The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-07

be diStaSteful to the American citizen,
is the nude manner in which the native
children appear on the streets. Not all
are absolutely nude, but very few would
be considered dressed for company, as
a slight protection to the shoulders
from the fierce rays of the sun is the
only garment they wear. This, how
ever, is overlooked, when in the evening
you see parties consisting of men, wO-
men, and children bathing in the Pasig
'en diShabille.' Though the name Ma
Mia is now applied to the capital of all
the Philippines, still it was only the
walled city to which it was originally
applied. Manila, proper, is situated on
the south bank of the river Pasig, and
is surrounded by wall, about 20 feet
in height, which of late years has been
allowed to fall into decay and is little
more than a crumbling ruin. The wall
varies from six to one hundred feet in
width, the wider places being used as
parapet on which to mount cannon.
At the most prominent places is a tri-
angular adjunct, between which and
the wall is an exceptionally wide en-
trenchment, this is also used as a par
apet on which to mount heavy guns.
Where the wall touches the river. adj
ditiOnal energy has been displayed in
attempt to make the city impregna-
bic against a naval attack Just out
side the wall are two deep entrench-
mentS, walled with stone. The interS-
tice between these is supplied with a
protection to riflemen, the inner one
being intended to cover retreat of in
fantry. In order to enter the city it is
necessary to cross a draw bridge over
each of these intrenchments, one being
placed at each sallyport.
Manila proper is quiet place and
forms quite a contrast to the busting
district of BinondO just across the rlV-
er. These districts are connected by
two massive bridges. suspension
bridge, and Puente Grande, Melan
arch.
In Binondo almost every branch of
oriental industry is represented; but
with the lugubriOuS methods in vogue,
ten men are employed where the labor
of but one could be utilized with ad-
vanced methods of modern civilization.
Among the many branches of industry
are the cigar manufactures, which UNI
til recently, were run by the govern
ment monopoly of Spain. In these fac
tories hundreds of Filipino women and
children are employed.
The manufacture of hemp rope is
the most interesting industry, as it is
made from the raw material by hand.
with only the assistance of large
wooden spool, placed on slanting peg.
The peg being driven in the ground at
an angle of about 40 degrees, forms an
axis upon which the spool reVolYes.
The native perpetuates this motion by
manipulating the twist of hemp with
his hand. while with his toes and other
hand he furnishes the twist with a con-
tinual supply of raw hemp. The sugar
Industry is probably attracting more
attention than anything connected with
exception of the war. Had the natives
the ambition of the AnglO-SaXon they
could produce enough sugar to supply
the world. AS it is, the sugar which
comes to Manila has the appearance of
dirty, wet sand. The Chinese have
crude system of refining 1t, which
makes it barely fit for use. One can
pass along the streets at any time and
see small baskets of unrehned sugar
being dried in the sun.
THE country surrounding Manila
abOunds with bananas, chicos, mabo,
los papaies, and other tropical fruits,
including mangos. The natives give
but very little attention to the cultiva-
ton of these fruits, and depend almost
solely on the wild products. Oranges,
tomatoes and watermelOnS have been
introduced from Mexico, and are Guilt
waited on a small scale. The oranges
and tomatoes have a very good flavor,
but watermelons are almost an entire
failure. Myriads of cOcOanuts are
brought down the canal, that intersects
the city, in the native canoes.
although two railways center in
Manila, the Pasig, Malabon and other
rivers are the principal avenues of
commerce. The broad gauge line eX-
tends from Manila to Dagupan, dis
tance of one hundred and thirty eight
kilOmeters, and has a large amount of
commercial traffic from that section.
The interior of the island has no COM
mercial outlet. The narrow gauge line
that extends to Malabon, about eight
miles distant, mas not Deen operated
for some years past, owing to the in
SurrectiOn.
Manila is generally considered one
of the most important ports in the ORR
ent, still it has no wharves for ocean
steamers. The coast steamers from
China and Japan can enter the PaSig
river and come into the heart of the
city. Here they find a convenient place
to land cargo as the river is walled on
either side for several miles above it's
mouth. Cargo is taken on and trans
mitted from the large ocean steamers
by means of bargeS called caScoS. On
either end of these is a matched roof
of bamboo and plantain. The space un-
der this forms the dwelling place of its
owners.
THE cardinal objection to Manila is
that it has few places of amusement.
But what it lacks in this is made up by
places of ancient and historical inter
and peculiarities of it's vegetation and
animals so that the ardent curiosity
seeker and student of nature finds
abundant rewards for his researches.
The only places of amusement to speak
of are the Filipino theater and the
Boulevard Luneta. The former has
been recently managed by the soldiers,
who have been giving minstrel per-
fOrmances. The Boulevard Luneta ex-
tends along the beach to the south of
the walled city, and in the evening is
the gathering place of the Opulent
classes A programme has been ar
ranged by the various regimental
bands so that a concert is given at the
that Muerto de Risal. NJ. D., was exc
c,,+ad on Decenber 20 1897