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 Lucon, but even more given to cheat 

 ing and all kinds of meanness than are the 

 Israelites, and with fewer, or rather with 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 



