A Visit to the Philippine Islands

er is exported in the form of cheroots (which is the Oriental word for cigars), and the remainder sent to Spain in leaves and cigars, being estimated as an annual average contribution exceeding 800,0

you frequently get a hint that "the weed" is not from the estanco real. From functionaries able to obtain the best which the government brings to market, a present is often volunteered, which shows that they avail themselves of something better than that best. And in discussing t

increase in the revenues fr

l Ave

85 260,597 doll

r

(15 years) 4,

006

r

(15 years) 7,

871

r

(15 years) 8,

225

r

(5 years) 3,7

433

r

(4 years) 4,9

,503

uce has more than q

d so corrupt;-where communications are so imperfect and sometimes wholly interrupted;-where large tracts of territory are in the possession of tribes unsubdued or in a state of imperfect subjection;-where even among the more civilized Indians the rights of property are rudely defined, and civil authority imperfectly maintained;-where smuggling, though it may be attended with some risk, is scarcely deemed by anybody an offence, and the very highest functionaries themselves smok

ll

,000 cigars, whose value is

f tobacco cos

ture 5·

t 2 rials

3

it 7

s, 1st Caballeros and Londres; second size, 250 to a box-2nd Regalias and 1st Cortados, 2nd Caballeros, 1st Havanas (ordinary size, and such as are more commonly used, Nos. 2 and 3 being those in most demand); 500 to a box-Nos. 2, 3, 4

es for these cig

ll

x contains 12

and Cabal

nt

ci

·

s, 1 Cor

nt

ci

·

ava

ort

o

nt

ci

·

ava

ort

o

nt

ci

·

ava

o

nt

ci

·

ava

o

nt

ci

·

dre

nt

ci

·

ctions. So large is the demand that it is difficult to obtain any but

rsons probably find occupation in the preparation of this article of luxury, to say nothing of those employed in its production. The provinces in which there are establishments for the

g kept for some years,-for otherwise, like the tobacco of the island of Negros, it burns the mouth. It is a narcotic, and will subdue recent tumours. It is salutary when smoked, and even a necessity in these regions; it disperses phlegm, protects from the bad consequences of humidity and the morning dews, and is only injurious to health when used in excess. Snuff relieves from headaches and disperses gloomy humours. A small piece

admiration, and says acts of dishonesty are very rare among them, and that property is conveyed in perfect safety through the province. The quantity of leaf transmitted was 300,000 bales, divided into seven qualities, of which the prices paid were from two to seven rials per quintal, leaving a l

idly extending. The harvest takes place generally from March to May. Four groups of labourers are employed: the cutters and the carters in the field, the grinders and the boilers in the manufactory. Improvements are gradually being introduced, as larger capitalists and more intelligent cultivators come forward; and the establishment of refineries now in progress will induce many beneficial changes. Much of the clayed sugar which I saw delivered at Manila for refining into loaves had rather the appearance of dirty mud than of a valuable commodity. Though slowly, the work of improvement goes on, and there could b

e years; in others, the soil is allowed to rest an intermediate year, and maize or other produce grown. When cut, the canes are carried to mills called by the natives cabayavan, to be crushed. The mills consist of two cylindrical stones with teeth of the molave wood; a buffalo turns the wheel and the juice is conveyed to the boilers. The improvements of the West are being slowly introduced, and su

ocoa-nuts may be considered at about equal to rice in the yearly benefits they leave, but the conditions are so various that it may be difficult to generalize. It may,

under the two general heads of water and mountain rice. The aquatic rice is cultivated as in Europe and America; the sowing of the dry rice usually precedes that of the water rice, and

a thorough impregnation of the ground with water, of which several inches remain on the surface. Ploughing and harrowing produce a mass of humid mud. During the growth of the seed, irrigation is continued, and after six weeks the crops are ready for transplanting to the rice-fields. Men generally pull up the plants, and convey them to the fields, where women up to their knees in mire separate the plants, and place them in holes at a regular distance of about five inches from one another. They are left for some days

the ground. More care is sometimes taken, and holes made at regular distances, into which three or four grains of ric

harvest has been known to perish in consequence of the

on the part of the growers, manufacturers and exporters. The crops, however, are uncertain, and often seriously damaged or destroyed by tempestuous weather, and by invasions of caterpillars. The seed is broadcast, sown immediately after the temperate season. It grows rapidly, but requires to have the weeds which spring up with it cleare

betel, or to the materials of which it is composed. There are two warehouses where the leaf in which the areca nut is wrapped is sold wholesale; there are 105 retail shops for the same article, and there are 308 shops in which is sold for immediate use

ey do on growing to a certain size. The use of the nut, which is somewhat smaller than a hen's egg, is well known. When the bonga is wanting, the Indians employ the bark of the guava, or of the antipolo (Artocarpus). Mixed with lime and the pepper leaf, it makes the saliva red. The Indians apply this saliva to the navel of their children as a cure for the colic and a protection from the effects of cold

(sesame), or other oleaginous fruits. The tree must be frequently watered. The roots are renovated after a year, but if left to grow old they produce flowers like the litlit (Piper obliquum). The fruit is called by the natives poro. Of the Piper parvifolium, an inebriating liquor is made. The Indians use the leaves as a preservative against the cholera. All the species of Piper are useful against the poison of snakes. The wound is first scarified, and either the juice or bruised leaves of the plant applied and frequently changed. 'I wa

nourishes man or beast, to the weapons that destroy his life: for the comforts of home; for the conveniences of travel; for the construction of bridges, several hundred feet in length, over which heavy artillery can safely pass; for shipping and cordage; for shelter, and for dwellings and domestic utensils of all sorts; for vessels of every size to retain, and tubes to convey, water and other fluids; for mats, palings, and scaffoldings; for musical instruments, even organs for churches; for a hundred objects of amusement; and, indeed, for all the purposes of life the bamboo is distinguished. It is the raw material on which the rude artist makes his experiments-roots, trunks, branches, leaves, all are called into the field of utility. There is much of spontaneous production, but it may be multiplied by layers and cuttings. Some of the bamboos grow to an enormous size. That called by the natives cauayang totoo, and by the Spaniard

of this material alone, and the protecting police furnished from it with garments, hats and instruments of punishment. The living trees would fill a conservatory with forms and colours of wondr

have been found of more than treble that length. They are used for cords and cables; but as the fibres are susceptible of divisions, down to a very fine thread, they are woven into delicate

ne of the plantain family-the Musa trogloditarum textoria. Dampier says that its growth is confined to the island of Mindanao; but the quantity there grown is, at the present time, trifling compared to the production of Luzon, Panay, and other islands of the archipelago. The finer qualities are in considerable demand for weaving, and these are, of course, subjected to a more elaborate manipulation. It readily receives red and blue dyes; the morinda and marsdenia, native plants, being employed for the purpose. The fruit is said to be edible, but I am not aware of ever having seen it introduced,

is scarcely a limit to the unappropriated lands well suited to their production. Some of the coffee is of ex

e is little attentive to the proper selection of soil, the temperature or elevation of the ground, the choice of the seed, the pruning of the tree, the care of the berry, the separation of the outer coatings, and other details, which may h

. In the convents particularly, the friars are proud of their chocolate, which is generally made under their own superintendence, and from fruit raised in their own grounds and gar

u is reported to be equal in excellence to that of the Caracas. In the island of Negros there is a large sponta

capabilities of British India are great, and the elements of success are there; but the capabilities of China are vastly greater, and I believe that as in two or three years China was able to send raw silk to the value of ten millions sterling into the market, and immediately to make up for the absence of the European supply, so to China we may hereafter look for a boundless supply of raw cotton; she now clothes more than three hundred and fifty millions of her people from her own cotto

. There is a domestic demand, and that seems to satisfy the grower, for cotton has almost ceased to be an article of foreign trade. The staple is said to be short. The plant is an

loyed for caulking and cables; the shell of the cocoa is wrought and carved in many ways for spoons, cups and domestic utensils; the burnt shell is employed for dyeing black. The trunk often forms the frame, the leaves the cover, of the Indian houses. The fibres

aint, soap, roofing for his house, strings for his rosaries, tow, red dye, medicine, plaister for wounds, light, fire, and many other necessaries. It produces fruit after seven years' growth. The nipa palm is almost, though

prized productions of the islands. It is said that the Indians destroyed all their

stly spices, such as the Cinnamon and Nut

sorts of oranges, pines (ananas) in great quantities, guavas, rose-apples, and the mangosteen is found in Mindanao. The chico is a favourite fruit in

In the year 1858 Colonel Valdes published a report on the character and resistance of Philippine woods for buildings (maderas de construction). The specimens on which the experiments were made we

he following tables, which give

asti

gth of

y a constant weight of 1 ki

ich fractur

ed at the cent

rters of the wood: in some 6

isms, 1 squar

the same

ucing fractur

acture by bending,

irection of the fibres (diagonal

al Qualities of Woods, extrac

building, either on account of their cost,

asticity. Resistance

sion or Cohes

e fibre. Perpendic

ototan. Molave. M

ava Malabugat. B

n. Baliti. Malaruj

yuan. Molave.

Alupag. Guijo.

atao. *Balibago. A

acal. *Camagon. Y

lave. *Ebano. C

. Malavidondao. Banab

ay. Bitoc. *Bali

Malacintud. Amoguis.

Pincapincahan. Ca

o. Palo-Maria.

a. *Manga. Mala

Banabà. Mangac

. Calumpit. *Tin

ia. Calamansanay. *

a. Palma-brava. *A

is. Palusapis.

n. Malarujat. *S

longita. Palma-

la. Tugan. Bolo

jo. Sampaloc. P

apuy. *Santol. Anin

anay. Panao. *M

*Camagon. Antipol

Banabà. Anonan

latapay. Acre. *Ali

ta. *Alintatao. Ma

i. Guijo. Palo-Mari

an. *Pincapincahan. *P

dondao. Tanguil

*Narra. Calumpit. B

incahan. Dongon. S

d. Amoguis. *Ebano.

ntipolo. Tagan.

lin. Ypil. Tan

alumpit. *Baticulin.

. Malatalisay. C

Camayuan. Panao

Aninabia. Malatalis

at. Acre. Baliti.

ipolo. *Tindalo.

l. Bancal. Banc

eti. Palusapis. *Mal

angachapuy. Malab

. *Malacatbun. Anonang.

n. *Baticulin. *Malacat

e. Maximum elasticity to be allowed in construction (buildings). Weight corresponding to thi

s. Tension or strength of cohes

the grain perpendicularly. Absol

Kilo. Kilo. Kilo. Kilo

cre (Monodelphi

and shipping. 1·6 13·0 4·78 68·0 1·10 1·12 49

s piloshantera (?) (

Luzon and Visayas. 1·3 6·3 6·21 68·0 1·25 0·91 59

phoria litchi (Oct

80 60·0 1·40 0·92 666 220 1,242 1/14

yrtocarpa quinquistila

ks. 1·4 9·0 5·06 68·0 1·40 0·98 338 130 5

a-Mimosa conaria(?) (

eight and long duration. 1·2 7·0 4·83 68·0 1·15 0·59

sebesteria (Penta

r drums and musical instruments. 0.4 4.0 8·28 60·0 0·5

arpus incisa (Mo

rom a gum that exudes. 0·1 10·0 5·52 68·0 0·9 0·41

s tellacius (Monod

he charcoal. 1·0 10·0 5·52 68·0 0·9 0·46 616 200

Indica (Mon?c

ounds. 0·2 0·6 14·95 60·0 0·7 0·40 498 176 1

onia quadripinnata (D

ithout decay. Abounds. 0·2 0·1 2·10 68·0 0·9 0·42

ia speciosa (Poliad

d water. 0·7 0·7 5·06 68·0 1·3 0·65 348 126

glaberrima (Pent

s, ships, casks and quays. 1·2 10·5 4·60 68·0 0·6 0·

oc-Mir

13·0 9·90 68·0 1·7 0·71 338 100 1,010 1

iospyros (Octan

·9 10·8 8·40 68·0 1·2 0·90 360 120 858

rnatia calamansanay (

10·0 8·74 68·0 1·3 0·86 533 130 892

dar)-Cedrela odorata (

Taratara, a variety. 1·0 7·0 5·06 68·0 0·85 0·40

nalia edulis (Dec

ne of the fibres. 1·0 11·2 8·68 68·0 1·0 0·60 to 0·8

f the Diospyros pilo

Fine furniture. 1·1 9·3 7·36 68·0 1·35 0·92 558

uan-Dios

68·0 1·3 0·94 434 340 493 1/1333

Herculia ambiformis

·3 7·57 6·44 68·0 1·1 1·02 435 200 658

e negro Diospyros nigra; vari

·45 51·6 1·1 1·91 688 470 1,122 1/86

arpus guijo (Poli

med and abundant. 1·3 10·5 7·70 68·0 1·5 0·76 37

r laneti (Penta

14·8 4·50 68·0 1·3 0·55 336 120 462

pterocarpus thurifera

. Not splintered by balls. Abounds. 1·1 8·0 6·80 68·0 0·

ra sarmentosa (?) (Po

68·0 ... 0·63 146 60 306 1

alac

·5 6·80 68·0 1·1 0·645 400 160 995 1

dao-Mavindal

0·81 68·0 1·3 0·78 350 116 1,103 1/7

inalia mauritania (

15 15·0 2·82 42·3 0·8 0·50 300 60 498

or Maladujat-

7·8 8·51 68·0 1·5 0·79 340 76 870 1/1

o Talang-Diospyros embriopt

ny. 2·0 12·3 7·25 68·0 1·15 0·78 500 290

alab

al pressure. 0·7 8·5 4·00 68·0 0·5 0·89 330 12

ra Indica (Penta

ood little used. 0·6 13·0 0·12 60·0 1·3 0·58

ilao-Dipterocarpus magacha

ors. 1·25 5·8 3·64 68·0 1·3 0·88 438 136

culata altissima (Di

ction of water and of lime; also attacks of insects. 1·0 11·0 12·31 68

Pterocarpus palidus santalin

1·73 7·3 6·20 68·0 1·00 0.66 500 200 63

ol-Calophilum mophilum (

3 9·20 68·0 1·05 0.68 400 126 950 1/

najao-Coripha minor

d for piles. 1·0 6·5 8·74 68·0 1·20 1.085 530

carpus palusapis (Po

5 9·66 60·0 0·70 0.50 440 146 870 1/

pajo-Dipterocarpus vernicep

o, is used for light by the Indians. Gives the talay oil, which destroys insects in wood. Used

onia quadripinnata (D

5 6·0 10·80 60·0 1·05 0.46 378 106 972 1

izophora gimaoriza (D

. 0·2 7·0 19·78 60·0 1·20 0.69 420 146 1,78

nd-Tamarindus Indica

·0 12·0 8·28 68·0 0·95 0.62 320 90 846

cum Indicum (Deca

7·0 9·00 60·0 1·20 0.46 630 ... 810 1

arpus polispermum (P

8·0 0·90 0.57 300 100 693 1/1031 =

longissima (?) (Do

8·40 68·0 0·90 0.65 330 60 658 1/756

rhomboidea (Deca

1·6 5·5 4·60 68·0 1·30 0.89 450 106 470

rpus plagatus (Pol

0·8 11·50 68·0 1·30 1.105 450 200 1,174

decandria (Deca

2·0 13·5 5·50 68·0 1·20 1.035 434 300 56