The text appears to be a jumbled mix of nonsensical words and phrases, likely due to OCR errors. However, towards the end, a coherent text emerges.
"the ship as to whether he intends to discharge the seaman in
"this Port or not, and if he decides to discharge the seaman, by
*reporting the matter to the Harbour Master and forwarding the
"Doctor's Certificate to that officer, who, on the discharge of
"the seaman being completed in accordance with law, will hand
"the certificate to the Master of the ship".
The Colonial Secretary at the same time
recommended that, if the Consul-General refused the request so
made, the matter should be laid before the Secretary of State. Sir
W. Gascoigne the Officer Administering the Government, concurred.
No reply, however, was received from the United States Consul-
General nor was the correspondence sent forward to the Secretary
of State.
On the 15th December, 1902, the Assistant
Harbour Master reported that, being desirous of visiting Manila
he went to the office of Messrs. Shewan, Tomes and Company on
the 24th of the previous month and booked his passage by the
S.S. "Zafiro" sailing on the 26th. He was then informed that in
addition to the passage money it was necessary for him to pay
the Agents a sum of $2.50, being a Poll Tax levied by the
Government of the Philippine Islands on all persons landing in
those Islands with the exception of the United States Citizens.
The Assistant Harbour Master at first demurred, but, on being
informed that in the event of his not paying the ship would be
subject to certain pains and penalties on arrival at Manila, he
paid under protest. He was also informed that it would be
necessary to be on board an hour and a quarter before the time
set for sailing. At about 11 a.m. on the 26th November the
American Doctor came on board and shortly after this the Assist-
ant Harbour Master received a message to the effect that
American Doctor wanted to see him. "To this" Captain Taylor
writes, "I replied that, if any one wanted to see me, he could
"come and see me where I was, and that I did not recognise any
"authority in a British Port on the part of United States
"Officials.