THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 
55 
military/ 5 is aided in no small degree by the clergy, who 
have a great influence over the festa -loving and super¬ 
stitious natives. The Archbishop of Manila directs a 
large territory, the Ladrones, Carolines, and Pelew Islands 
being comprised in his province. He has as suffragans 
the Bishops of Nueva Cageres (Camarines-Sur), Nueva 
Segovia (Ilocos-Sur), Zebu, and Jaro (Iloilo). The public 
exercise of any religion other, than the Catholic is for¬ 
bidden. The Spanish secular clergy, about 400 in 
number, reside chiefly in Manila. The parishes are 
administered by the Spanish ecclesiastics of various 
orders, or by native clergy who receive their education 
in the large seminaries attached to each diocese. The 
Augustines number 500, the Dominicans and Franciscans 
each 200. The missionary work in the island of Min¬ 
danao is almost entirely carried on by the Jesuits. The 
Spanish regular clergy thus number about 1200. The 
Church is chiefly supported by a capitation tax and fees. 
The Christianised Indians have in a manner grafted 
their new religion upon their former cult. Deeply super¬ 
stitious and with boundless faith, the religious orders 
found them ready converts. The brilliant processions 
and rich robes and images of the Church appealed most 
strongly to them. Now the smallest village has its fetes 
and its band of musicians to accompany the processions, 
and plays of a religious or semi-religious nature are very 
commonly given. The priest is the practical king of the 
village, and does not regard with a too favourable eye 
the spread of knowledge, except it be through himself. 
For, despite the censure, newspapers and posts have 
begun their work, and there is no doubt that the railway 
scheme, if completed, will bring a great change in the 
condition of the native. Not that education is by any 
means neglected. It is probable, indeed, that a larger 
