PHILIPPINES. These islands, among the most important in the Indian epee, pro rich both in produce and in tottinteree. The staple articles for the European market are sugar, indigo, rum, and tobacco; and for the Chinese market, Stipan-wood, rice, edible birds' nests, and trepting. A email quantity of coffee, ebony, sulphur, Cotton, pearls, mother-of pearl shells, tortoise Shells, Mid center, are else exported. Cordage is made from the fibres of a species of banana. The principal food of the inhabitants consists of tide and fish. They also eultivate millet, tind several kinds of beans and other pulse. The fruit-trees Include the coCoa-nut, breadfruit, mango, orange, fig, areca-nut, and plantain. Gold, hen, and cop per, are said to exist in Liman find Magin danao, but at present none of these metals are worked. Salt and brimstone are procurud in several places.
The Malays use very few manufactured goods exported from other countries, and they have applied themselves to some branches of manufacture with success, including earthen ware, cotton stuffs, straw and chip hats, mate, and especially cigars and cheroots.
The commerce of the Philippines was for merly limited to the mother country and the Spanish colonies in America. The Inbst im portant and incrativb branch waa the colt. inerce with Mexico, which was Conducted by means of galleons that sailed once a year between Atapuleo, in Mexico, and Manila, in the Philippines. They chiefly carried to Ame rica silk Manufactures, And abet goods, ob tained front the Chinese, and brought in return the produce of the Mexican silver-mines. But since the' panish colonies in America have oh taMed their independence, the port of Manila has been thrown open to all commercial nation's, and the increase of the exports has been very sapid. Manila now carrica on com merce with a great number of nations. The value of British merchandise exported to the Philippines averages about 100,0001. annually.