[105] Cabeza, the head, whence it is further applied to express "chief," or "chieftain."
[106] Another description of tax is the compulsory labour exacted from the natives, which is expended in the construction of roads and bridges, transmission of mail matter, transport of military baggage, luggage of travellers, &c. &c.
[107] These joss-sticks, by the Chinese called "shi-shin-hiang," burn, when lighted, so slowly and regularly, that the Chinese often use them to mark the divisions of time.
[108] The church was utterly ruined, and a large portion of the buildings are similarly in a most desolate, neglected condition. A hope was however expressed that in the following year, 1859, members of the Society of Jesus would come from Europe to settle in the Philippines, who would include among their other labours that of rebuilding their own cloister.
[109] The graceful elegance of the Conchylia brought from Manila is so remarkable that an English ship captain, who, without a special knowledge of the matter, brought on speculation a freight of mussels from the Philippines to Europe, not only made by their sale an enormous profit, but even attained in consequence to a certain degree of celebrity in the scientific world!
[110] Unfortunately the students of Natural Science have met with but little encouragement or support from Government, and many parts of the interior still remain a sealed book to them, or are only accessible under great difficulties. The deficiency of definite information respecting the island attracts foreign naturalists thither, and of late there have been exploring it, M. M. Feodor Jagor of Berlin, Dr. Karl Semper of Hamburg, and La Porte of Paris, all intent on matters connected with the natural history of this Archipelago, but the majority of such visitants come back discontented and thoroughly undeceived to land, where all activity of scientific inquiry is allowed reluctantly, and regarded by the Government and the priests with an envious eye.
[111] A Chinese sailor, on being asked why his vessel had an eye painted on its bulwark, replied in Canton-English, "Suppose no hab eye, how can see?"