THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 55 



military," is aided in no small degree by the clergy, who 

 have a great influence over the festa-loYmg and super- 

 stitious natives. The Archbishop of Manila directs a 

 large territory, the Ladrones, Carolines, and Pelew Islands 

 being comprised in his province. He has as suffragans 

 the Bishops of ISTueva Ca^eres (Camarines-Sur), Nueva 

 Segovia (Ilocos-Sur), Zebu, and Jaro (Iloilo). The public 

 exercise of any religion other than the Catholic is for- 

 bidden. The Spanish secular clergy, about 400 in 

 number, reside chiefly in Manila. The parishes are 

 administered by the Spanish ecclesiastics of various 

 orders, or by native clergy who receive their education 

 in the large seminaries attached to each diocese. The 

 Augustines number 500, the Dominicans and Franciscans 

 each 200. The missionary work in the island of ]\Iin- 

 danao is almost entirely carried on by the Jesuits. The 

 Spanish regular clergy thus number about 1200. The 

 Church is chiefly supported by a capitation tax and fees. 

 The Christianised Indians have in a manner grafted 

 their new religion upon their former cult. Deeply super- 

 stitious and wdth boundless faith, the religious orders 

 found them ready converts. The brilliant processions 

 and rich robes and images of the Church appealed most 

 strongly to them. Now the smallest village has its fetes 

 and its band of musicians to accompany the processions, 

 and plays of a religious or semi-religious nature are ver}- 

 commonly given. The priest is the practical king of the 

 village, and does not regard with a too favourable eye 

 the spread of knowledge, except it be through himself. 

 For, despite the censure, newspapers and posts have 

 begun their work, and there is no doubt that the railway 

 scheme, if completed, will bring a great change in the 

 condition of the native. Not that education is by any 

 means neglected. It is probable, indeed, that a larger 



