60 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
become completely wild: in many parts they are half¬ 
wild, being only caught and used as occasion demands. 
Oxen are bred numerously, but sheep are rarely seen. 
The principal ports in the Philippines are Manila and 
its secondary harbour of Cavite; Iloilo in Panay; Zebu ; 
Aparri in the extreme north of Luzon, the port of the 
tobacco district; Ilocos, also in North Luzon; and Capiz 
in Panay. About two-thirds of the shipping trade is 
British. In 1890 the number of British vessels which 
entered the port of Manila was 153. The import trade 
will, however, doubtless be checked by the establishment 
of a new Customs tariff, which has raised the duties 
considerably. This was promulgated in April, 1891, and 
is apparently protective in its aim, for by its provisions 
all Spanish manufactures arriving in Spanish vessels are 
admitted free of duty. The total value of imports and 
exports, according to the last published official report 
(1888) is as follows: Imports, £4,000,000; Exports, 
£5,000,000. After the British the German trade comes 
next in importance. 
A project for the establishment of a general network 
of railways throughout the most populous parts of Luzon 
and elsewhere has been under consideration for some 
years, but up to the present time the only line con¬ 
structed is the Manila-Dagupan, which is about 120 
miles in length. This was opened for traffic in Novem¬ 
ber, 1892. The telegraph is confined to Luzon, and the 
service has been established in 59 towns and villages. 
It extends to both extremities of the island, and has been 
found of the greatest benefit in giving warning of the 
approach of typhoons. The postal service is largely carried 
on by the interinsular steamers, for in the less civilised 
districts the want of bridges and the execrable condition 
of the roads greatly impede inland communication. 
