280 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



discovered countrres acquired by Spain, so that they have in- 

 creased in numbers instead of being exterminated, as in many 

 places in the Western hemisphere. Tins was not due, however, 

 to any magnanimity on the part of the Spaniards, but to the fact 

 that the great distance of the islands from Spain prevented their 

 being overrun b}^ greedy and cruel adventurers, as was the case 

 in the West Indian islands and adjacent mainland. 



In Mindanao and some of the other southern islands there are 

 some pure Malays, who are Mohammedans. They are called 

 " Moros " — Moors by the Spaniards— and at times give them as 

 much trouble as the African Moors gave their ancestors in Spain. 



There are also in the interior of Luzon and other islands many 

 semi-savage tribes, who have never submitted to Spanish rule or 

 to Spanish taxation, and when they escape the latter it is pretty 

 certain that the}'' are not under control. They are as untamed 

 and are living as primitive a life as they were when the Span- 

 iards landed on the islands, more than three centuries ago. 



The Philippine Malays are a superior race to many other Asi- 

 atic people; they are orderly, amiable, courteous, honest, and 

 hospitable, exceedingly superstitious, and when they profess 

 Christianit} r are easily influenced by the priests. Like most trop- 

 ical people, they are intermittent rather than steady workers. 

 Their wants are easily provided for, and they take life easy. 

 They are lacking in energy when at peace, but their hot tropical 

 blood makes them fierce and revengeful in war. They are fond 

 of music, dancing, and amusement of all kinds, but are born 

 gamblers, and cock fighting is their great passion. Every na- 

 tive, however poor, owns a game cock, and is always, read}^ to 

 bet his last coin on its prowess. Every town and village has its 

 cock-pit, and in the larger communities the spectators may be 

 numbered by thousands. Of course, this amusement, like every- 

 thing else in the Spanish colonies, is heavily taxed, and a con- 

 siderable revenue is derived from this source. Advantage is also 

 taken of the taste for gambling by running a lottery for the ben- 

 efit of the government. 



The mestizos or mixed races form a numerous and influential 

 portion of the population. The descendants of Spanish fathers 

 and native mothers are numerous. A large proportion of the 

 merchants and landed proprietors are of this class, and most of 

 the subordinate and clerical offices of the government are filled 

 by them. Another element is the Chinese and half-breeds of 

 mixed Chinese and native blood. Few Chinese women come to 



