These islands, though they lie within the tropics, are )tot distinguished by that intense heat which is generally found in places of the same parallel of latitude. This has been accounted for from the vast number of extensive lakes, and consequent moisture with which they abound. They possess, however, all the other peculiarities of a tropical climate. The rains begin in May, and continue till September, or even longer, and arc succeeded by a general and uninterrupted spring, which prevails till the ensuing May. Vegetation of every description is pecu liarly luxm iant, insomuch that it. is a work of almost in superable difficulty to keep the cultivated lands free from weeds and insects, the latter of which are a source of great annoyance, if not of danger, to the inhabitants. The winds are periodical ; and violent storms and hurricanes are very frequent, and are productive of great devastation. These islands are also, as stated above, subject to earthquakes. By an earthquake (1645) a third of the town of Manilla was destroyed, and three thousand of the inhabitants pe rished.
Of these islands, the productions are not essentially dif •ferent from those of the other Asiatic islands of the same latitude ; rice, different kinds of pulse, as mongos, patani, 'kidney-beans, and millet ; the palm tree, the sugar-cane, the bread-fruit tree, the plantain, the orange, and mango trees, the areca or betel nut, and various others, common to a tropical climate. The tobacco of these islzials was long reckoned the best in Asia, and was exported Tin great quantities. The mountains afford excellent timber, both for ship and house-building ; and the bamboos, of which the houses of the natives arc constructed, attain here to an unusual size. Pigs, fowls, ducks, goats, and buffaloes, are reared under the same roof as the inhabitants. The mountains abound with deer ; the woods and fields with tivails, pigeons, partridges, and the sea is stocked with an almost endless variety of fish, of which the islanders do not fail to avail themselves. To these indigenous pro ductions, the Spaniards have added horses, horned cattle, which have multiplied to such an extent that they now run wild in the mountains : sheep, geese, grapes, figs, wheat, &c. The islands have never been infested with tigers, or any strong carnivorous animals. Mines of gold and iron are very common, and gold is likewise found by washing the sand on the mountain streams ; advantages of which the natives are too indolent to avail themselves.
In a commercial capacity these islands have not as yet attained to much eminence. They form, however, in a considerable degree, the centre of intercom-se between China, Japan, and the Spice Islands, and they connect the Asiatic and American commerce. They are thus des tined, at no very distant period, to form the great empo rium of trade between these two continents and the islands in the Pacific and South Seas ; but at present their im portance is limited chiefly to two or three ships which pass annually between them and Acapulco, on the western coast of Spanish .America. They also carry on a small
trade with the Chinese, with the Malays of Borneo, and the British in our settlements in India. The extent of their connexion with the latter, (for with regard to the rest we have no information,) may be known from the fol lowing statement. From 1802 to 1806 inclusive, there was imported into Manilla from British India, goods and treasure to the amount of only 286,0001. ; while the exports, during the same period, amounted to about double that sum, or to 516,3561. The native Indians, besides, carry on among themselves, in the different islands, a barter for their respective productions. Gold is the representation of value and medium of exchange Their imports con sist of India piece goods, particularly cloths, handkerchiefs, chintz ; also European cutlery and iron of all descriptions. From the Chinese they obtain silk goods, lackered ware, teas, China ware,—most of which they again export by the ships for Acapulco. Their exports, which have not been so extensive as they must soon become, are casia, gold-dust, pepper, tortoise-shell, wax, wild honey, amber, marble, tar, cochineal.
The character and condition of the inhabitants may be inferred from what has been already advanced. Their houses are of bamboos, covered with palm leaves, and raised on pillars to the height of eight or ten feet. Their chief food is rice. They have laws, and punish crimes, of which adnItet y is reckoned the chief. They have ever been distinguished by indolence and want of en terprise; but though living in a state of barbarism, they afford interesting examples of mildness and benevolence, Very few of them have been converted to Christianity ; and the illiberal treatment they have uniformly experi enced, from the Spaniards, has inspired them with no ambition to acquire the spirit and manners of a refined people. But the great characteristic of these people is a universal tendency to piracy,—which no exertions, not even the authority of their chiefs, have yet been able to countcract,....and in which they exhibit the greatest enter prise and dexterity. Vessels of a peculiar shape and size they make for the express purpose of piratical expedi tions. However little they may disregard the property of others, they have laws and regulations by which they are themselves connected together, and which it is reckoned dishonourable to violate. These islanders are generally tall and'handsome ; in some places they go naked , in others they wear a kind of loose shirt with loose drawers; and in other respects they exhibit slight variations of chat ratter, as may indeed be expected from a people, (though of the same origin,) so little connected, and scattered over so great a number of islands.