First, I name the chief works of reference,[6] of the highest, most authoritative character, bearing on the distinctive peculiarities of the Philippines,—works that will be recognized as serviceable to the general reader and scholar, to him that seeks to learn of the history of that archipelago, of its antiquities, and characteristics of the many tribes that people it,—of their customs, religious beliefs, superstitions and rites; of the fauna, flora, geology of those islands; in brief, of whatever refers to this part of Malaysia. For no matter how much the Malay,—Javan, Bornese, Sumatran, as well as Philippinian—has been civilized—Christianized, so far (as must be conceded) he has not become Caucasian in mind, nor will, nor spirit. He remains as he was, (nor any wonder), wholly Asiatic. Albeit, for three centuries and upwards, taught, ruled, elevated (at times, too, disedified) by white men, the Malay, or brown man, is not, perhaps never will be, employed by Europeans, save in very limited sphere, in wholly subordinate trusts, whether in commerce, trade, or whatsoever other field of human activity.
[1] See his Catálogo Abreviado de la Biblioteca Filipina (Madrid, 1898), pp. xxix–xxxi.
[2] These figures are given by Retana—a faulty enumeration, however, in that they fail to include all the titles in his work. Thus (p. 338), instead of a series-number we read four ciphers, to be met with elsewhere the same as his bis mark (pp. 59, 90, 118, 565). Again Méntrida’s Arte and Diccionario of 1637, mentioned twice (Nos. 100, 173) have not been entered by Retana in his lists; neither has the first edition (Tayabas, 1703,) of Santos’ Tagal dictionary, (pp. 31, 32.). In reality then, instead of only 2697 titles in his Biblioteca, one should count, I venture to guess, at least some twenty or thirty more than are given.
[3] Biblioteca, vii–xi.
[4] Singularly varied are the names given by writers to this dialect of Yap, as Bonabe, Bonibet, Bornabi, Funopet, Panapee, Ponapé, Puynipet, while to the French the island itself is known as Ascension. (Art. “Caroline Islands,” Encycl. Brit.)
[5] Read, however, his observations thereon in full in his Estadismo, i, 426–429. The same opinion as to Aeta being mother-tongue in the Philippines is pronounced also by Buzeta, ii, 49.
[6] Throughout this sketch, unless otherwise noted, I follow only Spanish authorities.