301 MANILLA. 



and permanently closed up ; but in the whole cemetery 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 washed 

 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 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 respectable 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 satis- 

 fied, 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 presented 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 towers. 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 in- 



