I am persuaded to believe that the bare truth, unvarnished by flattery, will be acceptable to the majority, amongst whom may be counted all those educated Americans whose impartiality is superior to their personal interest in the subject at issue. It is therefore confidently hoped that the present Edition may merit that approval from readers of English which has been so graciously accorded to the previous ones. J. F. _September_, 1905. Table of Contents _Introduction_ _Chapter_ I _General Description of the Archipelago_ Geographical features of the Islands. Limits. Mountains. 13 Rivers. Lakes. Volcanoes. Eruptions of the Mayon and Taal Volcanoes. 14 Monsoons. Seasons. Temperature. Rains. Climate. Earthquakes. 22 _Chapter_ II _Discovery of the Archipelago_ Hernando de Maghallanes. Treaty of Tordesillas. 24 Discovery of Magellan Straits and the Ladrone Islands. 27 Death of Maghallanes. Elcano's voyage round the world. 28 The Loaisa expedition. The Villalobos expedition. Andres de Urdaneta. 31 Miguel de Legaspi; his expedition; he reaches Cebu; dethrones King Tupas. 33 Manila is proclaimed the capital of the Archipelago. 36 Martin de Goiti. Juan Salcedo. Native Local Government initiated. 37 _Chapter_ III _Philippine Dependencies, Up To 1898_ The Ladrone, Caroline, and Pelew Islands. 39 First mission to the Ladrone Islands. Pelew Islanders. Caroline Islanders. 40 Spain's possession of the Caroline Islands disputed by Germany. 44 Posadillo, Governor of the Caroline Islands, is murdered. 45 The Ladrone, Caroline, and Pelew Islands (except Guam) sold to Germany. 46 _Chapter_ IV _Attempted Conquest by Chinese_ Li-ma-hong, a Chinese corsair, attacks Manila. 47 He settles in Pangasinan; evacuates the Islands. 49 Rivalry of lay and Monastic authorities. Philip II.'s decree of Reforms. 51 Manila Cathedral founded. Mendicant friars. Archbishopric created. 55 Supreme Court suppressed and re-established. Church and State contentions. 57 Murder of Gov.-General Bustamente Bustillo. The monks in open riot. 60 _Chapter_ V _Early Relations with Japan_ _The Catholic Missions_ The Emperor of Japan demands the surrender of the Islands. 63 Fray Pedro Bautista's mission; he and 25 others are crucified. 65 Jesuit and Franciscan jealousy. The martyrs' mortal remains lost at sea. 67 Emperor Taycosama explains his policy. Further missions and executions. 68 Missionary martyrs declared saints. Emperor of Japan sends a shipment of lepers. 70 Spaniards expelled from Formosa by the Dutch. Missions to Japan abandoned. 71 _Chapter_ VI _Conflicts with the Dutch_