rt a fund of sadness, which it was not possible to conceal. My
kind-hearted mother, who with deep regret observed my repugnance
to establish myself in any part of the country, and who entertained
fears, perhaps well-founded ones, that I should yet endeavour to go
back to the Philippines, used every means to prevent me. She spoke
to me of marriage, and in all her letters repeated that she should
not be happy until I agreed to enter into the ties of a new union:
she said my name would otherwise become extinct, and, as her last
consolation, she asked me to allow her to choose a companion for me.

The wish to satisfy her, and also the remembrance of Anna's last words:
"Return to thy country, and marry one of thy countrywomen," decided
my resolution.

I soon made choice of one, who would have fully rendered a man happy
who had not too frequently before him the remembrance of a previous
union. Nevertheless, I was as happy as I could be. My new wife
possessed every quality necessary for my happiness. By her I became
father of two children, and I began to bless the determination which my
mother had contributed so much to make me adopt; but, alas! happiness
was never for me lasting; the cup of bitterness was not yet exhausted,
and I had still to shed many tears.

In the cemetery of Vertoux, a modest tomb for thee, poor mother! is
erected, between that of a husband and a son; and soon after another
grave was opened at Neuilly. In profound affliction I had the following
lines engraved on the latter:

"Veille, du haut des cieux, sur ta triste famille;
Conserve-moi ton fils et revis dans ta fille." [26]

NOTES

[1] Pablo signifies Paul, my Christian name. I was always called thus
at Manilla and at Cavite.

[2] The betel is a species of pepper plant, the leaves of which
are wrapped round areca nuts and the chunam--the latter is a kind
of burnt-lime made of shells, and the areca nut is the fruit of
a species of palm. The Indians, Chinese, half-breeds, and a great
number of Creoles, continually chew this mixture, which is reputed
to sweeten the breath and assist digestion.

[3] During six months the winds blow continually from the north-east,
and during the other six months from the north-west: these two periods
are termed north-east monsoon and north-west monsoon.

[4] At their head was Don Jose Fuentes, my constant friend.

[5] Don Simon Fernandez, Oidor at the Court Royal.

[6] The most bi