The principal part of the cotton comes from the province of Ylocos, where large quantities of stuffs are manufactured. The brown cotton, for which a prize was offered in 1818 by the Society of Arts, grows in great quantities, and is manufactured into durable cloths and blankets. The prices of agricultural labour vary from 1 rial [85] per day near Manila to 3/4 and 1/2 rial in the provinces--a plough with two buffaloes and a man, 2 1/2 rials. The workmen, like day labourers in all countries, are often "looking for sunset;" but when allowed task work, are willing and industrious. A plough will go over rather more than a loan [86] of ground in a day--about a quinion in three months. Of the produce of any given cultivation, it is difficult to speak with any degree of correctness: calculations of this kind are difficult to make amongst a people labouring each for himself, and all for the wants of the day: for, unaccustomed to generalize, each gives his own as the average, and hence the discrepancy which every person must have remarked who has had occasion to make inquiries of this description in half civilized countries, where a main point, the value of the labourer's time, and of that of his animals, is invariably left out, as is also the difference of work for himself and for a master. The tables given at the conclusion of Comyn's work are, as far as regards the vicinity of the capital, very erroneous. They are also very deficient in many points. [87] The following is a much nearer approximation. A quinion of land requires four ploughings and three harrowings, say six ploughings in all. Ds. Rs. Now as 1 Quinion will occupy a hired labourer about 90 days at 2 1/2 Rials = 28 Dollars 1 Rial, which for six times is 168 6 Fencing, 12 Ds.; Grubbing, &c., 15; Cane Slips, 25; Planting, 18; Weeding and Hoeing, 30; Carriage, 18; Manufacture, 45; Pilones, &c., 12 175 0 Cost 343 6 Produce at low average, 150 Pilones, [88] salable at 3 1/2 Ds. 487 4 ======= Profit 143 6 This supposes the proprietor of the cane to be possessed of a mill, buffaloes, &c. for the wear of which no estimate is made. The 150 pilones of sugar, each weighing about 150 lbs. gross, will produce the refiner who has purchased them about 100 piculs of sugar, of which S. Ds. 80 1st sort, worth 6 1/4 Dollars 500 0 20 2d ditto, and Molasses, &c. 3 3/4 75 0 ======= 575 0