The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-17


people be found who have leisure to turn all
these into smoke? The answer is found in the
fact, that smoking is almost universal among
the inhabitants of Eastern Asia and the East
India islands.
Manila hemp is known among all maritime
nations, and the cordage made of it is consid-
cred superior to all other kinds for certain pur-
Poses. 1t may not be generally known that it
is not the product of the hemp plant, but of a
species of palm, very similar to the plsntain
tree. The stalk is composed of numerous lay
ers, which lie upon each other, and which, at
The height of fifteen or twenty feet, expand
into the large leaf peculiar to the palm. 1t is
from the layers of the stalk that the fibre is
obtained, by removing the parenchyma. The
average length Of that brought to market is six
or seven feet, but it is sometimes seen fifteen
feet long.
Trade with the Philippines is slowly incress-
ing. About l15 ships annually visit the port
of Manila. IF the industry of the inhabitants
was stimulated by liberal and enlightened
Government, the amount of exports might be
increased many fold.
The Catholic religion is the only form al
lowed. Professionalism and paganism are ex-
cluded with equal zeal. Catholic missionaries
! entered the islands with the first colonists, in
the sixteenth century; and the zeal and perse-
/
labored, is manifested by the wide extension
and powerful influence Of their religion. At
the present time there are several hundred
| Spanish and native priests scattered over the
islands, and they have churches wherever the
| Spanish power extends. In and near Manila
ere more than thirty churches, most of which
are large and costly edi6ces, with immense in
comes, from property acquired in the early
times of the colony.
All the natives are baptized into the church,
and are taught to observe its forms and cere.
monies. Fasts and saints days are kept strict
| ly. Pictures and images of Christ, the Virgin,
and of saints, may be seen in every house. Ev-
cry one has a cross or rosary suspended from
the neck. Priests in long gowns and broad
hats are often seen in the streets. Everything
shows the absolute subsection of the people to
the religion of their rulers.
| 1t was the season of Lent during my stay in
Manila. Balls, parties, and theatricals, were
suspended, but cockpits were allowed to be
open, as usual, on Sundays, and other saints
days. On Palm Sunday, the fronts of houses
were decorated with wreaths Of palm leaf, which
had received the benediction of the priest. Re-
! liglous professions of various kinds were now
got up, and continued on Monday, Tuesday,
and Wednesday, of Holy Week. Images, large
as life, representing scenes in the trial and
elevated platforms, and attended by bands OF
music, military companies, priests, nuns, and
people.
On Thursday everybody was supposed to go
into mourning for the death of Christ Shops
were shut up, and all business suspended. Car
riages, carts, horses, and even umbrellas, were
! forbidden to be seen on the streets Flags were
| hung at halfmast, and the military marched
with arms reversed and mufaed drums. On
the evening of this day, all the faithful made ii
point to visit all the churches in Manila. At
several of them, images of the dead Christ were
laid cut in state, and crowds of kneeling wor-
shippers covered the floors.
On the evening of Good Friday, the grand
procession of Holy Week came off. 1t was
! called the Procession of the Santo Entrerro,"
or holy burial. A programme of the order
and route was circulated day or two before
hand. 1t started from the church of San Do.
Iningo, and, after traversing several streets, re-
turned to the same. 1t was composed of line
of torch bearers on each side of the street,
marching in single file. Between these two
files were the images of five saints, seven bands
Of music, priests bearing wax candles, the Gov
ernor General and other high officers, members
of colleges, &c. These were all arranged at
suitable intervals. About the middle of the
procession was the funeral car, bearing the
image of the dead Christ, dressed in the most
splendid burial robes, and enclosed in a large
glass case. The face was exposed, and illumi.
mated by numerous lamps around the car. AS
this and the image of the Virgin passed, all the
gazing multitudes devoutly kneeled, and made
the sign of the cross.
The images OF the saints, especially that OF
| the Virgin, were dressed in the most gorgeous
robes of silk and satin, which glittered with
gold embroidery and Jewels. There were thir.
ty-one priests, who bore as many socalled "At.
tributes of the Passion" These consisted of a
hammer, nails, sponge, spear, bloody shirt
crown of thorns, and various other things, sup
posed to have connection with the Cruci6xion
On Saturday morning, at 10 A. NJ, Christ
/ was supposed to rise from the dead, and then
Lent was ended. This was announced by the
ringing OF bells, shooting of guns, beating Of
drums, and all sorts of boisterous demonstrs
tons of joy. Immediately crowds of busy men
and vehicles filled the streets, and renewed ami
nation succeeded the oppressive silence which
had reigned for forty hours.
On Sunday morning, the ceremonies of the
occasion were concluded by what deserves to
be called contemplate farce. Two process
slons started at an early hour from different
churches. One of them attended the image oil
the risen Christ, and the other that of the Vir
gin, in deep mourning. The two professions
met in public square, and the images were
made to salute each other three times after
which, the black robe was shifted from the Vir
gin, and she stood adorned in her glittering
robes. The professions then united, and es-
corted the images to one of the churches, where
they remain until another occasion arises for
religious parade.
No man with the Bible in his hand can look
upon these silly displays, and believe they par
take in the least degree of pure religion. They
are used by ignorant and bigoted rulers and
priests, as means of impressing and crafty
! ing people who know nothing of religion be-
yond its forms. 1t is a melancholy considera
| ton, that, after almost three centuries of mis-.
sionsry labor, the moral condition of the natives
should be 80 little if at all, elevated, above that
OF the tribes aronnd them, who continue in
Il heathenism.
i COCK-FIGITING.
One of the principal amusements of the ma
tives of the Philippines is ccck-hghting. This
barbarous sport is made source of revenue to
the Government, and the privilege of opening
cockpI's in province is farmed out to one OF
more individuals. These pits are not allowed to
be open except on Sundays and the festival DAYS
of the church. Almost every Malay has his
favorite cock, which he chsrishes with the ten.
derest care. About every fifth man in a pro-
miscuous crowd has a rooster under his arm,
and one may be seen tied to the door of almost
every hut. On a day when the ock-pit is open,
crowds are assembled under long shed, where
the cocks are paired and fights arranged.
The Growing of such multitudes of birds,
miugling with the jsbbering of Mslays, makes
! confused bedlam, not inviting to delicate ears.
The fights take place in an elevated area,
around which is gallery for spectators. When
two cofnbatsnts are brought into the ring, an
anxious buzz of excitement is heard for a mo-