324 MANILLA. 



former is similar to the one in front, but smaller, and appropriated 

 exclusively to children ; the latter is an open space, where the bones 

 of all those who have been removed from the niches, after three years, 

 are cast out, and now lie in a confused heap, with portions of flesh and 

 hair adhering to them. No person is allowed to be received here for 

 interment, until the fees are first paid to the priest, however respect- 

 able the parties may be; and all those who pay the fees, and are of the 

 true faith, can be interred. I was told of a corpse of a very respectable 

 person being refused admittance, for the want of the priest's pass, to 

 show that the claim had been satisfied, and the coffin stopped in the 

 road until it was obtained. We ourselves witnessed a similar refusal. 

 A servant entered with a dead child, borne on a tray, which he pre- 

 sented to the sacristan to have interred ; the latter asked him for the 

 pass, which not being produced, he was dismissed, nor was he suffered 

 to leave his burden until this requisite could be procured from the 

 priest, who lived opposite. The price of interment was three dollars, 

 but whether this included the purchase of the niche, or its rent for 

 three years only, I did not learn. 



The churches of Manilla can boast of several fine-toned bells, 

 which are placed in large belfries or tower's. There was one of these 

 towers near the Messrs. Sturges', where we stayed ; and the manner 

 in which the bell was used, when swung around by the force of two 

 or three men, attracted our attention; for the ringers occasionally 

 practised feats of agility by passing over with the bell, and landing 

 on the coping on the opposite side. The tower being open, we could 

 see the manoeuvre from the windows, and, as strangers, went there to 

 look on. One day, whilst at dinner, they began to ring, and as many 

 of the officers had not witnessed the feat, they sought the windows. 

 This excited the vanity of those in the belfry, who redoubled their 

 exertions, and performed the feat successfully many times, although 

 in some instances they narrowly escaped accident, by landing just 

 within the outside coping. This brought us all to the window, and 

 the next turn, more force having been given to the bell, the individual 

 who attempted the feat was thrown headlong beyond the tower, and 

 dashed to pieces on the pavement beneath. Although shocked at the 

 accident, I felt still more so when, after a few minutes, the bell was 

 again heard making its usual sound, as if nothing had occurred to 

 interrupt the course of its hourly peals. 



In company with Dr. Tolben, I visited one of the convents where 

 he attended on some of the monks who were sick, and was well 



