manor in earlier times. The girls consider it an honor for themselves
to associate with him. The opportunity is very favorable for him, for
he is watched over by no jealous wife; and, as the father confessor
and priestly adviser, he has opportunity at discretion to be alone
with the women. [132] The confessional must especially be a perilous
rock for them. In the appendix to a Tagal grammar (which is lacking
in those copies intended for public sale), is a list of questions
for the young priest who is not yet conversant with the language,
which he must propound to the persons confessing. Several pages of
those questions relate to sexual intercourse.

As the alcaldes are allowed to stay in a province only three years,
they never understand the language of the country; for they are very
much in demand because of their official business, and have no time
(and usually no desire) to study the peculiarities of the province
which they administer. The cura, on the other hand, lives in the
midst of his parishioners, whom he knows thoroughly, and whom he also
represents against the government. Consequently, it happens that he
is the real authority in his district. The position of the priests, in
contradistinction to that of the government officials, is bespoken also
in their dwellings. The _casas reales_ [_i.e._, royal buildings]--for
the most part small, plain, and often dilapidated--are not in keeping
with the rank of the first officials of the province. The convent,
however, is usually a very large, imposing, and well-furnished
building. Formerly, when the governorships were sold to adventurers,
whose only thoughts were to enrich themselves from that office, the
influence of the priests was even much greater than at present. [133]
The following ordinances point out their former position better than
long descriptions.

"Although certain outrageous offenses have given fitting reason
for chapter x of the ordinances, wherein Governor Don Pedro de
Arandia orders that the alcaldes and justices shall have no other
communication with the missionaries than in writing, and shall not
visit them except in company, it is also nevertheless ordered that
they shall not do the latter ... on the assumption that the prelates
of the church shall employ all their energies in restraining their
subordinates within the bounds of moderation.... The alcaldes shall
therefore see to it that the priests and ministers of the above order
shall treat the g