this is the only food on which a whole family exists. Such, at least, is Dampier's statement; but accurate as he generally is, some exaggeration is surely manifest here. I have quoted thus far from the memoirs of Dampier, to show the style of writing, as well as the observing powers of the great buccaneer. Narrating in a period about two hundred years past, he writes on many subjects with a detail and accuracy truly astonishing. In those days, as well at the present time, the plantain and banana are often confounded as one and the same fruit. In reality the distinction is nearly as great as that between a pumpkin and a melon. And although belonging to the same botanical species, one is a delicious natural fruit while the other requires the culinary art to make it acceptable as a food. Manilla, on the island of Luzon, the capital city of the Phillippines, is in north latitude 14 deg. 36 min., and east longitude 120 deg. 52 min. Inhabited by about 300,000 people, it has long been the principal commercial port of the Spanish possessions in the Pacific. The exports of sugar are about 150,000 tons per annum, with 50,000 tons of Manila hemp and 100,000,000 cigars. In the manufacture of the latter, 10,000 women are employed, the factory covering a space of over six acres. TOBACCO. Nature, climate and locality have combined to make the islands of the Pacific favored lands for the extensive cultivation, preparation and export of to bacco. Of the plant itself, it may be claimed as the Nicotiana Tabacum, indigenous to America, but cultivated now in nearly all parts of the world. Seeds of the plant were sent by Jean Nicot, in 1560, from Portugal, to Catherine de Medici. Nicot was the French ambassador in that country, from whom the plant receives its botanical name. Its first introduction into Europe from the new world may be dated from the beginning of the sixteenth century. Its first introduction into England by Sir Walter Raleigh, from Virginia, occurred about 1586. Hayden ascribes it to Sir John Hawkins in 1565, while many others grant it to Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake. Baird, Humboldt, and many of the encyclopædias, state its name to be derived from the Indian word tabacos, a name given by the Carribees to the pipe, in which they smoked the leaves of the plant. Baird says it is the common name of the species of herbaceous, rarely-shrubby plants, of the genus Nicotiana, generally clothed with clammy hairs or down, and natives for the most part of the warmer portions of America, a few growing also in the East. The species which yields most of the tobacco of commerce, is the common Virginian or sweet-scented tobacco, extensively cultivated in the warmer portions of the United States. The claim for its first uses among the Chinese, Mongols, and the East Indians, says Mr. McCulloch, is, however, a very doubtful proposition. It seems sufficiently established that the tobacco plant was first brought from Brazil to India about the year 1617, and it is most probable that it was thence carried to Siam, China, and other Eastern countries. The names given to it in all the languages of the East are obviously of European, or rather of American origin, a fact which seems completely to negative the idea of its being indigenous to the East. Where properly cultivated, picked and cured, the best qualities of "Old Virginia" tobacco, for chewing or smoking, has no superior. That of Havana, for the manufacture of cigars alone, takes first place, but does not seem to have the requisite qualities that go to make either a palatable "fine cut" or "plug" chewing tobacco. CHAPTER IX. ISLANDS A And yonder by Nankin, behold! The tower of porcelain, strange and old, Its nine-fold painted balconies, With balustrades of twining leaves, And roofs of tile, beneath whose eaves LONGFELLOW (Keramos.) ISLANDS OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE. BRIEF glance at some of the islands belonging to China may not prove uninteresting. They may be set down at about forty in number, with an area of 35,000 square miles and a population of 4,500,000. Hainan, Formosa, and the islands of the Chusan Archipelago, are the most important. HAINAN. Hainan, in the China Sea, between 18 deg. and 20 deg. north latitude, and between 108 deg. and 111 deg, east longitude, has an area of 12,000 square miles and a population of 1,500,000. It is but fifteen miles from the mainland of China, the inhabitants being principally people of that country. The interior is very mountainous, and is said to be a desolate, barren region. The shore country, however, is very fertile, and is cultivated with all the skill of the Chinese agriculturist. Unlike Formosa, there are many good harbors indenting its shores. The products of the land are similar to those already mentioned, ranging from the tropical to those of the more temperate climes. FORMOSA. Formosa, somewhat larger than Hainan, having an area of 15,000 square miles, lies between 21 deg. 58 min. and 25 deg. 15 min. north latitude, and east longitude 120 deg. and 122 deg.; is separated from the mainland by a channel nearly ninety miles in width. The inhabitants, some 2,500,000 in number, are of the Chinese and Malay types. The island is of evident volcanic origin, many traces of former eruptions being found, but wholly inactive at present. 'Mountain ranges traverse the land, many of whose peaks are covered with perpetual snow. There are no good harbors, making commerce and navigation to and from Formosa, exceedingly dangerous. The lands, where cultivated, are very productive. Nearly all the fruits of the tropics are grown, with rice, coffee, sugar and tobacco as staples. The forests abound in camphor, cinnamon, ebony and other valuable trees. Formosa was first made known to Europeans by some returning Spanish seamen who had lost their vessel on the island's rocky shores in 1582. The fisheries of these two islands are of great value, as also those of the Chusan Archipelago. Immense quantities are taken, cleaned, dried and sold in the markets of China. This valuable interest is not |