THE INDIAN AND" ORIENTAL ISLANDS. 



niards, Portuguese, Pintadoes, or painted people, and Mestes, a mix- 

 ture of all these. The property of the islands belongs to the king of 

 Spain, they having been discovered by Magellan and afterwards con- 

 quered by the Spaniards, in the reign of Philip II, from whom they 

 take their name. Their situation is such, between the eastern and 

 western continents, that the inhabitants trade with Mexico and Peru, 

 as well as with all the islands and ports of the East Indies. Two ships 

 from Acapulco, in Mexico, carry on this commerce for the Spaniards, 

 who make 400 per cent, profit. The country is fruitful in all the neces- 

 saries of life, and beautiful to the eye. Venison of all kinds, buffa- 

 loes, hogs, sheep, goats, and a particular large species of monkeys, 

 are found here in great plenty. The nest of the bird saligan affords 

 that dissolving jelly which is so voluptuous a rarity at European 

 tables. Many European fruits and flowers thrive surprisingly in 

 these islands. If a sprig of an orange or lemon tree is planted here, 

 it becomes within the year a fruit-bearing tree ; so that the verdure 

 and luxuriancy of the soil ai'e almost incredible. The tree amet 

 supplies the natives with water ; and there is also a kind of cane,, 

 which, if cut, yields clear water enough for a draught ; this abounds 

 in the mountains, where water is most wanted. 



The city of Manilla contains about 3000 inhabitants ; its port is 

 Cavite, lying at the distance of three leagues, and defended by the 

 castle of St. Philip. In the year 1762, Manilla was reduced by the 

 English under general Draper and admiral Cornish, who took it by 

 storm, and humanely suffered the archbishop, who was the Spanish 

 viceroy at the same time, to rans.om the place for about a million 

 sterling. The bargain, however, was ungenerously disowned by him 

 and the court of Spain, so that great part of the ransom never was 

 paid. The Spanish government is settled there, but the Indian in- 

 habitants pay a capitation tax. The other islands, particularly Min- 

 danao, the largest next to Manilla, are governed by petty princes of 

 their own, whom they call sultans. The sultan of Mindanao is a 

 Mahommedan. 



Though these islands are enriched with all the profusion of nature, 

 yet they are subject to most dreadful earthquakes, thunder, rains, and 

 lightning ; and the soil is pestered witn many noxious and venomous 

 creatures, and even herbs and flowers, whose poisons kill almost in- 

 stantaneously. Some of their mountains are volcanoes. 



The MOLUCCAS, commonly called the Sfice or Clove Islands, 

 are not out of sight of each other, and lie all within the compass of 

 twenty -five leagues to the south of the Philippines, in 125 degrees of 

 east longitude, and between one degree south, and two north latitude. 

 They are in number five, viz. Bachian, Machian, Motyr, Ternate, and 

 Tydore. These islands produce neither corn nor rice, so that the 

 inhabitants live upon bread made of sago. Their chief produce con- 

 sists of cloves, mace, and nutmegs, in vast quantities : which are 

 monopolised by the Dutch with so much jealousy, that they destroy 

 the plants, lest the natives should sell the supernumerary spices to 

 other nations. These islands, after being subject to various powers, 

 are now governed by three kings, subordinate to the Dutch. Ternate 

 is the largest of them, though not more than thirty miles in circum- 

 ference. The Dutch have here a fort called Victoria ; and another 

 called Fort Orange, in Machian. 



The BAND A, or Nutmeg Islands, are situate between 127 and 

 128 degrees of east longitude, and between four and five south lati - 



