162 EASTERN OEOCKAl'DY. 



Eajitfirn Archipelago. Palawan ia only nominnUy under the authority nf 

 the Spaniards, who maintain a solitary military estabhsliment at l'uriu 

 Princess on the e;ist coast. 



Government*— For administrative p u rpos es the Archipelngo is 

 divided into forty-three departments or province governed by 



AlortEiiu? i it- Cor: mdanK under the general ••• -ntr. <I ..£' a f invvnior- 



(ii-iii-r:i| and C;i]>1aii)'( JuinTiil. TIjum: othVial* are practically absolute 

 in their respective jurisdictions, the great bulk of the population 

 Wing still unripe for civil or communal right*, A large degree of 

 authority is also Lenencially exercised by the ministers of the Unman 

 Catholic Church, which here boast* of more numerous d m^regaltona 

 than in any other part of the Asiatic world. The hierarchy com- 

 prises an. archbishop (Manila), three bixhops, ami nearly 500 parish 

 priest*, supported by a a mall poll-tax levied on all Christians, mid 

 by the revenue of large landed estates. The public revenue El also 

 derived to a great extent from a capitation tux, supplemented: wich 

 custom-dues, a tobacco monopoly, an excue on palm- wine, and a few 

 other sources, 



Trade.— In the absence of railways, or even good roads and 

 bridge, thi' tiatur.il rvs. .nnvs nf tli*! Archi]vlai;o -Mil n-iiuiin l-« a 

 lai^e extent undeveloped. Nevertheless, a considerable export trade 

 is supported by the pn.duce of the pngar, tobacco, hemp, and coffee 

 pi nutations. Cotton and rice are mostly required for the local eon- 

 Biimption, hut other articles nf i.-xpnrt itrt- Mrnlu-T, e*|'n-''ially ?apan, 

 indi^ gums, hides, and mother-of-pearl. The chief imports are 

 cottons, hard-wan 1 , enn-kery, China goods, and provisions nf nil pm-u 



Topography, — Nearly all the foreign trade of the Archipelago 

 passes through the capital, Manila, founded in 1571 near tike mouth 

 nf the river Paaig, OH the east side of Manila Bay, west coast of 

 Luzon, Manila has extensive commercial relations with China, 

 Europe, and America, and enjoyB telegraphic commnnicRtion with 

 tin? vi'.-t of I hi! w.irld through the fable to Hong-kimg. laid d<»wn in 

 lflfiO, As the centre of the Spanish possessions, and next to Gna, 

 the oldest Etir"]i*.i\n town En the TLwui, Manila possesses, numerous 

 public buildings ttittStffie, charitable,, ond religious institution h, 

 The climate, although hot (mean temperature Hi* F,}, in nut un- 

 healthy : but ihe pla«-e is exposed to terrific hurricane (typhoons;, 

 thunderstorm?, and earthquake 



Next in importance tn Munilit is thu sr-njioU of Ii>-»iJ>u oil tlic spilth 

 coast of Panay, the outlet of the best bjenip-;rrmviiig djjarirt. Oth.-r stnnll 

 centres of trade and population are Zebu, on the east side of the inland of 



