Many are sailors; and some are in the islands only temporarily, engaged in their petty trading, and because they can live more comfortably in this country, and there is less heat, as it is open and free.  This suburb contains some stone houses, and some summer gardens.  Farther on is Ermita, which ministers to Tagal Indians, who number about four hundred. [131] It has a stone church and the house of the beneficed priest.  It belonged to us first; but some time ago it was given to the bishops of Manila, in order that they might have a house outside the city, where they might refresh and recreate themselves. [132] It is called Nuestra Senora de Guia.  It has an image to which great devotion is paid.  When the ships from Castilla fail to come, and are delayed, then they take out the image and carry it to the cathedral, and a novena is performed in order that the Virgin may bring these ships.  Thus many times the ships have arrived at that time.  At other times it has happened that, after the novena, they have no news of the vessels and they wish to return the Virgin, but the weather has been such that it was impossible; but at that time news of the vessels would arrive, which is the most joyful news for all the islands.  For if the vessels fail to come, in even one year, all are left without help or shelter. [133]

Further on in the same street is this convent of ours at Malate.  It has a stone church and house, sufficient for one religious, who lives there and has in charge two hundred Indians. [134] The image, “Nuestra Senora de los Remedios,” has been highly reverenced.  All the Indians of these towns are traders, and their chief source of wealth is in the voyages to Cavite.  For there, at any time, they find a boat all ready, which takes them to Cavite in a very short time.  Very rarely is any of these boats ever lost; for the Indians understand them perfectly, and are wont to venture on the sea even with the waves running sky-high.

Religious were established in Tanauan, situated in the lake of Taal.  It was a very fine town, rich and densely populated, but now it is thoroughly impoverished.  It has a wooden house and church, and Ours minister to about seven hundred Indians. [135] The people are Tagals.  As one goes thither from Manila, he descends a truly frightful hill for more than one legua.  The convent lies on the lake shore, and on the brow of the same land or slope.  Tanauan lies eleven or twelve leguas from Manila, and belongs to the latter’s bishopric.  In it is Comintan, where many cotton hose are made.  The inhabitants are healthier and more clever than the others.  Champans (which are Sangley boats) enter this lake through the Taal River, by which the lake empties into the sea; for the Chinese go everywhere, and there is no islet, however devoid of profit it be, where they do not go.  If they can obtain nothing else at any islet they get wood; and if that is lacking, yet they find on the coast material from which they make lime.  This they take to Manila, and it is not the least expensive thing.