History of the Philippine Islands (Vol. 1&2). Joaquín Martínez De Zúñiga
his matter in a style more monastic than flowing; at the same time that he seems to be generally under the influence of that bias, which an early seclusion from life entails upon the mind, and upon which even his official opportunities of intercourse with the best society in Manila seem to have had a very limited effect. The translator has found him too often occupying his pages with contentions between the respective religious orders, insignificant in their nature even to a Spaniard, and so much more so to the English reader, that he has taken the liberty of altogether omitting them in the translation, except where connected with the political affairs of the settlement; and although by these means several of the chapters are reduced to almost nominal importance; yet considering the division of the subject in this form as adopted on fair grounds by the author, he hopes he will be deemed justifiable in retaining it even with the sacrifice of something of appearance.
Having said as much as he hopes can be urged against the original production, the translator willingly advocates Zuñiga's cause in respect to its intrinsic value, as giving to the public the only correct view of this interesting settlement, purporting to be brought down to the peace of 1763; but in fact, as we may reasonably conclude, extended to the period of publication at Manila in 1803. From information which may be fully relied on, it appears that Zuñiga may, with more propriety, be deemed the editor than the author, as he was in Manila, and superintended the publication in 1803; with the credit of having only arranged for the press the papers of a deceased collector; a conclusion justified by the circumstance of the work closing with the peace of 1763, for there could not be any very solid reason for his declining an account of the forty years intervening between that event and the period of publication, had he himself been the author. If, however, we are by these means without a detail of the actual events which took place, it is probable we may have less cause for regret on account of the very limited progress which we well know improvement, or even amelioration, have been suffered to make under the Spanish monarchy during the period in question. At any rate, we have grounds for supposing that if any alteration, favourable or unfavourable, has taken place, Zuñiga has contrived to weave it into the work; for it is asserted by those whose residence renders them competent judges, that the view he gives of the settlement is correct to the latest period.
The origin and language of these islanders have engaged the attention of our ablest orientalists. From certain similar characteristics in the persons of the inhabitants of the interior, or aborigines of the islands, they have hitherto had an African origin assigned to them; and nearly from the same source (Madagascar), it has been supposed that the Malay population has flowed, which has in a great measure inundated the Archipelago, as well as some parts of the continental coasts.
Similarity, or even approximation of language and manners unquestionably offer great facilities in enquiries of this nature, and they have accordingly been resorted to by all our oriental physiologists in their researches respecting the eastern Archipelago; and so far as regards the Malays and Malayan language, these researches have been attended with corresponding success; but in respect to the aboriginal language, or Tagalic, very slight attempts have been made to trace it beyond the quarter in which it was found to prevail. Our author has not failed to enter into the discussion, and from the premises he lays down, not unreasonably, draws the conclusion that the Tagalic language and original population of all the islands westward of the coast of South America derive from that continent.
It is certainly consonant to reason to presume that the aborigines, or mountaineers of the interior of these islands, in their primitive state, were more likely to change their residence (if intentionally) by committing themselves to a favourable breeze blowing pretty constantly in one direction from the eastward; or if in consequence of misfortune, by finding their efforts unavailing to encounter an adverse wind, and again reach their own coasts; than to suppose even with all the aid the monsoons could afford them in an erratic navigation from Africa through the Indian ocean to the Archipelago, that they should diffuse themselves from that point in every direction over the South Sea, in the face of an almost constant current of wind, blowing occasionally with extreme violence.
The Malay population most probably had its origin as stated. The superior acquirements of that nation doubtless might enable them to encounter those difficulties which have been mentioned, and either by their extensive conquests, or acknowledged commercial activity, to induce their language to be received as the general medium of intercourse. On the subject of this language, and its different dialects in these islands, some variety of opinion may be fairly allowed to prevail; and Sir W. Jones, Dr. Wilkins, Mr. Marsden, Mr. Raffles, and other authorities, may not be decided as to its source; but it is generally allowed that the language spoken by the Papuans, Samangs, and Negritos of the Philippines, and adjacent islands, is totally different from the Malayan; and as Mr. Marsden expresses himself, “presents a subject of research as curious as it is obscure.”
This latter gentleman, in the ingenious introduction to his valuable grammar of the Malayan language, says, that the large islands of this archipelago have their own peculiar language spoken by the inhabitants of the interior, while the Malayan is generally used in the districts bordering on the coasts, at the mouths and on the banks of navigable rivers, and has thence acquired the appellation of the Lingua Franca of the east. The antiquity of this insular or original language, we are, he says, without the means of ascertaining; but he well supports its stability by the strong proof he adduces of Pigafetta's Vocabulary of the Tidore language, in 1521, differing in no respect from that of the present day. Mr. Marsden seems to conclude that the Malay population of this archipelago has its root in Sumatra, the inhabitants of which island claim immediate descent from some of the companions of Noah, landed there from the ark; and both Mr. Marsden, and Mr. Raffles, the present Governor of Java, assert, that the language spoken in Sumatra differs in no material respect from that spoken in the Malayan peninsula.
Upon any occasion where additional light could be thrown upon the subject of these islands, the translator has not scrupled to avail himself of the best authorities for that purpose. The Voyage de Sonnerat aux Indes orientales et a la Chine, edited and enlarged by Sonnini, has been of great service in this respect, as containing the most authentic information which was possible to be procured by a foreigner, aided by every facility which the influence of the court of France over that of Madrid could furnish, and entering upon the undertaking with the express intention of seconding the views of France on the colonial establishments of her European neighbours.
The translator hopes that, on the whole, the notes and extracts will not be found unimportant or useless.
On the subject of the map of the Philippines, accompanying this work, the translator trusts he will be excused expressing the gratification he feels in presenting it to the world as the only correct delineation of these islands in existence. A collection of the existing authorities he found answered no purpose, as being at variance not only with each other, but still more with the unpublished manuscript, and other authentic information he derived from the most competent private sources. To John Barrow, Esq. second Secretary, and Captain Hurd, Hydrographer to the Admiralty, he feels greatly indebted for the communications they favoured him with, and for amenity and politeness which accompanied them. To the first eastern scholar in this country, probably in Europe, Dr. Wilkins, Librarian to the East India Company, he owes more obligations than he can express. He takes this opportunity of expressing his gratitude for the kind assistance afforded by Captain Horsburgh, Hydrographer to the East India Company, who has had full opportunity, for the exercise of his practical and theoretical acquirements as a navigator in the eastern Archipelago, and who surveyed the western coasts of these islands, and in particular the northern extremity of the island of Luzon; to him he owes the correction of many errors, in respect to latitude and longitude, which disgrace the existing charts; and to him likewise the map is indebted, for a more perfect delineation of the coasts, and for the disappearance of certain dangerous rocks which he has ascertained to have no existence. From these sources, aided by the suggestions of commanders in the India service, in regard to the nautical part, and from John Guise, Esq. of Baker-street, whose residence of nine years in Manila afforded him ample means of information respecting the interior of Luzon, the map, it is presumed, may be deemed the most correct extant. To this latter gentleman he has to acknowledge further obligations on the score of the general information he has kindly furnished. To his friend, John Jackson, Esq. whose literary attainments do him so much honour, the translator