ng their absence from the port to which they belonged, he had an opportunity of satisfying himself of the good results ensuing from non-interference; and some time afterwards entirely loosed the fetters which burdened them, by giving colonial ships liberty to sail wherever they chose without restrictions as to time or place: and certainly, his doing so was an honour for the national flag, which then waved on every sea. These concessions proved alike wise and beneficent; and since the time of their being granted, the tonnage and commerce of Manilla has increased in an amazing degree, and still goes on prosperously augmenting Her Most Catholic Majesty's treasury, besides improving the condition of the people and the agriculture of the country.
But this was far from being the only wise act of Governor Enrile, for under his administration a boon of even greater importance was secured to the country and the people of the colony, by the opening of internal communications throughout the Philippines. He establ
Excellent portrait of the Philippines in the mid-1800s. The author covers just about all classes and ethnic groups, explaining how they lived, the houses they lived in, the clothes they wore, the foods they ate, their modes of transportation, how they were governed, and goes into great detail about the articles of trade from the various islands. Occasional anecdotes keep it lively. Fascinating.