MANILLA. 293 



in the provinces in which they are recruited, but those from the north 

 are sent to the south, and vice versa. There they are employed to 

 keep up a continual watch on each other; and, speaking different 

 dialects, they never become identified. 



They are, indeed, never allowed to remain long enough in one 

 region, to imbibe any feelings in unison with those of its inhabitants. 

 The hostility is so great among the regiments, that mutinies have 

 occurred, and contests arisen which have produced even bloodshed, 

 which it was entirely out of the power of the officers to prevent. In 

 cases of this kind, summary punishment is resorted to. 



Although the Spaniards, as far as is known abroad, live in peace 

 and quiet, this is far from being the case ; for rebellion and revolts 

 among the troops and tribes are not unfrequent in the provinces. 

 During the time of our visit one of these took place, but it was im- 

 possible to learn any thing concerning it that could be relied upon, for 

 all conversation respecting such occurrences is interdicted by the 

 government. The difficulty to which I refer was said to have origi- 

 nated from the preaching of a fanatic priest, who inflamed them to 

 such a degree that they overthrew the troops and became temporarily 

 masters of the country. Prompt measures were immediately taken, 

 and orders issued to give the rebels no quarter ; the regiments most 

 hostile to those engaged in the revolt were ordered to the spot; they 

 spared no one; the priest and his companions were taken, put to 

 death, and according to report, in a manner so cruel as to be a dis- 

 grace to the records of the nineteenth century. Although I should 

 hope the accounts I heard of these transactions were incorrect, yet 

 the detestation these acts were held in, would give some colour to the 

 statements. 



The few gazettes that are published at Manilla are entirely under 

 the control of the government; and a resident of that city must make 

 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- 

 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 splendour 

 Z2 



