334 PASSPORT ANNOYANCES. [Cuapr. XVIII. 
to proceed at once into the interior of the island. 
The traveller, if he is not well acquainted with the 
customs of the place, is exposed to much annoyance 
from the Spanish regulations regarding passports. 
Some new regulations had been established just be- 
fore my arrival, and I found that I could not land 
without either having a passport, or getting some 
well-known merchant to become surety for my con- 
duct. Having landed, a se@ond passport was ne- 
cessary to enable me to remain on the island, another 
before I could go into the interior, and a fourth when 
I wished to leave the country. These passports 
had to be signed by different individuals, and at 
different offices, and if the slightest informality oc- 
curred, the party was turned back or the vessel de- 
tained. I was much indebted to Messrs. Butler, 
and Messrs. Holliday, Wise & Co., English mer- 
chants at Manila, who rendered me every assistance 
in their power. 
Having at length got over these difficulties and 
engaged some guides and servants, our baggage 
was put into a Banca or boat, and we started for 
the Laguna, a large lake in the interior, and the 
source of the river on which the town of Manila 
stands. We had to cross the lake; and we were 
strongly advised to do so at night, as it is gene- 
rally smooth at this time. We soon perceived the 
value of this advice. The Bancas are built long 
and narrow for swiftness, as they have often to 
make way against a rapid current, which flows 
down the river. Out-riggers are fixed to the sides 
