Recollections of Manilla and the Philippines | Page 9

of this sort, when a fire takes place, great
and rapid destruction is inevitable, and the only way of saving any
portion of them from its fury is by throwing down all those in the
direction of its advance.
Nearly every season, however, some fires happen among them, and
hundreds of families are frequently burned out before its progress can
be arrested. This, however, is not anything like so calamitous an event
for them as such an occurrence would be to the poor of Europe, for as
the chief cost of a nipa house consists in the labour of erection, after
such a misfortune, they are soon replaced by their own personal
labour--for whatever their usual trade or occupation may be, nearly all
of the Indians are quite capable of constructing these houses for
themselves, and often manage to complete them roughly in a few days.
No nails need be used in their construction, everything necessary being
produced in the islands, and easily attainable. Houses so constructed
are very suitable for the climate, affording all the shelter requisite; and
indeed the people appear to be much better lodged than many of the
poor in England, where the cold and damp of the climate demand a
substantial house, which too often they do not possess.
CHAPTER V.

The government of all the Philippine group, including the Mariana
Islands, is intrusted to the charge of a Captain-General, who in virtue of
his office is commander-in-chief of the forces, president of the
Hacienda, admiral of marine, postmaster-general &c., &c. His power
and authority, in short, extend to all those departments, over which his
control, should he choose to exert it, is very absolute.
The civil department of Her Most Catholic Majesty's service, so far as
finance, &c., are concerned, is left to the administration of an officer
who takes the title of Super-Intendente of the Hacienda; and who,
putting the Archbishop aside, is regarded as the second official person
at Manilla, or as ranking next to the Governor, the revenue, &c., being
the branch he has principal charge of; but his acts are always subject to
the control of the Captain-General.
A military officer under the title of segundo Cabo, is under the
Governor as acting commander-in-chief of the forces, and, in the event
of the governor's absence from Manilla, is the person who fills his
situation and succeeds him in his power. A post-captain of the navy is
usually the rank of the person intrusted with the direction and
management of the sea force, but he always has, I believe, the local or
brevet rank of an admiral.
The internal administration of the country is carried on by officials
subordinate to those above-mentioned, the whole of the islands being
parcelled out or divided into several provinces, in each of which there
is an Alcalde, or Lieutenant-Governor, receiving his orders from, and
quite dependent on the Captain-General, to whose favour he generally
owes his appointment.
These officers are invested with the chief civil and military authority in
their own provinces; but although they have always a small guard of
soldiers, the good order and quiet generally prevalent everywhere
throughout the country render their military duties very unimportant,
and their principal care is now required in the collection of revenue and
the administration of justice within their several jurisdictions. These are
not very arduous duties, owing principally to the efficient assistance
derived from the authorities under them.

Every province is divided into districts or parishes, in which there is
some village or town, and in each of these places there is an official
whom I shall call the Major, or Capitan Gobernadorcillo, and also
some Tenientes or Aldermen, as well as police alguacils. All of these
have to report to the alcalde of the province any thing of importance
occuring within their districts, and are commanded severally to assist
and promote the views of the cura, or priest, by every means in their
power. Most of the people who fill these situations are Indians or
Mestizos, rather better off in worldly goods than the run of their
countrymen.
These gobernadorcillos, or little governors, possess considerable
authority over the natives, for, besides having the chief municipal
authority in their own districts, they are allowed to decide judicially in
civil cases, when the amount in dispute does not exceed the value of
forty-four dollars, or about ten pounds sterling, and in criminal cases
undertake the prosecution, collecting the evidence and ascertaining the
charges against any delinquent within their district, all of which is
remitted by them to the provincial-governor and judge for his decision.
Their election takes place annually, on the commencement of the new
year, all over the country, and their power is exactly defined in a
printed commission which they all hold from the Governor of