•^68 FROM GUAHOX TO ST. HELENA. 



libeity in the interior of the country, which are 

 subject to the singular fate, that a bird makes its 

 nest on the upper part of their tail ; as soon as 

 this happens the horse grows lean, and does not 

 recover even after the bird has flown away with 

 its young. The Governor seemed to be perfectly 

 convinced of the truth of this phenomenon, which 

 I should have declared to be a fable on hearing it 

 from a less-informed and intelligent man. 



I visited to-day, in the suburb, the segar-manu- 

 factory, which was formerly a convent for monks, 

 where I found 2000 women and 350 men busily 

 employed. 



On the 14th, I rode back to Cavite ; the repairs 

 of the ship were almost concluded, and the Rurick 

 was already rigged. 



The 26th. I brought my chronometers on board, 

 and made preparations to sail next day to Manilla, 

 where I had to take in biscuit and other provi- 

 sions. The Governor sent our painter a girl, who 

 was descended from the mountaineers in the in- 

 terior of the country, that he might take her por- 

 trait. These, as it is well known, were formerly 

 the sole inhabitants of the Philippines, and after 

 being driven away by the Malays, they lead a 

 peaceable Nomade (hfe) in the mountains. They 

 do not like to have any thing to do with Chris- 

 tians, and do not wish to be baptized. 



The 28th. Yesterday at noon we left Cavite ; 

 Hud a few hours ailer wards cast anchor before 



