1. Luzon, or rather the subdued part of that island) is
divided into fifteen provinces. At the era of its discovery by
the-Spaniards it contained several races of .people; those
who inhabited the level and maritime countries resembled the
Malays in features and complexion, though presenting some
peculiar traits: they lived in half-civilised communities under
rajahs or chiefs, recognised the authority of hereditary privileged
castes, had codes of laws, the institution of marriage
and various religious observances, and paid adoration to tho
manes or-spirits of their forefathers. In this class of nations
were the Tagalos, the Pampangos, the Zimbales, the Pan-
gasinanians, the Iloeos, and the Cayaganians. These people
represent^ in the Philippines the half-civilised Polynesian
race still dominant in the groupes of the Great Ocean.
The mountainous parts of Luzon concealed in impenetrable
forests and vast deserts tribes of a very different race.) who
were looked upon as the aboriginal inhabitants of the
island: they were called by the Tagalos Octas or Aetas ; the
Spaniards named them corruptly Igorotes, or more frequently
Negritos or Negros del Monte. They are woollyiaired
savages, and the place for describing them will occur in the
following chapter.
The eastern part of the isle of Luzon is independent of
the Spaniards: it is inhabited entirely by free tribes;
2. The Bisayan Archipelago to the southward of Luzon
comprehends the islands of Samar, Leyte, Zebu^or Bohol,
the Isla de. Negros, Panay, Maitim, the groupe of the
Calamianes^ Mindoro, Masbate, Marinduque, Bavias, and
others. Some of these islandswill be mentioned in the
sequel. This groupe was called by the Spaniards at first
“ Islas de los Pintados,’’ “ Islands of the Painted People.”
It seems that the inhabitants tattooed their bodies, like many
tribes of the same race in the Pacific Ocean.
The Bisayan islands are inhabited by three races of people.
1. Civilised people who cultivate the land under the Spanish
government; they are of Bisayan origin. The genuine
Bisayas still inhabiting the interior of Zebu. 2. Malays, who
make predatory incursions on the coasts. These Malays are
chieflyj'-natives of Mindanao and Sooloo. jÉ 3. Negro races
in the- forests and mountains. The Bisayan language is a
cognate u f the Tagala, though a- distinct dialect.
3. Pàragoa >or Palawan is very little known. It is a large
island inhabited by independent hordes ffl the interior, the sea-
coast being subject to*the Mai ay l sultan of Sooloo. It lies in
the dire^ ÿbain which runs from Lazomthroughthe Bisayan
islamls of Mindoro and the Çalamianes towards Borneo.
4. The great island of Magindano) as.it is generally
ealledy Mindanao, tomostlyisubject,;to the Malayan,sultan,
who resides a at the great town' of.. Selangan, and claims;
sovereignty ■ over the islands of Mengis, a cluster of islands
forming part ' of the Archipelago- of the' Moluccas. The
western part of Mégindano is independent ?of the sultan;.- and
efiyidcd i Illanos*/; > The.
people speak the Bisayan lan g u ie ; and we may consider
tfee-Bfeayaa 'race as the* -proper mhabimnts iof the island' 0É*
Mindanao. • There aTe likewise i savage tribes in the desert
paèts of the west who are supposed 4o belong to thesraee of
Baraforas, and are said to have some analogy in dialect and
■phy^optOMy with the Idaan or Dayaks of Borneo) -generally
referred, as we shall remark, to that much spoken of but
little known people.
' Jj5. The Archipelago of'Sooloo is formed by a great number
of islands subject to the Malayan sultan. The sultan of
Sooloo governs also-the groupe of Gayagan, a great part of
Paragoa, and the northern land-of Borneo. The people of
Sooloo are chiefly bands of Malayan pirates, who infest the
neighbouring shores and seas.# ;
The Philippine Islands were discovered by Magellan in the
first voyage that was made round the.world. They were- at
first called the Archipelago of St. Lazarus. This was in
1520. In 1565 a Spanish colony was formed under the
command of Lopez de Legaspi, and the islands were named
after Philip It. of Spain. A bull of the pope which gave
possession of this region to the kings of Spain obliged them
* Dumont d’Urville, Voyage'Pittoresque; Baîtii, Âbrégé de Géographie,
p .1260.