MANILLA. 331 



embarked. Here the scene was rendered animated by numerous 

 boats of all descriptions, from the parao to the small canoe of a single 



log- 

 There is a large population that live wholly on the water ; for the 

 padrones of the paraos have usually their families with them, which, 

 from the great variety of ages and sexes, give a very different and 

 much more bustling appearance to the crowd of boats, than would be 

 the case if they only contained those who are employed to navigate 

 them. At times the paraos and bancas, of all sizes, together with the 

 saraboas and pativas (duck establishments), become jumbled together, 

 and create a confusion and noise such as is seldom met with in any 

 other country. 



The pativas are under the care of the original inhabitants to 

 whom exclusively the superintendence of the ducklings seems to 

 be committed. The pens are made of bamboo, and are not over a 

 foot high. The birds were all in admirable order, and made no 

 attempt to escape over the low barrier, although so slight that it was 

 thought by some of our gentlemen it would not have sufficed to 

 confine American ducks, although their wings might have been cut. 

 The mode of giving them exercise was by causing them to run round 

 in a ring. The good understanding existing between the keepers 

 and their charge was striking, particularly when the former were 

 engaged in cleansing the pens, and assisting the current to carry off 

 the impurities. In the course of their sail, it was estimated that 

 hundreds of thousands of ducks of all ages were seen. 



The women who were seen were usually engaged in fishing with a 

 hook and line, and were generally standing in the water, or in canoes. 

 The saraboas were here also in use. The run of the fish is generally 

 concentrated by a chevaux-de-frise to guide them towards the nets 

 and localities where the fishers place themselves. 



At five o'clock they reached the Laguna de Bay, where they took 

 in a new crew with mast and sail. This is called twenty-five miles 

 from Manilla by the river ; the distance in a bird's flight is not over 

 twelve. The whole distance is densely peopled, and well cultivated. 

 The crops consist of indigo, rice, &c, with groves of the betel, palm, 

 cocoa-nut, and quantities of fruit trees. 



The shores of the lake are shelving, and afford good situations for 

 placing fish-weirs, which are here established on an extensive scale. 

 These weirs are formed of slips of bamboo, and are to be seen run- 

 ning in every direction to the distance of two or three miles. They 



