The China Sea Directory treats of the typhoon as follows: "The earliest signs of a typhoon are clouds of a cirrus type, looking like fine hair or feathers, or small white tufts of wool, traveling from east or north; a slight rise in the barometer; clear and dry weather and light wind. These signs are

usually followed by the usual ugly and threatening appearance of the weather which forebodes most storms, and the increasing of the number and severity of the gusts of wind with the rising of the storm. In some cases, one of the earliest signs is a long, heavy swell, and confused sea, which comes from the direction from which the storm is approaching, and travels more rapidly than the storm center. The best and surest warning, however, will be found in the barometer. In every case there is a great barometric disturbance, accordingly, if the barometer falls rapidly, or even if the regularity of its diurnal variation be disrupted, danger may be apprehended. No positive rule can be given as to the amount of depression to be expected, but at the center of some of the storms, the barometer is said to stand fully two inches lower than outside the storm field. The average barometer gradient near the vortex of the most violent of these storms is said to be rather more than one inch in fifty nautical miles. As the center of the storm is approached, the more rapid become the changes of wind, until at length, instead of its direction altering gradually, as is the case on first entering the storm field, the wind flies around at once to the opposite direction, the sea meanwhile breaking into mountainous and confused heaps. There are instances on record of the wind suddenly falling in the vortex, and the clouds dispersing for a short interval, though the wind soon blows again, with renewed fury."

A CHINESE MESTIZA.

THE OCEANIC CURRENTS.

The oceanic currents have much to do with climatic conditions in the Philippines. What is known as the Equatorial Current, exists between the 26° South, and 24° North. This consists of two mighty currents coming from east to west, on either side of the Equator, while between the two is the great Counter Equatorial Current, running from west to east, and having an average width of three hundred miles. The Trade Drift which flows to the westward between the parallels of 90 and 20° North, on reaching the eastern shores of the Philippines, again turns to the northward, forming near the northern limit of that group, the commencement of the Japan Current; the main body of the current then flows along the east coast of Formosa, and from that island pursues a northeasterly course through the chain of islands lying between Formosa and Japan, and sweeping along the southeastern coast of Japan in the same general direction; it is known to reach the parallel of 50° North. The limits and velocity of the Japan Current

are considerably influenced by the monsoons in the China Sea, and by the prevailing winds in the corresponding seasons in the Yellow-Japan Sea; also by the various drift currents which these periodic winds produce. It is thus easy to infer that the whole Philippine group presents a variable climate. It is told by a party of travelers that they passed a whole year in the Philippines, and at no time were in a locality during a rainfall. The intersection of storm currents by mountain ranges, and the change and alteration of these currents in the seasons, makes this possible.

UNHEALTHFULNESS OF MANILA.

The salubrity of many localities, including some entire islands, is unquestioned, but Manila and its environments will never be noted as a health resort. Good sanitation will dispel much of the pestilential conditions, but it will always be a marked place of discomfort. Healthfulness did not enter into the question of its founding. When first known by the Spaniards, there was a large center of population here, and the place was called by the natives, "Manila." There was another large city at hand, called by the natives, "Tondo," and under different chiefs. It was then a fortified place, with mounted bronze cannon, but there is no record by whom, or when founded. The Pasig River was on the north, the bay in front, while swamps were south and east. For defense, it was a place easily fortified, and in a large measure made impregnable to the old methods of warfare. The ground is but a trifle above sea-level. This place is now known as "Old Manila." It is a thing remarkable that in all the centuries since the Spaniards have but added to the noisomeness of the place. Internal improvement does not accord with the Spanish mind and Spanish official thrift. Here, with a population approximating 350,000 souls, there is not an artificial sewerage system in the whole place. The city depends almost entirely upon nature for sewerage, as the people do largely for a living. A few natural cuts or water-ways, which serve as conduits when there is an overflow caused by excessive rainfall at certain seasons of the year, is the only way of cleansing the city of its filth. The water is so stagnant that this is only in part washed from the city, but the decompositions of the season are left in solution, to impregnate and saturate the soil. When these water-beds become dry, and the black scum covers them over, the exhalation is awful. As a source of pestilence, it is difficult to conceive its equal. It is said that the old moat surrounding the Old Manila wall has never been cleansed since the first century of its existence. It was formerly constructed so that it could be flooded through a number of gates, but the gates got out of repair soon after they were built, and as all the revenue was needed by the officials in their affairs, the necessary outlay

to put them in repair could not be made; so for centuries since, the moat has remained uncleansed, and there it is to-day, extending around the city, along the wall, a distance, of two and one-quarter miles, a reeking putrescent mass. An apology has been made by the Spanish authorities that it could not be disturbed because of the pestilence it would breed. The sanitary condition of the city, through the work of "the details," has been much improved since the American occupation, who did much to rid the city of its putrefaction. With a heavy rainfall about one-third of the year and blistering sun the major part of the remainder, health conditions could not be desirable. There are few days in the year when the people are not compelled to remain indoors, avoiding, in a way, the excessive heat during this heated term. Still, this is the headquarters of our army, and for months this army of inactivity was kept bottled up amid these stifling elements of death. This plague-spot has many tributaries and ramifications, in which the military campaign must be made. Directly back of Manila, interior and northward, are the rice-fields, a fact sufficient of itself to account for the long campaign; and for months the army has been largely kept in the trenches, on the march or in battle in this miasmatic place. As was to be expected, there was enervation, exhaustion, debility and death. It is estimated that there are approximately 5,000,000 of the civilized natives. With few exceptions they seem to be hostile to our occupation. Their homes and property, without our lines, are largely in the great valley extending northward from Manila, and through which the Manila and Dagupan Railway, before mentioned, extends.

NATIVES OF MINDANAO.

The region of the rice-fields is largely made up of small holdings, and here there is a dense population. Further north, and on the higher ground, of which San Fernando may be called the center, is the sugar-producing region, and beyond this the tobacco country. Nearly all the products of the island are grown in great abundance in this valley and its tributaries. Here is largely centered the wealth of Luzon Island.. It may cost much in money and men to take and hold this country.

COMMERCE OF THE ISLANDS.

The following compilation is largely from the British Foreign Office report of 1897 and a United States Consular report of 1898:

The export staples from the Philippines are tobacco (manufactured and raw), cocoa, coffee, sugar, Manila hemp, and certain textile fabrics, consisting of baskets, ropes, mats, hats, carriages, musical instruments, pottery and furniture. During

the quarter ending December 31, 1897, there were exported to Great Britain and the United States 216,898 bales of hemp (280 pounds to the bale), of which 138,798 bales went to the United States and 78,106 bales to Great Britain. During this year the hemp trade increased as follows: To Continental Europe, 19,741 bales; to Australia, 2192 bales; to the United States, 133,896 bales. Britain there was a decrease of 22,348 bales. Thus, it will be seen, in this increase the United States is 544 per cent greater than all other countries combined. Of the total export of hemp from these islands for the ten years ending with 1897, amounting to 6,528,965 bales, or 914,055 tons, 41 per cent, went to the United States. During this time sugar was exported from the islands amounting to 151,582,904 tons, of which 875,150 tons went to the United States, 666,391 tons to Great Britain and 41,362 tons to Continental Europe. By comparison, then, it will be seen that 55 per cent went to the United States. English reports estimate the imports into the islands, for the year 1896, at $10,631,250, and the exports at $20,175,000. The general imports being flour, rice, dress goods, wines, coal and petroleum.

An important item is the vast area of primeval forest. There is not a timber growth essential in any wood work, that is not found here in the very highest stage of excellence. Those in most common use are found in abundance, and with them in like quantities, may be found ebony, cedar, spanwood, logwood, gumtrees, cocoa, nucifera, bamboo, arcea palm, and two woods, the bonava and malavea, which resist the action of water for centuries. There are over two hundred varieties of wood, and some most excellent for shipbuilding. In the southern isles there are reported to be over fifty varieties of food producing trees. It must not be assumed that these forests are isolated, or inacces. sible; on the contrary, it would perhaps be difficult to find any considerable forest tract that is not easily approachable, either by stream, waterway or otherwise. What then, in the near future, may not be the status of the manufacture of lumber? And when the vast deposits of coal and iron are utilized, what will be the condition of shipbuilding, now in its infancy? In fact, any art in which wood and iron form an essential part, should soon find rapid growth in the opportunities of the

"GOOD THING; PUSH IT ALONG." This will only be appreciated by those who have been in Manila.

Philippines. Practically, the products include all citrus and many deciduous fruits, and much in plant life indigenous to the country, and not successfully grown elsewhere, such as Manila hemp. It is not to be said that all these varieties, which enter into our consumption are common to all localities, but that each finds localities suitable to its cultivation and growth. Mangoes, plantains, jack-fruits and all the Malayan fruits grow abundantly.

The hills or higher altitudes are well adapted to stock-raising. There are now in these regions, or rather were before the beginning of the insurrection, great herds of cattle, hogs, horses, buffalo, and many in a wild state. The buffalo, or "Karba," as called by the Malays, is the beast of common burden. In the wild

REV. PETER MACQUEEN AND BODY-GUARD ON HIS WAY TO VISIT
THE SULTAN OF SULU.

state he is intractable, but domesticated, suits the purpose of the natives well. Of a grayish or mouse color, and smaller than our native ox, he is strong and hardy as long as he has his fill of water, and the frequent indulgence f a mud bath. He has many peculiarities, one being the shape of the horns, which is much like a three-cornered file, being flat on top. The native horse is small and unseemly, but enduring and strong. Before the outbreak, the best ranged in price from $100 to $150, but the average per pair for ordinary. draft purposes, was from $15 to $20. The husbandry, which obtains in the Philippines, is very crude. In

the cultivation and manufacture of hemp, sugar and rice, and in all the affairs of agricultural life, the primitive ways of centuries past are still in vogue; the reason of this is due to Spanish design or inertia. When the re-habilitation takes place, and the industries there adopt the science and appliances of modern times, the awakening will be astonishing. Indeed, the business world is already turning its attention to these islands. The "march of empire" is rapidly in the westward trend, and in this we are ourselves active participants. We can easily recur to that time when the Mediterranean was appropriately styled "the mid-earth sea." The central carrying trade became shifted to the Atlantic Ocean; and now, there is every assurance that this is soon to shift to the Pacific.

With the decade ending in 1894, the shipping on the Atlantic decreased over 130,000 tons, while there was a corresponding increase on the Pacific. Now,