PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, or MANILLAS, a large group of islands, lying south-east from China, and north of what has been termed the Eastern Archipelago, are situated between 5° and 20° north latitude, and 114° and 126° east longitude. They are extremely numerous, amount ing to about twelve hundred, of which four hundred are of considerable extent and importance. They were first discovered by Magellan,* who took possession of them in the name of the King of Sp:tin, and, as he landed on them on the anniversary of St. Lazarus, denominated them the Islands of St. Lazarus, in honour of that Saint. This appellation they retained for little more than half a cen tury, as in 1564, in the reign of Philip 11., a Spanish fleet having been sent out to make a conquest of them, they were named the Philippine Islands, after that monarch. The Manillas is a term which has also been long applied to them, and which Pinkerton regards as the most popular and correct. They have also been denominated the Bisayas or Islas de Pintados or Painted Islands, the inhabitants having been accustomed to paint their bodies before the arrival of the Spaniards. The name, in honour of Philip, however, is that by which they are now generally desig nated.
Of these islands the largest is Manilla, or Luzon, being abort five hundred British miles in length, by a medium breadth of 100. A chain of mountains extends towards the east, the whole length of the island ; it is traversed by many beautiful rivers, and is distinguished by a vast number of lakes, some of them large, particularly that from which the river Manilla takes its rise. The physical appearance is thus considerably diversified, and it is characterized by the most luxuriant fertility, and with due cultivation might soon become one of the most valuable islands connected with this part of the world.—" Manilla, the capital of this island, as well as of all the Spanish settlements in the Philippines, is," to use the words of an acute writer, " a tolerably large city. It is well built, the houses are hand some, and there are magnificent churches. It is a fortified city, situated in a most advantageous position, on the banks of a considerable river, which washes its walls, and whose divided branches completely traverse the island of Luzon. The entrance of the river is shut by a bar, which becomes dangerous when the sea is rough. There was a plan of no great labour to have, instead of the bar, a commodious basin, which would have been perfectly calm and safe. They began it, but, soon fatigued, they abandoned the de sign !" Small vessels only can come up to the town ; and Cavite, nine miles distant, at the mouth of the river, is regarded as Se° port of Manilla. The town has fre
quently been visited by earthquakes, which have proved very destructive. The number of inhabitants is above 30,000. The other chief towns of this island are, Caceres, New Segovia, Bondo, Passacao.—Of Magindanao, or Min danao, which is next to Manilla in size and importance, an account has already been given, (Vide MAGINDANA00 and it need here merely be mentioned, that the capital, which is of the same name as the island, and is neither large nor celebrated, is situated on the eastern coast,— and that the Spaniards, though masters of but a small por tion of it, have succeeded in planting several colonies on it, the chief of which is Sambuang on the south-east.— Palawan, 180 miles in length by about 30 in breadth, is the most westerly of the Philippine islands, and the largest of the group termed Calamianes. The Spaniards, though they have made several attempts, have not yet been able to make a conquest of this island. They have, however, succeeded in establishing a garrison on the nort-east end of it, at a place called Tatay. The king of Borneo pos sesses very extensive settlements on it, while the natives, now comparatively few in number, can hardly be said to enjoy any fixed abode, their situation being determined by the movements and operations of their invaders.—Sooloo, which lies nearly in a straight line between Mindanao and Borneo, is about thirty-six miles long and twelve broad. It is chiefly remarkable for its populousness, containing about 60,000 souls,—a number accounted for, from the advantageous situation of the island, which renders it, in some respects, the emporium of the commerce of the adjacent islands. The inhabitants are Mahometans, and are distinguished, as shall afterwards be shown, by the piratical life which they have for centuries led ; the island is governed by a Sultan, whose territories include a variety of small islands in the neighbourhood.—Of the other islands, which Nye have not time to specify more minutely, the most important are Mindoro, Pani, Buglas, Zebu, Leyte, Samar, Mactan. They are all characterized by the same features as those already described, beauty, fer tility, diversity of physical appearance, resulting from the variation of mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys, with which they are embellished. They all also present volcanic ap pearances, and most of the islands abound with lava and volcanic glass, sulphur, and hot springs; though these appearances are so trifling and minute, as not materially to diminish the beauty of the physical scenery which these islands every where present.