300 MANILLA. 



He now (April 1565) took possession of all the island in the name 

 of the crown of Spain, and became their first governor. In this 

 conquest, motives different from those which governed them on the 

 American continent, seemed to have influenced the Spaniards. 

 Instead of carrying on a cruel war against the natives, they here 

 pursued the policy of encouraging and fostering their industry. 

 Whether they felt that this policy was necessary for the success of 

 their undertaking, or were influenced by the religious fathers who 

 were with them, is uncertain ; but their measures seem to have been 

 dictated by a desire to promote peace and secure the welfare of the 

 inhabitants. There may be another cause for this course of action, 

 namely, the absence of the precious metals, which held out no in- 

 ducement to those thirsting for inordinate gain. This may have had 

 its weight in exempting the expedition in its outfit from the presence 

 of those avaricious spirits which had accompanied other Spanish 

 expeditions, and been the means of marking their progress with exces- 

 sive tyranny, bloodshed, and violence. It is evident to one who visits 

 the Philippines that some other power besides the sword has been at 

 work in them ; the natives are amalgamated with the Spaniards, and 

 all seem disposed to cultivate the land and foster civilization. None 

 of the feeling that grows out of conquest is to be observed in these 

 islands; the two races are identified now in habits, manners, and 

 religion, and their interests are so closely allied that they feel their 

 mutual dependence upon each other. 



The establishment of the new constitution in Spain in the year 

 1825, has had a wonderful effect upon these colonies, whose resources 

 have within the last ten years been developed, and improvements 

 pushed forward with a rapid step. Greater knowledge and more 

 liberal views in the rulers are alone wanting to cause a still more 

 rapid advance in the career of prosperity. 



As our visit was to Luzon, we naturally obtained more personal 

 information respecting it than the other islands. We learned that 

 the northern peninsula* was composed of granite and recent volcanic 

 rocks, together with secondary and tertiary deposits, while the 

 southern peninsula is almost wholly volcanic. 



The northern contains many valuable mines of gold, lead, copper, 

 and iron, besides coal. A number of specimens of these, and the 



* It is called so in consequence of the island being nearly divided in the parallel 

 of 14° N., by two bays. 



