walls, which are called _dingding_, are made of excellent timber. The walls of the Indians' houses are made of bamboo, inasmuch as they are poorer. The roof is made of palm-leaf, called _nipa_. Instead of nails, the natives use certain strong ligaments, made from flexible roots, called _bejuco_ [i.e., rattan], where we use nails. These houses, then, are considered more healthy; for as it is usually very hot in the islands, these houses are much more cool, and the winds blow through them with greater ease. When Manila had wooden houses, it was more healthy. But now they have taken to making stone edifices, and those not of stone are rare. Stone is also being used to build outside of Manila, and already there are many houses and churches of that material. If one considers this closely, even though economy be not considered, necessity was bound to impose this. For there could be no woods to furnish so many columns, and the dragging of them thither would be very costly. Hence, by collecting money, which is easier for the natives, they summon Chinese, who do what work is desired; and, if it is wished, they paint the building. Therefore, because of the aforesaid reasons, our convent at Manila was begun in stone. It is now, as I have remarked, the best in the islands; and daily it is being made more notable by further work. The fathers held a chapter meeting in 1578, and peaceably and quietly cast their votes for father Fray Agustin de Alburquerque, a man of whom we have already said sufficient of his occupations, virtue, zeal, and prudence. As soon as he beheld himself invested with the ermine, he gave his attention to everything possible, looking after both the spiritual good of the province--the principal thing--and the temporal, extending and spreading the province. He established religious in Bulacan, and that place is now one of the principal and more desirable convents. It has an excellent stone house and church, and about six hundred tributes. [92] It is about six leguas north of Manila. It has usually two religious. The Tagal language is spoken there. The alcalde-mayor of that jurisdiction, which has about four thousand Indians, lives in Bulacan. All the Manila religious extol the Indians of this town as the most tractable and most attached to the church. He established religious in Candava also. This is the last convent in Pampanga, and formerly was most flourishing, although now it in very dilapidated. Near it is a beautiful and copious river, [93] which divides into many branches as it approaches the sea, and all these branches empty into Manila Bay. Hence one may go to all these convents both by sea and by the estuaries, without sail. Therefore, one can go and come without depending on the weather. It has now about six hundred Indians. [94] It is one and one-half day's journey from Manila. Two religious live there. It has a very fine wooden house, and the church is built of the same material.