Discovery, Conquest, and Early History of the Philippine Islands

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A. H. CLark Company, 1907 - 87 pages
 

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Page 68 - Of the commerce with China it is not necessary to speak at length, as a full account of it is given in Morga. It was entirely in the hands of the Chinese and Mestizos and brought to Manila oriental textiles of all kinds, objects of art, jewelry, metal work and metals, nails, grain, preserves, fruit, pork, fowls, domestic animals, pets, " and a thousand other gewgaws and ornaments of little cost and price which are valued among the Spaniards.
Page 72 - Philippines, with all its vices, follies, and illiberalities; and the present condition of these islands affords an unquestionable proof of the fact. Almost every other country of the Archipelago is, at this day, in point of wealth, power, and civilization, in a worse state than when Europeans connected themselves with them three centuries back. The Philippines alone have improved in civilization, wealth, and populousness. When discovered most of the tribes were a race of half-naked savages, inferior...
Page 45 - In strictest truth the affairs of the faith have taken a good footing, as the people have a good disposition and genius, and they have seen the errors of their paganism and the truths of the Christian religion; they have got good churches and monasteries of wood, well constructed, with shrines and brilliant ornaments, and all the things required for the service, crosses, candlesticks, chalices of gold and silver, many brotherhoods and religious acts, assiduity in the sacraments and being present...
Page 73 - Generally speaking, I found a kind and generous urbanity prevailing, — friendly intercourse where that intercourse had been sought, — the lines of demarcation and separation between ranks and classes less marked and impassable than in most Oriental countries. I have seen at the same table Spaniard, mestizo and Indian — priest, civilian and soldier. No doubt a common religion forms a common bond...
Page 41 - Of little avail would have been the valor and constancy with which Legaspi and his worthy companions overcame the natives of the Islands if the apostolic zeal of the missionaries had not seconded their exertions and aided to consolidate the enterprise. The latter were the real...
Page 78 - Intellectual apathy, one would naturally suppose, must be the consequence of such sedulous oversight, and intellectual progress impossible. Progress in scientific knowledge was, indeed, quite effectually blocked. The French astronomer Le Gentil gives an interesting account of the conditions of scientific knowledge at the two Universities in Manila. These institutions seemed to be the last refuge of the scholastic ideas and methods that had been discarded in Europe. A Spanish engineer frankly confessed...
Page 52 - ... judgment was impending, when everyone, even the poorest Indian, might in perfect security bring forward his accusation. In the Philippines the residencia for a governor lasted six months and was conducted by his successor and all the charges made were forwarded to Spain. . . . The Italian traveller Gemelli Careri who visited Manila in 1696 characterizes the governor's residencia as a "dreadful Trial", the strain of which would sometimes "break their hearts.
Page 51 - Cuando se pusieren edictos, publicaren, y pregonaren las residencias, sea de forma que vengan a noticia de los Indios, para que puedan pedir justicia de sus agravios con entera libertad.
Page 69 - No. 2, Washington, 1901. p. 259), who contradicts this view. The cocoanut-palm is doubtless indigenous in America. 'The following notice is interesting in this respect: "Grau y Monfalcon in 1637 reported that there were 14,000 people employed in Mexico in manufacturing the raw silk imported from China. This industry might be promoted by the relaxation of the restrictions on trade. It would also be for the advantage of the Indians of Peru to be able to buy for five pence a yard linen from the Philippines,...
Page 51 - Audience was established reference has been made was an institution peculiar in modern times to the Spanish colonial system. It was designed to provide a method by which officials could be held to strict accountability for all acts during their term of office.

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