314 MANILLA. 



After having paid our respects to his excellency, we drove to visit 

 several other officers of the government, who received us without cere- 

 mony. We generally found them in loose morning gowns, smoking, 

 and cigars were invariably offered us; for this habit appears in 

 Manilla to extend to all ranks. Even in the public offices of the 

 custom-house it was the fashion, and cigars, with a machero for 

 striking a light, or a jost-stick kept burning, were usually seen in 

 every apartment. 



To the captain of the port, Don Juan Salomon, I feel under many 

 obligations for his attentions. I was desirous of obtaining information 

 relative to the Sooloo Seas, and to learn how far the Spanish surveys 

 had been carried. He gave me little hopes of obtaining any ; but 

 referred me to Captain Halcon, of the Spanish Navy, who had been 

 employed surveying some part of the coast of the islands to the north. 

 The latter, whom I visited, on my making the inquiry of him, and 

 stating the course I intended to pursue, frankly told me that all the 

 existing charts were erroneous. He only knew enough of the ground 

 to be certain that they were so, and consequently useless. He advised 

 my taking one of the native pilots, who were generally well ac- 

 quainted with the seas that lay more immediately in my route. The 

 captain of the port was afterwards kind enough to offer to procure me 

 one. 



The intercourse I had with these gentlemen was a source of 

 much gratification, and it gives me great pleasure to make this public 

 expression of it. To both, my sincere acknowledgments are due for 

 information in relation to the various reefs and shoals that have been 

 recently discovered, and which will be found placed in their true posi- 

 tion on our charts. 



During our stay at Manilla, our time was occupied in seeing sights, 

 shopping, riding, and amusing ourselves with gazing on the throng 

 incessantly passing through the Escolta of the Binondo suburb, or 

 more properly, the commercial town of Manilla. 



Among the lions of the place, the great royal cigar manufactories 

 claim especial notice from their extent and the many persons em- 

 ployed. There are two of these establishments, one situated in the 

 Binondo quarter, and the other on the great square or Prado; in 

 the former, which was visited by us, there are two buildings of two 

 stories high, besides several storehouses, enclosed by a wall, with two 

 large gateways, at which sentinels are always posted. The principal 



