MANILA
745
ware, agricultural implements, saws, wheat flour, raw cotton, honey, pumps and pump machinery, safes, unmanufactured leather, malt liquors, wooden ware, oil cloth, patent and proprietary medicines, printers' ink, typewriting machinery, scales and balances, harness and saddles, paper, varnish, wool, carpets and lubricating oils.
The United Kingdom leads in the following:-Iron and steel, and their finished form (taken as a whole), condensed milk, tea, zinc and manufactures; copper and its finished forms, window glass, sap, turpentine, fertilizers, cotton goods (taken as a whole), butter, steam vessels, paints, pigments and colours, linseed oil.
Germany leads in the following:-Brass and its finished forms, chemicals, drug, (except opium), and dyes, needles, pins and surgical instruments, firearms, lamps furniture, barley, hops, rails for railways, printing presses, pianos and organs, wearing apparel (woollen), woollen yarn, celluloid and its products, hats and caps, builders' hardware, cutlery, sewing machines, woollen cloth, laundry machines.
The import returns for 1902 showed a substantial increase, compared with those of 1901, chiefly due to the largely increased importation of rice caused by agicultural stagna- tion and the prevalence of rinderpest. Imports from the United Kingdom fell from 23 per cent. of the total value in 1901 to 17 per cent, the chief cause being the poor demand for cotton goods largely owing to the impoverished condition of the country. The returns for 1902 showed that British ships still carried upwards of 75 per cent. of the exports and 60 per cent. of the imports, including practically the whole of the trade with the United States. German and Spanish ships carried most of the remainder, the United States flag representing less than 2 per cent. By an Act of Congress, dated March 8, 1902, it was provided that foreign vessels might enter United States ports from the Philippines, on payment of the usual tonuage dues, up to July 1, 1904. But there is new good reason for believing that, when the last-mentioned date is reached, the ports of the Philippines, like those of Porto Rico and Hawaii, will come under the American law in respect of coasting trade. Consequently the trade between them and the United States will be reserved to the American flag.
MANILA
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is situated on the western side of the island of Luzon, at the mouth of the river Pasig, which empties itself into the Bay of Manila, and the city is now held by the forces of the United States. War having been declared between the United States and Spain, the fleet of the former on the 1st May, 1898, sailed into Manila Bay and totally destroyed the Spanish fleet, practically with no loss to the attacking side. Thereafter the city was blockaded until the 18th August, when, a Military force having arrived, the Americans took possession after an almost unresisted assault.
The city was founded in 1571. In 1645 it was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake, in which upwards of three hundred lives were lost. In 1863 a great part of the city was again destroyed from the same cause, and in July, 1880, another terrible upheaval made wreck of a great portion of it. The inhabitants are naturally in constant fear of these visitations. The dwelling-houses are built with especial reference to safety under such circumstances, and, although large, possess few pretensions to architectural beauty. The city is practically divided into two parts, the official or walled city being built on the left bank of the Pasig river, while the commercial city is situated on the island of Binondo, which forms the right bank of the same river. The Escolta, the main business street, traverses this suburb, and in it most of the European stores and bazaars are to be found. The Rozario, another broad thoroughfare in Binondo, is occupied chiefly by Chinese shops, and is a busy quarter. San Miguel is the aristocratic suburb, being the seat of the residences of the wealthy merchants and other residents. Around the walls and the edge of the bay is a fashionable drive lined with almond trees, where the well-to-do inhabitants walk, drive, and meet their friends. The architecture of Manila is not imposing, successive earthquakes having wrought much damage, and the city has an old-world aspect, tem pered by its tropical surroundings. The streets present the greatest animation in the evening, when the cigar factories are closed and the carriages of the upper clases are out for the customiary promenade. There are several ancient churches which are worthy of notice. The Cathedral, founded originally in 1578, has been several times destroyed by earthquakes and did not escape in 1863. It has been since rebuilt, but again sustained