rulers in Manila had been acting for half a century we can see why these things were so.

Manila and the Provinces.-In spite of all the bad government from which the Philippines suffered at this time, the country prospered. The rulers and people of Manila have been accustomed to think that city all-important. Manila is more important to the Philippines than many capitals are to their country. It is the only large commercial city in the Islands. But most of the people in the Philippines live and die without ever seeing Manila. Most of the wealth of the Philippines was won from her fields and forests by the farmers. They knew little of their rulers in the capital, and most of their rulers knew little of them. Two hundred years ago there were no steamers or railroads. Many of the Islands saw no Spaniards, except once a year. Then the tax collector came, took his piece of cloth, or the peso of tribute, and departed. For another year all lived in the country villages very much as they used to live before the Spaniards came to the Philippines. There was less war between the villages. There was less practice of the old religion. Still, the Filipinos of the barrios were governed by their headmen, and saw little of their Spanish rulers.

The "Laws of the Indies."-The "Laws of the Indies " were made for the natives of Mexico and the West Indies by Spain. After this, when the Spaniards conquered the Philippines, they gave them these same laws. But the customs of the Filipinos

were different from those of the Mexicans, so the laws of the Indies were not always good for this land. Therefore the Filipinos were allowed to use their old laws and customs when these were not contrary to Christianity. So they continued to govern themselves in all small matters. There are more Filipinos to-day ruled by ancient Filipino laws and customs than there were when Legazpi settled the Islands.

Most of the Filipinos were little influenced by their rulers compared with those who lived in Manila. Therefore much of the growth and prosperity of the Philippines must have come from the industry and intelligence of the Filipinos themselves.

What the Filipinos Did.-In spite of war and bad government the Filipinos multiplied. They broadened their fields. They increased their herds of cattle and horses. They sent their children to the primary schools that the friars established from early times. They were taught many useful things by the friars. Had they been bad pupils they would not have learned these lessons. But the Filipinos learned as rapidly and as well as any primitive people could learn from such teachers as the Spaniards. The American Indian refused to accept the teachings of civilization. The Hawaiian Islanders are dying out, although every advantage has been offered them. But most of the Filipinos have accepted civilization. The pupil who learns deserves praise as much as his teacher. To the Filipinos belongs great credit for

the steady growth of the country in population, wealth, and civilization. It was their loyalty that enabled Spain to hold the Islands. They built ships for the trade and wars of their conquerors. They fought by their side against the Chinese, the Dutch, the English, and against rebellious Filipinos. The Philippines grew greater and richer by their efforts.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS.

1. What kind of a man was Cruzat?

2. What was the purpose of the "Ordinances of Good Government"?

3. What abuse existed in the tax system?

4. Why was it difficult for the natives to get justice? 5. Why were the farmers not more ambitious?

6. Why was intercourse between the Christians and the wild tribes forbidden?

7. What was the state of the prisons?

8. Why have the rulers considered Manila so important? 9. Find out what part of all Filipinos live in Manila. 10. How were the Filipinos in country districts governed? 11. Compare the Filipinos with the American Indians as regards their acceptance of civilization.

12. How did the Filipinos help Spain?

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE BRITISH INVASION AND ITS RESULTS.

The Mysterious Fleet. In the year 1762 Archbishop Rojo was acting governor of the Philippines. He was a good man, but not fitted for the great trials that were to come upon the Philippines. For nearly one hundred years Manila had not been threatened by a foreign fleet. There was a small garrison, and no readiness for the attack of a powerful enemy.

He

One day in September, 1762, thirteen large ships anchored in Manila Bay. No one knew of what nation they were, or why they had come. An official was sent out to them to make inquiries. came back with the startling news that the ships were British, and that they demanded the surrender of Manila. Eight months before the British fleet sailed into Manila Bay England had declared war on Spain. To-day news of such an event is flashed over the telegraph wires around the world in a few minutes. At that time sometimes one ship and sometimes none in a year brought tidings of Europe. Some Armenian merchants had told the archbishopgovernor that the British in India were preparing a