302 MANILLA. 



The coal which we have spoken of is deemed of value ; it has a 

 strong resemblance to the bituminous coal of our own country, pos- 

 sesses a bright lustre, and appears very free from all woody texture 

 when fractured. It is found associated with sandstone, which con- 

 tains many fossils. Lead and copper are reported as being very 

 abundant; gypsum and limestone occur in some districts. From this, 

 it will be seen that these islands have every thing in the mineral way 

 to constitute them desirable possessions. 



With such mineral resources, and a soil capable of producing the 

 most varied vegetation of the tropics, a liberal policy is all that the 

 country lacks. The products of the Philippine Islands consist of 

 sugar, coffee, hemp, indigo, rice, tortoise-shell, hides, ebony, saffron- 

 wood, sulphur, cotton, cordage, silk, pepper, cocoa, wax, and many 

 other articles. In their agricultural operations the people are indus- 

 trious, although much labour is lost by the use of defective imple- 

 ments. The plough, of very simple construction, has been adopted 

 from the Chinese ; it has no coulter, the share is fiat, and being turned 

 partly to one side, answers, in a certain degree, the purpose of a mould- 

 board. This rude implement is sufficient for the rich soils, where the 

 tillage depends chiefly upon the harrow, in constructing which a 

 thorny species of bamboo is used. The harrow is formed of five or 

 six pieces of this material, on which the thorns are left, firmly fastened 

 together. It answers its purpose well, and is seldom out of order. A 

 wrought-iron harrow, that was introduced by the Jesuits, is used for 

 clearing the ground more effectually, and more particularly for the 

 purpose of extirpating a troublesome grass, that is known by the name 

 of cogon (a species of Andropogon), of which it is very difficult to rid 

 the fields. The bolo or long-knife, a basket, and hoe, complete the 

 list of implements, and answer all the purposes of our spades, &c. 



The buffalo was used until within a few years exclusively in their 

 agriculture, and they have lately taken to the use of the ox ; but horses 

 are never used. The buffalo, from the slowness of his motions, and 

 his exceeding restlessness under the heat of the climate, is ill adapted 

 to agricultural labour ; but the natives are very partial to them, not- 

 withstanding they occasion them much labour and trouble in bathing 

 them during the great heat. This is absolutely necessary, or the 

 animal becomes so fretful as to be unfit for use. If it were not for 

 this, the buffalo would, notwithstanding his slow pace, be a most 

 effective animal in agricultural operations ; he requires little food, 

 and that of the coarsest kind ; his strength surpasses that of the 



