June 4, and July 2. These dates, however, may be altered at the last moment by the governor-general. During the southwest monsoon

the boats do not always call at Colombo.

The local mail steamers from Manila to the provinces leave Manila every alternate Saturday (in the northeast monsoon, about 10 a. m.; in the southwest monsoon, about 4 p. m.).

The North Luzon Line is from Manila to Subic, Olangapo (the north arsenal and where the large floating dock is to be erected), Bolinao, San Fernando, Croayan, Currimas (all these on the west. coast of Luzon and Aparri, entrance to Rio Grande in the extreme north of Luzon).

The South Luzon Line runs from Manila to Batangas, Calapan, Laguimanos, Passacao, Donsol, Sorsogon, Legaspi, and Tabaco.

The Southeast Line runs from Manila to Romolon, Cebu, Cabolian, Surigao, Camiguin, Cagayan de Misamis, Iligan, Harihohoe, Bais, Dumagete Iloilo.

The Southwest Line runs from Manila to Iloilo, Zamboanga, Isabela de Basilan, Iolo (Sula) Siassi, Tataan, Bongao, Parang Parang, Cottabato, Glan, Sarangani, Dayas, Matti Lebak, St. Maria. These steamers return to Manila from eight to ten days after leaving; local steamers for the neighboring islands leave nearly every day.

COAL DEPOSITS.

On the small island of Batan, to the southeast of Luzon, just through the Straits of San Bernadino, there are extensive coal deposits, now worked by Messrs. Gil Hermanos, of Virao, Island of Catanduanes. This coal is used by their own steamer, Josefa Gorroño, plying round the coast of Catanduanes and occasionally coming to Manila with hemp, and also by other local steamers. The mine is called Visaya, and stocks of coal are generally on the beach. There is a safe anchorage for vessels close by during the northeast monsoon. In the southwest monsoon, vessels can anchor anywhere around in smooth water. The coal is not equal to Japanese, but is good enough for an emergency, and easily obtainable. The mines are situated in latitude 13° 15" north, longitude 130° 16" east (Meridian of San Fernando), approximately.

Other extensive coal mines are also being worked in the village of Compostela, close to the city of Cebu. This coal is of superior quality, and stocks are always available.

A railway to the sea is in course of construction and probably finished by this time. Several Government and English steamers have coaled there already.

These mines and the city of Cebu could easily be taken, the only No. 215 8.

defense of Cebu being the cotta, or small fort, mounted with old muzzle-loading guns, unless modern ones have been sent there lately, which I doubt.

A new fort has just been constructed around the powder magazine of San Antonio Abad, just outside the suburb of Malate (Manila), on the shores of the bay, about 1 mile distant from Malate Church. The roof of the powder magazine is visible from vessels in the bay.

ARMAMENT, CABLE, AND RAILWAYS.

Three guns have also been sent down to Corregidor Island (at the entrance to the Bay of Manila) for fortifications to be erected.

The new cable is now being laid from Cape Bolinao to Manila (Malate, about 2 miles to the south of the old city walls). It is to pass through the Boca Chica, or narrow passage between Corregidor Island and the mainland. The cable to the Visayas Islands from Manila, laid a few months ago, passes through Boca Grande, somewhat nearer the Cavite or south shore.

The terminus of the Manila Railway, 196 kilometers (121 miles) long, is at Dagupan, in the Gulf of Lugayan. Dagupan is about 1 mile as the crow flies from the shore of the gulf, and is situated on a branch of the River Agno. Only vessels of 6 to 7 feet draft can cross the bar, which is easily distinguishable from the fact of a large iron-roofed house situated in a cocoanut grove being exactly in front There is any amount of water inside the bar, up to the town E. SPENCER PRATT,

of it. itself.

SINGAPORE, May 3, 1898.

Consul-General.

TARIFF CHANGES IN GUADELOUPE.

I have the honor to report that changes have been made in the duties on certain articles imported into this colony in considerable. quantities and, in great measure, from the United States. I inclose a tabular statement of these new duties, showing the old duties and the increase. This new tariff was ordered in France April 9, and was promulgated here May 13.

A still more important change is soon to be made in the local or colonial tariff. In addition to the general federal tariff, this colony has heretofore imposed other duties for local expenses. The most important of these local duties was that known as the "droit de consommation," a sort of internal-revenue tax. From this source about 625,000 francs ($120,625) have been collected during the past year, and during the years since the tax was first imposed it is estimated that over 6,000,000 francs ($1,158,000) have been collected. There has always been great opposition to this tax, and the French Government recently decided that it was illegal, and ordered the money thus collected to be returned. The 625,000 francs collected last year will probably be returned, but the far larger amounts of previous years may be allowed to lapse.

The colonial government now finds itself confronted with the problem of raising from some source not less than 625,000 francs yearly. The privy council, which has been occupied with this question, will shortly formulate a new schedule of duties, which will be imposed chiefly, I am informed, on flour and other articles. which are brought from the United States and which have heretofore enjoyed certain favorable discriminations. If the new duties merely impose a tax equal to the "droit de consommation," which they are to supersede, no harm will occur; but new articles are to be taxed, and it is certain that an attempt will be made to collect a far greater amount, both to cover such claims as must be paid (about 500,000 francs=$96,500) and to gain a greater revenue.

The colony is now suffering from a short supply of flour and other food products, and of lumber,* and prices have risen.

GUADELOUPE, May 24, 1898.

LOUIS H. AYME,

Consul.

NEW TARIFF OF JAMAICA.

Consul Dent sends from Kingston, under date of June 13, 1898, the following copy of the new tariff law of Jamaica:

TARIFF LAW OF MAY 13, 1898.

Be it enacted by the governor and legislative council of Jamaica as follows: (1) On and after the coming into operation of this law, there shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid unto Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, for the use of the government of this island, upon the several articles imported into this island and enumerated in the first and second schedules to this law, the several duties therein set forth in lieu of the duties now payable on the said articles, respectively, or in lieu of exemption from duty, as the case may be.

* See CONSULAR REPORTS NO. 214 (July, 1898), pp. 402, 403.

(2) The articles and things enumerated in the third schedule to this law shall, after the coming into operation of this law, be admitted into the island free of duty in lieu of the articles and things heretofore admitted free of duty under the provisions of law II of 1867, "A law for laying a duty on imports, exports, and the tonnage of vessels," and law 26 of 1890, law I of 1892, and law 34 of 1896 amending the same, which last-mentioned articles or things shall no longer be admitted free of duty.

(3) The following shall be exempt from duty, viz:

Provisions and stores imported by the local government for the public service, and stores, tools, and materials for the Kingston general commissioners, the Span ish town waterworks commissioners, or for any parochial board, on the certificate of the revenue commissioner.

(4) Whenever any local merchant or trader shall have supplied any goods, wares, or merchandise to the local government for the public service, or to the Kingston general commissioners, the Spanish town waterworks commissioners, or to any parochial board for any public or parochial service, the purchaser, on production of a certificate from the revenue commissioner, shall be entitled to a refund of the duty proved to have been paid on the first importation of such goods; provided they have been imported within the limit of time specified in section 6 of law II of 1867, and section 107 of law 18 of 1877, as the limit within which drawbacks may be claimed on goods exported.

(5) After the passing of this law, drawbacks of duty shall be allowed, under regulations approved by the governor in privy council, and subject to the provisions of the several acts or laws for the time being in force with reference to drawbacks, on the exportation of the following, namely:

Any materials or things which are not grown or produced in this island, and have been imported into and duly paid import duty in this island, and used in the construction, manufacture, or equipment of any vehicle, machine, or appliances, or for putting up and exporting any of the produce of this island in a manufactured, or partly manufactured, or preserved, form, or in the course of making any tins, boxes, packages, or cases for such purpose.

No application for a drawback under this law shall be made or entertained when the original value of the materials or things used for the manufacture or equipment, or the putting up of any such vehicle, machinery, appliance, or produce, shall be less than £2.

(6) This law shall come into operation as from and after the date of the governor's assent thereto, and shall continue in operation until the 30th day of April, 1899.

Fish (alewives, herrings, mackerel, and pickled, unenumerated), per barrel of 200 pounds....