The people themselves are well worthy of notice. They are a mixture of Spaniards and natives; a few of pure blood, in the Government offices; the rest half-castes, mestiches, and natives. The men exhibit no remarkable features, except the Governor, Colonel Cayelano de Feguaroa, who was an agreeable man, and spoke French. We were much pleased with his liberal ideas and gentlemanly manners, and the other officers were equally polite and attentive. The generality of the native men are kind and civil, but with fat, unmeaning faces. The women are much better. The Lieutenant-Governor’s wife, the only pure Castilian in the place, was a very pretty woman, with fine eyes and regular features. The mestiches have in general good eyes and dark hair; but, with the exception of a few, their faces are too broad. There was a famous corner shop opposite the church, which contained good specimens of the race:--Gabriella, likewise called Romantica, one of the handsomest women in the town, with pleasing features, and her sister, with the usual flat face. Every one visiting Samboañgan made that shop their place of call, as the staid old mother and the girls were very civil and hospitable. In the country one could always obtain cocoa-nuts, and many of us were invited in to eat fruit and drink chocolate and gin by the obliging residents, whose pretty houses, embowered in fruit-trees, were an ornament to the road side. The officers of the _Meander_ gave a ball. The quarter-deck was cleared of guns and surrounded with flags on all sides, and ornamented with green boughs. All the Spanish officers came, and about fifty of the townswomen, some young, others old. We danced quadrilles, waltzes, and polkas: the first caused much confusion, the second was well danced, while the third was quite new to most of them. The commandant gave one in return, which was kept up with greater spirit. Many of the girls were fairer and better-looking than those we saw on board, and a few were in European costumes, with shoes and stockings, while the rest had Malay petticoats, and little jackets with scarfs. Dancing the polka with them was found to be very difficult, as, few having chemises on, the hand constantly coming in contact with the skin, it was impossible to obtain a hold; and their little slippers were flying in every direction. Their own band played waltzes very well by ear; but nothing else. Indeed, it is almost the only dance they care for, as the girls find it difficult to try any other, on account of their wearing slippers without heels, some of which are very prettily ornamented with gold and silver embroidery.