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. 40]

I690-I69I] SAN AGUSTIN ON FILIPINOS

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rounded by many other women,310 and the guests, a
mouse happened to appear, and began to approach
them in order to eat some crumbs of bread which
were scattered about. The bride saw it, and, without power to control herself, ran after the mouse
throughout the length of the hall, and the guests were
unable to restrain her. The groom was ashamed,
and said,31 "Gentlemen, your pardon; for this girl
was formerly a cat, and will always have the habits
and bad traits of that animal."
98. I believe that the same thing would happen
with the Indians,312 even when they belong to the
caciques or nobility; for it is incredible that they
can strip themselves of the peculiarities of their
nature. I at least do not believe it at present, although God our Lord can very easily do it, for He is
the One who raises up sons of Abraham from the
stones. 'But we must not ask for miracles needlessly,
but allow the Indian to remain an Indian, and go
to his labor as before. If it is desired to prepare
them for the high ministry of the priesthood, it is
advisable to test them in the offices of alcaldes-mayor,
captains, regidors, and councilors; for it appears to
me that there is no one who can say that these said
offices are greater and of higher rank and dignity
310 M. reads: "And while they were all gallantly seated in
the hall, and she was, very finely adorned with jewels, in the room,
surrounded by many ladies."
311 M. reads: "The bride spied the mouse from a long distance, and, not being able to restrain herself out of respect for
that function, she arose and began to run the length of the hall.
She overthrew the people, and they were unable to restrain the
fair bride, and cause her to desist from her undertaking. The
angry groom said to them."
12 The rest of this sentence reads in M., "even though they
should become bishops."