GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL.
379
their trade, even with its late increase, may excite surprise. This, however, is en- tirely a consequence of the wretched policy of the Spanish government, which per- severed until very recently in excluding all foreign ships from the ports of the Philippines, confining the trade between them and Mexico and South America to a single ship!-even ships and settlers from China were excluded. "Provisions," says La Perouse, "of all kinds are in the greatest abundance here, and extremely cheap; but clothing, European hardware, and furniture bear an excessively high price. The want of competition, together with prohibitions and restraints of every kind laid on commerce render the productions and merchandise of India and China at least as dear as in Europe!" Happily, however, this miserable policy, the effects of which have been admirably depicted by M. de la Perouse, has been materially modified of late years. The events of the revolutionary war destroyed for ever the old colonial system of Spain; and the ships of all nations are now freely admitted into Manila and the other ports in the Philippines. An unprecedented stimulus has in conse- quence been given to all sorts of industry; and its progress will no doubt become more rapid, according as a wider experience and acquaintance with foreigners make the natives better aware of the advantages of commerce and industry, and disabuse them of the prejudices of which they have been so long the slaves.
Comparative Export of Hemp and Sugar to Great Britain, United States, and Europe.
SUGAR.
1857.
1858.
1859.
1860.
1861.
1862.
Great Britain.
United States....
Continent of Europe
.Piculs 268,559 315,763 350,190 392,496 78,823 16,030 109,526 211,262 36,652 17,252 38,912
422,495
601,641
78,161
103,708
47,205
4,154
18,594
Total Piculs!
384,034
349,053 498,628
646,963
504,810
723,943
HEMP.
Great Britain......Piculs
United States......
"
95,983 243,110
105,633
136,072
102,038
192,662
192,662
288,953
284,657
281,477
160,978
160,970
Continent of Europe
2,487
6,650
4,644
2,723
972
972
Total Piculs
341,580
401,236
425,973
396,238
354,612
354,612
1863.
1864.
1865.
1866.
1867.
1868.
SUGAR.
Great Britain. .Piculs 430,173
United States....
J
Continent of Europe
54,751 13,098
669,668 334,596 101,537 6,869
396,255
656,705
68,640 15,026
72,090
166,515
་་་
23,895
9,900
Total Piculs 498,029
778,074
418,262
651,873
493,240
833,120*
HEMP.
Great Britain...... Piculs
183,660
226,258
79.316
95,085
118,425
United States....
221,804
249,106
289,444
250,245
252,540
Continent of Europe
4,325
1,134
3,342
11,230
200
99
Total Picula 409,789
476,498
372,102
370,596
46,560
371,165*
* These Total only extend to November 24th.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.