btained from "the vicinity of Antipolo;" this doubtless refers to the
marble-quarries of Montalban and Binangonan, in Rizal (formerly Manila)
province. This stone was of so excellent quality and texture that it
remained, after more than a hundred years, uninjured by rain, sun,
or air; and the walls were so solidly built, and the wooden timbers
within so durable, that in all that time it had not been necessary to
make any repairs in the framework, nor had any injury been done to
the building by earthquakes or storms. The main altar was made of a
single stone. The building cost 150,000 pesos; it was not consecrated
until 1727. Murillo Velarde adds: "I have known men of fine taste,
who had great knowledge of architecture, and who had seen the most
beautiful of the famous buildings of Europe, to be overcome, as it
were, with admiration in this church."

[84] Jose Francisco de Ovando y Solis, marques de Ovando, who was
governor of the islands during 1750-54. Le Gentil here alludes to what
he has previously stated (_Voyages_, ii, p. 164) regarding Ovando:
"He made great improvements in the Acapulco galleon; for before his
time the Manilans shipped their supply of water [for the voyage]
in leathern bottles or in jars which they suspended in the rigging;
the water often gave out, and they were compelled to have recourse to
that supplied by the rain. The Marques de Ovando had water-casks made,
and ordered that enough of these be placed aboard to supply water for
the entire voyage; he framed muster-rolls, and placed all the men on
allowance. In short, the Acapulco navigation was placed on the same
footing as that of Europe."

[85] Zuniga says (_Estadismo_, Retana's ed., i, p. 230): "The noted
beaterio [_i.e._, a house in which reside devout women] of Santa
Catalina ... founded by Dona Antonia Ezguerra in the year 1695;
and General Escano increased its revenues so that fifteen beatas and
some servants could be maintained in it. The beatas must be Spanish
women, assist in the choir, and take a vow of chastity." Evidently
these beatas were much like the Beguines (founded in Belgium in 1184,
and still in existence).

[86] Regarding the Franciscan order and its branches, see VOL. XX,
p. 91. The Capuchins were originally Observantine Franciscans, and
date from 1526, when their founder, Matteo di Bassi, of Urbino, Italy,
obtained papal consent to live, with his companions, a hermit life,
wear a habit with long pointed cowl (_capuche_