J 
 
Manila and 
 The Philippine Islands 
 
 An Up-to-date Handbook of 
 Facts 
 
 COMPIIvKD FROM OFFICIAI. UNITED STATES WAR DEPART 
 
 MENT'S INFORMATION, SPANISH REPORTS 
 
 AND ORIGINAI, INVESTIGATION 
 
 PUBUSHED BY 
 
 THE PHILIPPINES COMPANY 
 NEW YORK 
 

 9 
 
 Copyright 1899 by The Philippines Company 
 
 By transit^) 
 
 DEC 6 19b 
 
V«4 
 
 Manila and 
 The Philippine Islands 
 
 THIS group of islands, which now become the pos- 
 session of the United States through the bravery 
 and abiUty of Admiral Dewey and those under 
 his command, confirmed by subsequent diplo- 
 macy, were discovered by the Spanish navigator, Magel- 
 lan, on March 12, 1521. In 1564 Don Miguel ]topez 
 de Legazpi sailed with an expedition from Brazil and 
 founded a Spanish settlement where the town of Cebu 
 now is. It was then that the islands were named the 
 Philippines in honor of Philip II, then King of Spain. 
 Ever since that date the islands have been nominally 
 under the rule of Spain, although several of the islands 
 and parts of other islands have been governed by inde- 
 pendent Malay Mahomedans, who have disputed this 
 Spanish rule. In truth, the Spanish authority has not 
 extended much beyond the sea coast and a little way 
 along some of the more important rivers. In either case, 
 whether under Spanish rule or under the rule of the 
 more or less savage Malay, there has been nothing ap- 
 proaching the ideal of proper government ; there has 
 been no satisfactory protection of property rights ; there 
 has been no encouragement to enterprise ; there has 
 been no adequate aid to the development ot the wonder- 
 ful resources of the islands. The chief aim of the Gov- 
 ernor-General of the Spaniards, no less than that of the 
 Sultans of the Malayan Mahomedans, has been pillage. 
 In one case it has been more apparently legal, perhaps, 
 than in the other ; but whether it has taken the form of 
 excessive taxation, or of government monopoly of the 
 tobacco trade, or more ordinary robbery — it has been 
 pillage. 
 
4 MANILA AND THK 
 
 The Philippine Islands lie southeast of Asia, extending 
 from 5° 32' to 19° 38' north latitude and from 117° to 
 126° east longitude, about 1,000 miles in a line approxi- 
 mately north and south, and in width in a line east and 
 west about 700 miles (see map). They lie between the 
 Pacific Ocean on the east and the China Sea on the west. 
 Various estimates of the number of the islands have been 
 made, varying from 400 to 3,200 ; but the most, the best 
 authorities estimate, places the number at 1,400. Many 
 of them, however, are mere islets. Luzon on the north 
 is the largest of the group, having an area of nearly 
 41,000 square miles. Mindanao, the southermost of the is- 
 lands, has an area of 37,456 square miles. These two 
 islands alone would make a territory worthy acquisition 
 and worthy development. The western coast of Luzon is 
 about 600 miles distant from the eastern coast of Asia. 
 The total area of the archipelago is something over 
 114,000 square miles. 
 
 The islands are mountainous and hilly. Volcanic ac- 
 tion has had much to do in causing and shaping the 
 archipelago ; but of active, or as one might say, working 
 volcanoes, there are very few. Some of the mountains 
 attain considerable height; Apo, in Mindanao, is over 
 9,000 feet high ; Halson, in Mindoro, 8,865 ; Malindaras, 
 in Mindanao, 8,685 ; Mayon, in Luzon, 8,275, and Mala- 
 pina, in Negros, 8,190 feet. These mountains are densely 
 wooded, and are an important factor in the future devel- 
 opment of the wealth of the islands. 
 
 HARBORS* 
 
 The immense coast line of the islands contains a great 
 number of good harbors, but as a consequence of the ex- 
 clusive policy of the Spanish Government in closing them 
 to foreign commerce, very little is known except to coast- 
 wise navigators. Trade is confined chiefly to Manila, 
 Iloilo, Cebu, and Sual. Zamboanga, on the island of 
 Mindanao, is also an open port. 
 
 The Bay of Manila, one of the finest in the world, is 
 about 120 miles in circumference, with very few dangers 
 to navigation. (See plan of Manila on separate map. ) 
 
PHII.IPPINK ISI.ANDS ^ 
 
 There are two long piers running out from the mouth 
 of the Pasig River, one terminating in a lighthouse, and 
 the other in a small fort. In stormy weather safe an- 
 chorage is found off Cavite, some eight miles to the south- 
 west by water. At that point is found the naval estab- 
 lishment, including a marine railway, capable of taking 
 from the water vessels of 2,000 tons displacement, and 
 a dock for small vessels. 
 
 Iloilo, the second port in importance, is on the island 
 of Panay, near its southeastern extremity and about 250 
 miles in a direct line from Manila. Well-protected and 
 naturally good anchorage for large vessels is found out- 
 side the mouth of the Iloilo River, but small vessels en- 
 ter it and discharge cargoes at the town wharves. 
 
 MANILA* 
 
 Manila (see plan of Manila and island of Luzon on 
 separate map), capital of the Philippine Archipelago and 
 the province of this name, has 300,000 to 400,000 in- 
 habitants, and was founded in 1571, on the left bank of 
 the mouth of Rio Pasig at its junction with the Pacific 
 Ocean. 
 
 It is a fortified city, encircled by a wall with bastions 
 and bulwarks and a ditch and outer ditch, where it does 
 not front on the sea or river. The waters of the sea or 
 river can be let in and thus isolate the city, by opening 
 the sluices constructed for this purpose. There are six 
 gates — three to the north, on the road to the river Pasig, 
 called Almacenes, Santo Domingo, and Isabel II ; and 
 three on the land side, called Parian, Real, and Santa 
 Lucia. All are well defended by bastions, particularly 
 on the land side. Besides the gates there is a bastion to 
 the north-northwest of the gate of Santa Lucia, which is 
 not always open. 
 
 The gate Real, formerly enfiladed the Plaza Mayor and 
 the palace of the Governor, but since the taking of the 
 city by the English in 1762, it has been placed in front of 
 the college of San Jose, where it is now situated, and 
 public entrance is made through the gate of Parian. The 
 
6 MANII.A AND THK 
 
 land side is the most exposed and the best fortified, but 
 for convenience the description will begin at the most 
 advanced point formed by the river and sea, which is to 
 be found at the extreme northwest of the city and de- 
 fended by the royal fort of Santiago. Thence it w^ill fol- 
 low the bank of the river to the extreme northeast, where 
 the bastion to San Gabriel is situated, from wdiich point, 
 proceeding along the trace in an oblique direction, first to 
 the northeast, then to the east, and finally to the south, 
 the extremity of the part in the battery of San Gregorio 
 and the bastion of San Diego is reached. From here one 
 turns to the southwest along the coast, which leads to the 
 before-mentioned fort of Santiago.' This fort is a citadel, 
 defending the entrance to the river and the northwest 
 angle of the city. Originally built of wood, it assumed 
 its present form by order of Governor Gomez, who sur- 
 rounded the city with good fortifications. The fort has 
 a gate to the plaza and a false one to the river. In front 
 and on the other side of this, is found the fort of Fer- 
 nando, which has no great strength. 
 
 On the east of the royal fort of Santiago, and at a short 
 distance from it on the same side of the river, is found 
 the bastion Tenerias ; next, in the vSame direction to the 
 gate of Almacenes ; more to the east the battery of the 
 military hospital. Not far from this on the same line, 
 the gate of Santo Domingo, with its strong battery ; 
 next, the bastion of the customs house (Aduana) ; next, 
 the gate of Isabel II, and lastly, the bastion of San 
 Gabriel, which terminates the line of fortifications along 
 the river. Joined to this bastion on the exterior side is 
 found the Plaza Nueva. Still following the trace from 
 the bastion of San Gabriel, one arrives at the gate of 
 Parian, through which it is necessary to pass in a north- 
 erly direction to reach the bridge of Pasig. Leading 
 south from this gate, is a beautifully paved highway of 
 great breadth, and to the southeast is the bastion Diablo. 
 South of this point is the postern of Recoletos, and jnst 
 beyond, the bastion of San Andres. Thence, to the 
 southwest, is situated the royal gate, and, as has been 
 stated, the extreme southern point is defended by the 
 bastion of San Diego, protected by the battery of San 
 
PHlttPPlNfi: ISI.ANDS ' 
 
 Gregorio, which is built on the exterior line in the angle 
 of the plaza. 
 
 Many of these works have deteriorated with time, and 
 the expenditure of a little money and labor, especially at 
 ,the stragetic points of Santiago Point, Restinga Point, 
 and Corregidor, would be of great benefit. The streets 
 are straight, w^ell paved, and illuminated. Prominent 
 among its buildings are the governor's palace, the royal 
 court of chancery, and the convent of San Augustin, with 
 its handsome church ; the church and convent of the 
 Recollects of San Francisco, whose buildings occupy an 
 immense space ; the royal college and pontifical univer- 
 sity of St. Thomas, which is spacious, well constructed, 
 and possesses a notable physical laboratory ; the munici- 
 pal athenaeum, in charge of the Jesuits, with a physical 
 laboratory, natural history museum, and a magnificent 
 apparatus for astronomical observations ; the mihtary 
 hospital, with room for 1,000 beds, and the spacious and 
 well-attended hospital of San Juan de Dios. Among the 
 buildings ruined in the earthquake of 1863, some of 
 which are being reconstructed and others already so, are 
 the large and well-constructed cathedral, the customs 
 building, etc. 
 
 Within the fortified city reside, generally speaking, the 
 authorities of the archipelago, who have the same mission 
 and the same hierarchy as those of Cuba. 
 
 The real nucleus of the population of Manila is in its 
 vSuburbs. These comprise the pueblos called Binondo ; 
 San Jose ; Santa Cruz, with fifteen wards ; Quiapo, with 
 two wards ; San Miguel, with seven wards ; Sampaloc, 
 with thirty-nine \{^ards, and Tondo, with eighteen wards. 
 The neighborhoods of these suburbs are delightful and 
 picturesque, with their rivers, lagoons, creeks, islands, 
 quarries, and little hamlets. Good bridges facilitate com- 
 munication between Manila and its suburbs. The sub- 
 urb of Binondo is the most mercantile of the archipelago ; 
 here are the central administration of revenues and mo- 
 nopolies, general tobacco warehouses, and the adminis- 
 tration of finances of the province. Its streets are narrow 
 and the houses tastefully and solidly built. On the 
 breakwater of the jetty extending out into the bay is a 
 
8 MANII.A AND THE 
 
 third-class lighthouse, and the steamers which perform 
 the service of the bay and make periodical trips to the 
 provinces of Cavite, Bantangas, Bulucan, and Pam- 
 panga, close in along the river. 
 
 North of Binnodo, separated by a river spanned by 
 several bridges is the suburb of Tondo, extending to the 
 west of the bay, on flat, sandy ground. The houses are 
 in general constructed of cane and nipa (a species of palm 
 with feathery leaves) ; the streets are narrow, and there 
 is a handsome church, a small theatre, and a good market- 
 place. Northeast of Binondo is the suburb of Santa 
 Cruz, with good buildings, a flower market, theatre, pub- 
 lic jail, leper hospital under the Franciscans, and a ceme- 
 tery for Chinese or Sangley infieles (infidels). 
 
 Northeast of Manila and at the extremity of the suburb 
 of Santa Cruz is the suburb of Quiapo, with good houses, 
 handsome and well-aligned streets, and a pretty market- 
 place. There are the tribunal of the natives, an elegant 
 and solid structure ; the well-built suspension bridge over 
 the Pasig, measuring 350 feet long by 23 feet wide ; the 
 magnificent inarket of the Quinta, and the spacious and 
 pretty San Sebastian street, with elegant buildings and 
 convenient porticos at the end, being the sanctuary of 
 San Sebastian under the Augustin Recollects. 
 
 The suburb of San Miguel is situated to the east of 
 Manila, on the opposite bank of the Pasig River, being 
 connected with Quiapo by a good wooden bridge ; it has 
 good buildings and a comfortable and well-ventilated bar- 
 racks. Along the river are a number of villas, the last one 
 being called Malacamang, the residence of the supreme 
 authority of the archipelago. It consists of an elegant 
 palace divided into two parts, surrounded by gardens, 
 with good wharves on the river. On the island of San 
 Andres, situated in the centre of the river Pasig, is the 
 convalescent hospital, spacious, and with good hygienic 
 conditions, the San Jose poorhouseand the insane asylum. 
 To the east of the island are the San Andres and San 
 Rafael batteries, the southern part serving as support to 
 the bridge uniting the suburb of San Miguel with San 
 Miguel Viego. 
 
PHII^IPPINB ISLANDS 9 
 
 To the northeast of Manila, adjoining it and fronting 
 on the river bank, is the place known as Arroceros (rice 
 mills), a much frequented spot, where are located the 
 tobacco factories, in one of which over 7,000 female 
 laborers are constantly occupied ; also the botanical gar- 
 den, the barracks of the regiment of peninsular artillery, 
 the Spanish theatre, the Kiosko, designed for public 
 dances, and the slaughterhouse. 
 
 A mile and three-quarters south of Manila, on the 
 banks of the bay, is the pueblo of Malate. It is crossed 
 by the highway from the capital to Cavite ; it has a 
 fine church, an infantry barracks occupied by a regi- 
 ment of that arm, and a cavalry barracks, quartering 
 the lancer squadron of Luzon ; both are good and 
 spacious. 
 
 On the shores of the Pasig is the paseo (promenade) of 
 Magallanes, on which is erected an obelisk dedicated to 
 the memory of the illustrious mariner, Magellan. On 
 the paseo delmalecon (dike promenade), is another monu- 
 ment recalling the patriotism of the oidor (judge) Anda. 
 There are cockpits and luxurious cafes, the Spanish 
 recreation club, a military library founded by royal or- 
 der of February 15, 1846, and outside the town a riding 
 school and race course. 
 
 The garrison of Manila and its suburbs are composed 
 of three regiments of infantry, a battalion of artillery, 
 the squadron of cavalry, and a regiment of veteran gen- 
 darmery (guardia civil). 
 
 POSTAL SERVICE. 
 
 The general postal service of the north comprises the 
 provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pan- 
 gasinan. Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Nortre, and the dis- 
 tricts of Lepanto, Bontoc, Benguet, Tiagan, Porac, and 
 Corregidor. 
 
 The cross-country line comprises the provinces of Bul- 
 acan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabella, Cagayan, 
 and the districts of Principe and Sultan. 
 
 The general service of the south comprises the prov- 
 inces of lyaguna, Batangas, Mindora, Tayabas, Camarines 
 
10 MANII.A AND THK 
 
 Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and the districts of Moring, 
 Masbate, and Ticao, and Infanta and Burias. 
 
 That of Cavite (two expeditions daily). 
 
 That of Pampanga, Bataan, and El Corregidor. 
 
 That of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija. 
 
 That of Ivaguna, (by steamer). 
 
 That of Ivaguna, Batangas, and Mindoro, river route. 
 
 That of the interior of the provinces of Manila. 
 
 That of the Batanes Islands. 
 
 That of Balabac, Laucan, Puerto-Princesa, Zanibo- 
 anga, and PoUok. 
 
 In the maritime provinces of the archipelago the arri- 
 vals and departures are uncertain, the service being per- 
 formed by coasting vessels. 
 
 MANILA BAY. 
 
 The general map of the island of Luzon shows, in gen- 
 eral outline, Manila Bay and Cavite, the port and marine 
 arsenal of Manila, off which the engagement of May 
 first took place. Manila Bay is about thirty miles in ex- 
 tent each way. The land on both sides of the entrance 
 is high and covered with vegetation, while the shores at 
 the head are low, marshy, and intersected by numerous 
 small rivers, estuaries, and tide lakes. Fortifications 
 were erected commanding the opening of the bay with 
 the additional protection of submarine mines; depth of 
 water, from sixteen to seventeen fathoms. 
 
 Corregidor, or Mariveles, and Pulo Caballo are islands 
 dividing the entrance of Manila Bay into two channels. 
 Corregidor, the principal island, six hundred feet high, 
 lies near the north shore, and is three miles in length, 
 east to west. There is a lighthouse on its summit. On 
 its north side is a small bay, protected by breakwaters, 
 affording anchorage for small vessels, and from Buri 
 Point a reef just to the southward toward Caballo Island, 
 on a low spur of which is a fixed light. It is the 
 channel between Caballo Island and the mainland, which 
 was used by the United States squadron, and which was, 
 apparently, not defended at all. 
 
 Manila is about twenty-five miles from the entrance of the 
 bay. A telegraph connected Manila with Hongkong, the 
 
PHII.IPPINB ISI.ANDS 
 
 11 
 
 cable, 'which was originally landed at Cape Bolinao, having 
 been shifted to the chief town. Manila's total export 
 and import trade is worth about six and one-half millions 
 sterling. The length of quayage in the river Pasig is 
 4,250 feet, but the river, the average breadth of which is 
 350 feet, is too narrow to allow vessels to turn. The 
 longest vessel using the river regularly is 231 feet. 
 Larger vessels lie at anchor in the bay. Pasig River, 
 which is navigable for about ten miles, is the principal 
 channel of communication with the interior ; there is a 
 depth of eleven feet on the bar at low water. It passes be- 
 tween the commercial districts and the fortress of Manila. 
 At its mouth is a breakwater, and a battery is placed on 
 the southern mole. 
 
 Cavite is a fort, which stands on a low point of 
 land, i-s fortified, and more guns are said to have recently 
 been placed in position. The Spanish troops were in 
 garrison there. The whole number of ofl&cers and 
 troops in the islands on November 1, 1897, was about 
 46,168, having been largely reinforced in 1 896-' 97 to 
 quell the revolution. At Cavite vessels are built and re- 
 paired, the port having excellent conveniences. There 
 is a slip with a cradle 270 feet broad, and hydraulic 
 power capable of drawing 2,000 tons. Workshops contain 
 appliances of all kinds. A dock for gunboats and a 
 larger private dock for vessels of 15,000 tons have been 
 constructed. The harbor, or cove, is a good one, with 
 shelter from west and southwest winds, and a depth of 
 water of three and one-quarter fathoms. From Cavite to 
 Manila by water is seven miles, but by road fifteen miles. 
 Ivarge vessels generally anchor off Cavite harbor, about 
 a mile from the shore, in five fathoms. Here the 
 Spanish flotilla was placed. 
 
 TRADE. 
 
 Early commerce with the world was greatly restricted 
 by the efforts of Spain to secure a monopoly of her sub- 
 jects. It was not until 1809 that the first English firm 
 obtained permission to establish a business house in Ma- 
 nila. In 1814 this permission was more general. It is, 
 
12 MANIIvA AND THK 
 
 however, only since 1834 that greater freedom of inter- 
 course and larger introduction of foreign capital and 
 methods have materially affected the development of nat- 
 ural resources. 
 
 Internal commerce, as well as foreign trade, suffers 
 from lack of facilities for transportation. This is marked 
 during the rainy season, when coasting is dangerous, and 
 land carriage impeded by bad roads and the swollen con- 
 dition of the streams. But one railroad has been built, 
 running from Manila to Pangasinan (123 miles). A sin- 
 gle track road, it is of substantial construction, and con- 
 nects the capital with the rice-growing districts. 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS* 
 
 Manila is connected with Hongkong by cable and by 
 line of steamers. There is a line running from Manila to 
 lyiverpool, known as the Compania Transatlantica, which 
 has three large steamers averaging 4,500 tons and about 
 4,000 horse-power each. The average speed is about 
 twelve knots. This line maintains a monthly service to 
 Europe, calling at Singapore, Colombo, Aden, Suez, 
 Port Said and Barcelona. Prompt competition is antici- 
 pated. There are also four lines of steamers between 
 Manila and Hongkong, by which most of the passenger 
 and freight business is done. 
 
 Many local lines of steamers ply between Manila and 
 the provinces, the largest being the Compania Maritima, 
 which has twenty-eight steamers with a total of 25,000 
 tons. (In northeast monsoon leave about 10 a. m. ; south- 
 west monsoon, 4 p. m. ) Ynchansta & Company have two 
 small steamers of 1,000 tons; S. P. Yanger, one small 
 steamer of 500 tons ; De la Rama & Brothers, three small 
 steamers (coasters) of 500 tons ; and Armstrong & Sloan, 
 three small coasters of 400 tons. The usual points 
 touched by these steamers include all the ports in the Phil- 
 ippine group ; also the Caroline and Mariana Islands. 
 Nearly all ships were built in England, and are strong 
 and well adapted to the trade. They are not fast, seldom 
 exceeding twelve knots per hour, but are fitted with 
 latest improvements. 
 
PHIIylPPIN:^) ISLANDS 1^ 
 
 PHILIPPINE LINES* 
 
 Compania Transatlantica de Barcelona line of the 
 Philippines extension, Iloilo, Cebu, and combinations to 
 Gulf of Persia, east coast of Africa, India, China, Japan, 
 and Australia makes thirteen trips annually, leaving Bar- 
 celona every fourth Saturday, and from Manila every 
 fourth Thursday. 
 
 The Spanish mail steamers in the Philippines prior to 
 the naval battle of Manila were the following : 
 
 The Spanish steamer Elcano, or another boat belong- 
 ing to the Compania Maritima, leaves Manila for Singa- 
 pore every twenty-eight days, in connection with French 
 mail steamers returning homeward with mails after arri- 
 val of outward steamer. 
 
 The Spanish Royal Mail Line from Manila direct to 
 Barcelona, calling at Singapore, Colombo, Aden and Port 
 Said, also leaves Manila every twenty-eight days. Dur- 
 ing the southwest monsoon the boats do not always call 
 at Colombo. 
 
 The North Luzon Line is from Manila to Subic, Olan- 
 gapo (the north arsenal, and where the large floating 
 dock is to be erected), Bolinao, San Fernando, Croayan 
 and Currimas (all these on the west coast of Luzon and 
 Aparri, entrance to Rio Grande in the extreme north of 
 Luzon). 
 
 The South Luzon Line runs from Manila to Batangas, 
 Calapan, Laguimanos, Passacoa, Donsol, Sonsogon, Leg- 
 aspi and Tobaco. 
 
 The Southeast Line runs from Manila to Romolon, 
 Cebu, Cabolian, Surigao, Camiguin, Cagayan de Misa- 
 mis, Iligan, Harihohoe, Bais, Dumaguete and Iloilo. 
 
 The Southwest Line runs from Manila to Iloilo, Zam- 
 boanga, Isabella de Baslin, lolo (Sula) Siassi, Tataan, 
 Bongao, Parang Parang, Cottabato, Glan, Sarangaui, 
 Dayas, Matti, Lebak and St. Maria. 
 
 These steamers return to Manila from eight to ten 
 days after leaving ; local steamers for the neighboring 
 islands leave nearly every day. Manila is 7,050 nautical 
 miles from San Francisco, and 9,465 nautical miles from 
 Cadiz. 
 
14 MANII.A AND THK 
 
 ANIMALS. 
 
 There are very few wild animals, and not any that are 
 dangerous to human life. Monkeys abound, and among 
 the others, there is one species of pure white monkey. 
 The wild boar is hunted and of deer there are three 
 known species. The horses of the islands are small, but 
 they are well shaped and very hardy. The Europeans 
 have a racecourse not far from Manila, and it is recorded 
 that one of these native horses has carried 154 pounds a 
 mile, in a little more than two minutes. Buffaloes are 
 employed in all field work ; but there are plenty of ordi- 
 nary cattle and goats. 
 
 POPULATION AND INHABITANTS. 
 
 The population of the islands number about eight mil- 
 lions. The European population is small, and in compar- 
 ison of numbers unimportant. There are about 100,000 
 Chinese scattered through the islands, and most of the 
 petty trading and the banking are in their hands, although 
 there are many coolies among them. The traders and 
 the bankers of the Chinese are sharp and very shrewd, 
 and have made themselves disliked among the easier 
 going of the natives. There are about 25,000 Aetas or 
 Negritos, as they are called by the Spaniards. The is- 
 land of Negros has taken its name from these people. 
 They are believed to be the remaining descendants of the 
 aborigines of the islands. They resemble the Bushmen 
 of South Africa in color and in facial characteristics. 
 They are small, the average height of a full-grown and 
 stalwart man being four feet eight inches. They are so 
 few in number, and so in the interior, that they are seen 
 but seldom. There are many half-breeds, descendants of 
 Spaniards and natives, or of Chinese and natives ; but the 
 bulk of the population — the now so-called natives — are 
 Tagals, some of them heathens and some Mohammedans. 
 These latter have been practically in full control of the 
 more southern of the islands ; they are fierce and war- 
 like ; they have esteemed it an especial merit to kill a 
 Spaniard. Whenever, however, a Spanish Governor has 
 
PHILIPPINK ISI.ANDS 15 
 
 Opposed them who has beeu able and resolute, he has 
 had no difficulty in holding them in subjection or in 
 check. Their arms are antiquated, the principal being 
 something between a machete and a butcher's cleaver, 
 and the others being a straight kriss for cutting, and the 
 serpent-shaped kriss for thrusting, and, when serious 
 fighting is intended, a spear. These weapons are fash- 
 ioned by themselves, and are said to be of excellent qual- 
 ity. A few soldiers, capably officered as American sol- 
 diers are, a few discharges, upon occasion, from well- 
 aimed rapid-fire guns, and perhaps, the patrol of the 
 coasts and rivers with a few light-draft gun-boats will 
 bring order, and insure its maintenance, where disorder 
 and lawlessness have prevailed so long. 
 
 On first arrival the Spaniards found a part of the na- 
 tives somewhat civilized ; but while they had a written 
 language, of which some specimens have been preserved, 
 it was of no value in throwing light upon their early his- 
 tory, and their traditions are very few. As in Mexico 
 and Central America, the Spanish priests have been only 
 too successful in their efforts to extripateall mythological 
 and other lore. The treatment of the inhabitants has 
 been more merciful, however, than in the western pos- 
 sessions. 
 
 The Philippine Malays are a superior race to many 
 other Asiatic peoples — orderly, amiable, courteous, hon- 
 est, and exceedingly superstitious, they are easily in- 
 fluenced upon profession of Christianity. Like most 
 tropical people, their efforts are intermittent rather than 
 steady ; their wants are readily provided for, and they take 
 life easy. The inhabitants of the island are composed of 
 the most diverse mixture of races, including Malays, 
 Aetas, Negritos, pure blacks, Chinese, Japanese, Indios, 
 Moors, Europeans, and mixtures of each with the other. 
 There are nearly as many different tribes as there are 
 islands, and it is said that 500 languages and dialects are 
 spoken in the islands at the present day. The inhabi- 
 tants are generally tractable and amenable to govern- 
 ment, and generally not hostile to farmers. In the 
 inaccessible parts of the island there are still tribes of 
 unsubdued savages, whose number is estimated at about 
 
16 MANIIvA AND THE 
 
 602,000. Fond of music, dancing, and amusements of 
 all kinds ; they are born gamblers, and cock fighting is 
 their greatest passion. Every town has its cockpit, and 
 in the largest the spectators may be numbered by thou- 
 sands. This amusement was heavily taxed by the Span- 
 iards, and advantage waf taken of the taste for gambling 
 by running a lottery for the benefit of the government. 
 
 Probably not more than fifteen or twenty thousand 
 Spaniards, or people of pure Spanish blood, are permanent 
 residents, and the number of other foreigners is not 
 large. The majority of these are at Manila, where the 
 English have established a club in the suburbs, which 
 has become the centre of foreign social intercourse. 
 
 Without doubt, the most primitive of the Philippine 
 peoples are the Aetas, or Negritos, a race of blacks of 
 almost dwarfish stature. They are believed to be, and 
 with good reason, the true aborigines of the islands, who, 
 even at the time of the early Spanish conquest, had begun 
 to go to the wall under the fierce struggle for existence 
 with the encroaching Malay tribes. At present they are 
 well-nigh extinct, and promise to become entirely so. 
 These people are confined to the higher mountain ranges 
 in Luzon and Negros, although a few are found in Min- 
 danao. 
 
 ClfD 
 
PHII.IPPINB ISLANDS 
 
 17 
 
 TABLE SHOWING PROVINCES OF THE PHILIPPINE 
 
 ISLANDS WITH THEIR POPULATIONS 
 
 AND CAPITALS* 
 
 ISLAND OF LUZON. 
 
 province;. POPUI.ATION. 
 
 Abra 49,702 
 
 Albay ...:... 296,850 
 
 Amburayau 30,150 
 
 Apayaos 6,000 
 
 Bataan 52,000 
 
 Batangas 212,192 
 
 Benguet 15,932 
 
 Biuatangan 
 
 Bontoc 24,502 
 
 Bulacan 230,000 
 
 Cabugaoan 
 
 Cagayan 112,357 
 
 Camarines 185,878 
 
 Cavite 133,926 
 
 CavatDas 
 
 Ilocos Norte . . . . . 156,900 
 
 Ilocos Sur 172,836 
 
 Infanta 10,200 
 
 Isabela de Luzon . . 46,846 
 
 Itaves 15,208 
 
 Laguna 177,000 
 
 Lepanto 19,422 
 
 Manila 400,238 
 
 Morong 42,748 
 
 Nueva Ecija .... 155,000 
 
 CAPITAI^. 
 
 Bangued. 
 
 Albay. 
 
 Alilem. 
 
 Bagubagu. 
 
 Balanga. 
 
 Batangas. 
 
 La Trinidad. 
 
 Binatangan. 
 
 Bontoc. 
 
 Bulacan. 
 
 Cabugaoan. 
 
 Tuguegarao. 
 
 Nueva Caceres. 
 
 Cavite. 
 
 Cayapa. 
 
 Laoag. 
 
 Vigan. 
 I Binangonan 
 ( de Lampon. 
 
 Ilagan. 
 
 Macogao. 
 
 Santa Cruz. 
 
 Cervantes. 
 
 Manila. 
 
 Morong. 
 
 San Isidro. 
 
18 MANII.A AND THK 
 
 ISLAND OF i,uzoN — Continued 
 
 PROVINCE. ^ POPUI.ATION. CAPITAI,. 
 
 Nueva Vizcaya .... 23,520 Bayombong. 
 
 Pampanga ..... 250,000 Bacolor. 
 
 Pangasinan 295,105 lyingayen. 
 
 Principe 5,000 Baler. 
 
 Ouiangan 29,800 Quiangan. 
 
 Tarlac 97,947 Tarlac. 
 
 Tayabas 105,576 Tayabas. 
 
 Tiagan 3,041 San Emilio. 
 
 Union (I^a) 119,421 San Fernando. 
 
 Zambales 87,641 , Iba. 
 
 ISIvAND OF MINDANAO. 
 
 Basilan ....... 12,000 Isabela de Basila;n, 
 
 Cottabato 3,000 Cottabato. 
 
 Dapitan 12,653 Dapitan. 
 
 Davao ....... 8,000 Davao. 
 
 Matti 9,764 Matti. 
 
 Misamis ...... 113,695 Cagayan. 
 
 Surigao 95,775 Surigao. 
 
 Zamboanga 21,300 Zamboanga. 
 
 ADJACENT ISIvANDS. 
 
 Balabac 1,100 Balabac. 
 
 Batanes Islands ... 475 | ^^d^B^SS!''^'' 
 
 Burias 1,600 San Pascual. 
 
 Calamianes 16,380 Cuyo. 
 
 Corregidor 569 San Jose. 
 
 Marianas Islands . . 9,770 Agana. 
 
 Masbate and Ticao . . 26,497 Masbate. 
 
 Mindoro 106,170 Calapan. 
 
 Paragua (La) .... 45,000 Puerto Priucesa. 
 
 CAROI.INK AND PAI.AOS ISI.ANDS. 
 
 Carolinas Occidentales 600 Santa Cristina. 
 
 Carolinas Orientales . 4,500 I ^^a Hcension. 
 
phii^ippin:^ isi^ands 19 
 
 visaya isi.ands. 
 
 province:. POPUIvATION. capitai,. 
 
 A 4-- iin ocrp f San Jose de 
 
 ^^^^q^^ 119,356 I Buena Vista. 
 
 Bohol 247,745 Tagbilaran. 
 
 Capiz . 189,171 Capiz. 
 
 Cebu ... .^ ... . 504,076 Cebu. 
 
 Concepcion ..... 19,342 Concepcion. 
 
 Iloilo.' 472,798 Iloilo. 
 
 Iveyte 270,491 Tacloban. 
 
 Negros Occidentales . 226,995 Bacolod. 
 
 Negros Orientales . . 94,782 Dumaguete. 
 
 Romblon 38,633 Romblon. 
 
 Samar 200,753 Catbalogan.- 
 
 SUI.TANSHIP OF JOI.O. 
 
 Jolo 17,112 Jolo. 
 
 RELIGION AND EDUCATION. 
 
 {From [/. S. War Department Report,) 
 
 The Roman Catholic is the established church in the 
 Philippines, which contains one archiepiscopal see and 
 three bishoprics. Most of the ecclesiastical authority is 
 in the hands of the various religious orders — Dominicans, 
 Augustines, Franciscans, etc. — who are the real rulers of 
 the country, as their power among the natives far ex- 
 ceeds that of the various civil and military authorities. 
 This power causes a great deal of jealousy, as is evi- 
 denced by the long record in the history of the islands of 
 bitter controversies between the church and civil authori- 
 ties. The religious affairs on the islands are far behind 
 the age, and it would be of great benefit to the people, 
 who are naturally devout, if they were infused with more 
 modern ideas and methods. 
 
20 MANII.A AND THE) 
 
 The Spanish priests, friars of strict orders, come to the 
 islands to stay, and, with scarcely an exception, do their 
 duties faithfully and devotedly. Many of these Spanish 
 curas have done much good work in the way of making 
 roads and bridges and the building of churches, acting 
 frequently as their own engineers and architects, with 
 far less unsightly results than one might expect from 
 persons who are supposed to be more conversant with 
 breviary and rosary than with rule and compass. 
 
 Priests of native extraction do not quite come up to the 
 high standard of their Spanish confreres. They cannot 
 all live up to the severity of monastic rules. These na- 
 tive curas, moreover, suffer under the proverbial disad- 
 vantage which affects the prophet in his own country, 
 and, lacking the strength of mind and tenacity of vow of 
 the Spanish priests, sometimes seek consolation in diver- 
 sions of not quite a clerical or monastic character. 
 
 Education is much neglected, and both the institutions 
 for higher and primary instruction are antiquated in their 
 methods and far behind the times. Although in nearly 
 every town and village that is under the control of the 
 government, a school may be found, neither the quality 
 nor quantity of the instruction given is satisfactory. 
 
 CLIMATE, 
 
 The islands extend so far geographically that many 
 diversities of climate may exist at the same time. In 
 general, however, there are three seasons — the cold, the 
 hot and the wet. During the cold season, which extends 
 from November to February, woolen garments may be 
 worn with comfort in the mornings and at night ; the 
 skies are clear and the atmosphere balmy. The hot sea- 
 son extends from March to June and the wet season from 
 July to October. It will be seen that the recent opera- 
 tions of the American army and navy were conducted 
 during the worst season of the year ; but no unusual de- 
 gree of sickness, such as prevailed at Camp Alger, in 
 Virginia, for instance, was experienced by our soldiers or 
 sailors. One correspondent has reported that w^hen it 
 rained it rained indeed ; but that while the heat was in 
 
philippin:^ islands 21 
 
 some degree uncomfortable it was not so hard to endure 
 as had been expected, or as he had found it in America. 
 
 In the region of Manila the hottest season is from 
 March to June, the greatest heat being felt in May be- 
 fore the rains set in, when the maximum temperature 
 ranges from 80° to 100° in the shade. The coolest 
 weather occurs in December and January, when the tem- 
 perature falls at night to 60° or 65°, and seldom rises in 
 the day above 75°. From November to February the 
 sky is bright, the atmosphere cool and dry, and the 
 weather in every way delightful. Observations made at 
 the Observatorio Meteorologico de Manila have been 
 compiled by the U. S. Weather Bureau, recovering a 
 record of from seventeen to thirty-two years, from which 
 the following is an extract : 
 
 Temperature, degrees F. : 
 
 Mean annual 80° 
 
 Warmest month 82° 
 
 Coolest month . 79° 
 
 Highest 100° 
 
 Ivowest 60° 
 
 Humidity : 
 
 Relative per cent 78 
 
 Absolute grains per cubic foot 8.75 
 
 Wind movement in miles : 
 
 Daily mean 134 
 
 Greatest daily 204 
 
 Least daily 95 
 
 Prevailing wind direction-N. E., November 
 to April ; S. W., May to October. 
 
 Cloudiness, annual per cent 53 
 
 Days with rain 135 
 
 Rainfall in inches : 
 
 Mean annual 75.43 
 
 Greatest monthly 120.98 
 
 lycast monthly 55.65 
 
22 MANII.A AND THK 
 
 The following is the mean temperature for the three 
 seasons at points specified : 
 
 Cold. Hot. Wet. 
 
 Manila 72° 87° 84° 
 
 Cebu 75° 86° 75° 
 
 Davao 86° 88° 87° 
 
 Sulu 81° 82° 83° 
 
 Seasons vary with the prevailing winds (monsoons or 
 trade winds), and are classed as ''wet" and ''dry." 
 There is no abrupt change from one to the other, and 
 between periods there are intervals of variable weather. 
 
 IMPORTS* 
 
 The following statement of the general trade of the 
 Philippine Islands is taken from the * ' Review of the 
 World's Commerce," 1896-'97, soon to be published by 
 the Bureau of Foreign Commerce. According to a Brit- 
 ish Foreign Office report No. 1932, annual series, 1897), 
 the total imports into the islands in 1896 were valued at 
 $10,631,250, and the exports at $20,175,000. The trade 
 with several of the most important countries, compiled 
 from the respective official statistics, was : 
 
 Country. 
 
 Great Britain 
 Germany . . 
 France . . . 
 Belgium . . 
 United States 
 China . . . 
 Japan . . . . 
 
 Imports. 
 
 $2,467,090 
 
 744,928 
 1,794,900 
 272,240 
 162,446 
 103,680 
 98,782 
 
 Exports. 
 
 $7,467,500 
 
 223,700 
 
 1,987,900 
 
 45,660 
 
 4,982,857 
 
 13,770 
 
 1,387,909 
 
 In 1897. 
 
 The chief imports are rice, flour, dress goods, wines, 
 coal and petroleum. 
 
 The public revenues of the islands have been about 
 $15,000,000 annually, collected in taxes of all sorts — poll 
 taxes upon imports and upon exports. 
 
 For many years the Spanish government placed absurd 
 restrictions upon trade ; but more recently the regula- 
 tions have been more liberal. In 1897 the total imports 
 
PHII^IPPINB ISI.ANDS 23 
 
 of the islands amounted to $10,631,250 in value and the 
 exports to $20,175,000. In 1897 there were imported 
 to the United States from the Philippines goods to the 
 value of $4,982,857. 
 
 In the same year there were sent to the islands from 
 the United States goods of the ' ' magnificent ' ' value of 
 $162,446, consisting mainly of flour, petroleum, leather 
 goods and iron and steel, whereas in the same period 
 there were imported to the Philippines from other coun- 
 tries, principally from Spain, Great Britain, Germany 
 and France : 
 
 Chemicals and drugs to the value of . $800,000 
 
 Cotton yarns 2,500,000 
 
 Cotton friese goods 8,250,000 
 
 Cotton knitted good 1,110,000 
 
 Silk goods 500,000 
 
 Paper 475,000 
 
 Boots and shoes 140,000 
 
 Spirits and liquors. 340,000 
 
 Preserves and confectionery .... 800,000 
 
 Not very long ago the cotton goods sent to the islands 
 were mainly of Manchester or other English manufac- 
 ture ; but more recently under the laws favoring trade 
 with Spain their cotton goods were sent thither from 
 Barcelona. 
 
 The foregoing is a very suggestive table. It shows 
 that the archipelago has been a very important market, 
 although not to Americans. It does not require a very 
 remarkable degree of prescience to foresee what an enlarge- 
 ment of the American market there will be now that the 
 affairs of the Philippines will be administered in an 
 enlightened and progressive spirit ; now that development 
 of the natural resources and the prosperity that follows 
 development will be encouraged ; now that American 
 ideas and American influence will prevail. 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 The principal staples of export are tobacco (manu- 
 factured in raw), manila hemp, sugar cane, coffee 
 and cocoa. The principal manufactures consist of a 
 
24 MANII.A AND THK 
 
 variety of textile fabrics, hats, mats, baskets, ropes, 
 furniture, coarse pottery, carriages and musical instru- 
 ments. 
 
 REVENUE. 
 
 The public revenue has been about $12,000,000 per 
 annum, of which the larger part has been raised from di- 
 rect taxation, customs, monopolies, and lotteries. For 
 the imposition and collection of taxes Spanish ingenuity 
 has been exercised to the utmost, but the basis of the 
 financial system in the Philippines has been the poll tax, 
 which every adult under sixty years of age, male or fe- 
 male, had to pay. There was no export duty on to- 
 bacco, but almost every article of import was heavily 
 taxed. On muslin and petroleum the duty has been 
 about one hundred per cent, of cost. 
 
 MANUFACTURES. 
 
 The manufactures of the islands have been various, 
 and now consist of hats, baskets, mats, ropes, furniture, 
 coarse pottery, carriages, musical instruments and a vari- 
 ety of textile fabrics, some of great excellence and beauty. 
 Yet there are no mechanics in the islands that would be 
 called skilled by American artisans. There is already 
 room and will be more for the trained mechanic. It is, 
 however, their great wealth in natural products that 
 makes the Philippines so important a possession and so 
 promising a field for enterprise 
 
 MINERALS. 
 
 Gold is very generally distributed throughout the 
 islands. It has been obtained in profitable quantities in 
 the alluvial deposits along the river courses ; but no 
 systematic and intelligent efforts have been made to even 
 ascertain the extent and value of the gold deposits. Cop- 
 per mines are worked in various places and the heathen 
 natives have been accustomed for many years to manu- 
 facture copper utensils for their own use and for sale in 
 the Christian settlements ; but the mines have been 
 worked only enough to indicate their great value. Iron 
 
PHII.IPPINK ISLANDS ^5 
 
 ore of unusual purity occurs in various parts of Luzon, 
 Laguna, Bulacan, Pampangna, Camarinco, Norte and 
 notably in the Camochin Mountains ; but notwithstand- 
 ing the excellent character and the evidently large supply 
 of the minerals there are no iron works with the excep- 
 tion of a few small and unimportant foundries in the 
 middle of the island of Leyte. Coal exists in the Philip- 
 pines. Two vast fields have been discovered and partly 
 surveyed, and the supply in these two fields alone will 
 serve for many years to come ; but the existence of these 
 fields would indicate the presence of others of equal size 
 and importance. At the request of Admiral Dew^ey, 
 Prof. George F. Brercer, of the United States Geological 
 Survey, has made extensive researches as to the mineral 
 resources of the Philippines, and consulted all the avail- 
 able authorities. His report includes the following table 
 of the mineral-bearing islands and their revenues of this 
 
 kind : 
 
 Luzon— Coal, gold, copper, lead, iron, sulphur, marble, 
 
 kaolin. 
 
 Cataanduanes, Sibuyan, Boholand Panaoan— Gold only. 
 
 Marimduque — Lead and silver. 
 
 Mindora— Coal, gold and copper. 
 
 Carraray, Batan, Rapu Rapu, Semarara, Negros— Coal 
 only. 
 
 Masbete — Coal and copper. 
 
 Romblon — Marble. 
 
 Samar — Coal and gold. 
 
 Panay— Coal, oil, gas, gold, copper, iron and perhaps 
 mercury. 
 
 Biliram — Sulphur only. 
 
 Leyte — Coal, oil and perhaps mercury. 
 
 Cebu— Coal, oil, gas, lead, silver and iron. 
 
 Mindanao— Coal, gold, copper and platinum. 
 
 Sulu Archipelago— Pearls. 
 
 AGRICULTURE* 
 
 The soil of the islands is exceedingly fertile ; but there 
 has been little or no attempt made to cultivate it thor- 
 oughly or scientifically. In a country where fodder may 
 
26 MANII.A AND ^HB 
 
 be easily and economically grown, there is no dairy farm, 
 and, indeed, there are no farms worthy of the name at 
 all. The farmer who has found it impossible to make 
 his impoverished farm profitable will find in this rich 
 and fertile soil ample reward for his skill and labor. 
 Rice is extensively and successfully grown ; but the crop 
 is consumed by the natives and the Chinese for their own 
 sustenance. Mangoes, plantains, the luscious Manganese 
 fruits, grow almost wild and in great abundance. There 
 are said to be one hundred varieties of bananas known 
 upon the islands. The most important plants, however, 
 are tobacco, the Abaca, producing manila hemp, sugar 
 cane, coffee and cocoa. 
 
 Tobacco has been very extensively grown. Until 
 within a very few years the trade in tobacco was a Gov- 
 ernment monopoly. The growers were required to sell 
 their product to the government warehouses, and only 
 there, and prices fixed b3^ the ofiicials. That the prices 
 were below the market value there is no need to state. 
 The restrictions upon the trade were numerous some 
 little time ago, and notwithstanding the many years of 
 discouragement, and the general disorder in the islands, 
 there were exported in 1896 tobacco and cigars to the 
 value of $3,250,000. 
 
 The first coffee plantation of any size and importance 
 was started only in 1826 ; but the cultivation of coffee 
 is already extensive. There is no reason why the coffee 
 of the Philippines should not compete in the markets of 
 the world with the best coffee grown anywhere, except 
 that heretofore too little care has been given to the plan- 
 tations and to the handling and transshipment of the 
 crop. 
 
 The extent to which sugar has been cultivated is indi- 
 cated by the Exports of $8,000,000 worth in 1896. Bet- 
 ter opportunities for the profitable production of the best 
 cane sugar are present in the Philippines than exist in 
 Cuba. The Cuban growers and manufacturers of sugar, 
 however, have profited by the proximity of the United 
 States and the consequent purchase there of modern ideas 
 and methods. There has been in the Philippines some 
 tendency to import better machinery, but it may be said, 
 
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 27 
 
 truthfully, that there has been no scientific treatment of 
 the growing cane or the product. Whenever men of 
 intelligence and enterprise introduce modern methods and 
 modern machinery into the cane-growing districts of the 
 archipelago, it will become one of the important, if, in- 
 deed, not the most important sugar-producing country in 
 the world. 
 
 Nature has provided that residents of the Philippines 
 shall retain forever a monopoly in the production of ma- 
 nila hemp. It grows nowhere else; nothing so good for 
 the making of cordage has yet been discovered. It is 
 cultivated with very little trouble and the commodity 
 prepared for the market with little additional trouble. 
 The exports of hemp in 1896 were valued at $7,500,000, 
 but when machinery brings its aid to the preparation of 
 the product this output will be enormously increased. 
 At present the stalks of the Abaco, the hemp-producing 
 plant, are split by hand and the fibre so procured. 
 
 VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 
 
 The Philippines are very rich in woods ; ebony, cedar, 
 iron wood, sapanwood, logwood and gum trees abound. 
 Gutta-percha is found in certain localities. Cocos nuci- 
 fera is of great value, trunk, branches, leaves, fruit, 
 shell and husk being used. Bamboo and areca palm are 
 abundant and of great utility. Two woods, the ''ban- 
 ava" and the '' malave,'' resist the destructive action of 
 water for centuries. Many plants have medicinal value, 
 others (the ' ' camansi ' ' and the ' ' tabuyog ^ ' ) are poison- 
 ous. Mangoes, plantains, jack fruits, and the Malayan 
 fruits are met with. Rice is the staple food, but often 
 not enough is raised to supply the demand. Potatoes, 
 peas, and even wheat, are raised in the higher localities. 
 
 The mountains of the islands, a few of which have been 
 mentioned, are clothed to their summits with forests of 
 inestimable commercial value, for interspersed with the 
 fruit-bearing trees are immense trees producing the 
 handsomest and most valuable hard wood timber. Gum 
 trees, iron and sapanwood, cedar, ebony and teak are 
 among the known varieties. The supply is apparently 
 
28 MANII.A AND THB 
 
 inexhaustible, and if the cutting is carried on under 
 proper forestry regulations, as it no doubt will be, these 
 forests will amply supply the hard wood markets of the 
 world and provide princely fortunes to many people for 
 many decades to come. 
 
 FORMER ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE SPANISH 
 
 GOVERNMENT, 
 
 {From U.S. War Department Report.^ 
 
 In Madrid there is a Council of State for the Philippines, 
 which has in charge the interests of the colony and acts 
 as an advisory board to the Minister of the Colonies. At 
 Manila the administration of the government has for its 
 head and chief a Governor- General, who is at the same 
 time Captain-General, Director and Inspector-General of 
 all arms and institutes; this authority is also delegated 
 Superintendent of Finances, President of the Administra- 
 tive Council of the Ayuntamiento, Protector of the Span- 
 ish Bank and of the Economical Society of the Friends of 
 the Country, Sub-delegate of Postal Service, '' Vice-Real 
 Patrono,'' etc. Next to the Captain- Generalship of Cuba, 
 this is the most important and lucrative post at the dis- 
 posal of the home government. This jurisdiction also 
 extends over the Mariana or Ladrone Islands, the Caro- 
 lines, and the Pelew Islands. 
 
 There is also a I^ieutenant- Governor, who takes the 
 place of the Captain- General in case of his death, and a 
 Council in Manila, which has a voice in all questions con- 
 cerning the internal affairs of the island. The archbishop 
 also exerts considerable power, and the ecclesiastical 
 authority is interwoven in all the machinery of govern- 
 ment. 
 
 The islands are divided into four provinces and four 
 military districts, and are governed by politico-military 
 commanders. 
 
 The first exercise governmental jurisdiction, ordinary 
 jurisdiction in first instance falling to the charge of the 
 mayor alcaldes, who must be educated men ; the second 
 exercise by themselves governmental and legal jurisdic- 
 
PHII.IPPINK ISLANDS 29 
 
 tion in first instance, and all are captains in war. The 
 province of Manila has a different organization. There 
 have been created for Visayas and Mindanao two politico- 
 military central governments of the brigadier class, by 
 royal decree of July 30, 1860. Each province is sub- 
 divided into pueblos (towns), more or less numerous, and 
 each one has a petty governor (gobernadorcillo), with 
 other ministers of justice, whose number is not fixed and 
 who discharge various duties. In some pueblos, when 
 permitted by the governor, a separate society or guild is 
 formed with gobernadorcillos and ofiicers of justice se- 
 lected from the same. The gobernadorcillos have in their 
 pueblo the entire municipal charge belonging to the au- 
 thority conferred upon them by their appointment, with 
 the special obligation of aiding the parish priests in every- 
 thing relating to worship and the observance of religous 
 precepts ; in civil cases they have priority over judges 
 up to the value of three taels, or forty-four pesos; in 
 criminal cases they proceed to the formation of a 
 summary court, with which they account to the chief 
 of the province ; they are obliged to attend to collec- 
 tions on the royal account and others dictated by the 
 ordinances of a good government, and they are per- 
 mitted to collect certain duj:ies which are fixed in their 
 own titles. 
 
 In each pueblo there are also other ofiicials called Ca- 
 bezas de Barangay. Each Cabeza is charged with the 
 collections of forty-five or fifty tributes from the same 
 number of families; he must reside in the same ward or 
 street with them, look after the good order and harmony 
 of the people under him, distribute among them the duties 
 which are to be shared in common, settle their differences 
 and collect their tribute, which he afterwards delivers to 
 the gobernadorcillo, or to the administrator of the prov- 
 ince through the proper channels. The Cabezas, by 
 virtue of their office, are attorneys of the **barangais" 
 (families under them), in all business affairs that occur in 
 the community. 
 
 A counter-admiral of the national navy is chief of all 
 the naval forces of the Archipelago. Ecclesiastical mat- 
 ters depend upon the Archbishop of Manila. 
 
30 MANII^A AND THE 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSULAR REPORTS* 
 
 (JUNE, J8980 
 
 During the quarter ending December 31, 1897, there 
 were exported from these islands to the United States 
 and Great Britain 216,898 bales of hemp (280 pounds per 
 bale), of which 138,792 bales went to the United States 
 and 78,106 bales to Great Britain. During the year 1897 
 there was an increase in the export of hemp from the 
 Philippines to the continent of Europe of 19,741 bales ; to 
 Australia, 2,192 bales ; to China, 28 bales ; to Japan, 2,628 
 bales, and to the United States 133,896 bales — a total in- 
 crease of 158,485 bales, while to Great Britain there was 
 a decrease of 22,348 bales. Thus, of increased shipments 
 from the Philippines those to the United States w^ere 544 
 per cent, greater than to all other countries combined. 
 Of the total exports of hemp from the Philippines for 
 the ten years ending 1897, amounting to 6,528,965 
 bales (914,055 tons), 41 per cent, went to the United 
 States. 
 
 During the same year the Philippine Islands exported 
 to the United States and to Europe, 1,582,904 tons of 
 sugar, of which 875,150 tons went to the United 
 States, 666,391 tons to Great Britain, and 41,362 
 tons to the continent of Europe, showing that of the 
 total exports more than 55 per cent, went to the United 
 States. 
 
 At the current values in New York of hemp (4 cents 
 per pound), and of raw sugar (3 3/8 cents per pound) , the 
 exports of these two products alone from these islands to 
 the United States during the ten years under review 
 amounted to $89,263,722.80, or an average of nearly 
 $8,926,372 per year. 
 
 Data as to cigars, tobacco, copra, woods, hides, shells, 
 indigo, coffee, etc., are not now obtainable, but a con- 
 servative estimate would so raise the above figures as to 
 show United States imports from these islands to average 
 about $1,000,000 per month. To-day there are authen- 
 ticated invoices for exports to the United States amount- 
 ing to $138,066.12. 
 
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 31 
 
 OPPORTUNITY. 
 
 To exhibit the strategic value of the PhiHppine Islands 
 to the United States, or the service they may render as a 
 key to the trade of China or that of other parts of the 
 important east, is not the purpose of this pamphlet ; 
 but rather to show their own commercial value and the 
 opportunity they offer to enlarge and extend the market 
 for American productions and their promise of success 
 and prosperity to whomsoever may choose to demand the 
 fulfillment of that promise. 
 
 In the islands will be found surprises and adventures 
 for those who seek them; the unusual in costume and man- 
 ners; and in natural scenery for lovers of the picturesque, 
 abundant opportunity for success and the attainment of 
 wealth by the enterprising and the energetic. 
 
 Opportunity has been said to extend its alluring invi- 
 tation to every man, once in his lifetime. Here, in this 
 new island possession of the United States, opportunity 
 awaits the coming of those who are adventurous and en- 
 terprising enougn to reap where Nature has sown so 
 lavishly. Nature has done its part more than well ; it 
 has done more than sow, for the product and fruit are 
 ready for those who will, to gather. 
 
 ^ 
 
The Philippines Company 
 
 Incorporated under the IvAws of the 
 State of New York 
 
 Express - Passengers - Freight 
 Brokers and Forwarders 
 
 No. 7 Broadway, Bowling Green Building 
 New York City 
 
 Philippines Offices : Manila 
 
 Passengers, Express and Freight rates promptly and 
 cheerfully quoted, by mail or on application. A 
 representative will call anywhere in Greater New 
 York on written or telephonic request. 
 
 CORRKSPONDENCK InVITKD 
 
s 
 

 0003455489 4 ' #