ose of the class of auditors and governors-general,
have been feverish on hearing that the curas of the villages have
whippings administered; and decrees have been fulminated against
many provinces, in order to check this. In fact, they have attained
that object; but the result of this most fatal error has been the
increase of impiety in an astonishing manner, and there are a great
number of villages where few go to mass, and more than the third part
refuse to take the communion--which is probably also the cause of the
increase in criminality which has been noted. But a short time ago,
during the government of General Lardizabal, the religious presented
a petition through the archbishop, asking that they be allowed to
administer corrective punishment at the door of the church, as had
always been their custom with those who were remiss in complying with
the duties of religion. The government replied that the curas should
avail themselves in such cases of advice and admonition, but that
they should under no circumstances punish anyone corporally; and to
complete matters, this ruling was circulated and communicated to the
natives themselves, a measure that caused the greatest grief to the
parish priests. The good Senor Lardizabal, who had an excellent heart,
himself told me this incident, very well satisfied at the manner in
which it had worked. We shall discuss this matter more at length in
the chapter on "Internal policy."

There are regular and secular clergy in Filipinas. The latter are more
numerous, and include some mestizos, Chinese, and many full-blooded
Filipinos. The bishops, in spite of being Spanish, have almost
always shown themselves hostile to the friars and patrons to the
seculars. The origin of this partiality must be found in the old-time
fight between the bishops and the regular curas--who defend their
rights with tenacity; while the natives are submissive and most humble
to the prelates and flatter them. Notwithstanding the protection of
the bishops, the seculars have generally had a very bad reputation;
and many private persons, of every class and in every epoch, have
openly declared against them.

The religious now living in Filipinas, excepting those of the
Order of St. Francis, are not able to fill the curacies in their
charge--although there are curas who take under their charge an
extension which they are unable, notwithstanding all their efforts, to
administer well. The cura of Surigao has twel