YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

STATE
OP THE
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
BEIHG AN
ISTORICAL STATISTICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE
ACCOUNT
OF THAT
INTERESTING PORTION OF THE INDIAN
ARCHIPELAGO; BY
THOMAS DE COMYN,
(MADRID, 1820.)
TRJ^NSLATED FROM THE SPANISH,
» WITH
NOTES AND A PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

WILLIAM WALTON Esq.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR T. AND J. ALLMAN
BOOKSELLERS TO HER MAJESTY
PRIN CE's-STiEET, HAHOTER SQUARE ;
AND SOLD BY J, M, RICHARDSON CORNHILL.
1821.

BAKNAUU ASO FAttlKV. '
Simner SIreel, Utulm.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

The object of the present publication
is to furnish a sketch of the population,
natural productions, industry, and com
merce of the Philippine Islands, together
with an account of the public revenue and
expences of administration. It is also
intended to convey a correct idea of the
mode of government pursued in the pro
vinces, and, more particularly, to describe
the ravages committed on the coasts by
the Mahometan pirates who infest the
Indian Archipelago. On these various
topics such reflections will be added, as
are likely to call the attention of the public
to the present state of one of our most
interesting colonies, the principal induce
ment that has determined the writer to
put the following outline to press.
a 2

iv author's preface.
A residence of eight years, and the
official situation he held during that time,
in Manilla, have furnished him with no
ordinary opportunities of obtaining infor
mation, on the various branches and sub
jects he has taken upon himself to treat ;
and in the present undertaking he feels a
greater degree of confidence, from the
circumstance of his MS. having met with
the previous approbation of several persons
of experience and authority in the Islands,
whom he consulted on the leading facts
and observations it contained. Far, how
ever, from presuming that he has acquitted
himself of so laudable a task, in a manner
worthy of the importance of the subject,
these particulars are merely mentioned as
a proof of his zeal ; for, in candour it must
be confessed, that a complete picture could
not be drawn of a country, so wide and
varied, in the reduced form under which
the present attempt is noAV laid before the
pubhc.

CONTENTS.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
Translator's Preliminary DiscouR.sE,Biz, Object of the Work. —
Discovery of the Philippine Islands and Moluccas. — Fresh
Attempts to follow up these Discoveries. — Origin and Termi
nation of the Disputes between Spaniards and Portuguese re
specting the Moluccas, — Fresh Attempts to colonize the Phi
lippines. — Legaspi's Expedition, — Conquest and Settlement
of Zebu, Panay, and Manilla. — Conquest of the Interior of
Luzon. — Manilla attacked by a Chinese Pirate and nearly
taken. — A British Squadron under Drake visits tlie Archipe-
¦ lago. — Spaniards attach Borneo and Ternate. — Manilla con
sumed by Fire. — High Court of Justice estabUshed there-
Improvements in Manilla. — Rebellion and Deslruclion ofthe
Chinese Traders and Residents. — Fresh Attempts against the
Moluccas, — Capture of TerYtate. — Japanese revfilt in Manilla.
— Spanish Expeditions against the Dutch at Malacca. — War
with the Dutch. — Dutch attack the Philippines.— Insurrections
ofthe Indians. — Manilla destroy ed'by a dreadful Earthquake,
— The Philippines threatened by a Chinese Pirate, mho took
Formosa from the Dutch, — Ternate, ^amboanga, ifc. eva
cuated  Chinese expelled from Manilla. — Commodore Ansnn
captures the Acapulco SJiip. — Dreadful Ravages of the Moors.
— Volcanic Irruptions. — Chinese again expelled. — Siege and
Capture of Manilla by the British. — Occurrences there dur
ing the Octnpation. — Defence of the Interior by General
Anda.— Junius' s Letters to Sir William Draper respecting
Manilla Ratisom. — Evacuation. — General Anda appointed
Governor. — Subsequent Events, — Situation of Manilla and

vi CONTENTS.
Cavite,— Division and Size of the Philippines.— Their Cli
mate, Fertility, and Natural Curiosities.— Two Kinds of
Aborigines; their Origin, present State ; how converted to
Mahomedanism.— Marianai Islands and other Dependencies un
ihe Philippines. — Decline of the latter. — Author's Views
respecting Indians explained,— General Remarks on Spain in
reference to her ultramarine Provinces.

PAGE
Chap. I. Population. — Agriculture, — viz. Cotton, Indigo,
Sugar, Bees-wax, black Pepper, Coffees-
Cocoa, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Rice, Dye-
Woods, and Timber,
II. Of Minerals. — Estates. — Manufactures  31
] 1 1. Internal and external Commerce. — Funds there
in invested. — Property belonging to pious
and charitable Institutions  Mercantile
Skippikg. — Royal Philippine Company .... 62
IV. Of the public Revenue. — Revenue arising out of
the Crown Monopolies of Tobacco. — Ofthe
Coco and Nipa, or Palm Wine. — Royal Cus
tom House. — Import and Export Duties. —
Monopoly of the Bonga, or Areca Nut  98
v. Revenue continued. — Licence of Cockpits.  hi-
dian Tributes.— Subaltern Branches. 
Disbursements and General Expences  159
VI. Of the Civil Administration and Government
of the Provinces  I90
Vll. Of the Spiritual Administration  209
, VIII. Of the Moors and their Piracies  231

CONTENTS. Vll

APPENDIX. PAOI
Table I. Population of the Philippine Islands, according
to the most retent Data  275
II. Comparative Statement of Expences in cultivat
ing Sugar, Indigo, and Rice  277
HI. General List of Philippine Manufactures and
Provinces in which made  281
IV. Imports, Exports, and ordinary Consumption of
ihe Philippine Islands  ,  2S3
V. Funds belonging to Pious and Religious Esta
blishments, let out at Maritime Risks .... 285
VI. Various Branches of the Public Revenue, Ex
pences, and Nett Proceeds  ,.. 286
VII. General Statement of Sales, Expences., andPro-
ceeds of the Tobacco Monopoly, for a given
Period of Years  288
VIII. Royal Custom House and other Duties, for a
given Period of Years  ,  :„ 290
IX. General Statement of Indian Tributes according
to Provinces, Expences of Collection, and
NettProceeds  29*
X. General Statement of the Expences of Admi
nistration and Defence of the Philippine
Islands '  .-..  294
XI. Enumeration of all the Towns and Missions, dis
tinguishing the Religious Orders and Indian
Clergy by whom administered . .  297

TRANSLATOR'S
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

The 'Work now laid before the British Public, was
evidently intended to call the attention of the Spanish
authorities and nation to the neglected state in which
the Philippine Islands were left, and, by pointing out
the abuses under which the administration of that se
cluded portion of the monarchy laboured, to awaken a
spirit of inquiry, favourable to reform in all the branches
of the insular governtnent. Its object was also to shew
the immense improvements of which that country is
susceptible, by an enumeration of resources in great
measure disregarded, and to demonstrate the fallacy of
that restrictive system by which the industry and' emu
lation of the inhabitants had hitherto been paralyzed.
It was published in Madrid at the time the Spanish
Cortes so lately met for the commencement of their
valuable labours, as containing desirable and recent
information respecting the Philippine Islands, a subject
that would naturally enter within the range of investi
gations about to be instituted, with a view to correct
existing defects, and reconstruct the commercial rela
tions of Spain on a more enlightened system. Its pub
lication may, therefore, be considered as among the first
advantages gained by the late revolution in Spain, and

X TRANSIiATOR S
the consequent establishment of the freedom of the
press. A certain jealousy has usually prevailed with
regard to the transmarine affairs of Spain, that must
have withheld a work like this from the public eye ; but
that feeling ceased, as soon as the new order of things
was restored, and many of the most distinguished mem
bers of the Cortes were the first to recommend its ap-.
pearance in print, on the principle that valuable in
formation ought not lo be hidden, and that they were
equally as much interested in the welfare of those
distant sections of the monarchy, as the natives and in
habitants themselves could be.
The author's previous pursuits have clearly been
mercantile, and from the high situation he held in the
Philippine Company at Manilla, he possessed sources
of information to which fiew could have access. Hence,
may it be said, that he has published the first sta
tistical and descriptive account of a part of the Indian
Archipelago, of which, till now, we had scarcely any
other knowledge than a few scanty and detached parti
culars, hastily communicated by voyagers who had ac
cidentally touched at or cruised near the islands, among
whom Dampier and the writer of Anson's Voyages
may almost be considered the best. Some historical
details, particularly by Zuniga, were indeed printed
about the year 1803 ; but they are no other than a crude
outline of various events, by which, from the lime of the
conquest, the administration of each Captain-General
had been distinguished, only reaching up to 1764,
when Manilla was evacuated by the British ; of course
very inadequate to the wants of the general reader, and
in no way comprising the last 50 years, during wbiojb

PRBIilMlNARY DISCOURSE. Xl
period the Philippine Islands have, comparatively speak
ing, acquired a new existence.
If any thing is to be regretted, it is, that the author
has not given us more, and that he confined himself
only to the most material points. He must evidently
possess a still larger and more diversified fund of infor
mation ; but having been appointed to accompany the
commissioners who proceeded to Buenos Ayres with
pacific overtures, he was no doubt prevented from
adding to his volume. It has, however, been the wi.sh
ofthe translator to throw into the body ofthe work, as
much illustrative and comparative information as he was
able, in the shape of notes, distinguished in the usual
way; and also additional matter in the Preliminary
Discourse ; with a view to' make up deficiencies, so as
to render the present work as complete as possible,
and deserving the character of an useful appendage to
Crawfurd's History of the Indian Archipelago. For
this purpose, he obtained some materials from Madrid,
and considered himself fortunate in possessing a variety
of interesting, though not recent, reports and papers, at
various times laid before the Council of the Indies, of
which his confined limits have prevented him from
making as much use as he could have wished ; but it
will be found he has given an ample sketch ofthe con
quest, settlement, and history of the Philippines, and,
in other respects, supplied the omissions of the original
work ; at the same time explaining some of the author's
views, which, to the English reader, might not appear
altogether intelligible. In short, as an important and
eventful revolution has taken place in Spain, on which
the author could not have calculated according to the
form in which his page^ were prepared, and of which,

xii TRANSliATOR's
consequently, he did not anticipate the results, the
translator has endeavoured to place the whole on a
parallel with the constitutional system, more particularly
as far as regards political and commercial changes, by
which means the work is rendered more acceptable and
perfect in all its parts.
The Archipelago of St. Lazarus, the name originally
given to the Philippine Islands, was discovered by Her
nando de Magallanes, who left Seville in August, 1519,
with five ships, manned by 234 men and fitted out by or
ders of Charles V. On reaching the South Sea, by the
passage still bearing the name of its discoverer, he had
only three vessels left ; but with these he proceeded on in
quest of the Spice Islands, the chief plea that bad
given rise to so daring an enterprise. On the day of
St. Lazarus, he discovered a group of islands which he
called by th.e name of the Saint, and landing at Botoan,
belonging to the province of Caraga, in the island of
Mindanao, he took possession- of the new discovery in
the name of the king of Spain, and there the first mass
was celebrated. He next proceeded to the island of
Zebu, and gained over its chief, as well as that of Di-
masua. Mactan, a small island in front of Zebu, how
ever, resisted the Spaniards, and its chief, confident of
his own strength, challenged Magallanes to land, who
accepted the challenge. He took with him 50 Spa
niards, attacked the Indians by advancing through a
deep morass ; but, being wounded by an arrow he
died on the field together with six of his men, and the
rest retreated on board. Thus perished, though not
ingloriously, the renowned Magallanes, whose name, in
the annals of the New World, deserves to rank imme
diately after that of Columbus.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XIU
After the death of their leader, the Spaniards chose
Juan Serrano for their commander, and the Indians
after this recent misfortune, no longer considering them
as demi-gods or invincible, began to plot their destruc
tion. They artfully disguised their designs, and per
suaded the new commander, accompanied by 24 of
his companions^ to be present at a feast, prepared by
Hamabar, chief of Zebu. In the midst of the entertain
ment, concealed Indians rushed on the unsuspecting
Spaniards, and murdered the whole of them, with the
exception of Serrano, who escaped to his ships. Des
pairing of success in this quarter, the Spaniards pro
ceeded in search of the Moluccas, after burning one of
their ships, owing to the want of men, and choosing
Juan Carvallo as their leader. On the 8th November
they arrived at Tidore, one of the Moluccas, where the
chief received them well, and granted them permission
to load spices, with which they intended to return to
Spain. The Trinidad, one of the ships, proceeded to
wards Panama ; and the Victoria, the other, returned
home by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, and arr
rived at St. Lucar, on 7th September, 1522, three years
after their departure from Seville, and with only 18
men remaining. The surviving Captain, Sebastian del
Cano, being thus the first who had sailed round the
world, the emperor bestowed honours upon him, and
gave him for his coat of arms a terrestrial globe, with
the motto of Hie primus geometros.
The enterprising spirit which at that time existed in
Spain, and the flattering accounts given by the sur
vivors of the new discoveries, induced the emperor to
send out another armament under the command of
Estevan Gomez, who, by a north-west passage, pledged

XIV TRANSIiATOR S
to discover a shorter route to the Pacific. This squadron
sailed in 1524, and was soon dispersed by bad weather.
In the following year. Father Loyasa was dispatched
from Corunna with 7 ships and 450 picked men, among
whom was Andres de Urdaneta, who afterwards be
came a friar of the order of St. Augiistin, and, as will
be hereafter seen, directed tbe expedition from New
Spain, which effected the conquest of the Philippines.
Loyasa's fleet passed the Straits of Magallanes, with the
loss only of one ship ; but on entering the Pacific, they
were dispersed by a storm. Loyasa pursued his course,
and dying soon afterwards, was succeeded by Sebastian
del Cano, in conformity to the orders of the emperor ;
but he only surviving a few days, the command devolved
on Martin YaSez, a Biscayan. They arrived at Tidore,
on 31st December, 1526, and were soon joined by the
rest of the squadron, though after losing a large part of
their men.' Here they found that the Portuguese had
declared war against the chief of Tidore, for having,
on the previous occasion, granted the Spaniards a fa
vourable reception. The latter espoused the cause of
the islanders, and several partial actions took place
with the Portuguese ; but, through the effects of the
climate and other calamities, their numbers being now
reduced to 120, they constructed a fort and intrenched
themselves. In this situation, shut up in their fortress
was the remnant of Loyasa's armament found by Alvaro
de Saavedra, who commanded an expedition of three
ships fitted out by the viceroy of New Spain, by orders
from court, and which arrived at Tidore by the route of
the Marianas Islands, of which possession was taken in
1528. They were received as deliverers by their suf
fering countrymen ; but their joy was of short duration.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XT
fresh quarrels breaking out with the Portuguese, who
had nearly destroyed all the ships of the Spaniards.
Twice they commenced their voyage to New Spain,
and as many times were driven back through stress of
weather, and after losing their leader and a great part
of their crews, the survivors submitted to the Portu
guese. This portion of the Indian Archipelago, at that time,
presented the singular spectacle of the subjects of two
European uations waging a destructive war against
each other, without any previous declaration of hosti
lities at home. To explain the origin of this contest, a
small digression will be necessary.. The ambition of
new conquests, the glory of visiting remote seas, and
the fervid zeal of extending the Christian faith, equally
animated the breasts of Spaniards and Portuguese,
during the 16th century ; commerce being, at that time,
only a secondary consideration. The enterprising and
heroic acts of both nations, whether read from the pen
of an Ercilla or a Camoens, fill the mind with wonder
and astonishment ; more particularly if we .consider the
degraded state into which each was afterwards sunk
through the defects of their respective governments.
The Portuguese had for some time been carrying on
their discoveries and conquests along the coasts of Af
rica and Guinea, and by a bull, dated 8th January, 1456,
Pope Nicholas V. confirmed the same to Alphonsus V.
of Portugal ; in which he also amplified his former let
ters patent, wherein a grant had been made of all he
might take from the Saracens, as an equivalent for the
expences incurred, and on the condition of his reducing
the conquered to the Christian faith. These grants
were afterwards confirmed by Calixtus III., in 1456,

xvi translator's
and Calixtus IV., in 1481, when the possession of the
Canary Islands in favour of Spain, was specially ex
empted from the previous grants.
In 1493, Alexander VI. issued his bull on behalf of
Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain and their successors,
in which he granted to them all the countries and
islands, discovered and not discovered, situated to the
west and south of a line drawn from tbe two poles, and
passing 100 leagues westward of the Cape De Verd
Islands, unless previously occupied by some Christiarv
power. The terms of this grant by the court of Por
tugal were deemed an infringement on those previously
made to them, and several remonstrances and negotia
tions ensued, as well with the Papal See as the govern
ment of Spain. In the mean time the celebrated Se
bastian del Cano arrived home with the remnant of
Magallanes' expedition, bringing overtures of allegiance
from several of the Molucca chiefs, and, above all, a
cargo of spices. These circumstances excited gi-eater
emulation in the Portuguese, who, being powerful in
India, lost no time in establishing themselves in Ter
nate, one of the Moluccas, whilst remonstrances were
urged against further armaments being made by Spain
to that quarter. Both sovereigns, anxious to preserve
the existing harmony, resolved to leave the matters in
dispute respecting their Indian enterprises to arbi
trators, and the whole eventually terminated in a treaty,
signed 22 April, 1529, by which the emperor Charles V.
at that time in great want of money, agreed to give up
his right and title to the Moluccas or Spice Islands, for
the sum of 350,000 ducats of gold ; but," according to
the tenor of the original document, of which a copy is
before me, reserving to himself and successors the pri-

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE . XVU
vilege of reassuming his rights and title to the same,
whenever the above-named sum should be refunded.
The contest being ended in this way, the king of
Spain turned all his thoughts to the conquest of the un
disputed islands discovered by Magallanes, and for this
purpose orders were transmitted to the viceroy of New
Spain ; the ports on the Pacific being deemed more
convenient. With this view five ships were fitted out
and sailed from the port of Natividad, under the com
mand of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, on 1st November,
1542, who was strictly enjoined not to approach the
Moluccas, in order to avoid creating jealousies among
the Portuguese. He also carried with him four Augus-
tin friars for the conversion of the conquered natives :
but the squadron, after arriving safe off the Philippines,
was driven so much to leeward by the S. W. monsoon,
that they were compelled to anchor at the island of
Sarragan, 40 leagues from the opposite coast of Min
danao. It was this commander who then gave to these
islands the name of Philippines, in honour of Philip II.
of Spain, and after suffering great privations in the
miserable island of Sarragan, through the want of pro
visions, he sent some of his smaller vessels to the
neighbouring Ones in search of supplies; but, being
delayed longer than he expected, he sailed for the Mo
luccas, though contrary to his orders. Here he was un.
graciously received by the Portuguese, and proceeding
on to Amhoyna, he died in the arms of St. Francis
Xavier, in the year 1546, falling a victim to a deep
melancholy which preyed upon him, owing to the dis
asters of his expedition and the dread of his sovereign's
displeasure. Notwithstanding such great sacrifices and misfor-
b

XVlll TRANSLATOR S
tunes, the government of Spain seemed to cling to the
old project of colonizing the Philippine Islands, and
being partly recovered from the exhausted state in
which the kingdom was left by the ruinous wars carried
on during the reign of Charles V., and the viceroyalty
of New Spain, having, in the mean time, made rapid
progress, Philip II. gave orders -to his representative
there, Don Luis de Velasco, belonging to the noble fa
mily of the Duke de Frias, to construct the number of
vessels necassary for the enterprise, appoint a com
mander, and make every other preparation. He also
addressed a royal order to Andres de Urdaneta, who, as
already noticed, had become an Augustin friar in Mexi
co. This distinguished individual had served as a mi
litary officer in the Italian wars, and had also been a
captain in the armaments of Loyasa and Saavedra,
when he acquired great practical knowledge of the In
dian Archipelago. He was, besides, well versed in
nautical affairs, being considered one of the best ma
thematicians of the age, and the king was desirous that
his talents, prudence and experience should be added
to the present undertaking. The viceroy confided the
supreme command to Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, a
noble Biscayan, who had greatly distinguished himself
in the military affairs of America. Five Augustin
friars were also embarked, as well as an Indian inter
preter, belonging to Tidore, who had been brought
away in Villalobos's ship. The most judicious arrange
ments having been made by the viceroy, the armament
left the port of Natividad on 21 st November, 1564, con
sisting of two large ships, one galley and a patache,
having on board 400 picked men. A month after their
departure, the patache, commanded by Alonzo de

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XlX
1
Arellano, separated, as is generally thought, inten
tionally, and proceeding on to Mindanao, took in a
cargo of spices and gold, with which she returned to
New Spain.
Legaspi pursued the course pointed out in his in
structions, and on 9th January, 1565, discovered an
island which he called Barbados, owing to the natives
wearing longer beards than the other Indian islanders.
On the 22d they made the Ladrones islands, which
name was given them from the thievish disposi
tion observed in the inhabitants, but since called the
Marianas, in compliment to Queen Mary of Austria.
On 13th February, they came in sight of the Philip
pines, and landed at Tindaya and Abuyo, but did not
succeed in negotiating for provisions. Legaspi next
proceeded to Bohol, where Villalobos' people had
formerly obtained supplies ; but the natives, had fled to
the mountains. The conciliating conduct of the Spa
nish commander soon inspired them with confidence,
and they brought down what provisions they had, for
which they were duly paid. The Spaniards then sailed
to Zebu, but their landing was opposed by the chief
and his people ; though as soon as the Spaniards were
on shore they took to flight. The detachment advanced
towards their town ; but, on approaching, they found it
in flames and the moveables conveyed away.
Legaspi pitched his tent on shore, and ordered his
flag-ship to be repaired, with a view to send her back to
New Spain. Being greatly harassed by the Indians, a
fort was built. Constant negotiations were ' kept up
with Tupas, chief of the island, in wliich Legaspi en
deavoured to convince him of the advantages of living
in amity, and pledging to forget his treachery towards
b2

XX TRANSLATOR S
Magallanes. Hardships, the want of provisions, and
uncertainty with regard to the future, gave rise to
several mutinies among the soldiers, which were, how
ever, fortunately suppressed, and some examples set to
deter others. The flag-ship being ready, she sailed on
the 1st of June, 1565, with Father Urdaneta on board,
who went with a report of what had been done, and to
solicit supplies and assistance for the conversion of the
islanders. The day after the sailing of the flag-ship, Tupas,
finding it impossible to resist the Spaniards, had a con
ference with Legaspi, and agreed to pay homage to the
king of Spain, supply provisions, and grant the land
necessary to build a city and fortifications. Thus was
established the first Spanish town in the Philippines,
which Legaspi called by his own name, San Miguel.
The natives came down from the mountains, confidence
was restored, and soon the island exhibited the spec
tacle of two distinct races of people establishing them
selves near each other. The Spaniards had constructed
several light gallies, better adapted to these seas, and
with them went against some neighbouring towns, at
war with the Zebuans. The natives of the island of
Luzon also brought them 200 baskets of rice, and
several good captures of provisions were made from
the enemy; still, for a considerable time, they were
exposed to famine. Several small expeditions were
sent out to reconnoitre the neighbouring islands, and
it was discovered that some of the towns courted the
friendship of the Spaniards, whilst others sought to
starve them out of the country, and for this purpose
the provisions had been conveyed to the mountains.
Soon afterwards a vessel arrived^ at Zebu from Aca-

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxi
pulco, sent in aid of the expedition, at the solicitation
of Father Urdaneta, who had arrived safely in Mexico,
and proceeded on to Madrid. On board this vessel a
dreadful mutiny and some bloody scenes had taken
place ; but at length she entered the port to the great
joy ofthe new colony. Besides looking after provisions,
a galley was sent to Mindanao, for the purpose of ob
taining cinnamon, intended to be sent to New Spain on
account of the king, and also pitch for careening the
vessels. On a party employed there in this way, the
Mindanayans rose, and murdered the whole.
The Portuguese made their appearance in these seas,
in consequence of which Legaspi strengthened his for
tifications. On the 10th June, 1567, two Portuguese
gallies arrived with letters from Captain Pereyra, in
which he expressed a hope that the Spaniards had only
taken up a temporary residence in Zebu. Legaspi,
apprehensive of an" attack, sent off a small vessel to
New Spain, requiring immediate aid. On the 20th of
the following August, two ships arrived with seasonable
relief; but Pereyra did not reach Zebu till 30th Sep
tember, 1568, when, instead of waging war agajnst each
other, the two commanders held conferences, for the
purpose of ascertaining whether the Philippines were
within the line of demarcation traced by the pope.
Legaspi, finding the theatre of his operations too
confined at Zebu, resolved to establish himself in a
more fertile country, and ordered the camp to be re
moved to the island of Panay. This service he in
trusted to his relative, Philip de Salcedo, who was
cordially received by the natives, whom he had formerly
assisted against their enemies. Captain La Haya was
also sent with a detachment to the river Araut in the

xxii translator's
same island, Captain Ibarra to the island of Masbate,
and a garrison left in Zebu. Another vessel arrived from
Acapulco with supplies, and several Augustine friars.
Tupas, the Zebuan chief, was baptized and took the
name of Philip, in compliment to the king of Spain,
and his example was followed by many of his country
men ; indeed nothing could equal the zeal of the mis
sionaries, and their labours were most successful.
It having been determined to subdue the island of
Luzon, Legaspi set out to forward the expedition, and
touching at Panay, was cordially received by the na
tives. Here he ordered fortifications to be erected, as
well to prevent any attempts on the part of the Portu
guese, as to check the proceedings of a number of
pirates, fitted out from Jolo and Borneo, and which had
captured a Spanish vessel and her crew, but were after
wards dispersed by the commander left at Zebu. In
January, 1570, Captain Juan Salcedo sailed against the
pirates of Mindoro, and having taken the tovm of Mam-
burao, he compelled the inhabitants to ransom them
selves with gold. He next proceeded to the isle of
Lucban, where the pirates of Mindoro had taken refuge,
and after forcing their intrenchments, they ransomed
themselves in the same way.
Colonel Goite was appointed to command the expe
dition against Manilla, and accompanied by Juan de
Salcedo, 120 soldiers, and a party of friendly Indians,
he left Panay, in the beginning of May, 1570. He
himself went directly against the town, but Salcedo
landed near the lake of Bombon, now called the pro
vince of Batangas, to treat with the natives. They
received him with demonstrations of hostility, when he
engaged them, but receiving a wound in his lef from an

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Xxiii
arrow, he was compelled to abandon his enterprise, and
followed the colonel to ManiUa. The latter had made
terms with Rajali Matanda and his nephew Soliman ;
but it was soon discovered they were not sinpere. They
had fortifications built at the mouth of the river, where
now the fort of Santiago stands, defended by artillery,
in the use of which they had been taught by J^^uropeans.
Several Spaniards had been murdered ashore, and So
liman at length threw off the mask, and fired on the
shipping. The colonel instantly landed w^th eighty
men, and stormed the fort, the Indians flying to their
town, which they burnt with a view to diminish the
success of their enemies. Here a foundery for cannon
was destroyed; but twelve large, and a few smaller
pieces were taken in the place. The old Rajah, Ma
tanda, was considered no party to this disturbance, the
whole of the blame being laid on Soliman ; but the
colonel finding his force insufiicient, and fearing also
that if he delayed any longer the S. W. monsoon would
prevent his return, after repairing his ships at Cavite,
proceeded back to Panay.
On the 23d June, three more vessels arrived from
New Spain, and in them several missionaries. Legaspi
also received dispatches from his sovereign, approving
his conduct, nominating him president of the Islands,
and ordering portions of land to be distributed among
those engaged in the various conquests. He dispatched
two vessels back to Acapulco, and then went to Zebu,
constituted the new town into a city, gave it a municipal
establishment, laid the foundation of a stone fort, and
made every other arrangement for the good adminis
tration and future defence of the island.
Returning to- Panay, he took command of the expe-

XXIV TRANSLATOR S
dition destined against Manilla, with which he sailed on
the 15th April, 1571. He reviewed his men in the
island of Latuga, and found they amounted to 280, and
passing by the island of Mindoro, settled the tribute the
natives were to pay to the king of Spain, where he had
the opportunity of saving a Chinese junk from founder
ing, by ^^ich means he secured the friendship of the
crew. He arrived at Cavite, and there waited for the
vessels which had fallen astern. The whole squadron
then entered the river of Manilla, and the Indians,
conceiving the Spaniards had returned to punish them
for their late misconduct, set fire to the town, and fled
with their effects to Tondo. Colonel Goite went after
them, and convinced them, by means of an interpreter,
that the intention of the Spaniards was not to injure
them. After various negociations, the old Rajah and
Lacandola, chief of Tondo, agreed to visit Legaspi, who
received them in the most engaging manner. They
promised to become subjects of the king of Spain, and
listen to the new law that was to be preached to them.
Soon afterwards Soliman also came in, and received the
general's pardon.
Affairs being thus advanced, arrangements were made
for building a new city and fort at the entrance of the
river. Behind it a palace, church and convent were
first erected, as well as houses for the remaining Spa
niards. Such was the conquest and foundation of the
city of Manilla, intended as the seat qf government
and the ceremonies usually attending establishments of
this kind, were performed on the 19th of May, 1571.
It was, however, soon discovered that no great reliance
could be placed on the sincerity of the islanders. Two
chiefs from the interior appeared off the mouth of Ban

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XXV
cusay harbour, with forty prows, and landing they
proceeded to Lacandola's house, reproached the Indians
for so tamely submitting to a handful of foreigners, and
urged them to shake off the yoke. Legaspi sent two
Spaniards to treat with them, but they received them
with insults and derision, offering to fight the Spaniards
if they went to Bancusay bay. Thither Colonel Goite
instantly proceeded with his light vessels, when a most
blopdy engagement ensued, in which the Indians shewed
the greatest valour. The leader of the Indians being
killed by a musket-shot, the remainder fled and were
pursued by the Spaniards, who took many prisoners,
among whom were a son and nephew of Lacandola.
Legaspi however forgave their treachery, and sent them
back to their relatives. This forbearance and the
dread of Spanish prowess, had such an effect on the
country, that several chiefs came in and sued for
peace. The new city being founded, a municipality esta
blished, and the surrounding country in amity with the
Spaniards, Colonel Goite was sent to La Pampanga to
reduce the natives ; but on arriving at the river Betis,
,he was obliged to return, having discovered the trea
chery of Soliman and Lacandola, who had accompanied
him as interpreters. On the 17th of July, Legaspi's c^
nephew arrived with two ships, sent by the viceroy of
Mexico as. a reinforcement. Juan de Salcedo was
sent to reduce the people of Cainta and Taytay, two
small towns high up on the river Pasig, who refused to
acknowledge the authority of the Spaniards, and had
intrenched themselves. The first was carried by as
sault, with great loss on the part of the Indians, on
hearing which the second surrendered. He afterwards

XXVl TRANSLATOR S
marched against another settlement, situated on Lake
Bay, where the Indians were prepared for defence ;
but sending forwards an Augustine friar, the latter in
duced tliem to submit, and their example was followed
by the other towns round the lake.
Salcedo advanced further into the country, and found
the people of Maliayhay, fortified on a high hill ; but,
having perceived a path less rugged than the rest, be
boldly advanced and took the position. Exploring the
country he found the villages deserted, the inhabitants
having fled to the mountains. He therefore returned
to Lake Bay, where most of his people had been left, and
learning that in the country of Camarines, there was a
town, called Paracale, possessing gold mines, he re
solved to go thither. Having dispatched Jback to Ma
nilla, a party of men with a report of what had been
done, he proceeded to Paracale with only a few troops,
and endured the greatest hardships.
La Pampanga having been subdued by Colonel
Goite, and a large portion of the country round the
capital being now in a state of perfect submission to
the Spaniards, the governor distributed tracts' of land
as a reward to his oiBcers, reserving the tributes of the
natives, as an impost to the king. In 1572, the Chi
nese whom the Spaniards had saved from shipwreck,
arrived with merchandise, wh'en the first foundation of
the Acapulco trade was laid, as well as the plan of
sending missionaries to China.
Nothing being yet known of the northern part of the
island, Juan de Salcedo volunteered his services to go
there, and he left Manilla on the 20th of May, 1572,
with forty-five soldiers. On the third day, he arrived
at Cape Bolinao, where he found a Chinese junk.

PRELI3IINARY DISCOURSE. XXVli
whose crew had got possession of an Indian chief and '
some of his people, intending to carry them to China.
Salcedo released them, and this action so much gratified
the natives, that they solicited to be put on the same
footing as those of the other districts in amity with the
Spaniards. He then passed along the coast of Panga-
sinan and Ilocos, till he arrived at Cape Boxeador, and
in, most ofthe towns was received in a friendly manner.
At Bigan he built a fort, and traced out a town, where
he left twenty-five of his people. Passing on to Ca-
gayan, he made the complete circuit of the island of
Luzon, and arriving at Manilla, received the me
lancholy intelligence of the death of his relative. Go
vernor Legaspi, who by his prudence and probity had en
deared himself to all parties, and by his zeal, energy and
courage, had rendered essential services to his sovereign.
Juan de Salcedo returned to the conquest of Ilocos,
and this being completed, he proceeded to Camarines,
where he founded the city of Santiago de Libon, on the
river VicoL- The Bisayas islands were also explored,
and as fast as Augustine missionaries arrived from
Mexico, districts were placed under their spiritual
care, this being found the best means of restraining and
civilizing the natives.
In November, 1574, the Spaniards were alarmed by
dangers of a novel kind. Limahon was a pirate of such
renown, that the emperor of China had sent three
squadrons against him, and fearful of encountering
them, he resolved to remove his predatory operations
to a greater distance,. Having captured a Chinese
junk from Manilla, he learnt the situation of the Spa
niards there, and resolved to attack them. He arrived

XXVlll TKANSLATOR S
at the island of Corregidor, at the mouth of the bay,
with sixty-two junks, having on board 2000 soldiers,
many seamen, 1500 women, and abundance of artillery
and arms. Unperceived by the Spaniards, Sioco, a
Japanese and second in command to Limahon, landed
600 men, and advanced op Manilla. At day-break they
were close to the fortifications, and had surprised the
hbuse in which Colonel Goite and family lived, who
with his guard were put to the sword. The advance of
the Chinese was at length checked by a detachment of
Spaniards, and a severe engagement took place, in
which eight of -the latter were killed. The remainder
were nearly overpowered, when a reinforcement ar
rived, and after great slaughter Sioco was compelled to
retire to his boats, and join Limahon in Cavite.
Juan de Salcedo, who had observed this fleet off the
coast of Ilocos, where he was then engaged in making
settlements on the land distributed to him, fearful for
the safety of the capital, resolved instantly to proceed
there with all the forces he cfOuId collect. He arrived
in the bay the night after the attack, and learning how
matters stood, ordered trumpets to be sounded, salutes
to be fired, and lights put about his vessels, in order to
induce the enemy to believe a considerable reinforce
ment had entered the river. The same night Limahon
brought his ships close to Manilla, and the next morn
ing Sioco landed, advancing on the capital in three
divisions. One he ordered to march along the prin
cipal street to the square, where he expected the
Spaniards would sally from the fort to engage them •
the second was sent by the side of the river, and the
third he himself led along the beach. The first division
arrived at the square ; but the Spaniards did not quit

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XXIX
the fort, though they saw their houses burning, their
artillery continuing to do great havoc among the Chi
nese. Sioco finding he could not draw the Spaniards
out of their fortifications, ordered the division in the
square to push on to the assault, at the same time lead
ing on his own party. So great was the number of
assailants, that the palisade was forced, when the go
vernor and Colonel Salcedo came up with the reserve,
and, cutting their way through the Chinese, entered the
fort, repulsed the enemy with great loss, and compelled
him to retire to the shore.
Limahon, who had been hitherto unable to take part
in the action, now entered the river; but, observing
the flight of his people, ordered his ships to withdraw,
thinking to make them desperate, by depriving them of
all protection from him. The Chinese, however, with
stood the fire pouring upon them, without venturing to
return to the engagement, and Limahon found himself
compelled to land with 400 fresh men. He moved
onwards and burnt a few vessels drawn up on the beach ;
but being attacked by Colonel Salcedo at the moment
he was preparing to pillage and set fire to the remainder
of the town, he was finally forced to retreat. Having
lost many of his people, and among them Sioco, the
pirate then re-embarked his troops, and returned to the
river Paranaque, where he killed all the Indians assem
bled in an hostile attitude. He next sailed to the
province of Pangasinan, where he entered into an
arrangement with the chief, and formed a strong en
campment on the river Lingayen.
This was the greatest trial the Spaniards had expe-
rie'nced in their new conquests, as the event besides
gave rise to several commotions among their own

XXX TRANSLATOR S
Indians. Nothing however could appal the daring
minds of these intrepid men. The natives of Manilla
had committed excesses whilst the Spaniards were
engaged with the Chinese ; those of Tondo murdered
some persons belonging to the church, and the Min-
dorese carried their friars as prisoners with them to the
mountains. Soliman and Lacandola, the chiefs of Ma-
uiUa and Tondo, apprehensive that the governor would
punish them for their ill-conduct, retired to Navotas,
where they stirred up a rebellion. Colonel Salcedo,
accompanied by a friar, went out against them, but
through the influence of the latter, a reconciliation was
effected. The governor, relieved from the anxiety occasioned
by the restlessness of the Indians, resolved to follow
Limahon to Pangasinan. On examining his muster-
roll, he found the soldiers in Manilla did not exceed
200, and about the same number were distributed in
the provinces of Bisayas and Camarines. On the 22d
of March, 1575, Colonel Salcedo sailed with 150 Spa
niards, and 1500 friendly Indians, and ou tbe 29th
entered the river Lingayen. On the following day he
sent Captain Chaves with a party to take possession of
the pirates' ships, and Captain Rivera witli another, to
reconnoitre his fortifications on shore. The former
executed his commission with ease, the Chinese flying
from their vessels the moment they were boarded.
Rivera attacked the advanced works, and made dread
ful carnage among the intrenched Chinese. Limahon
seeing this, ordered his men under cover of an inter
vening grove of palm-trees. Rivera having received
reinforcements, followed up his succeiss^ and compelled
the Chinese to retreat to their fort, which he would have

PRI.LIMINARY DISCOURSE. XXXI
scaled ; "but finding the palisade too lofty, as an expe
dient, he ordered his men in a body to rush against it.
Being formed only of palm-trees driven in the ground,
it easily gave way, and they entered the fort. The
Chinese retreated to the inner intrenchment, which the
Spaniards ought instantly to have attacked, and before
the enemy recovered himself; but, lured by plunder,
they lost the opportunity. Limahon was not slow in
taking advantage of this error, and attacking them
with 400 men, he drove the Spaniards out of the works.
They however returned to the attack, again advanced
to the second palisade, which finding it impossible to
force, they withdrew to their own position.
Colonel Salcedo, seeing the difiiculty of taking the
fort by storm, and anxious also to spare his men and
resources, resolved to turn the siege into a blockade,
and deprive the enemy of provisions. He also ordered
a Chinese merchant who was with him to write letters
to Limahon, to induce him to submit ; but, the latter
replied that he was considered a savage tiger, whom all
were desirous of catching ; he however assured them,
that he should either kill them, or they him. The Spa
niards threw up works beyond the range of the enemies'
artillery, and guarded the mouth of the river to prevent
his escape. The distance of the Spaniards' quarters
enabled Limahon to collect in the fragments of his
junks which had been burnt, and with these he built
boats within the fort. Four months were passed in this
way, when the Chinese, finding they had no other alter
native, opened a canal to the river, and withdrew in the
night. In 1576, the colony had the misfortune to lose Col.
Juan de Salcedo, who, on the 11th of March, died of a

XXXll TRANSLATOR S
fever, deeply regretted by all parties. He had borne a
most distinguished part in the, whole of the transactions
relating to the Philippine Islands, and always behaved
, Avith the greatest valour and prudence. The number of
! religious missionaries had greatly increased, but they
had hitherto been confined to the Augustine order,
whose friars already possessed several convents, and
had held two provincial chapters. About this time,
seventeen Franciscans also arrived, and commenced
their spiritual labours. Queen Elizabeth of England
sent out the renowned Captain Drake, with a consider
able squadron, for the purpose of subduing the Mo
luccas ; but, in the straits of Magallanes he lost several
of his vessels. He pursued his course, named several
islands on his route, and arriving at Tidore, collected a
cargo of cloves, with which and the plunder of several
Spanish ships bound to New Spain, he returned to
Europe. In Order to prevent other nations from obtaining a
footing in the Moluccas and neighbouring islands, the
Philippine governor. La Sande, resolved to conquer
Borneo, and a favourable opportunity then presented
itself. Sirela, king of the island, had come to Manilla
and solicited the aid of the Spaniards, in order to expel
his brother who had usurped his power. La Sande
took with him thirty vessels, and arriving safe at Borneo,
entered the river and attacked the position and residence
of the usurper. The latter defended himself with great
valour ; but at length he was compelled to fly to the *
mountains, and the legitimate chief reinstated in his
rights. On the return of the governor to Manilla,
troops were sent against Jolo and Mindanao, and the
natives compelled to pay the customary tribute ; but.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XXXlii
owing to distance and the scarcity of friars, the con
version of the natives could not be undertaken. Cap
tain Chaves also complGted the couquest of Camarines
and there founded the city of New Caceres.
Governor Penalosa arrived at Manilla in 1580, ,and
flie first step he took was to mark out a particular
quarter, uiider the guns of the fort of Santiago, for the
residence of the Chinese, who had become numerous.
He also sent Captain Rivera to re-establish Sirela on
the throne of Borneo, which his brother had a second
time usui'ped. A Japanese pirate, who, with several
vessels and many followers, had established himself in
the province of Cagkyan, was also dislodged ; but with'
severe loss on the part of the Spaniards. The city of
New Segovia was founded, near the Indian town of
Lalo, and that of Arivalo also in the island of Panay.
The plan of taking possession of the Moluccas had
been long agitated, and for this purpose orders had.
been transmitted from Spain. In 1582, an expedition
sailed for that quarter, having on board Pablo de Lima,
married to the niece of the king of Tidore, and who
claimed several towns of whioh she had been deprived
by the king of Ternate. The squadron easily took the
island of Motiel, and the natives recognised De Lima as
their governor. The Spaniard? next proceeded to
Ternate, where the natives were prepared to oppose
their lauding. In this however they succeeded, and
laid siege to the town, when a disorder in the bowels
broke out among the men,, and compelled them to
return to the Philippines.
In March, 1583, Governor Pefialosa died, a deep
melancholy having preyed on his mind, owing to serious
disputes which had arisen between tiie laity and the

XXXIV TRANSLATOR S -
Augustine and Franciscan friars. He was buried in the
church ofthe former, which being, set on fire by the
tapers used at his funeral, the flames spread, and in a
few hours nearly the whole city was destroyed, with
immense loss of lives and property. In 1584, the
members of the Royal Audi^ncia, or high court <rf
justice, arrived at Manilla ; an establishment deemed
necessary, from the inconvenience experienced in re
ferring cases of appeal and other weighty matters to
Mexico. The following year another squadron was
sent to reduce the Moluccas; but it was not more
successful than the preceding one. The absence of
troops, the misfortunes which had befallen the colony,
and the rapacious conduct of those among whom distri
butions of lands had been made, had created a restless
ness among the natives, who seemed anxious to break
the yoke of the Spaniards^ Those of La Pampanga
and Manilla entered into a conspiracy with the Moors
of Borneo, who visited the colony for the purposes of
trafiic, and formed the plan of entering the city at night,
and setting fire to it. This plot was however fortu
nately discovered, and the ringleaders punished; bnt
its existence shewed the precarious situation in which
the Spaniards were, particularly as symptoms of dis
content had likewise appeared in the islands of Samar,
Ifoabao, and Leyte.
The merchants of Manilla abont this time received a
severe blow in the loss of the Santa Anna, the rich
Acapulco ship captured by Cavendish, who had fitted
out five ships with the assistance of Queen Elizabeth.
In 1589, no ship was sent to Acapulco, the two which
had been fitted out fOr this purpose having been driven
ashore at Cavite, in a storm. The partial insurrections

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxxv
of the Indians continuing, the; governor, in. sev«<al in
stances, was compelled to resort to coercive measures.
A stone fort was built where the royal gate now, stands,
and the cannon foundery, which hitherto had been esta
blished at Santa Anna, removed to Manilla^ and several
pieces of artillery cast. An hospital for Spaniards was
also built and endowed, and many new. arrangements
made for the better defence and interior police of the
colony. In 1590, a new governor arrived with a reinforce
ment of 400 men, sent by the viceroy of Mexico. The
city was now surrounded with a stone wall and the fort
of Santiago reconstructed. The royal magazines -in
Manilla and Cavite were biiilt, as well as the asylum of
Santa Potencia, for the reception of the daughters of
deceased military ofiicers. An embassy arrived from
the emperor of Japan, for the purpose of establishing
commercial intercourse, and another was also sent hy
tbe king of Cambodia, with a present of two elephants
to the governor, requesting his aid against the king of
Siam, who had commenced hostilities against him.
The governor excused himself, alleging that the enter
prise he had in view against the Moluccas, required all
his resources.
. A third attempt against the Moluccas being deter
mined upon. Governor DasmariSas himself sailed from
Cavite on ' the 19th October, 1593, and arriving off
Santiago, encountered a strong gale, which dispersed
the whole of his ships. At length his own vessel
anchored at Brimstone Cape, where 150 Chinese, who
were on board as sailors, incensed at some reproaches
they had received from the governor, for the ill per
formance of their duty, concerted a plan to murder him
c 2

icsemi -: irRAsrsLATOR?s
and his eonqjaaians. Theiy commensiedftoSr carnage
at th* time the Spaniards were reposi^ in the after-
,noon, ibyJciHii% the -governor atfd all those who were
unable to t^Aapein the boats or % ^wimsBMtfg, spafiag
only Father MoatiUa, ia Pranci^an; and Cuellar, the
¦govern&r'is s^tet^y. Mtei this they resolved to sail
¦for 'Ghina^; ^bnt, paBSfei^i'by the province ^f IlocOs,
'fltttdred the port *of Siaaytowatesr, 'where the Indians
killed twenty of them. The following day they diseni-
4>arKed'in andtheripaiitiiand 'sacrificed an Indito*onvert
to TtheircigBdii when -th^ jprooe^ded to Cddhin-China,
where; ev«attfally .tiiey mdtwilhthe punishment due to
itheir crimes. , !
In 'February, 1696, thie fldg*ship of Alvasro Meudana
de Neyra, arrived at 'Cavite. He bad sailed from
Callao, the port of Jiinta, with, four shil)^, ito >Gotoniee
the Salmon i^ands; bufrhlaving commenced with tiiat of
N^ros, near New Guinea, he died, and his wife and
feniijy came to Manilla. About this time the charitable
institultion' of Mercy was established, for the relief of
female orphans. In 1603, a fir* consmned 250 houses
in Manilla,, as well as the convent of St. Dominic, and
the hospit^ for the reception of .Spaniards. Several
mandarins at various times had arrived from China, at
Manilla, whose emperor evidently bad views on the
Philippine Islands, and a sefcret communication was
kppt, up with his subjects ' residing there. It was at
ij^ngth discovered that 25,000 sChinese had plotted to
¦en.ter M^i% on the -eve of St. Francis, and destroy
the SpE(y|?(ri^s, There were two classes of Chinese .^at
,t}iat timet in the^^olony;; those Who came annually for
.^be purpQ^e§ of cosnimerce, and- the ohiresid^ts, -who
i9fif4W^^ the quarter ofthe^town tailed Parian, without

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XX^vii
the walls, ani whom the^ Dominicans had. endeavonr,ed,
to convert.
The governor exprted. hifliself to reco,nciJe,the anpjual
tracers, who were numerous; but he failed in the, at
tempt, and at length they assembled in open rebellion»,
in a town half a league from Manilla, where they tiiijewj
up works, the others remaining at Parian^ In th©
night, some of them sallied out, burnt the towns of
Quiapo and Tondo, and killed many Indians:- Finding
all conciliatory measures fruitless, the governor senife
130 Spaniards againsit them, abnost all of whom pe-r
rished, and the heads of tlie three principal oflicers who
commanded this deteichiment, were sent by the Chinese
to .Pansys as an incitement to their counitryinen. Such'
was the imminent danger to whic^ the Sp^niard^ w^JC«>
exposed, that a general ranster was niade, and several!
parties advanced against the rebels. Even many friar*.
volunt.eered on this servipe, particularly an Augustine^
named Antonio Flores, who had served in Italy, an<)
been present at the baljtle of Lepanto, previous toihis
taking the habit- This venerable man headed a party
which he posted laear a river, where the rebels wus^,
pass to join theiif countrymen at Paria^. From, this
position he sallied lovth and made great havoc among
them ; but 1ji«sy effected their retreat to Parian and
Dilao, and intrenched thems.elves. Captain G^lhnato,
however, burnt tlie former, and laid waste the latter,
and Captain Velasco pursued the fugitives to CabuygiOi.
The Chinese not being able to maintain themselves
there, fled to St. Pablo in the mountains, where Cap
tain Velasco, who had pur^u^d th?i»» fell, together with
two Franciscans. , Here the insurgents fortified them
selves so strongly, tljat it was n^e^ssary %q wail for
2

XXXviii TRANSLATOR S
reinforcements from Manilla; Major Acnila, however,
eventually cut off their supplies of provisions, and com
pelled them to quit their position or starve. In the
night they retreated to Batangas, where they were
pursued and destroyed. In the various actions, no less
than 23,000 Chinese perished, and the several ring
leaders who had been discovered were hanged.
As soon as the colony had recovered from this
dreadful calamity, a new expedition against the Mo
luccas was projected, on which the government at home
seemed to insist. In March, 1604, 800 troops arrived
from New Spain, and on the 15th January, 1606, the
governor himself sailed at the head of the armament.
On his arrival, he sat down before the city of Ternate,
and took it on the 1st of April, with the loss of fifteen
men. The king, who had fled with some of his subjects,
shewed a disposition to enter into amicable terms with
the Spaniards, proposing to deliver up all his fortresses,
the towns in Batoquina, chiefly settled by Dutch cap
tives or Spanish deserters ; all his Christian prisoners ;
the islands of Marotay and Herrao, together with his
artillery and ammunition. These terms were accepted,
but the king was not allowed to remain there ; the go
vernor conveying him to Manilla, with those of his chiefs
of whom apprehensions were entertained. ' Colonel
Esquival was left governor of Ternate with 600 men,
and Captain Alarcon remained in Tidore, at the request
ofthe king, with 100 soldiers.
, The capital being left without troops during the
absence of the governor, the Japanese, who , clung
together and were distinct from the Chinese with whom
they always lived in enmity, availed themselves of this
opportunity, and took up arms against the Spaniards.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XXXlX
This rebellion was however soon overcome, through the
mediation of the friars. On the arrival ofthe governor,
he banished the ringleaders, and obliged the remaining
Japanese to live in the town of Dilao, under the guns
of the fort. Governor Acufia dying soon afterwards,
the rebellion which lay smothered in the breasts of the
Japanese, broke out afresh. They engaged the Spa
niards in a most brave and determined manner ; but at
length were subdued, and not allowed to live together
in any numbers, till 1621, when shops were built in their
old quarter, and let out to them on account of the
Franciscan friars.
At Easter, in 1609, the new governor, Juan de Silva,
arrived with six companies of soldiers, and in October,
a Dutch squadron appeared off the port of Iloilo, con
sisting of six ships and a considerable military force.
On former occasions, Dutch cruisers had come into the
neighbourhood of the Philippines, with whom the Spa
niards were implicated through their operations in the
Moluccas. The latter had also taken the Dutch go
vernor of Malacca, and detained him till twenty-two
Spaniards captured at Amboyna were released. The
Dutch commodore landed his men at Iloilo, but they
were repulsed by the governor, and the Spaniards sub-
sequentiy captured two of the ships, and made some
reprisals. The latter were annoyed at the establish
ment of the Dutch in Java, and more particularly in
Malacca, as their squadrons cruised in the Philippine
seas. The governor formed tlie project of attacking
Malacca, and with'tliis view he sailed for Ternate with
six ships and two gallies ; but, on his arrival hearing the
Dutch had made formidable preparations for defence,
he resolved to confine his operations, for the present, to

xl transla^'or's
the reduction of Gilolo and Bataquina, whence he with
drew with the loss of 300 men.
A considerable reinforcement arrived from Cadiz in five,
out of the seven, vessels which left that port in April,
1613, with 240 seamen and 100 Portuguese military on
board. The governor noW renewed his project against
Malacca ; but his emissaries informed him the Dutch
were powerful in ships and men. Whilst his prepara
tions were making, the Dutch landed in the island of
Panay, and marched for the city of Arivalo, burning the
convents and destroying- the plantations ; but they soon
afterwards retired. By the end of 1616, the governor
had collected the largest armament that had been seen
in the Philippines, consisting of ten ships, five gallies
and a number of smaller vessels, having on board 5000
men, of whom 2000 were Spaniards ,and Portuguese.
With this armament he sailed to attack the forts of
Malacca, expecting also aid from India. A fleet of
vessels had, in fact, been fitted out there, but it had
been defeated by the Dutch before the arrival of the
Spaniards, Who in Malacca were received with open
arms, the Dutch having fled away. Here governor
Silva died, and the armament returned to Manilla,
without effecting any other object.
The Dutch had received reinforcements from Europe,
and during the absence of the Spanish armament, one
of their squadrons cruised near the entrance of the bay
of Manilla. The deputy-governor fitted out the few
vessels he was able and fortified several positions, the
inhabitants and even the. clergy taking up arms. The
Dutch commodore wrote to demand the release of the
governor of Malacca, whom they supposed was still
eonfined by thfe Spaniards ; but hearing he was dead.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xii
they left 'their cruising ground. They afterwards
brought ten ships against Oton, where they were re
pulsed in four assaults they made on the forts. The
following year the same armament came against Playa
Honda, where they were attacked by the Spaniards,
who sunk one ship, burnt two, and therest fled.
About the year 1623, insurrections took place in the
islands pf Bohol and Leyte, and were not quelled with
out blpodshed. An expedition was also sent against
the Igorrots, inhabiting mountains of the interior,
where gold is obtained ; but this, as well as other sub
sequent attempts, did not prove successful. The go
vernor of Cagayan landed on the island of Formosa
and fortified that part nearest his province, in or
der to check the Dutch who, on the opposite side, had
constructed works, with a view to obstruct the trade
between China and Manilla.
In 1626, General Tabora arrived from Europe, as
governor of the Philippines, with 600 men and several
officers who had served with him in Flanders. He soon
collected a strong naval armament, for the purpose of
driving the Dutch from Formosa. Being however
driven b^ck by contrary win<lsi part of the vessels were
sent against the Dutch at Siam, where several of their
junks were destroyed. Notwithstanding the interrup
tions of this active enemy. at sea, the trade and emigra
tion from China had been so continued, that by 1639,
there were upwards of 30,000 Chinese residing in the
colony, some of whpm had become planters in Calamba
and Bifian. A fresh mutiny broke out, and spreading to
those of Santa Cruz, Parian and Manilla, they at last
converted the church of St. Peter Macati into a strong
hold and' assembled there. The governor sent 200

xiii translator's
Spaniards and a large body of Indians against them, and
took their position. Dispersed into separate bands,
they plundered and committed great atrocities. The
Spaniards pursued and did great havoc among them ;
but being reduced to 7000, they at length surrendered.
This melancholy "event plunged Manilla in great dis
tress, owing to the loss of so valuable a class of people
as the labouring Chinese were ; though the Indians re
mained franquil, a circumstance attributable rather to
their hatred of the latter than their attachment to the
Spaniards. In 1640, Portugal separated from Spain, and her
possessions in India soon followed her example. This
year also the Dutch reduced Malacca, and it was feared
these two events would plunge the Philippines in dif
ficulties. Dutch cruisers were stationed to intercept
the Acapulco ships ; but being frustrated in their de
sign, they planned the capture of the remainder of the
island of Formosa, with a view to obstruct the trade to
China, and facilitate the conquest of the Philippines.
So great were the apprehensions entertained of the vi
cinity of the Dutch and the activity of their cruisers,
that the new governor, Don Diego Faxardo, who took
possession of his government on 11th August, 1644,
deemed it necessary to unite all his forces. Jolo was
evacuated, when it was discovered the natives had so
licited aid from the Dutch at Batavia, whose armaments
attacked the port of Caldera and were repulsed : but
the next year they again appeared in the Philippine seas
with twelve ships, intending to attempt the capture of
Cavite ; the garrison, however, having had ample time
for preparations, made a good defence? and the Dutch
commanding oflScer received a wound, of which he died.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xliii
The enemy then retired and disembarked in La Pam-
panga, where the chief magistrate coUected 600 Indians
and fortified himself, as well as he was able, in the con
vent of Abucay. The Dutch advanced to the assault,
when the Indians fled in such disorder, that 400 were
killed in the pursuit. The Dutch deeming it prudent
not to remove too far from their ships, returned on
board, but landing a second time at Samal they were
repulsed, and after cruising some time, to intercept the
trade, they relumed to Batavia.
Salicala, son ofthe king of .Tolo, and Cachile, chief of
Tuptnp in Borneo, infested the Archipelago with their
squadrons and committed great depredations on the
coasts. The Spaniards encountered the latter near the
island of Burias, and his fleet was dispersed and himself
killed ; on hearing Which Salicala retired to Jolo, and
his attention was soon taken up with disputes regarding
the succession to the throne. In order to check and
punish the Borneans, Major Monforte landed there,
burnt all the towns within his reach, as well as great
quantities of provisions and many vessels, and brought
away 200 prisoners. ,
Whilst the governor was engaged in repelling the at
tacks of the Dutch and Moors, the natives in several
parts ofthe colony shewed symptoms of discontent. In
Palapag they murdered a Jesujt and plundered the
church and convent ; and those of Camarines also broke
out in open rebellion. Zebu wavered in its loyalty, in
Caraga many Spaniards and friars were murdered, and
the Bisayas would have been lost, if a stop had not
been put to these acts in due time. A force was sent
against the rebels of Palapag who had fortified them
selves on a hill, under the command of Sumoroy, their

xliv translator's
leader. The Spaniards advanced, ia the most undaunt--
ed manner, and as soon as their oalposts were taken,
the Indians fled with great precipitation. Sumoroy
attempted to escape, but his own people killed him ^d
sent in his head as a peace-offering to the Spaniards.
Dabayo, the ringleader of the rebellion in Caraga, got
possession of the fort by stratagem, and the Spaniards
were obliged to escape in a boat. Tranquillity was,
however, soon afterwards restored, and the ringleaders
delivered up to justice.
Severe as were these trials, a greater calamity still
awaited the colonists. On the day of St. Andrew and
the anniversary of the victory gained over Limahon,
about eight at night, nearly all Manilla was destroyed
by an earthquake. The convent and church of St.
Augustine were spared ; but almost all the public edi
fices were thrown down, and above 600 persons buried
in the ruins. This calamity extended also to some of
the other islands. In Cagayan, a hill was rased from
its foundation, and in its fall overwhelmed a town and
its inhabitants. During sixty days a succession of
earthquakes prevailed, and many extraordinary changes
took place, owing to the strong convulsions of nature.
The people of the capital were obliged to live in huts in
the fields ; but gradually the houses were rebuilt, and
the college of St. John de Letran founded for the edu
cation of orphans.
In 1653 the Mindanayans issued from their ports to
carry on their predatory excursions, although at the
time ostensibly at peace with the Spaniards. The
latter sent two Jesuits and some merchants to Corolat
in the character of ambassadors ; but the islanders mur^
dered them and continued their depredations. An in-

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xIt
surrectitin also took' place in the province Of La Pam
panga, owing to the bard service the Indians had to en
dure in cutting wood for the king's dock-yard. It was,
however, soon suppressed by the governor, who went
there with a detachiheilt of troops ; but this bad ex
ample had previously operated on the natives of Pan
gasinan, Who alsori^belled and chose an Indian, called
Marlong, as then- king. They murdered the chief-ma
gistrate df the province and his whole family ; troops,
however, arriving from Manilla, the Dominicans had
such influence orer the people, that they were restored
to their duty without firing a gun, and Marlong was
delivered up and executed. A similar revolt also took
place in Ilocos, but 'beiiig quelled without great dif
ficulty, the *ringleaders were htmg.
The events whi<ih gave rise to the occupation ofthe
Olina throne by the Tartar dynasty, drove numbers from
their country, who collected under Cogseng, the son of a
general who had fallen a victim to the resentment of the
new emperor. To revenge the death of his father Cog
seng turned pirate and ravagefl. the Chinese coasts and
islands. At length he landed 100,000 men on the
is^land of Formosa, in the cultivated part and opposite
that where the Dutch had their fortifications. The lat
ter bad 2000 Europeans on the island and abundance of
artillery and shipping. Cogseng soon invested the
fortress of Tayguan, when the Dutch capitulated, after
a seven months siege. Elated with this success, Cog
seng determined to become master of the Philippines,
and as a preliminary step, sent an ambassador to de
mand the allegiance of the colony, who arrived at Ma
nilla on 10th May, 1662. The governor instantly col
lected all his ^forces arid prepared for defence. Steps

xlvi translator's
were taken to send the Chinese out of the colony, oo
learning which some retired to the mountains and
others took up arms. The governor sent back the am
bassador; bnt on his arrival.he found the pirate Cogseng
dead of a fever, and thus the island^ were released from
the imminent dangers by which they were threatened.
Cogseng left a son, who succeeded to his fathe/s power,
but not possessing the same warlike spirit, he sent an
ambassador to Manilla to enter into a treaty of amity
and commerce. Although the expedition had not
reached the Philippines, the effects of the threatened
danger fell heavy on the colony, as all the convents and
churches near the capital were destroyed, to prevent
the enemy from converting them into military stations.
Ternate, Calamianes and Zamboanga were also eva
cuated and the garrisons assembled for the defence of
Manilla, which, together with the disaffection of the
Chinese residents, greatiy deranged the affairs of the
colony. For several years, the civil and ecclesiastical autho
rities ofthe Philippines were involved in disputes and
,contentions of a most serious kind, which wholly occu
pied the public attention. In 1703, the fortifications
were strengthened, in consequence of the war declared
by Spain against the English and Dutch, and in 1709,
Count Lizarraga arrived as the new governor, when the
first step taken was to send out of tiie islands all the
Chinese who were in the habit of remaining behind af
ter the departure of the junks. The, safety of the state
required this measure, for experience had proved they
could not be trusted, although the country was bene
fited by their industry. Their settiement had originally
been aUowed, under the plea of cultivating the laud ; but

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xlvii
it was soon found this was a mere excuse. They be
came traders, adulterating the weights and measures, as
weU as many colonial commodities. In fact, they had
become monopolizers, creating artificial scarcities, and
in other respects oppressing the community.
In 1710, an unsuccessfid attempt was made by the
Jesuits, aided by the government, to colonize the Pelew
Islands and convert the natives ; and in the same year
three English ships appeared off the coast of California,
for the purpose of intercepting the Phihppine trade,
when one galleon was captured. General Bustamante
arrived as governor in 1717, and soon involved himself
in dreadful disputes, as well with the members ofthe Au-
diencia, as the clergy and some ofthe principal merchants, •
owing partly to his intemperate character, and partly
to various suits he instituted for the recovery of old debts
due to the treasury. Disgraceful acts of violence took
place, which eventually ended in an open mutiny, when
the people, headed by the reUgious orders, went up to
the palace in procession, and the guards opposing no
resistance, they rushed in to seize the governor, and in
the struggle both he and his son were killed. The
chief inhabitants, who had been confined through the
injustice of the governor, were then released ; but this
unhappy affair produced great confusion in the country.
In 1739, Governor La Torre arrived, and soon after
wards war being declared between England and Spain;
Commodore Anson entered the Pacific, and the well-
known capture of the galleon took place. This loss was ,
severely felt by the Manilla merchants, who fitted out
four ships to intercept the Commodore and the China
fleet, but they were too late. Nothing very remarkable
occurred in the affairs of the Philippine Islands that is

xlviii translator's
not related elsewhere, till the year 1754, when the
greatest irruption of the Moors took place that had
hitherto been known. They entered with fire and
sword in all directions, earryihg away nutaerous cap
tives, and by this calamity the colony was reduced to a
most deplorable situation. In the month of Decefliher
a terrible shock of an earthquake was also felt, arid the
volcano called the Taal, situated in the cenWe of the
fake of Bombon, in the provinice of Batanga.s, thi'ew out
Such an immense quantity of cinders, that fotir neigh
bouring towns were completely ruined. ' At Manilla,
although twenty leagues distant, the atmosphere was
entirely obscured in the middle of tho day : knd at Ca
vite, a little nearer, the darkness r-esembled that of
midnight. The centre of this voilcano contains a large
quantity of water, and those who live near it, dread a
repetition of scenes to which their ancestors were
exposed. Notwithstanding th« rigorous measures repeatedly
adopted against the Chinese, and the orders pf the go
vernment at home not to allow their residence in the
colony, numbers still remained there. Governor Aran-
dia, about the year 1757, ordered all those to be ex-
peUed who were not Christians, and appropriated the
suburb of San Fernando for the reception of such as
might arrive annually for the purposes of traffic. At
tempts were also made to restore the missions of the
Bataan islands, where the Dominicans had been obliged
to withdraw; but the enterprise was not attended with
permanent success till 1783, and since they have been
found very burdensome to the government, owing to
their poverty and sterility, which renders it necessary
for nearly aU their suppUes to go from ManiUa. Gover-

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xllX
nor Arandia died in May, 1759, and was succeeded by
Don Manuel Roxo, a clergyman and native of Tala, in
New Spain, who had also been created archbishop
of Manilla. Under his administration the Philippine
capital was taken by the British, a most important
event in the history of these islands, and deserving of
more particular notice.
The wars waged between the British and French, in
the East Indies from the year 1749 to the general
peace, in 1763, had carried thither larger and more ef
fective bodies of European ti-oops than before had been
assembled in Asia, which; when no longer authorized
to fight against each other, employed their arms as
auxiliaries in the contests existing between the princes
of the counfry. War being renewed in 1756, it was
foUowed by a series of successful efforts, which nearly
deprived the French of the. whole of their possessions
in that part of the globe : and considerable funds hav
ing been granted by parliament, in 1762, for the East
India service. Admiral Cornish was sent against the
island of Bourbon, the last settlement held by the
French. He was to have been joined by Commo
dore Keppel from England, with a body of land forces ;
but not meeting with him, he returned to Madras with-
..nt effecting any thing. In the mean time, war having
been declared against Spain, Admiral Cornish altered
his plan, and resolved to attack Manilla. The forces
destined for this expedition, were part of the 79th regi
ment, a company of artillery, 600 sepoys, a company of
caffres, one of topasses, another of pioneers, two com
panies of Frenchmen, 600 lascars, a battalion pf 550
seamen and 270 marines, commanded by General Dra
per. They anchored in Manilla bay on 23d September,
d

1 TRANSLATOR S
and found the Spaniards totally unprepared, and even
ignorant of tiie war existing between England and
Spain. After an ineffectual summons, the troops were
landed the foUowing day in front of the Polvorista or
powder manufactory, two mUes to the south of the city,
protected by the fire of three frigates. They succes
sively took possession of the churches of Malate, La
Hermita, San Juan de Bagunbayan and Santiago, and
put themselves under cover. The Spaniards advanced'
out of the city with 400 men and two field-pieces : but
they were soon driven back with the loss of one of their
field-pieces ; indeed they had lost the most favourable
opportunity of defending themselves at the time the
British were landing, for the surf then ran very high,
and the men were up to the waist in water. It must,
however, be acknowledged, that the number of tbe gar
rison was small, and not exceeding 600 men, some part
of whom were Indians.
The superiority of- the British in repelling this sortie
was so evident, that General Draper sent a second
summons, when a spirited negative was returned. Be
sides the walls and bastions,' the city was defended by
a wet ditch, a covered way and glacis. It was, how
ever observed, that the ditch did not go round the bas
tion of San Diego, and this was early made the pro
jected point of attack. The extent of the city rendered
it impossible for so smaU a body of besiegers to invest
it, by which means two sides were constantiy open to
the besieged; nor could the British take possession of
the posts of Minondo, Tondo and Santa Cruz, which
commanded the river and communications with the
country. In a short time, the besiegers completed a
battery for smaU sheUs, which played on the bastion of

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. li
San Diego, and on the 27th the governor sent out a flag
of truce, apologizing for some barbarous acts committed
By the Indians, and requesting that a nephew of his, cap
tured on his arrival in the bay, might be restored. This
gentleman had just arrived from Acapulco in the Phi-
lipino gaUeon, which had entered a port in one of the
other islands, and landed her money. Admiral Cornish
sent two ships after her, but instead of her, they cap
tured the Trinidad, which had sailed for Acapulco a few
days before the British arrived, and been delayed by
contrary winds.
On the 28th, part of the garrison, intermixed with
Indians, sallied out, and. mistaking a British officer,
who was accompanying the governor's nepheW with a
flag of truce, both were kiUed ; they were, however,
driven in with great loss. On the 29th, the men of war
opened their fire on that part of the city forming the
point of attack ; but the shaUows prevented them from
approaching sufficiently near. On the 1st and 2d Oc
tober, the weather was yery tempestuous, the squadron
in danger, and all communication with it cut off. A
store-ship was driven ashore, yet, even in that situation
was of great service, as she enfiladed the beach to the S-t
and checked a body of Indians who menaced the Pol
vorista and rear of the besiegers. Notwithstanding the
heavy raifts, a battery for 24-pounders was soon com
pleted, and another for large mortars, the besieged
giving littie interruption, and seemingly trusting for
their defence to the ele*i6nts. On the 3d, these bat
teries opened on the San Diego bastion, of which the
guns were silenced in a few hours, and in the night
another battery began to play on the bastion of St.
Andrew's, which annoyed the flank ofthe besiegers.
d2

Iii translator's
A heavy cannonading being constantly kept up, that
part of the walls on which the guns bore, was soon d^s-
mantied and destroyed, when the besieged having re
ceived a reinforcement of 5000 Indians, made a sortie
on the 4th, in three divisions. They advanced by dif
ferent routes, the first against the church of Santiago,
the second against Malate and La Hermita, and th^
third was destined to attack the seamen cantoned on
the beach. The latter was the first point attacked by
1000 Indians, and their approach was favoured by thick
bushes, growing on the banks of a rivulet, which they had
crossed in the night. A reinforcement being sent to
support the seamen, the Indians were repulsed with the
loss of 300 ; but if their skill and weapons had been
equal to their strength and ferocity, the consequences
would have been serious, for although armed only with
bovvs, arrows and lances, they advanced up to the very
muzzles of the guns, and repeated their assaults in a
most determined manner. Scarcely was this affair
ended, when the church of Santiago was attacked, and
the sepoys forced from it. The Indians took possession
of the building, but the European soldiers kept their
position in the rear, and reinforcements arriving, the
Indians were driven in, after losing seventy men, and
the British forty.
This was the last effort made by the garrison, and
after it most of the Indians returned home. On the
5tli, the fire from the batteries had been so incessant,
that the breach appeared practic^able, and the orUlon of
St. Andrew was also silenced. On the morning of the
6th the besiegers assembled in the church of Santiago,
for the purpose of storming the town, and under a ge-'
neral discharge of artUlery and mortars, rushed for-

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Iiii
ward to the attack. The breach was easily passed, and
the British met with little resistance, except at tho
royal gate and from the tops of the houses surrounding
the main square. In the guard-house, over the royal
gate, 100 Spaniards and Indians who refused to sur
render, were put to the sword, and a much larger num
ber drowned in escaping across the river. The gover
nor and principal officers retired to fort Santiago,
and the British advanced by the main street to the pa
lace, whither the archbishop and his council imme
diately proceeded and delivered themselves up as
prisoners. Proposals of capitulation were then made
to the British commanders, on the part of the governor,
royal audiencia and city and commerce of Mamlla,
stipulating chiefly for the exercise of the religion of the
country, the security of private property, and a con
tinuation ofthe powers of the audiencia, municipality,
&c. These terms being accepted, with some restric
tions, and mutually signed, fort Santiago was delivered
up to the British, and the officers and garrison admitted
as prisoners of war, amounting to 261 rank and file.
Plundering commenced, though it would seem with
out any express authority from the British commander,
at least if it is possible to judge from the orders of the
day, given at the time, and the subsequent agreement
mutually signed to the contrary. Certain il is, that a
dreadful pillage did take place, though the Spanish ac
counts state that guards were placed in the nunneries
for their protection, at the request of the archbishop.
The Spaniards affirm that this plunder lasted forty hours,
though they attribute the greatest part of the excesses
to the Indians, who discovered their masters' riches, in
order to participate in the booty. The suburbs of

liv translator's
Santa Cruz and Binondoe were also exposed to the most
dreadful ravages, and the greatest atrocities committed
by the Indians on the fugitives from the city. Tlie
Spaniards acknowledge that, on the foUowing day. Ge
neral Draper exerted himself to stop the piUage, and
on the 16th a more formal capitulation, called " Condi
tions on which the city of ManiUa shaU be preserved
from plunder," &c. was mutually signed. The 3d ar
ticle of this document stipulated that the fort of
Cavite should be surrendered to the British; the 4th,
that a ransom of four millions of dollars should be paid,
and the 5th, tliat all the other dependencies should
equally be delivered up, &c.
, An order to the cominandant of Cavite was sent by
the archbishop to surrender the fortress ; but the gar
rison, consisting of 300 men, refused and went off into
the country' with their arms, when a British detachment
entered the castie. Contributions on the inhabitants
were then commenced, though the sum obtained, in
cluding church ornaments, the archbishop's plate,
rings, and breast cross, together with the funds of the
charitable institutions did not exceed 500,046 dollars.
To make up the deficiency, the cargo of the Philipino
was demanded; but this money was no longer under the
control of the archbishop, and in fact afterwards greatiy
aided in the defence of the interior. The archbishop
also sent for 111,000 dollars he had placed in safety near
Lake Bay ; the Franciscans however, who had the
ascendancy in that part of the country, refused to give
this sum up and had it conveyed across the mountains to
the missionaries of Ituy. In the end, every thing valu
able, whether pubUc or private, was given up, al-
sthough much discontent £md misunderstanding took

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, ly
place on this subject. The 5th clause was rendered in
effectual, from the circumstances hereafter mentioned.
On the 2d November, ManiUa and Cavite, together
with all their appurtenances, were formally delivered
up to representatives of the East India Company, and
the whole of the troops brought from Madras left to
garrison them. Before his departure, the general is.
sued a proclamation, offering to exempt the Indians
from the payment of tribute, if they would swear al
legiance to the king of Great Britain ; but the inefficacy
of this measure, as weU as others equally resorted to,
soon proved, that although the Spaniards, after a gaUant
defence, considering the unprepared and weak state
they were in, had been compeUed to yield up the pos
session of a city fortified only on a scale to resist an
Asiatic enemy, this example and the subsequent condi-
tions imposed on the captive authorities, had no in
fluence whatever on the interior, for reasons, it is now
time to explain.
The day previous to the fall of Manilla, the arch
bishop and his council sent Sr. Anda into the country,
with full powers and orders to maintain the islands in
obedience to the king of Spain, He arrived atBulacan,
where he was joined by numerous fugitives from the
capital, and calling together the chief magistrates ofthe
province, the Augustine friars, and other persons of in
fluence, they deliberated on the best measures to be
adopted. The friars offered to raise froops and conduct
them to the field, all renewed their asshrances of loyalty,
and Sr. Anda was acknowledged governor ofthe islands.
Bacolor, the capital of the province of La Pampanga,
was also fixed upon as the temporary seat of govern
ment, and every exertion made to rouse and arm the
country against its invaders.

Ivi translator's
For the future government of ManiUa it had been re
gulated, that the British commander should hold the mili
tary department, and the archbishop the civil and poli
tical one, a charge he had the weakness to accept, and
which brought upon him the just reproaches of his
countrymen. His first step was to draw bills on the
Madrid treasury, although the war was still waging, for
the balance of the Manilla ransom, as it was called, and
the refusal to pay them, gave rise to warm disputes be
tween the two governments at home, when the claim was
eventually waved. To this Junius alludes in one of his
letters to Sir William Draper, who, he says, had given
up the Manilla ransom and abandoned the gaUant army,
in whose favour, on his return to Europe, he complain
ed, threatened, and even appealed to the public in
print. Sir William answers, that all his endeavours to
obtain payment had been fruitless, " as the ministers of
the day were fearful of involving the country in a fresh
war for private concerns." The, archbishop also joined
the British commissioners, in order to promote the sub
mission of the interior, and the first step taken was to
declare Sr. Anda to be a seditious person and de
serving of capital punishment, as weU as the Augustine
friars who had joined his party, and resolved to defend
themselves. The archbishop sent several remonsti-ances
to the new governor, urging him to desist from his en
terprise, and the British commissioners issued proclama
tions against him and his partisans, but to no effect.
Sr. Anda answered them in the most firm and vi
gorous manner, refusing to obey authorities who could
be considered in no other light than as prisoners, and
vowing to execute the orders confided to him previous
to the fall of the capital.
Through a fortunate circumstance, copies of aU the

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ivii
public papers relating to the occupation of ManiUa by
the British, and their views on the interior, came
into the hands of the writer of this sketch ; but notwith
standing they were never laid before the public in this
country, his confined limits on the present occasion, at
least, allow him only to make a partial use of them.
Conformably to their contents, it would seem that the
archbishop remained firm to the British, and died on
30th January, 1764, previous to the evacuation, when he
was buried with the greatest pomp and splendour. No
doubt he felt keenly the misfortunes in which he and
the country were involved, and the error he had com
mitted in joining the party of an enemy, though possibly
his motives were good, preyed on his spirits, for, a few
days before his death, he wrote to his own sovereign,
and in a repentant tone assured him, that he should
have been happy if he had visited the breach at the
moment of assault, and died by a canon-ball.
In the mean time, Sr. Anda reestablished the royal
audiencia, regulated the military and political govern
ment, assembled troops, cast cannon, manufactured
gunpowder, saved the money from the ship Philipino,
and as his second in command, named Don Pedro Josef
de Bustos, an Asturian youth, who afterwards rendered
the most essential services. The British commissioners,
perceiving that threats and decrees were of no avail,
resolved to take up a position on the river Pasig, in or
der to open a passage for provisions from Lake Bay. A
party of 500 men were sent on this service, and as soon
as they arrived in front of Maybonga, General Bustos
refreated to Maraquina. The British passed the river
with little molestation, when the Indians fled, and in
their confusion at the bridge near the convent, numbers
of them were drowned. They were pursued as far as

Iviii translator's
the river Bamban, and the British fortified the position
they took, and held it till the peace. A party of Pam
panga Indians soon afterwards advanced as far as
Maysilo, two leagues from Manilla; but they were dis
lodged and the place burnt.
The Chinese resident in the country had declared for
the British, who being greatly in want of men, put
many of them in their ranks. Another detachment of
600 men was sent by sea to dislodge the Spaniards, who
had fortified themselves in the convent of Bulacan. The
squadron left tiie bay on 18th January, 1763, with an
intention to enter the bar of Binoangan, and being pre
vented by contrary winds, they proceeded by Pumarava,
near Malolos, where they landed without any opposition
and marched towards Bulacan. The convent was attacked,
and in the defence made, the Chinese, who accompanied
the British, suffered severely. The gates were however
soon forced, and great slaughter ensued ; the Chinese
particularly being anxious to avenge the death of their
countrymen. After holding this position for some time,
and being constantly harassed by active guerillas, the
British evacuated and burnt the convent.
Considerable desertion now prevailed, and the Spanish
regulars, as well as many Frenchmen who had accom
panied the British, went out to join the forces assem
bling in the interior, and in consequence of this, the
Spaniards remaining in the city were restricted to the
quarters nearest the sea. The commanding officer of
Pasig, advanced towards the lake and the province of
Batangas, with a view to intercept the money of the
Philipino. He took with him 80 men, passed Tunasan,
Bifian and Santa Rosa, and then embarked for Pagsan-
ban, the capital of La Laguna. Returning to Calamba,
he traversed the province of Batangas ; but on arriving

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. lix
at Lipa, and understanding that the money had been or
dered to Santor, a town of Pampanga, he returned to his
position. By this time, Sr. Anda having assembled and equipped
alarge body of men, he ordered General Bustos to encamp
at Malinta, a league and a half from ManiUa, and this
position was sfrengthened with redoubts and palisades.
From this point the Spaniards frequently advanced to
the outskirts of the capital, and, on one occasion, car
ried away the beUs from the town of Quiapo, for the
purpose of founding cannon, although they met with
considerable resistance. The British, alarmed at these
incursions, called in their piquets and dug ditches, in
order to have a less extended line to cover. On the
27th June, a sortie was made, with a view to dislodge the
Spaniards from Malinta ; but on arriving at the banks
of the intervening river, and not venturing to pass it in
face of the enemy, the British retired to Maysilo, and
Bustos changed his position to Meycavayan.
These were the last military actions which took place,
for on the 23d July an lEpglish frigate arrived with the
preliminaries of peace, and a cessation of hostilities
consequentiy followed ; several unhappy rencontres as
weU as great dissensions and misunderstandings, however
subsequently occurred, owing to the disorganized state
to which the country was reduced, and the competition
and enmity of the chiefs. Is othing could be more alarm
ing than tiie situation ofthe interior, during the whole of
the eighteen months the British held possession of the
capital. Through this event numbers of criminals were
released from the prisons, and, uniting in bands, ma
rauded and plundered through the country, frequently
perpetrE^ting wanton and horrid murders. At length
3

Ix translator's
the farmers and settlers, wearied out by these attacks,
were compelled to abandon their estates and leave their
cattle and effects in possession of these banditti. Ow
ing to their vicinity, the provinces of Tondo and Cavite
bowed to the conqueror and were overawed by his pre
sence ; but several of the others were convulsed, and be
came the theatres of atrocities and acts of private re
venge. Numbers of friars, curates and Spanish laity
were murdered by lawless bands, roving about the
country, particularly in the province of Batangas. In
that of La Laguna also the Indians behaved in the
most savage and barbarous manner. The provinces of
Bulucan and Pampanga however remained firm in their
allegiance, and witnessed only the crimes of a few in
dividuals. The Chinese also rose and assembled in the
town of Uava, whence they were eventually dislodged
with great loss. The Indians of Cagayan and Ilocos
equally broke out in open rebellion, and elected a chief
ofthe name of Silang. They demanded to be released
from the tribute, and, under this plea, visited the estates
and defenceless places with fir* and sword. The dis
trict-magistrate having no forces to aid him, was soon
obliged to abandon his post, and in a short time the
whole province of Ilocos submitted to the influence of
Silang. This chief was however murdered by one of his
own people, on the 28th May, 1763, six months after he
had commenced his power and at a moment when he was
planning a general massacre of the friars and whites.
The most obstinate rebellion of the Indians, how
ever, took place in the province of Pangasinan, where
it broke out in the town of Binalatongan, on 3d Nov.
1762, when the magistrate began to coUect the tribute.
Every possible exertion was made by Sr. Anda to put
1

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixi
down this rebellion ; but it increased, and when the
rebels were dislodged and driven from the plains, they
retired and fortified themselves in the mountains ; nor
was tranquillity perfectly restored there till March,
1765, when in this undertaking it was found 70 Spa
niards, 140 loyal Indians, and upwards of 10,000 of the
rebels had perished.
The 31st of March, 1764, was the day appointed for
the formal surrender of Manilla and the other places
held by the British, conformably to the general treaty
of peace, and of them Sr Anda, who had so bravely
defended the interior, and so successfully resisted the
inroads of anarchy, took possession in the name of his
sovereign, although, in the mean time, another governor
had arrived in a frigate from New Spain. The capture
and occupation of Manilla are estimated to have cost
the British 1000 lives, sickness included, many of whom,
it is true, were Asiatics ; but the treasure expended was
considerable. As a military achievement, the taking of
the city of Manilla certainly does honour to the troops
and officers employed, ^and proves their courage and
perseverance ; still, as a political object, it is a query
whether it was worth the sacrifices made. Nothing
could be more visionary than to suppose that a handful
of men could effect the permanent conquest of an ex
tended range of country, divided by nature into sepa
rate portions, so as to render it an establishment of
value to the British government, although it was pos
sible to obtain possession of even the strongest points.
It was still more so to imagine that it could become an
advantageous dependency on the East India Company,
an humiUation to which the inhabitants would never
have submitted. Whilst the British were in possession.

Ixii TRANSLATOR S
they were cul off from every part of the country tiieir
army and navy did not overawe, and, although aided,
in the person of the archbishop, by the strongest moral
power the colony could afford them, the administration,
during their stay in the capital, was most unfortunate.
It is, in fact, melancholy to read the official papers
and proclamations issued at the time, by the British
commissioners, filled with threats and denunciations,
and by which they seem to haVe mixed themselves up
with the acrimonious parties which convulsed the coun
try previous to their arrival. They had not a political,
or indeed any other, inducement to hold forth, that
could, for a moiftent, have influenced a class of people
such as the Philippine islanders are ; and even if they
had succeeded in there destroying the power of Spain
altogethel', they would have gained nothing, as far as
regards the interior, for the history of the country
proves they could never have secured an ascendancy
over the inhabitants. They might . have broken the
bonds in which the Indians were held, merely by the tie
of religion and th* presence of their .pastors, yet this
could have produced no permanent good ; on the con
trary, it would have plunged the islands into a dreadful
state of anarchy, and made them a prey to the ravages
of lawless banditti, who, when they had exhausted tile
plunder ashore, and there found no more white victims
on whom- to ' satiate their vengeance, would have com
menced the occupation of pirates at sea. It excites
horror to r^ad the details of murder and desolatiott
which took place in th^ interior, from the monSent the
old administration, the empire of the laws, and the
influence of the missionaries were shaken, anti it is' a
query whether any govemnient could have been satis-

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixiii
fied with dispossessing an enemy of a country, under
such a responsibility, and sacrifices so great, or indeed
consent to make use of insfruments so dreadful as the
infuriated and savage Indians must be.
The neglect of the Spanish ministers in not convey
ing out timely advice of the rupture with Great Britain,
was the real cause of this misfortune to Manilla, for if
the governor had only been in time to desfroy the
churches and massive buildings situated beyond the
walls, which served as fortresses and gave immediate
shelter to the British, as was formerly the plan of
General Arandia, though at the time opposed by the
friars, so small a force could never have met with
success. The season of the year was also most un
favourable, and placed the squadron in the utmost
danger. It must further be acknowledged that, if the
first landing of the troops had been opposed with the
same vigour as the sorties were afterwards made, the
fate of the expedition would have been rendered very
precarious ; and if the timely arrival of the advices of
peace, signed in Europe, had not released the garrison
from a most galling duty, at the moment Sr Anda had
prepared a large force, and pacified the interior, the
consequences must have been extremely serious, so
great was the state of desperation to which the inha
bitants were driven by their sufferings, both within and
without the city.
These remarks are not made witb a view to depre
ciate the merits and execution of an arduous mUitary
enterprise, in its result more fortunate than reasonably
could be expected, if all the contingencies are duly
weighed; but rather for the purpose of pointing out
the difficulties and uncertainty of operations of this kind,

Ixiv translator's
when the invader does not carry with him means suffi
cient to protect and shield the unoffending inhabitants
from anarchy, butchery, and rapine, or has nothing
better to offer to them than a yoke in itself more hateful
than the one he comes to dislodge. This was literally
the case in our attack on the Philippine Islands, and
these observations, resulting from the evidence of facts
and existing circumstances, might have been dispensed
with, if the writer was not aware that a second project
of attack was more recently formed, possibly without
mature reflexion and a full knowledge of aU the dangers
to be encountered. Whoever pays attention to the
history of the past, and considers the sacrifices under
which the Spaniards effected the conquest of this por
tion of the Indian Archipelago, will readily confess that
the nations, holding commercial intercourse with China
and India, are under the greatest obligations to them
for keeping in check a band of lawless pirates, whose
increase and impunity must always endanger navigation
in that distant and secluded quarter. It has uniformly
been the object of Spain to make the Philippine Islands
the centre of her mercantile operations in Asia, in
order to supply her American dominions, and the pre
cious metals derived from the latter, were sent to tiie
markets where the assortments of goods originated.
This beneficial trade must consequently have ceased
from the moment her power was destroyed, and the
perusal of the present volume, particularly of the two
last chapters, will amply prove what must have been the
consequences when that faith which holds the moral
elements of the world together, and, in the instance
alluded to, alone restrains hordes of unruly and unlet
tered savages witiiin the bounds of control, had lost its

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. IxV
influence, and the natives reduced to the same state in
which they were when first conquered.
As soon as the British squadron left the bay of Ma
nilla, Sr. Anda delivered up the government to the
commanding officer who had arrived from Mexico, and,
in company with his brave coadjutor, Bustos, departed
for Spain, where he was received in the most enthu
siastic manner. As a just reward for his services, he
was appointed governor of the islands he had defended
from an enemy and preserved to his sovereign, and left
Cadiz on the 11th January, 1770. He arrived by the
Cape of Good Hope at Manilla, in the middle of July,
and with the greatest zeal and disinterestedness, la
boured to repair the ravages of which he himself had
been a witness. The fortifications, troops, and navy.
experienced his particular attention. He sent several
expeditions against the Jolonese and Mindanayans who
infested the Archipelago, and dispatched the frigate
Deseada to the coast of Malabar, for the purpose of
forming commercial relations. He improved the plan
for the administration of the revenue, encouraged agri
culture, industry, and commerce, and in the year 1771,
established the Board of Trade. Nevertheless, he had
the misfortune to make many enemies, who possibly
envied the honours with which his sovereign had remu
nerated his firmness and zeal. Towards the close of
his life, he found himself involved in disputes and dis
sensions, which no doubt hastened his death, at the end
of October, 1776, and in the 76th year of his age.
Bustos returned to Manilla with the rank of lieutenant-
colonel, but did not meet with that confidence and
encouragement he merited. With wounded feelings he
withdrew from the capital into the country, where he

Ixvi translator's
devoted himself to hunting, of which he was passioiiately
fond. Having overheated himself in this amusement,
he met with a premature death in 1773.
' Don Josef Basco, afterwards Count de la Conquista,
and admiral of the navy, succeeded to the command
of the PhiUppine Islands. The hopes entertained by
the colony from his abilities and activity were soon
realized^ and by his judicious arrangements the state of
the country was materially improved. The capture by
the British, and the events which immediately foUowed,
also excited the attention of the Spanish cabinet to this
distant settlement, and orders were sent out to place
the capital in a good state of defence. The navigation
from Spain to the Philippines, by the way of the C&pe
of Good Hope, was also allowed, and several vessels of
war were dispatched to add to the protection of the
islands. Tlie Royal Philippine Company was esta
blished, as well as a society for the encouragement of
agriculture, industry, and useful arts ; but to these and
other subsequent improvements and events, sufficient
allusion is made in the body of the work. It is there
fore necessary to pass on to other subjects, more im
mediately connected with the views of the writer.
Manilla is situated at the mouth of the river Pasig,
which, in a considerable stream, descends from the
lavge lake of Bay, estimated at twenty-five leagues in
circumference. In front is an extensive bay, thirty
leagues round, surrounded by a rich and well cultivated
country, studded with hamlets, viUas, and convents, and
affording a beautiful perspective. The situation is
however deemed dangerous, owing to the inundations
of Lake Bay, as weU as the vicinity of volcanos, and
tbe frequency of earthquakes. The shipping port is at

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixvii
Cavite, situated to the S. W. and at the distance of
S^ leagues by sea. Here the vessels anchor behind a
long sfrip of land, forming one side of the bay, load and
unload, the king's dock-yard and stores being also there.
Near the entrance of the bay, estimated at 3| leagues
wide, is the high mountain of Mariveles, which gives
name to the surrounding district. At the distance of a
1 ague, and near the enfrance, is the island of Corre
gidor, thus forming two passages. The one usually
used by ships is that to the N. caUed the Mariveles
Passage, unless the winds should render it necessary to
pass through the other.
The Indian Archipelago constitutes the largest group >
of islands on the globe, as well as one of its most inte
resting subdivisions. The PhiUppines form the eastern
and northern boundary, and, the number of islands,
bearing that name, exceeds forty, though those de
serving of notice are not more than thirteen, many of
the rest being small and uninhabited. The anneied
map will suffice to shew their position, and a correct
idea of their relative importance wiU be coUected from
the general contents of this volume, and their respective
returns of population. Luzon and Mindanao are the
largest ; the first being 138 leagues in its greatest length,
48 wide, and 360 in circumference; and the second,
75 leagues long, 50 wide, and 260 in circumference.
To the philosophic eye, these islands present a strik
ing and majestic spectacle. In many parts covered
with basalt, lava, ashes, &c. they also exhibit ruins of
both the animal and vegetable kingdom. In the bowels
of the earth, sulphur is constantly, burning, and the
materials for volcanos always preparing. This continual
agitation of nature, the vicinity to the tropics, and the
e 3

Ixviii translator's
humidity derived from the ocean, as well as the high
mountains apd lofty forests, no doubt are the chief
causes of the great fertility with which they are distin
guished. They contain wide forests and stupendous
trees, and the greatest part of the birds, quadrupeds,
plants, and fruits, for which Asia is remarkable, are
there found of a superior class, besides many produc
tions not met with elsewhere. The sea, rivers, and
lakes, afford fish in great abundance, and the earth
teems with numerous and valuable minerals. The vi
cinity to the tropics, gives uniformity to the cUmate, as
well as to the natural productions and character of the
inhabitants ; but the climate, although usually mild,
sometimes is exposed to great changes. During one
part of the year, the sea and land winds keep up a
temperature that could scarcely be expected from the
situation of these islands ; whilst, at another, the at
mosphere bums wife lightning, and the country is
inundated with torrents of rain. The violent winds,
caUed baguios, which prevail from June to Januarj', do
great havoc both on sea and land. In the island of
Luzon, divided as it is, by a chain of mountains, the
seasons vary greatly with regard to mild weather and
rain. In the provinces facing the west, the sky is
serene when the east winds blow, and in those exposed
to the east, when the west winds set in. In the midst
of these periodical variations, however, a perpetual
spring is experienced; and cold, snow, and hail, are
unknown. The difference between the length of day
and night is scarcely sensible; the trees never lose
their leaves, and the earth always wears a green and
smiling aspect. The plants and flowers are sightly and
aromatic; the fruits nutritive and exquisite in taste;

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixix
the air is healthy, and the natives live to an old age ;
although foreigners, through the effects of a too co
pious perspiration, are weakened by the heat till they
become accustomed to the climate. When the Spa
niards first arrived in these islands, they found scarcely
any other aliment than rice; now wheat and other
grains are abundant, as well as most of the useful pro
ductions of the old world. The same increase has
extended to horses, homed cattle, hogs, and stags;
indeed sheep alone have degenerated, owing to the
dampness of the climate.
This portion of the Indian Ai-chipelago has not been
sufficiently explored, so as to furnish an adequate idea
of the natural and, other curiosities therein contained-
The volcanos constitute a prominent figure, as before
noticed. That of Mayon, situated between the pro
vinces of Albay and Camarines, is of a sugar-loaf figure,
and of such an elevation as to be discovered at an
immense distance at sea. In Mindanao is another that
serves as a land-mark ; and in many parts warm springs
are found. The woods abound in pigeons and quails ;
partridges, woodcocks, &c. are also met with. The
tabon is a bird that lays eggs, similar to those of the
turkey, and buries them deep in the sands on the sea
shore, and when hatched by the heat of the sun, re
moves the sand to disengage the young ones. The
chacon, is a, species of lizard, dweUing in the tops of
houses, and frequently articulating the word toed. The
calo is a bird having a kind of hollow sheU on his head,
and crows at certain hours of the day, the same as a
cock. The taclobo is an immense oyster, of which the
shell holds a pitcher of water, and used as baptismal

Ixx - translator's
fonts in the churches. The other curiosities are noticed
in the body of the work.
The greatest part of these islands is mountainous,
and the secluded portions of the uplands are inhabited
by various independent tribes, seemingly the Abori
gines, who have receded as the whites advanced, in the
same way as in North America, Whatever may have
been their origin, they are nearly all black, most of them
have curly hair, and though smaU in stature, are strong
and robust. They live in a secluded manner, as if
jealous of their liberties, and never are seen without
their bows and arrows. Accustomed to the sUence of
the forests, the smallest noise disturbs them ; and the
chase and bulbous and other roots growing spontane
ously around them, supply them with food. It has
been found impossible to civilize them, a task difficult
- among hordes who cannot be considered stationary, and
dwelling in almost inaccessible places. The want of mis
sionaries, and the diversity of their languages, have
however been great impediments; for though resem
bling each other in habits and independence, they
differ in other respects. At the arrival of the Spa
niards, the counfry immediately round Manilla, was
inhabited by the Tagala race, and to the north were
found the Pampanga, Zumbales, Pangasinan, Ilocos,
and Cagayan nations, and to the east, the Camarines
and Albay, now constituting so many provincial divi
sions. At that time, each formed a distinct community,
had a different dialect, and instead of a supreme chief,
were divided into clans of 50 or 100 families, as it will
afterwards be seen they stiU remain, ^ circumstance
wmcfl, no doubt, facilitated their sulgugation. The

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixxi
plains have been successively occupied by settlers
from Malacca, Siam, Macassar, SumatrEt, Borneo, the
Moluccas, Arabia and China, and various mixtures
have again taken place, with the original natives,
Mexicans, and occasionally European Spaniards, which
renders the population of the Philippines, particularly
that of Luzon, one of the most singular medleys that
can be imagined. The religion, habits, language, as
well as other peculiarities, denote the respective origins
of these foreign settlers; nor have these characters
been effaced by the conquest of the Spaniards, The
variety of cqlour, features, and lajiguages, are i^etained,
though evidently in the course of time these distinction?
must diminish-
Two distinct aboriginal races are still noticed in the
Philippines, a phenomenon that equally distinguishes
other islands of the Archipelago; and these are tho
black and brown, or the faegros and Indians, Th^
Papua, or black, is certainly the primitive race, and
they retired to the mountains as the others advanced.
They are smaller than the African negro, their limbs
more delicate, and their complexion, instead pf jet
black, is of a sooly hue. The hair is also longer and
more tufted, the profile of the face not so flat, find in
strength and energy they are greatly inferior. Whether
they originally descended frpm the Papnans inhabiting
New Guinea, or came from Angola, which is the
qpinion of some Spanisli waiters, is still matter of con
jecture. Very few pf theni have been domesticated,
and it is observed their numbers have greatly declined,
lowing to the inclemewoies pf the weather, disease^,
particularly the siijft}}-pp?, ^nd tjip pirecarwus supplies
of fppd.

Ixxii translator's
The Indians, found in the islands, were of a regular
stature, brown complexion, large eyes, lank hair, and
their limbs rather fleshy than muscular and strong. At
the period of their discovery, they were of course more
advanced in civUization than the primitive race, and
each fribe or nation had a distinct government and
name ; though several leading traits indicated that their
origin was the same. The chiefs had gained their
ascendancy through valour or abilities, and their rank
was inherited according to the rights of primogeniture.
They did not however live in a confederated manner,
but independent of each other, and the extent of their
dominion had chiefly depended on their success in the
wars waged with their neighbours. In these wars the
prisoners taken became slaves, and when enfranchised,
they were called Timauas, signifying the children of
liberty, a term, as will hereafter be seen, still used to
distinguish the Indian plebeians. It wiU also be noticed
that the original clans and chiefs are still retained;
indeed the rights of the latter were guaranteed to them
at the time of the conquest. They are charged to
collect in the king's tribute, and are called cabezas de
iarangai, equivalent to heads of clans. As already
stated, great mixtures have subsequently taken place,
and it is thought the Igorrots of the province of Ilocos,
and of whom frequent mention is made in the course of
this work, are descended from the followers of Lima
hon, the Chinese pirate, who, as previously pointed out,
fled to the mountains when driven from Pangasinan by
Juan de Salcedg. At the present day the Tagala
Indians are used by the Spaniards in Manilla as
servants, and the word tagalo and servant are now
synonymous. According to the fraditions of this race,

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixxiii
they descend from the Malays, and in the language of
the latter, tagala, or rather tageylog, means a man
living on the coast, in contradistinction to the moun
taineer. The prevailing fevers are intermittent, owing chiefly
to marsh miasma. Contagious distempers are unknown
among them, except the small-pox, which, most pro
bably, with their commerce and religion, was bronght
among them by the Arabs, in like manner as a more
loathsome disease was infroduced by Europeans. Cu
taneous disorders are, however, very common, and this
the natives attribute to the great use of fish. Many
tribes, owing to this circumstance, have their skins
always covered with scurf, and Dampier, speaking of
the Mindanao people, ,says, " they were troubled with
a sort of leprosy, the same he had observed at Guam."
Parturition is expeditious and safe among the Indian
islanders, and seldom attended with misfortunes. The ,
natives bathe frequently, yet this practice does not much >
confribute to cleanliness. They are exfremely ab-
stemipup in their diet, and satisfied with a small portion
of animal food. They are credulous and superstitions,
cunning, yet of weak capacities, but possibly a great
number of their social defects may be attributed to
their ignorance, want of civilization, and the bad ad
ministration of justice. They are nevertheless hospi
table to strangers, and, excepting in their robberies,
piracies, and acts of private and public revenge, harm
less in their manners, They are fond of external show
and pomp, and certainly, on this account, they could
not have been so easily captivated by any religion,
possessing less ceremony and ostentation than the
Catholic one. The civilized and converted Indians, of

Ixxiv translator's
course, follow the laws and usages of their preceptors ;
the independent tribes, however, greatiy tinctured with
paganism, revere an institution similar to marriage, and
the lot of their women is more fortunate than among
most of the nations of the east.
Adultery is punished by a fine, as is also the crime of
disrespect to elders ; but fraud and usury are totally
overlooked by their laws. Their matrimonial customs
are pecuUar. They are only allowed to marry one
woman, and although the chiefs and other persons of
influence sometimes have concubines, these are gene
rally slaves. They frequently marry relatives, though
not the first of kin, and if tiie wedlock proves unhappy
or burdensome, the husband restores his wife to her
parents, without assigning any particnlar cause for the
divorce. The dowry given on the day of marriage is
merely restored,^ and this consists of two kinds, which
the bridegroom always pays. The one is caUed bigay-
suso, and is paid to the mother as a compensation for
the milk with which she nourished her daughter; the
other is the bigayrcaya, or green dowry, and is generally
set apart for the maintenance of the new married
couple. Besides these dowries, the bridegroom is
obliged for some years to serve the parents of his bride,
at particular times, such as sowing the rice, and getting
in the harvest. If any dispute takes place, the mar
riage is annulled, an arrangement nsually agreeable to
the paronts of the woman, as a new suitor presents
himself, and they reap the advantage of fresh services
and dowry ; but this can only be previous ito the ex
piration of the time of service, for when this is ended,
the husband becomes lord and master, and treats his
wife as he pleases. The interest which the parents

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, IxXT
thus have in the disposal of their daughter, has proved
highly pernicious to morals, nor has' it been possible to
abolish its practice, although royal edicts, as well as
regulations of the bishops, have been resorted to, the
custom being general, even among the half civUized
natives. The marriage ceremony is performed by sa
crificing a hog, which a priestess kills with many ges
ticulations, and after this she bestows benedictions on
the parties. An old woman then presents them with
food, and the ceremony closes with dancing and re
freshments. In their reUgious ceremonies they use neither idols
nor temples, their sacrifices being offered in arbours,
raised for the purpose. The priestess works herself up
to a state of apparent frenzy, and, uttering words con
sidered prophetic by the bystanders, she pierces the
hog with a lance, and then distributes the carcass
among them. These sacrifices are offered to the in
fernal deities, as weU as to the souls of their ancestors,
who, they are taught to believe, inhabit large trees,
rocks of uncommon appearance, or any natural object
which, in point of magnitude or form, varies from the
usual course. Whenever they pass an object of this
description, they evince some testimony of respect, and
if a person is dangerously iU, his friends offer up rice,
wine, Or flesh, to their deities, and then give the offer
ings to the sick, under an idea that a cure will be thus
effected. They practise no external adoration; but,
owing to their great credulity and superstition, are the
dupes of numerous impostors, and beUeve in all kinds
of charms and speUs.
The general reUgion of the Indian islanders is, how
ever, Mahomedan, originally introduced from Arabia,

Ixxvi translator's
and since kept up by their intercourse with that country,
and missionaries expressly coming from it ; nevertheless
it is greatly blended with their ancient superstitions.
Circumcision of the males takes place generaUy when
they are about eleven years of age, and the ceremony is
performed with great solemnity. Their burials are
plaiii and decent, and great respect shewn to the memo
ry of the deceased persons ; yet, in most other respects,
they are extremely lax in the observance of tenets they
profess to follow. It may be said that the institution
of this religion has produced no fixed principles of
morality, and although intercourse is kept up with
Mecca, and pUgrimages undertaken there, it is more
for the sake of show, than any real motives of piety.
The negative precepts ofthe Koran are entirely dis
regarded, and the use of hog'i^flesh, as well as in
toxicating liquors, general. The success of the Ma
homedan missionaries must nevertheless be deemed
surprising. This undoubtedly was owing to the manner
in which they conciUated the natives, and, having once
gained over the chiefs, their doctrines soon spread.
These Arabs leamt the languages of the islands, fol
lowed the manners of the inhabitants, carried on trade,
and also intermarried with them. ,
Having thus given a short sketch of the state of the
Philippine natives and their reUgious rites, it is time 16
convey some idea respecting the Marianas Islands,
dependent on the Philippine government, and which
have been entirely overlooked by the author, with the
exception of his merely stating their population to be
about 4000 persons. These islands, formerly eaUed the
Ladrones, are situated in the Pacific, about 400 leagues
to the east of the Philippines. They are sixteen in

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, Ixxvii
number, but the principal ones are, Guam, Seypan,
Tinian, and Rota, though none except the first are now
inhabited. The circumference of Guam is about forty
leagues, and the port is called San Luis de Apra.
Three leagues distant from it is the city of Agafia,
which is considered the capital, and there are besides
about twenty villages. These islands were discovered
by Magallanes, in 1521, although possession was not
taken of them till 1565, when Legaspi was proceeding
to the conquest of the Philippines. At that time it Was
noticed the natives had no religion, or form of worship,
and like those of the Pelew Islands, they are pacific
in their disposition, and simple in their manners. Their
colour is a light brown, and they have long hair, which
the men cut, but the women wear it in great profusion.
The old are greatly infected with the leprosy, owing to
their feeding on marine productions. Anson visited
Tinian in 1741, and of the French ships which explored
the Pacific, in 1771, under M. Marion, on their return,
200 sailors were cured of the scurvy at Guam, without
losing a man. The inhabitants having been desolated
by a dreadful distemper which nearly destroyed the
population, the remnant was at length concentrated in
one island. Plantations for vegetables, fruits, &c. have
since been formed there, as weU as good roads for the
interior intercourse. The natives are intelligent, make
good artisans, and are divided into an effective militia.
They have public schools, and are passionately fond of
music and dancing. They have abundance of bread
fruit, as well as the coco, of which they make wine ;
indeed the family of palms, found in the Philippines, is
equaUy extended to the Marianas Islands. They have

Ixxviii translator's
none of the European grains, but they grow rice and
maize, and also make bread of some of their bulbous
roots. Besides the vegetable plantain, they have the
dwarf, or fruit plantain, and these islands also produce
a wild species, of which the fibres are twisted into
ropes and cables, the only purpose for which it is used.
The sea-side and damp grounds afford quantities of
capers, peculiar to these islands, which have also been
transplanted to the PhUippines. The caper trees retain
their flowers almost all the year round, and the smiling
aspect of the counfry, added to the goodness and fra
grance of the varied fruits, render the Marianas a most
delightful spot.
In 1668, they were reduced to Christianity by the
Jesuits, and missions established there at the expence
of Queen Mary Ann of Austria, in memory of whom
they bear her name. She also left, an endowment of
21,000 dollars for their support and defence, and another
of 3000 dollars, for a college, intended for the in-
sfruction of the Indians, hnd a third for the maintenance
of five religious persons, formerly Jesuits, but now
Augustines. The ManUla galleoh regularly touches at
Guam, on her way home from Acapulco, but if in great
want of water, she makes the Sandwich Islands, al
though this is avoided if possible, owing to the dangers
to be apprehended from the hostility of the chiefs. The
establishment ofthe Marianas, is in fact kept up entirely
for the convenience of refreshments, and it has been
observed that, in the vast extent of the Pacific, the
island of Guam is the only one that has a town built in
the European style, a church, and regular fortifications.
Horned cattle have greatiy multiplied in these islands.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixxix
and a fine race is found there, being all white with
black ears ; besides goats, hogs, fowls, horses, asses,
mules, &c.
Nothing can be more secluded than this position, and
no intercourse is kept up with Europe, unless through
ManiUa or Mexico. The government is supported by
a situado, or annual aUowance of money from New
Spain, and, with the exception of their seclusion, the
inhabitants may be considered almost the most fortunate
people on earth. They are maintained at the expence
of the crown, exposed to no dangers, and pay no
tributes or imposts. Their happiness and comforts
must however greatly depend on the qualities of their
governor, who has much in his own power. This esta
blishment is in fact of the greatest use to all maritime
states, as may easily be seen by the voyages of Anson,
WaUis, Byron, Marion, &c. M. Crozet, the writer of
the voyage of the latter, observes, that in the whole
extent of the South Sea, there is no port in which the
wearied voyager can re-establish himself sooner, and
find better and more abundant refreshments, than in the
island of Guam. Besides the Marianas, the Spaniards
also consider the Caroline and Pelew Islands as de
pendencies on the Philippine government, and several
attempts have been made to establish missionaries in
both ; but of the first little is known, and of the others
information has already been conveyed to the public by
English voyagers.
Before we close this sketch, intended chiefly to supply
the omissions of the author, it is necessary to say some
thing of the immediate causes which have contributed
to the decUne of the Philippine Islands, or rather re
tarded their prosperity and kept them in a backward
3

Ixxx translator's
state. Besides distance from the mother-country and, as
wiU be seen by their history, the dreadful misfortunes
to which tiiey have so frequently been exposed, the
wavering and uncertain nature of the regulations in
tended for their government, the hostility of European
rivals, and the litigious spirit of the inhabitants them
selves, as well as the unceasing dissensions and law
suits to which this has given rise, have been ofthe most
material injury to the colony. To comprehend the
causes of these calamities, it is necessary to recur to
early times and trace them to their origin.
The conquest and settlement of the Philippines, did
not give rise to those torrents of blood which, unhappily,
flowed at the commencement of other transatlantic
establishments. Mild and persuasive measures entered
into the plan of these acquisitions, and the propagation
of reUgion was the chief motive of the original under
taking. When it was first agitated whether or not
they ought to be abandoned, owing to the expences
they occasioned, Philip II. observed, " that for the
preservation of a single hermitage, as long as it was
glorious to the true God, he would yield up the whole
treasures of the Indies ; and that he never could think
of abandoning, and consequently, of depriving of the
light of the gospel, as many provinces as might be dis
covered, however barren, useless and poor, they might
be." The poUcy pursued in this respect having been sp
judicious, it is strange that in others it should have
been so much the reverse.
As before stated, when first ' discovered, the natives
of the Philippines were not all entirely savage. Some in
habited mountainous and inaccessible places, but those
who dwelt on the plains, were divided into clans, haying

PRELIMINARY DfSCOURSE. Ixxxi
their own chiefs and laws, as weU as some rude notions
of arts and agriculture. What they then possessed was
guaranteed to them, and the surplus lands distributed
among the conquerors. The districts into which the
country was then divided were afterwards placed under
tiie care of missionaries, and, it is natural to suppose,
the choicest tracts fell to their lot. This distribution,
which, at first, promised to be highly advantageous, in
the end produced fatal consequences, and another pur
suit, by no means so congenial to the capabilities of the
country, as agriculture, soon drew the colonists from
their estates. The too lucrative commerce derived
from their communications with America, led them to
consider the most honourable occupations as intolerable
and even disgraceful; yet if an accident happened to
theship on board of which all their property was staked,
they were plunged in the deepest distress.
This neglect of agriculture, by which the European •
settlers Were early distinguished, was, in some measure,
made up by the arrival of the Chinese, who with great
industry and economy devoted themselves to tillage and
manufactures, but unfortunately their allegiance never
could be trusted, and prone to continual plots and con
spiracies, it became necessary to recur to destructive
means, by which the good effects of their useful labours
were totally lost. Their repeated expulsions have
consequently been detrimental to the prosperity of the
islands, but it is a query whether the safety ofthe ex
isting authorities could have been purchased with less
sacrifices, when it is considered that the whites there
only stand in the proportion of 15 to 25,000. The im
mense scope these islands presented to their enterprise
and talents, compared to their own counfry, and the
f

Ixxxii translator's
great advantages they gained from the circulation of a
large portion of the wealth of Mexico and Peru,
gradually brought back numbers, who in the, Manilla
merchants and others found patrons and supporters.
Nevertheless, alarmed by the experience of the past,
and liable to the watchful superintendence of the of
ficers of government, their return to agricultural pursuits
was partial, and, as will be seen by the returns contained
in this volume, few Chinese now have a permanent,
abode in the islands, notwithstanding the rigid orders
issued in consequence of the part they took during the
occupation of Manilla by the British; were revoked in
1778, when many returned to their wives and chUdren,
who had not been driven away,
; The ravages of the piratical tribes, as well as a num
ber of defects in the system of government, by which
the indusfry of these islands has uniformly been para
lyzed, are sufficiently explained by our author; stiU
there is another great cause of depression to their trade,
lo which he merely aUudes, under the head of " Royal
Custom House," without entering into particulars,
although he distinctly points out the work in which it
can be minutely traced. As this is a subject of con
siderable importance, and has, ^t various periods, ex
cited great interest in Spain, and occupied the attention
of the Council of the Indies for years, the franslator
procured the Extracto Historial del Comercio de Phi-
lipinas, published at Madrid, in 1736, by orders of the
Council, and from its contents he has been enabled to
subjoin the following remarks.
The clamour, envy, and the consequent infrigues and
remonsfrances of the Seville merchants, first restrained
that freedom which the Philippine Islands enjoyed from

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixxxiii
the time of their conquest, and gave rise to a long series
of differences, fraught with the most injurious results.
Although commerce there had never been conducted
on those solid principles which render it useful to a
state, the merchants, nevertheless, enjoyed a certain
degree of activity and wealth, and Manilla had gradually
become a considerable emporium in the east. Gold and
spices were brought in by the natives and bartered for
those European articles which attracted the eye, rather
than confributed to the convenience of social life, and
these new productions, together with the merchan
dise brought from India, were remitted to Mexico and
sold at an enormous profit. The subsequent increase
of this trade, for a long time unrestricted, gave rise to
all those disputes and harassing regulations which de
pressed the Philippines and shackled the industry of
their inhabitants. So great was the ascendency of their
rivals in Europe, notwithstanding they sent agents to
court, in order to remonstrate and plead tlieir cause, as
was ably done in a memoir presented to the Council '
of the Indies, in 1637, in the name Of the city and
merchants of Manilla and found among the papers
above alluded to, that their speculations were by law con
fined to one annual ship, a limited investment, and the
excess declared forfeited to the crown. The Philip
pine merchants were, however, partly enabled to evade
the effects of these restrictive regulations, by investing
more ciapital than the royal order allowed, although they
stiU laboured under great privations. The SeviUe
merchants, joined also by those of Cadiz, made fresh
remonstrances, pointing out the evasion practised and
insisting on the injuries done to the trade and manufac
tures of iiie moi^er-country, by suffering the importa-
f 2

Ixxxiv translator's
tion of sUks and other China merchandise into the
South American markets. These objections were again
answered by the Philippine merchants, who urgently so
licited an extension of their annual permit ; and these
painful and expensive disputes agitated the Spanish
ministry for many years, absorbed the time of tbe
Council of the Indies, and the proceedings thereby in
stituted filled folio volumes.
In 1604, the annual investment had been regu
lated at 250,000 doUars and the returns at 500,000 ;
but on the 12th of August, 1702, these amounts were
increased to 300,000 and 600,000 dollars, and fresh
regulations adopted for the more correct valuation
of the cargoes. The South Americans were also pro
hibited from having any share in this traffic, and pre
vented from going to China in search of their own sup
plies. The establishment of such erroneous principles
of commerce and political economy could not fail to
produce fatal consequences, although the great profits
gained by the Asiatic trade, notwithstanding so small
an investment, in some measure delayed the ruin of the
PhiUppines. Nevertheless, so loud was the subse
quent clamour of the Andalnsian merchants, and so
powerful their intrigues at court, that on the 27th Oc
tober, 1720, a royal order was obtained, totally prohibit
ing the introduction of China goods in both parts of the
monarchy, notwithstanding it was clear the European
merchants could not make up the^ deficiency from na
tional resources and without themselves recurring to the
looms of foreigners.
So fatal and unexpected a blow filled the Philip
pines with consternation and despair, and the inha
bitants felt keenly the injustice and cruelty with which
they were freated, after the numerous sacrifices they had

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. IxXXV
jnade in defence ofthe islands, and the calamities of aU
kinds by which they had been incessantly assailed.
Fresh agents were sent to court to appeal against
these impolitic measures, and both parties were again
heard before the council. It would be tedious to fol
low the litigants through the pleas and allegations by
which their respective causes were supported ; but
eventually the royal order of 1720 was revoked, and this
triumph on the part of the ManUla merchants was fol
lowed by another in 1734, in which the annual invest
ment allowed was raised to 500,000 dollars, and the re
turns to one million. As a compensation to the Eurt^
pean fraders, they were permitted to establish a privi
leged company in Manilla, the object and ill-success of
which are hereafter minutely explained. Such, among
many other public calamities and misfortunes, which, in
fact, rendered the tenure of the Philipjpine islands al
most a miracle, have been the improvident measures
tending to depress and impede the prosperity of this
colony ; but thanks to the new order of things, esta
blished in Spain, these resfrictions are now at an
end, and the inhabitants of that distant and neglected
portion of the monarchy are enabled to use the resources
with which they are blessed, and avail themselves of the
advantageous position in which they are placed, be
tween two continents, each wanting the productions of
the other.
Notwithstanding the great freedom and liberality
our author evinces throughout the whole of his work,
his anxious wish that the transatlantic commerce of
Spain should be estabUshed on more enUghtened prin
ciples, and civiUzation, with all its boundless blessings,
extended, some of the sentiments he expresses in the

Ixxxvi translator's

2d chapter respecting the Indians and the best method
of urging them to labour, may, nevertheless, appear
novel and even revolting to an English reader, who
cannot be aware of many traits peculiar to their cha
racter, or the social footing on which they stand.
Although the plan he suggests with regard to the In
dians, as pointed out by the translator in a note, cannot
be adopted now the constitution is restored, the practi
cal and local facts blended with his remarks are im
portant, and may be rendered serviceable in any future
arrangements, adopted with a view to turn this valuable
race of people to better account, improve their moral
condition, and raise them to the rank of useful members
of soOiety. As an elucidation to the subject, and in
explanation of grounds on which his positions are
founded, the writer of these pages has been induced to
sulrjoin the following observations on Ijie state of the
Indian population, applicable to that of the South Ame
rican continent, as well as the Asiatic islands of
Spain. It is a question that has set to work some of the most
able and philanthropic pens employed on practical sub
jects connected with the new world, whether it was
more conducive to the good of the state, for that distinc
tion, at present subsisting between the Indians and other
classes of the population, to remain ; or whether it
would be more useful to create one indistinct national
body. The laws, as they now stand, forcibly estabUsh
this separation; yet it must be remembered that these
" laws were framed at the time of the conquest, or very
soon after, when many abuses were infroduced, and, by
the absurd, system of the encomiendas, or distributions
in favour of individuals, the Indian was rather made the

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. IxXXVil
tool of avarice and the victim of slavery, than the useful
and deserving subject. The original motives and ob
ject of this plan were certainly good and humane ; but
it was soon discovered that the regulations emanating
therefrom, had been founded on the very imperfect
knowledge at that time obtained of the country, tainted,
as it Was, by interest or the opposition prevailing among
the Spaniards themselves, and particularly the military
commanders, ih whose views civil rights were too fre
quently disregarded. Under such a complication of
interests, and at such a distance, the sequel proved that
the intended protection of the crown did not suffice to
shield the Indian from oppression.
Although this important subject has not since met with
the attention it deserved, and notwithstanding the de
fective system of government, prevaiUng at home, pre
vented the adoption of liberal and enUghtened princi
ples in this depai-tment Of state policy, time has, never
theless, produced considerable changes, and the abused
authority of individuals over the aboriginal races has
been taken away. Since the year 1764, at which pe
riod the packets were estabUshed, the ultramarine pro
vinces have been more intimately connected with Spairi ;
their concerns better understood, and the regulations
of government more readUy observed by the officers
charged with their execution. The maritime and in
land conveyance of letters to the provinces sitiiated
beyond seals, for the estabUshment of which so much is
due to Count Florida' blanca, besides being greatly
beneficial to frade, produced a gre^t revolution in
th6 moral state of the country, so much so that it may
be said the various sections of the new world, from the
above date np to t^at of the invasion of Spain by the

Ixxxviii translator's
French, making a period of only 44 years, had im
proved more than during the lapse of the 270 preced
ing, from the time of the conquest. The subsequent
division of such extended tracts into districts, more
proportioned to the authority that was to watch over
them, the abolition o{ repartimientos, and the extinction
of encomiendas, and more particularly the grants of free
trade, as they are called, were so many political improve
ments, which, it must be acknowledged, have not failed
to produce beneficial effects .
Notwithstanding aU these advantages, stiU the ultra
marine provinces have not prospered in a manner pro
portioned to their capabilities, and among other causes,
this may be attributed to tlip feelings of disunion and
enmity which rankle in the breasts of the inhabitants,
and debilitate their energies. The Indian, seeing that
the laws have specially confided his defence and pro
tection to the superior courts, conceives this shield is
essentially necessary to his safety,- and intended to act
as a barrier against evils he has every reason to dread.
Hence arises a division of interests, and this class is
induced to believe that it is the intention of the rest to
oppress them. The tribute they pay, although trifling,
and which is not levied on the other classes ; their ex
emption from the duty of alcabala on all they raise and
manufacture; their being considered in contentious
cases, in the light of minors, by which they are in fact
deprived of many essential rights, added to the pe
culiar forms of government they are aUowed to foUow
among themselves, give rise to many distinct lines of
division, and create interests always at variance in the
general formation ofthe state.
SfmUar defects are also noticed with regard to the

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Ixxxix
class of population, caUed casts, although arising from
principles entirely opposite. Against them opinion
prevails ; they are less esteemed than the Indians,
less protected by the law, yet the individuals con
stituting this class, by their cunning and address, have
gained on that one possessing the greatest share of
riches and wielding tbe power of government. The
distance at which policy and prejudice had removed
the casts from the , other two classes, was great, yet,
owing to their activity and more daring spirit, they
have now taken the place of the Indians, who are thus
left in the last grade of society, and hence the ground
work of their abhorrence of both classes has been laid.
This proximity of the casts to the whites has, however,
been considerably affected by the 22d article of the
Spanish constitution, which deprives all those who in
any way derive their origin from Africa of the rights of
citizenship, thus opening the door to endless broils and
lawsuits, injurious to the future tranquillity of the
country in which such an impoUtic clause is to operate.
Its enactment was originally intended to prevent a
greater number of transmarine deputies from sitting in
the Cortes, so as to secure a majority of Europeans ;
but this is no other than an attempt to remove one evil
by the creation of another, sanctioning, at the same
time, a positive act of injustice. This privation has
already given rise to considerable clamour, and before
me is the remonstrance ofthe Spanish pardos, or people
of colour, inhabiting the Peruvian capital, in which
they bitterly complain of an humiliating exclusion, " that
does not even reach to foreigners and enemies," In
the most affecting language they call to mind the national
services they have rendered, the number of times they

XC TRANSLATOR S
have repelled invaders from their coasts, and the various
instances in which they have evinced their loyalty and
devotion to their monarch. This unwise law, which
besides can never answer the end for which it was
framed, must be the parent of interminable feuds and
broils, and involve the courts of justice in inquisitorial
proceedings of a disgusting kind. Its enactment ap
pears the more strange, as it took place at a moment
When it seemed to be a primary object to unite the opi
nions of all the inhabitants of the monarchy, and create
a moral power capable of preserving its integrity, and
forming an intimate and cordial union among all the in
dividuals of which it is composed.
Such contrarieties establish the evident principles of
disunion, and it would be almost a phenomenon in the
moral condition of mankind, if a counfry containing
within itself three distinct bodies of component popula
tion, opposed to each other in views and partly in
language, and besides influenced by a respective feeling
of abhorrence, could ever be happy ; or, at least, attain
that degree of advancement which their union must
inevitably promote. These, therefore, were important
points of consideration to the government intended to
guard the security and watch over the welfare of distant
provinces, in an age like the present, in such a state
as they had been left through recent events, and for
these cogent reasons the subject deserved the earliest
attention. Fortunately for the PhiUppines, they con
tain a very smaU proportion of black population, and
few on no slaves, but this law materially affects Vene
zuela and Lower Peru ; the experience of the last ten
years has, however, proved the important fact, that the
infroduction of machinery is the best means of abolish-
1

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. x«
ing slavery, as it greatly diminishes the want of manual
labour. Several parts of the ,Brazils, particularly
jBahia, may be mentioned in propf of this assertion;
for in the latter plape, more particularly, the use of
machinery has already dispensed with the services of
pne half of tiie slave population, and whenjtiiis system
is also introduced into the mining disfricts of the Ame
rican continent, the savings will be immense.
Tlie contemplative mind is naturally led on to pursue
inquiries regarding the welfare and improvement of so
interesting a portion of the human race, as the Indians
of the New World, whose history a^id misfortunes have
always excited so deep and general an interest in
Europe, although few points in civil policy are more
difficult to reconcile than the one now under consid^a-
tion. Notwithstanding it is a question that has not
hitherto been duly considered by the new government
of Spain, at former periods, it called forth the exertions
of some of her best pafriots, and within her own terri
tory she has had a case in many respects similar, and
more particularly as far as regards the influence of
opinion, which, although partial, is nevertheless im
portant. The Spanish govprnment, at one time, was
anxious to extinguish the race of gypsies which had
groEitly increased, and erroneously adopted the harsh
meas^re of aliolisl^ing them, by seeking to prevent their
procreation. Sub^eque^t . ministers, hpwever, more
enlightened, soi^ght rather to efface the name which
defamed, and, by collepting and incorporating them by
every possible means with the general mass of the
people, thus effected a poUtical phange, altering only
opinions opposed to the welfare of the state, and that

XCll TRANSLATOR'S
general stream of happiness and equality which ought
uniformly to flow into all its parts.
The removal of odious distinctions has also entered
intp the policy of tbe North American government, in
reference to their coloured population, not that the
clashing difficulty, owing to the "great disproportion in
numbers, can, for a long period of years, at least, be
overcome with the same success in the extended do
minions of Spain and Portugal, situated on the other
side of the Atlantic ; yet still the groundwork ought to
be laid. The remarkable dissimUitude of character and
difference in the energies of each party, will no doubt
operate as an obstacle ; but these defects wiU be gra
duaUy removed by mental instruction, which must be
made the chief basis of all moral improvement. The
Spanish legislation seems to have been aware of the
comparative weakness of inteUect, and want of genius
and spirit in the Indian, and in order to counterbalance
this defect with the preponderating character of the
European, who, as the conqueror, and outsfripping the
Indian in talent and energy, must in the course of time
gain a great ascendancy, wisely granted to him that
pointed protection, and those exemptions to which
allusion has already been made. Nevertheless, with
this shield in his favour, and with that more immediate
redress to which he can recur when injured, the Indian
is not exempt from oppression ; nor do the injunctions
of the law, or the express orders and .zeal of its mi
nisters, at aU times protect him from overreaching
ambition. The laws consequently have not answered the end in
view, and the reason is, that odious distinctions stiU

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XcHi
exist, and nothing, at least efficient, has been done for
the mental improvement of the aboriginal races. The
peculiar character of the Indian, it must be confei?sed,
also presents great difficulties. Nature has created
him with a limited capacity, and devoid of energy, and
if, during the existence of their respective sovereigns or
chiefs, these various tribes had not been inspired with
sufficient ambition and independence of mind to acquire
individual property, but in themselves rather presented
the same picture of apathy as that in which they still
live, the task of bringing them to an equal standard
will be rendered more difficult, now they are surrounded
by the superior talents of Europeans and their de
scendants. In the history of the whole of the new
countries it is remarkable, that where the Europeans
have been attracted by locality and goodness of climate,
the Indians have in time nearly disappeared. This, in
some measure, is attributable to the peculiar frugality
of the latter, and as the Europeans require a greater
extent of land to supply their wants, the former have
been imperceptibly dispossessed, and the necessaries of
life raised to prices infinitely higher than those at which
they have been accustomed to obtain them. The plains
and valleys of the Philippines, Peru, and Mexico,
present remarkable instances of this kind, so that the
great mass of Indians are compeUed to occupy the most
elevated parts; and if it were allowed to risk a con
jecture on this subject, one might venture to predict,
that the Indian races will eventually become extinct,
and blended with the different casts, as the country
advances in trade, intercourse, and colonization, for the
mestizos, as may be seen fro^i the seveifal scales of

XCIV TRANSLATOR S
population presented in the course of this volume, are
already gaining fast upon them.
Instead, however, of destroying this distinction and
rivalship between the various classes, it has beeii the
pecuUar policy of Spain to keep it alive, and even to
exlend it. This opposition of the casts to the Indians
has been used as a powerful check on the most nume
rous and dreaded class, and served to secure the su
premacy of a weak government, possessing little moral
aid. Notwithstanding the great practical distanice at
which the great body of the Indians are kept, the
legislature^ of Spain made many distinctions founded
on policy, and some of the measures adopted seem to
have had for object to render the higher ranks of
Indians uniform with the rest of the subjects. The
noble Indians and those descended from the ancient
chiefs, are exempt from teibute, and rendered equal
with the Spafiiards in civil, ecclesiastical, and military
employments. The plebeian Indians, however, have
remained in the same' low sphere, and stiU apparently
have obtained a multitude of privileges, yet notwith
standing the efforts of policy and legislatioii in their
favour, the beneficial effects have never extended
beyond individuals, without affecting the general body.
It must not however be thought that it is intended to
argue that the condition of the Indians, on a general
scale^ has not been bettered by the conquest. Their'
marked protection and mild freatmettt, in the eye of the
law at least, exhibit a perfect contrast witii the tyrannic
government of theii' ancient sovereigns; by whom they
were held in the ' most perfect servitude, subjected to a
cruel and foi'ced honiSge, and loaded with the weight of

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. XCV
personal labour and tributes. Besides the exemptions
above noticed, the existing laws give the Indian a pre
ference in the irrigation of his lands, and it is ordained
that these shall not be in any way mixed with the estates
of Europeans, in order to avoid disputes. It has been
expressly recommended to teach him the Spanislwlan-
guage, in order to induce him to forget his own ; he
has been induced to give up his national dress, taught a
profession, &c. ; still the effects have been temporary or
partial. The fact is, the Indian, as a conquered and
dejected being, hates the Spaniard, mistrusts him in
every act, even when this appears the most advanta
geous. He assists and obeys him merely in the cha
racter of a superior; an expression of regard or at
tachment never escapes his lips ; dread and rigour alone
induce him to work ,• he is fond of solitude and retire
ment, in order to escape the sight of the other classes,
whom he considers his rivals or enemies ; he is sparing
and abstemious, besides being distinguished by many
other peculiar qualities, which hold him at variance
with the remaining classes. To these characteristics
may be added, the superstition of his exterior worship,
a reserve and caution in his conduct, a sadness in his
voice and song, a proneness to refuse any thing asked
of him, even the provisions he has brought to market
for sale, as well as a remarkable obliqueness of answer.
He is fond of his children, cruel to his wife, disrespect
ful to his aged parents, capable of remaining for hours
in the same posture, without moving or speaking,
sullen, gloomy, besides a variety of other traits which
might yield to education, but at present render any
poUtical alliance extremely difficult.
Many of the misfortunes of the Indians, however,

XCVl TRANSLATOR S
may rather be attributed to tiie executive, than the
legislative, power, for, in all ages and couhtries, the
views of the best establishments have been counteracted
by human maUce. By the removal of those regulations
enacted for them soon after the conquest, politically
speaking, they have been rendered more free, yet from
this change the state has received no advantage^ nor
has it tended to improve their own relative condition,
as might have been expected. Whether this arises out
of any fault in the system observed towards them, or
whether it has been the result of the overthrow of their
empire, and the privation of their customs, manners,
and mode of government, which circumstances have
preyed on their spirits, and made them despondent,
appears to be an investigation, deserving the attention
of their present rulers. Their physical state is, no
doubt, bettered, but their moral and intellectual faculties
are not improved in the smallest degree.
The Indian tribes of the South American continent
differ from each other, in appearance, according to their
various nations, soil, and climate. In some parts, they
are above the common size, in others, of a good stature,
and in many again, smaU. Though, at the time of their
discovery, nearly all had the same habits and pursuits of
life, a great difference was observable in their manners,
and the degree of civiUzation they had attained. In
Tlascala, a well regulated commonwealth was found,
whose transactions with Cortes would not have diso-raced
any European nation. It is true that several inferior
governments were discovered, scattered on each side
of the two great monarchies of Peru and Mexico, as
well as in the islands, where the people were less
civilized, living in clans, or wandering in the wilds.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE^ XCvii
almost in a state of nature, and scarcely subject to any
control among themselves.
Still the generality of these Indians were not atheists ;
they had partial, though just, ideas of a Deity, notwith
standing these were weakened by the worship of idols.
They acknowledged a Supreme Being, whose existence
was coeval with time, and who possessed every powerful
attribute, although idolafry superadded many extrava
gancies. They affirmed that the number and variety of ,
gods they worshipped, were subjected to a sovereign
being, who was lord over gods and man, and the
Peruvians, particularly, thought his semblance was in
the sun. These ;intermediate beings were considered
as steps between them and the Divinity ; and they be
lieved that through them their wishes and wants were
transmitted to the great presiding Power, and each had
his peculiar department.
Thefr ideas of omnipotent power in some measure ^
resembled those of the natives of Asia, and they ex
plained the semblance of man to God, nearly in the
same way. " Imagine to yourself," said they, " a
million of dew-drops, hanging in pearls from the thorn,
on which the star of day beams his resplendent rays and
is reflected. The figure ofthe Divinity is at the same
time multiplied and represented in each globule, and in
each is seen the exact resemblance of the creative sun.
Our bodies are these drops, the sun is the supreme
Being, and this image represents that figurative alliance
which exists between, him and the whole human race."
That men, once capable of such a train of reasoning
as this, and who had besides advanced to such a state
of civilization as that in which they were found under
the Incas in Peru, the monarchs in Mexico, and even

xcviii translator's
their respective chiefs in the Philippines, and who then
appeared to possess native talent, reflection, and com-
tination, should, in the course of time, without any
exception of places, have faUen back to a state of
mental gloom and apathy, courting the seclusion of
woods, Qr living dispersed in the mountains, appears
sfrange and unaccountable ; and, equally so, that after
so long a lapse of time, and the predileotions shewn by
the court at home, they have not been raised from the
dejected state in which they have been plunged, and
converted into useful members of the community. This
seems to indicate a defect in some quarter or another,
and that either secret policy has kept them back, or
that the failing has been on the part ofthe executive.
The art of governing a country, is, as much as pos
sible, to ameliorate the situation of each individual, and
public felicity is no more than the assemblage and
general result of this improvement. Hence the per
fection of laws and government seems to consist in no
individual furthering his own interest by the misfortunes
of another, and rendering all capable of that happiness
proportioned to the station of each. The primitive ages
of all nations have, however, rather been distinguished
by, warlike acts than the pursuits of industry, or the
sober calls of civilization, and such also were the
symptoms, added to a desfructive and cruel tyranny,
which stamped, the first European establishments in the
New World; whence it is to be feared, that on this
account the Indians there have not hitherto met with
that consideration they -deserve, and that the enjoyment
of those social and civil rights which constitute the
inheritance of every free man, have not been extended
to them.

preliminary discourse. XCIX
Nevertheless, that a system partly coercjve, is ne
cessary for the government and subjection ofthe Indians
of the PhUippines, is proved by the history of the
country, and this fact is rendered more evident by the
• annals of Peru. There, though few general, yet up
wards of 200 partial, revolts have taken place. The
greatest number were occasioned by weak and discon
tented leaders, often through views of personal ag
grandizement, and ended in their execution and the
chastisement of their immediate supporters. The re
volt of Tupac-Amaru was however more serious. This
youth was a direct descendant from" the Inca of that
name, executed by viceroy Toledo, for an alleged
conspiracy to reinstate the* ancient dynasties. Tupac-
Amaru was a mestizo, had studied for the profession of
the law, and was not devoid of talent and address.- In
1780, the flame of rebellion broke out, and it appeared
directed against new imposts loied. The Indians of
the district of Tinta rose, kiUed their curate and civU
magistrate, and made war on the whites. The neigh
bouring provinces followed their example, and the
Indians of the Intendancies of Cusco, Huamanga,
Oruro, La Paz, and some districts of Tarma, rose in a
mass. The ostensible object of this revolt was to
desfroy the viracochas, a term given to the whites, in
the Peruvian language, and to restore the legitimate
Inca, Tupac-Amaru, to the throne. He besieged and
took Cusco, where he received the honours of emperor ;
but the city of La Paz withstood the combined efforts
of the Indians, during four months. The latter con
structed immense works, in order to turn the course of
the river and inundate the town ; but, eventually, the
garrison was relieved, after being reduced to the great-
g2

C TRANSLATOR S
est privations. The natives even cast cannon to supply
their wants, the country was ravaged, and a destructive
war carried on for upwards of four years. The chief
was at length delivered up by one of his own party and
executed, when the Indians laid down their arms, and
fled to their homes, or hid themselves in the mountains.
Peace was restored, yet the traces of this revolt stiU
remain on the minds of thei Indians, and prove how
dreaded all civil contests must be in a counfry where
such a clashing of views, disposition, and character,
prevaUs. This was the most regular and best com
bined revolt Peru has witnessed ; but the rest have
resembled those of the Philippine Islands, and ge
nerally been attended with exactly the same conse
quences. From what has been just stated, it is evident that the
Indians constitute a population very difficult to manage,
and it is equally so to train them to regular habits of
industry. Humboldt observes of them that they are ex
tremely improvident, and though at intervals they may
be induced to work hard, they spend in one week what
it has taken them months to earn. This is the dif
ficulty to which our author alludes in those remarks
which the present details were intended to explain;
yet the plan he suggests, even if it was divested of the .
unjust principle with which it is tainted, could never
become any thing more than a temporary expedient,
without improving the mojal conditipn of this class at
large, or teaching them fixed habits of industry. This
can only be the result of a jndicious and well combined
plan on a large scale, in which both the legislature and
executive must zealously cooperate, with constancy and
good faith.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. ci
It now merely remains for the writer of these pages
to subjoin a few general remarks on Spain, in reference
to her ulframarine provinces, intended chiefly to point
out the political footing on which they stand, through
the new system adopted'in the Peninsula. By the first
article of the constitution, the Spanish nation is de
clared to be " the assemblage of aU Spaniards belong
ing to both hemispheres," and the ultramarine pro
vinces were decreed to be equal and integral parts of
the monarchy. In consequence of this, such parts of
the American continent as were not in a state of insur
rection, sent deputies to the Cortes assembled in 1812,
and as Count Toreno remarks, in his late pamphlet on
Spanish affairs, " the deputies from Peru were seen
seated by the side of those from Estremadura, and near
those from Catalonia were seen the representatives of
the Philippine Islands. Magnificent spectacle," adds he,
" on the part of a nation which, embracing both hemi
spheres, beholds within the bosom of its Cortes, de
puties born in the two extremities of the earth! In
their faces were distinguished the European, Ameri
can and Asiatic ; and perhaps, this is the first congress
ever known, in which were assembled persons who,
speaking the same language, having the same customs,
and belonging to the same nation, were born in climes .
so distant, and whose ancestors were men of such va
ried origin."
Such was the state of things up to the year 1814,
when the constitution was unhappily overturned, and
those principles of civil freedom and reform which had
been established, entirely thrown down. This event
produced a complete chaos in the nation, and sfrength-

Cii TRANSLAtOR'S
ened the revolt in the ultramarine provinces, where-
hitherto the operation ofthe new code had only been
partial. The constitution was however restored in
1820, through the memorableevents which distinguished
the La Isla revolution, at a moment when the nation
was wearied out and disgusted with the acts of injus
tice they had witnessed in the interval, and ashamed of
the degraded state into which the monarchy was sunk.
It was most enthusiastically received, and hailed as th'e^
harbinger of future peace and . prosperity. For some
months, the new government has continued its labours,
though not without experiencing difficulties and some
contrarieties, internal as well as external. The consti
tution, reduced to practice, has not been found so per
fect as it was at first thought, and its defects, as well as
a variety of other motives, have put in motion dis
cordant elements the nation contains within itself.
With these difficulties a weak administration has had
to contend, whilst, in the mean time, the necessary mo
difications have been overlooked.
The spirit, however, by which the mass of the nation
is actuated, is good, and the situation of Spain is full of
hope, not only for herself, but for the rest of the world.
Nevertheless, she has much to do — much to con
ciliate and arrange. The general plan of the constitu
tion is admirable, and when compared with the old
•despotism it was intended to dislodge, as a whole,
almost amounts to perfection ; yet to be lasting, some
of the practical detaUs must be reformed. It must be
better adapted to the situation and circumstances of
the ultramarine provinces, if it is intended to realize
the hopes entertained of it. Spain has however avoided

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. . ClU
the horrors of the French revolution, and the spirit of
freedom breaking out with a resistless force in a
country where civil and religious oppression had long
prevailed, cannot fail in the end to secure social hap
piness, and strengthen that bond of union by which the
various parts of the monarchy are held together.

London,
20th March, 1821.

STATE
OF THE
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,

CHAP. I.

Population — Agriculture — viz. Cotton, Indigo,
Sugar, Silk, Wax, Black Pepper, Coffee,
Cocoa, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Rice, Dye Woods
and Timber.
Population. — The enumeration of the
latives for the assessment of tributes, in the
Manner ordained by the standing reguktions of
che Intendants of New Spain, is not observed in
the Philippine Islands; nor indeed would this
be an easy task. The wide extent of the twenty-
seven provinces of which they are composed,
scattered, as they are, through the great space
comprehended between the southern part , of
\f indanao, and the alrnost desert islands known
by the name of Batanes and Baguyanes, ; to the
B

2 STATE op the
north of that of Luzon, presents almost insur
mountable obstacles, and in some measure affords
' an excuse for the omission. Among these ob
stacles may be mentioned, the necessity of wait
ing for the favourable monsoon to set in, in
order to perform the several voyages from one
island to the othfet ; the eliMnlbei-ed stat6 (&f the
grounds in many parts, the irregular and scat
tered situations of the settlements and dwellings,
the variety among the natives and their dialects,
the imperfect knowledge hitherto obtained of
the respective limits and extent of many dis
tricts, the general want of guides and auxilk-
ries, tin whbm reliance can beplafeedj ai*d^ abdie
all, the extreihe repugnance the ^ativescs^nce
to the paj'hient 6f tributes, a circumstance which
induces them tt) resort to, all kinds of sti^l^ems,
in order to elude the vigilance of the collectors,
ahd tonceai their real numbers.
^ 'The ;i|liili{jmfen'ttial censos, as reguiariy en-
Joined, being thus found itopracticable, no orthter
means are left than to d^dtice frueflOi ttee*annftal
li^sj transmitted by the district Magisti-ates *1k)
the superintendant's eSB&oe, abd those forMfed'fcy
the paYish 'grates, a jrhifd6nt sestimiate of*he
total number of inhabitants subjielct to trar laws
and religion; yet these data, tilttoilig^h l*te
titoly 'ones, and also the "most 'accurate it is pos
sible to O'btain, for this very r^ui&n, ihi^lS-e %o

PHILIPPINE ISLAJ^DS, &C. 3
little confidence, that it is necessary to use them
with great caution. It is evident that all the
district magistrates and curates do not possess
the same degree of care and minuteness in a
research so important, and the omission or con
nivance of their respective delegates, more or
less geneml, renders it probable that the number
of tribute, not included in the annual returns,
is very considerable. If to this we add the legal
exemptions from tribute, justly granted to va
rious- individuals for a certain number of years,
or daring the performance of special services,
we shall easily be convinced of the imperfection
of i%$^lt8, 'derived frpm such insecure principles.
Reduced, however, to the necessity of availing
myself of them, in consequence of the want bf
better materials, I have formed tbe prudent cal-
cnktion, contained in Table, No. I. founded on
the returns I have been able to obtain from the
public effiees, and supported by sach otl^r in-
ibrmation as it was in my power to cpUect in t^e
several, departments of the local government, as
, w«U as from various other sources. On such
. grounds I have carefuilly fornaed my estimates
CDrrespondiitg to the j^ear 1810, and by con
fronting them with such data as I possess re
lating to the popukticMR in 1791, I have deduced
.the cpqsoling assurance that, under a parity of
cir09instances,.the population of these islands, far
B 2

4 STATE OF THE
from having diminished, has, in the interval,
greatly increased.
From the collective returns recently made out
by the district magistrates, it would appear that
the total number of tributes amounts to 386,654,
which multiplied by 6f , produce the sum of
2,513,406, at which I estimate the total popu
lation, including old men, women and children.
J ought here to observe, that I have chosen this
medium of 6|, between the five persons estimated
in Spain and eight in the Indies, as constituting
each family, or entire tribute ; for although the
prodigious fecundity of the women in the latter
hemisphere, and the facility of maintaining their
numerous ofispring, both the eflfects of the be
nignity of the climate and their jsober way of
living, sufficiently warrant the conclusion, that
a greater, number of persons enter into the com
position of each family, I have, in this case, been
induced to pay deference to the observations of
religious persons, intrusted with the care of
souls, who have assured me that, whether it be
owing to the gr«at mortality prevailing among
children,' or the influence of other local causes,
in many districts each family, or entire tribute,
"does not exceed 4| persons*.

• As a further illustration of the increase of population and
advance of civilization in the Philippines, it may be observad,

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 5
To the above amount it is necessary to add
7000 Sangleyes*, who have been enumerated
and subjected- to tribute, for although in the
returns preserved in the public offices, they are
not rated at more than 4700, there are ample
reasons for concluding, that many who are wan-

that in a Memoir presented to the King and his Council ofthe
Indies, in 1637, by the city of Manilla, the Indian population
is only rated at 44,763 tributes, according to o£Scial returns
corresponding to the year 1630; as follows: provinces of
Oton and Panay, 12 towns, and 6035 tributes : Island of.
Zebu, 3 towns, and 2529 tributes: Camarines, 87 Chinese
tributes: Mindoro and Luban, 1612 tributes: province of
Tayabas, 5 towns, and 1343 tributes; province of Bay, 9
towns, and 2232 tributes ; coast of Manilla, 28 towns, and
4250 tributes : Japanese, 218 tributes: Sangleyes, or Chinese
Christians in the. suburbs of Manilla, 580 tributes: province
of la Pampanga, 6 towns,' and 3650 tributes : province of
Pangasinan, 4 towns, and 899 tributes^ province of Ilocos,
5 towns, and 2988 tributes : province of Cagayan, 8 towns,
and 2192 tributes. Total, 44,763 tributes.— Tb.
* This term, in the Philippine Lslands, is applied to the
Chinese, and has the same meaning as trader or pedlar, being
derived from the Chinese words Xiang-Ley. These people
vi.'iit and wander about all the islands, selling their goods and
wares, and hence their occupation has been turned into a dis
tinctive or national appeUation. Numbers are settled and
carry on trade ia the islands, follow the Catholic religion, and
pay tribute to the king. The offspring of those who have
intermarried with the natives, are called Sangley Mestizos.— r-
Tr.

6 STATE OF THE
dering, about, or hidden in the provinces, have
eluded the general census. The European Spa
niards, and Spanish Creoles and Mestizos, do not
exceed 4000 persons, of both sexes and all ages,
and the distinct casts or modifications known in
America under the name of Mulattos, Quarte-
roons, &c.* although found in the Philippine
Islands, are generally confounded in the three
cksses of pure Indians, Chinese Mesti^.s, and
Chinese. Besides the a'bove distinctions; various
infidel and independent nations or tribes exist,
, * The Qredik, properly speaking, is the descendant of two
Europeans, but born in the country, and the term applies to the
8t}ccessive generations, as lopg as they remain unmixed with
coloured races. He generally loses the bright colour and
bodily strength of his progenitors, but acq^uires a more deli
cate , form, vivacity, and greater tenderne^ of heart. The
Mistizo is the mixture of wki^e ajid Indian, in which the
former predominates. He is hardy and robust; the cop
per tinge is; lost, and he is often found perfectly white, and
with blue eyes. The women of thi? class are beautiful and
epgag^ng. The second mixture of Mestizo and white restores
the primitive colour of white. The Mulatto is the ofi&pring
of white and negro, and it is remarked, that although he loses
the bodily strength of his parente, his mental faculties are im
proved. He is quick and lively, voluble in his speech, and
easily learns the less abstruse sciences. The QMorterooji de
scends from th^ white and mulatto, and althpugh he improves ,
in colour, he loses in mental qualities. These are general
distinctionSj, founded on accurate observations; but of course
liable to exceptions. — Tr.

PHILIf jf4^]$. ISj^^^^S, &C. 7
WQ?P oy les? s^v^g^^i|j|,fi^ocipp^, -vyhp J^ye tJjefjc
•^WiHJinffsio thp ^s^joodsaj^ glpns, an|^ are djsj.
tiRgttJsh§4i % the. resppctiye napjes of A^etajs,
feg^f^j.^eg^pps, Igorrptp, T[:i;^j^p^5^ Stc ;, nor
ig:^i!j«|f3g: sj}^rggljr a ppovinpp iu tnzon, that df»e§
99f givj^.^Jipltpr tp soptjepf tJ^^ese isplated tribe?,
•«k1jp, i^hf^^t ajd, pps^s^ many of the i?gipw^-
t§ii^p^{^ ranges, ^j^hich ramificate auid divi^ thj^
m^^ ^d ^tfTOj^, VhW f^f t^ bjeautiful
Tljs <^jgift^ cape by yt^jbiph l^l^e P^j^lippines ar? Jp-
gg^j^ecj, ¥. bj^yond dpnbt ]\(I|alayan, a^i^d the sai^^
^^^ i^ pbspr,Vje4 in Sumatra, Java, Borpep, s^i;t,d
1^ ^]^^ i§^^d^, of this immense a,rchipelago.
The Phijlippipe Ip^ians, very different frpm th^
J^lfJ^r^, whose Matures pajsasess gw^t rfigi^^9,rity,
SJ^^tnfSi|,_ ^nd even beauty, only resf^ij^bje thp
l^t^ in Go^opr, although ^l^ey esfpfl thei^ ip
st^tpve* #wd t^he gppd p^opp^rtipp of their Jipp,b,s,.
Tlje local pppulfttipn of the capital, ip pon^^r
q%$Vt<tP 9f H? cpptinu^l pommpnic^tion with the
(^hipp:^ and pther Asiatics, w.ith the Tp^ripers
®ffMi9i¥Sft?^}(|n^» viJ#^J»efi9l4iF3? ^^ M^xica,p
fiji^iFi^s, \^ pe ;g.pfie«q.|l.y jouilattps, anji ip
<fi§psi4pF?lJ^ numbers ^pt tp t^p i%n^ yearly
ip thp ^way of transppj-t^jpfl, h^ l^econje a fpix-
tufe of all Uind^ pf n^tiops and features, or rsithep
a. degeneration frpm the primitive races.
Mmilh, ^ capital pf the Miiffijnp I#^ffe.^ t

8 STATE OF THE
at present contains a population of from 140 to
150,000 inhabitants, of all classes ; but it ought,
however, to be understood, that in this compu
tation are included the populous suburbs of Santa
Cruz, San Fernando, Binondoe, Tondo, Quiapo,
St. Sebastian's, San Anton, and Sampaloc ; for
although each is considered as a distinct town,
having a separate curate and civil magistrate of
its own, the subsequent union that has taken
place, rather makes them appear as a prolonga
tion of the city, divided into so many wards and
parishes, with no other intervals than small
squares, in the centre of which their respective
churches are built. Among the chief provincial
towns, several are found to contain a population
of from 20 to 30,000 souls, and many not less
than from 10 to 12,000. Finally, it is a gene
rally received opinion that, besides the Moroon
Indians and independent tribes, the total popu
lation of the Philippine Ii^lands, subject to the
authority of the king, is equal to three millions,
AcRlcuLTtrRE. — It is not my intention at
present to enter on the wide and diversified field
this branch of industry presents, on a general
scale, nor to attempt minutely to describe the
various kinds of culture and planting practised
in these islands, with' a view to point out the
defects and backward state of so important a
source Of national wealth. Besides the theme

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 9
being unbounded, I am induced to decline this
task, in the first place, because it is one in no
way congenial to my former habits and pursuits ;
and, in the second, because I conceive it most
advisable " to confine my observations on this
subject to such parts only as are connected with
export trade, which in general decides the value
and importance of all agricultural colonies. Un
der this impression, I at once proceed to treat of
the productions which constitute the trade of
the country, in its present state, adding thereto
such J general and particular remarks as may
occur, or in any way tend to illustrate the
subject. Cotton. — ^Among the varied productions of
the Philippines, for many reasons, none is so
deserving of attention as cotton. Its whiteness
and fine staple give to it such a superiority over
that of the rest of Asia, and possibly of the
world, that the Chinese anxiously seek it, in
order preferably to employ it in their most per
fect textures, and purchase it 30 per cent, dearer
than the best from Hindostan. Notwithstand
ing this extraordinary allurement, the vicinity
of a good market, and the positive certainty that
however great the exportation, the growth can
never equal the consumption and immensedemand
for this article, it has nevertheless hitherto been
found impossible to extend and improve its cul-

10 state of thb
tivation, in such a way as to render it a stapl«
commodity of the country. Owing to this la?
mentable neglect, it is, that the annual exportap
tion does not exceed 5000 arrohm (125,000 Ihs.)^
whereas the British import into China at the
annual rate of 100,000 bales, or 1,200,000 «rra-
haS',, produced in their establidiments at Bombay
and Calcutta, and which, sold at the soiedium
price of 15 tales, for 130 lbs., yield the net
amount of 4,8CM),000 dollars*.
This wan;t of attention in so importa»t »
branch of agricultuire is tihe more to be regretted*
as the islands abound m situations peculiarly
adapted for the cultivation of cotton, and th#
accidental failure of the crops in some provinces,
might easily be made up by their success in
* In the sitting of 8th of Nov. 1830, among other coro-
mercial regulations enacted, the Cortes gave their sanptiQn to
the following, regarding the Philippine Islands, — Tr.
" In the Philippine Islands the importation of raw cottons
from foreign countries shall be prohibited, or allowed to the
amount and in the manner that may be deemed advisable by
the local authorities, ia order to reconcile the encouragement
of the cultivation with the manufactures from cotton in those
Spanish islands.
" That in the ultra-marine provinpas, the local suthoriti^
fhall permit the importation, under the corresponding duties,
of common iron and the necessary implements for, agriculture,
as long as they cannot be provided from national manufac
tures.'*

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 11
others. The cWtui^e of tliis plant is besides
extremely easy, as it requires no other labour
than clear ihg the grounds from brash-wood, and
lightly tufning up the earth with a plottgh^
before the seeds are scattered, which being done«
the planter leaves the croji to its own chance^ and
in five months gathers abundant fruit, if, at the
time the bud opens, it is not burnt by the north
winds, or rPtted with unseasonable showers.
The provinces of Ilocos and Batangas are the
only ones in which the cultivation of cottoh is
pursued with any deg^ree bf zeal and care, and
it greatly tends to enrich the inhabitants. This
successful example has not, however^ hitherto
excitted emulation in those of the other provinces;
and thus tbe only production of the Philippine
Islands, Pf which the excellence and superibi*
demand in trade are as well known as its culture
is easy, owing to a strange fatality and causes
which will be hereafter noticed, is left alipost in
a neglected state, or, at most, confined to th6
narrow limits of local consumption*.

* Cotton may be also considei'ed as one of the most valuable
productions of South America, which country possesses ad
vantages in the growth of this article over the East Indies',
Immense ranges are thete found, with sufficient moisture id
:give luxuriance to the plant, without rain ever falling; for
unseasonable showers not only rot and destroy the buds, biit.

12 state of the
Indigo. — Pangasinan, La Pampanga, Ba-
taan. La Laguna, Tayabas, and Camarines,
produce indigo of various classes, and although
its preparation, or the extraction of the dye, is
in most of the above provinces still performed
in an equally imperfect manner, several small
improvements have recently been made, which
have bettered the quality, more' particularly in
La Laguna, the only district in which attempts
have been made to imitate the process used in
Guatimala, as well with regard to the construc
tion and number of vats necessary, as the preci
pitation of the colouring particles, detached
from the plant by the agitation of the water.
In the other places, the whole of the operations
are performed in a single vat, and the indigo
obtained is not unfrequently impregnated with
lime and other extraneous substances*.

by lodging in them, give the cotton a black colour. These
countries also are divested of sweeping tempests, and, moistened
by the' interior and exterior waters which descend from the
Cordilleras, as well as ample dews, they are marked with great
fertility. Such are many of the low lands of Peru, where
double crops are obtained. The manufactures there chiefly
clothe the inhabitants. The city of Cochabamba alone con
sumes upwards of a million pounds annually. — Tr.
* The first indigo sent from the Philippines to Spaiii, as
cargo, arrived at Cadiz, in the Asuropeion frigate, in the year
1784.^T».

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 13
Whatever may have been the causes of this
evident backwardness, from the period of the
establishment of the, Philippine Company in
these islands, and in consequence of the exertions
of some of the, Directors to promote the cultiva
tion of indigo, at that time very little known,
the natives have slowly, though gradually, been
reconciled to it ; and discovering it to be one of the
most advantageous branches of industry, although
accompanied with some labour and exposed
to the influence of droughts and excessive heats,
as well as to the risks attendant on the extraor
dinary anticipation of the rainy seasons, have of
late years paid more attention to it. The quintal
of indigo, of the first class, costs the planter from
85 to 40 dollars, at most ; and in the market of
Manilla it has been sold from 60 to 130, according
to the quality and the greater or lesser demand
of the article at the season. As, however, every
thing in this colony moves within a small circle,
it is not possible to obtain large quantities for
exportation ; not only becapse of the risk in
advancing the Indian sums of money on account
of his crop, but also owing to the annual surplus
seldom exceeding from 2 to 2500 quintals,
distributed in many hands, and collected by
numerous agents, equally interested in making
up their return-cargpes.

14 STATE OF THE
St?eAR.— The cultivation of the sugar-cane
is more or less extended to all the provinces of
these -inlands, owing to its consumption am«ng
the natives being both great and general j but
those of 'La Pampanga and Pangasinan are more
particularly devoted to it. These two provinjces
alone annually jwoduce about 550,000 airobas
(13^7^000 lbs.), of which one-third is nsually
n^Kporttsd ;in Chinese and other foreign vessels.
In extraordinary seasons, the amount exported
greatly exceeds the quantity above stated, as,
for example, ^happened in the monsoon of 179©,
when the -planters came down to the port of
"MattiWa, andby contrad; exported npwards of
nine inMions iw«ight> of the first and second
qualities. The price of this article has expe
rienced many variations of late years;' bnt ^he
medium may be estimated at six dollars for
1S5 'lbs. tff the first quality, and five for the
seeoHd. The Hsaperior quality of the sugar of the
l*hiMpipin€s is acknowledged, when compared to
'^t produced in the Mand Pf Java,, China, or
'#ea^l ; notwftbstanding in the latt^ countries
it may natnmlly be concluded - that greater
^im and <!are are bestowed on its manufacture.
TThe fi:essuTe of *the, cane in the Philippine
Islands is performed by means of *wo coarae

PHILtPPtNE ISLANDS, &C. 1$
Itone cylinders, placed on the ground, and
ftioVed in opposite directions tby the slow and
unequal pace,'*if a Caruhao, a species of oxen
or btiffalo, 'peculiar to this and other Asiatic
eopntries. The juice is conveyed to an iron
ciMron, and in 'this the other operations '6f
bdil^Mg-,- likimmin^ and cleansing, take place, till
the crystallization or adhering of the sugar iik
cpm^ted. AU these distinct parts of th«
process, in Other Colonies, are performed in four
separate tfessMs, confided to different hands, and
coaBeqnently experience a much greater degre*
*f care and deiterity . After Ireing propeHy
clayed, the sugars acquire such a state of Oonsils*
tKftty that, 'When shipped in canvas hA^s, they
become almost petrified in ihe course of the
vyayage, ?»pithokt moistening or purging, as I
tinderistattd is the case ^ith those of Bengal.
SifcK.— Among the nsefnl objects to ^hit^
tJie Patriotic Society* of Manilla directed their
attention, fVom the very moment of their, for*
* On 6th May, 1781, a patriotic strcrety was opened "ftl
Manilla, for the purpose of encouraging agriculture, useful
arts, &c. Before me is the speech of the Governor and Capt.-
Gten. Don Jose BaSco, pronounced on that occasion ; in which
hb eiiplalnk to the toetnbe^s the "object 'of their formation into *
iobiety, ^tietfflfSigeti them lo pu'fsue it, ahd glowingly describes
tb'thern'thfeiRihJensescopie for" their zeal aiid enterprise they
have in the Philippine Islands. — Tft.

16 STATE OF THE
mation, the planting of mulberry trees seems Iq
have met with peculiar encouragement. The
society rightly judged that the naturalization of
so valuable a commodity as silk in these islands,
would materially increase the resources of the
colony, and there was reason to hope that, be
sides local consumption, the growth might in
time be so much extended as to supply the wants
of New Spain, which are not less than 80,000 lbs.,
amounting to from 350 to 400,000 dollars, con
veyed there in the galleon annually sent to the
pprt of Acapulco, by the Manilla merchants,
which article they are now compelled to contract
for in China *.
The Society gave the first impulse to this
laudable project, and the then governor of the
islands, Don Jose Basco, anxious to realize it,
with this view sent Colonel CJiarles Conely on a
special commission to the province of Camarines.
This zealous officer and district magistrate, in
the years 1786-7 and 8, caused 4,485,782 mul
berry trees to be planted in the thirty districts
under his jurisdiction ; and incalculable are the

* The silk worms were first sent to Manilla in 1780 from
China, at the request of the Society, by Father Galiano, of
the order of St. Augustin. In a memoir on this subject, ad
dressed to the Council of the Indies, I find it stated that nine
crops are obtained every year.— Tr.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 17
happy 'results which would have attended a plan
so extensive, and commenced with so much
vigour, if it could have been continued with the
same zeal by his successor, and not at once de
stroyed, through a mistaken notion of humanity,
with which, soon after the departure of Governor
Basco, they proceeded to exonerate the Indians
from all agricultural labour that was not free
and spontaneous, in conformity, as was then
alleged, to the general spirit of our Indian le
gislation. As it was natural to expect, the total
abandonment of this valuable branch followed a
measure so fatal, and notwithstanding the efforts
subsequently made by the Royal Company, in
order to obtain its restoration, as well in Cama
rines as the province of Tondo, all their exertions
were in vain, though it must be allowed that at
the time several untoward circumstances contri
buted to thwart their anxious wishes. Notwith
standing this failure, the project, far from being
deemed impracticable, would beyond all doubt
succeed, and, under powerful patronage, com
pletely answer the well-founded hopes of its origi
nal conceivers and promoters. The natives them
selves would soon be convinced of the advantages
to be derived from the possession of an article,
in so many ways applicable to their own fine
textures, and besides the variety of districts in
the islands, proved to be suitable to the culti-

18 STATE OP THE
vation of this interesting tree, it is a known
fact that many of the old mulberry groves are
still in existence*.

* On the pecae or mimosa inga of the Flora Peruana, a
caterpillar has been found, called by the Indians of Peru,
sustillo, resembling the bombyx, or silk-worm. A paper,
similar to that made by the Chinese, is manufactured by this
insect. Father Calancha mentions a letter in his possession,
written on this kind of paper, cut from a piece of more than
a yard in length. The manner in which it is made is as fol
lows : the number of the insects is in proportion to the size
and growth of the tree which nourishes them, and when com
pletely satiated with food, they assemble on that part of the
body of the' tree, best adapted for the expansion they have to.
take, and generally on the widest and most level surface. With
the greatest symmetry and regularity, they there form a web,
larger or smaller, according to the number of operators ; and
more or less pliant, according to the quality of the leaf on
which they have fed. This covering, or envelope, extends
over the whole collection of insects, and when completed, has
received from them such an equal surface, consistency, and
lustre, that it bears the pressure of the pen, and appears as if
passed through a roller. It acts as a preservative against the
weather, and when finished to the size required by the little
army, they range themselves under it, in vertical and close
files, forming in the centre a perfect square. Each insect then
makes its respective nest, of a coarse short silk, in the enclosure
of which it is formed into the chrysalis, and from that state
into the butterfly. As they afterwards escape from under the
web, the edges are detached from the tree, and left floating in
the air, by which it is bleached in proportion to its exposure to
the damp. The Spanish naturalist, Pineda, sent several spe-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 19
Bees-Wax. — The Bisayas, Cagayan, and many
other provinces, produce wax in considerable
abundance, which the Indians collect from the
natural hives formed in the cavities of the trees,
and it is also brought down by the infidel na
tives from the mountains to the neisrhbourinsr
towns. The quality certainly is not the best,
and notwithstanding attempts have been made to
cleans,e it from the extraneous particles with
which it is mixed, it always leaves a considerable
sediment on the lower part of the cakes, and
never acquires an entire whiteness. Its con
sumption is great, especially in the capital, and
after supplying the wants of the country, an
annual surplus of from 600 to 800 quintals is
appropriated for exportation.
This certainly might be converted" into an
article of extreme importance, especially for the
kingdom of Peru, which in peaceable times re
ceives its supplies frpm Spain, and even from the
island of Cuba ; but for this purpose it would be
necessary to adopt the plan recommended by the
enlightened zeal of the Patriotic Society, and
previously encourage the establishment of arti-

cimens and entire nests, to the Museum in Madrid, and in
Lima they are frequently met with. The seda silvestre, as it
is called, is found in quantities on the banks of the river Pa^
rana. — Tb.
C 2

20 STATE OF THE
ficial hives, and the plantation of aromatic and
flowering shrubs, which so easily attract and secure
the permanency of the roving swarms, always
ready to undertake fresh labours. This, as well
as many other points, has hitherto been entirely
overlooked. Black Pepper. — This production is culti
vated in the provinces of Tayabas, Batangas, and
La Laguna, but in such small quantities, that
notwithstanding the powerful allurements of all
kinds constantly held out by the Royal Company,
during the long period of twenty years, their
agents have never been able to collect in more
than about 64,000 lbs. annually. After every
encouragement, the most that has been attained
with the natives, is confined to their planting in
some districts 50 or 100 pepper- vines round their
huts, which they cultivate in the same way as
they would plots of flowers, but without any
other labour than supporting the plant with a
proportioned stake, clearing the ground from
weeds, and attending to daily irrigation.
This article therefore scarcely deserves a place
amongst the flourishing branches of agriculture,
at least till it has been raised from its present
depressed state, and the grounds laid out in
regular and productive pepper-groves. Till this
is done, to a corresponding extent, it must also
be excluded from the number of productions

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 21
furnished by these islands to commerce and ex
portation ; more particularly if we consider that,
notwithstanding the great fragrance and pun
gency of the grain, as well as its general supe
riority over the rest of Asia, so great a difference
exists in the actual price, that this can never be
compensated by its greater request in the markets
of Europe, and much less enable it to compete
< with that of the British and Dutch, till its
abundance has considerably lowered its primitive
value. Finally, although an infinity of grounds are
to be found adapted to the rapid propagation of
pepper-vines, as may easily be inferred from
the analogy and proximity of the Philippine
Islands to the others of this same archipelago, so
well known for their growth of spices, it must
be confessed that it is a species of culture by no
means popular among the Philippine natives,
and it would be almost requiring too much from
their inconstancy of character, to wish them to
dedicate their lands and time to the raising of a
production which, besides demanding consider
able care, is greatly exposed to injury, and even
liable to be destroyed by the severity of the
storms, which frequently mark the seasons. With
difficulty would they be induced to wait five
years before they were able to gather the un
certain fruits of their labour and patience. If

22 STATE OF THB
therefore it should ever be deemed a measure of'
policy to encourage the growth of black pepper,
it will be necessary for tbe government to order
the commons belonging to each town, and
adapted to this species of plantation, to be ap
propriated to this use, by imposing on the inha
bitants the obligation Pf taking care of them,
and drawing from the respective coffers of each
jCommunity the necessary funds for the payment
of the labourers, and the other expences of culti
vation. If this cannot be done, it will be ne
cessary to wait till the general condition of the
country is improved, when through the spi tit of
emulation, and the enterprises of the planters
being duly patronised and supported, present
difficulties may be overcome, and the progressive
results of future attempts will be then found to
combine the interests of individuals, with the
general welfare of the colony.
Coffee, Coco, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg.
— So choice is the quality of the coffee produced
in the island of Luzon, especially in the districts
of Indan and Silan, in the province of Cavite,
that if it is not equal to that of Mocha, I at least
consider it on a parallel with the coffee of Bour
bon ; but, as the consumption and cultivation
are extremely limited, it cannot with any pro
priety be yet numbered among the articles con
tributing to the export-trade.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 23
Coco is something more attended to, in con
sequence of the use of chocolate being greatly
extended among the natives of easy circum
stances. That ofthe island of Zebu, is esteemed
superior to the coco of Guayaquil, and possibly
it is only .excelled by that of Soconusco. As,
however, the quantity raised does not suffice for
the local consumption, Guayaquil cocoa meets a
ready sale, and is generally brought in return-
cargo by the ships coming from Acapulco, and
those belonging to the Philippine company
dispatched from Callao, the shipping-port of
Lima*.

* The use of chocolate was known to the Mexicans pre
vious to the conquest, and indeed, the term is derived from
their language. From New Spain this plant was introduced
in the Philippines, and, also the Canaries ; it is, however, found
in its wild state in Guayaquil, as well as on the banks of the
Orinoco. Its principal consumption is in Spain, where, it is
calculated, upwards of ten millions weight are annually re
quired. In Mexico, the plantation of coco has been much
neglected, and the supplies for that kingdom, equal to about
one third of what is consumed in Spain, are now mostly de
rived from Guatimala and Guayaquil. Caracas and Mara-
caibo chiefly supply Spain, and since the island of Trinidad
has belonged to the British, the growth of this article has been
greatly encouraged there. ' That of the provinces of Venezuela
is the best, and before the revolution, they were estimated to
export, annually, upwards of 150,000 fanegas, valued at
forty dollars each in Europe. Chocolate is deemed an ex-

,-i

24 STATE OF THE
The cultivation of these two articles in the
Philippines is on the same footing as that of
pepper, which, as above stated, is rather an ob
ject of luxury and recreation than one of specu
lation among tbe Indians. The observations
and rules pointed out in the preceding article,
are, in a general sense, applicable to both these
branches of industry.
, Cinnamon groves, or trees of wild cinnamon,
are to be found in every province. In Minda
nao, a Dutchman, some years ago, was employed
by orders of government, in examining the fo
rests and making experiments, with a view to
discover the same tree of this species that has
given so much renown to Ceylon ; but, whether
it was owing to a failure in the discovery, or,
when the plant was found, as at the time was
said to be the case, the same results were not
produced, from the want of skill in preparing, or
stripping off the bark ; certain it is, that the
laudable attempt totally failed, or rather the
only advantage gained, has been the extracting

tremely nourishing aliment ; but the Spaniards always mix with
it cinnamon, vanilla, &c. The ancient Mexicans obtained
their coco from Soconusco,, on the side of Guatimala, and
pultivated at the eiistern extremity of their empire. The
grains were used in the Way of money, as the inhabitants ofthe
Maldives do shells.— Tr.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 25
from the bark and more tender parts of the
branches ofthe tree, an oil or essence of cinna
mon, vigorous and aromatic in the extreme*.
About the same time, a land proprietor, of the
name of Sal^ado, undertook to form an extensive
plantation of the same species in the province of
La Laguna, and succeeded in seeing upwards of
a million cinnamon trees thrive and grow to a
considerable size ; but at last, he was reluctantly
compelled to desist from his enterprise, by the
same reasons which led to the failure in Min-^
danao.
' These facts are of sufficient authority for our
placing the cinnamon tree among the indigenous
productions of the Philippine Islands, and con-
. sidering their general excellence above those of
the same nature in the rest of Asia, it may rea
sonably be concluded that, without the tree be
ing identically the same, the cinnamon with

* The good, or Ceylon cinnamon, is the bark of the laurus
cinnamomum, and the base kind is obtained fronj the ZawrMS
cassia. This plant is found in its native state in the missions
of Manoa, in the interior of Peru, and when carefully culti
vated, is said to yield a bark equal to that of Ceylon. Plan
tations are now formed of it, in which great pains are taken to
keep the tree uncovered and well exposed to the sun, and
no other plants are allowed to grow within twelve or four
teen yards of the roots. — Ta.

26 STATE OF THE
which it is clothed will be found finer than that
yielded by the native plant of the island of
Ceylon, and this circumstance, consequently,
holds out a hope that, in the course of time, it
may become an article of traffic, as estimable as
it would be new. In order, however, that this
flattering prospect may be realized, it will be
requisite for the government to procure some
families, or persons from the above island, ac
quainted with the process of stripping off the
bark and preparing the cinnamon, by dexterously
offering allurements, corresponding to the im
portance of the service, which, although in itself
it may probably be an extremely simple jipera-
tion, as long as it is unknown, will be an insu
perable obstacle to the propagation of so im
portant an agricultural pursuit.
Two species of the nutmeg are known here,
thP one in shape resembling a pigeon's-egg, and
the other of a perfectly spherical form ; but both
are wild and little aromatic, and consequently
lield in no very great esteem.
Rice. — Rice is the bread and principal ali
ment of these natives, for which reason, although
its cultivation is among the most disagreeable de
partments of husbandry, they devote themselves
to it with astonishing constancy and alacrity, so
as to form a complete contrast with their charac
teristic indifference in most other respects. This

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C, 27
must, however, be taken as a certain indication
of the possibility of training them up to useful
laboui , whenever they can be led on in a proper
manner. The earth corresponds, with surprising fer
tility, to the labours of the Indian, rewarding
him, in the good seasons, with ninety, and even
as high as one hundred per cent. ; a fact I
have fully ascertained, and of which I besides
possess undoubted proofe, obtained from the
parish-curates, of La Pampanga. As, however,
the provinces are frequently visited with dread
ful hurricanes (called in the country, baguios),
desolated by locusts, and exposed to the effects of
the great irregularities of nature, which, in these
climes, often acts in extremes, the crops of this
grain are precarious, or at least, no reliance can
be placed on a certain surplus, allowing an an
nual exportation to China, On this account,
rice cannot be placed in the list of those articles
which give support to external trade *.

* These islands also produce annatto, saffron, ginger, cam
phor, yerea, pitch, &c. Oils are extracted from tbe coco-nut, anni-
•seed, &c,; also from the tangantangan, used in medicine, and
the bark of the calingad, in taste resembling cinnamon. The
salangan nests, obtained from a bird like the swallow, and 86
much esteemed in India and China, are also found there; be
sides a Variety of gums, resins, medicinal drugs, &c. Vinegar,
¦of a good quality, is made in the province of Ilocos, from se-
reral articles. — Tr.

28 STATE OF THE
Dye Woods and Timber. — The sibucao,
or logwood, and ebony, in both which these
islands aboupd, are the only woods in any toler
able request *. The first is sold with advantage
in Bengal, and the other meets a ready sale in
the ports of China, in the absence of that brought
from the island of Bourbon, which is of a qua
lity infinitely superior. Both are, however,
articles of no great consumption, for, being bulky
and possessing little intrinsic value, they will
not bear the high charges of freight and other
expences, attendant on the navigation of the
Asiatic seas, and can only suit the shipper, as,
cargo, who is anxious not to return to the above
countries in ballast. Hence, as an object of ex
port trade, these articles cannot be estimated at
more than 30,000 dollars per annum.
I deem it superfluous to dwell on a multitude
of other good and even precious woods and tim
ber, with which the Philippine islands are
gifted, because this is a subject already suf-
* The dbucao is the logwood of an excellent quality. They
have also the braziletto, another dye-wood ; the eagle-wood,
narra, a species of red ebony striped; the Tindal-mood, all
red; the sandel-wood; the Pangasinang fir; the molave, an
incorruptible wood ; the guijo, excellent for shipbuilding, as
well as the banava, calantes, or Philippine cedar ; the sagovan,
red and white; Mary wood, for small masts, spars, &c.; the
manga-chapuy, betis, dasag, dungol, calumpan, and many
others. — Tr.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 29
ficiently well understood, and a complete col
lection of specimens, as well as some large blocks,
were besides transmitted some years ago to the
king's dock-yard. It may, however, be proper
to remark, that the establishments near the
capital for cutting timber for .ship-building and
masts, are much more expensive than is ge
nerally supposed, as well on account of the dif
ficulties experienced in dragging the trees from
the interior ofthe mountains to the water's edge,
as the want of regularity and foresight with
which these operations have been usually con
ducted. Beside these reasons, as it is necessary
that the other materials requisite for the con
struction and complete armament of vessels of
a certain force, should come from Europe, it
is neither easy, nor indeed, would it be econo
mical , as was erroneously asserted, to carry into
effect the government project of annually build
ing, in the colony, a ship of the line and a
frigate. It ought further to be observed, that no
stock of timber, cut at a proper season and well
cured, has been laid in, and although the wages
of the Indian carpenters and caulkers are mo
derate, no comparison whatever can be made be
tween the daily work they perform, and that
which is done in the same space of time in our
dock -yards of Spain.
Notwithstanding, however, the impediments

30 STATE OP THB
above stated, as it is undeniable that abundance
of suitable timber is to be obtained, and as the
conveyance of the remainder of the necessary
naval stores to the Philippine islands, is shorter
and more economical than to the coast of Cali
fornia, it possibly might answer, at least, many
mariners are of this opinion, in case it is deemed
expedient to continue building at San Bias the
brigs and corvettes necessary for the protection
ofthe military posts and missions, situated along
the above coasts, . to order them preferably to be
built in Cavite, giving timely advice, and pre
viously taking care to make the necessary ar
rangements.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 31

CHAP. II.
Of Minerals. — Estates. — Manufactures.
Minerals. — Gold abounds in Luzon and in
many of the other islands ; but as the mountains
which conceal it are in possession of the infidel
Indians, the mines are not worked ; indeed it .
may be said they are scarcely known. These
savages collect it in the brooks and streamlets,
and in the form of dust, offer it to the Christians
who inhabit the neighbouring plains, in ex
change for coarse goods and fire-arms ; and it has
sometimes happened that they have brought it
down in grains of one and two ounces weight.
The natives of the province of Camarines partly
devote themselves to the working of the mines
of Mambulao and Paracale, which have the re
putation of being very rich ; but, far from avail
ing themselves in the smallest degree of the ad
vantages of art, they content themselves with
extracting the ore by means of an extremely im
perfect fusion, which is done by placing the
mineral in shells and then heating them on em
bers. A considerable waste consequently takes
place, and although the metal obtained is good
and high coloured, it generaUy passes into the

32 STATE OF THE
hands of the district-magistrate, who collects it at
a price infinitely lower than it is worth in trade.
It is a generally received opinion that gold
mines are equally to be met with in the province
of Caraga, situated on the coasts of the great
island of Mindanao, where, as well as on other
points,, this metal is met with equal to 22 carats.
The quantity, however, hitherto brought: down
from the mountains by the infidel tribes, and
that obtained by the tributary Indians, has not
been an object of very great importance.
Well-founded reasons exist for presuming that,
in the province of Ilocos, mines of virgin copper
exist, a singular production of nature, or at least,
not very common, if the generality of com
binations under which this metal presents itself
in the rest of the globe, are duly considered.
This is partly inferred from the circumstance of
its having been noticed that the Igorrot Indians,
who occasionally come down from the mountaips
to barter with the Christians, use certain coarse
jars or vessels of copper, evidently made by
themselves with the use of a hammer, without
any art or regularity ; and as the ignorance of
these demi-savages is too great for them to
possess the notions necessary for the separation of
the component parts which enter into the com
bination of minerals, and much less for the con
struction of furnaces suitable to the smelting

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 33
and formation of the moulds, it is concluded
they must have found some vein of copper en
tirely pure, which, without the necessity of any
other preparation, they have been able to flatten
with the hammer and rendered malleable, so as
to convert it into the rough vessels above spoken
of*. The district-magistrate of Caraga, D. Augustin
de Yoldi, received a special commission from the
government to explore and obtain information
respecting a mine of cinnabar, which was said to
be situated under his jurisdiction ; and I have
been informed of another of the same species in
the island of Samar, the working of which has
ceased for a considerable time, not because the
prospect was unfavourable, but for the want of
an intelligent person to superintend and carry
on the operations. The utility of such a dis
covery is too obvious not to deserve, on the part
of government, the most serious attention and

• As a proof of the great changes which must take place by
the introduction of machinery in the distant possessions of
Spain, it may be remarked, that in Lima, copper in pigs, sells
for eight dollars, and in sheets, frequently from forty to sixty,
and, during the last war, at ninety dollars per quintal. This
fact suggested to an enlightened Spaniard, of the name of
Lareta, the idea of establishing works for flattening. ; but his
experiment failed, for the want of rollers and other suitable
machinery. — Tb. D

34 STATE OP THE
every encouragement to render it available ; and
it is to be hoped that, as the first steps have al
ready been taken in this important disclosure,
the enterprise will not be abandoned, but, on the
contrary, that exertions will be made to obtain
aid and advice from the Miners' College of
Mexico, as the best means of removing doubt,
and acting with judgment in the affair *.

* Native cinnabar, in which quicksilver is mineralized by
sulphur, is of different shades, from yellowish to deep red.
100 parts of cinnabar contain 20 of sulphur and 80 of quick
silver, and the latter is obtained by sublimation. It was not
till the leih century that the method of refining silver by amal
gamation, or the incorporation of mercury with the pulverized
metallic ore, was understood. It was introduced into South
America in 1571, by Pedro Fernandez de Velasco, and has
since been universally used, with supplies chiefly derived
from Europe. A rich quicksilver mine had been discovered
in Huancavelica, an intendancy of Peru, of which the capital
stands seventy-two leagues from Lima, on the Cusco road. In
1 570, this mine was purchased on account of government, and
the supplies of the article constituted into a monopoly on the
part of the crown. In the course of 219 years, from the
above date to Dec. 31, 1789, 1.040,452 quintals, or upwards
of 104 millions pounds of quicksilver had been obtained from
this mine, or about 4750 quintals per annum ; of which the an
nual charges were equal to 48,346 dollars. The price of this
article, deemed essential for the working of the mines in Peru,
has varied greatly. In 1786, it was at 60 dollars per quintal,
and in 1791, at 73. The Huancavelica mineral is found in a

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 35
Iron mineral is ramificated, if the expression
may be allowed, through various points of the
island of Luzon^ and those who apply themselves
to the working of it, without the necessity of
digging apertures to obtain it, content them
selves with collecting the ferruginous stones
which constitute the upper stratum, and these,
vdien placed in fusion, generally yield aboPt
40 per cent, clear metal. This is the case in the
mountains of Angat, situated in the province of
Bulacan, and also in the vicinity of the Baligua
river. In Moron, however, belonging to the
province of La Laguna, where the manufactory
for cannon-balls is established, the ore does not
yield upwards of 22 per cent. Its quality is in
general Iretter than the best Biscayan iron, as is

whitish mass, and when bruised is put in a vaulted furnace.
Volatilized, it rises in smoke that rushes through holes made
in the roof, and falling into vessels prepared for the purpose,
the quicksilver precipitates in a pure, heavy and liquid mass,
that is condensed by water placed in the bottom of the vases.
For many years the Spanish government has not allowed this
mine to be worked, which has made Peru entirely dependent
on Europe for quicksilver ; but the new process, introduced in
the silver mines of Pasco, will supersede its use. flumboldt
states that Mexico alone consumes 16,000 quintals annually,
chiefly supplied from Austria, by a contract with the emperor,
till 1802, since when the Almaden mine in Spain has been
worked on a larger scale. A fruitless attempt was once made to
obtain supplies from China for Mexico. — Tk.
D 2

36 STATE OF THE
proved by formal experiments, and a report
made in 1798, in conformity to the orders of
Governor D. Rafael Maria de Aguilar, by two
master smiths from Biscay, embarked on board
the squadron of Admiral Alava, in presence ofthe
Count de Aviles and D. Felix de la Rosa, pro
prietors of the mines of Moron and Angat, and
the factor of the Philippine Company, D. Juan
Francisco Urroz. Notwithstanding these ad
vantageous circumstances, this interesting branch
of industry has not yet passed beyond the
inost rude principles and imperfect practice,
owing to the want of correct information as
to the best mode of process, as well as of funds
on the. part of the proprietors, in order to en
able them to carry on their works. Without the
aid of rolling or slitting mills, indeed, unprovided
with the most essential instruments, they have
hitherto confined themselves to the converting
their iron into plough-shares, machettes, hoes,
and such other agricultural implements; leaving
the Chinese of Emouy in quiet possession of the
advantages of being allowed to bring to market
annual supplies of all kinds of nails, the boilers
used on the sugar plantations, pots and pans, as
well as other articles in this line, which might
easily be manufactured in the islands *.

* Besides the above, the tutenague and an extremely fine
species of loadstone are met with, and within the last fifty

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 37
In the island of Leyte, abundance of sulphur
is met with, and from thence the gunpowder
works of Manilla are supplied at very reasonable
prices. Jaspers, cornelians and agates, are also
found in profusion in many of these provinces ;
every thing, indeed, gives room for presuming
that an infinity of combinations exist, worthy^of
exciting the curiosity and useful researches of
mineralogists, who, unfortunately, have not
hitherto extended their labours to these remote
parts of the globe *.

years, quarries of a fine white marble have been opened.
Saltpetre is also found in the islands. — Tr.
* The Spanish government, notwithstanding the complaints
of foreigners, have not neglected useful and scientific researches
in their transmarine dominions, though, owing to distance, it
is to be regretted the labours of learned men have not been
extended to the Philippine Islands. Peru, though less known
in England than the other portions of South America, has
been fortunate in this respect. Cieza, Gomara and Zarate,
were the earliest historians who attempted to give a few no
tices ofthe esculent and medicinal plants of Peru. Garcilaso,
Pinelo, Calancha and Acosta, followed them, vrith more pre
cision and detail ; but it has only been within few years that
the forests aiid valleys were explored.
In 1736, the celebrated expedition was undertaken to mea
sure the terrestrial degrees beneath the equator, consisting of
Godin, Bouguer, and Condamine, on the part of France, and
the two Ulloas, on that of Spain. Jussieu was attached ta

STATE OP THE

Pearl fisheries are, from time to time, under
taken on some points of the coast of the island of

them, in quality of bdtanist, and De Morainville, as drafts
man. Jussieu, after devoting infinite pains to the botany of
Peru, returning to Europe, was plundered at Buenos Ayres of
his drawings and specimens by his servant, who supposed his
trunk contained articles of treasure. The year 1778 was,
however, the most important to the botany of Peru. Charles
III. ordained fresh researches, and D. Jose Pavon was
named on the part of Spain, and Mr. Dombey on that of
France, assisted by D. Hipolito Ruiz, who justly may be
styled the Linnsus ot Peru. Their commission being ended,
Messrs. Tafaya and Pulgar were left behind to continue their
botanical researches, and then it was that the Andes mountains
were first explored — the Andes," that rich treasury of the gifts
of nature. Ten years of unceasing application supplied the
materials for the grand work, called the Flwa Peruana. In
1790, another expedition was formed by Charles IV., under the
care of D. Alexander Malespina, to explore, by sea and land,
the kingdom of Peru. It is to this distinguished individual
that the world is indebted for surveys of the Peruvian coast
republished in England. Much is also due to Pineda in Peru,
and Mutis in Santa Fe de Bogota. But to the works of Hum
boldt and Bonpland, the, public are, perhaps, more indebted for
a knowledge of the South American continent than any of
their scientific predecessors, and they acknowledge the great
aid and protection they received from the Spanish government.
Humboldt, it is now understood, has formed the project of
visiting the Indian Archipelago, in which case the Philippine
Islands will, no doubt, enter within the range of his valuable
researches. — Tb,

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 39
Mindanao, and some of the smaller ones, not- far
from that of Zebu, but with little success and
less constancy, not because there is a scarcity of
fine pearls, of a bright colour and considerable
size, but on account of the want of skill in the
divers, and their just dread of the sharks, which,
in great numbers, infest these seas. Amber is
frequently gathered in considerable lumps in the
vicinity of Samar and the other islands called
Bissayas, as well as mother of pearl, tortoise-
shell, and red and black coral, of the latter kind
of which, I have seen shafts as thick as my finger
and six or eight feet long.
Estates. — The proprietors of estates in the
Philippines, are of four classes. The most con
siderable is that of the religious orders of St.
Augustin and St. Dominic, who cultivate their
respective lands on joint account, or let them
out at a moderate ground-rent, which the
planters pay in kind; but far from living in
opulence, and accumulating the immense re
venues some of the religious communities enjoy
in America, they stand in need of all they earn
and possess for their maintenance, and in order
to be enabled to discharge the various duties and
oblig'ations annexed to the missions with which
they are intrusted *.

* The Doctrina or mission, is an extent of country placed

40 STATE OF THB
The second class comprehends the Spanish
proprietors, whose number possibly does not ex
ceed a dozen of persons, and even they labour
under such disadvantages, and have to contend
with so many obstacles, under the existing order
of things, that, compelled to divide their lands
into rice plantations, in consequence of this being
the species of culture to which the Indians are
most inclined, and to devote a considerable por
tion of them to the grazing of horned cattle, no
one of them is in a situ.ation to give to agriculture
the variety and extent desired, or to attain any
progress in a pursuit which in other colonies
rapidly leads to riches.
The third consists of the principal Mestizos
and Indians, and is in fact that which constitutes
the real body of farming proprietors. In the
fourth and last may be included all the other
natives, who generally possess a small strip of
land situated round their dwellings, or at the
extremities of the various towns and settlements

under the spiritual care of friars, who are almost exclusively
used for the instruction of the people of the interior, chiefly
consisting of Indians, and who act the same as a curate in a
parish. They might, for that reason, be called with equal pro
priety parochial districts, under the care of religious orders,
placed there by the heads of their respective convents, under
the authority oj government, and in many cases acting with %
degree ofcivil power, — Tk,"

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 41
formed by the conquerors; besides what they
may have obtained from their ancestors in the
way of legal inheritance, which rights have
been confirmed to them by the present sovereign
of the colony.
From the two latter classes it is that those
great obstacles arise of which mention has al
ready been made, and they are such as to dis
hearten Spanish individuals, and prevent them
from employing their capitals in the improve
ment of agriculture, under the following cir
cumstances. As the Philippine Indian, not
withstanding the peculiar apathy of his general
character, is extremely anxious to extend his
territorial property, and, on the other hand,
views with displeasure, and even with a certain
degree of apprehension, the establishment of
Spanish estates in his own neighbourhood, no
sooner does he find that attempts to clear and
prepare new lands are for this purpose making,
than he resolves to play off all the artifices his
malice can suggest, and to give rise to as many
impediments as he can, in order to thwart and
prevent the quiet possession, to which, in point of
right, the new planter thinks he is entitled. This
is a greater impediment than at first can be ima-
^gined, and although the titles the Indian alleges
in his favour are too frequently no other than
such as are founded on the traditions of the

42 STATE OP THB
elders living in his own district, and not on legal
instruments deposited in the archives of the re-
. spective towns, it is made a regular and con
certed scheme among these elders and their
partisans, to eject the Spanish proprietor, who,
becpming disgusted, enters into a composition
and arrangement, afterwards burdensome to him,
with a view to rid himself of further trouble
and molestation, or, abandons his projects alto
gether, not to be involved in troublesome law
suits, and in which the legal defenders of the
Indians, a duty that devolves on the fiscals of
the civil and criminal courts, act with a great
degree of partiality.
The greatest subject of regret, however, is,
that in cases when the Indians definitively suc
ceed in obtaining verdicts in their favour re
garding disputed lands, it follows that the
Spaniard, who was disposed to dedicate himself
strenuously to cultivate the property, is deprived
of it ; but the successful litigants neither clear
the lands, nor attempt to comply With any ofthe
conditions imposed by tlie 61st article of the
Regulations ofthe Intendants, relating to private
property. According to the enactments therein
contained, this circumstance of itself would be
a sufficient plea to warrant the ejectment of the
new master, and again place the property in the
class of crown lands, by which means it might

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 43
be distributed among more laborious persons.
Nevertheless, this latter case never occurs, nor
would the sagacity of the Indian leave him un
prepared with fresh subterfuges and means of elud^
ing the effect of the regulation, if there was a
disposition to enforce it ; relying chiefly on that
partiality in his favour generally prevailing in
the superior courts, no doubt consonant with the
spirit of our legislation, which mistaking the
want of information for .simplicity and inno
cence, has sought to excuse the faults the Indians
frequently commit, by classing them among the
follies or aberrations attendant on the infancy
and old age of man, born in more civilized
societies. From whatever motives this back
wardness may arise, it is indispensably necessary
to overcome obstacles of such great moment, if
the views to extend the cultivation and perfection
of the various branches of industry in these
islands are to be carried into effect. It will,
beyond doubt, in some measure dissipate the
distrust by which the Indian is actuated, when
the new and paternal exertions of the superior
government, "to ameliorate his present situation,
are fully known, and when that valuable portion
of our distant population is assured that their
rights will henceforward be respected, and those
exactions and compulsory levies which formerly
so much disheartened them, are totally abo-

44 STATE OF THE
lished. On the other hand, a new stimulus will
be given by the living example and fresh impulse
communicated to the provinces by other fami
lies emigrating and settling there, nurtured
in the spirit and principles of those reforms in
the ideas and maxims of government, by which
the present era is distinguished. A practical
participation in these advantages will, most as
suredly, awaken a spirit of enterprise and emu
lation that may be extremely beneficial to agri
culture, and as the wants of the natives increase
in proportion as they are enabled to know and
compare the comforts arising out of the presence
and extension of conveniences and luxuries in
their own towns, they will naturally be led to
possess and adopt them.
So salutary a change however can only be the
work of time, and as long as the government
confines itself to a system merely protecting, the
effects must consequently be slow. As it is
therefore necessary to put in action more power
ful springs than the ordinary ones, it will be
found expedient partly to relax from some of
those general principles which apply to societies,
differently constituted, or rather formed of other
perfectly distinct elements. As relating to the
subject under discussion, I fortunately discover
two means, pointed out in the laws themselves,
essentially just, and at the same time capable of

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 45
producing in this populous colony, more than in
any other, the desired results. The legislator,
founding himself on the common obligation of
the subject to contribute something in return
for the protection he receives, and to cooperate
in the increase of the power and opulence of the
state, proscribes idleness as a crime, and points
out labour as a duty ; and although the regula
tions touching the Indians breathe the spirit of
humanity, and exhibit the wisdom with which
they were originally formed, they nevertheless
concur and are directed to this primary object.
In them the distribution of vacant lands, as well
as of the Indians at fair daily wages to clear
them, is universally allowed, and these are the
means above pointed out, from an equitable and
intelligent application of which the most bene
ficial consequences may be expected.
The first cannot be attended with any great
diflSculty, because all the provinces abound in
waste and vacant lands, and scarcely is there a
district in which some are not to be found of
private property completely uncultivated and
neglected, and consequently susceptible, as above
stated, of being legally transferred, for this rea
son alone, to the possession of an active owner.
Let their nature however be what it may, in
their adjudication, it is of the greatest import-

46 STATE OP THE
ance to psioceed with uniformity, by consecrating,
in a most irrevocable manner, the solemnity of
all similar grants. Public interest and reason,
in' the Philippine Islands, require that in all
such cases deference only should be paid to de
mands justly interposed^ and formally established
within a due and prefixed period ; but after full
and public notice has been given by the re
spective judicial authorities, of the titles about
to be granted, the counter claims the natives
may seek to put in after the elapse of the period
prefixed, should be peremptorily disregarded.
Although at first' sig>ht this appears a direct in
fringement on the imprescriptibfe rights- of
property, it must be considered that in some
cases individual interests ought to be sacrificed
to general good, and that the balance used, when
treating of the affairs of state, is never of that
rigid kind as if applied to those of minor con
sideration. The fact is, that by this means many
would be induced to form estates^ who have
hitherto been withheld by the dread of involving
themselves, and spending their money in law
suits; at the same time the natives, gradually
accustoming themselves to this new order of
things, would lay aside that disposition to strife
and contention; which forms so peculiar a trait
in their character, and that antipathy and odium

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 47
would also disappear, with which they have
usually viewed the agricultural undertakings of
Spaniards. Proceeding on to the consideration of the
second means of accelerating the improvement
of, agriculture, viz. the distribution of the In
dians, it will suffice to say that it would be
equally easy to shew that it is absolutely neces
sary rigorously to carry into effect, in the Phi
lippine Islands, whatever the laws on this subject
prescribe, otherwise we must give up all those
substantial hopes entertained of the felicity of
the colony. We are no longer in a situation to
be restricted to the removal of ordinary obsta
cles, and the season is gone by in which, as
heretofore, it entered into our policy to employ
no other than indirect stimulants, in order to
incline the Indian to labour. It is evident that
admonitions and offers of reward no longer
suffice ; nor indeed have the advantageous terms
proposed to them by some planters, with a view
to withdraw the lower orders of the natives,
such as the timauas and caglianes, or plebeians,
from the idle indifference in which they are
sunk, been of any avail. Their wants and wishes
being easily supplied, the whole of their happi
ness seems to depend on quiet and repose, and
their highest enjoyment on the pleasure of sleep.
Energy, however, and a certain degree of severity
3

48 STATE OF THE
must be employed, if permanent resources are
to be called forth, and if the progressive settle
ment of European families and the formation of
estates, proportioned to the fertility of the soil
and capabilities of the country, are to enter into
the views of government. In vain would grants
and transfers of vacant and useless lands be made
to new and enterprising proprietors, unless at
the same time they can be provided with la
bourers, and experience every other possible
facility, in order to clear, enclose, and cultivate
them. Hence follows the indispensable necessity
of appealing to the system of distributions, as
above pointed out; for what other class of la
bourers can be obtained in a country where the
whites are so few, unless it is the natives ? Should
they object to personal service, should they re
fuse to labour for an equitable and daily allow
ance, by which means they would also cease to
be burdens to the state and to society, why are
they not to be compelled to contribute by this
means to the prosperity of that community of
which they are members; in a word, to the
public good, and thus make some provision for
old age ? If the soldier, conveyed away from his
native land, submits to dangers, and is un
ceasingly exposed to death in defence of the
state, why should not the Indian moderately use
his strength and activity in tilling the fields

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 49
which are to sustain him and enrich the common
wealth ?
Besides, things in the Philippine Islands wear
a very different aspect to what they do on the
American continent, where, as authorized by the
said laws, a certain number of Indians may be
impressed for a sea.son, and sent off inland to a
considerable distance from their dwellings, either
for the purposes of agriculture, or working of the
mines, provided only they are taken care of
during their journeys, maintained, and the price
of their daily labour, as fixed by the civil au
thorities, regularly paid to them *. The im
mense valleys and mountains susceptible of

* Allusion is here made to the mita, or compulsory labour
of the Indians in the mines. It was once general in the
mining countries of Spanish America, but, in Mexico, has
been discontinued for upwards of fifty years. It continued in
Peru, but by a decree of the Cortes, when assembled in Cadiz,
was altogether abolished, and now the constitution is restored
in Spain, this decree no doubt will be 'acled upon. The
history of this species of requisition is as follows : Viceroy
Toledo was the first who caused a regular enumeration of the
Indians to be made, from eighteen to fifty, the ages at which
they begin and cease to pay tribute and work in the mines.
He divided them into 614 allotments or repartimientos, in
order to place them under the care of persons fixed upon,
generally Europeans of wealth and respectability. He as
signed the seventh part of the Indians registered to the
E

50 STATE OF THE
cultivation, especially in the island of Luzon,
being once settled, and the facilities of obtaining

working of the mines, under, strict and formal regulations,
which, unfortunately, were not always followed. According
to these regulations, the choice of the mitayo, or Itidian fixed
upon, was to take place in his own town, in presence of his
governor or cacique, and in such manner that the lot could
only fall upon him once in seven years. In Poto'si, he was
only compelled to work four months, each labourer having two
others to relieve him, who served the same space of time, al
ternating, one week of work, and two of rest ; so that in the
thirty-two years which intervene between eighteen and fifty,
the Indian was liable to serve eighteen months in the mines.
From their native provinces they were conducted by their own •
captains; the married accompanied by their wives, and an
exact list made of all the effects carried with them. No al
teration could be made in their respective destinations or de
partments of labour, so that the one on whom the lot had
fallen to work in the mines, could not exchange with him who
was to attend to the mills. They received 20 rials, about
lis. 3d. per week, and their provisions supplied at a fixed
rate. Por travelling expences, they were allowed half a rial
per league.
The inhabitants of the district of Porco, situated behind the
Andacaba Cordillera, in Upper Peru and near Potosi, in a
bleak and desert part of the country, contributed to the rOyal
mita employed in working the latter mines, and for this tanda
or distribution of labour, they were called upon in turns, when
they cast lots for every seventh man. They felt a dread in
being employed in this kind of work, owing to the asthmatic
Complaints so many of their countrymen have contracted under

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 51
hands increased, such legal acts of compulsion,
far from being any longer necessary, will have
introduced a spirit of industry that will render
the labours of the field supportable and even
desirable ; and in this occupation all the tributarjr
natives of the surrounding- settlements can be
alternately employed, by the day or week, and
thus do their work almost at the door of their
own huts, and as it were in sight of their wives
and children.
If, after what has been above stated, the ap
parent opposition which at firet sight strikes the
eye, in Law 40, Title 12, Book 6, speaking on
this subject, and expressly referring to the Phi
lippine Islands, should be alleged, no more will
be necessary than to study its genuine sense, or
read it with attention, in order to be convinced
of its perfect concordance with the essential parts
of the other laws of the Indies, already quoted
in explanation and support of the system of dis
tributing the labourers. The above-mentioned
law does indeed contain a strict recommenda
tion to employ the Chinese and Japanese, not
domiciliated, in preference to the Indians, in the

ground, and they left their cabins and families with despon
dency, after the prayers of the church had been offered up for
them, accompanied by the mournful music of their drums and
fifes.— Tu.
E 2

52 STATE OF THE
establishments for cutting timber and other royal
works, and further enjoins that use is only to be
made of the latter in emergencies, and when the
preservation of the state should require it. It
has however happened that, since the remote
period at which the above law was promulgated,
not only all contracts and commerce have ceased,
but aJso every communication with Japan has"
been interrupted, and for a number of years not
a single individual of that ferocious race has
existed in the Philippine Islands. With regard
to the Chinese, who are supposed to be numerous
in the capital, of late years they have diminished
so much, that according to a census made by
orders of the government in the year 1807, no
more than 4700 are found on the registers ; and
if in consequence of their secreting themselves,
or withdrawing into the interior, a third more
might be added to the above amount, their total
numbers would still remain very, inconsiderable,
and infinitely inferior to what is required, not
only for the tillage of the estates, but even for
the royal works.
As, therefore, the Japanese have totally dis
appeared, and the number of Chinese is evidently
inadequate to the wants of agriculture, it almost
.necessarily follows that the practice of distri
buting the Indian labou ers, as allowed by the
aforesaid laws of the Indies, under all circum-

PHILIPPINE ISLAND^, &C. 53
' stances, is the only alternative left. Even if,
against the adoption of this measure, it should
be attempted to object the ambiguous sense of
the concluding part of the second clause, it
would be easy to comprehend its true intent and
meaning, by referring to Law 1, Title 13, Book
6, which says — " That, considering the incon-
' veniences which would arise from doing away
with certain distributions of grounds, gardens,
estates, and other plantations, in which the In
dians are interested, as a matter on which the
preservation of those distant dominions and pro
vinces depends, it is ordained that compulsory
labour, and such distributions as are advanta
geous to the public good, shall continue." After
so pointed an explanation, and a manifestation
so clear of the spirit of our legislation in this
respect, all further comments would be useless,
and no doubt whatever can be any longer enter
tained of the expediency, and even of the justice
of putting the plan of well-regulated distribu
tions in practice, as a powerful means to promote
the agriculture, and secure to. Spain the pos
session of these valuable dominions in the Indian
seas*.

* The doctrine here put forth with regard to the, propriety
of compelling the* Indian to labour, &c. would by no means
suit the feeUngs of an Englishman ; but it is now useless to

54 STATE OF THE
1 For a more accurate idea of the advantages'
resulting from agriculture in the Philippine
Islands, vide the Comparative Statement con
tained in Table, No. II., placed in the Appendix,
which, it will be noticed, only embraces the
articles of sugar, rice, and indigo.
Manufactures. — If in my description of the
chief natural productions of these islands, I have
purposely omitted many of the second order, to
the cultivation of which the Indians willingly
devote themselves, with a view not to confoiyid
them with those having a more direct connexion
with the export trade, the circle must be still
more confined, when I come to treat of their
manufacturing industry, under the same point
of view. It would be impossible for any one to
contradict the truth of the remarks of D. Juan
Francisco Urroz, belonging to the Philippine
Company, in his long and correct report, ad
dressed to the managing committee in 1802,
when he observes, " That the Philippine Islands,

attempt to impugn it, as the re-establishment of the constitu-
.tion totally prevents its being put in practice. The Indians
are a difficult race to manage, and it must be acknowledged
that the author's observations contain many practical truths,
though perhaps the conclusions he draws from them, are not
altogether, correct. Some notice has already been taken of this
subject in the Preliminary Discourse. — Tb.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 55
from time immemorial, were acquainted with,
and still retain that species of industry peculiar
to the country, adapted to the customs and
wants of thesnatives, and which constitutes the
chief branch of their clothing. This, although
confined to coarse articles, may in its class be
called perfect, as far as it answers the end for
which it is intended ; and if an attempt were
made to enumerate the quantity of mats, hand
kerchiefs, sheeting, and a variety of other cloths
manufactured for this purpose only in the pro
vinces of Tondo, Laguna, Batangas, Ilocos, Ca
gayan, Camarines, Albay, Bisayas, &c. im
mense supplies of each kind would appear, which
give occupation to an incalculable number of
looms, indistinctly worked by Indians, Chinese,
and Sangley an Mestizos, indeed all the classes,
in their own humble dwellings, built of canes
and thatched with palm leaves, without any
apparatus, or even the appearance of regular
manufacture;" With equal truth am I enabled to add, that
the natural abilities of these Indians in the ma
nufacture of all kinds of cloths, fine as well as
coarse, are really admirable. They succeed in
reducing the harsh filaments of the palm-tree,
known by the name oi Abaca*, to such a degree
* If it was not expressly stated that the Abaca is a- species
«f palm, from which the Philippines are described as manu-

56 STATE OF THE
of fineness, that they afterwards convert them
into textures equal to the best muslins of Bengal.
The beauty and evenness of their embroideries
and open works excite surprise; in short, the
damask table-cloths, ornamental weaving, tex
tures of cotton and palm-fibres, intermixed with
silk, and manufactured in the above-mentioned
provinces, clearly prove how much the inha
bitants of the Philippine Islands, in natural abi
lities and dexterity, resemble the other people
of the Asiatic regions. It must nevertheless be
allowed, that a want is noticed of that finish and
polish which the perfection of art gives to each
commodity ; but this circumstance ought not to
appear strange, if we consider that, entirely de
void of all methodical instruction, and ignorant
also of the importance of the subdivision of la
bour, which contributes so greatly to simplify.

facturing cordage and even fine goods, it might have been
supposed that allusion was made to the Sunn plant (Crotolaria
Juncea), used in Bengal and other parts of the East Indies,
which I very much suspect is the case, for in some original
papers in my possession, relating to the Philippine Islands, the
Abaca is called the hemp-plant. The Gomuii, called by the
Spaniards cabo negro, is also used for the same purpose, and
the bonote or cairo, a species of tow made from the coco-
plant, serves for caulking. In Sumatra, it is stated by Marsden,
that excellent twine is made from a species of nettle, called
Caloace, and the natives also make twine of the bark of a
shrub called Endeloo; and in the Lampoon country, from the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. .57
shorten, and improve the respective excellence
of all kinds of works, the same Indians gin and
clean the cotton, and then spin and weave it,
without any other instruments than their hands
and feet, aided only by the coarse and unsightly
looms they themselves construct in a corner of
their huts, with scarcely any thing else than a
few canes and sticks.
From the preceding obsen^ations it may easily
be deduced that, although the natives succeed
in preparing, with admirable dexterity, the pro
ductions of their soil, and therewith satisfy the
greatest part of their domestic wants, facts which
certainly manifest their talents and aptitude to
be employed in works of more taste and delicacy,
manufacturing industry is nevertheless far from
being generalized, itor can it be said to be placed
with any degree of solidity on its true and pro
per basis. Hence arise those great supplies of
goods annually imported into the country, for

bark of the Bagoo tree. The bark of the Pesang, or plan
tain, also furnishes fibres, in some places worked in the loom.
The Coir and Gomuii are palms, and used in Bengal for cord
age, &c. The hemp-plant in Bengal and other parts of the
East Indies, is used for an intoxicating preparation made of it,
called Bang, and not for cordage, to which the sunn plant, or
the Paut (Cm-chorus Olitorius) are almost exclusively ap
plied.— Tb.

58 STATE OF THE
the purpose of making up the deficiencies of the
local manufactures.
That regular distribution or classification of
the assemblage of operations which follow each
other in gradation, from the rough preparation of
the first materials, till the same have arrived at
their perfect state of manufacture, instead of
being practised, is entirely unknown. The want
of good machinery to free the cotton from the
multitude of seeds with which it is encumbered,
so as to perform the operation with ease and
quickness, is the first and greatest obstacle that
occurs ; and its tedioOsness to the Indians is so
repugnant, that many sell their crops to others,
without separating the seeds, or decline growing
the article altogether, not to be plagued with
the trouble of cleaning it. As the want of me
thod is also equal to the superabundance or waste
of time employed, the expences of the goods
manufactured increase in the same proportion,
under such evident and great disadvantages ; for
which reason, far from being able to compete
with those brought from China and Hindostan^
they only acquire estimation in the interior, when
wanted to supply the place of the latter, or in
cases of accidental scarcity.
In a word, the only manufactured articles an
nually exported from the Philippine Islands are

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 59
8 or 12,000 pieces of light sail cloth, 200,000 lbs.
of Abaca cordage assorted, 600 buffalo hides and
deer skins, which can scarcely be considered in a
tanned state ; for, although the Royal Company,
from the time of their establishment, long con
tinued to export considerable quantities of di
mities, calicos, stripes, checks, and coverlids,
as well as other cotton and silk goods, it was
more with a view to -stimulate the districts of
Ilocos to continue in the habits of manufacturing,
and thus introduce among the inhabitants of that
province a taste for industry, than the expecta
tion of gain by the sale of this kind of merchan
dise, either in Spain or any of the sections of
America. At length, wearied with the losses
experienced by carrying on this species of mer
cantile operations, without answering the prin
cipal object in view, they resolved, for the time
being, to suspend adventures attended with such
discouraging circumstances.
Notwithstanding so many impediments, it
would not, however, be prudent in the govern
ment entirely to abandon the enterprise, and
lose sight of the advantages the country offers,
or indeed, to neglect turning the habitual faci
lities pf the natives to some account. Far from
there existing any positive grounds for despair
ing of the progress of manufacturing industry,

60 STATE OF THE
it may justly be presumed that, whenever the
sovereign, by adopting a different line of policy,
shall allow the unlimited and indistinct settle
ment of all kinds of foreign colonists, and grant
them the same facilities and- protection enjoyed
by national ones, they will be induced to flock to
the Philippine Islands in considerable numbers,
lured by the hope of accumulating fortunes in a
country that presents a thousand attractions of
every kind. Many, no doubt, will preferably de
vote themselves to commerce, others to agricul
tural undertakings and also to the pursuits of
mining, but necessarily some will turn their at
tention and employ their funds in the formation
of extensive manufactures, aided by intelligent
instructors and suitable machinery. The newly
introduced information and arts being thus dif
fused, it is natural to expect they will be pro
gressively adopted by a people already possessing
a taste and genius for this species of labour, by
which means manufacturing industry will soon
be raised from the state of neglect and unprofit
ableness , in which it is now left. For my own
part, I do not conceive any other measure by
which so desirable and beneficial a public ob
ject can be realized. As an illustration to the
present subject, and in order also that a more
accurate idea may be formed of the class and va-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 61
,riety of articles manufactured in the Philippine
Islands, I have prepared a general list, ex
hibiting also the respective provinces in which
they are manufactured, and this statement will
be found in the Appendix, in Table, N°. III.

62 STATE OF THE

CHAP. HI.
Internal and external Commerce. — Funds there
in invested. — Property belonging to pious and
charitable Institutions.— Mercantile Shipping.
— Royal Philippine Company.
Internal Commerce.^ — The circulation of the
country productions and effects of all kinds among
theinhabitants ofthe provinces, which, properly
speaking, constitutes their internal commerce,
is tolerably active and considerable. Owing to
the great facilities of conveyance, afforded by the
number of rivers and lakes, on the margins of
which the Indians are fond of fixing their dwell
ings, this commerce might be infinitely greater,
if it was not obstructed by the monopoly of the
magistrates in their respective districts and the
unjust prerogative, exercised by the city, of im
posing rates and arbitrary prices on the very per
sons who come to bring in supplies. Nevertheless,
as the iniquitous operations of the district ma
gistrates, however active they may be, besides
being confined to their pecuniary means, re
gularly consist of arrangements to buy up only
the chief articles, and those which promise most
advantage, with least trouble; as that restless

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 63
inquietude which impels man on, under the hope
of bettering his condition, acts even amidst the
rigour of oppression, a certain degree of stimu
lus and scope is still left in favour of internal
trade. Hence it follows, that there is scarcely an island
or province, that does not carry on some traffic
or other, by keeping up relations with its neigh
bours, which sometimes extend as far as the ca
pital ; where, in proportion as the produce and
raw materials find a ready market, returns
suitable arid adequate to the consumption of
each place, respectively, are obtained. If, how
ever, it would be difficult to form an idea, even
in the way of approximation, of the exchanges
which take place between the various provinces,
a task that would render it necessary to enume
rate them, one by Orie, it is equally so to make
an estimate of the total amount of this class of
operations carried on in Manilla, their common
centre. Situated in the bottom of an immense
bay, bathed by a large, river, and the country
round divided by an infinite number of streams
and lakes descending from the provinces by
which the capital is surrounded, the produce
and effects are daily brought in and go out of
suburbs so extended in a diversity of small vessels
and canoes, without its being possible to obtain
any exact account of the -multiplicity of trans-

64 , STATE OP THE-
actions carried on at one and the same time, in
a city built on so large a scale.
Besides the traffic founded on ordinary con
sumption, the necessity of obtaining assortments^
of home manufactured as well as imported goods,
in order to supply the fairs, known by the name
oitianguis, and which are held weekly in almost
every town, there is another species of specula
tion, peculiar to the rich Indians and Sangley
Mestizos, an industrious race, and also possessed
ofthe largest , portion of the specie. This con
sists in the anticipated purchase of the crops of
indigo, sugar, rice, &c. with a view to fix their
own prices on the produce thus contracted for,
when resold to the second hand. A propensity
to barter and traffic, in all-kinds of ways, is in
deed universal among the natives, and as the
principal springs which urge on internal circu
lation are already in motion, nothing more is
wanting than at once to destroy the obstacles
previously pointed out, and encourage the ex
tension of luxury and comforts, in order, that, by
the number ofthe people's wants being increased,
as well as the means of supplying them, the
force and velocity of action may in the same pro
portion be augmented.
External Commerce. — Under this general
denomination are comprised the relations thdi
Philippine Islands keep up with other nations.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 65
with our own possessions in America, and with
the mother country ; or, in other words, the sum
total of their imports and exports. Commencing,
therefore, by giving an approximate idea of the
nature and amount of the latter, in order af
terwards to be enabled to dwell more minutely
on the various particulars relating to this sub-
¦ ject, I jjave formed the annexed Table, N" IV., in
which, confining myself to ordinary times, the
amounts will be found calculated in the gross, so
as to present no other than gen 7ral results. Al
though in the formation of this approximate
statement I have, in part, founded myself on po
sitive data, in candour I feel compelled to con
fess, that the irregularity ofthe seasons in which
I have been on the spot, has obliged me, in some
measure, to proceed in the dark, and left me
under the necessity of availing myself of esti
mates chiefly derived from my own observations
and experience, for the want of a better guide.
Many are the causes which, within the last
ten or twelve years, have influenced the mercan
tile relations of these islands, and prevented their
organization on permanent and known prin
ciples. The chief one, no doubt, has been the
frequent and unforeseen changes, from peace
to war, which have marked that unhappy period,
and as under similar circum'stances merchants,
more than any other class of persons, are in the
V

Q6 STATE OF THE
habit of acting on extremes, there have been oc
casions in which, misled by the exaggerated
idea of the galleon of Acapulco, and anxious to
avail themselves ofthe first prices, generally also
the highest, foreign speculators have inundated
Manilla with goods, by a competition from all
quarters ; and others, owing to the channels being
obstructed, when this market has experienced an
absolute scarcity of commodities as well as of funds,
necessary to continue the usual and almost only
branch of commerce left. The frequent failure
of the sugar and indigo crops, has also in many
instances restrained the North Americans and
other neutrals from coming to these islands with
cargoes, and induced them to prefer Java, where
they are at all times sure of finding returns.
Besides the influence of these extraordinary
causes on the uncertainty and irregularity of
external commerce, no small share must also be
attributed to the strangeness of the peculiar
constitution of the country, or the principles on
which its trade is established.
^ Scarcely will it be believed, in the greater
part of civilized Europe, that a Spanish colony
exists between Asia and America, whose mer
chants are forbidden to avail themselves of their
advantageous situation, and that, as a special
favour only are they allowed to send their effects
to Mexico, once a year, but under the following

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. JB7
restrictions. It is a necessary condition, that every
shipper shall be a member ofthe Board of Trade,
and therein entitled to a vote, which supposes a
residence of some years in the country, besides
the possession of property of his own, to the
amount of 8000 dollars. He is compelled to
join with the other members, in order to be en
abled to ship his goods in bales of a determined
form and dimensions, in one single vessel, ar
ranged, fitted out, and commanded by officers of
the royal navy, under the character of a man of
war. He has also to contribute his proportion
of 20,000 dollars, which, in the shape of a pre
sent, are given to the commander, at the end of
every round voyage. He cannot in any way
interfere in the choice or qualities of the vessel,
notwithstanding his property is to be adventured
in her; and what completes the extravagance of
the system, is, that before any thing is done he
must pay down 25 or 40 per cent, for freight,
according to circumstances, which money is
distributed among certain canons, aldermen, su
balterns of the army, and widows of Spaniards,
to whom a given number of tickets or certified
permits to ship are granted, either as a compen
sation for the smallness of their pay, or in the
way of a privilege ; but, on express condition
that, although they themselves are not members
of the Board of Trade, they shall not be allowed
F 2

<58 STATE OF THE
to negotiate and transfer them to persons not
having that quality. In the custom-house no
cockets being given, unless the number of bales
to be shipped are accompanied by the correspond
ing permits, and as it besides frequently happens
that there is a degree of competition between
the parties seeking to try their fortune in this
way, the original holders of the permits very
often hang back, in such manner that I have
seen 500 dollars offered for the transfer of a right
to ship three bales, which scarcely contained
goods to the amount of 1000 dollars. Such,
nevertheless, is the truth, and such the exact de
scription of the famous Acapulco ship, which has
excited so much jealousy among the merchants
of Seville and Cadiz, and given rise to such an
infinite number of disputes and lawsuits *.

¦y * The restraints here complained of are now totally re
moved, and as an instance of the attention paid to the im
provement of the Philippine Islands as well as the commerce
of the whole transmarine provinces, since the reestablishment
of the constitution, the annexed decree, issued by the Cortes
in their sitting of 8th Nov. 1820, is subjoined. — Tk.
In the said sitting it was also proposed, that whilst the
Cortes did not determine to the contrary, all the countries
which, by the constitution, belong to the Spanish monarchy,
should, as integral parts of the same, enjoy the benefits of the
new general Tariff. The foUowing resoluiions were also
read and approved: —
" 1. That the grant of his Majesty, allowing trade between

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 69
So complete a deviation from the rules and
maxims usually received in trade, could not fail

the Philippine Islands and ports in America, on the Pacific,
made last January, be valid and observed, as well in national
as foreign articles permitted by said grant, and in Spanish
bottoms indistinctly. '
" 2. All produce and goods manufactured in the Philippine
Islands shall be admitted as national ones in the authorized
ports, as well in America as Europe and Asia, when accom
panied by regular certificates, proving their origin, and in
national bottoms.
" 3. All national vessels shall besides' be allowed to carry on
direct trade from any Spanish port of America and Europe,
by the Cape of Good Hope, to foreign ports in the East In
dies and China, and it shall be lawful for them to import and
deposit, in the authorized Spanish ports of America and Eu
rope, the following goods and effects, viz. — Cinnamon of
Ceylon, pearls, diamonds, ivory, tortoise-shell, tea of all kinds,
earthenware or china, lackered articles, manufactured mother
ofpearl, manufactured ivory, manufactured tortoise-shell, fiUa-
gree of all kinds, dyes, boxes of paints, ivory and other fans,
coarse and candy sugar, spun cotton, from No. 60 upwards,
plain, striped, and worked muslins of all kinds, cotton and
muslin handkerchiefs of all kinds, plain, striped, and worked
carabrics, nankeens, cotton stripes, &c.
" 4. The import duties of said articles shall be laid down
in the general tariff, according to the bases approved by the
Cortes. " 5. The regulations contained in Art. 12 of the funda
mental bases of the general tariff approved by the Cortes, shall
be observed with regard to cargos coming from the Philip-

70 STATE OF THE
to produce in the Philippine Islands, as in fact
it has, effects equally extraordinary with regard
to those who follow this pursuit. The merchant
of Manilla is, in fact, entirely different from the
one of Cadiz or Amsterdam. Without any cor
respondents in the manufacturing countries and
consequently possessed of no suitable advices of
the favourable variations in the respective markets,
without brokers and even without regular books,
he' seems to carry on his profession on no one
fixed principle, and to have acquired his routine

pine Islands, and of which the vessels may enter any foreign
port in America or Europe.
" 6. In order that this freedom granted to trade may not be
injurious to national industry and agriculture, as well in Asia as
in America and Europe, as it would be if extended to Asia by
the Cape of Good Hope, with foreign cargos and productions,
more than from the Philippine Islands, it shall not be lawful
to bring to ports of America and Europe, by said way of the
Cape, in each vessel, foreign goods enumerated in this de
cree, more than the amount of 50,000 dollars, stated on the
clearances, and the remainder of the cargos shall be completed
with goods and effects of the Philippine Islands, or of other
productions from foreign countries of Asia, which are free,
according to the general tariff.
" 7. The government is enjoined to require ofthe Political
Chief and Local Authorities of Manilla, information respect
ing the most adequate means of encouraging the agriculture,
industry, navigation and commerce of the Philippine Islands."

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 71
of business, from mere habit and vague custom.
His contract's are made out on stamped paper,
and his bills or promissory notes no other than
long and diffuse writings or bonds, of which the
dates and amounts are kept more in the shape of
bundles, than by any due entry on his books ;
and what at once gives the most clear idea of
this irregularity, is, the singular fact that, for
the space of twenty-five and possibly fifty years,
only one bankrupt has presented the state of his
affairs to the Board of Trade^ in conformity to
the regulations prescribed by the general Sta
tutes of Bankruptcy, whereas, numbers of cases
have occurred, in which these merchants have
wasted or secreted the property of others with
impunity. Hence have arisen those informalities,
subterfuges and disputes, in a word, the absence
of all mercantile business, carried on in a scru
pulously punctual and correct manner. Hence,
also, have followed that distrust and embarrass
ment with which commercial operations are at
tended, as well as the difficulty of calculating
their fluctuations. On the other hand, as in
order to send off an expedition by the annual
ship to Acapulco, the previous consent of the
majority of the incorporated merchants is neces
sary, before this point is decided, months aie
passed in intrigues and disputes^ the peremptory

72 STATE OF THB
period arrives, and if the articles wanted are
in the market, they are purchased up with
precipitation and paid for with the monies
the shippers have been able to obtain at interest
from tbe administrators of pious and charitable
funds. In this manner, compelled to act almost
always without plan or concert, yet accustomed
to gain at the fair of Acapulco, notwithstanding
so many impediments and the exorbitant pre
miums paid for the money lent, these merchants
follow the strange maxim of risking little or no
property of their own ; and unaware, or rather,
disregarding the importance bf economy in the
expences and regularity of their general method
of living, it is not possible they can ever accu
mulate large fortunes, or form solid and well-
accredited houses.
Thus oppressed by a system, as unjust as it is
absurd, and conducting their affairs in the way
above described, it is not strange that these
gentlemen, at the same time yielding to the in
dolence consequent to the climate, should neglect
or behold with indifference all the other se
condary resources which the supplying the wants
of the country and the extensive scope and va
riety of its produce, offer to the man of active
mind. Hence it follows, as already observed,
that the whole of the interior trade is at present

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 73
absorbed by the principal Indians, the Sangley
Mestizos of both sexes, and a few Chinese
pedlars. Notwithstanding, however, the defective man
ner in which the generality of the merchants
act, some already begin to distinguish themselves
by the prudence of their conduct, by forwarding,
in due time, their orders to the manufacturers of
India and China, and, in other respects, guiding
themselves by the principles which characterize
the intelligent merchant. Finally, it is to be
presumed that, as soon as the government shall
have thrown down this singular and prepos
terous system that has been the cause of so many
disorders, and proclaimed the unlimited freedom
of Philippine commerce, the greatest part of
these people will rise up from the state of inac
tion' in which they now live, and the relations
of the colony will then assume that course and
extent corresponding to its advantages of posi
tion. At least, if our national merchants should
not act up to the impulse given to all kinds of
mercantile enterprises by the beneficent hand of
the sovereign, foreigners will not be wanting,
who, relying on due toleration, will be induced
tb convey their fortunes and families to the Phi
lippine Islands, and vigorously encouraging the
exportation of their valuable productions, amply

74 STATE OF THE
secure the fruits of their laudable activity and
well-combined speculations.
Capitals employed in Commerce. — Were
a person, judging from the numbers constituting
the body of registered merchants, and supposing
all of them to possess the essential requisites pre
scribed by our commercial regulations, to form
a prudent estimate of the amount of capital em
ployed by them, his calculations would turn out
extremely erroneous, for besides the ease with
which regulations of this kind are eluded, many
are merely nominal traders, and others, whose
mercantile existence is purely artificial, and sus
tained in a temporary manner, by means of a
forced species of circulation, peculiar to this
country. This consists in obtaining the acqui
escence of the administrators of pious and cha
ritable funds, let out at interest, to renew the
bonds they hold during other successive risks,
waiting, as it were, till some fatal tempest has
swallowed up the vessel in which these merchants
suppose their property to be embarked, and at
once cancelled all their obligations. On the
other hand, neither excessive expences nor the
shipment of large quantities of goods to Aca
pulco, can in any way be taken as a just criterion
whereby to judge of the fortunes of individuals ;
because, in the first, there is great uniformity.

PHILIPPINE islands, &C. 75
every one, more or less, enjoying, exteriorly, the
same easy circumstances, notwithstanding the
disparity of real property; and in the second,
considerable fiction prevails, many persons ship
ping under the same mark, and even when the
shipper stands alone, he might have been pro
vided with the necessary funds from the pious
and charitable establishments, possibly, without
risking a dollar of his own in the whole opera
tion. Under circumstances so dubious, far from
presuming to give a decided opinion on the sub
ject, I am compelled to judge from mere con
jectures, and guided only by the knowledge and
experience I have been able to acquire during
my long residence there. In conformity thereto,
I am inclined to believe, that the total amount
of capitals belongingto and employed in the trade
of the Philippine Islands, does not at present
exceed two millions and a half of dollars, with
evident signs of rapid decline, if the merchants
do not in time abandon the ruinous system of
chiefly carrying on their speculations with
money obtained at interest.
The two millions and a half of dollars thus at
tributed to the merchants, form, however, the
smaller part of the funds distributed among the
other classes, and the total amount of the circu
lating medium of the colony might be considered
an object sufficiently worthy of being ascer-

76 STATE OF THE
tained, owing to the great light it would throw
on the present state of the inhabitants ; but it is
in vain to attempt any calculation of the kind,
at least without the aid of data possessing a cer
tain degree of accuracy. The only thing that
can be affirmed is, that during the period of
more than 250 years which have evolved since
the conquest, the ingress of specie into the Phi
lippine Islands has been constant. Their an
nual ships have seldom come home from New
Spain without bringing considerable sums in
return, and if some of them have been lost, many
others, without being confined to the one million
of dollars, constituting the ordinary amount of
the permit, have not unfrequently come back
with triple that sum ; for which reason there are
ample grounds for judging the calculation cor
rect, which states the total importation of dollars,
during the whole of that long period of years, to
be equal to 400 millions. It may further be ob
served that, as in the Sangley Mestizos, economy
and avarice compete with intelligence and acti
vity in accumulating wealth, and scattered, as
they are, among the principal islands, and in
possession ofthe best lands and the most lucrative
business of the interior, there are ample motives
for presuming that these industrious and sa
gacious people have gradually, although inces
santly, amassed immense sums in specie ; but it

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 77
would be impossible to point out their amount,
distribution, or the secret places in which they
are hoarded *.
Property belonging to pious and cha
ritable Institutions. — The assemblage of
pious legacies, temporalities, and other funds
and property placed in the care of several admini
strative committees, for purposes as well re
ligious as charitable, constitute the chief capital
employed in external trade ; and notwithstand
ing the failures, which from time to time occur,
the subsequent accumulation of the enormous
premiums obtained for funds laid out in mari
time speculations, both in time of peace and war,
not only suffices to make up all losses of the
above kind, but also to secure the punctual
payment of such charitable pensions and other
charges as are to be deducted from the respective
, profits of this species of stock. Its total amount,
according to an official report made by order of
the head committee of the sinking fund, in-

* Besides coin, the Philippines have among them small
shells beautifully marked, called sigayes, which serve as money
in their trade with Siam, Bengal and other parts of India,
•where they bear the name of coivris. The only money
coined in the islands is from copper and iron, all the rest is
brought from Spanish America. The gold dust obtained
there does not pass through the mint. — Tr.

78 STATE OF THE
eluding temporalities, and Queen Mary of Au
stria's endowment for the College of Las Mari
anas, together with other funds of the same
kind, not comprehended in the decree of aboli
tion, at the commencement of the year 1809,
amounted to 2,470,390 dollars, in the manner
stated in Table, N° V., and as the sea-risks of that
and the following year were successful, and the
outstanding amounts punctually recovered, the
aggregate sum, arising out ofthe above descrip
tion of property, may now be estimated at more
than three millions. Of these funds three distribu
tions are generally made ; viz. one part is ap
propriated to the China risks, at from 12 to 18
per cent, premium, according to circumstances,
and also those to Madras, Calcutta and Batavia,
at from 16 to 22 per cent. The second, which
generally is in the largest proportion, is em
ployed in risks to Acapujco, at various pre
miums, from 27 to 45 per cent. ; and the third
is left in hand, as a kind of guarantee to the
stability of the original endowments.
In the great exigencies of the Royal Treasury,
experienced during the last years of the admi
nistration of Seiior Soler, the royal decree of
Consolidacion was extended to the Philippine
Islands, under the pretext of guarding the funds
belonging to public charities and religious en
dowments from sea-risks, the income of which,

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C, 79
when secured on good mortgages, does not ge
nerally exceed 5 per cent., many in Spain not
yielding above 4; but the remarkable difference
between this plan and the one above described,
together with various other weighty reasons al
leged by the administrators, caused the dreaded
effect of this new regulation to be suspended, and
whilst the head committee of Manilla were con
sulting their doubts and requesting fresh instruc
tions from the court at home, orders canae out
not to make any alteration in measures relating
to this description of property.
Accustomed, in their limited calculations, to
identify the resources, offered by the funds be
longing to this class of establishments, with the
very existence of the colony, the needy merchants
easily confound their personal with the general
interest ; and few stop to consider that the iden
tical means of carrying on trade, without any
capital of their own, although they have acci
dentally enriched a small number of persons,
eventually have absorbed the principal profits,
and possibly been the chief cause of the un-
flourishing state of the colony at large. Without
fearing the charge of rashness, it may, in fact, be
asserted, that if these charities and pious endow
ments had never existed, public prosperity in the
Philippine Islands would, as in other parts, have
been the immediate effect of the united efforts of

80 STATE OF THE
the individual members of the community and of
the experience acquired in the constant prosecu
tion of the same object. As, however, a progress
of this kind, although certain, must necessarily
have been at first extremely slow, and as, on the
other hand, the preference given to mercantile
operations undertaken with the funds belonging
to public charities, has its origin in the as
semblage of vices so remarkable in the very or
ganization of the body of Philippine merchants,
any new measvtre on this subject might be
deemed inconsistent, that at once deprived them
of the use of resources on which they had been
accustomed to rely, without removing those
other defects which excuse, if not encourage, the
continuation of the present system. Without,
therefore, appealing to violent remedies, it is to
be hoped that, in order to render plans of reform
effectual, it will be sufficient, under more pro
pitious circumstances, to see property brought
from other countries to these islands, as well as
persons coming to settle in them, capable of
managing it with that intelligence and economy
required by trade. The competition of those
who speculate at random would then cease, or
what is the same, as money obtained at a pre
mium, could not then be laid out with the same
advantages by the merchants as if it was their
own, it will be necessary to renounce the fal-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 81
lacious profits held out by the public charities,
till at least they are placed on a level with ex
isting circumstances, and brought in to be of
real service to the honourable planter and la
borious merchant, in their accidental exigencies,
ceasing to be, as hitherto, the indirect cause of
idleness, dissipation, and the ruin of an infinite
number of families.
Mercantile Shipping. — ^The vessels which
the district magistrates of the provinces keep
employed in carrying on trade with the capital,
those belonging to some of the richer merchants,
together with such as are owned by the natives
and Mestizos, on an approximate calculation,
amount to 12,000 tons, including ships, brigs,
schooners, gallies, barges, &c. For the want of
better data, this estimate is founded only on
reasonable conjecture, aided by the advice of
experienced persons, for although the greatest
part of these vessels are built by the natives in
the neighbourhood of their own towns, no re
gister is kept qf their number and dimensions,
nor do they carry with them the usual certifi
cates. Those belonging to the merchants, that
is, ships and brigs of a certain size, have already
began to frequent the ports of China, Java, the
coast pf Coromandel, Bengal, and the Isle of
France, availing themselves of the lucrative
freights which formerly enriched and encouraged

82 STATE OF THE
foreign shipping. The other class of vessels,
although perfectly adequate to the coasting
trade, cannot in general be applied to larger
enterprises, on account of their not being suffi
ciently strong and capacious. The seamen are
not registered, or as it is usually called, matri
culated, but their frequent crossing from island
to island, their familiarity with the regional
tempests, voyages to various parts of America,
and the occupation of fishing, followed by the
inhabitants of the coast, serve to train up a
large body of dexterous and able mariners, who
at all times can be had, without any compulsion,
to complete good crews *.
The want of, a public school for the teaching
of navigation, is however sensibly felt, as well
as great inconvenience from the scarcity of per-

* Crawford, in his History t>f the Indian Archipelago, ob
serves, that the sailors of the Philippines are so dexterous, that
they are used, almost exclusively, in the other islands, as
steersmen, and as such have a preference in many parts of the
East. The natives are equally expert as fishermen, and pre
pare considerable quantities of salted, dried, and pickled fish.
Among these is the balato, white and bkck, described as re
sembling sea-slugs, a food of a heating quality, of which
three classes are prepared ; the conger-eel ; the tollo, a species
of shark, dried in the sun, and by the Spaniards used as a
substitute for tunny, and of which their homeward bound-
vessels lay in a large stock; dried crawfish, &c. — Tb.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 83
sons capable of being trusted with the command
of vessels, and the ignorance that prevails "in
the hydrography of this dangerous Archipelago.
Repeated royal orders have been sent over for
the board of trade to proceed to the institution
of so useful an establishment, and in the mean
time, a medium has been resorted to in order to
supply the deficiency, by allowing the free ad
mission of foreign mates, provided they exhibit
proofs of their acquaintance with navigation,
and profess the Catholic worship. Ship-owners
nevertheless experience great difficulties, parti
cularly at times when the Acapulco ship is fitting
out, for although she is considered as a vessel of
war, and commanded by officers of the royal
navy, the plan of her equipment is so singular,
that in addition, she requires the extra aid of
one chief mate, and three under ones.
Of the Royal Philippine Company.---
The various modifications this corporate body
has successively experienced, have, in great
measure, changed the essence of its primitive
institution, and the remonstrances of its direc
tors, founded on the experience of a long series
of years, at length induced the government at
home to sanction alterations dictated by existing
circumstances. The project of raising these
islands from the neglected state in which they
were, and in some -measure to place them in
e 2

84 STATE OF THE
contact with the mother country, accompanied
by a wish to give a new and great impulse to
the various branches of industry which consti
tute the-importance of a colony, could not have
been more laudable; but, as was afterwards
seen, the instrument employed was not adequate
to the object in view. At the same time that
the company were charged to promote, and, by
means of their funds, to vivify the agriculture
and industry of these provinces, the necessary
powers and facilities to enable them to reap the
fruits of their sacrifices were withheld. The
protection granted to this establishment, did not
go beyond a general recommendation in favour
of its enterprises, and, in short, far from enjoy
ing the exclusive preponderance obtained at
their commencement by all the other Asiatic
companies, that of the Philippine Islands la
boured under particular disadvantages.
Notwithstanding an organization so imperfect,
scarcely had the agents of the new Company
arrived at Manilla, when they distributed through
the country their numerous dependents, commis
sioned to encourage the natives by advances of
money. They established subaltern factories' in
the provinces of Ilocos, Bataan, Cavite, and
Camarines; purchaf^ed lands; delivered out agri
cultural implements; founded manufactories of
cotton cloths; contracted for the crops of pro-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 85
duce at very high prices; offered rewards; in
short, they put in motion every partial re
source they were able to avail themselves of and
their limited means allowed. It would be ex
tremely easy for me, in this place, to enter into
a particular enumeration of the important ser
vices of this kind rendered by the Company,
and to exhibit, in the most evident point of
view, the advantages thence derived to these
islands, if, besides being slightly touched upon
in the preceding articles, this task had not been
already ably performed by the Factor, D. Juan
Francisco Urroz, in his accurate report on this
subject, addressed to the governing committee of
the Company, in 1803. In justice I will never
theless observe, that this establishment, anxiously
resolved to attain the end proposed, and in spite
of so many obstacles, constantly followed up its
expensive system without being disheartened ;
nor did the contrarieties with which the Royal
Audiencia, or High Court of Justice, frequently
paralyzed its plans, the indifference of the go
vernors, or the general opposition and jealousy
of the other classes, in any way tend to relax its
efforts, till at length, convinced of the impos
sibility of successfully contending-, alone and
without any other arms than its own reduced
capital ; and, on the other hand, well aware that
a political body of this kind in vain seeks to

86 STATE OF THE
unite within itself the triple and opposite cha-
racttjrs of agriculturalist, manufacturer, and
merchant, a determination was taken to alter the
plan, and withdraw the factories established in
the provinces, and by adopting a rigid economy
and confining the operations in future to the
purchase • of such produce and manufactured
articles as suited their trade, and were volunta
rily brought by the natives to their stores, the
expences of the Company were curtailed, and a
plan of reform introduced into all their specu
lations. By this means also they always secured
an advantageous vent for the productions of the
country, after having been the chief spring by
which agriculture was promoted and encouraged
in a direct manner.
The most beneficial reform, however, intro
duced by this establishment into its system, has,
in reality, been derived from the variation or
rather correction of its plans and enterprises,
purely maritime. The government being de
sirous to increase the relations of this colony by
every possible means, and to convert it into a
common centre of all the operations of the new
Company, at first required of the agents that the
purchases and collection of goods from the coast
of Coromandel, Bengal, and China, destined for
Spain, should take place at Manilla, either by
purchasing the articles in that market, or

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 87
through the medium of previous contracts to
deliver them there. From this it is easy to
infer, that the Company was infallibly exposed
to the harsh terms the respective contractors
sought to impose upon them, as well with regard
to prices as qualities, unless, in many cases, they
preferred being left without the necessary as
sortments. Hence may it, without the smallest
exaggeration, be affirmed, that, summing up all
the surcharges under which the shipments left
the port of Manilla, and comparing them with
those which might have been sent direct from
the above mentioned points, and without so ex
traordinary a detour as the one prescribed by
law, the difference that followed in the prime
cost of the cargos was not less than 80 per
cent. The urgent manner, however, in which
the Directors of the Company did not cease to
deplore and complain of so evident a hardship,
at length had the desired effect, and after ex
isting ten or twelve years, so preposterous a
system was successfully overthrown, and permis
sion obtained from the king for the establishment
of Spanish factories in the neighbourhood of the
China and India manufactures, as well as the
power of addressing shipments direct to those
foreign dominions. The enlightened policy of
their respective governments did not allow them
to hesitate in giving a favourable reception to

88 ' STATE OF THE
our factors and vessels, and the purchases and
shipments of Asiatic goods being thus realized
¦without the old obstructions, the Company was
reasonably led to hope being able soon to increase
its operations, and progressively present more
satisfactory results to the share-holders, when
those political convulsions succeeding soon after,
which have unhinged or destroyed all the ordi
nary relations of trade, compelled them to aban
don their hopes, till the wished-for calm should
be again restored.
In consequence of the new character and route
given to the commercial enterprises of the Com
pany, as authorized by a royal decree of 12th
July, 1803, the functions of the Manilla factors
were reduced to the annual. shipment of a cargo
df Asiatic goods to Peru, valued at 500,000
dollars, but only as long as the -war lasted, and
till the expiration of the extraordinary permits
granted through the goodness of the king, and
also to the transmitting to China and Bengal of
the specie brought from America, and the col
lecting in of certain quantities of indigo, sugar,
or other produce of the islands, with a view to
gain by reselling it in the same market. Con
sequently, the moment things return to their
pacific and ordinary course, will be the period
when the necessity of the future existence of this
establishment will cease, or at least, when the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 89
propriety will be evident of its reform or assi
milation to the other commission houses, carry
ing on trade in Vera Cruz, Mexico, &c. which,
not being hired establishments, do not create
expences when they cease to transact business.
Against ' a measure of this kind it would be
useless to allege, that " by the exclusive privi
lege to introduce spirits and European effects into
the colony, the Company has contracted the ob
ligation of always keeping it properly supplied ;
that their very institution had for its basis the
general improvement of these islands, and that
in order duly to comply with these duties, it
becomes indispensably necessary to keep up the
present expensive establishment;" for, in, the
first place, in order to render it incumbent on
the company to introduce an indefinite quantity
of European articles, it previously would be
necessary to provide a vent for them, and this
can never be the case, unless the exclusion of
all competitors in the market is rigorously car
ried into effect. As things now are, the North
Americans, English^ French, and every other
nation that wishes, openly usurp this privilege,
by constantly inundating the islands with spirits
and all kinds of effects, and it is very evident
that this same abuse which authorizes the in
fraction of the above privilege, if in that light
it could in any way be considered, totally ex-

90 STATE OF THE
onerates the Company from all obligations by
them contracted under a different understand
ing. Besides, the circumstances which have
taken place since the first publication of the
royal decree, creating the above establishment
into a corporate body, in the year 1785, have
entirely changed the order established in this
respect. In the first place, the port of Manilla
has been opened, to foreign nations, in conse
quence of the disinterested representations of the
Company itself, and for the direct advantage of
general trade; nor was it easy to prevent our
new guests from, abusing the facilities thus
granted to them, and much less to confine them
to the mere introduction of Asiatic goods, the
original plea made use of. In the second, as
soon as the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands
became familiar with the more useful and ele
gant objects of convenience and luxury, which
they were enabled to purchase from foreigners,
at reasonable prices, it was natural for them to
pay little regard to the superfluous aid of the
Company, more particularly when the latter
were no longer able to sustain the competition,
either in the sale or supplies of a multitude of
articles, which, thanks to our own national sim
plicity, are scarcely known in Spain, whence
their outward-bound cargos are derived. Hence
it follows that, far from the importations and

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 91
supplies of the Company being missed, it may
with great reason be presumed, that this formal
renunciation of this ideal privilege of theirs,
must rather have contributed to secure, in a
permanent manner, adequate supplies for all
the wants and whims of the inhabitants of the
colony ; and that the publicity of such a deter
mination would act as a fresh allurement succes
sively to bring to the port of Manilla a host of
foreign speculators, anxious to avail themselves
of a fresh opening for commercial pursuits.
The other objection, founded on the mistaken
notion of its being inherent in, and belonging
to, the very essence of the Company, to promote
the general improvement of the Philippine Is
lands, if well considered, will appear eqnally
unjust. It is, in fact, a ridiculous, although too
generally received, a prejudice to suppose, that
the founders of this establishment proposed to
themselves the plan of sinking the money of the
share-holders in clearing the lands, and per
fecting the rude manufactures of these distant
islands. To imagine this to have been one of
the principal objects of the institution, or to
suppose that, on this hard condition, their various
privileges and exemptions were granted to them,
is so far from the reality of the fact, that it
would only be necessary to read with attention
the 26th Article of the above quoted royal de-

92 STATE OP THE
cree of creation, in order more correctly to com
prehend the origin and constitutive system" of
this political body.
"The latter," says the Duke de Almodovar,
" is reduced to two principal points ; the first of
which is the carrying on and union of the trade
of Asia with that of America and Europe ; and
the second, the encouragement and improvement
of the productions and manufacturing industry
of the islands. The one is the essential attribute
of the Company, constituting its real character
of a mercantile society ; and, in the other re
spect, it becomes an auxiliary of the government,
to whom the duties alluded to more immediately
belong." If to the above we add the preamble
of the 43d article of the new decree of 1803,
the recommendation, made to the Company, to
contribute to the prosperity of the agriculture
and manufacturing industry of the islands, will
appear as a limited and secondary consideration ;
for even if the question were carried to ex
tremes, it could never extend to any more than
the application of four per cent, of the annual
profits of the Company indistinctly to both
branches*. If, however, any doubts still re
mained, the explanation or solution recently

* The following is a literal translation of the S'oth clause
of the original charter, to which allusion is here made. — Tu.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 93
given to this question, would certainly remove
them ; because, by the simple fact of its being
expressed in the latter part of the aforesaid 43d
article, " That the above-mentioned four per
cent, was to be laid out, with the king's appro
bation, in behalf of the agriculture and manu
facturing industry of Spain and the Philippine
Islands," it is clear that the. king reserves and
appropriates to himself the investment of the
amount to be deducted from the general divi
dends, in order to apply it where and how may
be deemed most advisable. Consequently, far
from considering the Company in that respect

" All these grants, privileges, and exemptions, so advanta
geous to the.Company, and the large interest also I have taken
in its shares, have had for object the general good of my
beloved subjects, as well as the improvement ofthe agriculture
and manufacturing industry of the Philippine Islands. And,
as the prosperity of the latter is beneficial to the commerce of
Spain, and their progress is intimately connected with that of
the Company, whose profits will be greater in proportion as
the produce and arts of those my dominions are increased; I
declare, that I have granted to the said Company the privileges
contained in the preceding clauses, on the requisite condition
of applying four per cent, of their annual profits, through their
own agents, to the improvement of the Philippines, in the two
branches of agriculture and manufacturing industry ; 'and that
for.this purpose the committee, formed in Manilla, shall give
the necessary advice and information to the Board of Direc
tors, &c."

94 STATE OF THE
under an obligation to contribute to the im
provement of the Philippines exclusively, the
only thing that can be required of them, when
their charter is withdrawn, is, the repayment to
the royal treasury of the four per cent, on their
profits, for a purpose so vaguely defined. Jn
following up this same train of argument, it
would seem that, in order to render the amount
to be deducted from the eventual profits of the
Company, in the course of time, a productive
capital in the hands of the sovereign, the funds
ofthe society not only ought not to be diverted
to the continuation of projects which consume
them, but, on the contrary, it is necessary to
place at their disposal the direct means by which
these funds can be increased, in order to make
up to the Company in some measure the enormous
losses experienced of late years, and at once free
their commerce from the shackles with which it
has hitherto been obstructed.
Finally, after twenty-four years of impotent
and gratuitous efforts in the Philippines, and of
the most obstinate opposition on the part of their
rivals, it is now time for the Company, by giving
up the ungrateful struggle, to reform in every
respect their expensive establishment in Manilla,
and to direct their principal endeavours to carry
into effect the project so imperfectly traced out
in the new decree of 1803. The opinion of the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C, 95
most vehement enemies of privileged bodies ta
citly approves this exception in their favour.
Adam Smith, avowedly hostile to all monopolies,
feels himself compelled to confess that, " with
out the incentives which exclusive companies
offer to the individuals of a nation carrying on.
little trade, possibly their confined capitals
would cease to be destined to the remote and
uncertain enterprises which constitute a com
merce with the East Indies."
Our commerce, compared with that of other
nations, notwithstanding what may be said on
this subject, is most assuredly yet in a state of
infancy. That with Asia, more especially, with
the exception of the Royal Company, is almost
unknown to all other classes. If it is, therefore,
wished to exclude our many rivals from so lu
crative a branch of trade as that which consti
tutes supplies for the consumption of the Pe
ninsula and its dependencies, the means are
obvious. The most material part is in fact '
already done. The navigation to the various
ports of Asia is familiar to the Company's navy ;
their factors and clerks ht. .e acquired a practical
knowledge of that species of trade, essential to
the undertaking, as well as such information as
was at first unknown ; but, after the great mis
fortunes this body has experienced, it will be
indispensably necessary to aid and invigorate

96 STATE OP THE
them with large supplies of money, following
the example of other governments in similar
cases ; in order that the successful issue of their
future operations may compensate their past
losses, and worthily correspond with the mag
nitude of the object *.

* The royal charter by which the Philippine Company was
created into a corporate body, was signed by Charles III. on
10th March, 1785, and countersigned by D. Jose Galvez, his
minister. It consists of 100 clauses, containing the motives,
nature, and privileges of the establishment. The original
project was formed by Philip Y. " in consideration of the
advantageous situation of the Philippine Islands for the com
merce of Asia, in which so many .other nations of Europe had
prospered," and in conformity thereto, a royal decree was
issued in Seville, on the 29th of March, 1733. Subsequent
wars and other causes at the time prevented the realization of
the plan, which was taken up by Philip's son and successor.
The Guipuscoa Company of Caracas were the first to second
the plan, by resolving, in 1778, that part of their funds should
be appropriated to this purpose. This royal Company was
instituted for 25 years, ending in 1810, but the charter was
susceptible of being renewed. The capital was eight millions
of single dollars, divided into 32,000 shares, of 250 dollars
each, and sufficient time was allowed for subscriptions in
America and the Philippine Islands. The king subscribed
one million of hard dollars, and invited the bank of San
Carlos, and other corporate bodies in his dominions, to follow
his example; and the Caracas Company was also incorporated
in the new establishment, all their property and effects being
taken at an estimate. The arms of Manilla were made those

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 97
of the Company, and used on their seals, Sec. The basis of
the establishment was an exclusive right to trade with the Phi
lippines and other parts of Asia, and import into Spain the
produce and effects of those countries. The Company were
also allowed to trade to America, though not exclusively,
but under certain restrictions. Manilla was declared a free
port for all Asiatic nations, and all national goods shipped
there from Spain and America, freed from export duties, in
favour of the Company. A governing committee v/as elected
in Madrid, consisting of twelve directors, of which the minister
of the Indies, for the time being, was made president. — Tr.

M

98 STATE OP THE

CHAP. IV.
Of the public Revenue. — Revenue arising out of
the Crown Monopolies of Tobacco. — Of the
Coco and Nipa, or Palm Wine. — Royal Cus-
tom-House. — Import and Export Duties. —
Monopoly of the Bonga, or^Areca-Nut:
Public Revenue. — This Asiatic colony, al
though considered as conferring great lustre on
the crown and name of our monarch, by exhi
biting the vast extent of the limits of his domi
nions, has in reality been, during a long series
of years, a true burden to the government, or at
least, a possession whose chief advantages have
redounded in favour of other powers, rivals of
our maritime importance. Notwithstanding all
that has been said on the score of real utility,
certain it is, that the Philippine establishment
has cost the treasury large sums of money ; al
though, within the last twenty-five or thirty
years, it must be confessed that the public re
venue has experienced a considerable increase,
and, of itself, has become an object of some con
sequence to the state.
Among the various causes which have contri-

phillppine islands, &.C. 99
buted to produce so favourable an alteration, the
chief ones have been the establishment of the
tobacco-monopoly, on behalf of the crown, and
the opening of the port of Manilla to the flag of
other nations, at peace with Spain. The first
has considerably increased the entries into the
public treasury, and the second has tended to
multiply the general mass of mercantile opera
tions, independent of the other beneficial effects
this last measure must have produced in a coun
try, whose resources, trade and consumption had,
from the time of the conquest, experienced the
fatal shackles imposed by jealousy and igno
rance. The improved aspect the colony soon assumed,
by the introduction of this new system, as was
natural, awakened the attention of ministers, and
induced them more easily to consent to the
measures subsequently proposed to them, prin
cipally intended to place those distant dominions
on a footing of permanent security, so as to
enable them tq repel any fresh attempts on the
part of an enemy. As, however, the productions
of the country increased, the public expences
also became greater, although always in a much
smaller proportion, with the exception of the
interval between the years 1797 and 1802, when
the government, fearful of a second invasion,
was compelled, at its own expense, to provide
H 2

lOo state of the
against the danger with which these islands were
then threatened. If, therefore, as appears from
the official reports of the treasurer-general, Lar-
zabal, in my possession, the receipts at the trea
sury, in 1780, amounted only to 700,000 dollars,
including the situado*, or annual allowance for
the Expenses of government sent from New
Spain, and after the ordinary charges of admi
nistration had been paid, a surplus of 170,000
dollars remained in the hands of the treasurer ;
at present we have the satisfaction to find that
the revenue is equal to 2,626,176 dollars, 4 rials.

* The siiuados, or yearly allowances, which Mexico was
obliged to furnish, for the support of other parts of the king's
doininions, were in the following proportions : viz.
Floridas  151,000
Puerto Rico  377,000
Philippine Islands  250,000
Louisiana  557^000
Island of Trinidad  200,000
Spanish part of St. Domingo  274,000
Total Dollars 3,635,000
These allowances were increased according to exigencies ; but,
of late years, they have nearly all been dispensed with, owing
to several of the countries having fallen into other hands, and
because the various insurrections which have taken place in
New Spain, since 1810, have been so expensive, that, after
supplying his own wants, the viceroy has had no surplus reve
nue to dispose of.— Tr.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 101
and the expenses do not exceed 2,179,731 dollars,
7 rials ; by which means an annual surplus of
445,444 dollars, 5 rials, is left, applicable to the
ps^yment of the debt contracted during the ex
traordinary period above mentioned, now re
duced to about 900,000 dollars, and afterwards
transferable to the general funds belonging to
the crown.
This sketch of the prosperous state to which
the revenue of the Philippine Islands has been
raised, within the few last years, is not less
exact than it is flattering; as I shall now proceed
minutely to demonstrate, by giving an idea of
the nature and importance of each of the prin
cipal branches constituting the same. I am the
more induced to enter on this task, from con
sidering each article as deserving of being noticed
in a separate manner, and also because an inquiry
of this kind tends indirectly to convey true
notions of the greater or lesser degree, of opu
lence the inhabitants are capable of attaining,
and also of the general progress they have already
been enabled to make in the social state. In ,
order, therefore, that a more complete idea may
be formed of the principal, as well as secondary,
branches which do not require a particular ex
planation, I shall collect and give a full view of
all in Table, N°. VI. which, besides serving as
authority for my own rwnarks, will furnish the

102 STATE OF THE
reader with general results, who does not feel
inclined to enter into details.
With regard to the administrative system,
it is in every respect similar to the one ob
served in our governments of America, with
this difference only, that, in the Philippine
Islands, greater economy prevails in salaries^ as
well as in the number of persons, employed. In
former times, the establishment of intendancies,
or boards of administration, was deemed ex
pedient in Manilla, Ilocos, Camarines, Iloylo,
and Zebu; but they were soon afterwards re
formed, or rather laid aside, on account of their
being deemed superfluous *. I would not venture
to state the grounds on which this opinion was
then formed; but, as the sphere in which the
king's revenue acts in these islands increases and
extends, which naturally will be the case if the
plans and improvements dictated by the present
favourable circumstances are carried into effect,
I do not hesitate to say that it will be necessary
* During the administration of Lope Garcia de Castro, who
governed in Peru from the year 1569 to 1581, subaltern judges,
under the title of corregidores, were established in each of the
provinces, a system created in order that the distant inhabitants
Kight find more immediate redress by judges being placed
among them. Without the trouble of resorting to the capital.
In tbe course of time, these judges became possessed of the
, power of what were called the repartimientos, or the division
and allotment of the Indians into a kin& of fiefs, a plan re-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 103
again to appeal to the establishment of a greater
number of Boards for the management and col
lection of the various branches of the revenue,
whether they are called Intendancies, or by any
other name ; as it will be extremely difficult for
the administration to do its duty, on the con
fined and inadequate plan under which it is at
present organized. Under its existing form, it
is constituted jn the following manner. The
Goyernor of the islands, in his quality of Super-
intendant or Administrator General, and as
uniting in himself the powers of Intendant of
the Army, presides at the Board of Administra
tion of the king's revenue, which is placed in
the immediate charge of a treasurer and two
commended by the laws of the Indies, in order that the un
lettered natives might receive instruction and protection from
the Spaniards'Settled among them. By this means, however,
the authority of these district judges was rendered extremely
despotic, and a system, originally suggested from motives of
humanity became liable to the grossest abuses. In 1784, the
administration of Peru underwent a new reform, the dignity of
Viceroy was suspended, but soon afterwards restored on the
same plan, when the seventy-seven corregimientos, or district
governments formed of the subaltern judges above alluded to,
being the whole left in the Viceroyalty after the dismember
ments which then took place, were reduced into seven Inten
dancies, comprehending, in all, fifty-three partidos or districts,
and in each an Intendant was placed, for the purposes of
civil government, and this form still continues in Peru and
Mexico.— Tb.

104 STATE OF THB
clerks* The principal branches have their re
spective general Directors, on whom the pro
vincial Administrators depend, and the civil
magistrates, in the quality of sub-delegates, -fcol-
lect within their respective districts, the tri
butes paid by the natives in money and produce,
and manage every thing else relating to the
king's revenue. In ordinary cases, the general
laws of the Indies govern, and especially the or
dinances or regulations of the Intendants of New
Spain, ordered to be observed in the Philippines.
It ought further to be observed, that, in these
islands, the same as in all the viceroyalties and
governments of America, there is a distinct body
of royal decrees in force, which, in themselves,
constitute a code of considerable size.
Tobacco Monopoly. — ^The project of con
verting the consumption of tobacco into a mo
nopoly, met with a most obstinate resistance on
the part of the inhabitants, and the greatest cir
cumspection and constancy were necessary for the
governor, D^ Jose Basco, to carry this arduous
enterprise into effect*. Accustomed to the cul-
* The planting and growth of tobacco were free in all
South America till the year 1752, when it was converted into a
monopoly on behalf of the crown. In 1780 playing cards
were put under the same restrictions, and in 1782, stamps
were issued on account of government, and in the following
year, gunpowder was added to the monopoly, — Tr.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C, 105
tivation of this plant, without any restriction
whatever, and habituated to its use from their
infancy, it appeared to the people the extreme
of rashness to seek simultaneously to extirpate it
from the face of the greatest part of the island of
Luzon, in order to confine its culture within the
narrow limits of a particular district. They
were equally revolted at the idea of giving to a
common article a high and arbitrary value, when
besides, it had become one ofthe first necessity.
Every circumstance, however, being dispassion
ately considered, and the principle once ad
mitted that it was expedient for the colony to
maintain itself by means the least burdensome to
the inhabitants, it certainly must be acknow
ledged that, although odious on account of its
novelty and defective in the inode of its execu
tion, a resource more productive and at the same
time less injurious, could not have been devised.
Hence was it that the partisans of the opposite
system were strangely misled, by founding their
calculations ' on false data, when they alleged
that a substitute, equivalent to the increased
revenue supposed to arise out of the monopoly of
tobacco, might have been resorted to, by order
ing a proportionate rise in the branch of tributes.
In fact, no one who has had the least experience
. in matters of this kind, can be ignorant of the
open repugnance the natives have always evinced

106 STATE OF THE
to the payment of the ordinary capitation-tax,
and the broils to which its collection has given
rise. Besides, if well examined, no theory is
more defective and more oppressive on acceunt
ofthe disparity with which it operates, than this
same wrongly boasted impost ; for, however de
sirous it may be to simplify the method of col
lecting the general revenue of a state, if the best
plan is to be adopted, that is, if public bur
dens are to be rendered the least obnoxious, it is
necessary preferably to embrace the system of
indirect contributions, in which class, to a certain
degree, the monopoly of all those articles may be
considered as included, which are not rigorously
of the first necessity, and only compel the in
dividual to contribute, when his own will in
duces him to become a consumer.
Let this be as it may, certain it is, that to
Governor Basco we are indebted for having
doubled the annual amount of the revenue of
these islands, by merely rendering the consump
tion of tobacco subservient to the wants of the
crown. It was he who placed these islands in
the comfortable situation of being able to subsist,
without being dependent on external supplies of
money to meet the exigencies of government. It
ought, however, to be remarked that, although
they have been in the habit of receiving the an
nual allowance of 250,000 dollars, for which

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 107
a standing credit was opened by the government
at home on the general tveasury of New Spain,
considerable sums have, nevertheless, on various
occasions, been remitted from the Philippines to
Spain, through the channel ofthe Captain-Gene
ral, as may be seen by Table VIL, exhibiting the
total amount ofthe proceeds and expenditure of the
branch of tobacco, from the year 1782, the period
wjhen it was established into a monopoly. If these
remittances have been suspended for some years
past, it has evidently been owing to the im
perious necessity of iapplying the ordinary pro
ceeds of the revenue, as well as other extraor
dinary means, to unforeseen contingencies arising
out of peculiar circumstances.
The planting and cultivation of tobacco are
now confined to the district of Gapan, in the
province of La Pampanga, to that of Cagayan,
and to the small island of Marinduque. The
amount of the crops raised in the above three
points and sold to the king, may, on an average,
be estimated at 50,000 bales, grown in the fol
lowing proportion — Gapan, 47,000 bales; Ca
gayan, 2, and Marinduque, 1. This stock, re
sold at the monopoly prices, yields a sum equal
to about one million of dollars, and deducting
therefrom the prime cost and all other expenses,
legally chargeable on this branch, the nett pro
ceeds in favour of the revenue amount to 550,000
dollars, or upwards of 122 per cent. This profit

108 STATE OP THE
is so much the more secure, as it rests on the
positive fact that, however great the quantity of
the article sold furtively and by evading the
vigilance ofthe guards, as the demand and con
sumption are excessive and always exceed the
stock on hand, a ready sale cannot fail to be had
for all the stock placed in the hands ofthe agents
of the monopoly*. From this it may also be in
ferred how much the nett proceeds of this branch
would be increased, if without venturing too far
in extending the plantations and consequent
purchases, care was taken to render the supplies
more proportionate to the consumption ; for, by
a clear profit of 122 per cent, falling on a larger
capital, it follows that a corresponding result
would be obtained. In a word, the sales, far
from declining or being in any way deemed pre
carious, are susceptible of a great increase, con
sequently, this branch of revenue merits the
* The nett revenue derived from the tobacco-monopoly in
New Spain, was equal to 3,993,834, in 1801, and in the fol
lowing year, to 4,092,629 dollars, of which the prime cost paid
the planters, in the dearest season, did not exceed 626,310
dollars. The total sales in both years exceeded 7^ milUons
of dollars. The tobacco is chiefly made into segars, on ac
count of the revenue, and the great manufactory of Queretaro
affords employment to upwards of 3000 persons, two-thirds
of whom are women. The greatest part of the segars are en
veloped with paper, supplied from Spain, no other quality
serving for this purpose. The Queretaro manufactory con
sumes 130 reams per day. — Tb.

Philippine islands, &c, ' 109
serious attention of government beyond all
others. It is, however, to be lamented that, instead of
every facility being given to the sale of tobacco
and the consumption thus encouraged, the pub
lic meet with great difficulties and experience
such frequent obstacles and deficiencies in the
supplies, that with truth it may almost be said,
the sales are effected in spite of the administra
tors themselves. In the capital alone it is a ge
nerally received opinion that a third part more
would there be consumed, if, instead of com
pelling the purchaser to receive the tobacco al
ready manufactured or folded, he was allowed to
take it from-the stores in its primitive state ; and
if the minor establishments in the provinces
were constantly supplied with good qualities, an
infinitely larger quantity might be sold, and by
this means a great deal of smuggling also pre
vented. Such, however, is the neglect and ir
regularity in this department, that it frequently
happens in towns, somewhat distant from Ma
nilla, no other tobacco is to be met with than
what the smugglers sell, and if, perchance, any
is to be found in the monopoly-stores, it is usually
of the worst quality that can be imagined.
I pass over, in silence, the other defects gra
dually introduced, as evils, in a greater or lesser
degree, inseparable from this part of public ad-

110 state of THE
ministration in every country in which it has
been deemed necessary to establish monopolies;
but I cannot refrain from again insisting on the
urgency with which those in 'power ought to
devote themselves, firmly and diligently, to
the destruction of abuses which have hitherto
paralyzed the progress of the branch in question,
because I am well persuaded, that whenever
corresponding means are adopted, it will be
possible in a short time to double the proceeds.
What these means are, it is not easy, nor indeed
essential, to particularize in a rapid sketch, like
this, of the leading features and present state of
the Philippine Islands. I shall, therefore, mere
ly remark, that it will be in vain to wish the
persons engaged in the management of this de
partment, to exert their zeal and sincerely co
operate in the views of government, as long as
they a^e not placed beyond the necessity of fol
lowing other pursuits and gaining a livelihood in
another way : in a word, unless they have a sa
lary assigned them, corresponding to the confi
dence and value of the important object en
trusted to their charge, no plan of reform can be
rendered efficient.
At the same time steps are taken to augment
the revenue, arising out of tobacco, it would be
desirable, as much as possible, to improve the
method used with regard to those who gather in

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. Ill
the crops, by endeavouring to relieve them from
the heavy conditions imposed upon them ; condi
tions which, besides exposing them to the odious
effects of revenue-laws, by their very nature
bring upon them many unpleasant consequences,
and often total ruin. In order that a correct
opinion may be formed of these defects, it will
suffice to observe that, under pretext of prevent
ing smuggling, the guards and their agents
watch, visit,, and, if I may use the expression,
live among the plantations from the moment
the tobacco-seedlings appear above ground, till
the crops are gathered in. After compelling the
Indian planter to cut off the head of the stem,
in order that the plant may not become too luxu
riant, the surveyors then proceed to set down, not
only the number of plants cultivated on each
estate, but even the very leaves of each, distin
guishing their six different qualities, in order to
call the farmers to account, respectively, when
they make a defective delivery into the general
stores. In the latter case, they are compelled to
prove the death of the plants and even to ac
count for the leaves missing when counted over
again, under the penalty of being exposed to the
rigour ofthe revenue laws.
It cannot indeed be denied that by this means
two important objects are attained, at one and
the same time ; the one, the gradual improve-

112 STATE OF THE
ment of the tobacco, and the other, the greater
difficulty of secreting the article; but, on the
other hand, how great are the inconveniencies
incurred? Independent of the singularity and
consequent oppression of a regulation of this
kind, as well as its too great minuteness and
complication, it is attended with very consider
able expences, and renders it necessary to keep
on foot a whole army of guards and clerks, who
tyrannize over and harass the people without
any real motive for such, great scrupulosity and
profusion. I make this observation, because I
cannot help thinking, that the same results might
nearly be obtained, by adopting a more simple
and better regulated system. I am not exactly
aware ofthe one followed in the island of Cuba,
but as far as I understand the matter, it is simply
reduced to this ; the growers there merely pre
sent their* bales to the inspectors, and if pro
nounced to be sound and good, the stipulated
amount is paid over to them; but if the quality
is bad, the whole is unavoidably burnt. Thus all
sales, detrimental to the public revenue, are pre
vented, and I do not see why the same steps
could not be taken in the Philippine Islands. It
must not, however, be understood, that I pre
sume to speak in a decisive tone on a subject so
extremely delicate, and that requires great prac
tical information, which, I readily acknowledge,

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 113
I do not possess. I merely wish by means of
these slight hints, to contribute to the com-
mencement of a reform in abuses, and to pro
mote the adoption of a plan that may have for
basis the relief of the growers, and at the same
time advance the prosperity of this part of the
royal revenue*.

* On this subject, Humboldt, Essai Politique, Kv. iv. chap. Jc.
makes the following remarks. — Tr.
" The cultivation of Mexican tobacco might become a
branch of agriculture of the highest importance, if the trade in
this article was free ; but since the introduction of the mono
poly on the part of the crown, not only a special permission is
necessary for planting of tobacco; not only the grower is
compelled to deliver it into the monopoly-stores, at the price
arbitrarily fixed by the Directors, according to the goodness
of the article ; but the cultivation is restricted to the vicinity
only of Orizava and Cordova, and to the districts of Hua-
tusco de Songolica, situated in the Intendancy of Vera Cruz.
Clerks, bearing the title oi guardas de tabaco,' scour the coun
try, in order to root up the tobacco planted out of the dis
tricts above named, and to fine the farmers who have dared
to grow what is necessary for their own consumption. It has
been thought that the contraband would be diminished, by
confining the cultivation to an extent of country of four or
five square leagues. Before the establishment of the mo
nopoly, the Intendancy of Guadalaxara, more particularly the
districts of Antlan, Ezatlan, Ahuxcatlan, Tepic, Santixpac and
Acapoueta, were celebrated for the abundance and excellent
quality of the tobacco they produced. These countries, once
I

114 STATE OP THE
Monopoly of Coco and Nipa, or Palm, Wine.
— ^This branch of public revenue is of sufficient
magnitude to merit the second place among the
resources rendered available to the expenditure
of these islands. Established into a monopoly
some years ago, in like manner as the consumption
of tobacco, it has experienced several changes in
its plan of administration, this being at one time
carried on on account of the king, at others, by
the privilege being let out at auction ; till at
length the Board of Control, convinced of the
great profits gained by the contractors, resolved
at once to take the direction of this department
under their own charge, and make arrangements
for its better administration. Having with this
view established general deposits and- licensed
houses for the sale of country wine, with proper
superintending clerks, they soon began to reap
the fruits of so judicious a determination.
In 1780, the privilege of selling the coco and
nipa wine was farmed out to the highest bidder,
for no more than 45,200 dollars, and subse
quently the increase has been so great, owing to
the improvements adopted, that at present nett

so happy and flourishing, have decreased in population, since
the plantation was transferred to the eastern slope of the Cor
dillera."

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 115
proceeds, equal to 200,000 dollars, on an average,
may be relied upon. In proof of this, the pro
ceeds of this branch, in the year 1809, may be
quoted, when the total balances received at the
Treasury, after all expences had been paid,
amounted to 221,426 dollars, in the following
manner. Administration of Manilla and district 201,250
Id. of La Pampanga and district- - 12,294
Id. of Pangasinan and district - 7,882
Dollars 221,426

The prime cost and other expences that year
amounted to no more than 168,557 dollars, by
which means, on the whole operation, a nett
profit of 131| per cent, resulted in favour of the
Treasury. The monopoly of country wine comprehends
the whole of the island of Luzon, excepting the
provinces of Cagayan, Zambales, New Ecija,
Camarines and Albay, and is under the direction
of three administrators, who act independently
of each other in their respective districts, and
have at their disposal a competent number of
guards. These administrators receive in the
licensed establishments the coco and nipa wines,
at prices stipulated with the growers. That of
the, coco is paid fpr at the rate of twp dollars pgr
l2

116 • STATE OF THE
jar, containing twenty gantas, equal to twelve
arrobas, seven azumbres and half a quartillo,
Castilian measure *, and at .fourteen rials in the
places nearest the depots. The nipa wine is laid
in at 6i rials the jar, indistinctly; prices which,
although extremely low, are still considered ad
vantageous by the Indians themselves, more par
ticularly when it is besides understood, that,
from the circumstance of their being growers of
this article, they are exempted from military
service, as well as several other taxes and public
charges. The coco-wine is a weak spirit, olitained in the
following manner f. The tree that produces this

* Ganta is a local measure, and in Castile the arroba is
equal to 25 lbs. weight ; the azumbre is equal to ^ of an
arroba, and the quartillo J of an azumbre, in wet measure,
and of a celemin in grain, &c. — Te.
+ This must mean the gomuti palm, described by Craw-
furd in his Indian Archipelago, vol. I. in the following man
ner. — Th.
" One of the most useful and abundant of all the palms, is
the sagmre or gomuti (borassus gomutus). This affords the
principal supply of that saccharine liquor which is used so
much by the natives as a beverage, or for the extraction of
sugar. The gomuti is the thickest of all the palms, but shorter
on that account. It is readily distinguished from all the other
palms by its rude and wild aspect. The fruits, which are
about the size of a medlar, and of a triangular form, grow
from, the shoots of fructification, on long strings of three er

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 117
fruit is crowned by an assemblage of large flowers
or corollas, from the centre or calix of which
issues a fleshy stem, filled with juice. The In-

four feet. The fruit is in such abundance, that the quantity
depending from a single shoot is more than a load for a man.
The fleshy outer covering of the fruit is of a poisonous qua
lity, or at least, affords a juice of a highly stimulating and
corrosive nature, which, when applied to the skin, occasions
great pain and inflammation. The inhabitants of the Mo
luccas were in the practice of using, in their wars, in the de
fence of posts, a liquor afforded by the maceration of the fruit
of the gomuii, which the Dutch appropriately denominated
hell water. The principal production of this palm is the
toddy, which is procured in the same manner as from other
palms, or in the following mode : one ofthe spatha or shoots
of fructification is, on the first appearance of fruit, beaten for
three successive days with a small stick, with a view of de
termining the sap to the wounded part. The shoot is then
cut off, a little way from the root, and the liquorwhich pours out
is received in pots of earthenware — in bamboos — or other
vessels. The gomuti palm is fit to yield toddy at" nine or ten
years old, and continues to yield it for two years at ihe ave
rage rate of three quarts a day. When newly drawn, the liquor
is clear, and in taste resembles fresh must. In a very short
time it becomes turbid, whitish and somewhat acrid, and
quickly runs into the vinous fermentation, acquiring an in
toxicating quality. A still larger quantity is immediately ap
plied to the purpose of yielding sugar. With this view, the
liquor is boiled to a syrup, and thrown out to cool in small
vessels, the form of which it takes, and in this shape it is sold
in the markets. The sugar is of a dark colour and greasy con-

118 STATE OP THE
dian cuts the extremity of this stem, and in
clining the remainder in a lateral manner, in
troduces it into a large hollow tube which re
mains suspended, and is found full of sweet and
sticky liquor, which the tree in this manner
yields twice in every twenty-four hours. This
liquid, called tuba, in the language of the coun
try, is allowed to ferment for eight days in a
large vessel, and afterwards distilled by the In
dians in their uncouth stills, which are no other
than large boilers, with a head made of lead or
tin, rendered tight by means of clay, and with a
pipe frequently made out of a simple cane, which
conveys the spirit to the receiving vessels, without
passing, like the serpentine tube used in ordi
nary stills, through the cooling vats, which so
greatly tends to correct the vices of a too quick
evaporation. The tuba, obtained in level and hot
situations, is much more spirituous than that
produced in cold and shady places. In the first,
six jars of juice are sufficient to yield one of
spirit, and in the latter, as many as eight are re
quisite ; a much greater number, however, would
be wanted to rectify this spirit so as to render it
sistence, with a peculiar flavour. It is the only sugar used by
the native population (meaning of Java). The wine of this
palm is also used by the Chinese residing in the Indian Islands
in the preparation of the celebrated Batavian arrack."

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 119
equal to what is usually known by Hollands
proof. I am not positively certain what degree
of strength the coco brandy, or as it is usually
called coco wine, possesses, but it is evidently in
ferior to the weakest made in Spain from the
juice of the grape. The only circumstance re
quired for it to be approved of, and received into
the monopoly-stores, is its being easily ignited
by the application of a lighted candle*.
The nipa is a small tree of the class of palms,
which grows in a very bushy form, and multi
plies and prospers greatly on the margins of
rivers and watery tracts of land f. The tuba, or

* The cabo negro, as it is called by the Spaniards, is also
obtained from the gomuii, and resembles black horse hair. It
is found between the trunk and branches, in a matted form,
interspersed with black twigs. When separated from the lat
ter, it is manufactured into a cordage of a cheap and durable
nature, chiefly used for cables and standing rigging. A single
palm in its life-time yields two crops of this material, each
amounting to about 9 lbs. The twigs are used as writing
pens, and also as arrows. Under the hair-like material a soft
substance is besides collected, used as oakum for caulking, and
as such exported to China. — Tr.
+ The following is the description given of this palm by
Crawfurd, vol. I.— Tr.
" The Nipah is a low palm, the trunk of which never ex
ceeds a man's height. It is the inhabitant of low marshy situ
ations. Like other palms it yields a wine by the usual pro
cess, and in some parrs of the Archipelago, particularly in the

120 STATE OF THE
juice, is extracted from the tree whilst in its
flowering state, in the same way as that of the
coco, and afterwards distilled by a similar pro
cess; but it is more spirituous, from six to six
and a half jars being sufficient to yield one of wine.
The great difference remarked in the prices of
these two species of liquor, arises out of the
o-reater number of uses to which the fruit of the
cocal or coco tree is applicable, and the increase
of expence and labour requisite to obtain the
juice, owing to the great height of the plant,
and the frequent dangers to which the caritanes,
or gatherers, are exposed in passing from one
tree to another, which they do by sliding along
a simple cane *.

Philippines, it is cultivated for this purpose. Its principal use,
however, is for the leaf, usually called Atap, the common term
for thatch among the Malays, specifically applied to the leaves
of this palm, because, among that people, it is almost the only
material used for that purpose. The Nipah leaf is also used for
the fabrication of coarse mats. The small, insipid pulpy
kernels are sometimes preserved as sweetmeats.
* Nature has been extremely provident to man in the
southern hemisphere. On the Andes mountains, where
poisons abound, the antidote is always met with. On their
declivities, where the 'tertian fever is endemic, the febrifuge is
particularly placed ; whilst on the coasts where the dysentery
marks the climate, the simaniba, epicacuana, and other tonics
are found. In the parched regions of the southern coast, for

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 121
The impost on, or rather monopoly of coun
try wine, is in itself little burdensome to the
community, as it only falls on the lower and
most dissipated orders in society, and for this
reason it is not susceptible of the same increase
as that of tobacco, of which the use is more
general, and now become an object of the first
necessity. The Indian of the Philippine Islands
is, by nature, so sober, that the spectacle of a
drunken man is seldom noticed in the streets ;

the convenience of the exhausted traveller, the cah or Guaya
quil cane raises its refreshing form, and serves even to allay the
thirst of cattle. This remarkable plant is high, thick, and the
hollow partitions of the cane, as the moon increases, are filled
with a clear and good water. At the full of the moon, even
the smallest of the upper branches are filled with fluid, though
at the wane found only in the trunk, whence it is extracted by
a bore, and in these tubes or natural divisions of the cane car
ried to the distant workmen. The utricularia of the Philip
pine Islands is a plant of this kind. It is a tree from the joints
of which issues. a tendril like that of a vine, at the extremity of
which is placed a small receiver, resembling a cruet with a
neck, and on the top is placed a valve, which serves the place
of a stopper. The receiver always stands erect, and is filled
with a sweet and pleasant water, except at certain hours, when
the valve naturally rises, to give room for evaporation, other
wise the repletion could not take place. The contents of four
or six of these little vessels are sufficient to quench the thirst
of One person. This plant is found in the province of Bisayas,
in the island of Luzon.— .Tr.

122 STATE OF THE
and in the capital, where the most corrupt classes
of them reside, it is admirable to see the general
abstinence from a vice that degrades the human
species. The consumption of the coco and nipa
wine is, nevertheless, considerable, which takes
place in all their festivities, cock-fights, games,
marriages, &c. ; wherefore, if any scheme is
devised to augment the annual sale of these
liquors, none could be more efficient than to in
crease the number of their festive meetings, and
seek pretexts to encourage public diversions, if,
on the other hand, this were not contrary to the
well-regulated order of society, and the duties of
those who are intrusted with its superintend
ence. I am still of opinion that, without resting the
prosperity of this branch of the public revenue
on principles, possessed of so immoral a tendency,
it might be rendered more productive to the
treasury, if the monopoly could be introduced
into the other districts, adapted to its establish
ment. By this I mean to say that, as hitherto
the monopoly has been partial, and enforced
more in the way of a trial than in a general and
permanent manner, much remains to be done,
and consequently great scope is left for improve
ment in this department of the public revenue.
This most assuredly may be attained, if all the
local circumstances and impediments, more or

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 123
less superable, which the matter itself presents,
are only taken into due account, and proper
exertions made to study and discover the various
indirect means of increasing the total mass of
contrilbutions, by applying a system more pro
ductive and analogous to the nature of the
Philippine Islands. With regard to the revenue
of the two particular articles above treated on, I
merely wish to give to understand that, far from
introducing by means of the monopoly, a new
vice into the provinces in which 1 recommend
its establishment, it would rather act, in a certain
degree at least, as a Corrective to pre-existing
evils, and the government would derive advan
tages from an article of luxury, by subjecting
its consumption to the same shackles under which
it stands in the other provinces, where its admi
nistration is established and carried on for ac
count of the royal Treasury.
Royal Custom House. — In former times,
when only vessels belonging to the Asiatic na
tions visited the port of Manilla, with effects
from the coast of Coromandel, or the China
junks*, and now and then a Spanish vessel
coming from or going to the island of Java, with

* The following extract describes the trade of the Chinese
junks. — Tr.
" Of all foreign nations, the Chinese have settled in the

124 state of THE

"spices for account of Philippine merchants, the
receipt of duties was left in charge of a single

greatest number in the Archipelago. Their country, overflow
ing with inhabitants, lies close to the Indian -islands, and a
constant intercourse is kept up between them. The Chinese
junks never fail to bring a large supply of emigrants, and the
European trading ships frequently do the same thing. But
for the peculiar laws of China, which check the progress of
emigration, by interdicting that of women entirely, we should
long ago have seen the principal portion of the Archipelago
colonized by this race. Many of these Chinese return to
their own country, and the first intention of every emigrant
is probably to do so, but circumstances detain a number of
them in the islands, who intermarrying with the natives pf the
country, generate a race inferior in energy and spirit tp the
native settler, but speaking the language, wearing the garb,
professing the religion, and affecting the manners of the parent
country. The Chinese settlers may be described' as at once
enterprising, keen, laborious, luxurious, sensual, debauched
and pusillanimous. The/ are most generally engaged in trade,
in which they are equally speculative, expert' and judicious.
Their superior intelligence and activity have placed in their
hands the management of the public revenue, in almost every
country of the Archipelago, whether ruled by natives or Eu
ropeans ; and of the trafiic of the Archipelago with surround
ing foreign nations, almost the whole is conducted by them.
From China they have imported into the Indian islands the
agricultural skill which distinguishes that country above all
others of Asia. This skill is advantageously transferred to the
culture of tropical products, to that of the sugar-cane, .pepper
and indigo. In the western countries, where there is least
competition from the natives, the Chinese employ themselves

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 125
royal officer, and the valuations of merchandise
made by him, in concert with two merchants
named by the government ; but with the know
ledge and assistance of the king's attorney-
general. The modifications and changes which
have subsequently taken place in this department,
have however been frequent, as is evidently
shewn by the Historical Extract from the pro
ceedings instituted before the Council of the
Indies, by the merchants of Seville and Cadiz,
ih opposition to those of the Philippine Islands,
printed in Madrid, 1736, in folio, by order of
the said council ; but as it does not enter into
my views to speak of times so remote, I shall
confine my remarks on this branch, considered
under its present form.
In conformity to royal orders of 15th March
and 5th May, 1786, the Royal Custom House of
Manilla was definitively organized on its new
plan ; and from 1788, was placed under the
immediate charge of an Administrator-General,
in handicraft trades, and are the best and most expeditious
workers in wood and iron. They very seldom condescend to
work as day-labourers. They are the least conscientious
people alive ; the constant prospect of gain or advantage must
be presented to them to induce them to fulfil their engage
ments, which they will always evade when their judgment is
not satisfied that an adherence to them will be certainly pro
fitable." Crawfurd, vol. I.

126 STATE OF THE
a Controller, a Treasurer, aided by a competent
number of guards, tidewaiters, &c., and in every
respect regulated on the plan established in the
other Custom Houses. The freedom of the port
being granted to foreign nations, a privilege
before enjoyed Only by those purely Asiatic, and
a new line of trade commenced by the Company,
the competition in merchandise soon began to
increase, as well as the revenue arising there
from, in such manner that, although the ex
portation of goods was limited to the cargo of
the Acapulco ship, of which the duties are not
payable till her arrival there; notwithstanding
also the property imported by the Company from
China and India, and destined for their own
shipments, was exempt from duties, and above
all, the continual interruptions experienced by
the maritime commerce of the islands within the
last fifteen or twenty years, the nett proceeds of
the Custom House, from the period above men
tioned of its establishment, till the close of 1809,
have not been less than from 138 to 140,000
dollars, on an average, as manifested in Table,
N°. VIII. ; independent of the amount of the
king's fifth on the gold of the country, which is
collected by the same administrator, in conse
quence of its being trivial ; as well as the two
per cent, belonging to the Board of Trade, and
by them collected under that title, and after-
2

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 127
wards separately applied to the average-fund,
and which usually may be estimated from 20 to
25,000 dollars.
The general duties now levied in the Custom
House, are the following* :

* In consequence of the complete revolution that has re
cently taken place in the commercial regulations of Spain, and
affecting every part of the monarchy, it has been deemed ad
visable to add the following decree, not only as explanatory to
the text, but also useful to all merchants interested in Spanish,
peninsular, or colonial trade. — Tr.
Ferdinand VII. by the Grace of God and the Constitution
of the Spanish Monarchy, King of Spain, to all whomsoever
these presents may reach — know that the Cortes have decreed
as follows : —
The Cortes, by virtue of the powers granted to them by the
Constitution, have decreed;
Art. 1. There shall be one uniform tariff of the Custom
Houses in the whole of the Spanish Monarchy, which in
Europe shall , begin to operate from the 1st Jan. 1821, and
thirty days after the order and new tariff shall have arrived in
the ultramarine provinces; but with regard to the shipments
which may be undertaken after the 1st January, 1821, in ob
servance of the new tariff, the Captains or Mates of such vessels
shall carry out the necessary certificates on their clearances, in
order that at the places of their destination, the regulations of
the new tariff may be observed, as far as regards said ship
ments. 2. Every year the Cortes shall confirm or amend the tariff
of Customs, as may be deemed expedient.
3. The form of the general tariff of Customs shall, for the

128 STATE OF THE
Import Duties. Six per cent, duties of
atmojarifasgo on all kinds of merchandise im-

present, be the one proposed by the Special Committee of
Tariffs, for this purpose created by a royal order of 13th April,
1816, and which has been presented to the Cortes by the Se
cretary of the Finance Department, simplified in the following
manner. All kinds of merchandise shall be divided into 15
classes, as expressed in the said project, and in exact alpha
betical order, shall be included those articles already therein
contained, adding thereto such new ones as may occur under
another form. The charges shall be laid down according to
numbers, weight, measure, or value, the duty on fixed quanti
ties being specified, conformably to the regulations of the said
project. The import and export duties shall be distinguished
by two divisions ; the first to be subdivided into four columns,
viz. in the first shall be marked the number, weight, or mea
sure, on which is to be regulated the duty of import, export,
and home consumption, without any alteration in the manner
that may be established for the entry; in the second, shall be
inserted the value of each article paying duty ; in the third, the
rate of duty shall be stated ; and in the fourth, the fixed
amount of duty to be paid by the article specified. The
second division, under the title of General Export, shall con
tain three columns, which, referring to the same rate of duty
on articles enumerated in the first column of General Import,
shall specify the value, the rate, and the duty on fixed quanti
ties of the articles exported. To the two explained divisions
or columns of import and export duties, shall be added another
for the home consumption, in countries belonging to the Spa
nish Monarchy, in Europe as well as beyond seas, of all na
tional articles of the Peninsula, America, and Asia. What
regards the first, shall be exhibited in three columns united to

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 129
ported in foreign bottoms, under a valuation
made by the surveyors, in conformity to the

the seven of the above divisions, specifying the value, rate, and
the duty on fixed quantities ; and with regard to' the home
consumption in the ultra-marine provinces, the same shall be
expressed in contiguous columns, the rate being stated in the
first, and in the second the amount on each article, according
to the value of national articles, specified in the eighth column.
And finally, a thirteenth column shall be added, specifying the
fixed amount corresponding to the two per cent, for adminis
tration, in cases in which the same is to be paid for trans-ship
ping, or on exportation to a foreign country, as will be
explained in Article 33 ; the' said two per cent, being calcu
lated in conformity to the rate stated in the second or eighth
column, according as the same may be national or foreign
articles. 4. One single duty shall be levied on account of the public
revenue, on the import and export of foreign goods, as stated
in the above project, and in the corresponding columns, the
duty assigned to the national flag shall alone be specified.
5. In cases in which the importation or exportation in ves
sels bearing a foreign flag shall be allowed, the goods corres
ponding to such cargos on their entry or clearance, shall pay
the duties specified in the general tariff, with the addition of
one-third; but in case the entry or clearance of the goods
corresponding to such cargos should be exempt from duty, it
shall be the same for foreigners as well aj Spaniards.
6. As soon as the goods have passed the Custom House,
whether for importation, exportation, home consumption, or
trans-shipment, the duties fixed by the tariff are to be paid,
without any return or abatement on the exportation of those
previously imported, or the re-entry of those exported, or for
K

130 state of the
respective prices of the market at the time of
importation; and usually regulated by an in--
any other motive, unless it should arise out of some error in
the calculations or accounts.
7. No premium, reward, or abatement of tariff duty shall be
allowed in order to encourage the importation or exportation
of any feind of merchandise, nor for any motive of utility or
security, or any other pretext.
8. National and foreign goods of all kinds, except such as
are prohibited, shall freely circulate in the interior of the line
of counterpasses that may be established, without the need of
eertificates ; and the circulation shall also be free in the inter
vening territory of said line, and that of the Custom Houses of
the coasts and frontiers ; but, in the latter case, certificates
shall be requisite. In like manner the circulation outwards or
coastwise, and between towns of the same province, shall be
free from duties, but certificates will be required. In order,
however, to circulate outwards from one province to another,
the following rules shall be observed. '
9. The circulation or re-shipment outwards of all kinds of
goods, from one port or anchoring-place to another, for this
purpose duly authorized by law, as specified in the two fol
lowing articles, in the whole of the districts of the Spanish
monarchy, and between each reciprocally and in a direct man
ner, shall be exclusively allowed in vessels bearing the national
flag, according to the tariff regulations.
10. National good^ which may thus circulate, or be shipped
outwards, shall, in the custom-houses of the port of clearance,
pay two per cent, for the expence of administration, and in the
port of entry they shall be free from the duty of customs, ex
cepting such articles to which the duty of home consumption
shall be affixed.

PHiLiPPINE ISLANDS, ^C. 131
crease of 50 per cent, on the prime cost of India
goods, and of 331 on those from China. This

11. Foreign goods imported, and which may have paid a
regular duty in the custom-house of any porti of the Peninsula,
may circulate and be re-shipped outwards to any other port of
the Peninsula, or be exported to a foreign country, on paying
two per cent, for administration in the custom-house where the
clearance is made, and nothing in that of their new destination ;
but they cannot be conveyed to any ultra-marine port of Spain,
without being subject to a second import duty as foreign goods ;
and the same shall be observed with regard to articles of this
kind imported through any custom-house in America or Asia ;
rior can they be conveyed from one section to another of the
latter countries, nor to the Peninsula ; that is, ftoin a port to a
Spanish port of the aforesaid distant regions, without the pay
ment of fresh duties.
12. In case that the Spanish vessels, carrying coastwise from
one Spanish port to apother, foreign goods already imported,
or Spanish goods subject to a duty on home consumption,
should touch or anchor in a foreign port, and this shoUld be
proved in some legitimate way, although the deviation should
not appear in the bill of health or the muster-roll, all the cargo,
on arrival at the destined port of discharge, shall pay thejluties
of importation and of home consumption, although it may
appear by the manifest, clearances and cockets, that the said
duties have already been paid, and in addition, all the penal
ties for contravention to the laws of quarantine, navigation, and
revenue, shall be enforced.
13. .All the foreign goods which may not have been im
ported, and which may be actually deposited in ports in which
those of the first class are permitted, may be carried by a
Spanish vessel only, according to the regulations prescribed in
K 2

132 STATE OP THE
duty may consequently be considered as, in fact,
equal to nine per cent, on the former, and eight
on the latter.

the establishment of deposits for importation in other ports
specially privileged in the Spanish dominions, without paying
the two per cent, for administration, nor any other duty out
wards, and without paying the duty inwards, until the impor
tation shall take place in the port of destination, but with
observance of the provisions df Art. 18, and of the regulations
of deposit.
14. In the case provided for by the preceding Article, it
shall not be permitted to ship in the same vessel any Spanish
goods, nor any foreign goods already -imported, neither in the
first port of shipment, nor in any other where the vessel may
touch, unless the foreign goods intended to be shipped from
the deposit shall be previously entered, cleared, and the duties
paid in the first port.
1 5. The same rule laid down in the preceding article shall
apply to the carrying of Spanish goods subject to home con
sumption duties, and intended to be taken out of deposit to be
conveyed to another port specially authorized. In these ship
ments it shall not be permitted to mix goods which have
already paid the duties of importation, or for home consump
tion, with those that have npt.
16. It shall not be permitted that goods once warehoused in
a port of deposit, in any of the Spanish dominions, be con
veyed to another deposit.
17. Every Spanish vessel may trade from any Spanish port,
specially authorized, in all the Spanish dominions, to any
foreign port, and import and export goods not prohibited, subject
to the rules of the general tariff, and others on the subject.
18. Foreign goods shipped from Europe for countries be-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 133
Six per cent, or the same duty, on all foreign
goods, although imported in national bottoms.

yond the seas, if they pay the duties on importation in a port
specially authorized in the Peninsula, shall be valued according
to the rates fixed in the general tariff; but if it should be
preferred to pay the duties only on arrival in an authorized
port beyond seas, it may be done according to Art. 13; but
the rate or value shall be considered as increased one half, if
the goods should be shipped from a foreign port ; but if shipped
from a port of deposit of the first class in the Peninsula, the
duties shall be calculated on the rates or value of the general
tariff, and a fourth part, or 25 per cent, more, besides the extra
duties on foreign flags, according to Art. 5. The same rule
shall be reciprocally observed with foreign goods, which may
be carried from Asia to America or Europe, or from America
to the other two regions.
19.' Foreign vessels shall be admitted in all the ports of the
Spanish monarchy, on the same footing on which Spanish
vessels may be admitted in the respective foreign ports of every
nation in particular, and as practised in the possessions of each
one in every part of the globe, or in a similarity of cases,
places, and circumstances, for the only purposes specified in
the following articles.
20. The foreign vessels which may anchor in a Spanish
port, not for the purpose of loading or unloading, but solely
for repairing or avoiding damage, or to procure provisions
necessary for the crew, shall be admitted for the time required
for that purpose ; being merchant vessels, they shall be subject
to manifests, search, and ofiicers, as usual ; and shall be treated
as Spaniards are treated in the respective ports of those nations,
exacting or not exacting, with the most scrupulous reciprocity,
the tonnage, anchorage, and other dues, which may be paid by

134 STATE OF THE
Three per cent, on Spanish goods, imported
under the national flag, equal, according to the
above estimate, to 4 and 4| per cent.

vessels in passing or remaining, either in free pratique or iij
quarantine. 21. Foreign vessels of more than 80 tons may import into
the ports of deposit of the first class,, and export from them
foreign goods not prohibited, and being the produce of the
country to which the vessel belongs, observing the rules pre
scribed in the establishment of the deposits ; and on the goods
which they land or load no other duty but the two per cent, of
deposit shall be paid, unless they shall be imported by the
same port into which alone they can be imported, or unless
the term of deposit, be expired, and they be cpnsidered as
imported, in which cases the duties inwards shall be paid.
22. Foreign vessels of th^ said burthen can also export
from the ports which may be authorized in the Spanish domi
nions foreign goods which have been imported and Spanish
goods, observing what has been or may be ordered by the re
gulations of the general tariff.
23- Foreign vessels of upwards of 80 tons are likewise per^
mitted to carry provisions and raw materials which cannot be
used vinless worked or manufactured, as their entry may be
permitted, from Spanish ports to those in the Spanish territory
which may be specially authorized, and also other goods,
which may not be liable to more than the duty of Administra
tion, provided always, that the said goods be the produce of
the country to which the vessel belongs, and they must pay the
duties without the benefit of deposit, unless they carry them
to the corresponding deposits for the purpose of obtaining it.
24, By the frontier Custom-houses which shall be esta
blished for the purposp, only the importation of such goods

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 135
Two per cent. Board of Trade duty, indis
tinctly on all foreign property, and equivalent
to 2| or 3 per cent.
shall be, permitted as are the produce, growth, or manufacture
of the contiguous nation ; and also the, export of all foreign
goods already imported, as well as national ones, conformably
to the general tariff, in carts or on beasts, according to the
roads, and precautions necessary to prevent smuggling. ¦
25. Whatever shall be permitted or prohibited in any part
of the Spanish monarchy, shall be equally so by general rule
in all parts, with the exception of modifications, which dif
ferent circumstances of place and time may require fpr the be
nefit of all Spaniards.
26. Deposits for maritime commerce shall be established in
the ports, which, on the proposal pf Government, may be ap
proved by the Cortes; they will be of two classes; those of
the first class will serve for depositing Spanish goods, subject
to the payment of home consumption duties, and foreign goods.
Those of the second class will be only for depositing
Spanish goods, subject to home consumption duties, but not for
foreign goods. No deposit of either class can be established in
an insecure or defenceless port, or such as may not have shelter
for vesselsin permanent roadsteads, and fortifications to defend
them, and in the immediate vicinity of which there is not a
Custom-house and the necessary buildings for deposits, and a
maritime Consulate ; and amongst the ports in which these
citcumstances are combined, those shall be selected which
export most produce and manufactured articles of the country.
27. The further fundamental regulations for granting de
posits shall form a particular object of instructions, which will
be inserted in the general tariff, and will be confirmed or
amended every year. The same rule shall be observed for

136 STATE OF THE
Twenty-five per cent, anchorage dues, levied
on the total amount of the almojarifasgo duty.

pointing out, preserving, granting, or taking away, on the pro
posal of Government, the privilege of deposit, with respect to
the ports which may suit for the purposes of this new system, so
as to combine the welfare of agriculture, industry and com
merce, with that ofthe public revenue.
28. The goods invented by necessity or caprice, or those
which may not be named in the general tariff, after it shall have
been published, shall be charged or rated in the Custom-houses
to pay duties in proportion to others to which they are ana
logous or like, to be done by the Administrators without
causing any delay to business, but to be reported immediately
to the General Direction of Revenue, for the purposes re
quired. 29. The prohibition of importation or exportation of
goods in the dominions of Spain shall form a separate article ;
besides which, their denominations shall be inserted in the ge
neral tariff, in the places corresponding to them in alpha
betical order, and they shall be subject to a separate determi
nation, which will be confirmed or amended by every le
gislature. 30. Merchant ships, Spanish as well as foreign, shall be
considered as merchandise ; their purchase or sale shall be
permitted or prohibited, as may be expedient, and ordered in
the general tariff every year, and all those belonging to
Spaniards shall be nationalized.
31. On the left margin of the printed book of rates, or ge
neral tariff, as much blank space as possible is to be left for
noting down the necessary and useful observations for better
explanation and successive corrections.
32. The weight and measure of solids and fluids shall be

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 137
An additional 2| per cent, a new and tempo
rary duty, called subvencion, appropriated to the

the Castiliah, for charging the duties according to the general
tariff; and the money shall be effective, and not nominal or
imaginary rials de Vellon.
33. The maximum of the duties on foreign goods imported
shall be 30 per cent, on the valuations of the general tariff, and
the minimum for administration two per cent, on importation
or re-exportation and on the shipments by sea for the home
trade. The maximum for Spanish goods, on exportation to
foreign countries, shall be ten per cent, on said valuations ; and
the minimum two per cent, for administration on said expor
tation or for shipments by sea for the home trade, between
province and province, in the proper cases. The maximum
of the home consumption duties on Spanish goods that are
subject to them, shall be fifteen per cent: on the respective va
luations, without any limit as to the minimum, because there
will be goods entirely exempt from these duties.
34. In the maximum and minimum of duties mentioned in
the foregoing article, suitable gradations shall be established,
according to the scientific principles which govern in similar
CEIS6S COUNT DE TORENO, President.
J. M. SUBRIE, Secretary.
M. A. LOPEZ, Secretary.
Madrid, Oct. 5, 1820.
Wherefore, we command all Tribunals, Judges, Chiefs, Go
vernors, and other Authorities, as well civil as military and
ecclesiastic, of whatsoever class and dignity, that they observe
and cause to be observed and executed the present decree, in all
its parts. (Signed) JOSEF CANGA ARGUELLES.
Palace, Oct. 6, 1820.

138 STATE OF THE
payment of the loan made to the king by the
Cadiz Board of Trade, and. leviable on all kinds
of imported goods, and of course equal, accord
ing to the usual mode of valuation, to about three
per cent.
Export Duties. — Three per cent, on the
exportation of coined silver and gold of the
country, in dust and ingots.
An additional or duty of subvencion, or tem
porary duty on the above, equal to | per cent.
One and a half per cent, under the same rate,
on all kinds of goods, and equal to 2 or 2| per
cent. One and a half per cent, on the amount of the
cargo of the Acapulco ship, on leaving the port of
Manilla, equal to | per cent, on the real prime
cqst. The Company are considered in the same light
as the rest of the merchants, in the graduation
and payment of duties, on such goods as they
sell out of their own stores for local consumption,
with the exemption only of the Board of Trade
rate of 2 per cent., and 3 per cent, on the expor
tation of silver, according to a special privilege,
and in conformity to the 61st article of the new
royal decree of 1803.
Besides the duties above enumerated, there is
another trifling one established for local pur
poses, under the name oipeso marchante, being a

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, kc. 139
rate for the use of the king's scales, levied ac
cordingly to an extremely equitable tariff, on
certain articles only of solid weight, such as iron,
copper, &c. The raw materials, as well as all
kinds of manufactured articles, belonging to the
islands, are exempt from duties on their entry in
the port and river of Manilla ; but some of the
first are subject to the most unjust of all exac
tions, that is, to an arbitrary tax and to the obli
gation of being retailed out on board the vessels
in which they have been brought down, and de
liverable only to persons bearing a written or
der, signed' by the sitting members ofthe munici
pality. Among this class of articles may be men
tioned the coco of Zebu, the wax and oil of
Las Bisayas, which are rated as objects of the
first necessity.
With regard to the respective duties on the
cargo annually dispatched by the merchants of
Manilla to New Spain, the practice is tolerably
well regulated. An extreme latitude is given
to the moderate rates at which it is ordered to
value the goods contained in the manifest, by
which means these are frequently put down at
only one half of their original prime cost; the
commission to- frame the scale of valuations
which is to be in force for five years, after
which time it is renewed, being left to three
merchants, and made subject to the revision

140 state of the
of the King's Attorney General and the ap
probation of the Governor ; consequently, such
being the nature of the tariff on which these
operations are founded, the 33i, to which the
royal duties amount on the 500,000 dollars sti
pulated in the permit, does not, in fact, affect the
shipper beyond the rate of 15 per cent., in con
sequence of the great difference between the
prime cost and valuation of the articles corres
ponding to the permit ; or, what is the same
thing, between the 500,000 dollars nominal
value, and 1,100,000, or 1,200,000 dollars, the
real amount ofthe cargo in question. The most
remarkable circumstance, however, is, that the
officers of the revenue in Acapulco collect the
abovementioned 33j per cent, in absolute con
formity to the Manilla valuation, and not ac
cording to the value of the goods in America,
and without any other formality than a compa
rison of the cargo with the ship's papers. In
honour of truth, it ought to be further observed
that, although the Manilla merchant by this
means seeks to exempt himself from part ofthe
enormous duties with which it has been at
tempted to paralyze the only commercial inter
course he carries on with New Spain, in every
other respect connected with this operation, he
acts in a sufficiently legal manner, and if at
their return those vessels have been in the habit

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, fkc. 141
of bringing back near a million of dollars in a
smuggled way, it must be acknowledged that it
is the harshness of the law which compels the
merchant to become a smuggler ; for, according
to the strange regulation by which he is thwart
ed in the returns representing the proceeds of
his outward operation, he must either bring the
money to the Philippine Islands without having
it declared on the ship's papers, or be obliged to
leave the greatest part of it in the hands of
others, subject to such contingencies as happen in
trade. As long, therefore, as the present limita
tions subsist, which only authorize returns equal
to double the value of the outward-bound cargo,
this species of contraband will inevitably con
tinue. The governors also, actuated by the
principles of reason and natural justice, will, as
they have hitherto done, wink at the infraction of
the fiscal laws ; a forbearance, in fact, indirectly
beneficial to them, inasmuch as it eventually con
tributes to the general improvement of the co
lony. Indeed, without this species of judicious
condescension, trade would soon stand still for the
-Want ofthe necessary funds to carry it on*.

* The public of this country were made acquainted with the
existence of this singular trade by Commodore Anson's
famous capture of the Acapulco ship. La Nuestra Senora de
Covadonga, by the Centurion, having on board 1,313,843

142 STATE OP THE
We shall now proceed to notice another class
of defects, in their operation of sufficient im
portance to merit a particular consideration. It
will readily be acknowledged that, in like man
ner as the good organization of Custom Houses
is favourable to the progress of general com^
merce, so nothing is more injurious to its growth
and the enterprise of merchants, than any un-
pieces of eight, 35,682 ounces of silver, cochineal, &c. From
that time up to the present it has continued on nearly the same
footing ; but, of course, it is now thrown open by the re-
establishment of the constitution. Acapulco, the chief ship
ping-port of New Spain on thp Pacific, is the finest harbottr on
that sea, being an immense basin, as it were hollowed out of
rocks, and only open to the S. S.'W. The country round is
extremely sombre and romantic, the climate unhealthy, and
the town contains no Hiore than 4000 inhabitants, chiefly per-"
sons of colour; though the arrival of the galleon from Ma
nilla always brings- there as many more strangers, who
come to attend the fair then held. This ship usually left the
Philippines about the middle of July or beginning of August,
and the voyage to Acapulco generally lasted about three
months. The N. W. and S. W. winds are the prevailing
ones in that line of the Pacific, and the trade winds serve tp
return. The vessel usually touched at the Island of Guam,
one of the Marianas, to leave there the siiuado or yearly
allowance of money from Mexico, for the payment of the
troops, &c. to land supplies of Woollens, and to obtain pro-
Visions. This is almost the only use Spain bas hitherto made
of this insular and secluded establishment, of which a descrip
tion has been given in the Preliminary Discourse. — Th.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDSj 8tC. 143
certainty or arbitrary conduct in the levying of
duties to be paid by them. This arises out of
the circumstance of every merchant, entering on
a new speculation, being anxious to have, as the
principal groundwork of his combinations, a per
fect knowledge of the exact amount of his dis
bursements, in order to be enabled- to calculate
the final result with some degree of certainty.
Considered in this point of view, the system
adopted in the islands is certainly deplorable,
since it must be acknowledged that tbe princi
ples and common rules of all other commercial
countries, are there unknown. For example;
this year a cargo arrives from China or Bengal,
and the captain delivers in his manifest. The
Custom-house surveyors then commence the
valuation of the goods of which his cargo is
composed : I say they commence, because it is a
common case for them not to have finished the
estimate of the scale and amount of correspond
ing duties, till after the expiration of two, four,
and not unfrequently six months. The rule they
affect to follow, in this valuation, is that of the
prices current in the market, and in order to
ascertain what these are, they are seen going
round inquiring in the shops of the Sangleyes,
till at length, finding -it useless to go in search
of correct and concurrent data, in a place where
there are neither brokers nor public auctions.

144 STATE OF THE
they are forced to determine in an arbitrary
manner, and as tbe adage goes, always take good
care to see their employers on the right side of
the hedge. The grand work being ended, with
all this form and prolixity, the sentence of the
surveyors is irrevocable. The bondsman of the
captain, who, in the meanwhile, has usually sold
his cargo and departed with a fresh one for
another destination, pays in the amount of the
duties, thus regulated by law.
The practical defects and injurious conse
quences of such a system as this, it would be
unnecessary to particularize. It would, how
ever, be still less intolerable, if, once put in
force, it could serve the merchant as a guide in
the valuations of his property for a determined
number of successive years. What, however,
renders this assessment more prejudicial, is, its
instability and uncertainty, and the repetition
of the same operation I have just described every
year, and with every cargo that arrives ; but
under distinct valuations, according to the re
ports or humour of the day. Besides these great
defects and irregularity, the Philippine Custom
house observes the singular practice of not al
lowing the temporary landing of goods entered in
transitu and for re-exportation, as is done on the
bonding system in all countries where exertions
are made by those in authority for the extension

:philippine islands, &c. 145
and improvement of commerce in every possible
way. Of course, much less will they consent
to the drawback or return of any part of the
duties on goods entered outwards, even though
they are still on board the very vessels in which
thiey originally came shipped. Beyond all doubt,
the wrongly understood severity of such a sys
tem, has, and will, continue to prevent many
Vessels from frequenting the port of Manilla, and
trying the market, unable to rely on the same
liberal treatment they can meet with in other
places. Monopoly of the Bonga or Arega Nut.
— ^The bonga, or areca-nut, is the fruit of a very
high palm-tree, not unlike the one that bears the
date, and the nuts, similar to the latter, hang in
great clusters from below the protuberance of the
leaves or branches*. Its figure and size resemble

* The areca-palm (AreCa Catechu of Linnaeus), is a slender
graceful tree, 30 or 40 feet high, producing fruit from the sixth
year, and continuing to bear till after the twenty-fifth. The
fruit is eaten in its unripe and ripe state, but generally in the
latter, when it assumes an orange colour. The exterior part is
then a soft, spongy, and fibrous substance, and the interior a
nut, resembling the nutmeg, though usually larger and harder.
The tree thrives at a greater distance from the sea than the
usual class of palms, in elevated situations, and the plantation*
are highly ornamental. It yields two crops, or, on 4n ave
rage, 141bs. per annum. — Tr. L

146 state of the
a common nut, but solid, like the nutmeg.
Divided into sinall pieces, it is placed in the cen
tre of a small ball made of the tender leaves of the
biiyo or hetel pepper, lightly covered with slacked
lime, aind this composition constitutes the cele
brated betel of Asia, or, as it is here called, the
huyo, the latter differing from that used in India,
inasmuch only as it contains catdamomoni*.

* The use of the prepared areca and hetel is general in the
Indian Archipelago, as well as among several Asiatic conti
nental nations, who, it is thought, learnt it from the natives of
the fornier. The prep'afatiou is made by a inixture of areca
cut, the pungent and aromatic leaves of the betel, a species of
pepper- vine, a small quantity of terra japonica, an agreeable
bitter astringent, and a small proportion of quick lime. This
preparation is masticated, and produces a dark colour on the
teeth and gums, considered by the natives a beauty. The
gamber, or terra japonica, is found in the islands, and is thence
exported to Java ^and China. It is derived from a plant, of
which the leaves yield an inspissated juice, when boiled and
reduced to a syrup. After being cooled, it hardens, and when
perfectly dried and solid, is cut in small cakes, and in this,
state used as a masticatory with the areca nut.
It is singular the Peruvians have a plant, used by them in
the same way, but possessing virtues which the prepared areca
does not, since the latter boasts no other than narcotic qualities.
I mean the coca or eritkroxylon, a plant deified by the ancient
Peruvians, aiid still used and held in the highest estimation,
though under no monopoly. The coca grows in what are
called the Yungas in the Quechuan language, or hot and humid
places, such as the declivities of the Andes mountains, with a

PHILIPPINE islands, &C. 147
The government, anxious to derive advantage
in aid and support of the colony, from the great

southern exposure. This shrub, which grows nine or ten feet
high, affords leaves after the second year, and the crop de
pends on the goodness ofthe soil, abundant rains, cleanness of
the gFouilfls, and the absence of m insect, called ulp. Al
though it flowers only once a yefif, it is thi^ce covered widj
leaves, consequentiy, furnishes ,that ntimber of crop's, though
not equaUy plentiful. The leaves are carefully gathered, as
soon as on the inside they have assumed a transparent green,
and on the outside a ruddy colour. They are then dried and
packed up. In the early times of the Incas, the coca was re
served for the worship and solemnities of the gods, and the use
only of those pnonarehs who boasted their immediate descent
from them. No other person was allowed to use it, unless his
heroic and distinguished services entitled him to share this ho
nour with his sovereign, who frequently thus rewarded merit.
When the Spaniards arrived in Peru, the iise had become ge-
neral, even among the plebeians. The coca was also made
the representative of value, and served the purposes of money.
Of these leaves 400,000 baskets are now annually produced
in La Paz and' other districts of Upper Peru, three parts of
which are gathered in the district of Chulumani. Lower Peru
yields about 22,000 baskets, chiefly grown in the district of
Pancaritarabo. The usual value on the spot, is from 6 to
8 dollars per basket, weighing 75lb3. though the planters,
owing to distance and difficulties of conveyance, usually
contract to deliver it at the mines, for € dollars per arroba, or
25lbs. The use is similar to that made of the prepared areca
in the East Indies, and hence some authors have ventured to
deduce the common origin of the Peruvians. At present, the
Indians weave small ornamented bags or purses, which thej
l2

148 STATE OP THE
use the inhabitants make of the buyo, many
years ago determined to establish the sale of the
bonga, its principal ingredient, iftto a monopoly,
either by hiring the privilege out, or placing it
under a plan of administration, in the form in
which it now staiids. Both schemes have been
tried, but in neither way has this branA been-
made to yield more than 30,000 dollars ; indeed
the annual proceeds usually have not exceeded
25,000. In 1809, the total amount of sales was
fill with coca and carry hung to their girdles. In some pro
vinces, they use small calabashes filled with lime, but the most
usual method is, to form from the ashes of the quinva stalk, a
«pecies of millet, small cakes, called llipta, and this, or lime,
serves as an alkaUne masticatory with the coca. To take his
quid, the Indian seats himself very composedly, although on
a journey, or engaged in hard labour, pulls out his dmspa, or
bag, and leaf by leaf, puts the coca into his mouth, masticating
and turning it round till it forms a ball, which he places in the
corner of his mouth. He then takes a spoonful of lime or a
bite of his alkaline cake, to add tb his quid. The natives
usually chew five or six times a day, always when they begin
work, or when tired. The coca is a bitter tonic, and its bal
samic virtues prevent the bad effects of the arsenic dust with
which the air is charged in the interior of the mines ; indeed
without this plant, the Indians would never be induced to
work in them, and hence the miners are obliged to keep re
gular supplies. A great number of other curious facts and
particulars will be found in a descriptive and historical ac
count of this plant, furnished by the translator to the last
¦eries of the Colonial Journal. — Tb.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 149
48,610 dollars, and deducting from this sum the
prime cost and expences of administration, the
nett profit in favour of the treasury was equal to
no more than 27,078 dollars, or upwards of 125|
per cent. In 1780, the privilege of selling the
bonga was let out at public auction for the sum
of 15,765 dollars, and this, compared with the
present proceeds, clearly shews that, although
the increase has not been adequate to that of the
other branches of the revenue, it is far from hav
ing declined. It must nevertheless be confessed,
¦ that on the present footing on which it stands,
the smallness of the proceeds is not worth the
trouble required in the collection, and even if
the amount were still greater, it could never
serve as an excuse for the oppression and violence
to which this monopoly frequently gives rise.
As the trees producing the bonga are not con
fined to any particular grounds, and indistinctly
grov? in all, the plan has been adopted of com
pelling the Indians to gather and bring in the
fruit, raised on their lands, to the depot nearest
the district in which they reside. There they
are paid from 2, 2|, 3 and 3| rials per thousand,
according to the distance from which they come;
and, in order to prevent frauds, the surveyors
belonging to the revenue go out, at certain times
of the year, to examine the bonga plantations,
and the trees being counted, they estimate the

150 STATE OP THE
fruit, that is, oblige the proprietor to undertake
to deliver in 200 nu^s for each bearing tree,
whether or not, liurricanes deteriorate or destroy
the produce, or thieves plunder the plantations,
as very frequently happens. In case deficiencies
are proved against him, he is compelled to pay
for them in money, at the rate of 2.5 rials per
thousand, the price at which the king sells them
in the monopoly-stores. Besides, the precise
condition of delivering in 200 sound bonga nuts,
according to the stipulations imposed upon him,
presupposes the previous exclusion of all the
injured or green ones; and although the ordinary
trees usually yield as many as 300 nuts each,
great numbers are nevertheless spoiled. If, to
jthe adverse accidents arising out of storms and
robberies, we add the effects of -the whims or ill-
humour of tbe receivers, it is not easy to imagine
to what a length the injuries extend which befal
the man who has the folly or misfortune to be
come a planter of this article.
On the other hand, as in the conveyances from
the minor to the larger depots, frauds are fre
quently committed, and the heaping together of
many millions of nuts inevitably produces the
ferm:ehtation and rapid putrefaction of a great
number of them, it consequently follows that the
waste must be immense ; or if it is determined
tp sell all the stock laid in, without any distinc-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 15V
tion in, quality and pripe, the public must be
very badly served and displeased, as in fact too
often happens. Since therefore the habit of
using the bnyo is still more prevailing than that
of toba,cco, when suitable supplies cannot be had
in the monopoly stores, the consumer naturally
resorts to contraband channels, although he en
counters some risk, and expends more money.
It is also very natural that the desire of gain
shouldi thus lead on and daily expose a number
of needy persons, anxious by this means to sup
port and relieve the wants of their families.
Returning, however, to what more immediately
concerns the grower, I do not know that the
oppressive genius of fiscal laws has, in any
country of the globe, invented pne more re-
finedly tyrannic, than to condemn a man, to a
certain degree at least, as has hitherto been the
case, to the punishment of Tantalus ; foi" the law
forbids the Indian to touch the fruit of the tree
planted with his own hands, aiid which hangs in
tempting and luxuriant abundance round his
humble dwelling.
It would be easy for me to enumerate many
other inconveniences attending this branch of
public revenue, on the footing on which it now
stands, if what has already been said did not
suffice to point out the necessity of changing the
system, as long as those in authority are anjdous

152 STATE OF THE
that the treasury should gain more, and the
king's subjects suffer less. The strong prejudices
entertained against this source of revenue, the
inconsiderable sum it piroduces, and the compli
cated form of its organization, have in reality
been sufficient motives to induce many to become
strenuous advocates for the total abolition of the
monopoly. I do not, however, on this account,
see any reasons for altogether depriving the go
vernment of a productive resource, as this might
soon be rendered, if it was placed under regu
lations less odious and more simple in themselves.
I nevertheless agree, that the perfect monopoly
ofthe areca fruit, or bonga, is impracticable, till
the trees, indiscriminately planted, are cut down,
and, in the same way as the tobacco plantations,
fresh and definite groiihds are laid out for its
cultivation, on account of the revenue.. I am
further aware that this measure is less practicable
than the first; for, independent of all the other
obstacles, it would be necessary to wait till the
new plantations yielded fruit, and also that the
public should consent to refrain from masticating
huyo, in the meanwhile, a pretension as mad as
it would be to require that the eating of salt
should be dispensed with for a given number of
years. But, what difficulty would there be, for
example, in the proprietors paying so much a
year for each bonga tree, to the district magis-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 153
trate, the governor of the nearest iown, or the
cabeza de Batangay, or chiefs of the elans into
which the natives are divided, in the same man
ner as the Indian pays his tribute ? The only one
I anticipate, is, that of fixing the amount, in
such way that at the same time this resource is
made to produce an increased income of some
moment, it may act as a moderate tax on an in
definite property, the amount of which, aug
mented in the sale price, may be reimbursed to"
the proprietor by the great body of consumers.
It is not in "fact easy to foresee or estimate, by
any means of approximation, the alteration in
the current price of the bonga, that would result
from the indefinite freedom of its cultivation
and sale, especially during the first years. Al
though, for this reason, it would be impossible
to ascertain what proportion the impost on the
tree would then bear with regard to the value of
the fruit, the error that might accrue would be
of little moment, as long as precautions were,
taken to adopt a very low rate of comparison, and
a proportionably equitable one as the basis of
taxation. Supposing then that the price of the
bonga should decline from 25 rials, at which it is
now sold in the monopoly stores, to 15 rials per
thousand, in the general market, and a tax of
I of a rial should be laid on each tree valued at
200 bonga nuts, it is clear that this would be

154 STATE OF THE
equal to no more than 8f per cent. ; or, what is
the .same, the tax would be in the proportion of
1 to 12 with the proceeds of each tree, and the
more the value of the fruit was raised, the more
would the rate of contribution diminish. It
ought at the same time to be observed that, under
the above estimate, that is, supposing the price
of the article to remain at 15 rials, the 8i per
cent, at which rate the tax is regulated, would
not perhaps exceed five or six per cent, on a more
minute calculation ; in the first place, because at
the time of making out the returns of the trees,
those only ought to be set down which are in
their full vigour, excluding such as through the
want or excess of age, only yield a small pro
portion of fruit ; and in the second, because in
the numbers registered, the trees would only be
rated at 200 nuts, although it is well known they^
usually yield 300, in order by this means the
better to avoid all motives of complaint. In
this point of view, and by adopting similar rules
of probability, it seems to me that the govern
ment would not risk much by an attempt to
change the present system into a tax levied on
the tree itself, on a plan similar to the one above
proposed ; more particularly by doing it in a
temporary manner, and rendering it completely
subservient to the corrections subsequent expe
rience might suggest.in this particular.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 155
The difficulty being, in this manner, over
come, with regard to the prudent determination
of the rate at which the proprietor of the bonga
plantations ought to contribute, let us now pro
ceed to estimate, by approximation, the annual
sum that would thus be obtained. As, however,
this operation is unfortunately complicated, and
in great measure depends on the previous know
ledge of the total number of trees liable to the
tax proposed, details with which we are not at
present prepared, it is impossible to come at any
very accurate results. All that can be done, is,
to endeavour to demonstrate, in general terms,
the great increase the revenue would experience
by the adoption of the new plan, and the real
advantages resulting from it to the contributors
themselves, all which may be easily deduced
from the following simple calculation.
Let us, in the first instance, suppose that the
consumers of buyo, in the whole of the islands,
do not exceed one million of persons, and that
each one makes use of three bongas per day,
this consumption, at the end of the year, would
then amount to 1,095,000,000 nuts. We will
next divide this sum by 200, at which the pro
duct of each tree, one with another, is rated,
and the result will be 5,475,000 trees. This
number being taxed at the rate of | of a rial,
would leave the sum of 171,093 dollars, 6 rials.

156 STATE OP THE
and deducting therefrom the 25,000 dollars
yielded by this branch under its present esta->
blishment, together with 5,132 dollars, equal to
three per cent, paid to the district magistrates
for the charges of collection^ we should still
have an annual increase in favour of the treasury,
equal to 140,961 dollars, 6 rials.
It might perhaps be objected that, in this case,
the proprietor, instead of receiving, as before,
2| rials for every thousand bongas, would have
to disburse 1? rial in the mere act of paying | of
a rial for each tree; a circumstance which, at
first sight, seems to produce a difference not of
Ij but of 8? rials per thousand against him ;
though in reality far from this being the case, if
we take into consideration the deficiencies the
sworn receiver usually lays to his charge, the
fruit he rejects, owing to its being , green or
rotten, and the many and expensive grievances
he is exposed to in his capacity of grower, it will
be seen that his disbursements under these heads
frequently exceed the amount he in fact has to
receive. If, in addition to this, we bear in mind
that, on condition of seeing himself free from
guards and a variety of insupportable restric
tions, constituting the very essence of a mono
poly, he would in all probability gladly pay much
more than the tax in question, all the doubts
arising on this point will entirely disappear.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 157
Finally, considered" in its true light, we shall
not find in the measure above described, any
thing more than a Very trifling discount required
of the proprietor from the price at which he sells
his bonga, and which, as already noticed, ulti
mately falls on the consumer alone.
The moderate estimate I have just formed
ought to inspire the more confidence, from its
beiug well known that the use of the buyo is
general among the inhabitants of these islands.
The calculation, as it now stands, rests only on
one million of consumers, for each of whom I
have only put down three bongas per day,
whereas it is customary to use much more ; nor
have I taken into account the infinite number of
nuts wasted after being converted into the buyo,
a fact equally well known. Indeed, as the ob
ject proposed was no other than to prove the
main part of my assertions, and I trust this is
satisfactorily done, I have not deemed it neces
sary to include in the above calculation a greater
number of minute circumstances, nor attempt
to deduce more favourable results, which, with
the scope before me, I was most assuredly war
ranted in doing.
In a word, from the concurrence of the facts
and reasons above adduced, the following pro
positions may, without any difficulty, be laid
down. First, that the increase of revenue pro-

158 STATE OP THE
duced by the reform in question, would in all
probability, exceed 1-50,000 dollars per annum ;
secondly, that the Indian would soon compre
hend, and gladly consent to a change of this
kind in the mode of contributing, of which the
advantages would be apparent; thirdly, that
the persons, employed in the old establishment,
might, with greater public utility, be applied to
other purposes; and lastly, that the civil ma
gistrates would not be harassed with so many
strifes and Jawsuits, and so many melancholy
victims of the monopoly and its officers would
cease to drag a wretched existence in the prisons
and places of hard labour in these islands.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 159

CHAP. V.
Revenue continued. — Licence of Cockpits. — In
dian Tributes. — Subaltern Branches. — Dis
bursements, and general Expences.
Licence of Cockpits. — This branch of the
revenue is hired out by the government, and the
licence is separately set up at auction for the
respective provinces. Its nature and regulations
are so well known, that they do not require a
particular description; the general obligations
of the contractors being the same as those in
New Spain. Perhaps the only difference ob
served in this public exhibition in the Philippine
Islands, consists in its greater simplicity, owing
to its being frequented only by the natives, the
whites vpho are present at this kind of diversion,
being vefy few, or indeed none.
The cockpits are open two days in the week,
and the renters of them receive half a rial from
every person who enters, besides the extra price
they charge those who occupy the best seats, the
owners of the fighting cocks, for the spurs, stalls
for the sale of buyo, refreshments, &c. Not
withstanding all this, and although cock-fighting
is so general and favourite an amusement among

160

state of the

these people, that the cock may justly be con
sidered as the distinctive emblem of the Philip
pine Indian, the annual proceeds of this branch
are inconsiderable ; although it must be acknow
ledged that it has greatly increased since the
year 1780, when it appears the licence was let
at auction for no more than 14,000 dollars, owing
no doubt to the exclusive privilege of the con
tractors not having been extended to the pro
vinces, as was afterwards gradually done.
The total sum paid to government by the
renters of this branch, according to the auction
returns in 1810, amounted to 40,141 dollars, in
the following order.
Province of Tondo . .
— —  Cavite . . .

~ La Laguna
— La Pampanga
— Bulacan . .
~ Batangas . .
— Pangasinan ,
~ Bataan
— Iloilo . . .
~ Ilocos . . .
~ Tayabas . .
— Zebu . . .
— Albay . . ,
Dollars

18,501 2,225
2,0053,0006,900
2,000 1,200
1,050
1,600 600 400360
300
40,141*

* It is singular that the produce of this branch of revenue

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 161
The causes to which the increase is chiefly to
be attributed, that has taken place withiii the
last 25 or 30 years, have already been pointed
out, and for this reason it would appear that, by
adopting the same plan with regard to the four
teen remaining provinces, of which this captaincy
general is composed, hitherto free from the
imposition of this tax, an augmentation might
be expected, proportionate to the population,
their circumstances, and the greater or lesser
taste for cock-fights prevailing among the re
spective inhabitants. At the commencement, no
doubt, the rentals would be low, and- of course
the prices at which the licences were let out,
would be equally so; but the experience and
profits derivable from this kind of enterprises,
would not fail soon to excite the competition of
contractors, and in this way add to the revenue
of the government. This is so obvious, that I
cannot help suspecting attempts have, at some
period or other, been made tp introduce the
establishment of this privilege, in some of the
provinces above alluded to ; at the same time I

in the Philippine Islands, is nearly equal to that of New Spain,
a country containing more than double the inhabitants, the
entries at the treasury there being calculated at 45,000 dollars.
This proves the greater partiality for this species of diversion.
— Tu.

162 STATE OF THE
am persuaded that, owing to the affair not hav
ing been viewed in its proper light, seeking on
the contrary to obtain an immediate and dis
proportionate result, the authorities have been
too soon disheartened, and given up the project
without a fair trial. All towns and districts
murmur, and at first object to taxes, however
light they may be ; but, at length, if they are
not excessive, the people become reconciled to
them. The one here proposed is neither of this
character, nor can it be deemed odious on account
of its novelty. The Indians are well aware that
their brethren in the other provinces are subject
to it, and that in this nothing more is done than
rendering the system uniform. I therefore see
no reason: why the establishment of this branch
of revenue should not be extended to all the
points of the islands, at the coniimencement, let
it produce what it may, since constancy and
time will bring things to the same general
level. Indian Tributes. — The too great conde
scension and mistaken humanity of the govern
ment on the one hand, and the fraud and selfish
ness of the provincial sub-delegates or collectors,
on the other, have concurred to chang'e a con
tribution, the mPst simple, into one of the most
complicated branches of public administration.
The first cause has been owing to a too general

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 163
acquiescence to receive the amount of tributes in
the produce peculiar to each province, instead of
money; and the second, because as the above
' officers are the persons intrusted with the col
lection, whenever the sale has held out to ciiem
any advantage, they have been in the habit of
appropriating the several articles to themselves,
without allowing any benefit to the treasury.
If the prospective sales of the produce appear
unfavourable, it is then forwarded on to the king's
stores in Manilla, surcharged with freights, ex
posed to many risks, and the value greatly
diminished by waste and many other causes.
No order or regularity being thus observed in
this respect, and the sale of the produce trans
mitted to the king's stores being regulated by
the greater or lesser abundance in the general
market, and a considerable stock besides left
remaining, from one year to another, and even
tually spoiled, it is almost impossible to form
any exact estimate of this branch. If to these
complicated matters we add the radical vices
arising out of the infidelity of the heads of elans,
the difficulty of ascertaining the defects of the
returns made out by them, the variations an
nually occuiTing in the number of those ex
empted either through age or other legal motives,
and above all, the frequently inevitable tardiness
with which the district matgistrate.<? send in their
M 2

164 STATE OF THE
respective accounts, it will be readily acknow
ledged, that no department requires more zeal in
its administration, and no one is more susceptible
of all kinds of frauds, or attended with more
difficulties. In this state of uncertainty, with regard to
this particular branch, I have guided myself by
the last general return of tributes, made out in the
accountant-general's office, on the best and most
recent data, and calculating indistinctly the
whole value in money, I have deemed it proper
afterwards to make a moderate deduction, on
account of the differences above stated, and aris
ing out of the collection of the tributes in kind,
the expences of conveyance, shipwrecks, averages,
and other causes already enumerated. That a
complete view may be had of this subject, re
ference may also be made to the statement Con
tained in Table, N". IX.
In conformity to this calculation, the total
proceeds of this branch of revenue amount to
506,215 dollars, from which sum are deducted,
in the primitive stages of the accounts, the
amount of ecclesiastical stipends, the pay of the
troops under the immediate orders of the chief
district magistrates in their quality of war-
captains, together with all other extraordinary
expences incurred in the provinces by orders of
the government, the remainder being afterwards

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 165
forwarded to the king's treasury*. It ought,
however, to be observed, that the above aggre
gate sum is more or less liable to deficiencies,
according to the greater or lesser degree of
punctuality on the part of the sub-collectors in
making up their accounts, and the solidity of

' * Humboldt rates the gross proceeds of the capitation-
tax in New Spain, at 1,300,000 doUars, leaving 899,521 dol
lars nett amount, after deducting the expences belonging to
this branch. In 1746, this did not exceed 650,000 dollars, a
consoling proof that the Indian population has increased, and
civilization been extended. The following are the official
returns of the Indians of Peru and amount of tributes paid by
them, and will serve to form a comparison between three ofthe
most interesting portions of the transmarine dominions of
Spain. Indian men  314,863
Indian women  304,327
Total subject to tribute  619,190
Exempt from infirmity, &c  173,615
Total Indians in Peru  792,805
Amount of tributes received in 1795 885,586 dollars.
Received from the hospital  25,852
I 911,438
Deduct expences, pensions, &c  374,052
Nett amount  537,386 dollars.
The collection of this rate in Peru is managed by a Board,
consisting of a president and five commissioners, — Tr.

166 STATE OF THE
their respective sureties ; the failures of this kind
experienced by the revenue being so frequent,
that, according to the returns of the accountant-
general, those which occurred between the years
1762 and 1809, were no less than 215,765 dollars,
notwithstanding the great precautions at all
times taken to prevent such considerable injuries,
by every means compatible with the precarious
tenure of property, possessed by both principals
and sureties in this country. All the above cir
cumstances being therefore taken into due con
sideration, and the ordinary and extraordinary
discounts made from the total amount of tributes,
the real sum remaining, or the nett annual pro
ceeds of the above branch, have usually not been
rated at more than 190 or 200,000 dollars; a
sum respectively extremely small, and which
possibly might be doubled, without the necessity
of recurring to'any other measure than a stand
ing order for the collecting of the tributes in
money, as by this means the variety of expences
and complications above enumerated, would be
avoided, and the king's revenue no longer ex
posed to any other deficiencies than -those arising
out of the insolvency of the sub-collectors and
their sureties, or casual risks, and the trifling
charges paid for the conveyance of the money.
If in opposition to this it should be alleged, that
it would be advisable to except some of the pro-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 167
vinces from this general rule, owing to the
advantage the government might derive from
certain tributes being paid in kind, I do not
hesitate to answer, that I see no reason whatever
why this should be done, because, if, for ex
ample, any quantity of rigging or sail-cloth is
annually required, it would be easy to obtain it
either by early contracts, or by laying- in tbe
articles at the current market price. Indeed,
all supplies which do not rest on this footing,
would be to defraud the Indian of the fruits of
his industry, and in the final result this would
be the same as requiring of him double or triple
tribute, contrary to the spirit of the law, and
which unfortunately is too frequently the case,
under the existing system.
Considering this affair in another point of view,
it would be easy for me to demonstrate, if it
were necessary, the mistaken idea that the
Indian is benefited by receiving in kind the
amount of the tribute he has to pay, at the low
prices marked in the tariff used as a standard,
by shewing the extortions and brokerage, if I
may so term it, to which the practice gives rise
on the part of the district collectors. It will,
however, suffice to call the ,attenti(m of my
readers to the smallness of the sum, constituting
the ordinary tribute, when reduced to money,
in order for them to be convinced that it would

168 STATE OF THE
be superfluous, as well as hazardous, to attempt
to point out means by which this branch might
be rendered more productive to the state, and at
the same time less burdensome to the contribu
tors, more particularly when the rate assessed
does not exceed 10 rials per year, a sum so small,
that generally speaking, no family can be found.
unable to hoard it up, if they have any inclina
tion so to do.
The prevailing error, however, in this respect,
I am confident arises out of a principle very
different from the one to which it is usually
attributed. The tributary Indian is, in fact,
disposed to pay the quota assigned to him into
the hands of the chief of his clan, in money, in
preference to kind ; because, independent of the
small value at which the articles in kind are
rated in the tariff, he is then exposed to no ex
pences, as he now is for the conveyance of his
produce and effects ; nor is he liable to so many
accidents. But as the chief of each clan has to
deliver in his 40 or 50 tributes to the head ma
gistrate, who is answerable for those of the whole
province, it is natural for him to endeavour to
make his corresponding payments in some equi
valent affording him a profit ; at the same time
the provincial magistrate, speculating on a larger
scale, on the produce arising out of his juris
diction, seeks to obtain from the government a

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 169
profitable commutation in kind for that which
the original contributor would have preferred
paying in money. In order the better to attain
his purpose, he asserts, as a pretext, the impos
sibility of collecting in the tribute under another
form, alleging, moreover, the relief the Indian
derives from this mode, whereas, if only duly ex
amined, such a pretence is founded on the
avarice, rather than the humanity of the ma
gistrate. Leaving to one side the defects attributable to
the present mode of collection, and considering'
the tribute as it is in itself, the attentive ob
server must confess, that in no part of our Indies
is this more moderate ; and indeed, it is evident
that the laws generally relating to the natives of
these islands, seem to distinguish them with a
decided predilection above those of the various
sections of America *.

* The rate of the capitation tax is not uniform in all the
divisions of Spanish America, nor indeed, in all the provinces
of the same viceroyalty. In 1601, Humboldt says, the Indian
paid 32 rials tribute, and 4 rials king's service; in all about
^3 francs. Il was afterwards reduced, and at present is about
1 1 francs ; but besides the Indian pays parochial rates, viz.
10 francs for a baptism, 20 for a certificate of marriage, and 32
for burial expences. To the 'above 62 francs levied by the
church, about 25 or 30 more, of ^voluntary offerings, are to be
added. These are the rates of New Spain. — Tk.

170

STATE OF THE

The tribute, in its origin, was only 8 rials per
family; but the necessity of providing for the in
creased expences of the government, gave rise to
this rate being afterwards raised to 10. The
cast ofthe Sangley Mestizos pay double tribute,
and the Sangleyes contribute at the rate of 6 dol
lars per head. Besides this, all pay a yearly
sum, applicable to the funds belonging to the
community, and the above two casts pay 3 rials
more, as a church rate, and under the name of
the Sanctuary, the whole being in the following
form.

Entire Indian Tribute.

8 Rials, original tribute.
IJ Rials, for expences of troops.
J Rial of tythes.

10 Rials, amount of tribute.
1 Id. community funds.
3 Id. sanctuary rate.

14 Rials, total annual disbursement.

I,d.of MestisosJ Sangleye^.

16 Rials
3 1

6 Dollars each.

20 Rials,
1 Id.
3 Id.

24 Rials.

6 Dollars. 6 Rials.

6 Dols. 6 Rials.

The m&les commence paying tribute at twenty
years of age and the females at twenty-five, if
before they have not entered the matrimonial
state, and in both the obligation ceases at the
age of sixty. The chiefs of clans, or cabezas de
barangai and their eldest sons, or in default of
children, the person adopted in their stead.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 171
that is, an entire tribute and a half, are exempt
from this tax, as a remuneration for the trouble
and responsibility they may have in collecting in
the 40 or 50 tributes, of which their respective
clans are composed. Besides these there are va
rious other classes of exempted persons, such as
soldiers who have served a certain number of
years, those who have distinguished themselves
in any particular manner in the improvement of
industry or agriculture, and others who have re
ceived special certificates, on just and equitable
grounds. On summing up the total number of
exempted persons, on an average in the whole of
the provinces, they will be found in the propor
tion of 50 to every 1000 entire tributes.
The capitation-tax of the Sangle} es has usually
been attended with so many difficulties in its col
lection, owing to the facilities with which they
absent or secrete themselves, and the many stra
tagems this cunning and artful racenemploy to
elude the vigilance of the commissioners, that
the government has at length fotmd itself com
pelled to let out this branch, as Was done in
1809, when it was disposed of in the name of
one of them for the moderate sum of 30,000
dollars ; notwithstanding it is a generally re
ceived opinion, that the number of this descrip
tion of Chinese, constantly residing in the islands,
is above 7000, which, at the rate of 6 dollars per
4

172 STATE OF THE
head, would raise this proportion of the tax as
high as 42,000 dollars.
The Community funds belonging to each
town, have, in conformity- to the regulations
under which they are administered, a special,
or I might say, local application ; but collected
together into one stock, as is now the case, and
directly administered by the government, they
produ.ce a more general utility. The head town
of the province A, for example, requires to re
build the public prison or town-hall, and its own
private funds are not sufficient to defray the ex
pences of the work in question. In this case,
therefore, the gpvernmeiit gives ord^s for the
other dependent towns to make up the deficiency
by taking their proportions from the respective
coffers, as all have an equal interest in the pro
posed object being carried into .effect. The
king's officers, in consequence thereof, draw the
corresponding sums from these funds, the whole
of which are under their immediate superinten
dence. And in order that the surplus of this
stock may not stand still, but obtain every
possible increase in a country where the pre
mium given for money is excessive, when let out
at a maritime risk, it is ordered that some part
shall be appropriated in this way, and on the
same terms as those observed by the administra
tors ofthe charity funds belonging to the Mercy

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 175
establishment, and the third order of St. Francis,
which is another of the great advantages of as
sembling this class of property.
In consequence of this judicious regulation,
and the success with which this measure has
hitherto been attended, the Community fund
has gone on increasing in such a way that, not
withstanding the sums drawn from it > for the
purpose of constructing causeways, bridges, and
other municipal objects, at the commencement
of 1810, tlie stock in hand amounted to no less
than 200,000 dollars ; an4 it is natural to sup
pose when the outstanding premiums due shall
have been paid in, a considerable augmentation
will take place. This branch, although not ex
actly comprehended in those which constitute
the revenue of the government, has so obvious
an analogy with that of tributes, that I have not
deemed it any essential deviation from the order
and method I have hitherto observed in this
work, to introduce it in this place, as in itself it
did not deserve to be classed under a distinct
head. Notwithstanding the truth of what has been
said with regard to the moderate rate of the
tribute imposed on the Indian of the Philippine
Islands, it would be extremely desirable if he
could be altogether exonerated from a charge
which he bears with great repugnance, by

174 STATE OP THE
some other substitute being adopted, indi
rectly producing an equivalent compensation.
In the first place, because the just motives of
complaint would cease, caused not only by the
tribute, but also the manner of its collection;
and an end would then be put to those intrigues
and extortions the district magistrates commit,
under the title of zealous collectors of the king's
revenue, and the power of a multitude of subal
tern tyrants, comprehended under the denomina
tion of chiefs of Indian clans, would then also
fall to the ground ; a power which, if now
employed for the purpose of oppressing and
trampling on the liberties of inferiors, might
some day or other be converted into an instru
ment, dangerous and subversive of our prepon
derance, in the country. In the second place, if,
among all civilized nations a capitation tax is in
itself odious, it must incontestably be much more
so among those whose unlettered state, far from
allowing them to know that the social order re
quires a certain class of sacrifices for its better
preservation, makes them attribute exactions of
this kind to an abuse of superiority. Hence are
they led to consider these restraints as the sym
bols of their own slavery and degradation, as in
fact the natives in these islands have ample rea
sons for doing, when the legal exemption of the
whitesiis considered, without any other apparent

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 175
reason than the difference of colour. Indepen
dent of this, the substitute above alluded to would
be extremely expedient, inasmuch as it would
greatly simplify the plan of administration, the
accountant's department would be freed from
the most painful part of its labours, and the
district magistrates and sub-collectors would not
so frequently be entangled in their accounts,
and exposed to expensive and interminable law
suits, as now so often happens.
The difficulty, however, of finding out this
compensation or substitute is matter of some con
sideration. On the one hand, if it was attempted
to distribute the proceeds arising out of the
tributes on other branches, such as tobacco, coun
try wine, bonga, and custom house, it would, at
first sight, appear possible, through the medium of
an almost invisible augmentation in the respective
sale prices and in the king's duties, that this im
portant object might easily be attained ; but, on
the other, it might be apprehended that the ad
ditional value put on the articles above-mention
ed, would produce in their consumption a dimi
nution equal to the difference in prices, in which
case no advantage would be gained. The prac
ticability of the operation, in my opinion, de
pends on the proportion in which the means of
obtaining the articles in question respectively
stand with the probability of their being con-

176 STATE OF THE
sumed. I will explain myself. If, for exam
ple, the annual stock of tobacco laid in should
be insufficient to meet the wants of the con
sumers, as constantly occurs, it is clear that this
article, when monopolized, will bear a small
augmentation of price, not only without any in
convenience or risk, but with the moral certain-
ty of obtaining a positive increase of revenue,
the necessary effect of the total consumption of
the tobacco laid in and sold. But as this does
not happen with the branch of country wines^ of
which the stock usually 'exceeds the demand,
and as the bonga also is not susceptible of this
improvement, owing to the small place it occu
pies among the other resources of the revenue,
no other means are left than to add to the duties
of export on silver, and of import on foreign
merchandise, a per centage equivalent to the
deficiency not laid on tobacco, unless it should
be deemed mor6 advisable to levy a sumptuary
contribution on coaches, horses and servants, and
especially on all kinds of edifices and houses,
built of stone and mortar, situated both within
and without the capital.
However this may be, whatever the king loses
in revenue by the abolition of the Indian tributes,
no doubt, could be made up by an appeal to
other ways and means. It is well known that
many of the Indian tribes refuse to become sub-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 177
jects of the crown and object to enter into ge
neral society, on account of the odious idea they
have formed of paying tribute ; or, as they un
derstand it, the obligation ,of giving something
for nothing, notwithstanding those who volun
tarily submit themselves to our laws, are exempt
from tribute, and this charge falls only on their
descendants. But of this they must either be
ignorant, or they regret depriving their pos
terity of that independence in which they them
selves have been brought up, and thus transmit
to them slavery as an inheritance. As soon,
therefore, as a general exemption of this kind,
without distinction of casts, should be made
public, the Indians would quit their fastnesses
and secluded places, and satisfied with the secu
rity offered to them, would be seen coming down
to the plains in search of the conveniences of
civilized life, and all gradually would be re
duced to Christianity. Hence the increase of
productions and their consumption, as well as
the extension of agriculture, industry, and in
ternal commerce. The diminution of smuggling
tobacco would soon follow, progress would, be
made in the knowledge of the mines and natural
riches of the country, and finally, greater facili
ties would present themselves in gradually car-
tying into effect its entire conquest and ci
vilization. N

178 STATE OF THE
Advantages of such great and extraordinary
importance deserve to be seriously weighed, and
to this valuable department of public administra
tion the early attention of those in authority
ought to be called. Let due enquiries be made,
and soon shall we discover the substantial bene
fits which would be derived to the treasury
from the adoption of this measure, as popular as
it is just, and also conformable to the enlightened
and liberal spirit ofthe times. In support ofthe
preceding arguments, it ought further to be ob>-
served, that when all the branches constituting
tbe king's revenue are well organized, brought
to their most productive state, and the public
debt contracted under nnforeseen exigencies paid
off, as long as present circumstances do not vary,
an annual surplus of revenue, equal to more than
500,000 dollars, will be left; and as the pro
ceeds of the particular branch of tributes do not
amount to this sum, it is evident their abolition
may take plaee, not only without any derange^
ment or onerous consequences to the administra-
ti©n, but even without any deficiency beings ex
perienced, or any necessity to recur to the trea-
s»Fy of New Spain for extraordinary aid. These
reasons aeqnire still greater force when it is re-
Mfembered that, as things now are, all the
branches of public revenue are iu a progres
sively improving condition, and as the whole

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &d. 179
are still susceptible of a much more productive
organization, the annual surplus of receipts will
rapidly become greater, and consequently also,
the necessity will diminish of continuing to bur
den this portion of his Majesty's dominions with
contributions, in order to meet the expenses of
their defence and preservation.
Finally, well convinced of the advantageous
results which, in every sense, would emanate
from the revision and reforms proposed, I ab
stain from offering, in support of my arguments,
a variety of other reflections which occur to me,
not to be too diffuse on this subject; trusting
that the hints I have already thrown out will be
more than sufficient to excite an interest and
promote a thorough and impartial investigation
of concerns, highly important to the future wel
fare and security of this colony.
SlTBALTERN BRANCHES.— Besides the six
preceding branches which constitute the chief
mass of the public revenue in these islands, there
are several smaller ones of less consideration and
amount ; some having a direct application to
the general expences of the local government,
and the others,- intended as renaittances to Spain;
% distinction of little import and scarcely de
serving of notice, sin«e the object of the present
!^etch is to convey imforBaation on a large scale
respecting the King's revenme in' these islands.
n2

180 STATE OP THE
As some of them, however, yield proceeds more
regular than others, I have classed tog-ether the
receipts ofthe Pope's Bulls, or Bulas de Cruzada,
playing-cards, tythes, stamps and gunpowder,
under the head of Subaltern Branches, referring,
with regard to the rest, to the general statement
already quoted and found in Table, N°. VI.
In conformity to the returns with which I
have been favoured from the public offices, these
five branches produced, in the year 1809,
45,090 dollars, 3 rials, in the following pro
portions.
Sales. Expences, Nett Proeeedi.

Pope's bulls 15,360 6 4422 2 10,938 4
Playing cards 11,539 1 932 5 10,606 4
Tythes - - 12,493 0  12,493 0
Stamps - - 4,467 4 321 4 4,146 0
Gunpowder - 7,307 5 401 1 6,906 3

Dollars 51, J 68 1 6077 6 45,090 3

The scanty proceeds of the tythes will naturally
appear remarkable ; but it ought to be remem
bered that, besides their ordinary tribute, the
natives pay half a rial under this denomination,
without any distinction of persons, or any re
ference whatever to their respective means, the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 181
total amount of which is already added to the
tributes^ and for this reason not repeated in this
place. In addition also no tythes are levied,
except on lands belonging to Spaniards, churches,
regular clergy, ecclesiastical corporations, &c.
and even then the articles of rice, wheat, pulse,
indigo and sugar, a,re alone liable. The above
branches are all in charge of ' administrators,
and from this plan it certainly would be ad
visable to separate the tythes and farm them out
at public auction, as we^s proposed by the king's
officers of the treasury, in their report on this,
as well as otjher points, concerning the revenue,
and dated 24th October, 1792. From the nett
proceeds of the gunpowder the expences of its
manufacture, confided to the commandant of ar
tillery, ought seemingly to be deducted ; but,
as they cannot be ascertained with any degree of
certainty, and as besides they are comprehended
in the general expences of that department, a
separate deduction may be dispensed with.
Disbursements and general Expences.
— In order to form a correct idea of the annual
amount of the expenditure incurred by the
administration and defence of the Philippine
Islands, it is not necessary in this place to dis
tinguish each item, separately ; or to enumerate
them with their respective sums or particular de
nominations, as will be found stated in Table,

182 STATE OF THE
N'. X, Some general observations on this sub
ject ought, nevertheless, to be made, with a view
to point out the reforms of which this important
department of the public revenue is susceptible.
In the part relating to the interior administra
tion or government, ample room is certainly left
for that kind of economy arising out of the adop
tion of a general system , 1 ittle compli cated ; but it is
besides indispensably necessary that, at the same
time the work is simplified and useless hands
dismissed, the salaries of those who remain
should be proportionably increased, in order to
stimulate them in the due performance of their
duties. It might also be found advisable to
create a small number of officers of a superior or
der, who would be enabled to co-operate in the
collection of the king's revenue, and the en
couragement of agriculture, commerce and navi
gation, in their respective departments. The ad
ditional charges in this respect cannot be of any
great consequence ; although, in reality, by the
receipts increasing through the impulse of an ad
ministrative order more perfect, and the ex
pences being always the same, the main object,
so anxiously sought for in another way, would be
thus attained.
The reverse, however, happens with regard to
the expences of defence, as I have called them,
the better to distinguish them from those purely

, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C, Igg
relating to the interior police or administration.
Every sacrifice, most assuredly, ought to appear
small, when the object is to preserve a country
from falling into the hands of an enemy, and
hence it ought not to excite surprise, if, during
the course ofthe last fifteen years, several millions
of dollars have been expended in the Philip
pines, in order to shield them from so dreadful a
misfortune. But the late memorable revolution
in the Peninsula has given rise to so great a
change in our political relations, and it is so ex
tremely improbable that these islands will be
again exposed to the same danger and alarm,
that the government may now, without any ap
parent risk, dispense with a considerable part of
the preparations of defence, at one time deemed
indispensably necessary, A colony that has no
other strong place to garrison than its capital,
and on the loyalty of whose inhabitants there are
sufficient motives to rely, ought, in my opinion,
to be considered as adequately provided. against
all ordinary occurrences in time of peace, with
the 4000 regulars, more or less, of all arms, the
u.sual military establishment. In case any sus
picions should arise of an early rupture with
the only power whose forces can inspire the go
vernors of these islands with any kind of appre
hensions, means will not be wanting to an ac
tive and provident minister, of giving proper ad-
4

lg4 STATE OP THE I
? I
vice, so as to allow sufficient time for the as
sembling of the battalions of provincial militia
and all the other necessary preparations of de
fence, before the enemy is in an attitude to effect
an invasion of a coun try, so far distant from his
own possessions on the coasts of Malabar and
Coromandel. Consequently, by disbanding the
corps of provincial infantry, cavalry and ar
tillery, which continue uselessly to be kept on
foot, an annual saving of from 220 to 250,000
dollars would take place, an amount too great to
be expended, unless imperiously called for by the
evident dread of a premeditated attack from an
hostile quarter.
The navy is another of the departments in
which reforms may be introduced, of no small
moment to the treasury. Of course, by the go
vernment merely dispensing with the policy of
keeping in readiness two large ships to convey
to Acapulco the cargos, for which the Manilla
merchants enjoy an annual licence, and leaving
to the latter the full liberty of following up their
speculations on their own account and risk, in
vessels of their own, individually or with joint
stock, a saving would result in favour of the
crown equal to 140 or 150,000 dollars per annum,
and without preventing the receipt in Acapulco
of the customary duties of 160 or 166,000 dol
lars, corresponding to the said licences. This

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &6. 185
will evidently be the case, because as long as the
large disposable funds of the charitable institu
tions are employed in maritime risks, and the
private property of others is besides added to
them, the amount of the operations undertaken
by the merchants of the Philippines to New
Spain, when divested of all restraint, will always
exceed 500,000 dollars per annum. Nor is there
now any further occasion for the government to
continue granting this species of gratuitous
tutelage to a body of men possessed of ample
means to manage their own affairs, and who de
mand the same degree of freedom, and only
seek a protection similar to that enjoyed by
their fellow-countrymen in other parts of the
king's dominions.
In case the; above reform should be adopted, it
might be deemed requisite for government to
undertake the payment of some part of the
charges under the existing order of things, de
frayed out of the freights to which the merchan
dise shipped in the Acapulco traders is liable ;
because, calculating this freight at the usual rate
of 200 dollars for each three bales, or the amount
of one ticket, out of the one thousand con
stituting the entire cargo, and of which one half,
or 100,000 dollars, more or less, is appropriated
to the ecclesiastical chapter, municipality, of
ficers of the regular army (excluding captains
and the other higher ranks) and the widows of

186 STATE OF THE
Spaniards, who in this case would be losers, in
dependent of the remaining 100,000 dollars, or
500 tickets distributed among the 200 persons
having a right to ship to Acapulco, it would, at
first sight, appear reasonable for the treasury, to
indemnify the above description of persons by a
compensation, equivalent to the privation they
experience through the new arrangements of the
government. But ?is the practice of abuses con
stitutes no law, and what is given through fa
vour is different to that which is required by
justice, there are no reasons whatever why the
treasury should be bound to support the widows
of private persons, from the mere circumstance
of their deceased husbands having been Spa
niards ; more particularly if it is considered that,
far from having acquired any special merit dur
ing their lifetime, most of them voluntarily left
their native country for the purpose of increasing
their fortunes, and others were banished from it,
owing to their bad conduct. Neither can it be
said that the municipality have a legal right, in
the case before stated, to receive any equivalent
for the value of their respective annual tickets,
which, when disposed of, usually amount to
about 20,000 dollars ; in the first place, because
it is well known that the eleven aldermens' seats,
of which that body is composed, seats which can
either be sold or resigned, originally did not
cost as much as 50,000 dollars, and clearly the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 187
principal invested is out of all kind of proportion
with the enormous premium or income claimed.
In the second place, although the above muni
cipal situations were originally purchased with a
view to obtain some advantages, these formerly
were very different to what they are at present,
when the great increase of shippers to Acapulco,
or in more plain terms, of purchasers of tickets
competing to obtain them, has given to these
permits a value more than triple to that they
possessed thirty years ago.
In order^ therefore, to do away with all mo
tives of doubt and dispute, as well as for many
other reasons of public utility, the best plan, in
my opinion, would be, to return to each alderman
his money, and the present municipal constitu
tion being dissolved, the number of members
might be reduced to four, with their correspond
ing registrar, and like the two ordinary alcaldes,
elected every year without any other reward
than the honour of presiding over and represent
ing their fellow-citizens*. Under this supposi-
* The defective system here complained of, is now remedied
bythe reestablishment of the Constitution. Bythe 310th and fol
lowing articles df the latter it is ordained, that every town con
taining 1000 souls, shall have a municipality, and the law is
to determine the number of members, according to the popula
tion. The tnembers are to be elected by the towns and per
petual seats abolished. The month of December is the period

188 STATE OF THE
tion, the only classes entitled to a compensation,
strictly speaking, would be the ecclesiastical
chapter and the subaltern officers, whose re
spective pay and appointments are not in fact
sufficient for the decency and expences of their
rank in society. Of course it would then be
necessary to grant them more adequate allow
ances, but, according to reasonable calculations,
the sum total annually required would not ex
ceed 30,000 dollars; consequently, the reform
projected with regard to the Acapulco ships,
would still eventually produce to the treasury a
saving of from 60 to 70,000 dollars in the first
year of its adoption, and of 110 to 120,000 in
every succeeding one.
It is, on the other hand, undeniable that, if
the royal navy and cruising vessels, or those be
longing to the islands and under the immediate
orders of the captain-general, were united into
one department, and placed under one head,
considerable economy would ensue, and all mo
tives of discord and emulation be moreover

fixed for the elections, in which the residents have a vote, and
the members and their officers elected, commence their func
tions on the succeeding 1st of January, in each year. The
alcalde or mayor, is to be chaiiged every year, and the regidars,
or aldermen, in the proportion of one half also every year,
and to have a seat they must be thirty-five years of age. — Tjt.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 189
removed. Such would be the case, if the change
was attended with no other circumstances than
the consequent diminution of commanders, su
baltern officers, and clerks ; but it would be also
proper to unite the arsenals, and adopt a more
general uniformity in the operations and de
pendences of this part of the public service. It
is equally certain that, during peaceful times,
the two schooners and sixty gun-boats, consti
tuting the number . of the above-mentioned
cruising vessels, would be in great measure use
less ; whilst in case of a rupture, they are not
sufficient to protect the trade of these islands
from the, attacks of an enemy, notwithstanding
they now cost the government considerable sums
in repairs, &c. in order to keep them fit for
service. The government ought therefore to
guard against this waste of public money, with
out, however, neglecting the defence of the
islands, objects which, in my opinion, might
easily be reconciled. Intelligent persons have
judged, that by reducing the naval forces to two
frigates, two schooners, and about a dozen of
gun-boats, the essential wants of the colony
would be duly answered, in ordinary times ; and
some of the vessels might then be destined to
pursue hydrographical labours in the Archipe
lago, which unfortunately are in a most back
ward state, whilst others could be sent on their

190 STATE OF THE
periodical cruises against the Moors. By this
means, at least, the navy department wonld be
greatly simplified, and cease to be uselessly- bur
densome to the government. With regard to
the superfluous gun-boats, it would be expedient
to distribute them gratuitously among the ma
rine provinces and Bisayas Islands, on the only
condition of their being always kept fit for
service ; as, in one sense, the great expences of
maintaining them would be thus saved by the
treasury, and, in another, the inhabitants of
those portions of the coast would be in possession
of means sufficiently powerful to repel the ag
gressions of the Moors, who commit great ra
vages on their settlements. Finally, if besides
the reforms of which the army and navy are
susceptible, it is considered that the public works,
such as prisons, schools, bridges and causeways,
so expensive in other countries, in the Philip
pines are constructed by the natives on the most
reasonable term's, out of the community funds ;
that there is no necessity to build fortifications,
and maintain numerous garrisons ; that the
clergy, to whose zeal and powerful influence the
preservation of these islands is chiefly due, do not
cost the treasury annually above 200,000 dollars,
and that the geographical situation of the colony
in great measure shields it from the attacks of
external enemies, it will readily be ccHifessed,

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 191
that a wise and firm government might uudei--
take, without the dread of having to encounter
any very great obstacles, an administrative sys
tem, in a general point of view, infinitely more
economical than the one hitherto followed ; might
be able to extirpate numerous abuses, and by
calling forth the resources of the country, gra
dually raise it to a 'flourishing condition, and
cause it hereafter to contribute largely to the
other wants of the crown. Hence was it that
the distinguished voyager. La Peyrouse (Chap,
15), contemplating these islands with a political
eye, did not hesitate to affirm, " that a powerful
nation, possessed of no other colonies than the
Philippines, that should succeed in establishing
there a form of government best adapted to their
advantageous circumstances, wonld justly dis
regard all the other European establishments in
Africa and America,"

192 STATE OF THE

CHAP, VI.
Of the civil Administration and Government of
the Provinces.
In our colonies, appointments and command,
far from being sought as a means to obtain a
good reputation, or as affording opportunities of
contributing to public prosperity, are, it is too
well known, only solicited with a view to amass
wealth, and then retire for the purpose of en
joying it. Commercial pursuits being besides
attended with so many advantages, that those
only decline following them who are divested of
money and friends ; whilst the situations in the
revenue are so few in number, compared with
the many candidates who solicit them, that they
are consequently well appointed, it follows that
the excess left without occupation, besides being
considerable, is generally composed of needy
persons, and not the most suitable to exercise
the delicate functions of collectors and magis
trates in the provinces. From this class never
theless the host of officers are usually taken who,
under the name of collectors, surveyors and
assessors of tributes, intervene in, or influence

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 193
the public administration. Owing to the variety
and great number of persons emigrating to
America, ample field, no doubt, is there left for
selection, by which means the viceroys may
frequently meet with persons suitable and ade
quate to the above trusts, if prudent steps are
only taken ; but in this respect the case is very
different in the Philippines, where chance alone
occasionally brings over an European Spaniard,
unemployed or friendless. In these remote
islands also, more than in any other quarter,
people seek to live in idleness, and, as much as
possible, without working, or much trouble. As
long as hopes are entertained of doing something
in the Acapulco speculations, every other pursuit
is viewed with indifference, and the office of
district or provincial magistrate is only solicited
when all other resources have failed, or as a
remedy against want. As the applicants for these
situations are therefore not among the most select
classes, it very frequently happens that they fall
into extremely improper and unworthy hands.
It is in fact common enough to see a hair
dresser or a lackey converted into a governor ; a
sailor or a deserter, transformed into a district
magistrate, collector, or military commander of
a populous province, without any other counsellor
than his own crude understanding, or any other.
guide than his passions. Such a metamorphosis
o

194 STATE OF THE
would excite laughter in a comedy or farce ;
bnt, realized in the theatre of human life, it
must give rise to sensations of a very different
nature. Who is there that does not feel horror-
struck, and tremble for the innocent, when he
.sees a being of this kind transferred from the
yard-arm to the seat of justice, deciding, in the
fii'st instance, on the honour, lives, and property
of a hundred thousand persons, and haughtily
exacting the homage and incense of the spiritual
ministers of thte towns under his jurisdiction, as
well as of the parish curates, respectable for their
acquirements and beneVolence, and who, in their
own native places, Would possibly have rejected as
a servant the very man whom in the Philippines
they are compelled to court and obey as a
sovereign. In vain do the laws ordain that such offices
shall not be given away to attendants on g'o-
vernors ahd members ofthe high court of justice,
for under pretext of the scarcity of Europeans
experienced in the colony, means are found to
elude the statute, by converting this plea into an
exception in favour of this description of per
sons. By such important offices being filled iti
this manner, it is easy to conceive the various
hardships to which many of the provinces and
districts are exposed ; nor can any amelioration
be expected as long as this plan is persisted in,

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 195
and the excesses of the parties go without pu
nishment. Independent, however, of the serious injuries
and great errors persons of the class above de
scribed cannot fail to commit in the exercise of
their functions, purely judicial, the consequences
are still more lamentable of their inordinate
avarice, and the tacit permission to satisfy it,
granted to them by the g-overnment, under the
specious title of a licence to trade. Hence may
it be affirmed, that the first of the evils, and the
one the Indian more immediately feels, is occa
sioned by the very person the law has destined
for his relief and protection. In a word, he
experiences injuries from the civil magistrates
presiding over the provinces, who, at the same
time, are the natural enemies of the inhabitants,
and the real oppressors of their industry.
It is a known and melancholy fact that, far
from promoting the felicity of the provinces
intrusted to their care, the magistrates attend to
nothing else but their own fortunes and personal
interests ; rior do they hesitate as to the means
by which their object is to be attained. Scarcely
are they seated in the place of authority, when
they become the chief consumers, purchasers,
and exporters of every thing produced and ma
nufactured within the districts under their
command, thus converting their licence to trade
O 2

196 STATE OF THE
into a positive monopoly. In all lucrative spe
culations the magistrate seeks to have the largest
share ; in all his enterprises he calls in the forced
aid of his subjects, and if he deigns to remunerate
their labour, at most it is only on the same terms"
as if they had been working on account of the
king. These unhappy people bring in their
produce and coarse manufactures to the very
person who, directly or indirectly, is to fix upon
them an arbitrary value. To offer such and
such a price for the articles, is the same as to say,
another bidding shall not be made. To insi
nuate, is to command^-the Indian is not allowed
to hesitate, he must either please the magistrate,
or submit to his persecutions. Being besides
free from all competition in the prosecution of
his traffic, since he is frequently the only Spa
niard resident in the province, the magistrate
therein acts with unbounded sway, without
dread, and almost without risk, of his tyranny
ever being denounced to the superior tribunals.
In order, however, that a more correct idea
may be formed of the iniquitous conduct of many
of these public functionaries, it is necessary to
lay open some part of their irregular dealings,
in the collection of the Indian tributes. It is
well known that the government, anxious to
conciliate the interests of the tributary classes
with those of the revenue, frequently commutes

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 197
the pecuniary capitation tax into an obligation
to pay the amount in produce or manufactures.
A season comes when, owing to the failure of the
crops, the productions have risen to an excessive
price, and consequently infinitely above the or
dinary rates affixed by law, which are generally
the lowest, and the Indians, unable to keep their
bargains without considerable injury or endan
gering the subsistence of their numerous fami
lies, implore the favour of the .magistrate, peti
tioning him to lay their calamitous situation
before the superior government, in order to have
the payment of their tribute in kind remitted,
and offering to pay it in money. This is the
precise moment when, as his own profits depend
on the misery of the province under his com
mand, he endeavours to misuse the accidental
power with which he is invested. Hence it
happens that, instead of acting as a beneficent
mediator, and supporting the just solicitations
of the natives, he at first disregards their peti
tion, and then all at once transforming himself
into a zealous collector, issues his notifications,
sends his satellites into the very fields to seize on
the produce, and in a most inexorable manner
insists on collecting, till necessity compels him
to suspend the measure. The principal object
being attained, that is, having now become
master of the gleanings and scanty crops of his

198 STATE OF THE
bereft subjects, on a sudden his disposition
changes, he is moved to pity, and in the most
pathetic language describes to the government
the ravages done to the plantations by the hur
ricanes, and the utter impossibility of collecting
in the tributes that year in kind. On such a
remonstrance, he easily obtains permission to
change the standing order, and proceeding on to
collect in some of the remaining tributes in
money, merely to save appearances, with perfect
impunity he puts the finishing stroke to the
wicked act he had commenced, by applying to
himself all the produce his collectors had ga
thered in, and places to the credit of the treasury
the total amount of the tributes, corresponding
to his jurisdiction, in money.
Supposing, for example, that this has happened
in the province of Antique, where the payment
of the capitation-tax generally takes pkce in
unhusked rice, rated at two rials per cavan, and,
through the effects of a bad season, this article
should rise as high as 10 or 12 rials. It is clear
that the magistrate, by accounting for the tri
butes with the revenue office in money, and
collecting them in kind at the rate fixed by law,
would by the sales gain a profit of 4 or 500 per
cent. ; at the same time the Indian, by the mere
circumstance of then paying in kind, would have
paid the tribute corresponding to five or six years

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, kc. 199
in a single one, without, on that account, having
freed himself from, the same charge in the fol
lowing seasons.
When such extortionate acts as these are prac
tised, to what lengths may it not be expected
the other excesses and abuses of authority are
carried ? To the above it ought moreover to be
added, that the provincial magistrates have no
lieutenants, and are unprovided with any other
auxiliaries in the administration of justice, ex
cept an accompanying witness and an Indian
director; that the scrutinies of their accounts,
to which they formerly were subject, are now
abolished, and, in short, that they have no check
upon them, or indeed any other persons to bear
testimony to their irregularities, except the
friendless and miserable victims of their despo
tism and avarice.
Notwithstanding, however, what is above
stated, it sometimes happens that a magistrate
is to be met vpith, distinguished from the rest
by his prudence and good conduct ; but this is a
miracle, for by the very circumstance of his being
allowed full latitude to trade, he is placed in a
situation to abuse the wide powers confided to
him, and preferably to attend to his own per--
sonal interests ; in fact, if the principle is in
itself defective, it must naturally be expected the
consequences will be equally baneful. The la-

200 STATE OF THE
mentable abuses here noticed are but too true, as
well as many others passed over in silence ; and
the worst of all is, that there is no hope of reme
dying them thoroughly, unless thepresent system
of interior administration is altogether changed.
In vain would it be to allege the possibility of
removing the evil by the timely and energetic
interposition of the protector of the Indians ; for
although this office is in itself highly respect
able, it cannot in any way reach the multitude
of excesses committed, and much less prevent
them; not only because the minister who ex
ercises it resides in the city, where complaints
are seldom brought in, unless they come through
the channel of the parish curates; but also on
account of the difficulty of fully establishing the
charges against the magistrates, in the way the
natives are at present depressed by fear and
threats, as well as-restrained by the sub-gover
nors and other inferior officers of justice, who,
being dependent upon, and holding their situa
tions from the magistrates, are interested in their
monopolies and extortionate acts being kept
from public view.
If therefore it is not possible entirely to era
dicate the vices under which the interior admi
nistration of these islands labours, owing to the
difficulty of finding persons possessed of the
necessary virtues and talents to govern, in an

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 201
upright and judicious manner, let us at least
prevent the evils arising out of the too great
condescension of our own laws. In the infancy
of colonies, it has been the maxim of all go
vernments to encourage the emigration and
settlement of inhabitants /rom the mother-coun
try, without paying much attention to the means
by which this was. to be done. It was not to be
wondered at, for reasons of state, that defects
were ¦ overlooked vi'hich, at such periods, were
even deemed necessary. Hence that relaxation
in the laws in favour of those who, quitting
their native land, carried over with them to
strange countries their property and acquire
ments. Hence, no doubt, also are derived the
full powers granted to those who took in charge
the subjection and administration of the new
provinces, in order that they might govern, and
at the same time carry on their traffic with the
natives, notwithstanding the manifest incompa
tibility of the two occupations; or rather, the
certainty that ought to have been foreseen that
public duties would generally be postponed,
when placed in competition with private inte
rests, and the anxious desire of acquiring wealth.
Subsequently, that has happened which was,
in feet, to be dreaded, viz. what at first was
tolerated as a necessary evil, sanctioned by the

202 STATE OF THE
lapse of time, has at length become a legitimate
right, or rather a compensation for the supposed
trouble attached to the fulfilment of the duties
of civil magistrates ; whilst they, as already ob
served, think of nothing but themselves, and
undergo no other trouble or inconvenience than
usually fall to the lot of any other private mer
chant. In the Philippines, at least, many years
having elapsed since the natives peaceably sub
mitted to the dominion of the king, every motive
has ceased that could formerly and in a certain
degree, justify the indulgence so much abused,
at the same time that no plausible pretext what
ever exists for its further continuation.
Although hitherto the number of whites, com
pared to that of the people of colour, has not
been great, as the whole of the provincial ma
gistracies, collectorships, and subaltern govern
ments, do not exceed 27, the scarcity of Spaniards
ought not to be alleged as a sufficient reason ;
nor can it be doubted these situations might at
any time be properly filled, if the persons on
whom the choice should fall were only certain of
living with decency and in a suitable manner,
without being carried away with the flattering
hopes of withdrawing from office, with 10, 20,
and even as high as 50,000 dollars of property,
as has heretofore been the case, but satisfied with

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 203
a due and equivalent salary they might receive
as a reward for the public services they per
form. I do not therefore see why the government
should hesitate in resolving to put a stop to evils
which the people of the Philippines have not
ceased to deplore, from the time ofthe conquest,
by proscribing, under the most severe penalties,
the power of trading, as now exercised by the
provincial magistrates. The time is come when
this struggle between duty and sordid interest
ought to end, and reason, as well as enlightened
policy, demand that in this respect our legislation
should be reformed, in order that the mace pf
justice, instead of being prostituted in search of
lucre, may henceforwards be wholly employed
in the support of equity, and the protection of
society. The only objection which, at first sight, might
be started against the suggestions here thrown
out, is the increased expence which would fall
on the treasury, owing to the necessity of ap
propriating competent salaries fpr the interior
magistrates under the new order of things. In
dependent, however, of the fact that the rapid
improvements the provinces must assume, in
every point of view, would superabundantly
make up this trifling difference ; yet supposing
the sacrifice were gratuitous, and even of some
4

204 STATE OF THE
moment, it ought not, on that account, to be
omitted, since there is no public object more
important to the sovereign himself, than to make
the necessary provision for the decorum of the
magistracy, the due administration of justice,
and the maintenance of good order among his
subjects. The position being established, that a number
of whites more than sufficient might be obtained,
eligible and fit to perform the duties of civil
magistrates, which they would be induced to
undertake, if adequate terms were only proposed,
it would seem that no ill consequences might be
expected from at once assimilating the regula
tions of these provincial judicatures to those of
the corregimientos, -or mayoralties of towns in
Spain, or in making out an express statute, on a
triple scale, for three classes of magistrates,
granting to them emoluments equivalent to the
greater or lesser extent s>f the respective juris
dictions. As far as regards the pay, it ought to
be so arranged as to act as a sufficient stimulus
to induce European colonists to embrace this
career, in a fixed and permanent way, which
hitherto they have only resorted to as a five
years' speculation, Conformably to this sug
gestion, and owing to the lesser value attached
to money in India, compared with Europe, ou
account of the greater abundance of the neces-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 205
saries of life, I am of opinion that it would be
expedient to affix an annual allowance of 2000
dollars to each of the appointments of the six
principal and most populous provinces; 1500
for the next in importance, and for the 12 or 13
remaining, at the rate of 1000 dollars each;
leaving to the candidates the option of rising
according to their length of. services and good
conductj from the lowest to the highest, as is the
case in Spain.
The first part of the plan above pointed out
embraces two objects. The one is to prevent the
provincial magistrates from carrying on traffic,
thus depriving them of every pretext to defraud
the natives of what is their own ; and the other,
to form, in the course of a few years, a class of
men hitherto unknown in the Philippine Islands,
who, taught by practice, may be enabled to
govern the provinces in a more correct and re
gular manner, and acquire more extended know
ledge, especially in the judicial proceedings of
the first instance, which, owing to this defect,
frequently compel the litigants to incur useless
expences, and greatly embarrass the ordinary
course of justice. Although the second part at
first seems to involve an increased expence of
36 or 37,000 dollars annually, when well con
sidered, this sum will be found not to exceed
20,000, because it will be necessary to deduct

206 STATE OF THE
from the above estimate the amount of three per
cent, under the existing regulations, allowed to
the maoristrates for the collection of the Indian
tributes, in their character of sub-delegates, ge
nerally amounting to 16 or 17,000 dollars;
besides only taking into account such real and
effective disbursements or extraordinary, ex
pences, as in fact they may legally have incurred
in the performance of their duties.
Should it however be deemed expedient, from
causes just in their nature, hereafter to exonerate
the I natives from the obligation of paying tri
butes, by which means the amount deducted for
the three percent, commission could not then be
brou^ght into account, let me be allowed to ask,
what enlightened government would hesitate
submitting to an additional expence of so trifling
an import, in exchange for beholding more than
two millions of men for ever freed from the
extortionate acts of their old magistrates ; and,
through the effects of new regulations, the latter
converted into real fathers of the people over
whom they are placed? How different would
then be the aspect these fine provinces would
present to the eyes of the philosophical observer ?
who would, in that case, be able to calculate to
what afi extent the progress of agriculture and
industry in these islands might be carried ?
Nevertheless, I do not wish to insinuate that

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C, 207
by the better organization of the provincial go
vernments, the present irregularities and abuses
of authority would entirely cease ; because I am
aware, more especially in the Indies, that the
persons who hold public situations usually have
too exaggerated ideas of their own personal
importance, and easily mistake the gratification
of their own whims for firmness of character,
and the necessity of causing themselves to be
respected*. Still it is an incontestable fact that,
by removing the chief temptation, and rescind
ing altogether the licence to trade, the just
complaints preferred by the Indian against the
Spaniard would cease ; the motives of those con
tinual disputes which arise between the magis
trates and the ministers of the gospel exercising
their functions in the same provinces, and the
zealous defenders of the rights of their parishion-

* This defect is also remedied by the Constitution. By the
324th and following rarticles of the latter it is ordained, that
the political government of the provinces is to reside in a su
perior chief named by theking, and a deputation. The latter
^ elected by the district electors, the day after they have
named the deputies to the Cortes, and half changed every
year. The superior, or political chief, presides over this de
putation, assisted by the intendant of the province. This
body levies the contributions, taxes, &c, and watches over their
distribution. In short, they superintend the civil administra
tion of the province.' — Tr.

208 STATE OF THE
ers, would be removed, and the inhabitants of
Manilla, extending their mercantile operations
to the interior, without the dread of seeing them
obstructed through the powerful competition of
the magistrates in authority there, would be
induced to settle in or connect themselves with
the provinces, and thus diffuse their knowledge,
activity and money among the inhabitants, the
true means of encouraging the whole.
What has already been said will suffice to con
vince the lover of truth and the friend of general
prosperity, how urgent it is to introduce, as early
as possible, the reform proposed into the interior .
administration of this important, although neg
lected colony ; and it is to be hoped that the
government, guided by these same sentiments,
will not be led away by those narrow-minded
people, who predict danger from every thing
that is new; but, after due and mature deli
beration, resolve to adopt a measure dictated by
reason, and at the same time conformable to the
best interests of the state.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 209

CHAP, VII.
Of the Spiritual Administration.
Of little avail would have been the valour
and constancy with which Legaspi and his wor
thy companions overcame the natives of these
islands, if the apostolic zeal of the missionaries
had not seconded their exertions, and aided to
consolidate the enterprise. The latter were the
real conquerors; they who, without any other
arms than their virtues, gained over the good
will of the islanders, caused the Spanish name
to be- beloved, and gave to the king, as it were
by a miracle, two millions more of submissive
and Christian subjects. These were the legis
lators of the barbarous hordes who inhabited the
islands of this immense Archipelago, realizing,
by their mild persuasion, the allegorical prodi
gies of Amphion and Orpheus*.
* Whatever may have been the defects of the Jesuits, in
other respects, much is due to their zeal and labours in the
civilization of South America, more particularly in Paraguay
and other countries situated between Buenos Ayres and Peru.
With heroic courage, they formed the plan of settling among
the most distant and secluded Indians, as the only means of
P

210 STATE OF THE
As the means the missionaries called in to their
aid, in order to reduce and civilize the Indians,
effecting their purpose, and about the middle of the 17th cen
tury carried their scheme into execution. The missionaries
went forth among men who were then living dispersed in the
wilds, at war with each other, devouring their prisoners, and
exercising acts of the most horrid vengeance. The first thing-
they taught them was to check their wandering and unsettled
habits, by bringing them into society. They were then in
structed to biiild dwellings with some order and symmetry ;
they became more tractable, and their numbers increased. At
first, they were surprised and alarmed at the novelty of the
doctrines laid before them ; but, by persuasion and example,
gradually lost their fierceness, and learnt how to live in peace.
Enabled to make a contrast between their new state and the
brutish life they had been accustomed to lead, the effect was
favourable. They were induced to lay up provision of ne
cessaries, and felt the advantages of being no longer dependent
on precarious supplies. Thus was the foundation of agriculture
laid among them, and besides being made acquainted with
other serviceable grains, roots, &c. before unknown to them,
they were also ^aught to appropriate those they 'previously
possessed to other uses. In their illness, they were attended
and relieved, and by degrees a feeling of gratitude succeeded
to confidence. After numerous hardships and dangers, the
greatest part of the interior country, above alluded to, was
converted and civilized, without any other instruments than
missionaries, as may be more particularly seen in Muratori's
" Relation of the Missions of Paraguay," and this has been
the plan unifjprmly adopted by Spain in the whole of her trans
marine dominions, and it has always been found, more efficient
than the presence of large armies. The extraordinary success

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 211
were preaching and other spiritual labours, and,
although scattered about and acting separately,
they were still subject to the authority of their
prelates, who, like so many chiefs, directed the
grand work of conversion, the government pri
mitively established in these colonies must ne-
ces-sarily have partaken greatly of the theocra-
tical order, and beyond doubt it continued to be
so, till, by the lapse of time, the number bf
colonists increased, as well as the effective
strength of the royal authority, so as to render
the governing system uniform with that esta
blished in the other ultramarine dominions of
Spain. This is also deduced from the fraojments still
remaining of the first constitution, or mode of
government introduced in the Batanes Islands
and missions of Cagayan, administered by the
Dominican friars, in a spiritual and temporal
manner ; as well as from what may frequently
be observed in the other provinces, by any one
who bestows the smallest attention. Although
the civil magistracies have since been regulated,
and their respective attributes determined with

which attended the efforts of St. Francis Xavier, the apostle of
the Indies, would exceed belief, if they were not authentically
recorded, and the happy effects acl<nowledged by our own
voyagers at the present day. — Tr.
P 2

212 STATE OF THE
due precision, it has not hitherto been possible,
notwithstanding the pains taken to make the
contrary appear, to do without the personal
authority and influence the parish curates possess
over their flocks. The government has, in fact,
constantly been obligated to avail themselves of
this aid, as the most powerful instrument to
insure respect and a due subordination, in such
manner that, although the parish curates are not
at present equally authorized to interfere in the
civil administration, in point of fact, they are
themselves the real administrators.
It happens that, as the parish curate is the
consoler of the afflicted, the peacemaker of fa
milies, the promoter of useful ideas, the preacher
and example of every thing good ; as in him
liberality is seen to shine, and the Indians be
hold him alone in the midst of them, without
relatives, without traffic, and always busied in
their care and improvement, they become ac
customed to live satisfied and contented under
his paternal direction, and deliver up to him the
whole of their confidence. In this Way rendered
the master of their wishes, nothing is done with
out the advice, or rather consent, of the curate.
The .subaltern governor, on receiving an order
from the superior haagistrate, before he takes
any step, goes to the minister to obtain his
sanction, and it is he in fact who tacitly gives

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 213
the mandate for execution, or prevents its being
carried into effect. As the father of his flock,
he arranges, or directs, the lawsuits of his pa
rishioners; it is he who draws out their writings;
goes to the capital to plead for the Indians;
opposes his prayers, and sometimes his threats, to,
the violent acts of the provincial magistrates,
and manages every thing in the most fit and
quiet manner. In a- word, it is not possible for
any human institution to be more simple, and at
the same time more firmly established, or from
which so many advantages might be derived in
favour of the state, as the one so justly admired
in the spiritual ministry of these islands. It
may therefore be considered a strange fatality,
when the secret and true art of governing a
colony, so different from any other as is that of
the Philippines, consists in the wise use of so
powerful an instrument as the one just described,
that the superior government, within the last
few years, should have been so much deluded as
to seek the destruction of a work which, on the
contrary, it is, above all others, advisable to
sustain. In this, as well as many other cases, we see
how difficult, or rather how absurd it is, to ex
pect to organize a system of government, indis
tinctly adapted to the genius and disposition of
all nations, however great the discordance pre-

214 STATE OF THE
vailing in their physical and moral constitutions.
Hence it follows that, by wishing to assimilate,
the administrative plan of these provinces to the
one adopted in the sections of America, incon
veniences are unceasingly met with, evidently
arising out of this erroneous principle. What
ever may be asserted to the contrary, there is no
medium. It is necessary to insure obedience
either through dread and force, or respect must
be excited by means of love and confidence. , In
order to be convinced that the first is not prac
ticable, it will only be nece-ssary to weigh well
the following circumstances and reflections.
The number of the whites compared to that
of the natives is so sniall, that it can scarcely be
estimated in the proportion of 15 to 25,000,
These provinces, infinitely more populous than
those of America, are entirely delivered up to
the charge of provincial magistrates, who carry
with them to the seats of their respective go
vernments, no other troops than the title of
military commandants, and their royal commis
sion on parchment. Besides the friars, it sbme-
times happens that no other white person is to
be found in an entire province, but the presiding
magistrate. It is the duty of the latter to collect
in the king's revenue; to pursue robbers; ap
pease tumults ; raise men for the regiments in
garrison at Manilla and Cavite; regulate and

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 215
head his people in case of an external invasion,
and, in short, it ;s he who is to do every thing in
the character of magistrate and in the name of
the king. Considering, therefore, the effective
power required for the due performance of so
great a variety of duties, and the want of that
species of support experienced by him who is
charged with them, can it be denied that it
would be risking the security of these dominions
too much, to attempt forcibly to control them
with means so insufficient? If the inhabitants
become tumultuous and rise up, on whom will
the magistrate call for aid to repress and punish
them ? In such a predicament, is any other al
ternative left him than to fly or die in the
struggle ? If among civilized nations, it is deem
ed indispensable that authority should always
appear accompanied with force, how can it be
expected, among Indians, that the laws will
otherwise be respected, when left naked and un
supported ?
Evidently, it is necessary to appeal to aid of
another kind, and to employ means, which, al
though indirect ones, are, beyond all dispute, the
best adapted to the peculiar circumstances ofthe
country, means which, by influencing the mind,
excite veneration, subdue the rude understand
ing of the inhabitants, and incline them to bear
our dominion without repugnance. It is well

216 STATE OF THE
understood what these means are, how much
they are at hand, and how greatly also they have
always been envied by other European nations,
who have sought to extend and consolidate their
conquests in both the Indies. Let us listen to
,La Perouse, if we wish to know and admire the
army with which our missionaries subdued the
natives of both Californias; let us read, dis
passionately, the wonderful deeds of the Jesuits
in other parts of America, and above all, let us
visit the Philippine Islands and, with astonish
ment, shall we there behold extended ranges,
studded with temples and spacious convents; the
Divine worship celebrated with pomp and splen
dour ; regularity in the streets, and even luxury
in the houses and dress ; schools of the first rudi
ments in all the towns, and the inhabitants well
versed in the art of writing. We shall there see
causeways raised, bridges of a good architec
ture built, and, in short, all the measures of good
government and police, in the greatest part of
the country, carried into effect, yet the whole is
due to the exertions, apostolic labours and pure
patriotism of the ministers of religion. Let us
travel over the provinces, and we shall there see
towns of 5, 10, and 20,000 Indians, peacefully
governed by one weak old man, who, with his
doors open at all hours, sleeps quiet and secure
in his dwelling, without any other magic, or any

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 217
other guards, than the love and respect with
which he has known how to inspire his flock.
And, when this is contemplated, can it be deemed
possible, through foolish jealousy and a vain wish
for those persons only pointed out by the general
laws in ordinary cases, to intervene in the go
vernment of the natives, that the fruits of so
much time and constancy are not only to be lost,
but also by hereafter disregarding and rejecting
a co-operation, as efficifent as it is economical, that
attempts should purposely be made to destroy the
main-spring of the whole of this political ma
chine ?
Such, nevertheless, are the mistaken ideas
which, within the last few years, have unhappily
led to the adoption of measures, diametrically
opposed to the public interest, under the pretext
of curtailing the excessive authority of the parish-
curates. The superior government, not satisfied
with having deprived the ministers ofthe faculty
of personally prescribing- certain correctional
punishments, which, although of little moment,
when applied withdisdl-etion, greatly contributed
to fortify their ascendancy, and consequently,
that of the sovereign ; but, in order to exclude and
divest them of all intervention in the civil ad
ministration, a direct attempt has also been made
to lower the esteem in which they are held, by
awakening the distrust of the Indian, and, as

218 STATE OF THE
much as possible, removing him to a greater
distance from them. In proof of> this, and in
order that what has been said may not be deemed
an exaggeration, it will suffice to quote the sub
stance of two regulations, remarkable for their
obvious tendency to vveaken the influence and
credit of the spiritual administrators.
By one of these, it is enacted that, in order to
prevent the abuses and notorious malversation of
the funds of the sanctuary, specially applicable
to the expences of the festivities and worship of
each parish, and arising out of the rial and half
for this purpose contributed by each tributary
person, and collected and privately administered
by the curate, the same shall hereafter be kept
in a chest with three keys, and lodged in the
head-toWn of each province. The keys are to
be left, one in possession of the chief magis
trate, another in the hands of the governor of
the respective town, and the remaining one with
the parish-curate. — By the other measure it is
declared, as a standing rule, that no Indian, who
may lately have been employed in the domestic
service of the curate, shall in his own town be
considered eligible to any office belonging to the
judicial department*.
* Misunderstandings between the constituted authorities
and the persons to whom the spiritual care of the natives was

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 219
On measures of this kind, comments are un
necessary; their meaning and effect cannot be
mistaken. I shall, therefore, merely observe,
that no untimely means could have been devised
more injurious^ to the state, to the propagation
of religion, and even to the natives themselves.

intrusted, have not been unfrequent in the several governments '
of Spanish America. In my possession is a curious remon
strance, addressed to Viceroy Gil de Lemos, by the Bishop of
Cusco, dated the 10th August, 1791, respecting the pa
rochial fees payable by the Indians to their curates, which had '
been suspended in Peru, in cases of baptism, marriage and
burials. The bishop undertakes to prove the impolicy of the
measure, and describes the painful effects it had produced in
the provinces, where the clergy were thereby deprived of the
chief resources of their subsistence, and reduced to the utmost
want. It would seem that a regulation to this effect was at
tempted by the Duke de la Palata, whilst Viceroy of Peru, in
1684, as a relief to the Indians, but it was subsequently with
drawn, and the wish to revive it, commenced in 1790. The
bishop goes into a long review of all the decrees ofthe govern
ment, respecting this contested question, quotes the authority
of various Councils in support of the practice, and concludes
that it must be continued, or the government make provision
for men whose only care and occupation was the superin
tendence of their flocks, to whose labours the country was so
much indebted, and who would otherwise be compelled to
abandon their posts. At length it was determined, that the
Indians should continue to pay fees, when they availed them
selves ofthe spiritual ministry of their pastors; but this dispute
had nearly produced very serious consequences. — Tk.

220 STATE OF THE
It is, in fact, a most strange affair, that such en
deavours should have been made to impeach the
purity, by at the same time degrading the re
spectable character of the parish-curates, more
particularly at a period when, owing to mor
tality and the scarcity of religious men, it
would have seemed more natural to uphold, and
by new inducements encourage the zeal and au
thority of the remaining few. This step appears
the more singular, I repeat, at a moment when,
neither by suspending the sending out of mis
sionaries to China, and the almost entire aban
donment of the spiritual conquest of the Igorrots
and other infidel tribes, inhabiting the interior
of these islands, have the above Spanish la
bourers been able to carry on the ordinary admi
nistration, nor prevent entire provinces from being
transferred, as is now the case, into the hands pf
Indian and Mestizo clergymen of the Sangley
race, who, through their great ignorance, cor
rupt morals, and total want of decorum, univer
sally incur the contempt ofthe flocks committed
to their care, and in consequence of their tyran
nical conduct, cause the people to sigh for the
mild yoke of their ancient pastors.
If, therefore, it is the wish of government to
retain the subjection of this colony, and raise it
to the high degree of prosperity of which it is
susceptible, the first thing, in my opinion, that

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 8cc. 221
ought to be attended to is, the good organization
of its spiritual administration. On this subject
we must not deceive ourselves. I again repeat,
that as long as the local government, in conse
quence of the want of military forces, and owing
to the scarcity of Europeans, does not in itself
possess the means of insuring obedience, no other
alternative remains. It is necessary to call in to
its aid the powerful influence of religion, and to
obtain from the Peninsula fresh supplies of mis
sionaries. As in their nature the latter are essen
tially different from other public functionaries, it
is well known they neither seek nor aspire to any
remuneration for their labours, their only hope
being to obtain, in the opinion of the community at
large, that degree of respect to which they
justly consider themselves entitled. Let, there
fore, their pre-eminences be retained to them ; let
therh be treated with decorum ; the care and di
rection of the Indians confided to their charge,
and they will always be found united in sup
port of justice and the legitimate authority.
Nothing is more unjust, and ofnothinghave the
spiritual directors of the provinces so much rea-
. son to complain, than the little discernment with
which they have sometimes been judged and
condemned, by causing the misconduct of some
of their individual members to affect the whole
body. Hence is it that no one can read without

222 STATE OF THE .
shame and indignation, the insidious suggestions
and allusions, derogatory to their character, con
tained in the Regulations of Government, framed
at Manilla, in the year 1768, and which, al
though modified by orders of the king, are at the
present moment still in force, owing to the want
of others, , and found in a printed form in the
hands of every one. Granting that in some par
ticular instances, real causes of complaint might
have existed, yet in the end what does it matter if
here and there a religious character has abused
the confidence reposed in him, al long as the
spirit by which the generality of them are ac
tuated, corresponds to the sanctity of their state,
and is besides conformable to the views of go
vernment ? -Why should we be eternally running
after an ideal perfection, which can never be met
with ? nor indeed is this necessary in the present
construction of society.
If, however, any weight is to be attached to
impostures with which, from personal motives,
attempts have been made to obscure the truth,
and prejudice the public mind against thertJgular
clergy ; or, if the just defence on which I have
entered, should be attributed to partiality or
visionary impressions, let the Archives of the
Colonial Department be opened, and we shall
there find the report drawn up by order of the
king on the 25th of November, 1804, by the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 223
Governor of the Philippine Islands, Don Rafael
Maria de Aguilar, with a view to convey in
formation regarding the enquiries at that time
instituted respecting the reduction of the in
habitants of the Island of Mindoro; a report
extremely honourable to the regular clergy,
and dictated by the experience that General'
had acquired during a period^ of 'more than
twelve years he had governed. Therein also
will be seen the answer to the consultation ad
dressed to his successor in the command, Don
Mariano Fernandes de Folgueras, under date of
25th April, 1809, in which he most earnestly
beseeches' the king to endeavour, by every pos
sible means, to send out religious missionaries ;
deploring the decline and want of order he had
observed with his own eyes in the towns ad
ministered by Indian clergymen, and pointing
out the urgent necessity of intrusting the
spiritual government of these provinces to the
dexterous management of the former. Testimo
nies of such weight are more than sufficient at
once to refute the calumnies and contrary opi
nions put forth on this subject, and at the same
time serve as irrefragable proofs of the scrupulous
impartiality with which I have endeavoured to
discuss so delicate a matter.
Having, in a general point of view, alluded to
the erroneous system, within the last few years,

224 STATE OF THE
pursued by government with regard to the
parish-curates employed in the interior, and
also sufficiently pointed out the advantages rea
sonably to be expected, if the government, acting
on a different policy, or rather guided by other
motives of state, and instead of following the
literal text of our Indian legislation, should
come to the firm determination of indirectly di
vesting themselves of a small portion of their
authority in favour of the religious labourers who
are acting on the spot. Having sard thus much,
I shall proceed to such further details as are
more immediately connected with the present
chapter. The ecclesiastical jurisdiction is exercised by
the metropolitan archbishop of Manilla, aided
by the three suffragans of New Segovia, New
Caceres, and Zebu.
The archbishopric of Manilla comprehends the
provinces of Tondo, Bolacan, Pampanga, Bataan,
Cavite, Laguna de Bay, Zambales, Batangas, and
the Island of Mindoro.
The bishopric of New Segovia comprehends
the province of Pangasinan, the missions of Ituy
and Paniqui, the provinces of Ilocos, Cagayan,
and the missions of the Batanes islands.
, That of New Caceres comprehends the pro
vinces of Tayabas, New Ecija, Camarines and
Albay.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 225
That of Zebu comprehends the islands of Zebu
and Bohol, Iloilo, Capis and Antique, in the
Island of Panay, the Islands of La Paragua,
Negros ^and Samar, Misamis, Caraga and Zam
boanga in that of Mindanao and the Marianas
Islands. The archbishop has a salary of 5000 dollars,
and the bishops 4000 each. The curacies exceed
500, and although all of them primitively were
in charge of persons belonging tp the religious
orders, owing to the expulsion of the Jesuits and
the excessive scarcity of regular clergy, so many
Indian priests have gradually been introduced
among them, that, at present, nearly half the
towns are under their direction. The rest are
administered by the religious orders of St. Au
gustine, St. Dominic and St. Francis, in the fol
lowing manner.
The Augustins - - 88 towns.
The barefooted do. - 52 do.
The Dominicans - 57 do.
The Franciscans - 96 do.
Total 293 towns.

It ought, however, to be observed, that since
the detailed statement contained in Table, N°. XI.
was made out, and from which the above ex
tract has been taken, so many members of the
Q

226 STATE OP THE
religious orders have died, that it has been neces
sary to replace them in many towns with Indian
clergymen, as a temporary expedient, and till
new missionaries shall arrive from Spain.
The monastic curates are immediately subject
to their provincial superior, in the character of
friars, but depend on the diocesan bishop in
their quality of parish priests ; and in like man
ner obey their own provincial vicars, as well as
those of the bishop. They are alternately eligi
ble to the dignities of their own order, and ge
nerally promoted, or relieved from their minis
try, at the discretion of the provincial chapter,
or according to the final determination of the
vice-patron or bishop, affixed to the triple list
presented to him. Besides the ordinary obliga
tions attached to the care of souls, they are en
joined to assist at the elections of governors and
other officers of justice, in their respective towns,
in order to inform the chief magistrate respect
ing the aptitude of the persons proposed for elec
tion on the triple lists, and to point out the legal
defects attributable to any of them. On this
account, they are not, however, allowed to inter
fere in the smallest degree with any of these
proceedings, and much less make a formal pro- >
posal, as most assuredly would be advisable if per
mitted so to do, in favour of any particular per
son Pr persons, in their opinion fit for the dis-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 227
charge of the abovementioned duties. It is their
obligation to ascertain the correctness of the
tribute lists, presented to them for their exami
nation and signature by the chiefs of clans, by
carefully comparing them with the registers kept
in their own department ; and also to certify the
general returns, without which requisite the
statements, transmitted by the chief magistrates
to the accountant-general's office, are not ad
mitted. Above all, they are bound to affix their
signatures to the effective payments made by the
magistrate to their parishioners on account of
daily labour, and the value of materials em
ployed in public works. Besides the above, they
are continually called upon to draw up circum
stantial reports, or declarations, required by the
superior tribunals; they receive frequent in
junctions to co-operate in the increase of the
king's revenue and tEe encouragement of agri
culture and industry ; in a word, there is scarce
ly a thing to which their attention is not called,
and to which it is not expected they should con
tribute by their influence, directly or indirectly.
The royal treasury pays them an annual al
lowance equal to 180 dollars, in kind and mo
ney, for each 500 tributes under their care, and
this, added to the emoluments of the church,
renders the total proceeds of a curacy genially
equivalent to about from 6 to 8 rials for each en-
q2

228 STATE OF THE
tire tribute; but from this allowance are to be
deducted the expences of coadjutors, subsistence,
servants, horses, and all the other charges arising
out of the administration of such wearisome du
ties ; nor are the parishioners under any other
obligation than to provide the churches with as
sistants, or sacristans and singers, and the curates
with provisions at tariff prices.
Finally, as from what has been above stated it
would appear, that as many as 500 religious per
sons are necessary for the spiritual administra
tion of the interior towns and districts, besides
the number requisite to do the duty and fill the
dignities ef the respective orders and convents in
the capital, independent of which there ought
to be a proportionate surplus, applicable to the
progressive reduction of the infidel tribes in
habiting the uplands, as well as the preaching of
the gospel in China and Cochinchina, most as
suredly, it would be expedient to assemble and
keep together a body of no less than 700 persons,
if it is the wish of the government, on a toler
able scale, to provide for the wants of these re-
^ mote missions. At the present moment, the
! number does not exceed 300, including super-
' annuated, exempt from service, and lay -brothers,
whilst the Indian clergymen in effective pos
session bf curacies, and including substitutes, co
adjutors and weekly preachers, exceed 1000.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 229
And as the latter, in general unworthy of the
priesthood, are rather injurious than really ser
viceable to the state, 'it could not be deemed un
just if they were altogether deprived of the dig
nity of parish curates, and only allowed to ex
ercise their functions in necessary cases, or by
attaching them to the curacies in the quality of
coadjutors. By this plan, at the same time
that the towns would be provided with suitable
and adequate ministers, the Indian clergymen
would be distributed in .a proper manner, and,
placed near the religious persons charged to of
ficiate, would acquire the necessary knowledge
and decorum, and in the course of time might
obtain character and respect among their coun
trymen. To many, a measure of this kind may, in some
respects, appear harsh and arbitrary ; but per
sons, practically acquainted with the subject
and country, will deem it indispensable, and the
only means that can be resorted to, in order to
stop the rapid decline remarkable in this in
teresting department of public administration.
Fortunately, no grounded objections can be al
leged against it ; nor is there any danger of
serious consequences resulting from the plan be
ing carried into due effect. In vain would it
be to argue that, if the reform is to take place,
a large number of priests would be reduced to

230 STATE OF THE
beggary, owing to the want of occupation ; be*-
cause, as things now stand, many ofthe religious
curates employ three or four coadjutors, and no
doubt, they would thefi gladly undertake to
make provision for the remainder of those who
may be thrown out of employment. On the
other hand, with equal truth it may be observed,
that the inhabitants of the interior, far from
regretting, or taking part, on behalf of the In
dian clergy, would celebrate, as a day of glad
ness and rejoicing,- the removal of the latter, and
the return of their beloved Castilian Fathers.
In case the ideas above suggested should be
adopted in all their parts, it may be proper to
add, that an injunction uu^t to be laid" on the
reverend bishops in future to confer holy orders
with more scrupul'osity and economy, than,
unfortunately, heretofore has been the case ; by
representing to them that, if, at certain periods
the Popes have been influenced by powerful
reasons, not to insist on ordinations taking place
in Europe, as was formerly the case, very
weighty motives now equally urge the govern
ment to decline, in the Philippine Islands, pay
ing so much regard to religious vocation, and to
refex in the policy of raising the natives to the
dignity pf the priesthood.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 231

CHAP. VIII.
Of the Moors and their Piracies.
Long have the inhabitants of the Philippines
deplored, and in vain remonstrated, against the
ravages committed on their coasts and settlements
by the barbarous Indians of the islands of Min
danao, Basilan and Jolo, as well as by the Mala-
nos, llanos and Tirones Moors and others; and
there is nothing that so much deserves the atten
tion, and interests the honour of the Captain
Generals commanding in this quarter, as an
early and efficient attempt to check and punish
these cruel enemies. It is indeed true that, in
the year 1636 and 1638, General Don Sebastian
Hurtado de Corcuera, undertook, in person, and
happily carried into effect the reduction of the
Sultan of Mindanao and the conquest of the
island of Jolo, placing in the latter a governor
and establishing three military posts there, un
der the protection of the garrisons of which
Christianity was considerably extended. It is
equally true, that, on the subsequent abandon
ment of this important acquisition, owing to the
government being compelled to attend to othe'f

232 STATE OF THE
urgent matters, the enemy acquired a greater
degree of audacity, and the Captain Generals in
command afterwards sent several armaments to
check his inroads. On one of these occasions,
our troops obliged an army of more than 5000
Moors, who had closely beset the fortress of
Zamboanga, to raise the siege ; and also, in the
years 1731 and 1734, fresh detachments of our
men were landed in the islands of Jolo, Capul and
Basilan, and their success followed by the de
struction and ruin of the fortified posts, vessels,
and settlements of those perfidious Mahometans*.

* About the year 1597, an expedition was first sent from
Manilla against Mindanao, under Capt. Figueroa, who, by the
king's order, bore the title of Marquis of what he might con
quer. He arrived at Buhayen, where the Moors had fortifica
tions ; but afterwards retired to the kingdom of Tamoucaca,
whose king was in amity with the Spaniards. The other in
dependent chiefs continued their ravages, when, the more
readily to repress and counteract them, it was determined to
have' a permanent estabUshment on the island of Mindanao,
and conformably to the wishes of the Jesuits, Zamboanga,
situated near the port of Caldera, was deemed the most eligi
ble position. The situation is beautiful ; but having no wa
ter, this defect was supplied by digging a channel from the
river, through which the water flows in abundance near the
walls of the fort, and falls into the sea. The first stone was
laid on 23d June, 1635, and this station has principally
served to hold the independent islanders in awe, as far at
least 'as regards land operations, and to watch the move-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 233
It is not, however, less certain that, at the pe
riods above mentioned, the war was carried on
rather from motives of punishment and revenge,
and suggested by a sudden and passing zeal, than
in conformity to any progressive and well-com
bined system. Subsequently, these laudable mi
litary enterprises have been entirely neglected.

ments of the Jolonese. The town is surrounded by a palisade, i
abutting on one side to the fort, and on the other to a battery
of 14 guns, which commands the approaches and environs of
the town. During the administration of Governor Lara, that
is, about the year 1660, the fortress was abandoned, through
dread of the Chinese pirate, Cogseng, who threatened the Phi
lippines ; but, during the command of Don Fernando "Bust
amante, about the year 1717, the works were reconstructed, con
trary to the opinion of the Council and wishes of the public of
Manilla, who deemed the establishment too expensive, and
besides inadequate to the main object. This fortress was al
ways a subject of jealousy to the people of Mindanao, and
during the administration of the Archbishop of Manilla, who
assumed the command of the islands at the death of Bust
amante, in 1719, Dulasi, king of Butuy, attempted to take it
by assault, but was repulsed. It was again resolved to aban
don Zamboanga, as well as the fort of Labo, which had been
built on the island of Paragua, in order to concentrate the
forces. About ten years afterwards, a different policy prevail
ing, another garrison was established there, and the Spaniards
have continued to hold possession ever since, and greatly ex
tended their influence and territorial jurisdiction, though with
out being able to prevent the predatory excursions ofthe inde
pendent islanders. — Tr.

234 STATE OF THE
as well on account of the indolence of some of
the governors, as tbe too great confidence, placed
in the protestations of friendship and treaties of
peace, with which, from time to time, the sul
tans of Jolo and Mindanao have sought to lull
them to sleep. Their want of sincerity is proved
by the circumstance of the piracies of their re
spective subjects not ceasing, the chiefs some
times feigning they were carried on without
their licence or knowledge ; and, at others, ex
cusing themselves on the plea of their inability
to restrain the insolence of the Tirones and other
independent tribes. Nevertheless, it is no
torious that the above mentioned sultans indi
rectly encouraged the practice of privateering,
by affording every aid in their power to those
who fitted out vessels, and purchasing from the
pirates all the Christians they captured and
brought in to them.
Father Juan Angeles, superior of the mission
established in Jolo, at the request of sultan
Alimindin himself, or Ferdinand I. as he was
afterwards unworthily called, on being made a
Christian with no other view than the better to
gain over the confidence of. the Spaniards, in a
report he sent to the government from the above
island, under date of 24th September, 1748,
describing the singular artifices of which the
sultan availed himself, in order to amuse him and

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 235
frustrate the object of his mission, fully confirms
all that has just been said, and, on closing his
report, makes use of the following remarkable
words : " When is it we shall have had enough
of treaties with these Moors, for have we not
before us the experience of more than one hun
dred years, during which period of time, they
have not kept a single article in any way bur
densome to, or binding on, themselves ? They
will never observe the conditions of peace, be
cause their property consists in the possession of
slaves, and with them they traffic, the same as
other nations do with money. Sooner will the
hawk release his prey from his talons than they
will put an end to their piracies. The cause of
their being still unfaithful to Spain, arises out
of this matter having been taken up by fits and
starts, and not in the serious manner it ought to
have been done. To make war on them, in an
effectual manner, fleets must not be employed,
but they must be attacked on land, and in their
posts in the interior ; for it is much more ad
visable at once to spend ten with advantage and
in a strenuous manner to attain an important
object, than to lay out twenty by degrees and
without fruit."
It is an undeniable fact that the government,
lulled and deceived by the frequent embassies
and submissive and crouching letters which

236 STATE OF THE
those fawning sultans have been in the habit of
transmitting to them, instead of adopting the
energetic measures a,dvised by the above men
tioned missionary, have constantly endeavoured
to renew and secure the friendship of those chiefs,
by means of treaties and commercial relations ;
granting, with this view, ample licence to every
one who ventured to ship merchandise to Jolo,
and winking at the traffic carried on by the
governors of the fortress of Zamboanga with
the people of Mindanao ; whilst the latter, on
their part, sporting with our foolish credulity,
have never ceased waging a most destructive war
against us, by attacking our towns situated on
the coast, not even excepting those of the island
of Luzon. They have sometimes carried their
audacity so far as to shew themselves in the
neighbourhood of the capital itself, and, at
others, taken up their temporary residence in
the district of Mindoro, and others belonging to
the jurisdictions of Samar and Leyte; and in
short, even dared to form an establishment or
general deposit for their plunder in the island of
Burias, where they quietly remained during the
years 1797, 98, and 99, to the great injury pf
our commerce and settlements.
This want of exertion to remedy evils of so
grievous a nature is the more to be deplored, as
the Philippine governors have at all times been

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 237
fully authorized to carry on war, and promote
the destruction of the Moors, under every sacri
fice, and especially by the royal orders and de
crees of 26th Oct. and 1st Nov. 1758, and 31st
July, 1766, in all of which his majesty recom
mends, in the most earnest manner, " the im
portance of punishing the audacity of the bar
barous infidels, his majesty being desirous that,
in order to maintain his subjects of the Phi
lippines free from the piracies and captivity they
so frequently experience, no expences or pains
should be spared; it being further declared, that
as this is an object deeply affecting the conscience
of his majesty, he specially enjoins the aforesaid
government to observe his order; and finally,
with a view to provide for the exigencies arising
put of similar enterprises, the viceroy of New
Spain is instructed to attend to the punctual
remittance, not only of the usual situado, or
annual allowance, but also of the additional sum
of 70,000 dollars, in the first and succeeding
years, &c." In a word, our monarchs, Ferdi
nand VI. and Charles III., omitted nothing that
could in any way promote so important an object,
and whether it is that the governors have dis
regarded such repeated orders from their sove
reigns, or mistaken the means by which they
were to be carried into effect, certain it is, that
the unhappy inhabitants of the Philippines have

238 STATE OF THE
continued to be witnesses, and at the same time
the victims of the culpable apathy of those who
have successively held the command of these
islands, within the last fifty or sixty years.
Abandoned therefore to their own resources,
and from time to time relieved, by the presence
of a few gun-boats which, after scouring the
coasts, have never been able to come up with
the light and fast sailing vessels of the enemy,
the inhabitants of our towns and settlements
have been under the necessity of intrenching
and fortifying themselves in the best way they
were able, by opening ditches and planting a
breastworli of stakes and palisades, crowned with
watch towers, or a wooden or stone castle ; pre
cautions which sometimes are not sufficient
against the nocturnal irruptions and robberies of
the Moors, more especially when they come with
any strength and fire-arms, in general scarce
among the natives.
The pancos, or prows, used by the Moors, are
light and simple vessels, built of numerous thin
planks and ribs, with a small draft of water ;
and being manned by dexterous rowers, they
appear and disappear from the horizon with
equal celerity, flying or attacking, whenever
they can do it with evident advantage. Some
of these vessels are large, and fitted but with 50,
100, and sometimes 200 men. The shots of their

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 239
scanty and defective artillery are very uncertain,
because they generally carry their guns sus
pended in slings ; but they are to be dreaded,
and extremely dexterous in the management of
the campilan, or sword, of which they wear the
blades long and well tempered. When they
have any attack of importance in. view, they
generally assemble to the number of 200 gallies,
or more, and even in their ordinary cruises, a
considerable number navigate together. As dread
- and the scarcity of inhabitants, in the Bisayas
Islands, cause great ranges of the coast to be
left unsettled, it is very easy for the Moors to
find numerous lurking-places and strong holds
whenever they are pressed, and their constant
practice, in these cases, is to enter the rivers,
ground their vessels, and hide them among the
mangroves and thick foliage, and fly with their
arms to the mountains, thus almost always laugh
ing at the efforts of their opponents, who seldom
venture to follow them into the thickets and
morasses, where the musket is of no use, and a
single step cannot be taken with any security.
The fatal consequences and ravages of this
system of cruising and warfare round the is
lands, are incalculable. Besides plundering and
burning the towns and settlements, these bloody
pirates put the old and helpless to the sword,
destroy the cattle and plantations, and annually

240 STATE OF THE
carry off to their own homes as many as a
thousand captives of both sexes, who, if they are
poor and without hopes of being redeemed, are
destined to drag out a miserable existence,
amidst the most fatiguing and "painful labour,
sometimes accompanied with torments. Such is
the dread and apprehension in these seas, that
those only navigate and carry on trade in them,
who are able to arm and man their vessels in a
way corresponding to the great risks they have
to run, or by others, whom want compels to
disregard the imminent dangers which await
them. Among the latter class, the Bisayas, or
painted Indians*, are distinguished, an ex
tremely warlike people, of whom great use might
be made. Reared, from their infancy, amidst
danger and battle, arid greatly resembling the
Moors in their features and darkness of skin,
they ar^ equally so in the agility with which
they manage the long sword and lance, and such
is the courage and implacable odium with which
they treat their enemies, that, if not taken by
surprise, they sell their lives very dear, sacrifi
cing themselves in a most heroic manner, rather
than consent to be led away as captives.

* This term was given to some of the islands by the Spa
niards, whose natives, it was observed, painted their skins, in
order to add to their fierce aspect, — Tr,

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 241
In order, however, that a more correct idea
may be formed of the wicked policy and atro-
cious disposition of these Moors, and with a view
to do away with the misconceptions of those who
are of opinion that incentives to trade, and other
slow and indirect means ought to be employed
for the purpose of overcoming them, it will
suffice to quote the following examples among a
number of others, even more recent ones, which
might equally be brought forward.
In 1796, the governor of Zamboanga dis
patched, with regular passports and under a safe
conduct obtained from the sultan of Mindanao,
Lieutenant Don Pantaleon Arcillas, with a Ser
jeant, feight men, and a guide, in order to bring
in to the fortress the cattle belonging to the
king's farm*, which had strayed away and got
up in the lands of the above-mentioned Maho-
metati prince. Five days after their departure,

* This is a large plain adjoining the settlement, on which a
quantity of cattle was some years ago let loose at the expencs
of the government, and has since multiplied in an astonishing
degree. On another plain, separated from the latter by a
chain of mountains, horses and cattle have also been left to
procreate, and the bordering woods are filled with stags and
wild hogs. The natural productions resemble those of the
island of Luzon, though with some varieties. Dampier says,
•' The valleys are well moistened with pleasant brooks and
small rivers of delicate water, and have trees of divers sorts
B.

242 STATE OF THE
whilst the lieutenant was taking his meals at
the house of a Datu, or chief*, named Oroncaya,
he was suddenly surrounded by seventy Moors,
who seizing upon him bound him to a tree, and
then flayed him alive, from the forehead to the

flourishing and green all the year. The trees in general are
very large, and most of them are of kinds unknown to us.
There is one sort which deserves particular notice, called by
the natives Libby trees. These grovv wild in great groves of
five or six miles long, by the sides of the rivers. Of these
trees sago is made, which the poor country people eat instead
cf bread, three or four months in the year. This tree, for its
body and shape, is much like the palmetto or cabbage tree,
but npt so tall as the latter. The bark and wood is hard and
thin, like a shell, and full of white pith, like the pith of an
alder. This tree they cut down and split in the middle, and
scrape out all the pith, which they beat lustily with a wooden
pestle in a great mortar or trough, and then put it into a cloth
or strainer, held over the trough, leaving nothing in the cloth
but a light sort of husk, which they throw away ; but that
which falls into the trough settles in a short time to the bottom
like mud, and then they draw off the water, and take up the
muddy substance, wherewith they make cakes, which being
baked, proves very good bread."— This is a description of the
rude process of preparing sago meal, in general use among all
the islanders. — Tr.
* Crawford, in his Indian Archipelago, observes, that
" The Javanese term for king is Ratu, the same word that is
written Batv, in other languages. Its literal meaning is grand
father, and, by a slight inflection, a senior or elder, from which
last is taken its figurative meaning, a lord or chief."  Tb.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 248
atikle. In this miserable and defenceless situa
tion, the barbarous Datu wreaked his vengeance
on his body, by piercing it all over with his
kris, or dagger, and then ordered his skin to be
hung up on the pole of one of his ferocious
banners *.
In the year 1798, whilst the schooner San
Jos^ lay at anchor at Tabitabi, near Jolo, the
sons-in-law and nephews of the sultan went out
to meet her in two large prows, exhibiting at
the same time every demonstration of peace,
and, sending forward a small vessel with re
freshments, they invited the captain to come on
board of them. The latter, deceived by the
appai-ent frankness and high rank of the Mpors,
with the greatest good faith accepted the invi
tation, and proceeded on board, accompanied by
two sailors, with a view to make arrangements
for barter. Scarcely had they got on board of
the large prow, when they were surrounded and

* The hris, or dagger, is worn by men of all ranks among
the islanders ; and two, or sometimes as many as four, are
used by persons of distinction, when full dressed. The value
and beauty of the mountings, usually denote the rank and
wealth of the wearer ; "but its use is fitter for the private pur
poses of revenge, than those of war, though in their mock-fights,
the contest usually commences with the spear, and ends with
the wooden his, both which they manage with dexterity. — Tr.
r2

244 STATE OF THE
seized, and the . captain, who was a Spaniard,
compelled to sign an order to his mate to deliver
up the schooner, which he reluctantly did, under
the hope of saving his own and companions
lives. The Moors proceeded on board the Spa
nish vessel, and, in the mean time, the two
sailors were taken back to the boat, and there
killed with daggers in the presence of all. The
schooner's sails were next hoisted, and she was
brought into Jolo, where the cargo and crew
were sold in sight of, and with the knowledge
and consent of the sultan ; an atrocity for which
he has always refused to give any satisfaction to
a nation, thus so openly and barbarously outraged
by his own relatives, and in defiance of the ex
isting treaties" of peace. Such is the cruel cha
racter, and such the execrable policy of the
Moors, generally inhabiting the islands situated
in the Philippine seas.
The most lamentable circumstance is, that
these infidel races, at all tinies to be dreaded,
owing to their numbers and savage ferocity,
after the lapse of a century of almost uninter
rupted prosperity, and encouraged also by our
inattention, have at length gradually attained
so formidable a degree of power, that their
reduction now must be considered an extremely
arduous and expensive enterprise, although an
object urgently requisite, and worthy of the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C, 246
greatness of a nation like our's. In order, how
ever, that the difficulties of so important an
undertaking may be justly appreciated, it may
be proper to observe, that the island of Miiidanap
alone, at the present moment, contains a popu
lation, equal, if not larger, than that of Luzon,
and the margins of the immense lake, situated
in its centre, are covered with well-built towns,
filled with conveniences, the fruits of their
annual privateering, and ofthe traffic they carry
on with the inhabitants of the island of Jolo,
True it is, and it may be said, equally fortunate,
that they are greatly divided into parties, subject
to a variety of Datus, or independent chiefs, in
name only inferior to the one who styles himself
the sultan of the whole island. As, however,
the fortresses and districts of Caraga, Misamis,
ahd Zamboanga occupy nearly three parts of the
circumference of the island, these Moors freely
possess no more than the southern part, com
mencing at about 25 leagues from Cape San
Augustin, and ending in the vicinity of Zam
boanga; so that the largest number of their
naval armaments are fitted out and issue to sea,
either by the great river of Mindanao, or from
some of the many bays and inlets, situated on
the above extent of coast*.

* It is singular that we have little or nothing new^ relating
to the island and inhabitants of Mindanao, since the remote

246 STATE OF THE
The island of Jolo, although small, compared
with that of Mindanao, is nevertheless in itself
the most important, as weW as the real hotbed of
all the piracies committed. Its inhabitants, ac
cording to the unanimous report of captives and
various merchants, in skill and valour, greatly
exceed the other Mahometans who infest these
seas. The sultan is absolute, and his subjects
carry on trade with Borneo, Celebes, and the
Malayan tribes, scattered about this great Ar
chipelago. In the port of Jolo, as already
noticed, sales are made of Christians captured
by the other Moors, The Chinese of Emouy,
as well as the Dutch" and British, carry them
manufactured goods, opium and arms, receiving,
in return, black pepper, bees' wax, balato*,
edible nests, tortoise-shell, mother of pearl, gold

time of Dampier, who gives the following description of the
latter.— Tr.
" The Mindanayans, properly so called, are men of mean
stature, small limbs, straight bodies, and little heads. Their
faces are oval, their foreheads flat, with black small eyes, short
low noses, pretty large mouths ; their lips thin and red, their
teeth black, yet very sound ; their hair black and straight ; the
colour of their skin tawny, but inclining to a brighter yellow
than some other Indians, especially the women. They have a
custom to wear their thumb-nails very long, especially that on
their left thumb, for they never cut it, but scrape it often."
* Reference has already been made to this article, in note,
page 82. It is the hohthurion, or sea-slug, and also be^rs the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 247
dust, pearls, &c. ; and from Manilla also a vessel
usually goes once a year with goods; but all

name of tripang. The fisheries are numerous, the fish being
usually found on the coral reefs, and not on muddy bottoms.
It is an unseemly substance of a dirty brown colour, appa
rently motionless, but occasionally as much as two feet long,
and seven inches in circumference. The Chinese merchants
are the only good judges of tripang, and in the market of
Macassar, they distinguish no less than thirty qualities, having
a distinct name, and valued from 68 dollars to five per picul.
The fish is usually caught by divers, and tlie quantity annually
sent from Macassar to China, where it is deemed a great
luxury, is equal to 8833 cwt. Vide Crawford, vol, 3. Ship
ments of fish-maws are also made there, and sell at upwards
of J&14. per cwt. in Canton, and shark's fins at £6. The
edible nests also constitute one of the strange luxuries of the
Chinese, and at Canton the best quality is worth 3500 dollars
per picul, or £5. l«s. per lb. The nest of the hirundo escu-
lenia resembles that of the common swallow, and the substance
of which it is formed, is-similar to an ill concocted isinglass.
The bird always builds in caves and at a distance from the
habitation of man, usually on the sea-side. It is generally
thought that sea-foam is used in the composition of the nest,
but this hypothesis is now laid aside, and it is conjectured to
be a material elaborated from the food of the bird. The best
nests are those taken in deep, damp caves, and before the
swallows have laid their eggs, as they are then the cleanest ;
the coarsest are taken after the young ones are fledged. The
best have a whitish colour, when free from impurities, and they
are generally collected twice a year. Their price is enhanced
by tbe difficulty of obtaining thesa, owing to the almost in
accessible places in which they are found. The quantity

248 STATE OF THE
act with the greatest precaution in this dan
gerous traffic, guarding, as much as possible,
against the insidious acts of that perfidious go
vernment. The great number of renegados, of
all casts, who have successively naturalized
themselves there ; the abundance of arms, arid
the prevailing opulence, have, in every respect,
contributed to render this island a formidable
and powerful state. The capital is surrounded
with forts and thick walls, and the famous
heights, standing near it, in case of emergency,
afford a secure asylum where the women can
take refuge, andjthe treasures of the sultan and
public be deposited, whilst, in the plains below,
the contest may be maintained by more than
50,000 combatants, already very dexterous in
the use of the musket, and of a bold and coura
geous character. The navy of these islanders is
also very respectable, fbr, besides a great number
of smaller prows and war-boats, they have some
of a large size, capable of carrying heavy ar
tillery on their decks, mounted on corresponding
carriages, and not suspended in slings, as is the
custom of the people of Mindanao. In a word.

annually sent to China, by Crawfurd is rated at 242,400 lbs.
In China they are consumed by the rich and great ; indeed the
largest prbportion goes to the capital, for the use of the court.
— Tr.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 249
Jolo is an island governed by a system of admi
nistration, extremely vigorous and decisive;
dread and superstition sustain the throne of the
tyrant, and the fame of his greatness frequently
brings to his feet the ulemas, or missionaries of
the Alcoran, even as far as from the furthest
margin of the Red Sea. The prince and people,
unanimous in the implacable odium with which
they view all Christians, cannot be divided or
kept on terms of peace ; and if it is really wished
to free these seas from the evils and great dan
gers with which they are at all times threatened,
it is necessary at once to strike at the root, by
landing and attacking the Jolonese in their
strong holds, and thus overcome them by main
force, and break the charm by which they are
held together *.

• In 1^89, the governor of Caldera, Juan Pacho, attempted
to reduce the natives of Jolo, and landing immediately after
a storm of rain, was killed with the greatest part of his people.
This defeat encouraged the Jolonese and Mindanayans, and
with 60 war-boats they invaded the islands of Zebu, Negros,
and Panay, pillagirig and burning the towns, and making many
prisoners. In the following year they made a second attack
on the same points, and their inhabitants retiring to the moun
tains, refused to quit them again, as the Spaniards were un
able to protect them. An ofiicer and 200 Spaniards were then
sent against Jolo, but after failing in an attempt against a fort
the king had on a lofty hill, they withdrew to Manilla. From

3

250 STATE OF THE
This, at least, is the constant and unshaken
opinion . of all experienced persons and those

this period, it may be said, the ravages of the Mahometan
islanders on the Christian settlements commenced. To check
their inroads, a squadron was sent against Jolo, under the
command of Christoval de Lugo, who landed his men with
out any resistance, the Indians having abandoned their town
and retired with their king to the fort on the hill. The Spa
niards contented themselves with plundering the houses below,
and the' auxiliary Indians enriched themselves with the spoils,
consisting of rice, gunpowder, brimstone, small arms, &c. ;
and after destroying the town, returned to Manilla. As soon
as they were freed from the presence of their enemy, the
'Jolonese recommenced their ravages, and nothing was secure
on the coasts. They landed, and destroyed all the convents,
churches, and plantations they could reach, carrying off cap
tives, among whom were some friars. Governor Tabora dis
patched a fleet against them, under the orders of Lorenzo
Olaso, who, on landing, marched up to the fort on the hill, to
which, as usual, the Moors had retired. Olaso, in the most
courageous manner, led on the attack ; but in the advance was
killed, together with two of his captains. No officer remaining
to coinmand the men, they retired to tbeir ships, after laying
waste the country. This event redoubled the courage and
enmity of the Moors, and tbe natives of the province of Ca
raga, in Mindanao, seeing the Spaniards could not subdue
their neighbours, broke out into open rebellion, and killed
some of the friars and settlers on their coasts. i
In 1635, Governor Corcuera arrived at Manilla, and re
solved, as early as possible, to punish the Moors of Jolo and
Mindanao. On 2d February, 1637, he sailed from Manilla
with a squadron,, and arrived at Lamitan, tbe residence of

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 251
versed in Philippine affairs; and if, by sub
stantial reasons and existing circumstances, I

Corralat, the chief DaifM of Mindanao. He easily took possesion
of Lamitan, and Corralat retired to a hill well defended by bat
teries and the best troops he had. The governor was unsuccessful
ifl the first attack; but, in the second, he took the hill, and made
great slaughter among the Moors. He then passed on to the for
tress of Zamboanga, where the chief of Buhayen and those ofthe
island of Basilan came in to renew their allegiance. He next
proceeded to Jolo, and sat down before the fort on the hill ;
but he found it so well -defended, that, after attempting to bat
ter it, he was compelled to adopt another mode of attack. He
opened five mines, and springing them at the moment of as
sault, part of the enemies': works blew up ; but the Spaniards
advanced so slowly, that the Moors had time to recover them
selves and repulsed the charge. Two more mines were sprung
the following day, with considerable damage, and the as
sailants advanced rapidly, but found fresh works erected beyond
those thrown down. The governor, finding he had produced
little effect, determined to surround the hill, though a league in
circumference, with a wall and forts, and thus turn the siege
into a blockade. This mea.mire, however, proved inadequate,
the besieged defending themselves with great obstinacy. It
was therefore resolved to construct a battery on a position
commanding the hill. The Moors then offered to capitulate,
but the governor insisted on their surrendering at discretion.
They became desperate, and in their turn, assaulted the
Spanish camp, but being unable to force it, they retreated by
the back part of the hill. The governor thus possessed him
self of the enemies' strong hold, their queen and her nephew,
Tancun ; but both the latter afterwards escaped, and carried
away greatest part of the king's treasure. A garrison of 200

;252 STATE OF THE
conceive myself sufficiently authorized to openly
recommend a war to be undertaken against the

Spaniards and as many Pampangos was left in Jolo, and the
victorious Corcuera returned to Manilla ; but the unfortunate
disputes which soon afterwards took place with the Jesuits,
contributed to render these important though dear conquests of
little avail.
In 1644, the islands being closely pressed by the Dutch, the
new governor, Faxardo, anxious to unite all his strength, or
dered the commanding officer at Zamboanga, to enter into an
amicable arrangement with Corralat, chief of Mindanao, and
the one at Jolo to do the same and evacuate the island, where
the unsubdued natives had received aid from the Dutch. From
this period the chiefs of Jolo and Mindanao continued os
tensibly at peace with the Spaniards, but their subjects prose
cuted their ravages on the Christian settlements. About the
year 1748, the kings of Jolo and Mindanjao agreed to receive
Jesuit missionaries into their dominions, at the request of
Philip V. of Spain, who wrote letters to them. The insubor
dination of the minor chiefs and turbulence of the islanders,
however, rendered the views of the Jesuits impracticable, and
great opposition was besides evinced by the Moorish priests.
The reigning king of Jolo, Mahomet Alimudin, was favourable
to them, when his brother Bantilam plotted against his life and
eventually compelled him to pass over to Manilla, where he
was received with gr6at honours, supported at the expence of
the treasury and at length baptized by the name of Ferdinand.
In the mean time, his brother Bantilam assumed the authority
and became a most dreadful scourge to the Spaniards. The
new governor. Marquis de Obando, alarmed at the depreda
tions of the Moors on the Bisayas Islands, determined to fit
out an efficient force ia order to punish them, and at the same

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 253
Moors and pushed with the utmost vigour, and
more particularly commencing the work by a
formal invasion of Jolo ; still, as I feel myself

time re-establish Ferdinand Alimudin on the throne of Jolo.
The fleet anchored before the fortifications on 20th June,
1751, and so panic-struck were the Moors, that they entered
into a treaty, binding themselves to receive their expatriated
king, abstain from piracies, and deliver up all their captives.
The Jolo people did not fulfil their engagements, and the
Spaniards finding Ferdinand not' only insincere, but also se- ,
cretly plotting against them, he and his suite were sent back to
Manilla. King Bantilam increased his depredations, and
another expedition was undertaken against Jolo, but proved
unsuccessful. Ferdinand, in the mean time, was confined in
one of the forts, and through his daughter Fatima, a fruitless
attempt was made to negotiate an understanding with his
brother Bantilam, but it produced no other effect than the re
lease of 50 Christian captives, for during that very year, 1754,
the Moors visited all the defenceless places with fire and sword,
and committed such ravages as had never before been expe
rienced, landing even in the vicinity of Manilla. A fleet was
fitted out against the Moors, and the command confided to a
Jesuit, of the name of Ducos. So effectually did he cohduct
the expedition, that he took from the enemy 160 sail of vessels,
destroyed three towns and took many prisoners. This ended
in a more amicable understanding with Jolo, whither the
greatest part of Ferdinand's suite were allowed to return, but
he himself was detained till 1763, when he was sent back to
Jolo by the British on their evacuation of Manilla. —Such
were the principal attempts made to check the Moors and con
quer Jolo, derived from the best Spanish authorities, and such
the results by which they have usually been attended. — Tr.

254 STATE OF THE
incompetent to trace a precise plan, or to discuss
the minute details more immediately connected
with the object, I feel it necessary to confine
myself to the pointing out, in general terms, of
the means I judge most conducive to the happy
issue of so arduous but important an enterprise,
leaving the rest to more able and experienced
hands. As a previous step, I conceive that a council
of war ought to be formed in Manilla, composed
of the captain-general, the commanders of the
navy, artillery, and engineer department, as
well as of the regular corps, who, in conformity
to all the antecedent information lodged in the
secretary's office for the captain-generalship,
and the previous report of some one! of the ex-
governors of Zamboanga and the best informed
missionaries, may be enabled to deliberate and
proceed on to a mature examination of the whole
affair, taking into their special consideration
every thing regarding Jolo, its early reduction,
the number of vessels and men required for this
purpose, the most advantageous points of attack,
and the best season in which this can be carried
into execution. After all these matters have been
determined upon, the operation in question ought
to be connected with the other partial and gene
ral arrangements of the government, in order that
a plan the best adapted to localities and existing

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 255
circumstances may be chosen, and without its
being necessary to wait for the king's approba
tion of the means resolved upon, owing to the
distance of the court and the necessity of acting
with celerity. If, however, on account of the
deference in every respect due to the sovereign,
it should be thought proper to reconcile his pre
vious sanction with the necessity of acting with
out loss of time, the best mode would be to send
from Spain an officer of high rank, fully au
thorized, who, as practised on other occasions,
might give his sanction, in the name of the
king, to the resolutions adopted by the coun
cil of war, and take under his own immediate
charge, if it should be so deemed expedient, the
command: of the expedition against Jolo, re
ceiving the appointment of governor of the
island, as soon as the conquest should be carried
into effect, and as a just reward for his zeal and
valour. Supposing an uniformity of opinions to prevail
with regard to the expediency of attempting the
subjugation of Jolo, and supposing also the ex
istence of the necessary funds to meet the ex
pences of a corresponding armament, it may be
positively relied upon that the project would be
extremely popular, and meet with the entire
concurrence and support of the Philippine
Islands. The military men, aware of the great

256 STATE OF THE
riches known to exist in the proposed theatre of
operations, would emulously come forward to
offer their services, under a hope of sharing the
booty, and the warlike natives of the Bisayas
would be impelled on by their hatred to the
Moors, and their ardent wishes to avenge the
blood of their fathers and children. On the
other hand, the abundance of regular and well-
disciplined officers and troops, at present in the
colony, and the number of gun-boats found in
the ports, a want of which, on other occasions,
has always been experienced, will afford ample
scope for the equipment of a force competent to
the important enterprise in view. In fact, if the
operation is arranged in a systematic manner,
and all the precautions and rules observed as are
usual in cases of attacks premeditated against
European and civilized establishments, here is
no reason to expect any other than a flattering
and decisive result, since, in reality, the whole
would be directed against an enemy, con
temptible on account of his barbarism and his^
comparative ignorance ofthe art of war.
The preparations deemed necessary being
made at Manilla, and the Bisayas auxiliaries
assembled beforehand in Zamboanga, with their
arms and respective chiefs, the whole of the
operation in question, it may be safely said,
might be terminated within the period of three

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 257
or four months. Supposing even 2000 regular
troops are destined for this expedition, with a
corresponding train of field pieces, and at the
moment there should not be found in the islands
a sufficient number of larger vessels to embargo
or freight for their conveyance, a competent
quantity of coasters, gallies and small craft
might be met with at any time, sufficiently ca
pacious and secure to carry the men. This
substitute will be found the less inconvenient,
because, as the navigation is to be performed
among the islands and during the prevalence of
the north winds, usually a favourable and steady
season of the year, the voyage will consequently
be safe and easy. It will also be possible to ar
rive at the point agreed upon, as a general ren
dezvous, in twenty, or five-and-twenty days,
which place, for many reasons, ought to be the
fortress of Zamboanga, situated in front of Jolo
and at a moderate distance from that island; it
being from this port that, in former times, the
Philippine governors usually sent out their arma
ments, destined to make war against the Basi-
lanese and Jolonese.
As soon as this important and memorable en
terprise has been carried into effect, and the
punishment and total subjugation of these faith
less Mahometans completed and the new con
quest placed under a military authority, in, the

258 STATE OF THE
mean time that the lands are distributing and
arrangements making to establish the civil ad
ministration, on the same plan followed in the
other provinces of the Philippine government,
the armament ought to return to Zamboanga
with all possible speed ; but, after stopping by
the way to reduce the small island of Basilan and
leaving a fortress and garrison there. Imme
diately afterwards and before the various tribes
of Moors, inhabiting the island of Mindanao,
have been able to concert among themselves and
prepare for their defence, it would be advisable
to direct partial expeditions towards both flanks
of Zamboanga, for the purpose of burning the
settlements of the natives, and driving them from
the shores into the interior. Forts ought then to
be raised at the mouths of the iftlets and rivers,
and a fourth district government formed in the
southern part of the island; in such mariner
that, by possession being taken of the coasts, the
government and district of Zamboanga may be
placed in contact with the new one established,
on the one side, and on the other with the district
of Misamis, also the new district with that of Ca
raga, the western part of which territory is already
united to that of Misamis. Such, at least, was
the opinion of Lieut.-Col. Don Mariano Tobias,
an officer deservedly celebrated for his prudence
and consummate skill in these matters, and this

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 259
he substantially expressed in a council of war,
held on 28th August, 1778, for the purpose of de
liberating on the most advisable means to check
the Moors, as appears by a long and intelligent
report, drawn up on this subject on 26th April,
1800, by the Adjutant-General of this colony,
Don Rufino Suarez.
In case it should be determined to adopt the
means proposed by Col. Tobias, for the purpose of
holding the Moors of Mindanao in, check, and to
which, unfortunately, due regard has not hither
to been paid, notwithstanding the enterprise
presents very few difficulties, owing to the little
opposition to be expected from the infidel na
tives, the latter would then be left completely
surrounded and shut up in the heart of the island,
and their active system of privateering, with
which they have so many years infested these
seas, entirely destroyed. If, through the, want
of garrisons and population, it should not how
ever be possible to deprive them of all their out
lets, by which means they would still be able
occasionally to send some of their cruising ves
sels out to sea, the advantages gained would, ne
vertheless, be extremely great, as well as the fa
cilities with which it Would be possible to pur
sue and counteract the ravages hf a few pirates,
furtively escaped out of some river, rather than
when they are fitted out and well manned and
s 2

260 STATE OF THE
armed to the number of one and two hundred
war-boats, openly in their ports, as at the present
moment is the case.
After the emporium of slavery has been de
stroyed by the conquest of Jolo, and the other
general measures adopted, as above pointed out,
the government would then be in a situation to
turn its attention, with much greater ease, to the
arrangement of all the other subaltern schemes
of precaution and protection, suited to the dif
ference of circumstances and locality, without the
concurrence of which the work would be left im
perfect, and in some degree the existence of those
settled in the new establishments rendered preca
rious. As however I am unprepared minutely
to point out the nature of these measures, or dis
tinctly to lay down a ground-work for future
civilization and improvement, I shall merely ob
serve, that what would then remain to be done,
would neither require any great capital, or pre
sent obstacles which might not easily be over
come. The Moors being then concentrated in
the island of Mindanao, and this completely sur
rounded on all sides by our forts and settlements,
in the manner above described, the only enemies
let loose on these seas would be, either the few
who might, from time to time, elude the vigi
lance of our troops and district-commanders,, or
those who mighft have escaped from Jolo, pre-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 261
vious to its conquest, and taken up their abode in
one or other of the Bisayas islands ; or, in short,
such as are out cruising at the time our arma
ment returns to Zamboanga and takes possession
of the southern coast of Mindanao ; in which
case they would be compelled to resort to a
roving life, establishing, like the Jolo fugitives,
temporary dwellings among the mangroves and
thickets bordering on the shore.
The principal objects then remaining for the
attention of government, would be to guard and
protect the towns and settlements established on
the coasts from the insults and inroads of ban
ditti, impelled by necessity or despair, and at
the same time to promote the gradual overthrow
or civilization of the dispersed remnant of Moorish
population left in the island. The cruising of
the pirates being thUs reduced to a space com
prehended in an oblong circle, formed by an
imaginary line drawn from the southern extreme
of the island of Leyte, to the south-west point of
Samar, which next running along the north
west coast of Mindoro, on the outside of Tacao
and Burias, and coming down to the west of
Panay, Negros and Bohol, closes the oval at the
little island formed by the Strait of Panaon,
about 40 gun-boats might be advantageously
stationed in the narrowest passages from land to
land; as, for example, in the Strait of San Jua-

262 STATE OF THE
nico and other passes of a similar kind, well
known to the local pilots. By this means, the
limits would be gradually contracted, the enemy
harassed, and his schemes counteracted. Various
small naval armaments ought, at the same time,
to keep cruising in the centre of this circle, pur
suing the Moors by sea and land, dislodging
them from their strong-holds and lurking-places,
and sending on those who might be captured to
the depot pointed out by government.
The first part of the plan would be the more
easily realized, as it is well known that most of
the districts corresponding to the Bisayan tribes,
including those of Camarines and Albay, situated
at the extremity of the island of Luzon, have
several gun-boats of their own, which might be
used with great advantage. By merely ad
vancing and stationing them in such channels as
the Moors must necessarily pass, either in going
out or returning, according to the different mon
soons, they would easily be checked, without re
moving the gun-boats to any great distance from
their own coasts. As besides the great advantages
resulting from this plan and every one' doing his
duty, are apparent, no doubt numbers of natives
would volunteer their services, more particularly
if they were liberally rewarded, and their main
tenance provided from the funds of the re
spective communities. Moreover, the points
which at first should not be considered as suf-

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 263
ficiently guarded, might be strengthened by the
king's gun-boats, and indeed, in all qf them it
would be advisable to station some of the latter,
commanded by a select officer, to whose orders
the captains of the provincial gun-boats ought to
be made subservient.
With regard to the second part,, it will siiffice
to observe, that the captain-generalship of the
Philippine Islands already possesses as many as
seventy gun-boats, besides a considerable num
ber of gallies and launches, which ' altogether
constitute a formidable squadron of light vessels;
and, after deducting those deemed necessary for
the protection of Jolo and the new province to be
established in Mindanao, a sufficient number
would still be left to carry into execution all the
objects proposed. At present, although the
Moors navigate in numerous divisions, and with
a confidence inspired by their undisturbed pros
perity, a 24-pounder shot from one of our
launches is nevertheless sufficient to put them to
flight ; what therefore may not be expected
when their forces shall be so greatly diminished
and their apprehensions increased, of being de
feated and captured? Nevertheless, as it is not
easy for our gun-boats to come up with them,
when giving chase, it would be advisable to add
to our cruisers, a temporary establishment of
prows and light vessels, manned by Bisayan

264 STATE OP THB
Indians, which, by adA'ancing on with the gallies,
might attack the enemy and give time for the
gun-boats to cop^ up and decide the action.
Besides, as the Bisayan Indians are perfectly
acquainted with the mode of making war* on
the Moors, the meaning of their signals and ma
noeuvres, and the kind of places on shore in which
they take shelter when pursued at sea, the em-,
ployment of such auxiliaries would be extremely
useful. The whole of these defensive and offensive
arrangements would, however, be ineffectual or
incomplete in their results, if the most perfect
union and concert is not established in every
part, so that all should conspire to the same
object, although by distinct means. In order
therefore that the necessary harmony may be
secured, it would be expedient to remove the
chief authority nearer to the theatre of war, by
confiding all the necessary instructions and
powers to the person who might be selected
for the direction and command of the enterprise,
after the general plan of operations had been
regularly approved. Under this impression, and
with a view to the better execution of all the
details, it would be advisable for the command
ing officer, named by the government, to take
up his head quarters in the island of Panay,
which, owing to its geographical situation, the

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 265
great number of towns and inhabitants contained
in the three provinces into which it is divided,
as well as other political reasons, is generally
esteemed preferable for the object in question,
to'the island of Zebu, where, in former times,
the commanders of the province of the painted
Indians resided, as mentioned in the laws of the
Indies. The centre of action being placed in
Iloilo, a communication with the other points
would thus more easily be kept open, aid and
relief might be sent more rapidly to the quarter
where required, and, in a word, all the move
ments, of whatsoever kind they might be, would
be executed with greater precision and certainty
of success'. It would be unnecessary to add,
that the provincial magistrates of Camarines and
Albay ought to co-operate, with their fourteen
gun-boats and other smaller vessels, in the
measures adopted by the commander of the
Bisayan establishment, distributing their forces
according to the orders given by him, and by
undertaking to guard the straits of San Ber
nardino. The island of Paragua, at the head of which the
provincial jurisdiction of Calamianes is placed,
is not included in the great circle, or chain of
stations, above traced out, as well in consequence
of its great distance from the other islands, for
which reason it is not so much infested by the

266 STATE OF THE
Moors, as because of its being at present nearly
depopulated and uncultivated, and for these
reasons the attention of government ought not
to be withdrawn from other more important
points. With regard to that of Mindanao, the
necessity of keeping up along the whole of its
immense coast, a line of castles and watch towers,
has already been fully pointed out, more espe
cially in the vicinity of the bay of Panguil, to
the north, and the mouths of the great river
towards the south ; the two points in which the
enemies' most formidable armaments are usually
fitted out. Consequently, it would not be pos
sible to expect the provincial commanders sta
tioned there would be able to disengage any
part of their naval force, in order to place it at
the disposal of the officer commanding the Bi
sayan vessels. Indeed, it is obvious that it
would be extremely important to afford the
people of Mindanao every possible additional
aid, in vessels, troops and money, in order the
better to check the sailing of partial divisions
of the enemy, and thus prevent the immense
number of pirates, inhabiting the interior of the
island, from breaking the fortified line, and
again covering these seas, and with redoubled
fury carrying death and desolation along all the
coasts. It would, in fact, be extremely desirable if,
1

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, Scc. 267
through the concerted measures and constant
vigilance of the four chief magistrates intrusted
with the command of the island, the future
attempts of the Mindanayans could be entirely
counteracted, and their cruisers altogether kept
within the line for a certain period of years;
as by thus depriving them of the facilities to
continue their old habits of life, these barbarous
tribes would be eventually compelled to adopt
other pursuits, either by ascending the moun
tainous parts of the island, and shutting them
selves up in the thick and impenetrable forests,
with a view to preserve their independence ; or,
throwing down their arms and devoting them
selves to the peaceful cultivation of their lands.
In the latter case, they would gradually lose
their present ferocious character; their regard
for the conveniences and repose of social life
would increase ; the contrast would be attended
with most favourable consequences, and in the
course of time, the whole of the aboriginal
natives of these islands would come into our
laws and customs, and become confounded in the
general mass of Philippine subjects, owing al
legiance to the king.
Finally, it must be equally acknowledged,
that the islands of Jolo, Basilan, Capul, and some
of the other inferior ones, of which, as above

268 STATE OP THE
pointed out, an union ought to be formed in the
way of an additional government, subordinate
to the captain-general, would be able to co
operate in the war on no other plan than the one
traced out for the provinces held in Mindanao ;
that is, by their gun-boats being confined to the
protection of their own coasts ; though with this
difference, that if, in one instance, the main
object would be to prevent the evasion of the
enemy, in the other every effort must be em
ployed to guard against and repel their incur
sions when they do appear. However complete
the -ouccess of the armament, destined for the
reduction of Jolo, it may nevertheless be pre
sumed, that the mountains would still continue
to give shelter to hordes of fugitives, who would
take refuge in the fastnesses, and avail them
selves of every opportunity to concert plans, or
fly off to join their comrades in Mindanao, in
order to return, and through their aid, satisfy
their thirst for vengeance, by surprising some
fortress or settlement, or establishing themselves
on some neglected and not well known point.
In consequence of this, the governor command
ing there, would at first require the active
co-operation of all his forces, for the purpose of
consolidating the new conquest, and causing
his authority to be respected throughout the
island.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 269
These, in my opinion, are the true and secure
means by which the enemies of the peace and
prosperity of the Philippines may be humbled,
their piracies prevented, and a basis laid for the
future civilization of the remaining islands in
this important Archipelago. To this sketch, a
number of other details and essential illustrations,
no doubt, are wanting ; and possibly, I may be
accused of some inaccuracies, in discussing a
topic, with which I candidly avow I cannot be
considered altogether familiar. The plan and
success of the enterprise must, however, greatly
depend on military skill and talent ; but as I
have attempted no more than fairly to trace the
general outline of the plan, and insist on the
necessity of its adoption, my remarks, it is to be
hoped, will serve to awaken a serious disposition
to review and investigate the whole subject, a
task that most assuredly ought to be confided to
a competent and special council. Whatever de
fects I may involuntarily have fallen into,will then
be corrected ; at the same time it ought not to
appear strange, that inexperienced persons should
presume to speak on matters connected with the
public good, when we see them so much neg
lected by those whose more immediate duty it is
to look after and promote them. At all events,
dispassionate zeal has seldom done harm; and I

270 STATE OF THE
again repeat, that my wish is not so much to see
my own ideas adopted, as to urge the necessity
of their being examined and digested. I am
desirous that other sources of information on this
subject should be explored, that practical men
should be called in, and that those in power
should be induced to apply themselves and de
vote their exertions to an object so highly de
serving of their attention. In short, I am
anxious that the pious injunctions of our monarchs
should be fulfilled, and that the tears and blood
of the inhabitants of these neglected islands
should cease to flow *.

* The facts contained in the present chapter, as well as the
plan discussed, are extremely interesting to all nations carrying^
on maritime trade with China, and to none more so than our
selves. The Indian Archipelago may be considered aS the
frontier of China, and indeed our vessels going there, fre
quently coast along the Philippines. The great revolutions
ere long to be expected in the commerce of those countries,
will no doubt carry thither many more competitors, whose
operations will always be fouad expensive, if they are com
pelled to arm for the purposes of defending themselves against
the number of lawless pirates, continually roving about the
passages between the islands and near the headlands, ap
proached by ships coming from a distance, and bound to the
Spice islands or China seas. In this point of view, therefore,
the subject in question is as interesting to the British govern
ment and public as it is to the Spaniards themselves, and

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 271
Should the happy day ever arrive, when the in
habitants of these provinces shall behold them-

nothing could be more worthy of the attention of both, than a
general and well-concerted plan to put an end to the evil
complained of. A second Algiers exists, as it were, on the
very foot-path we have to pass in our access to a country with
which our commercial relations are already immense, endan
gering the lives, property, and liberties of our countrymen,
whenever they are met by a superior force. In the secluded
regions to which we allude, it cannot be expected tliat men,
harbouring long and deep-rooted resentments, and living in a
state of turbulence and anarchy, would respect our flag, if
they meet vessels unable to protect themselves. Crawfurd,
whose work on the Indian Archipelago is the most recent,
and, in many respects possessing great local knowledge, ob
serves that " perfidy and faithlessness are vices among the
Indian islanders — they disregard human life, and exercise the
right of private revenge." If they could be civilized and
brought into social habits, they would nevertheless become a
valuable class of population ; but this cannot be done, as long
as they consider plundering as no crime, and disregard treaties
and other solemn engagements. The late accounts received
from the East Indies, announce the rapid increase of piracy,
which had compelled the governor of Bombay to dispatch a
squadron to the Arabian Gulf, " to obtain reparation and
atonement for outrages committed by the Dola of Mocha on
British subjects, and for the plunder of property belonging to
the Honourable Company at the factory at that place, &c."
Though not exactly the same people to whom we allude, yet
the principle on which they act is similar, and they equally
disregard the faith of treaties. The- frontiers of India and

272 STATE OF THE
selves free frpm the cruel scourge with which they
have been desolated for so many years, they will
bless the nation that has redeemed them from all
their cares, they will tighten their relations with it,
and deliver themselves up to its direction without
reserve. The Indians will then come down from
the strong fastnesses they at present inhabit ;
they will clear fresh lands, and earnestly devote
themselves to tillage and industry. Under the
shadow of peace, population and commerce will
increase; the Bisayan vessels will then plough
the ocean without the dread of other enemies
than the elements ; and the Moors themselves of
Mindanao (I say it with confidence), straight
ened on all sides, and incessantly harassed by
the Christians, but on the -other hand witnessing
the advantages and mildness of our laws, will at
length submit to the dominion of the monarchs
of Spain, who will thus secure the quiet pos-

China still present an immense scope for civilization, and this
can only be commenced by putting down piracy. The sub
ject of the present chapter will therefore be found worthy the
attention of such nations as hold commercial intercourse in
those quarters, and a judicious plan to rid the Indian seas of
the lawless freebooters by whom they have so long been in
fested, would be an undertaking honourable to the age, and
certainly merits the serious attention of the British govern
ment. — Tr.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &C. 273
session of one of the most interesting portions of
the habitable globe, and be justly entitled to the
gratitude of all nations connected with China
and India, for having put an end to a series of
the most terrific plunder and captivity that ever
disgraced the annals of any age.

APPENDIX.

TABLE, N°. I.
General Statement of the Population of the Philippine
Islands, according to the most recent Data.
Provinces. Indians. Mestizos.
Albay  103,935  2,398f
Antique  ^... 39,325 
Bulacan  143,910  20,037^
Batangas  127,920  3,997i
Bataan  23,985  5,596i
Cagayan....  76,752  162i
Cavite,  61,967  ^ 7,195$
Camarines  159,900  2,398$
Capis  87,145|  396$
Caraga  19,183 
Calamianes...  15,990 
Island of Negros  41,574  799$
Laguna  95,940  3,198
Leite  68,007$ ._.  396J
Misamis  1 8,388^ 
Mindoro  13,169 
New-Ecija  9,750 
Pangasinan  ,. 169,900  3,997$
Pampanga  ' 127,920  20,037$
Samar  88,595  799$
Tayabas  71,955  162$
Tondo  143,910  35,977$
Ylocos  361,270  4,797
Yloylo  '.  167,895  1,599
Zambales  23,985  474$
Zebd  •  151,905  4,797
Zamboanga  1,500  500

/¦

119,719

276 APPENDIX.

RECAPITULATION.
Total number of Indians of both
sexes  2,396,687
Ditto ditto of Sangley Mestizos .. , 119,719
Ditto ditto Sangleyes  7,000
Ditto ditto Whites of all classes . . 4,000

Total population  2,626,406
Comparison of Population in 1791 and 1810 exclusive.
Year 1791. Year 1810.

Number of Indians 1,582,761
Ditto of Mestizos . 66,917

2,395,687 difference 812,926
119,719 idem ... 52,802

1,649,678 2,615,406 Idem total 865,728

The difference resulting from the above comparison, founded
on documents equally public, exceeds 62 per cent, of increase
in 18 years; and if the same proportion continues, the popu
lation of the Philippine Islands will be doubled in 34 years ;
an increase that might be deemed incredible, if we had not the
extraordinary example of Philadelphia having doubled its
population in 28 years, as is affirmed by Buffon, on the au
thority of Dr. Franklin.

APPENDIX. 277

TABLE, N°. II.
Comparative Statement of the annual Cost and
Proceeds of a Cabalita of Land planted with
Sugar Cane in the Province of La Pampanga,
viz.
For ploughing the said land six times .... Dollars 140
For harrowing do. three times  0 6 0
For enclosing the same with a wicker fence,
stakes,&c  4 0 9
For 4000 sprouts for planting, digging holes,
&c  17 6
For repairing fences and weeding .«  0 6 0
For 14 sugar moulds  2 5 0
For expences of manufacturing 14 loaves of
sugar  12 0 0

Total cost, dollars 23 5 3

Proceeds of one loaf of - '
sugar sold........ 2 6 6
Idem of 2^ arrobas of mo
lasses, yielded by each
loaf  0 2 9
SIS
Deduct prime cost of each
loaf, at the rate of . . 1 C I
Nett proceeds, equivalent
to 90 per cent, profit D*. I 3 2

'J/S APPENDIX.

Comparative Statement of annual Cost and Pro
ceeds qf 5 Cabalitas of Land sQwed with
5 Measures of Indigo Seed in the said Pro
vince, viz.
For ploughing said land once in 5 days. .Dollars 12 0
For harrowing once, sowing and covering the
same  0 5 3
Expences of fencing in the same  ,,«, 11 0 6
For 5 measures of seed  I 4 6
For making two harrows, and fixing the same . . 1 6 0
Expences of workmen, and 25 vats for preparing
the same  0 1 0
Expences of overseer  ;.... 3 7 3
For 10 measures of Hme  2 4 0
For baskets, stretchers, &c. to dry4he same .... 0 4 O
Expences of attending vats  3 1 0

Total cost, Dollars 35 3 6

Medium price of 1 quintal
sold  55 0 0
Deduct prime cost of the
same  35 3 6

Nett proceeds, equivalent
to 57 per cent, profit Ds. 19 4 6

APPENDIX. ' 279
Comparative Statement of 2 Cabalitas of Land
sowed with 1 Measure of Rice j that is, of Cost
and Proceeds iii said Province, viz.
For ploughing said lands twice in two days. Dollars 1 0 0
For harrowing do. twice in two days, and
sowing  1
For fencing do. . ,  2
For reaping do. with 10 persons  2
For thrashing and cleaning 10 measures  2

1

0

0

6

0

6

2

0

Total cost. Dollars ..840

Value of i measure of rice
sold  3 6
Deduct prime cost of idem
at the rate of  1 II

Nett proceeds, equivalent
to more than 60 per
cent, profit.,.. Dollars 1 7

Remarks. — In good seasons, thfe profit of the planter often '
increases in an extraordinary degree. The 4000 sprouts of
sugar-cane, for example, sometimes produce him 28 instead of
14 loaves of sugar, and the cavan, or measure of rice, 80 and
even as many as 100 measures, instead of 35, as above com
puted. Out of 15 and even 10 vats of dye, he occasionally
obtains a quintal of indigo, instead of 25 vats, the proportion
above stated. If the planter is a man of easy circumstances,
aud enabled to send his produce to the general market, in or
der to sell it to the merchants or captains wanting it, he obtains
a much better price than by selling it on the spot to the inter-
jnediate purchasers. I have seen the quintal of La Laguna in-

280 APPENDIX.
digo sold in Manilla at the rate of 130 dollars, when the qua
lity was very superior, and the ordinary one at 100 dollars; the
loaf of sugar at 4 dollars, 6 rials, and the measure of paley or
husked rice at 3 dollars ; but -I have preferred taking a me
dium sale price in the preceding statement, in order to shew in
a clearer point of view the advantages derived from planting in
the Philippine Islands,

APPENDIX. 281

TABLE, N°. III.
General List of the principal Manufactures of
the Philippine Islands, distinguishing the Pro
vinces in which made.
Ploughs and other agricultural implements . . In all the Provinces.
Spun cotton in hanks  ,  Cagayan.
Common earthenware  ^  Tondo
Cotton counterpanes, large and embroidered with silk on one
side  Ylocos.
Idem smaller size, embroidered on both sides  Idem.
Idem plain cotton  Idem.
Idem flushed, plain and striped  Idem.
Shirting, plain, or with silk stripes. .Albay, Camarines, Yloylo.
Idem of country hemp, dyed or undyed. .Tayabas, id. id. id.
Cotton stockings, coarse  Laguna.
Nankeens, coloured and blue, of 6, 7 and 8 yards. . . . Ylocos,
Tondo, Batangas.
Gold chains and ornaments of 17 or 18 carats. . , ... ..Tondo.
Tortoiseshell boxes  Tayabas
Cotton gauze, fine and worked, from 7 to 8 yards each piece. .
Cagayan, Ylocos.
Dimities of various qiialities of 7, 8 and 12 yards each piece, ,
Idem.
Blue ginghams of 7 and 8 yards  ,  Idem.
Baftas, fine, of 4 and 5 yards . . . Tayabas, Albay, Camarines.
Flowered calicoes of 8 yards  Tondo, Ylocos, &c.
Superfine cotton stockings  Laguna,
Furniture of narra and other fine woods  Tondo, idem.
Table cloths, coarse, fine, worked, and 1, 2 and 3 yards wide,
and 8 long  ,  Ylocos.

282 APPENDIX.
¦ Calicoes of 8 yards  Albay, Camarines.
Cotton sail-cloth  Ylocos.
Idem lighter and finer quality  Batangas.
Romals, white, checked and in coloured silk  Albay,
Camarines.
Idem  idem .... with cotton borders .... Idem. . . idem.
Articles of silver plate, well polished  ,  'Tondo.
Gold  idem  idem  Idem.
Superfine white cotton handkerchiefs with borders. . . , Yloylo.
Idem of silk and cotton worked  Tondo.
Idem of cotton dyed in colours and blue. . .Ylocos, Batangas, idem.
Mats, large, superfine and worked.  Tayabas, Laguna.
Idem.. ..... ..idem  idem in colours . .Idem, .idem.
Idem ,,,...... idem, country hemp, dyed .... Idem. . . .idem.
Stripes of silk and cotton and of all cotton of 12 yards. .....
Tondo, Ylocos.
Rosaries of coco berries, .,.,,, ,^  -.Laguna.
Superfine hats of wove palm fibres  Albay, Camarines.
Idem of coloured straw  Pangasinan.
Cotton towels, fine, plain and diapered  Ylocos.
Mats and carpets of silk, silk and cotton, and all cotton . .
Tondo, Ylocos, Yloylo, &c.
Lace and veils, also worked and embroidered muslins. .Tondo.
Rigging, cordage, &c. of all sizes  Albay, Camarines.

N. B. It ought to be observed, that besides the above enu
merated articles; the natives, in almost all the provinces, manu-
fae^re various kinds of cloth, &c. for their own wearing, as
well as utensils for their domestic uses.

APPENDIX. 283

TABLE, N°. IV,
Imports, Exports, and ordinary Consumption of
the Philippine Islands.
IMPORTS,
Dollars from to
Goods from Bengal  600 , 700,000
Idem coast of Coromandel  400 600,000
Idem and silver from Europe, United
States, Mauritius, and Jolo, &c... 150 200,000
Idem from Canton, Macao, Lanquin,
and Emouy  1,100 1,200,000
Silver and gold coin from New Spain 2,000 2,200,00.0
Cochineal, copper, cocoa, and other ar
ticles from idem  100 160,000
Silver and gold coin from Peru  500 600,000
Copper, cocoa, brandies, wine, grain, and
pulse from idem  60 100,000
4,910 5,750,000
Medium dollars 5,330,000
Total consumption of all kinds of foreign ) „qq ^ qqp P^q
articles  ,  ) ' '
Medium dollar* 800,000

284 APPENDIX.

EXPORTS.
Dollars from to
To Bengal and Madras in coined silver 1,000 1,200,000
To idem idem in copper and other
articles  80 100,000
To China in coined silver  1,600 1,600,000
To idem in nests, balato, mother of
pearl, tortoise-shell, hides, tapa,
salt fish, cotton, rice, sugar, ebony,
logwood, &c  150 200,000
To Europe and United States in indigo,
sugar, black pepper, &c  200 300,000
To Acapulco in India and China goods 1,000 1,200,000
To Lima in idem idem idem  520 540,000
¦ 4,450 5,140,000
Medium dollars ' 4,795,000
RECAPITULATION.
Imports .... Dollars 5,330,000
Exports  4,795,000
Consumption 900,000
Total amount of annual circulation of trade 11,025,000

APPENDIX, 285
TABLE, N". V.
Administration of pious Institutions, whose Funds
are let out at a maritime Premium and
Risk, viz.
Dollars.
Provincial Convent of shod Augustines  38,129
Convent of  idem  89,809
Provincial Convent of barefooted, idem  30,079
Convent of  idem of Cavite  3,038
Venerable Third Order of St. Dominick  205,092
Idem..  idem of St. Francis in Manilla.... 501,078
Idem  idem  idem of Sampaloc. . . . 39,764
Sacred Mitre  88,165
Mercy  811,154
City funds  37,272
Brotherhood of Jesus Nazarenus, or Recolects of
Manilla  22,696
Idfem of the Holy Christ of Burgos  12,804
Idem of the Sanctuary of the Cathedral of Manilla 9,068
Idem of Nazarenus, or Recolects of Cavite  2,597
Idem of Santelmo of Cavite  660
Idem of the Sanctuary of idem  18,338
Idem of  idem of Binondo  28,486
Idem of the Holy Sepulchre of idem  1,028
Idem of the Rosary of idem  1,860
Idem of the Sacrament of Santa Cruz  100
College of Marianas  81,000
Funds in aid of the poor  89,836
Funds of Temporalities  161,625
Aggregate amount of Community Funds  174,367
Sum total, Dollars 2,470,390

GO

TABLE, N°. VI. =*
Particulars and Amount of the various Branches consiituiing the King's Revenue in ihe Philippine Islands,
their respective Expences and Nett Proceeds, corresponding to the Year 1809.
Receipts and Proceeds of Sales. Expences, Waste and Discounts. • Nett Proceeds.

Branch of Tobacco.. DoUars 967,894 7 6 Dollars 461,140 1 6 Dollars 506,754 5 11
Idem of Tributes  506,215 0 0   141,470 1 7  ^ 364,474 6 5
Idem of Country Wine,.., 389,933 0 0  168,577 0 0  221,426 0 0 ^
Idem of Custom House.... 270,979 0 6  13,800 0 0 ...,-..., 257,179 06 g
Idem of Betel Nut  48,610 0 0  21,532 0 0  27,078 0 0 |
Idem of Cockpits  40,141 0 0  40,141 0 0 o
Idem of exchequered Goods 12,733 3 7  12,733 3 7 ^
Idem of Board of Admiralty 18,216 0 7  18,216 0 7
Idem of Capitation Tax on
Sangleyes  30,000 0 0  30,000 0 0
Idem of Bulls of Cruzada.. 15,360 6 9  4,422 2 9  10,938 4 0
Idem of Indulgences  569 6 8   137 0 6  432 6 2
Idem of Playing Cards  11,539 1 0  9^2 5 0  10,606 4 0
Idem of Gunpowder  7,307 5 0  401 111  6,906 3 6
Idem of Tithes  12,493 0 1  12,493 1 0
•Idem of King's Fifth on Gold 1,644 6 6  1,644 6 6
Dues on Notarial Diplomas 6,314 3 2 .,  8,074 5 9 

Commandancy of St. Ferdi
nand's Castle  '  3,037 0 0  3,037 0 0
Saleable and renounceable
Oflices  7,860 6 7  ,...
Dues on Clerical Promotions 6,468 0 0  .* 
Dues on other vacancies. .. . 4,000 0 0  ¦ 
Minor Dues on iddm ..... . 10 7 8 
Ecclesiastical Rates  685 0 0 
Deductions on Ecclesiastical
Allowances  669 3 6  .- 
Funds in Mortmain  7,200 0 0 
Ecclesiastical Annuities.... 174 6 3  1 5 10 

7,860

6

7

6,468

0

0

4,000

0

0

10

¦7

8

685
0
0
669
3
6
7,200
0
0
?d
173
0
5
0
689
4
0
Transversal Inheritances .. 700 0 0  10 4 0 ,< 
Fines imposed by the Council 18 2 8  18
Penalties imposed by idem, . 4,631 7 9  , . . 329 2 2  4,302 5 7
Fines on District Magistrates 3,706 6 0  ,  - 3,706 6 0
PostOffice  1,643 6 0  457 7 6  1,085 6 6
Stamps  4,467 4 0  321 4 4  4,146 0 0
Situado, or annual allowance
received from Mexico .. 250,000 0 0  250,000 0 0
Total receipts dollars 2,625,176 4 10 Expencesl ^ Total nett 7 "
deducted J ' proceeds j ' '
>i
-I
General Statement of
when it commenced.
Proceeds remitted to
and public Works.

TABLE, N°. VII.
the Sales, Expences and Proceeds of the Tobacco Monopoly from 1782,
till the Year 1809 inclusive, and also of the Monies on account of the said
Spain, those applied to the Royal Treasury, and also expended in Edifices

GO00

ears.

Sales— DoUam

Expences.—

-Dollars.

Proceeds.-

Dollars.

82 ..

96,850

3

6 .

52,152

5 0..

44,697

6 6..

83 ..

386,811

3

4 .

147,764

0 2 .

239,047

3 2..

84 ..

366,548

1

1 .

. 141,867

6 3 .

224,680

2 15 ..

85 ..

379,330

0

8 ,

151,710

5 10 -

227,519

2 IS ..

86 ..

491,975

3

1 .

. 205,574

4 9 .

286,400

6 9..

87 ..

545,330

4

4 .

. 219,649

I 13 .

325,701

2 8..

88 ..

455,716

1

8 .

. 196,973

0 4 .

258,743

1 4 .,

89 ..

426,472

7

3 .

. 232,125

7 6 .

174,346

7 14 ..

90 ..

540,587

4

4 .

. 282,922

4 15 .

. 257,664

7 6..

91 ..

505,322

3

5 .

. 280,703

3 6 .

224,618

7 16 ..

92 ..

•547,120

4

4 .

. 274,452

5 14 .

272,667

6 7..

93 ..

570,479

1

8 .

. 293,801

5 10 .

276,677

3 15 ..

Remitted to Spain.— Dols. Applied to the Treasury. Public Works.— Dollars, ^
 Hd
150,000 0 0  , .. 5,260 4 0^
 '  63,418 16 0
 16,105 0 7 p
300,000 0 0 _  .. 33,600 5 3
 .. 813 6 0
 67,684 4 14
199,090 0 0 .. 338,954 2 14 ..17,788 3 9
 .".  3,732 1 0
424,063 5 9  ;  19,934 7 15
224,019 0 1  21,084 0 14
180,3Q5 0 7.. 102,766 7 7 .. 7,677 1 5

APPENDIX,

289

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1790.. 107,232 0 3.. 34,931 2 4.. 878 0 2,. 143,04r 2 9,. 17,202 5 9.. 125,838 5 0
1791.. 46,526 1 5.. 27,127 5.5.. 505 0 4.. 73,158 7 2.. 15,681 2 6.. 67',477 4 9
1792.. 49,013 2 7,. 11,987 2 8.. 2,060 6 11.. 63,061 4 2. . 14,690 6 10. . 48^370 5 4
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TABLE, N-. VIII.
Annual Amount of the Royal Duties of Almojarifazgo, Anchorage, Exportation of Gold and Silver; that of Expences
o/ Officers and smaller Vessels employed by the Royal Custom House, and also of Nett Proceeds, from the ;».
Year 1788 to 1809, inclusive. 5
Years. Almojarifazgo and Exportation of Exportation o£ Total Royal General Expences Nett 2
Anchorage. Silver. Gold. Duties. deducted. Proceeds. 2
  __  i<

APPENDIX.

291

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TABLE, N°. IX.
General Statement of the Number of Indian Tributes, according
to Provinces, their Amount in Money, Expences of Collection
and other ordinary Charges and Discounts, with Nett Pro
ceeds in favour of the Treasury, corresponding to the Year
1809.
Provinces. Indian Tributes. Idem of Mestizos.

Albay  15,990  369
Antique  6,060 
Bulacan  22,140  3,075
Batangas  19,680  615
Bataan..:  3,690  861
Cagayan  11,808  ,  25
Cavite  7,995  1,107
Camarines  24,600 . ,  369
Capis  13,407  61
Caraga  2,952 
Calamianes  2,460  ,,
Island of Negros  6,396  123
Laguna  14,760  492
Leite  : 10,455  61
Misamis  .-.. 2,829  , 
Mindoro  2,02& 
New-Ecija  1,600 
Pangasinan  24,600  615
Pampanga  19,680  3,075
Samar  13,630  123
Tayabas  11,070  25
Tondo  22,140  5,535
Ylocos  55,680  738
Yloylo  25,830  246
Zambales  3,690  73
Zebu  23,370  738
Zamboanga  368,328 18,326

APPENDIX. 293
Total number of Indian tributes, 368,328, at the
rate of 10 rials, amount to  Dollars 460,400
Idem idem of mestizos, 18,326, at the rate of 20
rials  45,815

Dollars 506,215

DEDUCT.
For the amount of three per
cent, for collection be
longing to the district
magistrates... Dollars 15,186 3 7
For expences of freights,
losses, waste, &c. in the
royal warehouses, fail
ures of district magis
trates, &c. at the rate of
25 per cent  126,553 6 0

141,740 1 7

Nett proceeds in favour of the Treasury, Doll. 364,474 6 5

TABLE, N°. X.
General Statement of Charges and ordinary Ex
pences ; comparison of their Amount with that
of the Nett Proceeds of all the Branches con
stituting the King's Revenue in these Islands,
and real Balance remaining in favour of the
Treasury, according to official Documents and
corresponding to the Year 1809.
GENERAL EXPENCES.
Salaries of Archbishopric, Dean; Chapter
and Curates of Manilla  Ds. 11,416 3 6
Idem of the Bishoprics of Ylocos, Cama
rines and Zebu, with their churches. .. . 18,014 0 2
Ecclesiastical stipends of parish curates ... . 146,694 4 0
Royal Chapel  4,314 0 0
College of Saint Potenciana  4,195 8 0
Royal Audiencia  31,694 5 0
Accountant's department and ministry of
Finance   26,576 1,10
242,804 6 6
( ¦ ¦
REGULARS.
Staff of the town of Manilla  ll,784 0 0
King's Regiment of Infantry  121,341 0 10
Battahon of the Queen  80,675 2 2
Idem of the Prince  81,774 5 9
Dragoons of Luzon  25,643 0 0
Royal Corps of Artillery  ,  44,839 6 9
Idem of Engineers  2,684 1 0
Invalids  3,964 6 7
379,596 3 9

APPENDIX. 295
MILITIA.
Battalion of Grenadiers of Luzon  Ds. 73,247
Idem of Ylocos  54 389
Idem of Mestizos of Real Principe ,,.... 16,602
Detachment of Bowmen  34,675
Piquet of Pangasinan  1,217
Idem of La Pampanga  ,  794
Hussars of Aguilar  ,....,... 26,504

NAVY, FOaTS, AND 0TH3R MILITARY ITEMS.
Docks and stores of the royal navy in Cavite 219,105 '
Island cruisers  76,849
Fortress of Zamboanga  23,182
Idem of Misamis  10,293
Idem of Caraga  ,.. 5,432
Idem of Calamianes  ,.... 857
Idem of Mindoro  16,750
Idem of Batanes  4,578
Idem of New Ecija  3,000
Garrison of Fort Santiago  7,216
Idem.... idem of Cavite  12,296
Idem, . . .of San Antonio Abad  96
Royal Hospital of Manilla  44,718
Royal Laboratory of Artillery  35,186
Idem.... of Engineers  78,407

2

6.

5

4

6

3

5

0

7

8

4 10

3

6

207,604 3 1

1

7

1

5

4

0

0

0

0

0

6

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

1

0

3

6

0

0

537,967 7 6

Amount of nett proceeds of the entire Re
venue, according to statement, N°. VI. 1^813,318 2

296 APPENDIX.
Amountof Revenue, ...Brought over.. Ds. 1,813,318 2 0
DEDUCT.
For amount of general ex
pences  942,804 6 6
For idem of regulars ... . 379,596 39
For idem of militia  207,504 3 1
For id. of navy, forts, &c, 537,967 7 6

1,367,873 4 10

Nett balance in favour oi the Treasury . . 445,444 5 2

N. B, It ought to be observed, that in the item of 44,839 4 5
expences corresponding to the Royal Corps of Artillery, is com
prehended those of the Provincial or Militia Artillery, which
amount to more thau half of the above sum.

TABLE, N«. XI.
Enumeration of all the Towns and Missions of
the Philippine Islands, distinguishing the Re
ligious Orders and Indian and Mestizo Clergy
by whom administered.

ARCHBISHOPRIC OF
MANILLA.

PROVINCE OP TONDO.
Binondoe  Clergy
San Gabriel  idem
Santa Cruz  idem
Quiapo  idem
Hermita  idem
San Pedro Macate  idem
Mariquina  idem
San Mateo  idem
Bosoboso  idem
Antipolo  idem
Taytay  idem
Cainta  idem
Tambobong . .
Tondo  idem
Pasig  idem
Taguiig  idem
Malate  idem

Paranaque  Augustines
Las Pinas  idem
San Miguel  Franciscans
Sampaloc  idem
Dilao  idem
Pandacan  idem
Santa Ana  idem

Augustines Calumpit

PROVINCE OP BULACAN.
Bulacan  Franciscans
Malolos  idem
Paombon  idem
Hagonoy  idem
 ,  idem
Quingua  idem
San Isidro  idem
Baliguag  Augustines
Angat  idem

298

APPENDIX.

Guiguinto  Augustines
Bigaa  idem
Bocave  Franciscans
Marilao  idem
Santa Maria  idem
San Jose del Monte,,,, idem
Maycavayan  idem
Polo  ,  idem
Ovando  ....,, idem
San Rafael  Clergy

Minalin  Clergy
Santo Tomas  , . idem
Mesico  idem
Santa Ana  idem
Apalit  Augustines
Mabalacat  '. . . Recolects
Bamban ...^....  idem
Capaz  idem

PROVINCE OP LA PAMPANGA.

Bacolor ,...,.,., .... Clergy
Betis. . ,  idem
Guagua  ,  idem
Sesmoan  idem
Lubao  idem
Santa Rita  idem
San Fernando  idem
Arayat  idem
Cabiao  ,  idem
Tarlac  idem
San Jose de Palosapis . , idem
Tayug  idem
Santon  idem
Gapan  idem
San Miguel  idem
Candaba  idem
San Luis  idem
San Simon  idem
Macabebe  idem
¦ 1

PROVINCE OF BATAAN.
Batanga  Clergy
Abucay  idem
Pilar.  idem
Samal  idem
Oraiii  idem
Hermosa  idem
Orion  idem
Mariveles  idem

PROVINCE OP CAVITE,
Cavite . ,  Clergy
San Roque  idem
Bacoor  idem
Cavite el Viejo  idem
Silan  idem
Yndan  idem
Maragondon  idem
Mate  idem

APPENDIX,

299

Santa Cruz de Malabon Clergy
San Francisco de Malabon id.
Ymus  Recolects

Cabuyao . , . , ,  Clergy
Calamba  idem
Calauang  idem
Jalajala i  idem
Santa Rosa  Dominicans

PROVINCE OF LA LAGUNA.

Pagsanjan ..,,., Franciscans
Lumbang  idem
Longos  idem
Binangonan  idem
Moron  idem
Baras  idem
Tanay  , , , , , idem
Pililla  idem
Santa Maria de Caboan idem
Mabitac ,-  idem
Siniloan  idem
Panguil  idem
Paquil  idem
Paete  idem
San Antonio  idem
Cavinte,..  idem
Santa Cruz  idem
Pila  idem
Bay  idem
Los Banos  idem
Nagcarlan  ,¦ . . idem
Lilio  idem
Majayhay  idem
Daractan  idem
Bifian  Clergy
San Pedro Tunasan .... idem

PROVINCE OF BATANGAS.
Batangas  Augustines
Bauang  , idem
Taal  ,  idem
San Jose  idem
Lipa . t  idem
Tanauan  idem
San Pablo  Franciscans
Balayang  Clergy
Rasario  idem
Santo Tomas  idem
Lian  idem
Nagsubu  idem

PROVINCE OP ZAMBALES.
Yba  Clergy
Subic  idem
Masinloc  idem
Bolinao  idem
Balincaguin  idem
Borolan  Recolects

300

APPENDIX,

PROVINCE OF MINDORO.
Calapan  Clergy
Naujan  idem
Boac  idem
Santa Cruz de Napo. , , . idem
Luban  idem
Gasan  idem

Parug  , Dominicans
Agoo  Augustines
Asingay  idem
Bavan  , idem
Baenotan  :, idem

BISHOPRIC OF NEW
SEGOVIA.

PROVINCE OP PANGASINAN.
Cingayen  Dominicans
Binmaley ,  idem
San Carlos ,  idem
Calasiao  idem
Santa Barbara  idem
Mangaloan  idem
Malasiqui  idem
Salasa  idem
Dagupan  ; idem
San Jacinto  idem
Mananag  idem
San Fabian  idem,
San Isidro 
Bayambang 
Asingan  idem;Sinait
Panique  idemiBanguit

MISSIONS OP YTUY AND PA-
NIQUR.
Aritao  Dominicans
Dupax  idem
Bambang  idem
Bayonbon  idem
Lumauang  idem
Bagabag  idem
Carig  •. . . idem
Angadanang  idem
Cabayan  idem
Camaray .,.,.  idem

PROVINCE OP YLOCOS,
Vigan  Clergy
Santa CiAtalina  idem
San Vicente  idem
Santo Domingo  idem
idemjLapoyg  idem
idemjCabugant  idem
 idem
 idem

APPENDIX,

301

Tayum  Clergy Yguig

Namacpacan . . , . Augustines
Balavan  idem
Bangar  idem
Santa Cruz  idem
Candon  idem
Santa Maria  idem
Narbacan  idem
Santa Catalina  idem
Bantay  idem
Masingal  idem
Badoc  idem
Pauay  idem
Batac  idem
San Nicolas  idem
Sarrat  idem
Dingra  idem
Pigdig  idem
Lavag  idem
Bacarra  , , idem
Bangi  idem

 Dominicans
Amulong  idem
Tuguegarao  idem
Aparri  idem
Tuguey  ,", idem
Dao  idem
Uuangag  idem
Abulug  idem
Potol  idem
San Juan  idem
Masi  idem
Nasiping  idem
Gatarang  idem
Gamu  idem
Purao  idem
Ylagan  idem
Tumavini  idem

PROVINGE OF CAGATAN,
Lallo  Dominicans
Caraalaniugan  idem
Piat  idem
Tabang  idem
Cabagan  idem
Malaueg  idem
Mauanang  idem
Santa Cruz  „ , , idem
Tuao  ,  idem

MISSIONS OP LAS BATANES.
Santo Domingo de Basco,
Dominicans
San Carlos de Magatao idem
San Jose de Ibana .... idem

BISHOPRIC OF NEW
CACERES.
PROVINCE OP TAYABAS.
Lucban  Franciscans
Tayabas  idem

302

APPENDIX.

Pagbilao  Franciscans
, Sariaya  idem
Tiaong  idem
Mauban ,  idem
Atimonan  idem
Gumaca  idem
Macalelonh.  Clergy
Catanauang  idem
Apad  : ,  idem
Muladay  idem

PROVINCE OP NEW ECIJA.
Balert  Franciscans
Binangonan de Lampor. .idem
Polillo  idem
Casiguran  idem
Palanan  idem
San Vicente  idem
Pantabangan  idem
Caranglan  idem
Puncan  idem

PROVINCE op CAMARINES.
Tabuco  Clergy
Naga  idem
Bombon  idem
Daet  idem
Tarisay  idem

Yndan  Clergy
Labo  idem
Paracale  idem
Mambulao  idem
Capalonga  idem
Santa Cruz de Naga 
Franciscans
Camaligan  .... idem
Canaman  idem
Magarao  idem
Quipayo  ., , idem'
Calabangan  idem
Limganan  idem
Milaort  idem
Bula  idem
Bao  idem
Naboa  idem
Limgon  idem
Bato  idem
Yriga  idem
Minalabag  idem
Bugi  idem
Polangui  ^  idem
Das  idem
Ligao  idem
Guinobatan  idem
Camarines  idem
Cagsana  idem
Budiao  idem
Sipocop  ¦. . . idem
Mangirin  idem
Lupi y Ragay  idem
Salog ,  idem
Santo Clara Ysarog .... idem

APPENDIX.

303

PROVINCE OF ALBAY.
Albay  Clergy
Libog  idem
Bacacay  idem
Tabaco  ,  idem
Malinao  idem
Tiui  ,  idem
Lagonoy  idem
Caramoan  idem
Sorsogon  idem
Bacon  idem
Gubat  idem
Bulusan  idem
Doncol  idem
Quipia  idem
San Jacinto  idem
Mobo  idem
Qatanduanes  idem
Birac  idem
Biga  idem
Manito  , . . . . idem

Barili  Clergy
Samboan , . . ,  idem
Boloan  idem
San Nicolas . , , . A.ugustine3
Argao  idem
Datanguet  idem
Opon  idem
Bolohon  idem
Danao , , , . ,  Recolects
Siquihol  idem
Ynavangan  idem
Loon  idem
Malabohoc  idem
Paminuitan  idem
Tagbilaran  idem
Davis  idem
Baclalon  idem
Loboc  idem
Luay  idem
Dimiao  idem
Jagna  idem
Guindulman  idem

BISHOPRIC OF ZEBU,

PROVINCE OP ZEBU AND BOHOL.
Zebii'  Clergy
Parian de Zebu  idem
Lutaos  idem
Mandave  idem
Bantayan  idem

PROVINCE OP ANTIQUE.
Bugason  Clergy
Patnogon  idem
Colasi  iflem
Cagayan  idem
Sibalon  idem
Antique  idem
Dao  idem
San Jose  idem

304

APPENDIX.

PROVINCE OF CAPIS.
"Manbusao  Clergy
Batan  idem
Sigma  idem
Sapian  idem
Bangan  idem
Madalag  idem
Calibo  idem
Ybajay  idem
Panay  Augustines
Capis  idem
Duhiarao  idem
Dumalag  idem
Romblon  Recolects
Banton ....  idem

Miagao  Augustines
Saa Joaquin  idem
Dumangas  , . idem
Xaro  idem
Cabatuan  idem
Maasim  idem
Pototan  idem
Caman  >.  idem
Guimbal  idem
Ygbaras  idem
Santa Barbara  idem
Haninay  idem

PROVINCE OP YLOYLO.
Yloylo  Clefgy
Villa de Arevalo  idem
Manduriao  idem
Barotac  idem
Anilao ,  idem
Oton  Augustines
Alimodian  idem
Lalang  idem
Passi  idem
Lambunao  idem
Calinog  idem
Tigbavan  idem

PROVINCE OP CALAMIANES.
Taytay  Recolects
Cuyo  idem
A-gutaya  idem
Culiong  idem

PROVINCE OF THE ISLAND OF
NEGROS.
Yloc  Clergy
Tanay  idem
Silay  idem
Binalbagan  „ . . idem
Bago  idem
Bacoloc  idem
Bagas  idem

APPENDIX.

305

Cabancalan .... ..... .Clergy
Amblan ...,..,..,.., idem
Maiyuyot  idem
Siaten  idem
Domanguete 
Balabon 
Doloc  idem'
Tayasan  idem
Jinoban . ,  , , . idem

idem,' B'
idemlSulat

PROVINCE OP LEYTE.
Cancabatoc  , Clergy
Dagami  ,  idem
Buraven  idem
Abuyog  idem
Alangalan  idem
Baybay  idem
Ylongos  idem
Palo  Augustines
Carrigara  idem
Barugo  idem
Tanavan  idem
Dulag  idem

Cat^rmaii  Clergy
liavan  ,  idem
 idem
Gatubig  idem
iaQgajon . . . . '  idem
 idem
Tubig  idem
BoTongan  idem
Umavas  idem
Calviga  idem
Capul  idem
Calbayog  idem
Parana^  idem

PROVINCE OF SAMAR,

Guician  Augustines
Basey  idesm Alcliton

PROVINCE OP CARAGA.
Caraga  Recolects
Caminguin  idem
Botoan  idem
Tandag  idem
Bislig  >  idem
Pinagalian  Idem
Cantilan  idem

PROVINCE OP MISAMIS.
Ynitao  Recolects
Yponan  idem
. ,  , idem

Catbalogan  Franciscans

Tagoloan  idem

306

APPENDIX,

Tagol^nao  Recolects
Catarman  , , idem
Mambajao  idem
Quinsiliban  idem
Ylaya  idem
Cagayan  idem
Misamis . ,'  , , , , idem
Dapitan-  , idem
Yligan  idem
Lobogan  , , idem

MARIANAS ISLANDS^
Agana  Recolects
Ynarahan  idem
Agat. ...  idem
Bora  , idem

PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA.
Zamboanga ,...,, Recolects

The inhabitants of Guam,
the only one of the Marianas
Islands now inhabited, are all
Christians ; but the population
does not exceed 4000 persons
of all ages.

THE END.

BABHARD AHB FAELBT,
Slihintr arm, '