316 MANILLA. 



visited one of the houses where this was in progress, and where the 

 most skilful workwomen are employed. 



On mounting the stairs of bamboos, every step we took produced 

 its creak ; but, although the whole seemed but a crazy affair, yet it- 

 did not want for strength, being well and firmly bound together. 

 There were two apartments, each about thirteen by twenty-five feet, 

 which could be divided by screens, if required. At the end of it 

 were seen about forty females, all busily plying their needles, and so 

 closely seated as apparently to incommode each other. The mistress 

 of the manufactory, who was quite young, gave us a friendly recep- 

 tion, and showed us the whole process of drawing the threads and 

 working the patterns, which, in many cases, were elegant. A great 

 variety of dresses, scarfs, caps, collars, cuffs, and pocket-handker- 

 chiefs, were shown us. These were mostly in the rough state, and 

 did not strike us with that degree of admiration which was expected. 

 They, however, had been in hand for six months, and were soiled by 

 much handling; but when others were shown us in the finished state, 

 washed and put up, they were such as to claim our admiration. 



I was soon attracted by a very different sight at the other end of 

 the apartment. This was a dancing-master and his scholar, of six 

 years old, the daughter of the woman of the house. It was exceed- 

 ingly amusing to see the airs and graces of this child. 



For music they had a guitar ; and I never witnessed a ballet that 

 gave me more amusement, or saw a dancer that evinced more grace, 

 ease, confidence, and decided talent, than did this little girl. She 

 was prettily formed, and was exceedingly admired and applauded 

 by us all. Her mother considered her education as finished, and 

 looked on with all the admiration and fondness of parental affection. 



On inquiry, I found that the idea of teaching her to read and write 

 had not yet been entertained. Yet every expense is incurred to teach 

 them to use their feet and arms, and to assume the expression of 

 countenance that will enable them to play a part in the after-scenes 

 of life. 



This manufactory had work engaged for nine months or a year 

 in advance. The fabric is extremely expensive, and none but the 

 wealthy can afford it. It is also much sought after by foreigners. 

 Even orders for Queen Victoria and many of the English nobility 

 were then in hand ; at least I so heard at Manilla. Those who are 

 actually present have, notwithstanding, the privilege of selecting 



