THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS , AND THE ISLE OF FRANCE. 83

The Indians, in common with all Malays, are paffionately fond of cock-fighting, butthey are not permitted to indulge at pleafure this inclination. -An Indian rarely walksout without a cock, and as foon as he meets another Indian with one under his arm,the two birds are fet down and immediately engage ; but battles with fteel fpurs areonly permitted in a place formed for the purpofe, which is farmed from the King ata rent of twenty or twenty-five thoufand dollars: here the Indians affemble, andfrequently bet on their favourite cocks the whole of what they are worth. The fateof the gamefters is foon decided, for the cocks being armed with fharp fpurs, one orthe other is killed almoft in an inftant.

The Indians at Manila follow all kinds of trades and fill every employ ; they aremerchants, artizans, labourers, coachmen, lacqueys, and porters; and are fkilful inmanaging boats.

I Chinefe alfo follow different occupations, but prefer fuch as require moreingenuity; for example, they are the goldfmiths, fmiths, gardeners, &c. They _ arepermitted to marry ; their wives work as well as themfelves, but lay afide their gains ;and fhould the hufband, after making a fortune, choofe to leave the country to returnhome, he leaves a part of his property with his wife, who retains and brings up thechildren.

The Chinefe who inhabit Manila profefs Chriftianity, but this only for form’s fake;for when they leave the Phillippines they throw their images and chaplets into thefea, and ceafe to be Chriftians as foon as they lofe fight of Mirabel point.

Meat and provifions in general are cheap and abundant at Manila ; the fifh caughtin the bay is good, but that taken on the bar and near the dykes is heavy of digeflion,owing to its feeding on the filth walhed down by the river. Generally, in the cityand fuburbs ciftern water is drunk ; each houfe has its refervoir, which is replenilhedwith rain-water by means of gutters and pipes : thofe felicitous of fpring water areobliged to fetch it from Sta. Anna. The city lacks mills ; but the governor who ruledin 1797, and whofe whole attention was devoted to the means of improving the colony,had fent for a Genevefe mechanic from Canton, purpofely to attempt the ftru£ture offome upon the river.

Boats.

On the river and along the toes of the bay a number 'S 3

Iharply built, and furnilhed with yards, which ferve as a ’vnternoifo the effeftend of which, when it blows hard, the failors place themfelves ° P fafety, for

of the wind on the fail: this contrivance however does not always mfi ^

at times the bamboo which forms ; s ““(red'Small boats called pangues,

founders, and the crew are loit. i lie river is cioueu u or three

made of the hollowed trunk of a tree ; thefe generally will con ai twelve to

perfons, though fome larger built are capable of accommo a m §fifteen: they are propelled with oars, and fail lightly throug tew

Temperature.

Manila enjoys a healthy air ; ftill to me it appeared rather which rife

attributed to the quantity of moifture it contains, owing to the hea P , . hfrom the large furface of water formed by the inundation of the low grotmekmu merainy feafon, and to the ungrateful exhalations from the miaddy 1 brand mof Tondo, which is conftantly bare at low water. In the country, where th g ou ^

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