The Philippine Islands

by Ramon Reyes Lala

Table of Contents

• [Contents.] [11]
• [Illustrations.] [15]
• [Introduction.] [21]
• [Preface.] [25]
• [Early History of the Islands.] [29]
  • [Discovery and Conquest.] [29]
  • [Adventures of Juan Sebastian Elcano.] [31]
  • [Legaspi, the First Governor-General.] [33]
  • [Li-ma-hong, the Chinese Pirate.] [37]
  • [The Dutch Appear upon the Scene.] [41]
  • [The Japanese, and the Martyred Saints.] [44]
• [The British Occupation.] [49]
  • [General Draper’s Expedition.] [49]
  • [The British Demand an Indemnity.] [51]
  • [Intrigues Against the British.] [55]
• [The Spanish Colonial Government.] [57]
  • [The Encomiendoros and the Alcaldes.] [57]
  • [The Present Division and Administration.] [60]
  • [The Taxes and What Became of Them.] [62]
  • [Dilatory and Abortive Courts.] [64]
  • [A New Yorker’s Experience.] [66]
• [The Church in the Colony.] [71]
  • [Priesthood and the People.] [71]
  • [Conflicts Between Church and State.] [73]
  • [Clashings among the Friars.] [76]
  • [The Monks Opposed to Reform.] [77]
• [The Various Tribes of the Philippines.] [80]
  • [Character of the Natives.] [80]
  • [A Native Wedding.] [88]
  • [Dress and Manners.] [91]
  • [The Half-breeds, or Mestizos.] [93]
  • [Savage Tribes in the Interior: Aetas, or Negritos.] [94]
  • [The Gaddanes.] [98]
  • [The Igorrotes.] [98]
  • [The Igorrote-Chinese.] [100]
  • [The Tinguianes.] [100]
  • [The Chinese: Hated but Indispensable.] [101]
• [The Mohammedans of Sulu.] [107]
  • [Cross or Crescent?] [107]
  • [The Sultan’s State.] [109]
  • [The Dreaded Juramentados.] [111]
  • [The Extent of Mohammedan Rule.] [113]
  • [Sulu Customs.] [115]
• [Manila.] [119]
  • [The Old City.] [119]
  • [Binondo and the Suburbs.] [120]
  • [Educational and Charitable Institutions.] [125]
  • [The Cathedral and the Governor-General’s Palace.] [129]
  • [The Beautiful Luneta: the Sea-boulevard.] [136]
• [Other Important Cities and Towns.] [138]
  • [Iloilo, Capital of the Province of Panay.] [138]
  • [Cebú: a Mecca for Many Filipinos.] [145]
  • [General Topography of the Islands.] [145]
• [Natural Beauty of the Archipelago.] [151]
  • [A Botanist’s Paradise.] [151]
  • [A Diadem of Island Gems.] [152]
  • [The Magnificence of Tropical Scenery.] [153]
  • [The Promise of the Future.] [156]
• [A Village Feast.] [159]
  • [The Morning Ceremonies.] [159]
  • [How the Afternoon is Spent.] [165]
  • [The Evening Procession.] [167]
  • [The Entertainment at Home.] [169]
  • [The Moro-Moro, and the Fireworks.] [171]
• [History of Commerce in the Philippines.] [174]
  • [The Spanish Policy.] [174]
  • [The Treasure-galleons.] [176]
  • [Disasters to Spanish Commerce.] [181]
  • [Other Nations Enter Into Competition.] [183]
  • [Fraud and Speculation.] [183]
  • [The Merchants of Cádiz.] [185]
  • [Royal Restrictions on Trade.] [185]
• [Commerce During the Present Century.] [188]
  • [The Royal Company.] [188]
  • [The Restrictions Are Gradually Abolished.] [190]
  • [Vexatious Duties on Foreign Imports.] [190]
  • [Duties Made Uniform.] [192]
  • [Spanish Opposition to Foreign Trade.] [192]
  • [Trade with the Natives.] [193]
  • [The Decline of American Trade.] [194]
  • [Recent Measures and Statistics.] [194]
  • [Bad Result of Spanish Rule.] [197]
• [Agriculture: The Sugar and Rice Crops.] [199]
  • [Agriculture—The Chief Industry.] [199]
  • [The Principal Products of the Colony.] [201]
  • [The Cultivation of Sugar-cane.] [203]
  • [Methods of Manufacturing Sugar.] [205]
  • [The Several Systems of Labor.] [207]
  • [The Rice Crop.] [209]
  • [Methods of Rice-cultivation.] [210]
  • [Primitive Machines, and Importance of the Rice Crop.] [212]
• [The Hemp Plant and Its Uses.] [214]
  • [Description of the Abacá.] [214]
  • [The Process of Manufacture.] [215]
  • [Some Facts about Hemp-growing.] [216]
  • [Difficulties with Native Labor.] [218]
  • [Tricks of the Natives.] [221]
  • [Competition with Other Lands.] [222]
  • [Experience of a Planter.] [223]
  • [What the Hemp Is Used For.] [224]
• [Culture and Use of Tobacco.] [227]
  • [The Cultivation of Tobacco, a State Monopoly.] [227]
  • [Oppressive Conditions in Luzon.] [229]
  • [How Speculators Take Advantage of the Natives.] [231]
  • [The Quality of Manila Tobacco.] [231]
  • [Methods of Preparing the Tobacco Leaf.] [232]
  • [Smoking, a Universal Habit.] [235]
• [The Cultivation of Coffee.] [237]
  • [The Origin of the Industry.] [237]
  • [Indifference of Coffee-planters.] [238]
  • [Speculation in Coffee.] [238]
  • [Methods of Cultivation.] [239]
  • [Harsh Methods of the Government.] [241]
• [Betel Nut, Grain, and Fruit-Growing.] [243]
  • [The Areca Palm and the Betel Nut.] [243]
  • [The Nipa Palm and Nipa Wine.] [245]
  • [Various Fruits of the Islands.] [245]
  • [Cereals and Vegetables.] [247]
  • [Cotton and Indigo-planting.] [247]
  • [The Cocoa Industry.] [248]
  • [The Traffic in Birds’ Nests.] [249]
• [Useful Woods and Plants.] [251]
  • [The Huge Forests.] [251]
  • [The Bamboo Plant and its Uses.] [252]
  • [The Bejuco Rope.] [253]
  • [The Useful Cocoanut Palm.] [255]
  • [Oppressive Regulations of the Government.] [257]
  • [The Early Missionaries Beneficial to the Natives.] [257]
• [Mineral Wealth of the Islands.] [260]
  • [Early Search for Gold.] [260]
  • [The Mining Laws and Methods of the Colony.] [261]
  • [Where the Precious Metal is Found.] [264]
  • [The Whole Country a Virgin Mine.] [267]
  • [Precious Stones and Iron.] [267]
  • [Peculiar Methods of Mining Copper.] [269]
  • [Other Minerals and the Coal-fields.] [271]
• [Animal Life in the Colony.] [273]
  • [The Useful Buffalo, and Other Domestic Animals.] [273]
  • [Reptiles, Bats, and Insects.] [276]
  • [A Field for the Sportsman.] [277]
  • [The Locust Scourge.] [279]
  • [The Chief Nuisances: Mosquitoes and Ants.] [280]
• [Struggle of the Filipinos for Liberty.] [284]
  • [Early Insurrections Against the Spaniards.] [284]
  • [The Burgos Revolt.] [286]
  • [The Present Rebellion.] [288]
  • [The Katipunan.] [288]
  • [The Black Hole of Manila.] [289]
  • [The Forbearance of the Natives.] [291]
  • [The Rebel Army.] [291]
  • [The Tagal Republic Proclaimed.] [293]
  • [Treachery of the Spaniards.] [294]
  • [Dr. José Rizal and His Wife, Josephine.] [294]
  • [Execution of Rizal. The Philippine Joan of Arc.] [296]
  • [Rizal’s Farewell Poem.] [297]
  • [Aguinaldo Confers with Admiral Dewey.] [298]
  • [Aguinaldo as Dictator: His Proclamations.] [299]
  • [Triumphant Progress of the Rebels.] [302]
  • [The Spaniards Fortify Manila.] [303]
  • [Sketch of Aguinaldo.] [304]
• [Dewey at Manila.] [310]
  • [The White Squadron.] [310]
  • [Declaration of War, and Journey to the Philippines.] [311]
  • [Luzon Sighted, and Preparations for Battle.] [312]
  • [The Fleet Sails by Corregidor.] [313]
  • [First Shot of the War.] [314]
  • [The Spanish Fleet is Sighted.] [316]
  • [Dewey Attacks the Enemy.] [317]
  • [The Fate of the Reina Cristina.] [319]
  • [The Commodore Pipes All Hands to Breakfast.] [321]
  • [The Americans Renew the Battle.] [321]
  • [The Yankees Are Victorious.] [323]
• [The American Occupation.] [326]
  • [Merritt, and the Expedition.] [326]
  • [The Battle of Malate.] [329]
  • [Capture of Manila.] [335]
  • [Capitulation of the Philippines.] [339]
  • [Awaiting the Peace Commission.] [341]