THE (Span. Islas Filipinas), a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, belonging to the Indian Archipelago. They lie between N. Lat. 5.32 and 19.38°, E. Long. 117. and 127°, being bounded on the N. and E. by the Pacific, S. by the seas of Celebes and Soolo, and W. by the China Sea. The form of the group is triangular; and the total number of the islands, large and small, is, at the lowest estimate, 1200. Of these the largest and most important are the following:—Luzon (by far the largest of the whole), Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Zebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Masbate, Mindanao, and Palawan. The smaller Philippine islands in the centre of the group, between Luzon and Mindanao, are known by the name of the Bisayan Islands. The area of the whole group is estimated at more than 120,000 square miles. The outline of most of the islands is very irregular, as they are generally indented by arms of the sea, which stretch far into the land, and the surface of all is more or less mountainous; some of the heights being very considerable. A chain of volcanoes traverses the group, and dangerous eruptions are frequent. Among the mountains lie valleys and plains of great richness and beauty; while numerous lakes and rivers diversify the face of the land, and facilitate the internal communications. There are also extensive marshes and mosses in these islands. Their structure is throughout volcanic. Many of the mountains abound in metals. Gold is found in the sand of the rivers. Ironstone, containing a large proportion of iron, and copper of an excellent quality, are also obtained. Several of the islands contain coal, limestone, marble, and other minerals; while an almost inexhaustible supply of sulphur may be obtained from the volcanoes. The climate of the Philippines is tropical and very hot; but the heat is tempered by the continual moisture, which contributes very much to the fertility of the soil. Extending, however, as they do, over an extensive region of the earth's surface, it necessarily varies at different parts. The same alternation of seasons prevails here as in other tropical countries, the year being divided into a rainy and a dry season. The former begins with the month of May, and continues till the end of October or beginning of November. During this period the fall of rain is very great, frequently continuing twelve or fourteen days without intermission. In many places the low and marshy regions are laid under water. The northern part of Luzon is subject to the tremendous storms called typhoons, which occur between May and December; but they are seldom experienced south of 14° N. Lat. Earthquakes occur frequently, as well as volcanic eruptions; and at times they are very destructive in their effects. The soil is in generally extremely rich; and the products of the islands are numerous and varied. The mountains are covered with forests of large trees, which yield timber useful for the building of ships and houses. Sapun-wood (Cesalpinia Sapana), which produces a good red dye; the mastic tree (Pistacia Lentiscus), the cocoa and palm (Cocos nucifera), the sago palm (Sagus), the bread-fruit tree (Artocarpus incisa), the banana (Musa sapientum), and other trees valuable for their fruits or other productions, grow in the islands with more or less cultivation. Among the crops raised, the most important is rice, which furnishes the chief article of food to the inhabitants. It is grown in large quantities for exportation, as well as for home use; and the marshy nature of a great part of the soil is not unfavourable to its growth. The sugar-cane is grown to a large and increasing extent, and the sugar is of an excellent quality; tobacco, coffee, hemp, cotton, indigo, pepper, cloves, and cassia, as well as maize, wheat, yams, sweet potatoes, and various fruits, are cultivated. Among the animals, one of the most important is the buffalo, which is found in a wild state, and is domesticated and used for ploughing, and as a beast of burden. A breed of small but hardy horses has been introduced by the Spaniards: they are only used for riding. A small number of sheep, numerous goats, pigs, ducks, and other tame fowls, are also reared. The only rapacious animal is the crocodile, which is found in most of the rivers and lakes. Fish are numerous on the coasts; and pearl oysters are obtained in large quantities. The forests and jungles are filled with many species of wild birds,—such as eagles, herons, creepers, and parrots; and the swallow which makes the edible nests used by the Chinese, haunts these islands. Monkeys, wild cats, and small foxes are among the quad- Philippines rupeds of the Philippines. The natives of the islands belong to several tribes, differing considerably from each other. The mountains are occupied by the Negritos, a diminutive Papuan race, who are said to have originally possessed the whole of the islands, but have been displaced and driven to the mountains by the Malays from the adjacent countries. These latter are now the predominant population of the Philippines. They consist chiefly of two classes—the Tagals in Luzon, and the Bisayans in the other islands. Each of these speak a different language; and there are also several subordinate dialects. These people have for the most part acknowledged the supremacy of the Spaniards, and adopted the Roman Catholic religion, while the inhabitants of the mountains preserve their independence. Besides these races, the islands contain a comparatively small number of Spaniards; of Mestizos, or half-castes, who are largely engaged in commerce; and a considerable number of Chinese, who have recently settled here. The manufactures are not very numerous or important. Various textile fabrics, from the coarsest to the finest materials, are woven by the women; straw hats and cordage are made; and the building of ships and canoes is carried on. The manufacture of cigars and cheroots, for which the islands are famous, is a government monopoly, and at Manila employs a large number of hands. Commerce is extensively and actively carried on here, although neither encouraged by the Spanish government, nor promoted by Spanish enterprise. Indeed, were it not for the cheapness and excellence of the produce, and the advantageous situation of these colonies, the prohibitions and restraints imposed by the mother country would have quite checked the commercial development of the Philippines. The principal articles exported are sugar, tobacco, cigars, indigo, hemp, coffee, dyewoods, hides, and gold dust; while cotton, woollen, and silk stuffs, agricultural instruments, clocks, watches, jewellery, &c., are imported. The trade is chiefly in the hands of British houses; and in 1856 the value of the imports from Great Britain amounted to L1,575,000, and that of the exports to L1,370,000. Next to Great Britain, the United States have the largest trade with the Philippines; and there are commercial relations with France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, China, the Sandwich Islands, and Chile. The entire amount of the trade export and import of the islands is estimated at L5,700,000, of which L3,000,000 belong to Great Britain and its dependencies, and L1,000,000 to the United States. The supreme authority, civil and military, is in the hands of a governor-general, appointed by the crown, who resides at Manila, the capital. He is commander-in-chief of the forces, and president of the supreme court of law, and is assisted by a ministry. The islands are divided into provinces, each under a governor appointed by the crown; and these again into pueblos or townships, with mayors elected by the people. The revenue is made up by the monopoly of cigars, a poll tax on the people, and duties on exports and imports. The dominions of the governor-general of the Philippines include also the Bashee and Babuyan islands, to the north of Luzon, and the Ladrones, which lie a long distance to the west. The entire population of the group is estimated at 5,000,000.

These islands were discovered in 1521 by Magallanes, who named them the Archipelago of St Lazarus. In 1565 they were taken possession of by a fleet which was despatched from Mexico, in consequence of orders from Philip II. of Spain, and first stopped at the island of Zebu, which was soon wholly subdued. In 1570 a fleet sailed from the island of Panay for Luzon, and after several engagements with the princes of the country, effected a settlement on the Bay of Manila. In 1571 the Spanish admiral took possession of the town of Manila, which he constituted the capital of the Spanish possessions in the Philippines (so named after Philip II.), and proceeded in his reduction of the island under the Spanish authority. Towards the conclusion of the sixteenth century a considerable trade was openly carried on with Japan; and many rich cargoes were brought from that country to Manila, which had now become an emporium of the trade with China, Java, the coast of Coromandel, and Mexico. In 1590 the island of Sooloo was attacked by the Spaniards, but they were repulsed with great slaughter by the natives; nor could the Spanish maritime force make any impression on the Sooloo pirates, who continued for nearly three centuries the scourge of these seas. In 1762 Manila was attacked by the British under Admiral Cornwallis and General Draper, and the place was stormed on the 5th of October. A capitulation was agreed upon next day, when, in order to redeem the city from general plunder, a ransom was agreed upon of one million sterling. Manila was restored to the Spaniards at the peace of 1763, and has ever since remained in their possession. Besides Manila and the larger establishments in Luzon, the Spaniards have many smaller settlements scattered over the islands to the southward; but they were long unable to protect them against the attacks of the pirates who infest these seas. In 1851, however, the governor-general sent an expedition against the Sooloo islands with a view to putting a stop to these attacks. In this he proved successful, having destroyed the power of the Sultan of Sooloo, and formed a settlement in the principal island.