16 METZGER— THE FILIPINO. [March 17. 



Soon after this formal acquisition of the islands and the incorpora- 

 tion of its capital, Legaspi returned to Spain where he died, 

 destined like his predecessors to enjoy but little of the honor of 

 having been the first to establish real sovereignty for Spain in this 

 colony. 



Spanish suzerainty of the Phillippines was not one long glorious 

 regime, neither were the islands the El Dorado they had fancied, 

 but instead her three hundred years of reign was but a period of 

 almost constant strife. Other nations strove to seize them and 

 rebellion followed rebellion in an effort to expel a sovereign power 

 whose reign was considered unjust, oppressive and tyrannical. In 

 truth, Spanish sovereignty was never complete except in name 

 only, and full domination only extended over the sea-coast towns 

 and a few miles into the interior. Tribal customs governed as 

 many, if not more, of the inhabitants as Spanish laws and Spanish 

 monastics. 



The Spanish friar was next installed and, with the aid of the 

 military, set about civilizing and converting to Christianity those 

 tribes lying outside the Capital city. 



About this time the island of Luzon was invaded by the Chinese 

 under the notorious pirate Li-ma-hong and the Japanese Sioco. 

 Early on the morning of the thirtieth of November, 1574, they 

 appeared in the bay of Manila and instituted a vigorous attack. 

 After a bloody hand-to-hand conflict the Chinese were completely 

 routed and, not being able to regain their fleet, fled up the coast 

 as far as the Province of Pangasinan, and it is through the affilia- 

 tion of these survivors with the natives that we accredit the mani- 

 fest traces of Chinese blood among some of the hill-tribes to-day. 



Following the attempt of the Chinese to seize this Colony the 

 Emperor of Japan, learning of the European colonization, sent 

 one of his suite, Ferranda Kiemon, with a message to the Gover- 

 nor of the islands, demanding prompt surrender and threatening 

 invasion if refused. This, Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, the Gover- 

 nor, refused to do but solicited a treaty of commerce, and ex- 

 pressed a desire to conclude an offensive alliance for mutual pro- 

 tection. The Mikado consented to this proposition and thus for a 

 time amicable relations were assured with the Japanese. 



As a result of the war with the Flanders, which terminated with 

 the Treaty of Antwerp in 161 9, the Dutch were obliged to seek in 



