This book has been prepared at the suggestion of the
educational authorities for pupils in the public high schools of the
Philippines, as an introduction to the history of their country. Its
preparation occupied about two years, while the author was busily
engaged in other duties,—much of it being written while he was
traveling or exploring in different parts of the Archipelago. No
pretensions are made to an exhaustive character for the book. For the
writer, as well as for the pupil for whom it is intended, it is an
introduction into the study of the history of Malaysia.
Considerable difficulty has been experienced in securing the
necessary historical sources, but it is believed that the principal
ones have been read. The author is greatly indebted to the Honorable
Dr. Pardo de Tavera for the use of rare volumes from his library, and
he wishes to acknowledge also the kindness of Mr. Manuel Yriarte, Chief
of the Bureau of Archives, for permission to examine public documents.
The occasional reprints of the old Philippine histories have, however,
been used more frequently than the original editions. The splendid
series of reprinted works on the Philippines, promised by Miss Blair
and Mr. Robertson, was not begun in time to be used in the preparation
of this book. The appearance of this series will make easy a path which
the present writer has found comparatively difficult, and will open the
way for an incomparably better History of the Philippines than has ever
yet been made.
The drawings of ethnographic subjects, which partly illustrate this
book, were made from objects in the Philippine Museum by Mr. Anselmo
Espiritu, a teacher in the public schools of Manila. They are very
accurate.
Above every one else, in writing this book, the author is under
obligations to his wife, without whose constant help and encouragement
it could not have been written.
David P. Barrows.
Manila, Philippine Islands,
March 1st, 1903.
