sland numbered 417,543
in 1876; 518,032 in 1888; 595,726 in 1896; and 653,727 in 1903.

In March, 1899, an American armed force was detailed from Cebu City
to _Bojol Island_ to demand the surrender of the native provincial
government established there since the Spanish evacuation. Interpreters
from Cebu were sent ashore, and after hearing their explanation of the
Americans demands the native president in council resolved to yield
peacefully. A volunteer regiment was then sent ashore, positions were
occupied, and all went smoothly on the surface until the Islanders'
powers of endurance were exhausted after 22 months of alleged harsh
treatment imposed upon them by the troops. In January, 1901, the cry
of rebellion was raised by one Pedro Sanson, whose band of Bojolanos,
augmented by levies from Leyte, Samar, and Panay Islands numbered
about 2,000. Expeditions were sent out against them, and the lukewarm
sympathy of the Islanders was turned to general indignation against the
Americans by the alleged wanton destruction of a whole town by fire, by
order of a captain of volunteers. Practically the whole Island became
covertly anti-American. Having finished his campaign in Cebu Island in
October, 1901, General Hughes carried his troops over to Bojol Island,
where measures of repression were adopted similar to those which had
been so effective in reducing the Cebuanos to submission. A large
number of small towns and villages within the range of military
operations were entirely destroyed. The once pretty little town
of Lauang was left a complete ruin, and many landmarks of a former
progressive civilization have disappeared for ever. Nevertheless, the
insurgents refused to yield until a decree was issued to the effect
that if the leaders did not surrender by December 27 the invaders
would burn down the town of Tagbilaran. In this town, formerly the
seat of the native provincial government, Pedro Sanson and most of his
officers had all their property and worldly possessions; and in view
of the beggary which awaited them if they held out any longer, they
accepted terms of peace from Pantaleon E. del Rosario, who went up to
the mountains and acted as negotiator between General Hughes and the
insurgent chiefs who finally surrendered. The Filipino, Aniceto Clarin,
appointed provincial governor on April 20, 1901, continued in office;
Pedro Sanson quietly resumed his occupation of dealer in hemp, etc.,
and thenceforth peace and pov