Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/493

 OF THE ARCHIPELAGO* 4i9 der the mask, or under the delusion, of benefit- ing the natives. The Spaniards permitted to their countrymen a perfect freedom of coloniza- tion, and the unappropriated lands were freely dis- tributed among them. They have mixed with the native inhabitants, and lived familiarly with them. The consequence has been, that, through the me- dium of religious or other instruction, and general communication, the influence of the genius and manners of Europe has been felt by the native races, and produced corresponding benefits. We can be at no loss to see to what circum- stance in their situation the Philippines owe the superiority of the policy pursued in regard to them. Fortunately for them, they happened to produce none of the commodities for which the avarice of Europeans was in search. They produced neither the rich spiceries of the more western islands, nor the fine manufactures of the continental nations ; and were, therefore, saved from the usual depre- dation upon industry. The Philippines, as is well known, were discover- ed by the illustrious, but unfortunate Magellan, in the course oi the first circumnavigation of the globe, in the year 1521, ten years after the conquest of Ma- lacca by the Portuguese. It was the search for spices which led to the accomplishment of the circumna- vigation of the globe, and the discovery of the Philippines, as well as to the more splendid achieve- VOL. II. Ff