NATURAL PRODUCTIONS NEGLECTED. 291 



of cotton, the one remarkably fine, the produce 

 of a shrab, the other of a tree, all grow wild 

 here, and with very little cultivation might be 

 made to yield a prodigious increase of wealth. 

 These productions of Nature are, however, so 

 much neglected, that at present no regular trade 

 is carried on in them. A great abundance of 

 the finest sago trees, and whole woods of cinna- 

 mon, grow wild and unnoticed in Lu^on. Nut- 

 megs, cloves, and all the produce of the Moluc- 

 cas, are also indigenous on these islands, and in- 

 dustry only (a commodity which, unfortunately, 

 does not flourish here,) is wanting to make them 

 a copious source of revenue. Pearls, amber, 

 and cochineal, abound in the Philippines ; and 

 the bosom of the earth contains gold, silver, and 

 other metals. For centuries past, have the Spa- 

 niards suffered all these treasures to lie neglected, 

 and are even now sending out gold to maintain 

 their establishments. 



The regular troops here, as well as the militia, 

 are natives. The officers are Spaniardsj though 

 many of them are born here, and all, at least 

 with few exceptions, are extremely ignorant. It 

 is said that the soldiers are brave, especially 

 o 2 



