The Chinese thus meanly deserted by their leader did not wait to be killed, but retreated in earnest to the mountains. Here they took refuge with the Igorrotes, and here they spent the rest of their lives. They married women from among the Igorrotes, and from them are descended those people who are to-day known as the Igorrote-Chinese.
It was some time before peace and a sense of safety were restored in Manila. Work was pushed more rapidly on the city walls, which were still building, and upon Fort Santiago. Other troops of Spanish were sent from Mexico to make the defense of the city stronger, but long before they came Salcedo went back to his work in the north. He died of fever in Ilocos Sur a year or two later.
Captain Salcedo was still a young man, but twenty-seven years old, at the time of his death (March 11, 1576). Had he lived longer, he would doubtless have become a great statesman, for he showed much tact and wisdom in his dealings with the people. He was honestly mourned by both the Spanish and the native soldiers of his army. A few years after his death, his bones were brought to Manila and laid to rest beside those of his grandfather, Miguel de Legaspi.
Summary.—Up to the beginning of the nineteenth century the Philippine Islands were governed as a dependency of Mexico. The High Court of Mexico named the governor-general and made laws for the country. Legaspi was succeeded by Guido de Lavazares. After Legaspi’s death Salcedo went to Ilocos Sur to carry on his work of subjecting the country to Spain. In 1574 the Chinese pirate Li-ma-hong made an attack on Manila, meaning to take the city and set up a kingdom there. Driven back from the city, he retreated to the mouth of the Agno River and settled there with his pirate band. A Chinese war junk came to the help of the Spanish, and Li-ma-hong was forced to flee. He escaped, deserting some of his own soldiers whom he had sent inland. In 1576 Juan Salcedo died in Ilocos Sur.
Questions.—Describe the government of the archipelago previous to the nineteenth century. Who succeeded Legaspi? What sort of man was he? What did Salcedo do after Legaspi’s death? What was his method in dealing with the people? Give an account of Li-ma-hong’s invasion. When did Juan Salcedo die?
Chapter V.
BEGINNINGS OF STRIFE.
For the first two hundred years, as we have said, the Spanish colony in the Philippines was governed from Mexico. A Supreme Court, or Audencia, like that of Mexico, was set up in Manila. This court tried cases and settled law questions for the whole archipelago. The Mexican code of law was in force here, and the officials in the islands tried to make the government as much as possible like that of Mexico.
This, however, was a very different country from Mexico. The Filipinos were a very different people from the native Mexicans. What worked well, therefore, for one country and one people, did not suit at all for the other. Often, in these islands, right and justice were hindered by the very laws made to help them. The men who framed these laws did not know the islands or the Filipinos, so they could not understand why the code that was good for Mexico should fail here.