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. 13]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. I3

pleased our Lord that we were able to persuade them
to settle along the river which they call Viga. There
they have erected a church, and Father Gabriel
writes me that on Sundays it does not contain them
all. He says that he began by baptizing more than
one hundred and twenty children; and that the adults
are not only tamed, but even ask for baptism with
much fervor. At night they pray, and sing the doctrine; and in the day-time they chant praises to our
Lord. Those who have dwelt in Bohol, and know
the unruly nature of that people, will appreciate the
change which our Lord has wrought in them. When
we first begin to address them, your Reverence might
behold them on the bank of the river, armed, and
so fierce as to arouse one's fear; yet, at the same time,
desirous that I should address them. This I did,
showing them so much affection that they and I became friends; and as hostages they gave me their
children for baptism, preparing them to learn the
doctrine and to receive holy baptism. Having
brought together the people of Dita, when it seemed
to me that they would have no difficulties in the small
villages round about, it happened that, when least I
expected, I saw as many as forty men coming, armed
with lances and shields, whose design it was to break
up the union by violence, especially if they should be
ordered to assemble in any place not to their liking.
Realizing from their determination the danger to
which the others would be exposed, I dissimulated as
best I could, so that the others might not perceive
their uncivil conduct, and feigned that my desire was
the same as theirs -but with such conditions that I
know that they will not fulfil them; and it is obvious,
from this very incident, that he who has the authority