The times., 1898-05-03
SCENE OF THE NAVAL FIGHT
'aNite Is About Ten Miles South
SOuthNvcst of MnniIm.

Cavite. the scene of Sundays naval
battle. in the Philippines, is a fortified
seaport town on the Island of I.uzon.
on which Manila. the capital of the Phil
ippine Islands, is situated Cavite is in
the Bay of Manila, The town of Cavite
has population of over 5000, and the
population of the port Is less than GG9
souls. There is an arsenal at Cavite
which is the capital of the province of the
same name. The residence of the gov
ernor IS situated there, and the place is
the chief naval depot of the Spanish pos
sessions of that part of the world.
Manila, the capital city of the Island
of Luzon. and of all the Philippine ISL
ands, is also situated on Manila Bay. at
the mouth of the River Pasig.
The town stands on the south side. has
dilapidated look, but is said to be
strongly fortified. On the north side is
the Binondo suburb. which is the resi-
dence of the foreign merchants and the
great center of trade It is more popu-
lous than the city itself
Manila has both a Spanish and an Ori-
entail appearance. There are long lines of
heavily mounted batteries, dark-looking
churches, strange-looking towers. and
massive houses Of solid masonry. These
mlngle with light little houses. or cot
tages. IN groves of tropical trees, raised
from the ground by posts, in order 10 per-
NIT the free passage OF the waters in the
rainy season. The streets are straight
mostly unpaVed. and almost fmpa ssa bile
during the rainy season
In the city the houses are two stories
high, and each has its central col,rtvsr,i
There resides the heads of the state. the
church and the army. and all those who
claim TO belong 10 the aristocracv.
Beyond the Escalta is a colony of Chi
nese. Indians and half castles who do
business as goldsmiths and jewelers..
painters and enamelers oil and soap
merchants, confectioners and keepers Of
gambling houses and cook shops. The
other suburbs have each a special char
acter. For instance, San Fernando is the
seat of the great cigar manufactures.
and Santo Mesa is the center of the cord
age mandatory. AT the Alcaicerfa sub
urb the Chinese sampans discharge their
cargoes; the fishermen and weaVers in
habit the suburb of Tondo and its gar
dens supply the markets with fruit and
vegetables The suburb Of MaIate is IA
nous for its embroideries. Paco is where
the artisans and artists live and health
seekers flock to Santa Ana and San Pedro
Macati.
The principal buildings in Manila are
the Cathedral, the palace of the governor.
the palace of the archbishop. the town
hail. a beautiful building; ten churches
belonging to the different orders: several
monasteries. a number of converts. the
arsenal. three colleges for young men.
two colleges for young women, the SUI
preme court building the prison. the civil
hospital, the university the marine
school, the commercial school. the thea
ter. large building; the custom house
and the barracks
There are several large squares in Man
lila, the largest of which is the Prado in
which is situated a bronze statue of
Charles ".
Manila's municipality dates from the
year ISL when the city was founded b.
Legaspi 1t is a splendid trade center. ana
ranks with Calcutta and Batavia Being
the chief port in the Philippines. all their
productions flow there and its harbor is
visited by a very great number of yes
sells of all sorts and sizes Its exports
consist of sugar, tobacco, indigo Manila
hemp and cordage, gold dust. birds nests.
coffee. sapanwood. mats. hats, hides.
trepang, tortoise she'll cigars, cotton.
rice, etc.
It's manufactures are chiefly cigars and
cheroots, a government monopoly; cord
age from the filaments of the abaca;
beautiful fabrics. known as pinas. woven
from the fibers OF the pineapple leaf. and
afterward eXquisitely embroidered; va
rious other cloths made of the abaca fila
mcnt, pure and mixed cotton fabrics.
mats and cigar cases
In 1915 Manila was nearly destroyed b.
earthquakes, which have since frequently
and severely visited the place. British
fleet captured Manila in 1862. and held 1t
for fifteen months. when it was by treaty
restored TO Spain.