^^SS^SSSSSVS^* MANILLA. CltyofMaaula. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

 MANILLA. 



ARRIVIL AT MASILLA— VIEW OF TUT. CITY— L1SWX O AT M AX I LLA — AXCItOR AGE— I" JTT AXD IT* BP! LDIXO*— IT* 

 FOFOLATIOX— WAST OF FACILITIES FOR ItKrAlR*- UTT OUV KttN MEXT — D I M O VERY AM D orcttPATtnK OF THE 

 l"H 1 1, 1 r I' I S Rl— POL1CT OF TBI COSQKEXORS— ISEOLOUtrAL FKATUEL* OF THE 1JI.AXPS — I'RODI'CTIOX* AtiD 

 AOaiCU LTCRK — AGRICULTURA L I M FLEW EVTS— FSB OF THE BDPPA LO — Ct'LTlTBE OF RICE— VI A SI LI. A nF.Mr— 



corrr*— rboak— cottox— hods op taking produce to market— profit* of agiiiciji.ture — ladovr — 



BATAQK* OP LOCCITI— 1SIIADJTAKTS— XAT1VE TRI BB»— POLICY OF THE OOYEKS HF.XT- r APAMLITtE* FOR COM 

 MERCK— Ml LITUT BTRESOTn— 1XTERX A L DISTURB iXCIl- TlilT TO THK GOVERNOR — TESEO* ASH EMOLU- 

 MENTS OF III* OFFICE— ROYAL CIUAR M AMI V ACTOB.Y — M AXDP ACTU RES— PZXA— OCCCFATIOJS* OP Till: HIGHER 

 CLAME*— MARH1A0ES— DRIVIS OX THE PRACO— TU A AtRE — TERTUL1A— DEEM UP TUX XAT1VE*— COCXPJOHTIXQ 

 —MARKET— RKYlftOXS OF THE CITT— CAMPO A ABTO— KY»TEM Or GOVERNMENT— ElfEDITIOX TO THE INTERIOR 

 — RETURN TO IIJI1LU- PREI" A RATION* FOB FAILIXIJ— UtrARTrHF. FROM MANILLA. 



At daylight on tin? 13th of January, M42, we were 

 again under WMj with a light air, and at nine 

 o'clock rmflticd the roadstead, where we anchored 

 in six fathoms water, with good holding-ground. 



A number of vessels were lying in the roads, 

 among which were several Americans loading 

 with hemp. There was also a large English Kast 

 Indiaman, manned by Lascars, whose noise ren- 

 dered her more, like a floating Bedlam than any 

 tiling else to which I can liken it. 



The view of the city and country around Ma- 

 nilla partake* both of a Spanish and an Oriental 

 character. The sombre and heavy-looking churches, 

 with their awkward towers; the long lines of bat- 

 teries mounted with heavy cannon; the massive 

 bouses, with ranges of balconies; and the light and 

 airy cottage, elevated on posts, situated in the 

 luxuriant groves of tropical trees,— all excite a 

 desire to become better acquainted with the 

 counlry. 



Manilla is situated on an extensive plain, gradu- 

 ally swelling into distant hills, beyond which, 

 again, mountains rise b the background, Id the 

 height of Beveral thousand feet. The latter are 

 apparently clothed with vegetation to their sum- 

 mits. The city is in strong contrast to this luxu- 

 riant scenery, bracing evident marks of decay, 

 particularly in the churches, whose staples and 

 tile roofs liave a dilapidated look. The (*ite of the 

 city does not nppear to have been well chosen, 

 it having apparently been selected entirely for the 

 convenience of commerce, ami the communication 

 that the outlet of the lake affords for the batteaux 

 that transport the produce from the shores of the 

 Lacuna de Bay to the city. 



There are many arms or branches to this stream, 

 which have beer, converted into canals; and almost 

 any part of Manilla may now be reached in a 

 bonea. 



In the afternoon, in company with Captain Hud- 

 son, 1 paid my first visit to Manilla. The anchor- 

 age considered safest for large ships is nearly three 

 miles from the shore, but smaller vessels may lie 

 much nearer, and even enter the caual; a facility 

 of which a number of these take advantage, to 

 accomplish any repairs they may have occasion to 

 make. 



The canal, however, is generally filled with 

 coasting vessels, batteaux from the lake, and 



lighters for the discharge of the vessels lying in 

 tho roads. The bay of Manilla is safe, excepting 

 during the change of the nu-iiftinib, w hen it is sub- 

 ject to the typhoons of the China Seas, within 

 whose range it lies. These blow at times with 

 much force, and cause great damage. Foreign 

 vessels have, however, kept thiB anchorage, and 

 rode out these storms in safety; but native as well 

 as Spanish vessels seek at these limes the port of 

 Cavite, about three leagues tu the south-west, at 

 the entrance of the bay, which is perfectly secure. 

 Here the government dockyard is situated, and this 

 harbour is consequently the resort of the few gun- 

 boats and galleys that aro stationed here. 



The entrance to the canal or river Paaig is three 

 hundred feet wide, and is enclosed between two 

 well-constructed piers, which extend for some dis- 

 tance into the bay. On the end of one of these 

 is the lighthouse, and on the other a guard-house. 

 The walls of these piers are about four feet above 

 ordinary high water, and include the natural chan- 

 nel cf the river, whose curreuts sets out with 

 some force, particularly when the ebb is making in 

 the bay. 



The suburbs, or Binoudo quarter, contain more 

 inhabitants than tho city itself, and is tho com- 

 mercial town. They have all tho stir and life 

 incident to a large population actively engaged in 

 trade, and in this respect the contrast with the 

 city proper is great. 



The city of Manilla is built in the form of a 

 large segment of a circle, liaving the chord of the 

 segment on the river : tho whole is Btmngly forti- 

 fied with walla and ditches. The houses are sub- 

 stantially built after the fashion of the mother 

 country* Within the walls ore the governor's 

 palace, custom-house, treasury, admiralty, several 

 churches, convents, and charitable institutions, n 

 university, and the barracks for the troops ; it also 

 contains some public squares, on one of which b» a 

 bronze statue of Charles IV. 



The city is properly deemed tho court resi- 

 dence of thc*e islands ; and all those attached 

 to the government, or who wish to be considered 

 as of the higher circle, reside here; but foreigners 

 are not permitted to do so. The houses in the 

 city are generally of stone, plastered, and white 

 or yellow washed on the outside. They are ouly 

 two stories high, and in consequence cover a 



