THE nilLIPriNE ISLANDS 87 



bear the worst reputation. Tor centuries their pirate 

 praus have been the terror of the Eastern seas, and the 

 Spanish settlement at Zamboanga was estabhshed with 

 the special object of suppressing them. At the present 

 time it may be said that piracy is within measurable 

 distance of extinction. The tribes of supposed Bisayan 

 stock chiefly occupy north-eastern Mindanao, and are 

 specially numerous in the Agusan valley. They are 

 complete savages, constantly engaged in inter-tribal war, 

 and are partly cannibals. Captives are made slaves, and 

 there is a title of honour for those who have succeeded 

 in slaughtering as many as sixty of their enemies — a 

 distinction which M. Montano found to be far from 

 uncommon. Of these tribes the best known are the 

 ]\Iandayas of the Sahug Eiver and the Manobos of the 

 Agusan. The former people number some 30,000, of 

 whom about 8000 have been converted to Christianity. 

 In some parts of the Davao Gulf these people are more 

 civilised, knowing how to weave and to forge krisses, and 

 breeding good horses. All the work in civilising the 

 natives has been done by the Jesuits. 



Mindanao is both rich and fertile. It is probable 

 that gold exists in tolerable quantities, and coal also. 

 Sulphur is exported, and quicksilver has been discovered. 

 There is considerable cultivation, especially in the north 

 of the island ; and in addition to the ordinary vegetable 

 products of the archipelago, cacao and coffee are grown, 

 and of the latter, which is said to be of better quality 

 than that of Puerto Eico, a considerable quantity appears 

 to be exported. The island is densely forested, and grows 

 a great deal of valuable timber, including ebony and teak. 

 The latter tree is found nowhere else in these islands, ex- 

 cepting in Sulu. The mangosteen and durian also abound, 

 fruits which will not flourish farther to the north. 



