MANILLA. 313 



up his mind to remain in ignorance of the things that are passing 

 around him, or believe just what the authorities will allow to be told, 

 whether truth or falsehood. The government of the Philippines is 

 emphatically an iron rule : how long it can continue so, is doubtful. 



One of my first duties was to make an official call upon his Excel- 1 

 lency Don Marcelino Oroa, who is the sixty-first governor of the 

 Philippine Islands. According to the established etiquette, Mr. Moore, 

 the vice-consul, announced our desire to do so, and requested to be 

 informed of the time when we would be received. This was accord- 

 ingly named, and at the appointed hour we proceeded to the palace 

 in the city proper. On our arrival, we were announced and led up a 

 flight of steps, ample and spacious, but by no means of such splen- 

 dour as would indicate the residence of vice-royalty. The suite of 

 rooms into which we were ushered were so dark that it was difficult to 

 see. I made out, however, that they were panelled, and by no means 

 richly furnished. His excellency entered from a side-door, and led 

 us through two or three apartments into his private audience-room, an 

 apartment not quite so dark as those we had come from : our being 

 conducted to this, I was told afterwards, was to be considered an 

 especial mark of respect to my country. His reception of us was 

 friendly. The governor has much more the appearance of an Irish- 

 man than of a Spaniard, being tall, portly, of a florid complexion. He 

 is apparently more than sixty years of age. He was dressed in a full 

 suit of black, with a star on his breast. 



Mr. Moore acted as interpreter, and the governor readily acceded 

 to my request to be allowed to send a party into the interior for a 

 few days ; a permission which I almost despaired of receiving, for I 

 knew that he had refused a like application some few months before. 

 The refusal, however, I think was in part owing to the character of 

 the applicants, and the doubtful object they had in view. I impute 

 the permission we received to the influence of our consul, together 

 with Mr. Sturges, whose agreeable manners, conciliatory tone, and 

 high standing with the authorities, will, I am satisfied, insure us at 

 all times every reasonable advantage or facility. 



The term of the governor in office is three years, and the present 

 incumbent was installed in 1841. This length of time is thought to be 

 sufficient for any one of them to make a fortune. The office is held 

 by the appointment of the ministry in Spain, and with it are connected 

 perquisites that are shared, it is said, by those who confer them. 



vol. v. 79 



