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. 36]

I86

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 36

Philippines which was organized in I619; and on his
arrival at Manila began to study the languages, becoming fluent in the Tagalog, Zambal, Bisayan, and
Calamian. In 1622 he was sent with Juan de San
Nicolas to Caraga, where he worked to good effect.
Later, accompanied by one religious and some converts, he ascended the river for fifty leguas to Linao,
where his labors were crowned successfully. He was
appointed prior of the convent of San Joseph in
Butuan in 1624, where he continued his work with
the evident approbation of heaven. In 1626 he became prior of Bacoag, and later was the first prior
of Iguaquet. He was the first to preach to the
Caragas, among whom he remained for ten years,
during which time he erected six convents. In
Butuan he worked for four years, where he converted
three thousand people and erected three convents. In
I635 he went to the island of Negros, where he converted six thousand Indians; and the same year was
appointed prior of Tandag, where he brought order
out of chaos. In 1638 he was elected definitor, and
in 1640 became prior for the second time of Tandag,
and vicar-provincial of Caraga. He was elected
procurator to Spain in 1646, and definitor with vote
in the general chapter in that country, which he
reached in March I649. His mission which he took
from Spain reached Manila in 1652 and consisted
of twenty-one religious. In the next chapter he was
again elected procurator, but he died at Manila in
I656. He had served as chaplain for the Spanish
fleets, and as ambassador to the natives, in addition to
his mission work proper.]
[Section ii of chapter v contains an account of the
life of Salvador del Espiritu Santo, who had form