62 



MANILLA ISLANDS. 



CiTvoF Manilla, by being the mere repofitory of the goods of other 



Manilla. j^^j^jons, grew into a moft flouriaiing city ; the ftreets regular^ 



the churches and piiblick buildings fuperb. A fplendid luxury 



pervades every part, in the appearance of drefs, and equipage, 



and infide of the houfcs of the proud and lazy colonifts. 



The port of Manilla is at Cavite, three leagues diftant, and is 

 fubjedt to many inconveniences ; being greatly infefted with the 

 worm, the teredo navalis, which in a little time would render the 

 galleons, and the velTels which trade to Manilla, incapable of 

 keeping the fea ; neither is it fecure from the north and north- 

 well: winds ; befides, fliips lying there are obliged to fend far 

 for water, and to employ for that purpofe the flat boats of the 

 country. 



The city of Manilla is fortified, well built, and the ftreets very 

 regular, but the third part is occupied by convents ; the num- 

 ber of chriftians is computed at about twelve thoufand. Gomez 

 Peres de las Marignas furrounded it with walls in 1590. 

 AcAPULco It is from hence the great commerce between Manilla and 



Ships ' 



Acapulco, on the coaft of Mexico, is carried on, in one and fome- 

 * times in twolliips, fent annually, fitted out at the expence of the 



king, but freighted by the merchants. They are of an enormous 

 Hze, heavy and unwieldy, as big as a firft rate man of war, and 

 having a complement of twelve hundred men ; the leffer is above 

 twelve hundred tons burden, has from three hundred and fifty 

 to fix hundred hands, paffengers included, and carries fifty guns, 

 but often mounts only thirty-fix. It leaves Manilla the middle 

 of July, but does not reach Acapulco till the middle oi January. 

 One miracle of this voyage is, that notwithftanding they put on 



board 



