THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 1493-1898 The PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 1493-1898 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and their Peoples, their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as related in contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, showing the Political, Eco- nomic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of those Islands from their earliest relations with European Nations to the close of the Nineteenth Century TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINALS Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, with historical intro- duction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne. With maps, portraits and other illustrations Volume LI—1801-1840 The Arthur H. Clark Company Cleveland, Ohio MCMVII COPYRIGHT I907 THE ARTHUR H. CLARK COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CONTENTS OF VOLUME LI Preface n Documents of 1801-1840 Events in Filipinas, 1 801 -1840. [Com- piled from Montero y Vidal's Historic de Filipinas .] . 23 Remarks on the Phillippine Islands, 18 19- 22. "An Englishman;" Calcutta, 1828 73 Reforms needed in Filipinas. Manuel Ber- naldez Pizarro; Madrid, April 26, 1827 182 Bibliographical Data ..... 275 Appendix Representation of Filipinas in Cortes. [Compiled from various sources.] . 279 List of the archbishops of Manila, 1581- 1898. [Compiled from various sources.] 298 i r7.r<ci ; ILLUSTRATIONS Chart of China Sea and the Philippines, 1794, in The complete East India pilot, printed for Laurie & Whittle (London, 1800), ii, map 114; photographic facsimile from copy in Library of Congress. Frontispiece Plan of a portion of Manila, showing new works constructed December 15, 1770-June 15, 1771, drawn by the engineer Dionisio Kelly, 1771 photographic facsimile from MS. map (in colors) , in Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla 29 Chart of the port of San Luis, in the Marianas Islands, 1738; photographic facsimile from original manuscript by Adjutant Domingo Garrido de Malavar, in Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla . -67 Plan of the environs, and a portion of the coast and bay adjacent to the city of Manila, photographic facsimile orig- *779 (?) > from inal MS. map (in colors), in Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla 161 Plan showing outer works of Manila, drawn by the engineer Tomas Sanz; photographic fac- simile from original MS. map (in colors), in Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla . 193 PREFACE In the present volume, a brief outline of events in Filipinas during the period 1801-40 serves as a back- ground and setting for the following surveys of po- litical, social, and economic conditions in the islands during that period. Of these, one is made by an English naval officer who had visited the islands, another by a Spanish official of long experience, and a third (presented in synopsis) by a merchant famil- iar with the commerce of the Orient and the Ameri- cas. These different accounts (written at nearly the same time) furnish most valuable knowledge of the Philippines and their people, and their needs and possibilities; and at the same time they reflect the more enlightened and liberal ideas of policy and administration which had gained a foothold in Spain, and which the recent loss of her other colonies had made her more willing to put in practice in Filipinas. The leading events in Philippine history during the first four decades of the nineteenth century are briefly epitomized from Montero y Vidal's Historia de Filipinas. Governor Aguilar opposes the ap- pointment of native secular priests to the curacies, regarding them as unfit for these posts. During his term, he introduces public street-lighting, paved side- walks, and vaccination in Manila, and various other 2 1 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 51 beneficial measures; he attempts, but with little suc- cess, to check the piracies of the Moros, and is com- pelled to desist therefrom by news of the war between England and Spain, and the consequent danger to Manila. At his death (August 8, 1806) an officer named Folgueras becomes governor ad interim ; he strengthens the fortifications of Manila, and quells a revolt in Ilocos. He is succeeded (March 4, 18 10) by the new proprietary governor, Gonzalez Aguilar, who promotes cattle-raising in the provinces, quells another insurrection in Ilocos, publishes the first newspaper in Filipinas, and proclaims the Spanish constitution of 18 12. In 18 13 arrives his successor, Jose de Gardoqui, whose rule is by no means easy; for he is opposed by corrupt royal officials, and has to encounter revolts among the Indians caused by the publication of the new Spanish constitution -disturb- ances which are aggravated by the despotic acts of Fernando VII on regaining his crown (1814) . Gar- doqui prohibits the introduction and use of opium in the islands, strengthens the fortifications of Cavite, puts down banditti and smugglers, and in many other ways benefits the colony; he dies in December, 18 16, and is succeeded by Folgueras. The latter revives the Economic Society, and founds a nautical acad- emy. In 1820 occurs the first epidemic of cholera morbus, which is unfortunately accompanied by a massacre of the foreigners in Manila, executed by the credulous Indians who have been persuaded by malicious persons that the pest was caused by the foreigners having poisoned the waters. Martinez, who becomes governor on October 30, 1822, brings over a number of Spanish officers for the Filipinas regiments; this creates jealousy among the officers 3 1801-1840] PREFACE 1 who had come from America, which results in a mutiny among them and part of the troops in Manila (June, 1823) ; this is put down, and the leaders are shot. An expedition is sent against the Moros (1824), which lays waste their shores. On October 14, 1825, Martinez is replaced by Mariano Ricafort as governor; the latter is also made chief of the treasury. The parish curacies are, by a royal decree in 1826, restored to the regular orders. In 1827 the naval bureau is reestablished at Manila, under Pascual Enrile, who succeeds Rica- fort as governor in 1830. (Both these men were among the most illustrious rulers of Filipinas, on ac- count of their ability, uprightness, and zeal for the public welfare.) In 1828 the insurgent mountaineers of Bohol are finally subdued, and reduced to villages. Various royal decrees are obtained for the promotion of agriculture, manufactures, and other industries; and for obliging the Chinese to live in villages, like the Indians. Several important reforms in the ad- ministration and the social conditions of the colony are instituted by these two governors, and Enrile is especially active in building highways and providing other means of communication to bring the inland and the maritime provinces into communication with each other. In 1836, Governor Salazar has to enforce the laws forbidding the sale of firearms and powder to the enemies of Spain; he also makes a treaty of com- merce with the Joloans, which does not, however, restrain them from piracy. In 1837, he urgently re- quests the Spanish government to send more Spanish friars to the islands as parish priests. The political disturbances in Spain at this time are reflected in 4 1 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 51 Filipinas, and a strong Carlist faction oppose Gov- ernor Camba (who assumes that office in August, 1837), and finally procure his recall to Spain, little more than a year afterward. Under his successor, Lardizabal, the status of the Chinese in the islands is determined, provision is made for the official cen- sorship of books brought to Filipinas, a school of commerce is established at Manila and various im- portant changes are made in financial and municipal administration. In February, 1841, Lardizabal is succeeded by Marcelino de Oraa. In 1828 was published at Calcutta an interesting book entitled, Remarks on the Phillippine Islands, 181Q to l822 "by an Englishman "- as he states y therein, a naval officer; this is here presented, with additional annotations from various sources. It throws much light on conditions in Manila at that time, and is of especial value as coming from an enlightened foreigner, rather than a Spaniard. He praises the natural resources and advantages of the islands, and makes various comments on their climate (which " is remarkably temperate and salubrious " ) , diseases, and population; he then classifies this last, describ- ing in succession the various races, white, colored, and mixed, who inhabit the islands. He defends the natives from accusations which have been made against them, and considers their defects as the na- tural result of the oppression and injustice which they have suffered, and the general insecurity of property in the islands. Robbery and piracy prevail there, outside of the new Spanish towns; and even in Manila there are numerous acts of pillage com- mitted by the lawless soldiery. Justice is neglected or corrupted; and the Church exacts so many holi- 1801-1840] PREFACE *5 days, pilgrimages, etc., that the natives are obliged to neglect their fields, and tend to become idle and dissipated; they also are burdened by many church taxes and impositions. Our writer proceeds to de- scribe the government of the islands, general, muni- cipal, and provincial, and the abuses prevalent in the last-named; then the ecclesiastical administration, the character of the clergy, and their influence over the natives. The sources of the colonial revenue are enumerated, with the chief branches of expense, the main part of this being for the military and naval forces, both of which are mismanaged, ill-disci- plined, poorly paid, and of course very inefficient Agriculture is "yet in its infancy," as a result partly of the oppression of the natives, partly of the expul- sion of the Jesuits -who did more than any others to civilize the Indians -and partly of the restrictions on commerce, which now are less oppressive; yet the country is almost incredibly fertile.