Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 557

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THE PHILIPPINES MANILA.

"The foreigners are divided as follows:-Americans 42, Austrians 7, Belgians 5, British 176, Dane 1, French 30, Germans 109, and Italians 8. Up to 1880 the native popula tion was rapidly increasing, the increase during the previous twenty-five years being given as 1,785,115, but in that year it received a smart check by an epidemic of cholera, many of the provinces being almost decimated; the true figures have never been published.

The chief articles of produce are sugar, hemp, and tobacco. During 1888 the Cus- toms revenue was 82,211,806; the previous year it was about 3300,000 more. This falling aff was in imports, the exports showing an increase. The foreign trade is confined to the ports of Manila, Hoilo, Cebu, and Zamboanga. The number of vessels which en- tered those ports from abroad last year was 333, of which 215 were steamers. Of the 333 vessels 106 were Spanish and 98 English. The returns of the carrying trade show the curious fact of the carrying of imports being nearly monopolised by the flag of one mation, while that of the exports is tolerably equally distributed. This is accounted for By the nature of the arrangements made by the Government with certain subsidised #teamship lines. The vessels which carry the exports arrive for the most part in ballast from Hongkong or other ports in the East where they have discharged a cargo. The strictness of the quarantine regulations often entails great inconvenience on vessels arriving.

A Royal decree, dated the 26th June, 1881, abolished the Government monopoly in the growing of the tobacco leaf and manufacture of cigars, and from the lat July, 1882, the cultivation of the tobacco plant and manufacture of cigars was made free throughout the Philippines. To cover the anticipated deficit in the revenue from this cause an export duty not exceeding 10 per cent. per quintal of leaf tobacco and cigars has been imposed. Companies have been formed to engage extensively in the tobacco and cigar production and manufacture.

The climate of the Philippines varies little from that of other places in the same latitude. The range of the thermometer during the year is from a little over sixty degrees to about ninety. The rainy season usually lasts six months, and during this time inundations of rivers are frequent and travelling in the interior almost impossible. Long continued droughts, however, sometimes occur, when the ground becomes parched and the crops are utterly destroyed. Husbandry also suffers from The ravages of locusts, which will sometimes almost entirely denude a whole province of herbage. The principal part of the group comes within the range of the typhoons, and terrific storms are of frequent occurrence The islands are also the centre of great volcanic action. "The destructive ravages and changes produced by earth- quakes," says Sir John Bowring, writing in 1859, "are nowhere more remark- able than in the Philippines. They have overturned mountains, they have filled up valleys, they have desolated extensive plains; they have opened passages from the sea into the interior, and from the lake into the sea. There are many tradi- tional stories of these territorial revolutions, but of late disasters the records are trustworthy. That of 1796 was sadly calamitous. In 1824 nauy churches in Manila were destroyed, together with the principal bridge, the barracks, great numbers of private houses; and a chasm opened of nearly four miles in length. The inhabitants all fled into the field, and six vessels in the port were wrecked. The number of victims was never ascertained. In 1828, during another earthquake, the vibration of the lamps was found to describe an arch of four and a half feet; the huge corner stones of the principal gate of the city were displaced; the great bells were set ringing. It lasted between two and three minutes, reut the walls of several churches and other buildings, but was not accompanied by subterranean noises, as is usually the case." In 1868 also a very disastrous carthquake occurred, and another fraught with diraster made 1880 memorable in the auuäle of Manila.

Persone visiting the Philippines are required to obtain a passport from their own Government, and have it viséd at the Spanish Consulate at the port of embarkation.