is very cheap at one real per vara. And thus in everything else, this
appears now, whether the Sangley, the Spaniard or the Chinese pays the
trickery. But it is a singular thing, how poorly the Spaniard governs
himself. Wherever he halts, immediately all prices go up; and even
when he is able to get food gratis, he clothes himself and obtains his
food at excessive rates, because of his lack of consideration or his
heedlessness. And when he happens to bethink himself, it is too late.

The Dominican fathers have another station of married Sangleys, near
Manila, and adjoining Tondo, so close that their houses and those of
Tondo are contiguous. This station belonged to us, but we generously
gave it to them, so that they might agree to make a compact in regard
to the celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi. [87] We ourselves
celebrated it on the Sunday that came after the principal feast,
when the cathedral celebrates it, with great solemnity. The fathers
of our father St. Dominic came and entered their suit. Journeys
were made to and from Roma at great expense. At the end, it was
decided that the festival should be celebrated _ad invicem_ [i.e.,
"in turn"], one year in one place and the next year in the other,
in the following manner. When it should be celebrated in Santo
Domingo, we were to perform the services at the altar; and when it
was celebrated at our house, in the same way they should perform the
service. Let them consider that it was important whether to celebrate
the feast immediately on the following Monday. Some things on which
we lay particular stress have no importance whatever; and, regarding
some that we ought to lay stress on, we allow them to stand without
any care whatever. This is well known and a trite saying in our holy
order. But it is a matter of greater importance to that convent
than to ours that the feast should be celebrated today rather
than tomorrow. The Dominican fathers have built in the convent a
very strong stone church, which would be considered substantial in
Espana. One has only to cross the bridge over the river to go from
this church to their church in the Parian. A short distance farther,
and also near there, they possess the hospital for sick Sangleys. But
I maintain that but few are treated there, for these nations would
rather be left to die in their own houses, with their relatives,
than to regain their health in the hospital. Besides the Sangleys
have very excellent physician