MANILL A. 
313 
The people have the character of being orderly, and govern them¬ 
selves without the aid of the military. The principal article of culture 
is the cocoa-nut tree, which is seen in large groves. The trunks of 
these were notched, as was supposed, for the purpose of climbing them. 
From the spathe a kind of spirit is manufactured, which is fully as 
strong as our whiskey. 
About noon they left Don Escudero’s, and took a road leading to the 
southward and eastward, through a luxuriant and beautiful country, 
well cultivated, and ornamented with lofty cocoa-nut trees, betel palms, 
and banana groves. Several beautiful valleys were passed, with stream¬ 
lets rushing through them. 
Alaijaijai is situated about one thousand feet above the Laguna de 
Bay, but the rise is so gradual that it was almost imperceptible. The 
country has every where the appearance of being densely peopled; 
but no more than one village was passed between Santa Cruz and the 
mission. They had letters to F. Antonio Romana y Aranda, padre 
of the mission, who received them kindly, and entertained them most 
hospitably. When he was told of their intention to visit the mountain, 
he said it was impossible with such weather, pointing to the black 
clouds that then enveloped its summit; and he endeavoured to persuade 
the gentlemen to desist from what appeared to him a mad attempt; 
but finding them resolved to make the trial, he aided in making all the 
necessary preparations, though he had no belief in their success. 
On the morning of the 27th, after mass, Mr. Eld and Dr. Pickering 
set out, but Mr. Sturges preferred to keep the good padre company 
until their return. The padre had provided them with guides, horses, 
twenty natives, and provisions for three days. He had been himself 
on the same laborious journey, some six months before, and knew its 
fatigues; although it turned out afterwards that his expedition was 
performed in fine weather, and that he had been borne on a litter by 
natives the whole way. 
The first part of the road was wet and miry, and discouraging 
enough. The soil was exceedingly rich, producing tropical plants 
in great profusion, in the midst of which were seen the neat bamboo 
cottages, with their industrious and cleanly-looking inhabitants. When 
they reached the foot of the mountain, they found it was impossible to 
ride farther, and were obliged to take to walking, which was, how¬ 
ever, less of a hardship than riding the little rats of horses, covered 
with mud and dirt, which were at first deemed useless; but the man¬ 
ner in which they ascended and maintained themselves on the slippery 
banks, surpassed any thing they had before witnessed in horseflesh. 
The first part of the as-cent of the mountain was gradual, but over a 
vol. v. 2B 40 
