DAGUPAN

dagupan, a town and the most important commercial centre of the province of pangasinan, luzon, philippine islands, on a branch of the agno river near its entrance into the gulf of lingayen, 120 m. by rail n.n.w. of manila. pop. (1903), 20,357. it is served by the manila & dagupan railway. dagupan has a healthy climate. it is the chief point of exportation for a very rich province, which produces sugar, indigo, indian corn, copra, and especially rice. there are several rice mills here. salt is an important export, being manufactured in salt water swamps and marshes throughout the province of pangasinan (whose name, from _asin_, "salt," means "the place where salt is produced"). in these, marshes grows the nipa palm, from which a liquor is distilled--there are a number of small distilleries here. dagupan has a small shipyard in which sailing vessels and steam launches are constructed. the principal language is pangasinan. dahabeah (also spelt dahabiya, dahabiyeh, dahabeeyah, &c.), an arabic word (variously derived from _dahab_, gold, and _dahab_, one of the forms of the verb to go) for a native passenger boat used on the nile. the typical form is that of a barge-like house-boat provided with sails, resembling the painted galleys represented on the tombs of the pharaohs. similar state barges were used by the mahommedan rulers of egypt, and from the circumstance that these vessels were ornamented with gilding is attributed the usual derivation of the name from gold. before the introduction of steamers dahabeahs were generally used by travellers ascending the nile, and they are still the favourite means of travelling for the leisured and wealthy classes. the modern dahabeah is often made of iron, draws about 2 ft. of water, and is provided with one very large and one small sail. according to size it provides accommodation for from two to a dozen passengers. steam dahabeahs are also built to meet the requirements of tourists.