The most terrifying time of the day in Manila is noon. In the morning, the breeze knocks open the windows and enters the room, which makes people feel refreshed. However, the good times do not last long. When the morning breeze has just washed away the sleepiness and cheered up, the scorching wind blows.
The heat quickly came from the window. Even if you leaned against the window and looked at the sea, you couldn't see far away, because the flash of the waves was like a blazing coal fire. The walls of the snow-white houses painted in Spanish style emitted a dazzling white light, and the sky seemed to be a blur.
The sea of fire is so piercing that people can’t even open their eyes. It’s not even noon yet, and going out has become a kind of torture in purgatory. Staying in the house is extremely sleepy. The Sandman attacks again, forcing people into the stuffy gauze tent.
In a cage made of pillows and mats. It was not until dusk that people woke up from their drowsiness and felt a little more comfortable. The Spanish conquered the Philippines, but were conquered by the weather and had to change their habits and arrange their beloved bullfighting performances until dusk.
Held on time.
"Who is that person?" asked Mrs. Delgado. She is the wife of a ship owner. Contrary to this surname (note), she has a plump figure and a round face. In the bullring at five o'clock in the afternoon
The heat was still unbearable, and although the sun was setting in the west, the sunlight was still very bright. The cotton curtains were drooping, and there was no wind at all. She gently shook the silk fan, which blocked most of her face. This lazy and affectionate picture
Her gesture made her lover sitting next to her very satisfied.
"Who? Sitting in the seat under the arbor? Hell, that's the mayor."
"No, it's the tall guy next to the mayor. Look, he's talking to the mayor, and he's got his hat in his hand. God, if only we could sit in that seat. It's so hot in here
Already."
"Ha, ha, ha, it will make you hot if you sit next to him. This is the latest big hit. It's like Apollo came to Manila in the sun chariot. As soon as he got here, everyone gathered around him
He transferred it. Haven’t you heard anyone talk about it?”
"who is he?"
"Then you are so ignorant. Now he is the talk of the town: the man who sent Donna Marina de Arellano, the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis of Gonzalo de Arellano, to Manila
That’s who he is.”
"It turns out it's him! What a great gentleman! He's unexpectedly handsome. But I can't remember his name."
"Hey, no one can tell who he is. This guy claims to be from Italy, but when he stands in front of you he looks as tall as a Patagonian savage. He could be a nobleman from Parma, a Marquis from Sicily, or Naples
a prince; perhaps a prince of Montenegro, who fled to Asia and was supported by a large group of barbarians. That group of people would support him as king of Japan and emperor of China."
"You're talking nonsense, Paolino." Mrs. Delgado raised her fan and gently tapped her young lover on the shoulder, "You're always talking nonsense."
"Nonsense? For the sake of the Virgin Mary," the young man known as Paolino took out a perfumed handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He deliberately revealed her name embroidered on the handkerchief in front of his lover.
To win her a sweet smile, "This man's name is Vince? Lando, Vince, Weiss, or Vinceno, but his surname is Lando. It is said that he was among the lawless Australians.
The savages spent thirty thousand pesos to redeem Doña Marina. My uncle, the port tax collector, Basilio, was the first to see this guy get off the Trinidad: he was as proud as a king. When he was in Macau
He booked the two best cabins on the Trinidad. On the ship, he and Miss Arellano ate the best ham and wine he had brought with him. This rich man always invited the captain and
The officials dined in his cabin, and even found some fiddlers among the passengers to play music while he ate. Each of them was given a piastré each time."
"Thirty thousand pesos! Oh, then he must be a rich man. But I heard that Miss Arellano's fiancé is also a rich man. He should be able to repay him, right?"
"Maybe. But he may not value that little money very much. It's just a drop in the bucket to him. Have you seen the pair of gold crosses newly erected on the altar of the cathedral? It was contributed by Lando. After he got off the boat, he looked at
The thing is to go to mass and dedicate those treasures to God. Now the whole city knows that he is a devout rich man." Seeing his lover's eyes widening, Paulino became more and more vigorous in showing off the rumors he got from the tavern and casino:
"Mr. Lando probably had some experience in the military, but he certainly did not establish any meritorious service in his hometown, so he ran to the East several years ago. At that time, he was very poor and had nothing but his title of nobility. The ship passed by
One night after Malacca, he was drunk and sleeping on the bow of the ship. Two sailors took the last few coins from his pocket and pushed him from the deck into the sea."
"Oh my God!"
"However, he swam ashore and reached Macau with the help of missionaries. After that, the venerable Mr. Lando has been faithfully serving the Jesuits, the servants of God, with a sword. It is said that he recruited a large group of
The Chinese and Japanese took them to fight everywhere. Later, Captain Lando went to rescue the Kingdom of Pattani, defeated the 30,000 invading Siamese army, and captured the younger brother of the King of Siam alive. The Queen of Pattani paid him heavily
Reward him for his bravery."
"Is this man's title and wealth given by the queen?" asked Mrs. Delgado. "It is indeed interesting for a Christian to be nobled by a pagan monarch, but it is not worth boasting about."
"No. He claimed to be the Count of Sardinia - you know that the title of nobility here is not worth a penny. But what happened next was as magical as the story of "One Thousand and One Nights". Captain Lando requested
The Queen sold him a piece of mountainous land on the upper reaches of the Kelantan River. The hill produced nothing. Gold mines were discovered under the hill, but no one cared about it after the gold was mined. So the Queen immediately agreed. As for the land,
The price only charged him one silver coin. However, who knows what method the genius used to find a new and larger vein under the mineral deposit that everyone thought had been exhausted. This is the legend of Mr. Lando, and this is his wealth.
Source. Now there are thousands of Chinese working there for him, mining ores and smelting gold."
"In my opinion, the Mr. Lando you introduced is not a reckless man who only knows how to play with swords and muskets, but has some real skills and knowledge - speaking of which, he is actually the same as Miss Arellano's fiancé.
There are some similarities." Mrs. Delgado covered her face with a fan, revealing only the eyes under her forehead. The eagerness in her eyes made her lover feel a little overwhelmed, "Paulino, you also go to Siam and buy one.
Come on, maybe you'll be as rich as him."
"You're starting to talk nonsense too, my dear," said Paolino. "I was told that Mr. Lando got his talent for discovering gold from the devil. In exchange, the devil asked him to sign a piece of red parchment.
Just like Esau sold his birthright, he sold his soul to the devil. I don't really believe this. Faust's sacrifice can never be placed on the altar of God. But it is such a good thing to find gold.
You will only be bumped into once, otherwise you will be punished by heaven. Look, the spearmen have already entered the arena, and the trumpeter is about to blow the trumpet. Let's watch the bullfight." The blaring of the bugles was deafening, and the gorgeously dressed people
The spearmen entered the arena one after another on horseback, and the cheers of the audience resounded throughout the bullring. The lovers promptly ended their conversation about the gold mining tycoon and the mercenary captain, because at this time neither one could make the other hear what they were saying clearly.
what.
The rainy season in the Philippines is usually daunting, but today is an exception. The layer of moist mist that usually floats under the night sky gradually dissipates, and the Manila Cathedral, the Governor's Palace and the city wall in the distance stand like ghosts in the moonlight and the occasional mist.
In the mist, the mayor's mansion was bustling with activity, with bright lights shining through the gaps in the blinds, and the band playing solemn sarabandes and fast tarantellas alternately. There is no doubt that the mayor is playing
A lively and lively banquet was held in the mansion, which could even be said to be unprecedented in Manila. Even the garden was filled with colorful lanterns made of various Japanese paper. People who are well-informed know that this kind of pomp is a fashion that imitates Italian customs.
Make a party.
Except for the governor and the archbishop, almost all the prominent figures in Manila gathered here. The elegant chatter and laughter of gentlemen and ladies were mixed with the sound of music, and mixed with the high or low shouts of servants. He was short in stature and tall in height.
Tagalog servants in white uniforms, carrying cups and plates, sweating profusely, sometimes bumped into tall and strong black slaves, and sometimes walked through the crowd. From time to time, the servants' loud voices could be heard from the door of the hall.
Announcement, announcing the arrival of such-and-such a colonel, such-and-such official, and such-and-such rich man who spent money to buy a noble title. Sometimes there will be slight commotion in the crowd because of hearing a certain name and title, but most of the names gain
The treatment was just an indifferent glance or a contemptuous smile. Manila was too remote, and several dignitaries in the colonial upper class were already well known to the social circle, which could not arouse any freshness. As for those other than the legendary amount of property,
The unknown businessman, the unknown person who imitated the style of peninsula scribes and was artless, could not arouse people's interest. Until the servant appeared at the door of the living room again, calling out a long list of titles in a long voice: "Sardini"
Count Adiva Vananova, defender of Cetinje, conqueror of the King of Siam, lord of Kelantan - Lord Vincenzo Lando di Vananova has arrived!" (To be continued...
)
ps: Note 1: Delgado, delgado means thin in Spanish.