Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-06-09
; FACTS ABOUT {
; THE PHILIPPINES. s
CO HE Philippines are essentially
Heterogeneous. Some of the islands

are UlOuDlullOuS, anu OlucIS are
fiat: some are muddy, syampy, and
feverish, others are porous limestone,
well-drained and healthy; some are en-
firely wooded, some are entirely bare.
The inhabitants present like diverg-
ence. The Moros of the south are war
like, active, intelligent, with civiliza-
ton as advanced as Turkeys. The
NegritOs are a 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. 1t is necessary, there
fore, to use only the broadest terms in
describing the group collectively.
The archipelago is a group of 1,2O0
islands situated in the Pacific Ocean,
extending from latitude 81 degrees
north to degrees 45 minutes north
It's length is thus about 1000 miles; !,
greatest width is 640 miles; the total
land area, approximately, 10000 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
Noyember-being 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
ture's 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 History.
On Aug. 10, 1919, there started from
Spain with a fleet of five ships Fer
nando Magellan, a Portuguese navi-
gator. His object was to discover a
passage from Europe, west to the Pa
citic. Magellan had vainly endeav-
ored to interest the King of Portugal in
his project; had become naturalized
Spaniard and had obtained from
Charles l., of Spain the wherewithal to
equip his fleet.
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
tinued south, and on Oct. 2S, 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 factional quarrel
between two native chieftainS and was
killed. Many members of the eXpedi-
tion 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 its 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 conver-
sions, though not valuable were nu-
merous. In l1T1 Manila was seized
and proclaimed the capital of the
Islands, to be called henceforth the
lslas Filipinos, in honor of King Philip.
The Chinese Emperor resented the
intrusion into celestial domains. Be
tween 1873 and 1915 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
ncse these attempts. At various times
fits of resentment against Chinese
blood MOnld sMnnn nNnr the Snnninrds