Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-26
Cavite and Manila Are Very
Interesting Places.
EARTHQUAKES AND HURRICANES
Are Frequent Visitors at These
Islands.


hold title among nations to the
richest. most picturesque group OF
islands in the great Pacific Ocean. In
that Ioriod there has been incessant
strife between the civil and tho ecclesi
astical nuthoritiea. In early times
Portugal and the Netherlands, covvting
the rich possessions, added to the
almost overwhelming troubles of the
Spaniards, while raids by Chinese
piratiCal fleets have been common.
In consequence of the attack by Com
modore Dewey's squadron the points in
the Philippines which most concern us
at this tmo arc Cavite and Manila
CAvIrE AND MANILA.
Cavite is fortified seaport town of
the Inland of Luzon. 1t is on the Bay
OF Manila, and about 10 miles south
southeast of tho city of Manila.
The town Of Cavite has population
of upward of 5000, but the popula
ton of the port is less than 600 soula
There is an arsenal at Cavite, which
is tho capital of the province of the
same name. The residence Of the Gov
ernor is situated there, and it ia the
chief naval depot of the Spanish posses
sions in that part Of tho world.
Manila, the capital city of the
ialands, is also on the island of Luzon
and on Manila by at tho mouth of the
River Pasig. The city forms the seg
ment Of a circle between the river and
thu sea, and its suburbs extend over
humorous inlets, formed by the river
and it's branches.
The River Pasig is prolonged into the
hay by two piers. At the end of one
of them ie small fort, and ut tho end
Of the other lighthouse Vessels OF
small tonnage can go up as far as the
| bridge which crosses the river.
The town stands on the south side,
has dilapidated look, but is said to
be strongly fortified. On the north side
| is tho Binondo suburb the residence of
| tho foreign merchants and the great
centre of trade. 1t is more populous
than the city itself.
Manila has both Spanish and an
Oriental appearance. There are long
lines of heavily mounted batteries,
| dark looking churches, strange looking
towers and massive houses of solid
masonry. Those mingle with light
small houses or cottages in groves of
.ropical trees, raised from the ground
by posts to permit the free passage of
the waters in the rainy season. The
streets are straight, mostly uppaved,
and are almost impassable during the
! rainy season.
Ia the city the houses are two stories
high, and each has its central court
yard There reside the heads of the
State, tho church and army and all
those who claim TO belong to the
ariBtucracy.
The bridge across the river leads
from the city proper into the Binondo
suburb, where a street called the
Eacolta runs to the right and TO the
left. II is lined with inuumerabe
shops, stores and stalls, and usually IS
crowded with pe0ple of various races.
| Beyond the Escolta ia a colony of
Chinese, Indians and half castes or
metis who do business as goldsmiths
and jewellers, painters and enamelers.
oil and soap merchants, oonfectionerH
and keepers of ganblinghouses and
conk shops.
Each of the other suburbs has it's
special charactsr. .- ...-...
San Fernando ia the seat of the great
cigar manufactures.
| Santo Mesa is the centre of the
cordags manufactory.
| At the Alcaicerfa suburb the Chinese
sampans discharge their cargoes
The fishermen aud weavers inhRbit
the suburb Of Tondo, and it's gardens
supply the markets with fruit and
| vegetables.
The suburbs of Malato is famous for
it's embroideries
Pace is where the artisans and
artists live.
Health seekers flock to Santa Ana
and San Pedro Macati.
Tho principal buildings of Manila
arc the Cathedral, the Palace of the
Governor, tho Palace Of the Arch
bishop, tho Town Hall, a beautiful
building; len churches belonging 10
the different religious orders, several
inconsistencies, numher OF convents,
the arsenal, three colleges for young
men, two collegns for young women,
the Supreme Court Building, the
prison, tho Civil Hospital, the Uni
versity. tho Marine School, the Com
mercial School, the theatre, large
buildings; tho Custom House and the
Barracks.
There are several large squares in
Manila, tho largest of which 10 the
Prado, 10 which ia situated bronze
statue Of Charles ~.
spLENpID NATURAL TRADE CENTRE.
Manila's municipality dates from the
year l7l5, when the city was founded
by Legaspi. Ii is a splendid natural
trade contro, and ranks with Calcutta
and liatava. Being tho chief port in
the philippine islands. NIL their pro-
ductiouS flow there, and its harbor is
visited hy very great number of ves-
sells of all sorts and Hizos.
Its exports consist Of sugar, tobacco,
indigo, Manila hemp aud oordage, gold
dust, birds' nests, coffee, sapan wood,
mats, hats, hidas, trepang, tortoiss
shell, cigars, cotton, rice. &c
Its manufactures are chiefly cigars
and cheroots, government monopoly !;
cordaee from the tilnments of the abAca,
beautiful fabrics known as pinAs,
woven from tho iihres of the pineapple
emf aud ezquisitely embroidered; vari-
GUS other cloths made of the ahaca fila
ment, pure and mixed cotton fabrics,
mats and cigar caaus.
Manila was nearly destroyed by an
earthquake in 1919. Earthquakes have
been frequent since, and often violent.
british fleet captured Manila in
1862 and held it II months, when it
wac restored to Spain hy treaty.
The population of Manila, with it's
suburbs, is about $780, 600.
The Philippine Islands belong to the
Malay Archipelago. Next to Cuba they
arc tho most valuable colonial POSSES
sian of Spain. In all there are about
200 islands in the Philippine group,
of which 40S are inhabited.
The principal islands arc Luzon,
Mindanao and ralawan. The next in
4