The Former Philippines thru Foreign Eyes | Page 3

only claim the Philippines under the
pretext that they were situated in the western hemisphere. The
demarcation line was to run from the north to the south, a hundred
leagues to the south-west of all the so-called Azores and Cape de Verde
Islands. In accordance with the treaty of Tordesillas, negotiated
between Spain and Portugal on June 7, 1494, and approved by Julius II,
in 1506, this line was drawn three hundred and seventy leagues west of
the Cape de Verde Islands.
[Faulty Spanish and Portuguese geography.] At that time Spanish and
Portuguese geographers reckoned seventeen and one-half leagues to a
degree on the equator. In the latitude of the Cape de Verde Islands,
three hundred and seventy leagues made 21° 55'. If to this we add the
longitudinal difference between the westernmost point of the group and
Cadiz, a difference of 18° 48', we get 40° 43' west, and 139° 17' east
from Cadiz (in round numbers 47° west and 133° east), as the limits of
the Spanish hemisphere. At that time, however, the existing means for
such calculations were entirely insufficient.
[Extravagant Spanish claims thru ignorance.] The latitude was
measured with imperfect astrolabes, or wooden quadrants, and
calculated from very deficient tables; the variation of the compass,
moreover, was almost unknown, as well as the use of the log. [8] Both
method and instruments were wanting for useful longitudinal
calculations. It was under these circumstances that the Spaniards
attempted, at Badajoz, to prove to the protesting Portuguese that the
eastern boundary line intersected the mouths of the Ganges, and
proceeded to lay claim to the possession of the Spice Islands.
[Spain's error in calculation.] The eastern boundary should, in reality,
have been drawn 46 1/2° further to the east, that is to say, as much

further as it is from Berlin to the coast of Labrador, or to the lesser
Altai; for, in the latitude of Calcutta 46 1/2° are equivalent to two
thousand five hundred and seventy-five nautical miles. Albo's log-book
gives the difference in longitude between the most eastern islands of
the Archipelago and Cape Fermoso (Magellan's Straits), as 106° 30',
while in reality it amounts to 159° 85'.
[Moluccan rights sold to Portugal.] The disputes between the Spaniards
and the Portuguese, occasioned by the uncertainty of the eastern
boundary--Portugal had already founded a settlement in the Spice
Islands--were set at rest by an agreement made in 1529, in which
Charles V. abandoned his pretended rights to the Moluccas in favor of
Portugal, for the sum of 350,000 ducats. The Philippines, at that time,
were of no value.
* * * * *
[Foreign mail facilities.] The distance from Manila to Hongkong is six
hundred fifty nautical miles, and the course is almost exactly south-east.
The mail steamer running between the two ports makes the trip in from
three to four days. This allows of a fortnightly postal communication
between the colony and the rest of the world. [9]
[Slight share in world commerce.] This small steamer is the only thing
to remind an observer at Hongkong, a port thronged with the ships of
all nations, that an island so specially favored in conditions and fertility
lies in such close proximity.
[Little commerce with Spain.] Although the Philippines belong to
Spain, there is but little commerce between the two countries. Once the
tie which bound them was so close that Manila was wont to celebrate
the arrival of the Spanish mail with Te Deums and bell-ringing, in
honor of the successful achievement of so stupendous a journey. Until
Portugal fell to Spain, the road round Africa to the Philippines was not
open to Spanish vessels. The condition of the overland route is
sufficiently shown by the fact that two Augustinian monks who, in
1603, were entrusted with an important message for the king, and who
chose the direct line through Goa, Turkey, and Italy, needed three years

for reaching Madrid. [10]
[Former Spanish ships mainly carried foreign goods.] The trade by
Spanish ships, which the merchants were compelled to patronize in
order to avoid paying an additional customs tax, in spite of the
protective duties for Spanish products, was almost exclusively in
foreign goods to the colony and returning the products of the latter for
foreign ports. The traffic with Spain was limited to the conveyance of
officials, priests, and their usual necessaries, such as provisions, wine
and other liquors; and, except a few French novels, some atrociously
dull books, histories of saints, and similar works.
[Manila's fine bay.] The Bay of Manila is large enough to contain the
united fleets of Europe; it has the reputation of being one of the finest
in the world. The aspect of the coast, however, to a stranger arriving, as
did the author, at the close of the dry season, falls