Directory_and_Chronicle_1886 — Page 557

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THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA.

Up to 1880 the native population was rapidly increasing, the increase during the pre- vious twenty-five years being given as 1,785,115, bnt 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. In 1883 the Chinese population had risen to 63,968, of whom only 209 were females.

During the year from 1st July, 1884, to 30th June, 1885, the total public revenue of the Philippines was $11,298,508, of which the larger part was raised from the following sources, viz:-Direct taxes, $5,862,625; Customs, $2,175,242, monopolies, $1,560,191; lotteries, $550,000. The expenditure was $11,341,057. In addition to the ordinary Customs dues special duos are imposed at Manila for the new harbour works, the figures of which are not included in the above.

The chief articles of produce are sugar, hemp, and tobacco. The foreign trade is confined to the ports of Manila, Iloilo, Cebu, and Zamboanga. The number of vessels which entered those ports from abroad in 1883 was 440. Of this numbr 145 were Spanish. The imports in 1883 were valued at $21,308,002, and the exports at $26,380,727. The returns of the carrying trade show the curious fact of the carrying of imports being nearly monopolised by the flag of one nation, while that of the exports is tolerably equally distributed. This is accounted for by the nature of the arrange- ments made by the Government with certain subdised steamship 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 ar. iving.

A Royal decree, dated the 26th Jun, 1881, abolished the Government monopoly in the growing of the tobacco leaf and manufacture of cigars, and from the 1st July, 1882, the cultivation of the tobacco plant and manufacture of cigars was made free throughout the Philippines. To cover the auticipated deficit in the revenue from this cause an export auty 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 manu acture.

The climate of the Philippines vari s 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 con inued droughts, however, so netimes occur, when the ground becomes parched and the crops are utterly destroyed. Husbandry also suffers from the ravages of locusts, which will som times a'most 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, ut of late disasters the records are trustworthy. That of 1796 was sadly calamitous. In 1824 many churches in Manila were destroyed, together with the principal bridge, the barracks, gr at numbers of private houses; and a chasin 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 an 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, rent the walls of several churches and other buildings, but was not accompanied by subterranean noises, as is usually the case. In 1863 also a very disastrous earthquake occurred, and another fraught with disaster made 1880 memorable in the annals of Manila.

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Persons 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.