The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 51]

i6o

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 51

An attempt was made in 1817, by a Spanish merchant, to commence something of this sort. He purchased a quantity of Turkey opium from an American, with an understanding that it was to be reshipped, on payment of a small additional duty. It
was so, but a quantity of the opium was plundered
from the custom-house godowns, and the proprietor
was told "'that the king was not responsible for
losses."
It would be foreign to the object of a cursory
sketch like the present to enter farther into the details
of this subject. Enough has been said to bear out an
assertion, which those who are acquainted with the
trade will not think exaggerated, that had this system
been fairly and equitably established, one half of the
trade to China would before this have centered at
Manila; and it is only at Manila that the advantages
of such a transit could have been unknown or neglected in the i9th century. I proceed to make some
observations on the capital and its inhabitants. 120
PART II
MANILA
Manila, 121 the capital of the "kingdom of the Phillippines,'22 in lat. 14~ 26" N. and long. 121~ 3" East
120 At this point in the book (namely, facing p. 82) is a
plan of Manila entitled " Plano de la ciudad de Manila, capital de
las Yslas Filipinas," which shows the city and its suburbs; and
a second illustration showing, first, "View of Manila from the
plain of Bagumbayan," and second, "View of Manila from the
sea." The plan of Manila is from a Spanish source.- Eds.
121 Generally, but incorrectly written, "Manilla."
122 Under this title is included not only the Phillippines from