32 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGKAPHY AND TKAVEL 
islands were pagans, and almost ignorant of civilisation 
of any kind. In Sulu and southern Mindanao the 
Spaniards found themselves in contact with a very differ¬ 
ent people. Then, as now, the inhabitants of that part 
of the archipelago were Mohammedans, fierce and in¬ 
tractable, skilled in navigation, and born pirates. They 
were, and have been for three centuries, the bitter enemies 
of the “ Castillas,” and expedition after expedition was 
vainly sent to subdue them. In 1731 a fleet of thirty 
Spanish vessels attacked Jolo, expecting an easy victory, 
but so well did the Sulus fight that they succeeded in 
capturing their enemies’ colours, and the fleet shortly 
afterwards sailed away. It was not until 1871 that the 
Spaniards succeeded in establishing themselves upon the 
island, but to this day they are in no better position than 
are the Dutch at Ache. 
The Chinese and Japanese, especially the former, have 
played a considerable part in the history of the islands, 
but mostly upon pacific lines, as will be seen in a future 
page. It was otherwise with the Portuguese and the 
Dutch, who on more than one occasion sought, but in¬ 
effectually, to dispossess Spain. Their attempts were not, 
however, upon such a scale as to need detailed notice 
here. During the Seven Years’ War, in 1762, the English 
fitted out an expedition from Madras composed of thirteen 
men-of-war and transports, and a force of 2300 men, and 
appeared before the walls of Manila. The Spaniards, who 
had not even heard of the outbreak of the war, were taken 
by surprise, the city was bombarded, captured, and sacked, 
and a ransom of four million dollars demanded. Only 
£200,000 could be furnished, however, and with this 
sum the commander of the expedition, Sir William Draper, 
had to be content. This not very creditable conquest 
did not extend beyond Manila. The city remained in 
