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. 24]

1630-I634] EVENTS IN FILIPINAS, 1630-32

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Arima, who had intended to come to attack Manila.
It is said that his death was most horrible, and that
he caused his servants to put him to death with clubs,
after having scalded him with the water with which
he had tormented the martyrs. All say that this was
plainly a punishment for his tyrannous acts; and that
he is paying for them in hell - whence issued demons
in the form of foxes, who went dancing before his
carriage or litter when he returned from Nangasaqui
[words illegible] ambassadors, spies sent to Manila,
Father Miguel Matruda, of the Society. These
ambassadors -who came as envoys in behalf of Uni
Nudino, governor of Nangasaqui, and of the tono
of Arima, called Asimadoro or Bungodon-were
received with the pomp and courtesy which such an
embassy demanded. On that occasion much caution
was displayed by this colony through its chief, who
is governor and captain-general of these islands.
For, on the one hand, he exhibited before those
ambassadors the strength of this [word illegible]
with its officers and infantry, which was drawn up
in martial array along the streets-almost all the
way from the street nearest the beach where the
Japanese disembarked, up to the palace; and, on the
other, he paid them honor with a splendid and
friendly reception. He also offered them presents
was supposed to manifest herself to mortals. A colossal red gateway and a flight of moss-grown steps lead to the main entrance
flanked by the great stone foxes which guard every temple of Inari,
and symbolize the goddess worshipped under their form. Japanese
superstition regards the fox with abject terror; his craft and cunning are celebrated in legendary ballads; and a condition of mental
disorder, known as 'possession by the fox,' is a common belief,
bringing crowds of devotees to Inari's temples, either to pray for
the exorcism of the demoniac influence, or to avert the danger of
falling under the dreadful spell." (Macmillan's Magazine, December, 1904, p. II7.)