MANILLA. 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 whiske}\ 



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. 



Maijaijai 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 j 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 pei'suade 

 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 27thj 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 prolusion, 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 paii of the ascent of the mountain was gradual, but over a 



vol. v. 2B 40 



