MANILLA. 283 



the Philippine Islands, showing a strong contrast between them and 

 those of the Pacific isles, which have ejected little else than lava and 

 scoria. 



Few portions of the globe seem to be so much the seat of internal 

 fires, or to exhibit the effects of volcanic action so strongly as the 

 Philippines. During our visit, it was not known that any of the 

 volcanoes were in action ; but many of them were smoking, parti- 

 cularly that in the district of Albay, called Isaroc. Its latest eruption 

 was in the year 1839 ; but this did little damage compared with that 

 of 1814, which covered several villages, and the country for a great 

 distance around, with ashes. This mountain is situated to the southeast 

 of Manilla one hundred and fifty miles, and is said to be a perfect cone, 

 with a crater at its apex. 



It does not appear that the islands are much affected by earthquakes, 

 although some have occasionally occurred that have done damage to 

 the churches at 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 contains 

 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 consti- 

 tute 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 industrious, 

 although much labour is lost by the use of defective implements. The 

 plough, of very simple construction, has been adopted from the Chi- 

 nese ; it has no coulter, the share is flat, 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 ex- 

 tirpating a troublesome grass, that is known by the name of cogon (a 



