Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-06-29

lue piHoS vi ioui u'lie'eh1 'cSilnelIS, WHO tOl-
lect there after the evening parade Most of
he better class resort here, for the pleasure of
enjoying it. We went thither tt see the people
as well as to hear the music. This is the great
resort of the haut ton, who usually have their
carriages in waiting, and promenade !, groups
backwards and forwards during the tine tile
the music is playing. This is by far the best
opportunity that one can have for viewing the
society of Mannilla, which seems as easy aid
unrestraned as the peculiar gravity and ceremo
nous mode Of intercourse among the old Span
iards can admit. Before the present governor
took office, it had been the custom to allow the
bands to play on the Prado every fine evening,
when all the inhabitants could enjoy it until a
late hour; but he has interdicted this practice,
and of course given much dissatisfaction he is
said to have done this in fit of i'll temper, and
although importuned to restore this amusement
to the common people, he pertinaciously refuses.
In passing the crowds of carriages very little
display of female beauty is observed, and although
we'll dressed above, one cannot but revert to their
wearing no stockings beneath.
On the Prado is small theatre but so infe-
rior, that the building scarce deserves thcname !;
the acting was equally bad. This amusement
meets with little encouragement in Manila, and
was tod, was discountenanced by the governor.
had the pleasure during our stay Of attend
ing tertulia in the city. The company was
not large one, comprising some thirty or forty
ladies, and about sixty ghntlemen 1t resembled
those of the mother country. Dancing was in
duced at an early hour and continued till a few
minutes of eleven o'clock, at which time the
gates of the city are always shut 1t was anu
sing to see the sudden breaking up of the party,
most of the guests residing out of the city.
The calling for carriages, shaws, hats, &c, pro-
troduced for a few minutes great confusion, every
one being desirous of getting off at the earliest
moment possible, for fear of being too late.
This regulation, by which the gates are closed
at so early an hour, doessnot appear necessary,
and only serves to interrupt the communication
between the foreign and S spanish society, as the
former is obliged, before observed, to live out
ide of the city proper This want of free in
tercourse is to be regretted, as it prevents that
kind of friendship by which many of their jeal-
ousies and prejudices might be removed
The society at this iertulia was easy, and so
far as the enjoyment of dancing went, pleasant:
butthere was no conversation. The refreshments
consisted of few duces, lemonade, and strong
drinks in an ante-room. The house appeared
ryspacious and well adapted for entertainments,
but only one Of the rooms was lighted. From
the novelty of the scene, and the attentions of
the gentleman of the house, we passed plea
SAINT evening
The market is a neyer-failing place Of amuse-
ment to foreigner, for there a crowd Of the
common people is always to be SEEN and their
mode Of conducting business may be observed.
The canals here afford great facilities for bringing
vegetables and produce to Market in a fresh state.
The vegetables are chiefly brought from the
shores Of the Laguna de Bay, through the river
Pasig. The meat appeared inferior; and as IN
all Spanish places the art of butchering is not
understood.-The poultry, however, surpasses
that of any other place have seen, particularly
in ducks; the breeding of which is pursued to a
great extent. Establishments for breeding these
birds are here carried on in systematic manner
and are a great curiosity. They consist of ma
ny small enclosures, each about twenty feet by
forty or fifty, made of bamboo, which are placed
on the bank of the river and partly covered with
water In one corner of the enclosure is a small
house, where the eggs are hatched by artificial
heat, produced by rce-chat in state OF fermenta-
ton. 1t is not uncommon to see six or eight |
hundred ducklings all of the same age. There |
are several hundreds of these enclosures and the
number of ducks of all ages may be computed
at millions. The manner in which they are
schooled to take exercise, and t9 60 in and out
of the water and return to their house, almost
exceeds belief. The keepers offenders are of the
TagaIa tribe, who live, Pear the enclosures and
have them at all times under their eye. The old
birds are not suffered to approach theyoung, and
allof one age are/kept together. They are fed
upon rice and asmaIl species of shcll-fsh that
is found in tre river and is peculiar to it. From
the extentof these establishments we inferred
that ducks were the favorite food at Manila, and
the Consumption of them must be immense.
Iheimarkets are we'll supplied with chickens,
pigeons, young partndges, which are brought in
alive and turkeys. Among the strange articles
that we saw for sale were cakes Of coa%ulated
blood. The markets are we'll stocked with va
rety of fish, taken both in the Laguna and Bay
of Manila, affordng supply of both the fresh
and saltwater species, and many smaller kinds
that are dried and smoked. Vegetables are in
great plenty, and consist Of pumpkins, lettuce,
onions, radishes very long squashes, DC. of fruits
they have melons, chicos, durians, marbolas, and
oranges
T...,~, Dn,nr AVN