Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-05-21

commences II March. the greatest
heat being experienced from APRIL To
the end of May, and the third. which !
il excessively wet. continues from |
June to the middle OF November.
Generally speaking. the natives are
mild and amiable. predisposed TO re-
igioas observances. extremity super
stitious aud very hospitsble- Those OF
Batangas. CaCayan and Southern Ilocos
are better and more industrious la
borers than those Of the otherFprov-
inces. During their youth they work
with energy and certain mental
+ vigor. but on reaching more advanced
age lapse into Incidence. which Is one
OF their greatest defects
The women are averse - idleness.
have spirit OF enterprise and often
engage IN various trades with suc-
cess. They are economical and sac
ritice themselves cheerfully for those
20 whom they are attached.
Before the days Of Spanish rule
there was considerable commercial in
tercourse between the Philippines and
China aud Japan. but this. which
would naturally have developed enor-
mously Il the Spanish trade between
Manila and America had been left free.
was interrupted and at times almost
completely stopped by absurd restric-
,iors devised 90 secure u spain a
monopoly OF the American trade. For
a long period only single gaileon.
and that under government super
visiOa. was allowed 20 proceed yearly
from Manila 20 Acapulco. the value OF
the cargo each way being restricted
within a prescribed sum. Direct
ia le from Europe VIA the Cape of
7 Good Hope commenced IN lTG4. but,
"a II the exclusion from II 81 All but
Spanish ships was not sufficient. m
1-S5 a monopoly of this commerce wa
bestowed on the ROYAL Company of
the Philippines. With the close o
the eighteenth century a certair
amount ~ liberty began 90 be conced
b. al O. foreign vessels. The first Ems
lish commercial house was estabiiehe.
4, ia Manila i'm le)9. and IN 1884 th
y monopoly of the Royal Company eN
uirel. Manila remained the only por
for foreign trade till 1912. when Ceh
Il was also opened Jamboanga Niu
i ianaol. Iloiio .Panayl. Sual Luzon'
Lecazpi or Albany Luzonl and Ia
a., cloban LevteI are now in the sam
!, category. but only Manila. Iioilo an
b. Cebu have proved of real Importance
n, as they are the only ports where io
:. eirn-bouud vessels have hitherto loa,
ell
Tho exports from the United STATE
To- the Philippines have always bee
very insignificant. although our IN
ports from the islands have oite
reached Large proportions. The pri
cipal articles exported from this cou
try 20 the Philippines are -four. petrc
cum. leather goods, iron aud steel, ct
Imports from the PHILIPPINES are chief
sugar aud hemp.
The foreign trade OF the Phiippln
has always been subject 20 great hu
tuations The insecurity arising u
der tue Spanish administration. al
y the consequent dissatisfaction Of {
native population. together with c.
stantly recurring Instructions, Ia
prevented these islands from develo
ing the riches with which nature b
bountifully endowed them. Gro
sulphur and large deposits Of exceue
steamiug coal are widely distribut
over the country. and an intelhg'
government. coupled with enterpr
ov- in business and humanity Of spu