ey are fond of pomp and paltry show, and it is
difficult to trace any popular movement, for good or for evil,
without discovering a half-breed initiator, or leader, of one caste
or another. They are locally denominated _Mestizos_.

The Jesuit Father, Pedro Murillo Velarde, at p. 272 of his work
on this Colony, expressed his opinion of the political-economical
result of mixed marriages to the following effect:--"Now," he says,
"we have a querulous, discontented population of half-castes, who,
sooner or later, will bring about a distracted state of society, and
occupy the whole force of the Government to stamp out the discord." How
far the prophecy was fulfilled will be seen in another chapter.

Being naturally prone to superstitious beliefs, the Islanders accepted,
without doubting, all the fantastic tales which the early missionaries
taught them. Miraculous crosses healed the sick, cured the plague,
and scared away the locusts. Images, such as the _Holy Child of Bangi,_
relieved them of all worldly sufferings. To this day they revere many
of these objects, which are still preserved.

The most ancient miraculous image in these Islands appears to be the
_Santo Nino de Cebu_--the Holy Child of Cebu. It is recorded that on
July 28, 1565, an image of the Child Jesus was found on Cebu Island
shore by a Basque soldier named Juan de Camus. It was venerated and
kept by the Austin friars. Irreverent persons have alleged it was a
pagan idol. Against this, it may be argued that the heathen Cebuanos
were not known to have been idolaters. In 1627 a fire occurred
in Cebu city, when the Churches of Saint Nicholas and of the Holy
Child were burnt down. The image was saved, and temporarily placed
in charge of the Recoleto friars. A fire also took place on the site
of the first cross erected on the island by Father Martin de Rada,
the day Legaspi landed, and it is said that this cross, although made
of bamboo, was not consumed. There now stands an Oratory, wherein
on special occasions is exposed the original cross. Close by is the
modern Church of the Holy Child.

In June, 1887, the Prior of the convent conducted me to the strong-room
where the wonderful image is kept. The Saint is of wood, about fifteen
inches high, and laden with silver trinkets, which have been presented
on different occasions. When exposed to public view, it has the
honours of field-marshal accorded to it. It is a mystic deity with
ebon features--so different