MANILLA. 335 



house on the summit afforded them little or no shelter ; being a mere 

 shed, open on all sides, they found it untenantable, and determined to 

 return as soon as their observations were finished to the half-way 

 house, which they reached before dark. 



The night was passed uncomfortably, and in the morning they 

 made an early start down the mountain to reach the native village at 

 its foot, where they were refreshed with a cup of chocolate, cakes, and 

 some dulces, according to the custom of the country. At ten o'clock 

 they reached the mission, where they were received by the padre 

 and Mr. Sturges. The former was greatly astonished to hear that 

 they had really been to the summit, and had accomplished in twenty- 

 four hours what he had deemed a labour of three days. He quickly 

 attended to their wants, the first among which was dry clothing; and 

 as their baggage had unfortunately been left at Santa Cruz, the ward- 

 robe of the rotund padre was placed at their disposal. Although the 

 fit was rather uncouth on the spare forms of our gentlemen, yet his 

 clothes served the purpose tolerably well, and were thankfully made 

 use of. During their absence, Mr. Sturges had been much amused 

 with the discipline he had witnessed at the hands of the church, 

 which here seem to be the only visible ruling power. Two young 

 natives had made complaint to the padre that a certain damsel had 

 entered into vows or engagements to marrv both : she was accordingly 



DO j O J 



brought up before the padre, Mr. Sturges being present. The padre 

 first lectured her most seriously upon the enormity of her crime, then 

 inflicted several blows on the palm of her outstretched hand, again 

 renewing the lecture, and finally concluding with another whipping. 

 The girl was pretty, and excited the interest of our friend, who 

 looked on with much desire to interfere, and save the damsel from the 

 corporeal punishment, rendered more aggravated by the dispassionate 

 and cool manner in which it and the lecture were administered. In 

 the conversation which ensued, the padre said he had more cases 

 of the violation of the marriage vow, and of infidelity, than any other 

 class of crimes. 



After a hearty breakfast, or rather dinner, and expressing their 

 thanks to the padre, they rode back to Santa Cruz, where they 

 arrived at an early hour, and at 9 p. m. they embarked in their bancas 

 for Manilla. 



In the morning they found themselves, after a comfortable night, 

 at Banos. Here they took chocolate with the padre, to whom Mr. 



