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]

I604-1605

PREFACE

2 I1

islets adjacent to Bohol, where the people are going
to hell for lack of religious aid; but the Jesuits cannot
take care of them for lack of ministers. This difficulty is especially encountered in the island of Samar;
a journey of Father Juan de Torres to a needy mission station is described at some length. At Catubig
a flourishing mission is established (i60o); the headman of that village is converted, and shows his faith
by many pious works. Various instances of encounters with crocodiles, and some miraculous deliverances from danger or death, are related as occurring
at Catubig. Chirino closes his narrative with an appeal for more laborers to be sent to the Philippines,
as a field where so great a harvest of souls awaits
them.
Permission is given (February 23, I604) for the
Augustinian Recollects to establish themselves in the
Philippines. On June 3 the king sends orders to
Acufia to repress the high-handed proceedings of
some of the religious orders there; and on July 30 he
directs the archbishop to punish those of the teaching
friars who abandon their mission fields and sell or
exchange church furniture.
Acufia writes to the king (July 15) about various
business matters. He asks for money with which to
make restitution to certain Chinese, and for royal
favor to Christoval de Azqueta. Much fear of a
Chinese invasion is felt in Manila. Trade with the
Japanese is in good condition; but Acufia refuses to
let them bring money to Manila for investment.
Acufa makes various recommendations as to officials,
their appointment, and the official inspection of their
conduct; and asks that the royal treasury of the islands
be properly inspected and regulated. In other letters