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the scenery around Manilla is very beautiful the Hills being very high and covered with verdure. And the vallies either filled with thick forests or cultivated field, there are several islands in the bay of Manilla, all of which have a few inhabitants. The City of Manilla is built on a level plain and at a short distance its numerous forts and domes and spires give it a beautiful and imposing appearance, besides this the City is divided into two parts one called the Spanish town and the other the Native town. the Native town is nearly twice as large as the White but the White city is very strongly fortified and walled it is as strong a place as I have seen for a long time a ditch surrounds the whole place about 30 feet wide and full of water. on the most assailable point there are three walls and two ditches with drawbridges & the whole city of Manilla may be said to be built amongst churches for near every 10th house is a church. and such churches as are seldom seen viz large Massive buildings with high towering steeples and deep toned bells and the whole interior is decorated with images & painting of our Saviour which pious fathers and sisters have from time to time presented to the church, some of these paintings I have heard were very old and so they looked and some of them were remarkably well executed. The altars are usually nearby and in many instances are gorgeously decorated with gilt or gold ornaments, these set off by numerous lights which are kept continually burning, besides which as it was a feast day or rather a Collection of feasts and the alters were decorated with branches of orange and other trees, which gave the whole church an air of quietness and innocence that would [crossed out: have been] be difficult to describe. The Choirs of these churches are usually very good even excellent, one day whilst passing near the factories I heard a remarkably sweet strain of music proceeding from a church when I entered it I observed all persons on their knees and some few looked hard at me, so as I thought it would rude to go out without showing at least a proper respect and that I had so far only shown a rude curiosity which would be almost inexcusable