32 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TEAVEL 



islands were pagans, and almost ignorant of civilisation 

 of any kind. In Sulu and southern Mindanao the 

 Spaniards found themselves in contact with a very differ- 

 ent people. Then, as now, the inhabitants of that part 

 of the archipelago were Mohammedans, fierce and in- 

 tractable, skilled in navigation, and born pirates. They 

 were, and have been for three centuries, the bitter enemies 

 of the " Castillas," and expedition after expedition was 

 vainly sent to subdue them. In 1731 a fleet of thirty 

 Spanish vessels attacked Jolo, expecting an easy victory, 

 but so well did the Sulus fight that they succeeded in 

 capturing their enemies' colours, and the fleet shortly 

 afterwards sailed away. It was not until 1871 that the 

 Spaniards succeeded in establishing themselves upon the 

 island, but to this day they are in no better position than 

 are the Dutch at Ache. 



The Chinese and Japanese, especially the former, have 

 played a considerable part in the history of the islands, 

 but mostly upon pacific lines, as will be seen in a future 

 page. It was otherwise with the Portuguese and the 

 Dutch, who on more than one occasion sought, but in- 

 effectually, to dispossess Spain. Their attempts were not, 

 however, upon such a scale as to need detailed notice 

 here. During the Seven Years' War, in 1762, the English 

 fitted out an expedition from Madras composed of thirteen 

 men-of-war and transports, and a force of 2300 men, and 

 appeared before the walls of ]\Ianila. The Spaniards, who 

 had not even heard of the outljreak of the war, were taken 

 by surprise, the city was bombarded, captured, and sacked, 

 and a ransom of >. four million dollars demanded. Only 

 £200,000 could be furnished, however, and with this 

 sum the commander of the expedition, Sir William Draper, 

 had to be content. This not very creditable conquest 

 .did not extend beyond Llanila. The city remained in 



