272 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



leaves of the pineapple plant. The plants are raised especially 

 for this purpose. Before the fruit begins to form the crown is 

 removed, which not only prevents the formation of the fruit, 

 but causes the leaves to grow larger ; when they reach maturity 

 the} r are broken from the plant and the outer skin and pulp are 

 removed by scraping. As the fibers appear they are cautiously 

 raised and removed one by one, and after a thorough cleansing 

 b} T washing are dried in the sun: they are then assorted accord- 

 ing to lengths and qualities by women and tied together in pack- 

 ages for the weaver's use. 



The weaving is a delicate process, requiring the greatest care 

 on the part of the operator, and the fabric produced is so exqui- 

 sitely fine that sometimes only a few inches are the result of a 

 day's work. Sometimes silk, which is imported from China, is 

 mixed with the anana fiber, but the plain pina is the most 

 esteemed and is largely sent to Manila, where it is embroidered. 

 In that city and the suburban villages large numbers of women 

 are employed in this industry. The work is frequently of the 

 most exquisite quality and is sold for extravagant prices. In 

 the villages near Manila and in many other communities on the 

 islands women are also employed in making hats somewhat 

 similar to the celebrated Panama hats, cigar cases, and other 

 small wares, in which they display great skill and taste. Mats 

 are also largely manufactured, and as every one uses them to 

 sleep on, the demand is constant. They are of various qualities, 

 but some of them are beautiful in texture and are ornamented 

 with colors and gold or silver threads. 



Cotton rugs of handsome designs are also made in some of the 

 islands. Horn is also softened and fashioned into bowls and 

 other utensils. Many of the various articles produced by native 

 workmen are remarkably artistic and beautiful, considering that 

 all their tools and implements are of the simplest and rudest 

 character. 



COMMERCE 



The earliest development of commerce between the Philip- 

 pines and the outside world was in the direction of China and 

 Japan, which gradually increased in importance. The Chinese 

 were the founders of this interchange of products. At first their 

 merchants came and returned each year, but as the trade in- 

 creased they found it more profitable to remain permanently, 

 and founded that Chinese commercial colony which, in spite of 



