MANILA, the capital of the Philippine islands (q.v.), and residence of the Spanish viceroy, or governor of the Philippine archipelago, is situated in the island of Luzon, on the banks of the river Pasig, and at the embouchure of that river in the bay of 3Ianila. It is divided by its river into Manila proper and Binondo. Manila proper, or the city .of Manila, consisting of 17 spacious streets, crossing at right angles, contains the cattle .dral; the palacio, built in 1690; the archiepiscopal palace, the hall of audience, 11 ,churches and 3 convents, besides public offices, barracks and other military establish ments. Beyond the ramparts, on the east side, is the calzada, or public promenade, .crowded in the evening by carriages and equestrians. Instead of glazed windows, the houses are furnished with sliding frames, fitted with plates of semi-transparent oyster 'shells. Binondo is larger and niore animated than Manila; but the streets are less regular, and many still unpaved. Numerous canals intersect this suburb, which is the residence of the wealthy merchants. The bay and harbor of Manila are magnificent, and the Pasig is navigable for 10 miles. The trade is chiefly with the United States, Great 13ritain, China, and Australia. Manila is by law the only emporium of foreign trade with the Spanish East Indies. Its principal exports are sugar, abaca (3Ianila hemp), cigars, leaf tobacco, coffee, rice, and fine woods. The imports consist chiefly of woven goods from.Manchester and Glasgow, with lead, iron-ware and beer; silks, nankins, vermilion, and curiosities are imported from China. The cheeroots of Manila are famous; they are
generally preferred to those of Havana, everywhere east of the cape of Good Hope. 'Their manufacture is under the charge of an administration whose headquarters are at _Manila; 20,000 persons are employed in this branch of manufacture. The climate of _Manila is on the whole healthy, and the average temperature throughout the year is nearly 82°. Convulsions of the earth have frequently made frightful ravages in this .-city. In 1824, many churches, private houses, etc., were destroyed, and the ships in the harbor were wrecked, hilt the number of victims was never ascertained. In 1828 and 1857, severe shocks were felt; but on June 3, 1863, one of the most dreadful earthquakes almost ruined the city. The cathedral and all the churches, with one exception, were overthrown; the palace of the viceroy and the British consulate were destroyed; and a number of lives, of which 2,000 seems but a moderate estirnate, were lost. On Oct. 30, 1875, a violent hurricane killed 250 persons, and destroyed 3,800 houses. Manila is one of the four ports of the Philippine archipelago which are open to foreign vessels. In 1874 the value of the exports from Manila was $15,889.817 (about R3,178,000); and that of imports from Great Britain was .R873,4-33. Pop., including suburbs (1865), 230,443.