262 FROM GUAHON TO ST. HELENA. 



as the natives are very musical, scarcely ever laying 

 their guitars aside, after supper, they play, dance, 

 and sing in the open air. Three miles from here, 

 lies the very romantic village of Terra Alta, to 

 which Mr. Tobias frequently drove me in his 

 chaise. The road lies through avenues of mango- 

 trees, resembling our limes, but bearing the finest 

 fruit : the neat and pretty habitations of the 

 Malays, with their plantations, agreeably entertain 

 the traveller. In Terra Alta the scenery is very 

 beautiful, and vegetation luxuriant. Many rich 

 Spaniards have here country seats, as they con- 

 sider the air particularly healthy. 



The 24th. Christmas-eve put all Cavite in mo- 

 tion ; priests with the images of saints passed through 

 the streets, the Malays followed the procession, 

 and children ran on behind with lanterns, which 

 were of the figures of various animals. A pleas- 

 ing music was heard at intervals, but was soon 

 drowned by the noise of fireworks and rockets. In 

 this night nobody sleeps at Cavite; at twelve 

 o'clock all the bells are rung, and the people flock 

 into the church to prayer. 



The 25th. To-day we made an excursion, in a 

 boat belonging to Mr. Tobias, to Manilla, where we 

 were entertained by the aide-de-camp of the Go- 

 vernor, as there is not a single tavern here. The 

 Governor immediately sent us two carriages to 

 visit the well-known picturesque environs of Ma- 



