Directory_and_Chronicle_1886 — Page 558

MANILA.

The

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is situate in the island of Luzon, at the mouth of the river Pasig, which empties itself into the Bay of Minila. The city was founded in 1671. In 1615 it was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake, in which upwards of thres hundre lives were lost. In 1833 a great part of the city was again destroyed from the same cause, and in July, 1830, another terrible upheaval again male wreck of a great portion of it: the inhabitants are naturally in constant fear of these visitations. The dwelling-houses are built with especial reference to safety under such circumstances, an, although large, possess few pretensions to architectural beauty. The streets, also, are narrow an bat small attention has been devotel to securing sa le by the growth of trees. There are several ancient churches which are worthy of notice. The cathedral, foundel originally in 1578, has been several times destroyed by earthquake an 1 did not escape in 1863. It has been since rebuilt, but again sustine considerable damage in 1880, when the tower was so much shattered that it had to be palled down. The city and its suburbs contain a population of nearly 300,000 and are the seat of a considerable and yearly increasing com nerce. The principal articles of export are hemp, sugir, tobacco, cigars, coffee, and in iigo, while of the imports cotton goods form the chief item. Only a small portion of the present city is enclose within the walls. The anchorage is distant some three miles from the shore. The river presents a scene of great animation, being crow led with mitive craft interspersed with vessels of foreign build. passport system is in force and no one can enter or leave without previously obtain- ing a pass. Before landing passengers are obliged to pull alongside a Custom-house guard boat stationed near the landing place to prevent smuggling. The garrison of Manila consists of one European and several native regiments. The police of the city is also under military discipline and is composed of natives. A very low average of crime is said to exist, but the native classes are much addicted to gambling, an offence punishable by law, although the Government reaps a large portion of its re- venue from the sale of lottery tickets. A race meeting is held in the spring, and usually good sport is a forded. On the 20th October, 1832, a typhoon of almost unparalleled severity swept over the city and surrvanding district, doing enormous damage and laying a great part of Minil in rains. There are three daily papers, El Diario de Minila and Er Oceanix Española, published in the morning, and El Comercio, which appears in the evening. The hot season conmences in March and continues until July, when the rains commence and continue to December, during which time the roads and streets get into a very bad condition. The maximum annual rainfall recordel is 114 inches and the minimum 81 inches. The maximum of the ther- mometer is about 92, with a range of ten degrees during the twenty-four hours, a cool sea breeze setting in at night and reducing the heat to an endurable temperature for sleeping. According to the census of 1873 there were residing in Manila 250 for- eigners of European origin, 4,189 European Spaniards, 15,157 Chinese, 46,066 Chinese mestizos (or half-breeds), 3,819 Spanish mestizos, and 160,896 pure natives.

In 1884 the imports reached a value of $18,825,595, as compared with $19,643,464 in 1883, and the exports $18,179,894, as compared with $18,624,023 in 1883. In 1880 special dues were imposed on the trade of the pot for the construction of a new harbour, namely, 2 per cent. on imports, 1 per cent. on exports, tonnage dues, and a tax on fishing boats. The total sum collected now amounts to considerably over $3,000,000, of which only a very small a nount has as yet been spent.