of the Society of Jesus, and one alcalde. There are
generally three fathers in each convent, and that is the largest number
that they have ever had. The city of Zebu, which ought not to bear
the name of city, is a collection of a few miserable straw shacks,
like those of all Indians; the convents, on the contrary, are finely
built. The latter are immense buildings, and that for only two or
three persons. That is true of all the convents of the Philippines,
which are seven or eight times larger than are necessary for the number
of fathers whom they contain. It remains to ascertain whether that is
the case because the number of religious is at present less in Espana
than it was one hundred and fifty or one hundred and eighty years ago;
or whether those buildings were erected with the expectation and idea
that they would some day be peopled and filled. I have been unable to
learn which is correct. There was a quarter for the Chinese at Zebu,
as at Manila. The bishop of Zebu receives a salary of four thousand
piastres (21,000 livres), the cure, one hundred and eighty piastres
(960 livres), and the sacristan ninety-one (472 livres).

The bishopric of Camarines dates from the same time as that of Zebu,
and was founded in the same manner. That city is not more beautiful
than that of Zebu. The calced Augustinians, the Recollects, and the
discalced Franciscans are established at Camarines.

The bishopric of Nueva Segovia was founded at the same time and
in the same manner as the preceding. The city (if it is one) has a
convent of calced Augustinians, one of discalced Franciscans, and
one of Dominicans.

The secular priests, according to a list that I have seen, govern one
hundred and forty-two livings, which include 131,279 persons. The
other livings, to the number of more than five hundred and fifty,
are divided among the Augustinians, the fathers of the Society,
the Dominicans, the Recollects, and the discalced Franciscans.

The Augustinians have charge of 241,806 persons
The fathers of the Society had 170,000
The Dominicans have 89,752
The Recollects have 63,149
The discalced Franciscans 141,196

Sum total 705,903 persons.

The above sum is for 1735, and is very exact, as it is taken from
the communities and from the statement of the royal officials. There
may, however, be some error in i