282 M A N 1 L L A. 



conquest is to be observed in these islands; the two races are identified 

 now in habits, manners, and religion, and their interests are so closely 

 allied that they feel their mutual dependence upon each other. 



The establishment of the new constitution in Spain in the year 1825, 

 has had a wonderful effect upon these colonies, whose resources have 

 within the last ten years been developed, and improvements pushed 

 forward with a rapid step. Greater knowledge and more liberal views 

 in the rulers are alone wanting to cause a still more rapid advance in 

 the career of prosperity. 



As our visit was to Luzon, we naturally obtained more personal 

 information respecting it than the other islands. We learned that the 

 northern peninsula* was composed of granite and recent volcanic 

 rocks, together with secondary and tertiary deposits, while the southern 

 peninsula is almost wholly volcanic. 



The northern contains many valuable mines of gold, lead, copper, 

 and iron, besides coal. A number of specimens of these, and the rocks 

 which contain them, were presented to the Expedition by Senors 

 Araria and Roxas of Manilla. These will claim particular attention in 

 the Geological Report, to which the reader is referred for information. 

 So far as our information and observations went, the whole of the 

 Philippine Islands are of similar geological formation. In some of 

 the islands the volcanic rock prevails, while in others coal and the 

 metalliferous deposits predominate. On some of them the coal-beds 

 form part of the cliffs along the shore ; on others, copper is found 

 in a chlorite and talcose slate. The latter is more particularly the 

 case with Luzon, and the same formation extends to Mindoro. Much 

 iron occurs on the mountains. Thus, among the Tagala natives, 

 who are yet unsubdued by the Spaniards, and who inhabit these 

 mountains, it is found by them of so pure a quality that it is manu- 

 factured into swords and cleavers. These are, occasionally, obtained 

 by the Spaniards in their excursions into the interior against these 

 bands. 



The country around Manilla is composed of tufa of a light gray 

 colour, which being soft and easily worked, is employed as the 

 common building material in the city. It contains, sometimes, scoria 

 and pumice, in pieces of various sizes, besides, occasionally, impres- 

 sions of plants, with petrified woods. There are confined to recent 

 species, and include palms, &c. 



This tufa forms one of the remarkable features of the volcanoes of 



* It is called so in consequence of the island being nearly divided in the parallel ofl4° N., 

 by two bays. 



