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THE ISLAND OF MINDORO. 7(>2 
years of age. So short is the life of man in these humid countries, 
where large spaces are covered with a dense forest, which the rays 
of the sun never penetrate. This same Sanagui informed us that 
his authority was limited to calling together his subjects, or rather 
companions, when the amount of services due to the Christians was 
to be discussed ; that they consulted him on all differences with 
people of other villages; on all family questions, and on all offences 
committed within his district ; that lie counselled them when he 
thought it best, and passed judgment or not according to his will; 
and that at times he consulted with the heads of other villages or 
with the justices of the Christians, when the cases proved difficult. 
In return the people of his tribe assisted him in his little labours and 
enterprises. He informed us that the Manguians married several 
wives, who were generally scrupulously faithful, but that it any 
were guilty of infidelity, the paramour was punished by a fine, 
that is to say, he was obliged to deliver to the husband provisions 
or effects to the value of ten or twelve dollars. A penalty of the 
same description, but more heavy, is imposed upon those who kill 
or wound another ; but if the homicide be a man of execrable and 
violent nature who has made previous attempts of the same nature, 
the other Manguians consider themselves at liberty, and even 
under an obligation, to put him to death, and he who performs the 
deed acquires a distinguished title to the estimation of his fellow 
villagers. 
Their intercourse with the Christians is in general very slight, 
and the balance of trade, if we may be permitted to give that name 
to the results of their simple and puerile exchanges, is chiefly * 
against them, on account of their extreme ignorance and simplicity. 
The savages of the centre of the island never go down to the coasts, 
but they receive with great satisfaction all those who may visit 
them, especially should they be Spaniards. A religious Recoleto , 
curate to one of the towns of the island, made a journey across it 
only a few years ago, from Sablayan on the West Coast, to Naujan, 
on the N. E. Coast, The Christian natives who accompained him 
from the points of departure, turned him over to the Manguians 
about the middle of,the first day’s journey, and all returned to the 
town. The Manguians conducted him through their district, and 
then placed him in the hands of the tribe immediately beyond them, 
which process was continued to the end of the journey, which lasted 
a fortnight. 
The respect with which the traveller was treated on all hands 
indemnified him in a great degree for the hardships be had to 
endure during this expedition, where the road lay through almost 
impenetrable forests, low mud-swamps, or over the stony beds of 
mountain torrents; the bridges for crossing the most dangerous 
abysses consisting of three lines of bejuco rope, one for the feet, the 
other two for the hands. The inns were slight frames of wood 
