Different Descriptmis of River Boats on the Pasig. 327 



be seen, while the banana, the sugar-cane, or the rice-plant are 

 only exceptionally met with at certain points. The delicate- 

 leaved bamboo accordingly presents hereabouts an elegance 

 and variety of form, which at first sight seems to mark out its 

 individual representatives as belonging^ to so many different 

 families of plants. Wlierever the subjacent rock is visible 

 along the banks it presents beds of an ashen-grey pumice- 

 stone, which constitutes the chief building material of Manila. 

 On the shores of the river, near the city, are situate the 

 various factories and iron-foundries, above which are the resi- 

 dences of the wealthy Mestizoes and foreign settlers, as also 

 the country-seat of the Governor-general, whence, still 

 ascending the stream, are Tagal villages of wretched cane 

 huts, grouped round stately churches and parsonages, which 

 peep picturesquely through lovely groves of bamboo. 



There are three modes of boating on the Pasig and through 

 the Lagune, namely, the lanca^ consisting of a large trunk 

 of a tree hollowed out and covered with an awning of bam- 

 boo ; the lorcha or falua (corruption of felucca), large, com- 

 fortable, but exceedingly clumsy row-boats, which, particularly 

 dming the rainy season when there is a heavy sea running, 

 are those chiefly used in this navigation ; and finally, the 

 casco, which is of equal breadth at either end, and has more 

 the appearance of a raft. The last-named is principally 

 made use of for the transport of heavy merchandise, and is 

 in especial favour with the natives, for the reason that it is 

 practicable to hoist sail upon it as well as to row. On the 



