The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1899-06-15
FACTS ABOUT
! THE PHILIPPINES.

ca HE Philippines are essentially
Heterogeneous. Someof the islands
- are mountainous, and others are
nat; some are muddy, syampy. and
feverish, others are porous limestone,
well-drained and healthy; some are en-
tirely wooded, some are entirely bare.
The Inhabitants present like diverg-
ence. The Moros of the south are war
like, active, intelligent, with civi1iza-
ton as advanced as Turkeys. The
Negritos are diseased and dying pig
my tribe, absolutely animal in their ex-
istence, less advanced than any known
people. The term "Filipino" embraces
Manila rabble and secluded islanders,
mountaineers and seamen, priests and
the cannibals. It is necessary, there
fore, to use only the broadcast terms IN
describing the group collectively.
The archipelago is a group Of LOO
islands situated in the Pacific Ocean,
extending from latitude 81 degrees
north to degrees 45 minutes north.
Its length Is thus about 1000 miles; Its
greatest width is $40 miles; the total
land area, approximately, lib, 900 square
miles. The nearest mainland Is Asia,
300 miles to the northeast San Fran
cisco is 5000 miles to the west. The
archipelago lies wholly within the line
Of Capricorn and the equator. Its
characteristics, food products, and peo-
pie are tropical.
The climate is hot and moist; regu-
lar observations have been taken only
at Manila, where the temperature has
been found to vary between GO and 100
degrees. The excessive humidity
makes this degree more difficult to en-
dure than in the temperate zones. As
one progresses toward the swampy,
low-lying islands farther south the
heat, and especially the humidity, in
creases greatly.
There are two seasons, the wet and
dry-the former lasting from June to
MISUNDERSTANDING the most disagree
able and dangerous to health. Fever
and dysentery are the diseases most
dreaded by foreigners, but dangerous
localities are known and may be
avoided.
The Philippines are the seat Of ma
lures passions. Earthquakes are COM
mon and violent; the volcanoes are the
most dangerous in the world. Luzon
is the cradle Of that terrible sea storm,
the typhoon.
islands External Historv
On Aug. 10, 1919, there started from
Spain with feet of five ships Fer
nando Magellan, a Portuguese navi-
gator. His object was to discover
passage from Europe, west to the Pa
cific. Magellan had vainly endeav-
ored to interest the King Of Portugal in
his project; had become a naturalized
Spaniard, and had obtained from
Charles l., of Spain the wherewithal to
equip his feet.
He reached the western coast of
South America in December and
turned south. AS the season became
harsher and the weather colder the
ships commanders mutined, desiring
to winter on shore. One was executed,
another marooned. However, one ship
did desert and another was wrecked.
With three ships the great explorer con-
t1nued south, and on Oct. %, 1920,
passed through the Straits of Magel-
Ian to the waters of the Pacific. He
now shaped his course west by north,
and in midsummer, 1921, reached Min
danao, of which he took possession in
the name Of the King Of Spain. He
next landed at Cebu, in August, 1921,
and was welcomed by the king Of the
island. This monarch was baptized
and took the oath of allegiance to
Spain. Shortly after Magellan be-
came involved In a fractional quarrel
between two native chieftains and was
killed. Many members Of the expedi-
ton had died, but the remainder, with
two ships, again sailed west and dis
covered Palawan. Later one Of the
two was lost, but the other pluckily
continued It's way and made the first
complete journey around the world.
In 1865, under the direction of Philip
H., the second Spanish expedition
reached the islands. The object was
the saving Of native souls; inquisition
methods were employed, and CONVEX
sions, though not valuable, were nu-
merous. In 1871 Manila was seized
and proclaimed the capital of the
islands, to be called henceforth the
Islas Filipinos, in honor of King Philip.
The Chinese Emperor resented the
intrusion into celestial domains. Be-
tween 1873 and 1875 he sent forth ten
expeditions to oust the Spaniards
Severe battles followed, but the Euro
peans managed to keep their foothold.
They never, however, forgave the Chi
nese these attempts. At various times
nts Of resentment against Chinese
blood would sweep over the Spaniards
and crusades were organized in order
to kill or drive them out In 1903 3d.
600 were murdered, and in 1889 IS, 600.
In 1862 England took Manila from
Spain, but peace was soon proclaimed,
and the islands were returned.
The natives have been apt to revolt
1T any time. When they did 80 Spain
used fire and sword literally, not only
to subdue, but to punish after surren-
der.
Resources OF the Islands.
The resources Of the islands are
varied. Rice was introduced -~from
China centuries ago. 1t has since be-
come the staple food Of the natives on
account Of the ease with which it is
produced. The quality is excellent. At
present all the rice produced Is con-
sumed in the islands, but much good
land is not cultivated.
Sugar cane Is grown extensively
throughout the archipelago. OF late