeezed dry, repealed the monopoly
laws in 1882. Even under such aus
plces the tobacco remained excellent
Since the business has been open it has
increased tremendously. Manila mum
bers scores of factorles-native, Chi.
nese, and Spanish; several Of them
have over 500 operatives.
Coffee Is grown to n considerable ex-
tent; the quality is unusually good.
Little, however, finds its way out OF
the archipelago. The cocoa plant was
introduced from Central America early
in the seventeenth century. Philippine
chocolate is always spoken of well by
returned travellers.
Various minerals are found in paying
quantities. Especially is this true OF
Luzon and Mindanao. Gold and sui
phur will prove of value to prospec-
tors; silver, mercury, copper and tin
have furnished returns, but the extent
of the deposits Is matter of inyestIga-
ton.
On many Islands the AK has never
been raised against the immense virgin
forests; In few have Its deprcdatlons
been extensive. Over a hundred differ
ent varieties of wood have been classl-
fed. Among them we find teak; naga,
resembling mahogany; tipolo, for mu-
steal instruments; lanitan, FOR guitars
and yiollns; lockwood, ebony and bam-
boo.
The Inhabitants,
The Inhabitants of these islands are
strangely mixed lot. Malay charac-
teristics generally prevail throughout.
The many attempts to classify the peo-
pies into various district tribes and
races have failed, for the reason that
pure blood of any sort is rare.
1t is snfest to divide the native Fill
plnOs into Christlanized Malays, pagan
Malays, and Mohammedan Malays.
The first named comprise five and a
huff millions of the total population of
eight millions. They resemble our ne
groes in many ways. They are music
lovers. fond Of the sunshine, superstl-
tious. Though usually good-natured,
they are subject to fits of murderous
passion. Nature in the tropics is SO
industrious that man need not assist
her to any great extent in order to live
comfortably. The Filipino will not work
as long as he is not about TO starye.
When he has made enough to live on
for month or two the ex-laborer re-
tires to his matched hut, smokes his
cigarettes. fights his gamecock, strums
his guitar, and sings love songs to his
wife or sweetheart.
The natives of the northern islands
are called Tagalos. They are the small
est and least brave, but also most
treacherous and tricky of the Filipinos,
and always have been reckoned as the
poorest fighters; have always been
most completely under Spain's domino
tlon, and have suffered most accord
ingly.
The central group of islands is term
ed the Visaya group. The inhabitants
called Visayos-are somewhat larger,
stronger. more independent than the
Tagalos. The difference, however, is
far less marked than between our DIFF
ferent Indian tribes. Travellers, in or
der to strengthen the force of their
distinctions and comparisons, are apt
to push them little far. The sharply
drawn distinction between the Taga.
los and the Vlsayoss is not justified.
The Moros or Mohammedan Malays
aggregate less than million. They
inhabit the Sulu group at the south Of
the archipelago, parts Of Mindanao,
and the southern third of Palawan.
One Sultan, whose residence is Sulu, is
acknowledged throughout these ISL
ands. The Moros are fierce, fanati-
cal, seafaring race, who were never
conquered by Spain. 1t is unsafe for
white man to venture among them.
To kill Christians is part of thelr re
lgious belief.