Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 497

Hotel de Madrid, Magullenes, 36

Juan Trapaga

MANILA-ILOILO.

La Perla del Oceano, Calle de Carriedo

(Quiapo)

M. de Ocampo

FONDAS ú HOTELES.

Fonda "La Catalana," Calle del Beaterio

Fonda "El Universo," Calle de Palacio, 12

487

Fouda "Francesa de Lala Ari," Burraca

Fonda "El Zaragozano," Parage de la Paz

Fonda "Hotel de Madrid," Manila, Magal.

lanes, 36

CAFES.

Cafe "El Suizo," Plaza de Sta. Cruz

Cafe "La Esperanza," Real, 21

ILOILO.

This port, which is the chief town of the populous province of the same name in the island of Panay, is situated in lat. 10 deg. 48 min. W., near the south-eastern extremity of the island, close to the sea, on the border of the narrow channel formed by the opposite island of Guimaras. The town is built principally on low marshy ground, partly fronting the sea, and partly along the left bank of a creek, or inlet, which runs towards Jaro, and after describing a semicircle again meets the sea near Iloilo. Although the principal seaport and seat of the government of the province, Iloilo is much smaller than inany towns in its vicinity. The harbour is well protect- ed and the anchorage good, the island of Guimaras forming a sheltered passage. The depth of water on the bar at the entrance to the creek or river Iloilo is about five fathoms at low water, but at a short distance within it decreases to fifteen feet and then deepens again. At spring tides the whole town is covered with water, but notwithstanding this it is a very healthy place. The high ground of Guimaras forms a kind of funnel with the Panay shore, and the result is that a calm is of rare occurrence, there being almost always a breeze of some kind. The N. E. breezę blows very strongly. It is much cooler in Iloilo than in Manila. Although ships are charged light dues, &c., there is not a single light or buoy near the pet. A light- house was built at the entrance to the river some six years ago, but, as the cost of the oil has not yet been provided for in the estimates, it has never been lighted.

The better class of houses in Iloilo are built on strong wooden posts, two or three feet in diameter, that reach to the roof, scone walls to the first floor, with wooden windows above and an iron roof. The poorer class of dwellings are flimsy structures of nipa, built on four stout posts. The roads and bridges are in a deplorable condition, and quite impassable in the rainy season,

The principal manufacture in Iloilo for local consumption and export to Manila is that of piña, a cloth very finely made from the fibre of the pineapple leaf. Another cloth called jusi is woven from silk, and is made in white and colours. The Govern- ment have recently very heavily taxed all kinds of industry, which tax is severely felt, as hitherto there had been comparative freedom from such imports. Each native above the age of 14 pays tribute-the men $4.03, and the women $1.03 per annum.

The country round Iloilo is very fertile and is extensively cultivated. The annual crop of sugar is estimated at about a million piculs. Tobacco is also largely culti vated, but having until 1882 been a Government monopoly which had to be sold at a fixed price, it has been greatly neglected and is of poor quality. Improvement in the cultivation may now be expected as the monopoly has at length been abo.ished. Rice is grown on a considerable scale, but locusts are very plentiful in the island and often do great damage to the cane and paddy.

Typhoons visit the port about once a year and frequently work great havoc. Earthquakes, however, seldom occur. Iloilo is about 250 miles distant from Manila,