THE MALAY RACE. 



121 



we parted from the other canoe, and having shut down our roof, 

 sought repose in our slight but commodious vessel. It was nearly 

 calm, and our crew paddled until three in the morning, when thej 

 landed to cook some rice; they shortly afterwards resumed their 

 labours until eight, the time of our arrival at Santa Cruz. 



Mr. Sturgis, Lieut. Eld, and myself, here procured horses; and 

 proceeded along a road constructed under European supervision, 

 and paved a good part of the distance, although hardly intended 

 for wheel-carriages. Cocoa-palms formed the principal article of 

 cultivation ; and they were in immense numbers, having the tops 

 united by bamboo stems, to obviate the necessity of descending while 

 going through a plantation : indeed, wealth at Manila, was said to 

 be often estimated by the thousand of cocoa palms. The chief 

 product appeared to be an ardent spirit; whether of aboriginal manu- 

 facture, I did not ascertain. Joints of bamboo were used for bottles, 

 as among the Pacific islands. 



Four plants, the bamboo, cocoa palm, pandanus, and rattan, give a 

 direction to domestic economy in the East Indies and the neighbour- 

 ing parts of Asia; and it is surprising, how many of the conveniences 

 and elegancies of life they render attainable. While it should also be 

 observed, that it is precisely in these same countries, that the art of 

 living in a tropical climate is best understood. 



In about three hours, we arrived at the Mission of Mayjayjay; 

 where we found extensive stone edifices, a church, school, well- 

 supplied market-houses, and various out-buildings. These were not 

 the only innovations on the original customs of the country ; and I 

 have nowhere witnessed a more pleasant sight, than that of the sur- 

 rounding population on their way to church, all neatly arrayed in 

 their best attire. 



There had been continual rains on the mountain of Banajao; but 

 in the midst of discouraging accounts, it was decided to make the 

 ascent. The ho?'ses brought for us, were very small and of most 

 unpromising appearance; and we were surprised at the good service 

 they rendered. The same small breed is found in the other East 

 India islands, and together with the buffalo, is of aboriginal intro- 

 duction. These two were the only new domestic animals thus far 

 met with in voyaging westward ; for the bullock, which was rare, 

 appeared to have been first made known in this part of the East 

 Indies by Europeans. 



After passing through the inhabited region, we arrived at the woods, 



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