Bisayas

Bisayas (Visayas), one of the great nations of the Philippine Archipelago, ranking in importance next to the Tagals, and occupying nearly all the central islands between Luzon and Mindanao (Samar, Ticao, Masbate, Leyte, Cebu, Bojol, Panay, Negros) and a large part of Mindanao itself. Total population nearly 3,000,000. The Bisayas, i.e. "Tattooed" (hence by the Spaniards called Pintados, or "Painted"), are an indolent people, mostly agricultural, but cultivating little more than is required for their own wants. The great majority are nominal Roman Catholics, who since their conversion have discontinued the practice of tattooing. Amongst them dwell numerous wild tribes collectively called Cimarrones, from the Spanish cima, hill-top, whence the English word Maroon. The Bisayas give their name to the province of Bisaya, one of the main administrative divisions of the Philippines. Their language, a member of the Malayo-Polynesian family, is cultivated, and was formerly written in a peculiar character of Indian origin now superseded by the Roman system.