1845.] EXPLORE INTERIOR, 307 



quarters at the house devoted to the Padres, which 

 had been already cleansed for our reception, and where 

 our good friends Padres Remigio and Tomas, used 

 every exertion to render us comfortable. As the uncer- 

 tainty of embarking became an important consideration, 

 and I have often experienced that the delay of one un- 

 handy individual has risked the lives of all, I determined 

 on reducing our number to the minimum requisite for 

 conducting the service on which we were engaged. It 

 consisted of Mr. M' Dougall, my amanuensis, coxswain, 

 two seamen, and the optician. The ship had orders to re- 

 main 'off* and on ' under canvas, and in addition to sound- 

 ing, had instructions to light beacons at points, already 

 fixed upon. We were hardly housed when bad weather 

 came on, and during our stay we had reason to think, as 

 we had no " chimney pots or tiles " over our heads, and 

 knew that the good ship ' Samarang ' had plenty of sea- 

 room, that we were quite as happy on shore ; although 

 at times, when rain confined us within doors, reduced to 

 the necessity of going to school to the Padres, who strove 

 hard to instruct us in the language of Ibayat. 



This visit of the Padres was connected with their pas- 

 toral duties, and had not at this period, I believe, been 

 performed for several years. Those who visited Batan in 

 their boats were in communication with the Padres, and 

 were consequently accustomed to pursue their religious 

 exercises ; but the women were seldom included in these 

 excursions, consequently those inclined to marry could not 

 put off the ceremony, to the almost sine die visit of 

 the pastor, for whom, not having seen, they probably cared 

 but little. The routine duties of worship had been per- 



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