The sun., 1901-05-26

that large trade Is done with the other
islands In many kinds Of textlles There
| the visayas produce beautiful fabrics OF pima.
| silk. cotton and abaca hemp). ns well as
cheaper sorts OF cloths for the use Of the work
| ing classes. In some of the mixed materials
| fine effect Ia produced by running stripes
| OF silk. either white or OF a brilliant color.
| lengthways through the piece. The fabrics
Just mentioned are said to he very suitable for
wearing in the Philippines or elsewhere In
! the tropics. being light and gauzy. II seems
that at the Philippine Exposition Of 1887
| there were more than 800 exhibitors OF tex
tiles, the local board of Namaypacan alone
showing I45 different kinds Of cloths. There
are several rope works at Manila. tho ma
terinl used being abacd (hempC the ropes
produced are equal TO those made in any part
Of the world. In Camarines Sur harness and
hammocks are made from tho materials
just mentioned. In some OF the provinces
ropes are made OF cabo-nesro. n black hbre
from the wild palm. said TO be indestructible.
There is a lager beer brewery in Manila.
which. In our authors judgment. must have
| proved very profitable since the American
garrison arrived Alcohol Is distilled both
from sugar and from the Juice Of the nipa
palm Essence Of ylang-ylang II distilled in
Manila and other towns; at one timo II used
to fetch a hundred dollars a pound Salt is
made at many places between Paranaque
and Cavte. Bricks. tiles, cooking pots.
stoves, sugar moulds and draining pots are
made in many provinces. Cocoanut oil is
expressed in the Province OF LaRuma. in
Manila and other places: soap OF an ordinary
kind Is manufactured from II. Saddles and
harness and also the ordinary country
vehicle. the carromata, are made In the chief
towns OF provinces. In Manila really elegant
carriages are constructed. but the springs.
axle arms and boxes. together with the lamps.
the leather for the hood and tho cloth for the
lining are imported The salacots or native
hats are beautifully woven by hand from
narrow strips Of a cane. called nito Some
notable pieces OF godsmiths' and silversmiths'
work have been produced In Manila. and in
the provinces bolo handles and other articles
are carved ont OF buffalo horn and mounted
In silver with much taste. The industry Of
the women IL exemplifed in beautiful en-
broderies OF all sorts. either In white or
Colored silks or in gold or silver, In some
cases sea pearls or brilliant fish scales are
introduced into the work The slippers worn
by women on grand occasions are often works
Of art, being richly embroidered In silver
and gold from cberry-colored velvet.
The shipbuilding industry in the Philip
pines IL decadent, owing to tho increasing
scarcity and high price Of timber Small
steamers and launches are still built but
larger steamers are ordered from Hong Kong.
Singapore or Great Britain. The native craft
called lorchas and by many other names,
are turned out in large numbers. The SO
called salispanes are very light and fast
craft used by the Moros on their piratoal
expeditions Engines and boilers for steam
launches Hre manufactured in Manila iron
castings are also made. and church bells are
Cast OF considerable size. Among the
miscellaneous articles manufactured are all
sorts of household furniture fireworks and
lanterns We add that there are Filipino
dentists. doctors and lawyers. as well as
painters. sculptors and photographers
Mr. Sawyer has no doubt that the FIJI
pinos have learned good deal from the
Spaniards "a regards their manufactures,
but he is convinced that they have learned
even more from tho Chinese Their first
sugar mills were Chinese. and from China
they borrowed tho trick OF casting sugar
pans in red-hot moulds, and cooling slowly.
thus getting the metal extremely thin. yet
FREQ from defects The Chinese also taught
the Filipnos how to cast brass cannon and
church bells, how TO breed FISH and how to
manufacture salt The distllation Of the
Juice OF the nipa palm and tho preparation
Of sugar for export nre Chinese industrieI
Whoever may have been their teachers.
however the Filipnos have been apt pupils
Our author believes that there IL great
future for their manufactures, the people
being Industrious, exceptionally intelligent,
pauStakinC and Of an artistic temperament
an ample supply of labor is always procurab.o
for any light work, If IT be reasonably re-
muncratiVp
In Mr. SAVERS opinion. the commercial
prospects Of tho islands are great, though
he does not credit the fairy tales that are
told about Manila becoming the centre OF
the trade uf the Pacific There can hc no
doubt. he says. that If peace and an honest
be attracted, and a considerable increase
IN the export of hemp, tobacco and sugar
will gradually take place, a fresh land can
be cleared and planted A. | have else
whore said the Philippines IN energetic and
skilful hands will soon Weld up the store
Of gold which the Spaniards have been abused
for leaving behind th"m A. the same
time. our author IL convinced that the Philip
pines nre not and never will be, a country
labor there without great danger to his health
He cannot compete with the native or Chinese
mechanic. In fact he II not wanted hero al
all For my part, | would never employ a
white man there IA q laborer or mcchlnic
If ! could help II, more especially an knGlish-
man or an American, for | know from cx-
pcrience what the result would be As fore-
man or overseer white man may do better.
according 10 his skill and character