MANILLA. 323 



and the advocates and judges grow rich while both the litigants suffer. 

 I understood that these tribunals were intended to simplify business, 

 lessen the time of suits, and promote justice ; but these results have 

 not been obtained, and many believe that they have had the contrary 

 effect, and have opened the road to further abuses. 



The country round Manilla, though no more than an extended 

 plain for some miles, is one of great interest and beauty, and affords 

 many agreeable rides on the roads to Santa Anna and Maraquino. 

 Most of the country-seats are situated on the river Pasig; they may 

 indeed be called palaces, from their extent and appearance. They 

 are built upon a grand scale, and after the Italian style, with terraces, 

 supported by strong abutments, decked with vases of plants. The 

 grounds are ornamented with the luxuriant, lofty, and graceful trees 

 of the tropics; these are tolerably well kept. Here and there fine 

 large stone churches, with their towers and steeples, are to be seen, 

 the whole giving the impression of a wealthy nobility, and a happy 

 and flourishing peasantry. 



In one of our rides we made a visit to the Campo Santo or ceme- 

 tery, about four miles from Manilla. It is small, but has many 

 handsome trees about it; among them was an Agati, full of large 

 white flowers, showing most conspicuously. The whole place is as 

 unlike a depository of the dead as it well can be. Its form is circular, 

 having a small chapel, in the form of a rotunda, directly opposite the 

 gate, or entrance. The walls are about twenty feet high, with three 

 tiers of niches, in which the bodies are enclosed with quicklime. 

 Here they are allowed to remain for three years, or until such time as 

 the niches may be required for further use. Niches may be pur- 

 chased, however, and permanently closed up ; but in the whole ceme- 

 tery there were but five thus secured. This would seem to indicate 

 an indifference on the part of the living, for their departed relatives 

 or friends ; at least such was my impression at the time. The centre 

 of the enclosure is laid out as a flower-garden and shrubbery, and all 

 the buildings are painted a deep buff-colour, with white cornices; 

 these colours, when contrasted with the green foliage, give an effect 

 that is not unpleasing. In the chapel are two tombs, the one for the 

 bishop, and the other for the governor. The former, I believe, is 

 occupied, and will continue to be so, until another shall follow him ; 

 but the latter is empty, for, since the erection of the cemetery, none 

 of the governors have died. In the rear of the chapel is another small 

 cemetery, called Los Angelos ; and, further behind, the Osero. The 



