ve visitas or dependent
towns. From this condition there results, among other evils, this:
that when there is any cura who is unruly or of evil conduct, there
is no method of summoning him to the convent and replacing him with
another. Hence proceeds the laxity which is consequent on impunity.

I have been not a little surprised to see that there is a lack of
religious in Filipinas, where they enjoy the thorough protection of
the government, and great consideration in the villages; where all
have at least what is necessary to live with ease, [108] since they
are able to command more from their domestic servants, and from all
the singers, sacristans, and other dependents of the Church--and this
while in Espana there is such an oversupply of them, and they live so
uncomfortably. The curacy is generally worth to the parish priest one
peso fuerte [109] to each tribute. The ministers of villages which
contain more than one thousand five hundred or two thousand tributes
usually have one or more assistants, according to their wish, with the
consent of the bishop. The parish priest generally gives the assistant
a house, his board, and ten or twelve pesos fuertes per month; and
leaves to him the fees for the masses, which are worth to him in
excess of one peso fuerte every day--so that, besides his lodging
and support, the assistant can count upon thirty-five or forty pesos
fuertes per month. The administrative ecclesiastical division follows:

There is one archbishop in the capital, and three suffragans--to wit,
the bishop of Nueva Segovia, he of Nueva Caceres, and he of Zebu.

The archbishopric includes the provinces of Tondo, Bulacan, Pampanga,
Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Bataan, Zambales, and Mindoro. It contains
one hundred and sixty-seven curacies, of which ninety-five are served
by religious, and seventy-two by secular priests.

The bishopric of Nueva Segovia comprises the provinces of Pangasinan,
Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, and the missions of Ituy, of
Pangui, of Abra, and of Batanes. It contains ninety-two curacies,
of which eighty are served by religious, and twelve by seculars.

The bishopric of Nueva Caceres comprises the provinces of Tayabas,
part of Nueva Ecija, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Albay. It
contains eighty-four curacies, of which twenty-seven are served by
religious, and fifty-seven by seculars.

The bishopric of Zebu comprises the provinces of Zebu, Iloilo,
Capis, Antique, Negros, Carag