The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 51]

801o-1840] REMARKS ON ISLANDS, 1819-22

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are decided by the Consulado, or chamber of commerce, composed of all the principal, and, in Manila,
some of the inferior merchants. From this is an appeal to a tribunal " de Alzada" [i.e., of appeal] composed of one judge and two merchants, and from this
to the Audiencia, without whose approbation no sentence is valid.
The civic administration is confided to the Ayuntamiento (Courts of Aldermen or Municipality).
This body, composed of the two Alcaldes, twelve
Regidors (or Aldermen) and a Syndic, enjoy very
extensive privileges, approaching those of Houses of
Assembly; their powers, however, appear more confined to remonstrances and protests, representations
against what they conceive arbitrary or erroneous in
government, or recommendations of measures suggested either by themselves or others. They have, in
general, well answered the object of their institution
as a barrier against the encroachments of government, and as a permanent body for reference in cases
where local knowledge was necessary, which last deficiency they well supply.
The civil power and police are lodged in the hands
of a Corregidor and two Alcaldes: the decision of
these is final in cases of civil suits, where the value
in question is small, Ioo dollars being about the maximum." Their criminal jurisdiction extends only to
slight fines and corporal punishments, and imprisonment preparatory to trial. The police is confided to
the care of the Corregidor, who has more extensive
powers, and also the inspection and control of the
prisons.
To him are also subject the Indian Captains and
'3 I am perhaps not quite correct here. [Mas states (Informe,