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

rope. The Philippines will probably
retain a practical monopoly of this
crop; its cultivation has been attempt
ed in many other places, but never sue
cessfully except in the extreme north
ern part Of Borneo.
Native tobacco has always been in
digenous to Luzon, but the quality Is
strong and bitter. Early In the seven
teenth century missionaries introduced
the Mexican plant with great success.
Tobacco plantations multiplied; the
business became more and more pros
porous until in 1871 it was made state
monopoly. Laws were enacted that all
sales should be to the government. A
planter might not smoke a cigar of his
own make under penalty of 81 fine.
The government was not always
prompt to pay for goods received; ma
tives refused to cultivate their land
and fed to the mountains; soldiers fol-
lowed and killed whom they found; at
night the natives returned again and
fired the crops in the field. In this way
Mindoro's once fourishing business has
been annihilated. Spain now took an
other step; not only must all tobacco
raised be sold to the state buyers ION
credit, but every family should own
and care for ut least 1000 tobacco
plants. The abuses resulting from
this last statute became SO horrible
that even Spanish officials protested
to the home government; the Castilian
statesmen, realizing the sponge was
squeezed dry, repealed the monopoly
laws in 1882. Even under such aus
pieces the tobacco remained excellent.
Since the business has been open 1t has
increased tremendously. Manila num-
bers scores Of factories-native, Chi
nese, and Spanish; several of them
have over 500 operatives.
Coffee lis grown to a considerable ex-
tent; the quality is unusually good.
Little, however, finds It's 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 investiga-
ton.
On many islands the ak has never
been raised against the immense virgin
forests; In few have It's depredations
been extensive. Over hundred differ
ent varieties of wood have been classi-
fed. Among them we find teak; maya,
resembling mahogany; tipolo, for mu-
steal Instruments; lanitan, for guitars
and violins; lockwood, ebony and BAN
boo.
The Inhabitants.
The inhabitants of these islands are
a 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 safest to divide the native Fiji.
pinos into Christianized Malays, pagan
Malays, and Mohammedan Malays
The first named comprise 1--WE and q
half millions Of the total population OF
eight millions. They resemble our ne
groes In many ways. They are music
lovers, fond Of the sunshine, supersti.
tious. Though usually good-natured
they are subject to fits Of murderoua
passion. Nature In the tropics il &c
industrious that man need not assist
her to any great extent In order to live
comfortably. The Filipino viii not work
as long as he II not about to starve.
When he has made enough to live on
for month or two the ex-laborer re.
tires to his matched hut. smokes hi
cigarettes, fights his gamecock. struml
his guitar, and sings love songs to hil
wife Or sweetheart