If the gobernadorcillo is energetic or has a bad temper, the cabezas fear and respect him highly; but if he is irresolute they abuse him.  When he goes out on the street, an alguacil with a long wand precedes him.

Since the majority of these pedaneos do not talk Spanish, they are authorized to appoint directorcillos [i.e., petty directors], who receive very slender pay.  The directorcillo—­who has generally studied for several years in the university or the colleges of Manila without concluding his course—­writes the judicial measures, and the answers to the orders of the provincial authorities; serves as interpreter to the pedaneo, when the latter has to talk to Europeans; and exercises entire influence in all matters.  By virtue of that he sometimes commits abuses that the gobernadorcillo finds it necessary to tolerate, in order not to lose his services; for there are towns where one cannot possibly find another inhabitant to take his place, because of their ignorance of Castilian.  All that redounds to the hurt of the honest administration of the towns, and even the prestige of the government, since the said directorcillos are wont to ascribe to the superior orders their own exactions and annoyances.

Each town of Filipinas contains a number of cuadrilleros, proportional to its citizenship.  They are under obligation to serve for three years, and only enjoy exemption from the payment of tribute and polos. [105] The cuadrilleros are armed with old guns and spears, perform police duty, and guard the tribunal, prison, and the royal or government house.  They also go in pursuit of criminals.

Some provinces (for instance, the majority of those in Luzon) are ruled by legal alcaldes-mayor who are lawyers, who exercise the civil government, and are at the same time judges of first instance, sub-delegates of the treasury and of local departments, administrators of the posts, military commandants, and presiding officers of the meetings for auctions and for primary instruction.  They were also formerly collectors of tobacco, in the provinces where that plant is cultivated. [106]

Other provinces, such as those of Visayas and Mindanao, are ruled by politico-military governors, belonging to the army and fleet, who also unite duties identical to those of the alcaldes-mayor—­with the difference that in these provinces there are judges for the administration of justice; while in the provinces of Luzon the governors conduct the court of justice, with a lawyer as advisory assistant [asessor], who is the judge of the next province.  In those provinces where no department of the public treasury exists, they are also directors of economic matters.

A governor and captain-general exercises the supreme authority in Filipinas.  In his charge is the direction of all civil and military matters, and even the direction of ecclesiastical matters in so far as they touch the royal patronage.  Until 1861, when the council of administration was created, he also had charge of the presidency of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria there.