The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-05
Scene of
-Dewey's-
Great Battle

and the scene Of the recent battle and
brilliant victory won by Commodore
George Dewey's squadron over the
Spanish feet, is situated. Cavite IL in the
bay of Manila. and about ten miles south
southwest of the city of Manila. The
town Of Cavite has q population Of over
5000, and the population of the port ID
less than 600 souls. There Is an arsenal
at Cavite, which Is the capital of the
province of the same name. The resi-
dence of the governor Is situated there,
and the place Is the chief naval depot
of the Spanish possessions in that part
Of the world.
Manila, the capital city of the island
of Luzon and Of all the Philippine is
lands, is also situated ON Manila bay,
at the mouth of the river Pasig. The
city forms the segment Of q circle be-
tween the river and the sea, and it's
suburbs extend over numerous islets,
formed by the river and its branches.
The river Pasig is prolonged into the
bay by two piers. At the end Of one Of
them is small fort and q lighthouse
Is situated at the end Of the other pier.
Vessels of small tonnage can 60 up as
far as the bridge which CROSSES the riv-
or. The town stands on the south side,
has q dilapidated look, but is said to
be strongly fortified. On the north side
Is the Binondo suburb. which Is the res
idence of the foreign merchants and the
great center OF trade. It Is more popu-
ious 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.
These mingle with light little houses.
or cottages. In groves Of tropical trees.
raised from the ground by posts in or
der to permit the free passage Of the
waters in the rainy season. The streets
are straight, mostly unpaved. and al
most impassable during the rainy sea-
son. In the city the houses are two sto-
ries high, and each has its central court
yard. There reside the heads Of the
state, the church and the army and all
those who claim to belong to the aris-
tocracy. The bridge across the river
leads from the city proper into the BIZ
nondo suburb. where street called the
Escalta runs to the right and to the left.
II Is lined with innumerable shops,
stores and stalls and is usually crowded
with people Of various races.
Beyond the Escalta is 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 cookshops. The
other suburbs have each special char
scter. For instance. San Fernando is
tie seat Of the great cigar manufacto-
ries, and Santo Mesa is the center Of
the cordage manufactory. At the Alcai-
cerfa suburb the Chinese sampans dis
charge their cargoes. The fishermen and
weavers inhsbit the suburb of Tondo,
and its gardens supply the markets
with fruit and vegetables. The suburb
of Malate is famous for it's embroider-
ers. Paco is where the artisans and art
lists live, and health seekers flock to
Santa Ana and San Pedro Macati.
The principal buildings in Manila
are the cathedral, the palace Of the gov
ernor, the palace of the archbishop. the
town hall. q beautiful building; ten
churches, belonging to the different re-
ligious orders: several monasteries, q
number of converts, the arsenal, three
colleges for young men, two colleges
for young women, the supreme court
building, the prison. the civil hospital,
the university, the marine school, the
commercial school, the theater, large
building; the custom house, and the bar
racks. There are several large squares
in Manila, the largest of which Is the
Prndo, in which is situated q bronze
statue of Charles Nv.
Manilla's municipality dates from
the year 1871, when the city was
founded by Legaspi. 1t is a splendid
natural trade center, and ranks with
Calcutta and Batavia. Being the chief
port in the philippine islands, all their
productions 6ow there and its harbor
Is visited by very great number of
vessels Of al sorts and sizes. Its exports
consist of sugar, tobacco, indigo, ma
nllla hemp and oordage, gold DUST,
birds nests coffee, sapan wood, mats,
hats, hides, trepang, tortoise shell,
cigars, cotton, rice. etc.
Its manufactures are chiefly cigars
and cheroots, a government monopoly; /;
cordage from the filaments Of the abaca;
beautiful fabrics, known as pinss, woven
from the fibers of the pineapple leaf
and afterward exquisitely embroidered;
various other cloths made Of the abaca
filament. pure and mixed cotton fabrics,
mats. and cigar cases.
In 1915 Manila was nearly destroyed
by earthquakes, which have since fire.
quently and severely visited the place.
A British feet captured Manila in l762.
and held it for 10 months, when IL was
by trsaty restored to Spain. The popu-
lation Of Manila. with its suburbs, Is
about 100, 900. New York Tribune.