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]

12

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 13

noted leader, Silongan, is not yet cured of his polygamous inclinations. He is, however, most friendly
to the fathers, and protects them in certain dangers.
In Alangalang, Tomas de Montoya (an American
Indian who has gone to the islands) has resumed the
work dropped at the death of Cosme de Flores; he
relates some instances of piety among his converts,
and of punishment visited on the impenitent. At
Ogmuc much caution had been exercised in conferring baptism, and those who have received it show
most edifying piety. In Holy Week occurs a procession in which "the most pleasing and touching
sight was to see all the children disciplining themselves with scourges which they themselves had made
for that day." The missionaries adjust various family
quarrels, and put an end in the islands to the practices
of usury and unjust enslavement. Chirino here gives
some account of these evils, but adds that they are
abolished among all the christianized tribes in the
islands.
Good reports come from Carigara and Paloc; the
latter village is unusually prosperous because one of
the Jesuits has aided the people to construct better
dwellings. They have abandoned their idols, and
take pleasure in scourging themselves on Fridays. At
Dulac many baptisms have occurred, and various diseases, among them leprosy, have been cured by this
sacrament. A letter from Father Otaqo, who is in
charge at Tinagon, shows that idolatry has been abandoned, and immoral customs are almost uprooted.
He gives an interesting description of the methods
pursued by the missionaries in their preaching, and
by one of their native helpers in teaching his fellows.
In June, 1599, Diego Garcia is sent to the islands