The leading mercantile houses are English and Amer- ican. British and American merchants enjoy the lar- gest share of the business, the exports to Great Britain being upwards of £1,500,000 sterling yearly, and the imports thence nearly of the same value. There are seven British houses established at Manilla, and one at Iloilo, in the populous and productive island of Panay, which is the centre of an increasing trade. The total exports and imports of the Philippine Islands have a
PHILIPPICS
100
PHILIPPS
value of about £0,000,000 yearly. The t Jbinese exercise various trades and callings, remaining only for a time. and never bringing their wives with them. The prin- cipal languages are the Tagalese and Bisayan. Rice, sweet potatoes, Gsh, flesh, and fruits form the food of the Tagals and Bisayans, who usually <lriuk only water. though sometimes indulging in cocoa-wine. Tobacco is used by all. They are gentle, hospitable, fond of dancing and cock-fighting. Education is Tar behind; it is similar to what it was iii Europe during the Middle
Ages. Ii is entirely under tlie control of the Romish
priesthood, who are governed by an archbishop (of Ma- nilla), and the bishops of New Segovia, Nueva Caceres, and Zebu. Religious processions are the pride of the people, and are formed with great parade, thousands of persons carrying wax-candles, etc.
I be Sooloo Inlands have a population of 150,000; are governed by a sultan, whose capital is Sung, in 6 V X. lat., and L20 55' 51" E. long., who also rules over the greatest part of Paragoa, the northern corner only being subject to Spain. Luzon has a population of J. .'pi in. nun, one tilth part being independent; the Risaya Islands, 2,000,000, of whom three fourths are under Spanish rule. The population of Panay amounts to 750,000, and thai of Zebu to 150,000. Of the numbers in Mindanao nothing is known ; the districts of Zambo- anga, Misamis, and Caragan, with 100,000 inhabitants, being all that is subject to Spain. The greater part (>f the island is under the sultan of Mindanao, resident at Selanga, in 7 9' X. hit., ami 124 38' E. long., who, with his feudatory chiefs, can bring together an army ol 100,000 men. lie is on friendly terms with the Span- iards. Besides Manilla, there are very many large and important cities, especially in Luzon. Panay, and Zebu. The ureal centres of trade are Manilla, in Luzon, and lloilo, in Panay. The Philippine Islands wen' discov- ered in 1521 by Magellan, who, after visiting Mindanao, sailed to Zebu, where, taking part with the king in a war. he was wounded, and died at Mactau April 26, 1521. So years later the Spanish court sent /in ex- pedition under Yillabus. who named the islands in honor of the prince of Asturias, afterwards Philip II. For some lime the chief Spanish settlement was on /elm; but in 1581 Manilla was built, and has since continued to he the seat of government. — Chambers. See Sem- per, /"'< PhUippinen u.ihre liewohner (Wiir/.b. lsr,!h: and his lleinvn 'mi .1 rrhipel der PhUippinen (Leips. 1867 7:;. 8 \ois. nviii; Earl, Papuans, ch. vii ; Academy, Aug. 15, 1873, p. 311.
Philippins, a small Russian sect, so called from the founder, Philip Pustosu iat, under whose leadership they emigrated from Russia to Livonia near the beginning of the 18th century, are a branch of the Raskolniks (q. v.). They call themselves Slarowerski, or "Old- I .-lit ) i Men," because they cling with the utmost tenacity to the old service-books, the old version of the Bible, and the old hymn and prayer books of the Russo-Greek Church, in the exact form in which those books stood
" revision which they underwent at the hands of l he patriarch Nikon (q. v. i near the middle of the 17th century. There are two classes of the Raskolniks— one which recognises popes (or priests); the other, which
admits „0 priest or oiler .lineal functionary. The Philippins are of the latter class; and they not only
themselves refuse all priestly ministrations, but thej re- gard all such ministrations baptism, marriage, sacra- ments as invalid ; and thev rel..tpli/e all who join their
sect from other Russian communities. All then own ministerial offices arc discharged by the Starik, or parish elder, who lor the time takes the title of pope, and is re- quired to observe celibacy. Bui the preaching is per- mitted to any one who feels himself "called bj the spirit" to undertake it. Among the Philippins the spirit of fanaticism at tines has run to the wildest excesses.
They refuse oaths, and decline to enter mililai )
and it was on this account and like in< ipatihilit iea
that tin j w, re forced to emigrate, under the leadc rship
of Philip Piistnswiiit, •• the saint of tin- I ir-i rt." They are now settled partly in Polish Lithuania, partly in
East Prussia, where they have .several small .settlements with churches of their own rite. They are reported to be a peaceable and orderly race. Their principal pursuit is agriculture; and their thrifty and industrious habits have secured for them the good-will of the land-propri- etors as wi 11 a- of the government
They are sometimes called Bruleurs, or Tuetirs, from their tendency to suicide, which they consider merito- rious, and which they accordingly court, sometimes bury- ing themselves alive, sometimes starving themselves to death. Accusations of laxity of morals have been brought against them, of renouncing marriage, and liv- ing in spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood, the truth of which has never been clearly established; for when the empress Anne (A.D. 17:m 1740) senl commissioners to inquire into the state of their monasteries, they shut themselves up. and burned theniselv is alive within their own walls, rather than give any evidence Oil the subject. See Piaton, GreehChurch (see Index). (J.H.W.)