11 OCTOBER 1851, Page 18

MAC MICKING'S RECOLLECTIONS OF . THE PHILTPPINES.° THESE recollections contain a

--variety of mixed matter relating to Manilla and 'the Philippine Islands, which the author picked up 'by observation during a residence of three years, together with some Which 'he derived from books or hearsay. His object in waitinghis volume'was to direct the attention of British merchants to 'those islands that " appear to be slowly reaping the benefit of 'the-new-commercial maxims now in course of operation in Spain," andlo occupy 'himself during n tedious voyage from Singapore to ;Hongkong. The subjects ban-tiled are various and miscellaneous. Mr. Mac Miellinglegins with Magellan and the discovery ; lie Sketches the subsequent history of the islands,-including the capture of Manilla 'by'Sir William 'Draper, and the non-payment of the ransom even to this dciy,--which, in our author's idea, puts 'the Philippines in a sort °T rim, and would justify our denianding greater freedom of trade with the islands, if mat in seizing them altogether. This historical sketch, however, is not.done in a bookmaking spirit, but in the good faith of inexperience ; and when the author has run over it he proceeds to matter more within his ,own observation. The appearance of Manilla, the scenery-of the islands, the wild *Torts to be enjoyed, the 'natural productions, and an incidental account of come excuraiona' follow one another without much re- gard to plan. Besides these more permanently natural'things, Mr. Mae Mirgrio; exhibits the state of society among the Spaniards and foreign residents, the 'manners and customs of the Indians and half-breeds, and supplies the reader with some information respecting the commerce, fiscal regulations, and other buainess matters-connected -with the Philippines,—or rather with the capi- tal, Manilla, since that is not only the principal seat of business, butfore4tiers are altogether excluded from the coasting trade. In addition to these subjects, Mr. Mao Mieking enters into some dis- cussions respecting the commercial system of Spain, the 'trading capabilities of the neighbouring archipelago, and the character• of the islanders. In the course of his remarks, he indicates an opi- nion that the tribes attacked by Rajah Brooke were not pirates: hat his own amount of the Soloo and other islanders would seem to throw some doubt upon the opinion, though they might not be engaged in piracy when attacked by Brooke. The author's matter exeels his art ; in fact, the interest of his hook depends altogether upon the -opportunities afforded him by residence in .anew field. at he has not made the most of op- portunities is true; who does ? Perhaps he is net well fitted to set about makIng the most of his advantage, because he wants training or a particular pursuitto guide his 'observations. Neither does he seem to have observed with the intention of writing the book; it was an afterilioht. The seeder has therefore the re- sults of memory, the -recollections of those 'things which made an intpression upon the mind at the period of their occurrence; for this reason more remarkable ,in themselves than -if they had been meted at the time, but they are presented in a somewhat medley ILIRSEIOT.

In Manilla, as in every other Timis throughout the Arabi- aklago, Chinamen are found doing all the hard work, and all the :business which is beneath the dignity of Europeans, and above the " unremitting attention " (us our advertisements have it) of the Malayan race. With this indefatigable industry they exhibit some of the worser qualities which accompany industry when exercised ism gain alone. They have the same character in the East which the Dutch had in Europe, 'while they were ridhar than other na- tions—that of doing or submitting to anything for money. • _Recollections of Manilla and The Philippines, daring BA 1.84q, anali150- 'Robert Mac Micking, Esq. Published by-Bentley. -"-Without the walls nearly all the-trade-4a earned -on— the Alta-and Rosario, on thatAide it the liver, benwtheaseincipedistreet% however, without any regard to regularity, so that they are not handsomer, but ba. ihemmearly elf the best Chinamen'sahops are situated. These are ha gene- ral very Small confined places, though °rammed with manufactures, thepro- -duce of3lanchester, Weave', _Birmingham, and ofmany other European and 'Chinese manufacturing marts. Some of-the -shops may also'be Men stuffed to.the door with the valurible cloth, knee, and other productions of the native looms. " The great object of the Chinese shopmen appears to be, to show the most varied and frequently miscellanemm ,-mlleetiern of goods in the smallest pos- sible space,; as their shops, being for the most part not snore than ten feet broad towards the street, reaveshut little ripabe 'besides the doorway to dis- play the attractions of their wares, and every inch has to be made the most of by theta. These China shopkeepers have nearly driven all coinpetition, except with each other, out of the market ; very :few Mestizos Or. Spaniards being able to live en the small profits which the competition among them- selves has reduced them to. A China 'shopkeeper ,generally snakes his steep his home, all of them sleeping in those confined dens at night ; frOm which, on opening -their doors about five in the maiming, as they .usually.do, a most noisome and.pestiferous smell issues and is diffused through the atreets. The _Mestizos cannot do this, bat musthave a house to live in out of the profits of the shots; and the consequence has been, that when their shopkeepsegpro- fits could no longer do that, they have nearly all betaken theinsUlves to other -more suitable occupations, from which the energies of their Chinese 'rivals Are less likely to drive diem. The number of Chinamen in Manilla and throughout the islands is very great, and nearly the whole :provincial trade in manufactured goods is in theirlusnds. Rumen:ow tradem of that nation have shops opened throughout the islands.; their business being carried on by one of their own countrymen, generally the.prisicipalaserson,a.the con- cern, who remains resident at Atanrlla, while his various agentsin the eosin- -try keep him advised of their wants, to 'meet which he makeslarge pur- chases from the .menehanta, and forwards the same to

The estallighed religion of the Philippines is the Roman Catho- lic, with the usual intolerant results which follow Papal as- cendency. Direct persecution is forbidden by the age, and perhaps toleration is not much cared for by the residents at Manilla ; but they must be buried in unconsecrated ground, which conveys an insult though no injury: The aborigines and the ereoles are superstitious and siibmissive in the eXtreme, 'The official Spaniards, or late immigrants from Europe, have as little religion as the courtiers and philosophers of Paris under the old regime. 4. The honours paid to the saints by the celebration of their'feast-days are nearly altogether practised by the Mestizo and Indiana:emulation; the richer or upper classes of Spaniards being for the most part too 'classless on such occasions, except when their turn comes to donee at the fetes, or to sat the supper set out by their Aleatizo neighbours onthase annirers.uiess. andaser- tainly if their piety be judged by the alacrity usually dispaiyed on such occasions, they will stand very forward in the race out of .purgatory. Tor, strange to say, the modern Spaniards—at least those who come -to the Phi- lippines—are as little superstitious or priest-ridden as the people of any na- tion in Europe. Probably this is a symptom of their return ton =Immo- decate degree of faith than they used to evince prior to the Fronds Revolu- -tion, which has Altered the tone of opinion as manners ihrooghout the -world. And after the severity and rigid observance df all the church, high days and holydays formerly prevalent among them, the tide of opinion ais- le:oust° have ran into the opposite extreme. " 113sec:frequently' been astonished at discoVering the extent to which infidel notions are current .amon,g my.Spanish acquaintantes ; their prevail- ing opinions on the subject being, that the priests and some 61 tho tenets of theTatholic.Church are behind the 'age, and as-such, are-to some extent un- worthy of the serious attention of well-informed peoPle•of the present day, and that those things are only suitable for women and children. Es corm de mugssres,' is the usual expression, should the subject be mentioned; and as regards the 'priests, the laity very generally fancy that the must be watched carefully, as they are certain to assume importance Should:an oppor- tunity offer for thrusting -their noses into any affair they eau, 'military or eivil—it matters not which to these ambitious mem"

With the loss of the " Catholic faith," and of the -old fixed opinions—the result of so many changes and revolutions during the last sixty years—the-Spanish-merchant eeerastotave lost-that high sense of honour which distinguished him. of yore.

"Asa body, such Spanish gentlemen as I haveheen trequainteetwith, ap- peared to be.quite as remaricablelor good-breeding as they.usuaily hoxe the credit of being. They generally have a great appearance 'of eaudeur -or frankness of manner ; which, although it is for the most part more studied than natural, is prepossessing, and makes them .pleasant companions. -" Here, however, I am afraid my praise must stop ; because I have seen among a great number of them a good deal of 'dissimulation, sr to speak more plainly, of had.faith,—with regard to whiesh their mades.of thinking are very different from those prevailing at home; audasmong theirmsercan- tile peopleaespecially, they often-appear to imitate, or unconsciously to act upon, a smart Yankee trader's modes of getting the best of a bargain, being very frequently rather too unscrupulousan their representations, when it ap- pears to them that it is for. their interest to be so. `To give an idea of their opinions about the subject of buying and selling, Twill tell the reader a-story. A lad, the eon of a high government officer, sold an unsound horse to a companion as a sound one; which, on-being dis- covered by the purchaser, of course made him very indignant., _and he de- mended his money back; complaining at the sense time tothe boy's father, who passes for a person of high character arid.good name, abouttheeraurvy triok hie son lied played Well,' said this respectable old ,gentlemaar 'lam glad to see that the lad is 30 sbarp ; for if he could get the better of you so well, he will make a capital inerant and 'be able to cheat the China- men!'

"Without exaggeration, this is a good deal the system on which the Spaniards Carry on busineea. They -always appear-to be trying to take ad- vantage of apurelsaser, andif successful have very complaisant conscienees,; lut.should they themsOlveslie taken in, or have the worst of a bargain, their virtuous 'horror and indignation on discovering it know no'bounds. ahem is .very little sr almost none -of that-mutual confidence effisting, -betireen them which exists between Re.itish merchants, .and whichis so _accessary in large transactions, or in carrying onan,extendve business as they do."'

We lasso till 'heard of distr-inrinatiny duties this is 'the• Spanish

"In-the colours and patterns of their dresses-the natives are greatdandies ; the women, ae being more particular in-those affairs than the neon. Very seldom, indeed, does a native Indian or 'Mestiza beauty sport the same saga for two _gala dale consecutively. And -a very large proportion of their eaniingsare spent in self-adornment ; their ten pipes or wardrobes being very well supplied with, clothes, all of them of diflereut patterns. Blue and pur- ple appear to. be the colours Meet admired, because, although the tastes and caprices of the people may vary in an infinite* degree as to the patterns or styles of their dresses, they do not differ much in their choice of the colours olaCh compose there. A' dark-complelioned beauty is never improved by a yellow dress; and any woman at all old or Ugly looks hideous indeed when dressed in that colour. Apparently, the Government were mot ignorant of this When they itriposed a heavy duty on blue, purple, or white articles of dress, and allowed yellow and other colours disliked by the natives to come into the country -on the payment of a less duty. They have even gene the length of allowing yellow cotton twist of foreign manufacture to be imported duty-free.

"Truly this was very cunning of them—lhia apparent liberality to a fo- reign nation, ignorant that the colour would scarcely ever be used. Its af- fected moderation would most certainly tend to stop any complaints which might be made about the high duties imposed on our manufactures imported into the colony."