3 1 4 Voyage of the Novara. 



Very comical is the method hit upon in those places of 

 amusements to supply the places of the return tickets in use 

 amongst ourselves, and at the same time render it impos- 

 sible for any different person to make use of them. When 

 a native wishes to leave the apartment with the intention of 

 returning he has his naked fore arm, near the wrist, stamped 

 as he goes out with a black die, which secures his re-admis- 

 sion, and at the same time obviates all anxiety as to his 

 losing his return ticket! On his return this mark is easily 

 wiped out. 



During our stay occurred the ^^ Fiestas Reales^'' or royal 

 fetes, which were given by the Colonial Grovernment in hon- 

 our of the birth of an heir to the Spanish throne, Don Alfonso, 

 Prince of the Asturias. The little heir-apparent had, in fact, 

 seen the light in the month of November preceding, at 

 Madrid, but when the news reached the Philippines it was 

 Lent ; respect for the tenets of the Catholic Church deferred 

 the festivities, and afterwards the various fire-works, tri- 



extracted from the Gentleman's Magazine for April, 1789, and which may even now 

 be found to repay perusal : — " Died at Tottenham, John Ardesoif, Esq., a young man 

 of large fortune, who if he had his foibles, had also his merits (!) that far out- 

 weighed them. Mr. Ardesoif was very fond of cock-fighting, and had a favourite 

 cock, upon which he won many very profitable matches. The last bet he laid upon this 

 cock, he lost ; which so enraged him that he had the bird tied to a spit, and roasted 

 alive before a large fire. The screams of the miserable animal were so affecting that 

 some gentlemen who were present attempted to interfere, at which Mr. Ardesoif was so 

 enraged that he seized a poker, and with the most furious vehemence declared that 

 he would kill the first man that interfered, but in the midst of his asseveration he fell 

 dead upon the spot! Such we are assured were the circumstances attending the 

 death of this great pillar of humanity !" 



