CHAPTER XVIII. 



(1.) Manilla. Its Inhabitants. Commerce.— (2.) The Philippines.— (3.) The 

 Sooloo Islands. Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants. Productions. — 

 (4.) Singapore. Character of its Population. Trade. — (5.) Voyage Home. 

 Cape Town. Arrival in the United States. 



(1.) Manilla, or Manila, is situated on the island of Luzon, 

 upon the east side of the bay of Manilla, and about half a 

 mile from the mouth of the Pasig, a small river that winds 

 down through a narrow plain, terminating on the east in swell- 

 ing hills, which gradually rise into lofty mountains, clothed 

 to the summit with the rich vegetation of the Orient. It 

 is built in a circular form, on the south side of the river, and 

 is connected with its suburbs on the right bank, by a hand- 

 some stone bridge, one hundred and forty-nine varas'm length, 

 by eight in breadth. It is surrounded by strong walls, with 

 six gates, and a broad ditch ; and at the mouth of the river 

 there is a small battery, and near the north-western extremity 

 of the town, the more imposing citadel of San Jago. 



Most of the houses in the city proper, which is only about 

 two miles in circumference, are firmly built of the volcanic 

 tufa, the prevalent formation in the vicinity. They are con- 

 structed after the Spanish fashion, with azoteas, or flat roofs, 

 and balustrades, and are garnished with jutting balconies and 

 shady verandas. Few of them exceed two stories in height, 

 on account of the frequent occurrence of earthquakes. The 

 windows are protected by blinds or shutters, in which are in- 

 serted, instead of glass, thin pieces of semi-transparent shell, 

 a species of placuna, which, though not admitting the light so 

 freely, are valuable in repelling the fierce tropical heat, and, 

 unless the dark-eyed senoritas of this second Lima are not 



