Ch. XVin.] TOBACCO MANHPACTLTEB. 303 



from end to end of the barge on all fours, the pole and their 

 body forming an almost continuous line ; and particularly 

 in passing the bridges, where I have watched them perform 

 this painful operation for haK an hour, without making any 

 perceptible progress. 



The cultivation of the interior is in a great measure rice, 

 which is the main support of the population ; but indigo is 

 also largely cultivated and exported ; and among fruit-trees, 

 the mango (Mangifera indica) is the one which has acquired 

 chief reputation at Manilla, where they are to be had in 

 perfection between November and June, and are preferred 

 by most consumers of that fruit, to those grown elsewhere. 

 But one of the most important objects of cultivation is 

 tobacco, the manufacture of which is taken in hand by the 

 Government. In the factory at which the Manilla cigars 

 are manufactured, it is said that no less than 7000 girls 

 are employed, and the number of cigars turned out must 

 be enormous. There is also another factory at Cavite, on 

 the south side of the bay. But the world at large does 

 not benefit in proportion ; and so enamoured are the people 

 of Manilla with this much-abused weed, that not more than 

 one-seventh part leaves the island for exportation, the 

 remainder being consumed by the population. And this 

 can be beheved, when the universality of the custom of 

 smoking is observed in Manilla ; — for not only is a cheroot 

 the never-failing companion of the men of aU ranks, but 

 the ladies indulge equally in the reprehensible practice, and 

 little girls even may be seen with cigars in their mouths — 

 not .of the " Queen's," or lady's pattern, but such as 

 a professed smoker in this coimtry would by no means 



despise. 



The proverbial jealousy and intolerance of the Spanish 



