THE CHINESE OF LU^ON. 293 



these robbers ; which expend plenty of ammuni- 

 tion with very little effect. 



It is said that six thousand Chinese inhabit 

 the suburbs of Manilla, to which they are re- 

 stricted. The greater part of them are clever 

 and industrious mechanics; the rest are mer- 

 chants, and some of them very rich : they are 

 the Jews of Lu^on, but even more given to cheat- 

 ing and all kinds of meanness than are the 

 Israelites, and with fewer, or rather ^vith no ex- 

 ceptions. They enjoy no privileges above the 

 lowest of the people, but are despised, oppress- 

 ed, and often unjustly treated. Their covetous- 

 ness induces them to submit to all this ; and as 

 they are entirely divested of any feeling of ho- 

 nour, a small profit will console them for a great 

 insult. The yearly tax paid by every Chinese 

 for liberty to breathe the air in Manilla, is six 

 piastres ; and if he wishes to carry on any sort 

 of trade, five more ; while the native Indian pays 

 no more than five reals. 



The Philippines also did not follow the ex- 

 ample of the American colonies ; for some dis- 

 turbances among the Indians here, were not 



