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. 44]

1700-17361

JESUIT MISSIONS

79

governor of Samboangan, Rafael Omen, died, Pedro
Duran de Monforte was appointed in his place; and
the latter imitated his predecessor in his zeal for religion, in his Christian mode of life, in disinterestedness, and in an affable and mild bearing, for which
he was beloved by all, while his government was
peaceful and prosperous. With the opportunity
afforded by these armadas, the Jesuits (who went as
chaplains) began to announce the gospel in the great
island of Borney, than which there is no larger island
in the world. So prosperous were those beginnings
that they succeeded in having seven hundred
islanders baptized. Two chiefs of the neighboring
islands offered vassalage to the king of Spain, and
asked for gospel ministers, as Father Colin testifies;
and this mission finally gave hopes that a numerous
and extensive Christian church would be founded
which would compensate for the losses in Japon and
the Orient; but, lacking the protection of the Spanish military forces, this so beautiful hope faded away
almost at its flowering. Deplorable and repeated
experiences persuade us that in these latter times the
Christian missions are maintained and increased
only when in the shelter of Catholic arms; sad witnesses to this are Japon, India, and now China. If
in these islands and America our kings did not protect religion, I believe that those regions would now
be as heathen as in their former times. Experience
teaches this, and the rest I regard as speculationalthough the powerful arm of the Highest easily
overcomes the greatest impossibilities.
[Fol. I55 b:] The testimony of the venerable
Father Mastrili, and the voluntary choice of so many
distinguished Jesuits and martyrs who embraced