62 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGEAPHY AND TEAVEL 



The gobernadorcillo, in addition to acting as mayor 

 and magistrate and headman of the district to whom (or 

 to his teniente) the European traveller applies for men 

 and animals to continue his journey, was formerly also 

 the tax collector, or rather the collector of " tribute," for 

 by this name was known the impost levied upon every 

 person not of European parentage. Each married couple 

 paid a tributa, amounting to about 4s. 4d. ; unmarried 

 adults paid half that sum. In addition there was a forty 

 days' corvee for road mending, which could be com- 

 pounded for by an annual payment of 12s. In 1884 all 

 this was abolished, and a passport {Cedula personal) system 

 adopted. The passports are of nine classes from 2 5 dollars 

 downwards ; those holding lower than a 3^ dollar rating 

 being obliged to submit to 15 days' corvee, or to pay an 

 equivalent of half a dollar per diem. Tliese passports 

 are compulsory for every person above the age of 18 

 years of whatever nationality. 



The army is composed of seven regiments of in- 

 fantry ; a squadron of cavalry ; a Guardia Civil of native 

 troops numbering four regiments ; a battery of peninsula 

 artillery ; a corps of engineers, with four native com- 

 panies attached ; and a corps of carbineers. The total 

 strength, on a peace footing, is 11,000 men, 12 guns, 

 and 120 horses. Eecruiting is by conscription, and the 

 length of service eight years, but a native can purchase 

 freedom from conscription by the payment of about £10. 

 The navy comprises 26 vessels, mostly of small tonnage, 

 although a corvette of the first clas^ and three smaller 

 unarmoured ships are stationed in the archipelago. Of the 

 rest 13 are gunboats. One vessel is employed in survey 

 work. The total number of officers and men on active 

 service, including marines, is about 3000. At Cavite, 

 the naval station of Manila, there is an arsenal and a slip. 



