re," replied he; "mind, you have to do with more than
rough fellows: do not therefore expose your life, and should they
perchance make any resistance, give them no quarter, but fire on them."

A few minutes afterwards, accompanied by my faithful lieutenant and
one soldier, I crossed over the lake, and went in the direction
where I thought that the French sailors had taken refuge. I was
soon on their track; and on the second day afterwards I fulfilled
the promise I had made Commander Laplace, and delivered up to him
his five deserters against whom I had been obliged to employ neither
violence nor fire-arms.

I have already had the occasion of speaking about the Tagalocs, and
describing their disposition. However, I have not yet entered into
the necessary details to make well known a population so submissive
to the Spaniards, and whose primitive origin never can be anything
but hypothesis--yea, a true problem.

It is probable, and almost incontestible, that the Philippine Islands
were primitively peopled by aborigines, a small race of negroes still
inhabiting the interior of the forests in pretty large numbers, called
Ajetas by the Tagalocs, and Negritos by the Spaniards. Doubtless
at a very distant period the Malays invaded the shores, and drove
the indigenous population into the interior beyond the mountains;
afterwards, whether by accidents on sea, or desirous of availing
themselves of the richness of the soil, they were joined by the
Chinese, the Japanese, the inhabitants of the archipelago of the
South Seas, the Javanese, and even the Indians. It must not, then,
be wondered at, that from the mixture proceeding from the union of
these various people, all of unequal physiognomy, there have risen
the different nuances, distinctions and types; upon which, however,
is generally depicted Malay physiognomy and cruelty.

The Tagal is well made, rather tall than otherwise. His hair is long,
his beard thin, his colour brass-like, yet sometimes inclining to
European whiteness; his eye expanded and vivacious, somewhat a la
Chinoise; nose large; and, true to the Malay race, his cheek bones are
high and prominent. He is passionately fond of dancing and music; is,
when in love, very loving; cruel towards his enemies; never forgives an
act of injustice, and ever avenges it with his poignard, which--like
the kris with the Malays--is his favourite weapon. Whenever he has
pledged his word in serious business, it is sacred; he gives