As nearly as I could ascertain, the revenue derived from these establishments is half a million of dollars.

The natives of the Philippines are industrious.  They manufacture an amount of goods sufficient to supply their own wants, particularly from Panay and Ilocos.  These for the most part consist of cotton and silks, and a peculiar article called pina.  The latter is manufactured from a species of Bromelia (pineapple), and comes principally from the island of Panay.  The finest kinds of pina are exceedingly beautiful, and surpass any other material in its evenness and beauty of texture.  Its color is yellowish, and the embroidery is fully equal to the material.  It is much sought after by all strangers, and considered as one of the curiosities of this group.  Various reports have been stated of the mode of its manufacture, and among others that it was woven under water, which I found, upon inquiry, to be quite erroneous.  The web of the pina is so fine, that they are obliged to prevent all currents of air from passing through the rooms where it is manufactured, for which purpose there are gauze screens in the windows.  After the article is brought to Manila, it is then embroidered by girls; this last operation adds greatly to its value.  We visited one of the houses where this was in progress, and where the most skilful workwomen are employed.

On mounting the stairs of bamboos, every step we took produced its creak; but, although the whole seemed but a crazy affair, yet it did not want for strength, being well and firmly bound together.  There were two apartments, each about thirteen by twenty-five feet, which could be divided by screens, if required.  At the end of it were seen about forty females, all busily plying their needles, and so closely seated as apparently to incommode each other.  The mistress of the manufactory, who was quite young, gave us a friendly reception, and showed us the whole process of drawing the threads and working the patterns, which, in many cases, were elegant.

A great variety of dresses, scarfs, caps, collars, cuffs, and pocket-handkerchiefs, were shown us.  These were mostly in the rough state, and did not strike us with that degree of admiration which was expected.  They, however, had been in hand for six months, and were soiled by much handling; but when others were shown us in the finished state, washed and put up, they were such as to claim our admiration.

I was soon attracted by a very different sight at the other end of the apartment.  This was a dancing-master and his scholar, of six years old, the daughter of the woman of the house.  It was exceedingly amusing to see the airs and graces of this child.

For music they had a guitar; and I never witnessed a ballet that gave me more amusement, or saw a dancer that evinced more grace, ease, confidence, and decided talent, than did this little girl.  She was prettily formed, and was exceedingly admired and applauded by us all.  Her mother considered her education as finished, and looked on with all the admiration and fondness of parental affection.