March.] PHILIPPINE ISLANDS— LUCONIA. 



383 



over a space of three hundred and fifty leagues in extent from nortn to 

 south, and one hundred and fifty from east to west. The principal 

 islands in the group are Luconia, Mindanao, Samar, Matsbate, Min- 

 doro, Luban, Panay, Leyte, Bohol, Zebu, Negro's, St. John's, Xolo, 

 and Abyo. 



The population of the whole group is estimated at about two 

 millions ; of which seventy thousand are Chinese, seven thousand are 

 Spaniards, one hundred and eighteen thousand are mestizoes, and the 

 rest natives. Of the latter there are two distinct races — the Papuas, or 

 negroes, who live principally in the interior, and seem to have been 

 the primitive inhabitants ; and the Malays, who dwell nearer the coasts. 



These islands were discovered by Magellan in 1521, and received 

 their present name in honour of Philip II., King of Spain. The first 

 settlements were made by the Spaniards, in 1570. In 1823 (seven 

 years previous to my present visit), the Creoles and mestizoes made 

 an attempt to obtain a liberal government ; but the insurrection was 

 put down by the Spaniards, who employed in this service a force formed 

 of the converted natives. 



The face of the country is mountainous, and there are numerous 

 volcanoes in the different islands, whose eruptions have repeatedly 

 caused great ravages. The climate is variable, but the heat is never 

 excessive. Violent hurricanes and earthquakes often do much mis- 

 chief. The soil is not less various, but. in general is fertile. Rice, 

 coffee, sugar, cocoa, tobacco, indigo, and a great variety of pulse, with 

 many sorts of tropical fruits, ebony, sandal-wood, die-woods, &c, are 

 among the vegetable productions. Gold, silver, and sulphur are 

 among the minerals. 



Lucon, or Luconia, is the" principal of the Philippine Islands ; it 

 being about four hundred miles in length, from north to south, and from 

 ninety to one hundred and twenty in breadth ; comprising about sixty- 

 five thousand square miles. The country is generally mountainous, 

 an elevated ridge extending through the whole length. There are 

 several volcanoes, and earthquakes are frequent and sometimes de- 

 structive ; those of 1650,1754, and 1824 are still remembered with 

 terror. The climate is temperate for the latitude, but is too moist to 

 be salubrious. The soil is rich and fertile, producing East and West 

 India fruits in abundance, with several kinds of spices. Gold is found 

 among the mountains and in the sands of the rivers ; ambergris is thrown 

 on the coast ; and civet-cats are common to the country. 



The city of Manilla is the Spanish capital, and the seat of the colonial 

 government of that nation in the East. It lies in latitude 14° 37' N., 

 long. 120° 59' E.; variation per azimuth 6° 40' easterly. This city 

 was founded in 1 57 1 , by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. It is a walled city, 

 beautifully situated on a kind of peninsula, at the bottom of a bay, and 

 is well fortified. The city is large, the streets spacious, and the houses 

 handsome. They generally consist of two stories, with a flat roof, and 

 balconies in front. The lower story is most commonly of stone, and 

 the upper one of wood, with windows of mother-of-pearl, or some other 

 thin transparent material. The streets are well paved, and lighted at 

 night. The palace in which the governor resides is a very elegant 



