1

Gaspar de San Agustn

Letter on the Filipinos
1720
Source: Blair & Robertson, The Philippine Islands, volume 40, pp. 183280.Translation from the Spanish by James Alexander Robertson.

[GaspardeSanAgustin,O.S.A.,wrotethefollowingletterregardingthe
Filipinos.Thisletterhasbeenwidelydiscussedproandconbyvariouswriters,
becauseoftheviewsexpressedtherein.Manymanuscriptcopiesofitexistin
variouscollections,archives,andlibraries.Thepresenttranslationismade
fromanearlymanuscriptcopy,belongingtoMr.E.E.Ayer,ofChicago.In
footnoteswegivethevariantreadingsoftheMS.conservedintheMuseo
BibliotecadeUltramar,Madrid(pressmark"65a;caja17;214a"),thatMS.
beingindicatedinournotesbytheletterM.;andoftheletteraspublished
inDelgado's83Historia(pp.273296,whereitshowsmarksofhavingbeen
editedbyeitherDelgadoorhiseditor),thatpublicationbeingindicatedbythe
letterD.SinibaldodeMaspresentsmanyoftheessentialpartsoftheletterin
hisInformedelasIslasFilipinasen1842,i,"Poblacion,"pp.63132.Hesays:
"Inordertogiveanideaoftheirphysicalandmoralqualities,Iamgoingto
insertsomeparagraphsfromaletterofFatherGaspardeSanAgustinofthe
year1725,84suppressingmanyLatincitationsfromtheholyfatherswhich
weighthatletterdown;andaddingsomeobservationsfrommyownharvest,
whenIthinkthemopportune."Weshallusemostoftheseobservationsinthe
annotationsherewithpresented.SirJohnBowringgives,onpp.125139ofhis
visittothePhilippineIsles(London,1859)someexcerptstakenfrom
Mas'sInforme,buthehassadlymixedSanAgustin'sandMas'smatter,andhas
ascribedsomeofthelatter'sobservationstoSanAgustin,besidesmakingother
errors.85

LetterfromFrayGaspardeSanAgustintoafriendinEspaawhoaskedhim
astothenatureandcharacteristics[genio]oftheIndiannativesofthese
PhilipinasIslands.86
MyDearSir:
Althoughyourcommandhassogreatweightwithme,theundertakingof
performingitsatisfactorilyissodifficultthatIdoubtmyabilitytofulfillwhat
youask.Itwouldbemoreeasyforme,Ibelieve,todefinetheformalobjectof

logic;togivethesquareofacircle;tofindthemathematical[side87]ofthe
doubleofthecubeandsphere,ortofindafixedruleforthemeasurementof
thedegreesoflongitudeoftheterrestrialsphere;thantodefinethenatureofthe
Indians,andtheircustomsandvices.ThisisamemorandumbookinwhichI
haveemployedmyselfforfortyyears,andIshallonlysay:Quadragintaannis
proximusfuigenerationshuic,etdixisemperhierrantcorde; 88andIbelieve
thatSolomonhimselfwouldplacethispointofknowledgeafterthefourthings
impossibletohisunderstandingwhichhegivesinchapterxxx,verse18of
Proverbs.OnlycantheytelltheOnewhoknowsthembypointingtothesky
andsaying,Ipsecognovitfigmentumnostrum.89Butinorderthatyoumaynot
saytomethatIamthusriddingmyselfoftheburdenofthedifficulty, 90without
makinganyeffortorshowinganyobedience,IshallrelatebrieflywhatIhave
observed,foritwouldbeimpossibletowriteeverything,ifoneweretouseall
thepaperthatisfoundinChina.
2.Theknowledgeofmenhasbeenconsideredbythemosteruditepersonsasa
difficultthing.Dificileest,noscerehominemanimalvariumetversipelle. 91Man
isachangeabletheateroftransformations.Theinconstanciesofhisages
resemblethevariationoftheyear.Agreatknowledgeofmandidthatblind
manoftheeighthchapterofSt.Markhavewhosaid,withmiraculoussight,
thathesawmenastrees:Videohominesvelutarboresambulantes.92Forthetree
inthefourseasonsoftheyearhasitschangesashasmaninhisfourages;and
thussaidtheEnglishpoetOven:
"Verviridemflavamquestas,mefervidacanam.
Autumnuscalvam,frigidafecithyems."93
"Forthisistheinconstancyofmaninhis[various]ages:greeninhis
childhood;fieryintheageofhisvirility;whiteinoldage;andbaldinhis
decrepitude."Buthisgreatestchangeisinhiscustoms,forheisacontinual
Proteus,andaninconstantVertumnus.94ThusdoesMartialpainthisfriend:
"Dificilis,facilis,jucundus,acerbusestidem;
Nectecumpossumvivere,necsinete."95
Fromthiscametheproverb"Quotcapita,totsententi."96Forinthe
changeableaffectionofmanarelockedupallthemeteoricinfluencesofnatural
transformations.

3.ItisafactthatthedifficultyofknowingtheseIndiansis notinthe
individuals,butintherace;for,ifonebeknown,thenallareknown,without
anydistinctionsomuchsothattheGreekwordmonopantos97fitsthem,and
whichanothercriticgavetoanotherraceofpeople,becausetheywereall
homogeneousanduniformamongthemselves.Attheeighthmeetingofthelast
LateranCouncil,heldinthetimeofLeoX,theopinionoftheMonophysite
philosophers98whogivebutonesinglesoultoallmen,eachbodyhavinga
partofitwascondemned.Doubtlessthatimpiousopinionoriginatedfrom
somenationasalikeincustomsastheseIndians;anditisnottheworstthingto
havebeenabletogivethishumblejudgment,althoughitisdefective. 99
4.AlthoughwecallboththenativesofAmericaandthoseofthesePhilipinas
IslandsIndians,itcannotbedeniedthattheyareverydifferent;forthe
inclinationoftheAsiatics100issomewhatmoredocileandmorecapableof
progressthroughteaching.Accordingly,Ishallconfinemyremarkstothe
IndiansofPhilipinas,leavingthedefinitionoftheAmericansforthosewho
knowthem;fortheyhaveenoughchroniclerswhohaveundertakenit,although
Idoubtthattheyobtainedtheirdesire,suchasFatherJuandeTorquemadain
hisMonarchiaIndiana,101FrayAntoniodeRemesal,102andFatherJosede
Acosta.103ForwhathasbeenwrittenofthembythebishopofChiapa,Fray
BernardinodeCassas,104andbyDonJuandePalafox105inhistreatiseonthe
virtuesoftheIndians,waswrittenfromveryremoteexperience;andtheywere
carriedawaybytheholyzealoftheirdefenseastheyweredeceived 106bytheir
remoteknowledgeoftheobjectas[inviewing]thehillsandmountains,
whichaneararegreen,butafarareblue.Goldconcealsfromthesightthe
degreeofitsfineness;andonemustcrush107therockhimself,andfrequently,in
ordertorecognizethetruth.
5.TheAsiaticIndiansofPhilipinas,then,arealmostthesameasthoseofthe
othernationsofEastIndia,inwhatregardstheirgenius[genio],temper,and
disposition.Consequently,theMalays,Siamese,Mogoles,andCanarines 108are
distinguishedonlybytheirclothing,languagesandceremonies.Iexceptthe
Japanese(whoare,asGracian109learnedlyremarked,theSpaniardsofAsia)and
theChinese,who,bytheircultureandcivilization,andloveofletters,seemto
bedifferentalthough,touchedwiththestoneofexperience,theyarethesame
astheIndians.110TheinfluenceofthestarswhichruleAsiaiscommon,whence
MacrobiusandSuetoniuscomplainthatthecorruptionofthegoodnative
customsoftheRomansproceeded,especiallyfromPersia,whencecamegreat
evilbothtotheGreeksandtotheLatins.

6.Butleavingthisimmenseseaofpeoplesandcustoms,letusreturntoour
nativesoftheseislands,who,besideshavingbeenexceedinglybarbarous,
livingwithoutaruler,andinaconfusedmonarchy,111havethevicesofthe
islanders;fortheyarefickle,false,andmendacious,and[that]bythespecial
influenceanddominionwhichthemoonexercisesuponalltheislands,
isthmuses,andpeninsulas[Chersonesos],ofwhichmuchwillbefoundin
theTheatrumvithumanofLaurencioBeyerlinch.112
7.ThetemperamentoftheseIndians,asisprovedbytheirphysiognomy,is
coldandhumid,becauseofthegreatinfluenceofthemoon.Theyhavebut
littleornodifferenceamongthemselvesintheirtemperament,aswasremarked
byalearneddoctorwhohashadconsiderableexperienceintheseislands,
namely,DoctorBlasNuezdePrado.[Heobserved]thattherewasno
difference,butagreatsimilarity,inthehumorsofthosewhohadbeentreated,
andafinenaturaldocilityinrespondingtothemedicine;inwhateverremedyit
wasappliedtothem.Fortheyhavenotthegreatrebelliousnessand
changeablenessoftheEuropeans,becauseoftheinfinitecombinationsmadein
thembythefourhumors.Thecauseofthisisthesimilarityandlackofvariety
inthefoodthattheyuseandwhichtheirancestorsused,whichgotomakeupa
naturedifferentinitsrootfromthatoftheEuropeans,butyetverysimilar. 113
8.Thisdispositionandinfluencemakesthemfickle,malicious,untrustworthy,
dull,andlazy;114fondoftravelingbyriver,sea,andlake;fondoffishing,and
ichthyophagous115thatis,theysustainthemselvesbestonfish;theyhave
littlecourage,onaccountoftheircoldnature,andarenotdisposedto
work.116Besidesthistheyhaveotherqualitiesandvices,ofwhichIdonot
knowthecause,andIdonotbelievethatIcaneasilyknowthem. 117Ishall
mentionsomeofthem.118
9.First,theyareremarkablefortheiringratitude;andalthoughingratitudeisan
innateviceinallpeople,throughthecorruptionoforiginalsininourvitiated
nature,itisnotcorrectedinthembytheunderstanding,andtheylack
magnanimity.Therefore,itisallonetodoagoodturntoanIndian,andto
prepareoneselftoreceivetheblowofhisingratitude.Consequently,ifonelend
themmoney,theydonotpayit;butinsteadtheyrunawayfromthefather.
Hencethereisgroundforscruplesinregardtolendingmoneytothem;forthat
isabenefitfromwhichevilmustresult,astheyabsentthemselvesanddonot
cometomass.Ifothersaskthemwhy,theyanswerthatthefather119isangryat
them.InthemisverifiedthepicturegivenbytheHolySpiritinchapterxxix,
verse[s]4[91ofEcclesiasticus."Many"(hesays)"havethoughtbyartificeto

satisfythethingdue,andhavegiventroubletothosewhohaveaidedthem.So
longastheyreceive,theykissthehandsofhimwhogives,andhumble
themselveswithpromises.Butwhenitcomestimetopay,theywillbegfor
time(fortheyarebeggars,andnotgivers);andtheywilluttertediousand
complainingwords,andthetimeisspentinvain.Eventhoughonecanpay,he
canbegottodosoonlywithgreatdifficulty.Foronesolidus120scarcelywill
hegivethehalf,andthathewillthinkanunjustartifice;andifhecannotpayhe
willkeepthemoney,andwillesteemthedebtorasanenemycauselessly,and
willreturnhiminsultsandevilwords,andforhonorandkindnesswillreturn
himdishonor."121ThispictureofingratitudegivenbyEcclesiasticusfitsmany,
butitfitstheIndiansbetterthanallothernations,excepttheVixsolidireddet
dimidium,122fortheypaynothing.Thisisoneoftheevilsignsthattheroyal
prophetfindsintheevilandingrateinPsalmxxxvi,verse21:"Thesinnershall
taketheloan,andshallnotpay."123ConsequentlywefindourIndianspagansin
this,althoughtheyareChristians.124
10.Iftheyborrowanythingthatisnotmoney,theywillneverreturnituntilitis
requested;and,asanexcusefornothavingreturnedit;theysaythattheyhave
notbeenaskedforit.125
11.Theirlazinessissuchthatiftheyopendoortheynevercloseit;andifthey
takeanyimplementforanyuse,suchasaknife,pairofscissors,hammer,etc.,
theyneverreturnitwhencetheytookit,butdropitthereatthefootofthe
work.126
12.Iftheyarepaidanythinginadvance,theywillleaveworkandkeepthe
pay.127
13.Theyarenaturallyrude,andconsequently,itisstrangetoseethem,when
talkingwiththefatheroraSpaniard,firstscratchthemselvesonthe
temples,128and,ifitbeawoman,onthethigh;butthemorepolishedscratch
themselvesonthehead.129
14.Itisathingofgreatwonderthatineverythingtheymakeinwhichthereisa
rightandwrongside,theynaturallymakeitwrongsideout.Consequently,they
havenotthusfarbeenabletogiveintodifficultyoffoldingacloakwithits
rightsidein;130nor[dotheyunderstand]itcanbethatwhenashirtorhabitis
wrongsideout,onputtingtheheadin,itisgivenaturnandremainsrightside
out.Consequently,whenevertheyseethisdone,theyexpressmore
surprise.131Hencetheremarkofadiscerningman,thatalltheydidwaswrong

exceptfoldingacloak,becauseinthatoperationthewrongsideisthefaceor
rightside.132
15.Whenthemenwalkwiththeirwives,theygoinadvance,andthewives
follow;asthatisjustthecontraryofourcustom.Thiswasabitofcarelessness
thatcostOrpheusthelossofhiswife,whowasstolenbytheprinceAuresteo,
aswearetoldinmythology.133
16.Theyarecurious,rude,andimpertinent;andaccordingly,whentheymeet
thefathertheygenerallyaskhimwhereheisgoingandwhenceheiscoming;
andinnumerablequestions,allimpertinentandtroublesome. 134
Ifanyletterisreadbeforethem,theywillgobehindonetoseeit;althoughthey
do[not]knowhowtoread.Andiftheyhearanytalkinginprivate,theydraw
nightolistentoit,eventhoughitbeinalanguagethattheydonotunderstand.
17.Theyenter,withoutbeingsummoned,intotheconventsandthehousesof
theSpaniards,evenintothemostsecretapartment,butintheirownhousesthey
practicemanycivilities.Ifthedoorbelocked,theytrywithmightandmainto
loopthroughthecracksatwhatisbeingdone,fortheywishtoknow
everything.135
TheytrampaboutintheconventsandhousesoftheSpaniardssoloudly,thatit
causeswonderandannoyance;andespeciallyifthefatherisasleep.Intheir
ownhouses,onthecontrary,theywalkaboutsolightly,thattheyseemtobe
walkingoneggs.136
18.Theyareveryearlyrisersintheirownhouses,137fortheirpovertyandthe
noisedemandthat.Butiftheirmasterssleepuntilten,theymustdothesame
too.
19.Theymusteatandtryallthattheirmasterseat,eventhoughitbesomething
deliciousorfromEuropa;andnoSpaniard,andespeciallythefatherminister,
willhavebeenabletosucceedinmakingthemeatoutofotherdishesthan
thosefromwhichtheirmastereats.IknowwellthatIhavebeenunableto
obtainit,notwithstandingmyefforts.Neitherwilltheydrinkoutofanotherand
separatejar.138
20.Theirmannerofsittingisgenerallyontheirheels[encuclillas],andtheydo
thatinallplacesexceptintheconvents,wheretheybreaktheseatswithsitting

onthemandleaningbackinthemwithoutstretchedlegs.Andtheymustdo
thisinthebalconies,wheretheycanseethewomen.139
21.Theycaremorefortheirdisheveledhairthantheydofortheirsouls;and
onlytheywillnotimitatetheSpaniardsiftheyhavethecustomofshaving,as
isnowbeingintroducedwiththefalsehairandperukes. 140
22.Theirusualhabitationandhappinessintheconventsconsistsinnotleaving
thekitchen.Theretheyholdtheirmeetingsandfeasts,andthereistheirglory,
asistheopencountryinCastilla.AreligiouswhomIknew,calledthekitchen
Flossanctorum,141becausethelifeofthefatherandofallthevillagewas
discussedthere.
23.Whentheygooutaloneatnight,theymusthaveablazingtorch,andgo
aboutwavingitlikeacenser;andthentheythrowitdownwhereverthey
please,andthisisusuallythecauseofgreatfires.
24.Theywouldratherwearmourningthangoaboutingaladress,andare
accordinglyveryobservantinwearingitduringtheirfunerals. 142
25.TheydonotesteemgarmentsorgaladressesgiventhembytheirSpanish
masters;andaccordinglyleavesuchinanyplace,withoutperceivingthatthey
arelosingthem.Butanyoldragthattheywearfromtheirownhousesthey
esteemandvaluehighly.
26.Theydonotcareforanydomesticanimaldog,cat,horse,orcow.They
onlycare,andtoomuchso,forthefightingcocks;andeverymorning,onrising
fromslumber,thefirstthingthattheydoistogototheroostingplaceoftheir
cockwhere,squattingdownontheirheels,initspresence,theystayvery
quietlyforatleastahalfhourincontemplationoftheircock.Thisobservance
isunfailinginthem.143
27.Theyliveunwillinglyinconvents,orinhouseswheretheycannotbeat
leastonthescentofwomen.
28.ItisnotknownthattheIndianhas[ever]brokenadishoracrockinhis
ownhouse,andconsequentlyonewillfinddishesinthemthatdatefrombefore
thearrivaloftheSpaniardsinthiscountry.Butintheconventsandhouses
wheretheyserve,theybreaksomanythatonewouldbelievethattheydoiton
purposetodotheirmastersanillturn.144

29.Onemaynottrustasword,mirror,glass,musket,clock,oranyotherrare
articletothem;orallowthemtotouchitevenwiththehands;forimmediately,
byphysicalcontactalone,theyputitoutofjoint,breakit,andharmit.They
canonlyhandlebamboo,rattan,nipa,orabolo,andsomefewaplow. 145
30.Theyareinsolentandfreeinbeggingforunjustandfoolishthings,andthis
withoutconsideringtimeorseason.WhenIrememberthecircumstancewhich
happenedtoSanchoPanchawhenhewasgovernoroftheislandofBarataria,
onedayaftereating146withanimportunateandintrusivefarmer,whosaidthat
hewasfromMiguelTurra,IamremindedoftheIndianswhentheybeg. 147And
weshallsaythatiftheybringfoureggs,theythinkthatwithjusticetheyought
tobegivenapriceofonehundredpesos.ThatissotruethatwhenIseean
Indianwhoisbringingsomething,whichisalwaysathingofnovalue,or
somethingthatisofnousetothem,suchasates,mangas,orbelinbiles[i.e.,
balimbing],IrepeatthosewordsofLaocoontotheTrojans:TimeoDanaos,
[et]donaferentes(2ndneid).AnIndiancametobegfromthebishopofTroya
(aswastoldmebyhisillustriousLordship)DonFrayGinesBarrientos, 148a
speciallycircumspectprelatetheloanoffiftypesos,forwhichhetookhima
coupleofguavas.AnIndianbroughtacocktotheMarquisofVillasierra,Don
FernandodeValenzuela,149whilehewasinthefortofCavite;and,whenthat
gentlemanorderedthathebegivenmorethansixtimesitsvalue;theIndian
toldhimthatwhathewantedwastobegiveneightycavansofrice, 150andthat
inatimeofsogreatscarcityitwasnottobehadfortwopesospercavan.But
theyhavethiscuriouspeculiarity,thattheyarejustashappyifthesethingsare
notgiventothemasiftheyhadbeengiven.Fortheyhavelittleornoesteem
forwhattheSpaniardsgivethem,andespeciallythefather.Accordingly,when
theysell,anythingthatisworth,say,six,151theyaskthirty,andaresatisfiedif
sixbegiventhem.152
TheywouldratherhaveonerealfromthehandoftheSangleythanonepeso
fromtheSpaniard;andthepowerthattheSangleyshaveoverthemis
surprising,fortheyaregenerallycheatedbythosepeople. 153
31.Theyareveryfondofplay,154fortheybelievethatitisarestfulwayin
whichtogainmuch,anditisverysuitabletotheirlazinessandlackofenergy.
Therefore,anIndianwouldratherliestretchedoutinhishousethangainthe
greatestwage.Onthisaccount,whenhegetsapesohestaysathomewithout
working,untilitisalleatenupordrunkup,foritallamountstothesamething.
Thisisthereasonwhytheyaresopoor,incomparisonwiththeSangleysand

mestizos,wholiveinabundance,fortheyknowhowtoseekand
work.155Egestatemoperataestmanusremissa,(ProverbsX,verse4.)
32.Theyhavecontradictorypeculiarities,suchasbeingverycowardly,while
onsomeoccasionstheyarerash;fortheyconfessthattheywouldrathersuffer
ahundredlashesthantohaveoneshoutaloudtothemwhich,theysay,
penetrateseventotheheart,withoutthecausebeingknown.
33.Itislaughabletoseethemwakenanotherwhoissleepinglikeastone,
whentheycomeupwithoutmakinganynoiseandtouchinghimverylightly
withthepointofthefinger,willcallhimfortwohours,untilthesleeper
finisheshissleepandawakens.Thesamethingisdonewhentheycallanyone
downstairs,orwhenthedoorisshut;fortheyremaincallinghiminaverylow
tonefortwohours,untilhecasuallyanswersandopenstothem. 156
34.Inanotherway,theyexhibitotherrashactions,bywhichitisseenthattheir
rashnessisratherthedaughterofignoranceandbarbaritythanofvalor.Forit
occursthatanIndian,manorwoman,maybewalkingalongtheroadandhear
ahorsewhichiscomingbehindhim,runningorgoingataquickpace;butthis
Indianneverturnshisface.Ifthehorsecomeinfrontofhim,hewillnotturn
outoftheroadsothathemaynotbetrampledunderfoot,ifhewhocomeson
horsebackdoesnotturnoutwithgreaterconsideration.Thesamethingoccurs
whentheyseeaverylargebancacomingdownuponthemwithlongsweepsof
theoars,whiletheyareinasmallbanquilla;whentheywillallowthemselves
tobestruckbyit,withthedangerofbeingoverturnedanddrowned.Itcosts
muchlabortothoseinthelargebancatoavoidthat,whiletheotherscoulddoit
withgreatease.Thishashappenedtomeoninnumerableoccasions. 157
35.Thesamethinghappensintheriverswheretherearecrocodiles,although
theyseethemswimmingabout;fortheysaythesameasdotheMoros
[i.e.,Mahometans],thatifitisfromonhighitmusthappen,eventhoughthey
avoidit.Andthus,assaysfatherFrayGabrielGomez(HistoryofArgel,book
2,chapter19),theysayinthelenguafranca"Godisgreat!Benotledbyfancy!
Theworldisjustso.Ifitiswrittenontheforeheadthatoneistolive,thenhe
willlive;butifnot,thenhewilldiehere."158FortheirKoransaysthateach
onehashisfortunewritteninthelinesofhisforehead.TheseIndiansbelieve
thesamething(andtheyhaveneverseentheKoran)andonlybecauseitis
greatnonsense.Theyreceivenowarningfromthemanymisfortunes.that
happeneverydayfortheirsins.159

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36.Whileitisafactthattheyareextremelycredulousamongthemselves,they
willbelieveoftheSpaniardsonlywhatisagainstthem.Therefore,itisevident
thatthe[Christian]faithisasupernaturalact,inthattheybelievethedivine
mysteriestaughtbytheSpaniards.However,theydonotbelievesomethings,
orrefusetobelievethembecausetheyfindthecontraryprofitable.
Consequently,thereisnoonewhocanpersuadethemthatitisasintosteal
fromthereligiousministersortheSpaniards.Ofthiswehavesuchproofsthat
wehavenottheslightestdoubtthatitisso;but,onlyperceivingitisnotbeing
abletoremedyit.160
Sogreatistheeaseandtenacitywithwhichtheybelievethegreatestnonsense,
ifthisistothediscreditoftheSpaniardsoragainstthem,thatitwouldbea
longundertakingtorecountsomeofit.Ihavedeemeditadvisabletomention
onlytwo[instances]ofitofwhichIheard161andofwhichIwasawitness,so
thattherestcanbeinferredfromthem.
37.WhileIwasinBisayasintheyear1672,thoseislandsbegantobe
depopulatedandtheIndiansbegantotaketothemountainsfromthevisitasof
Xaro,becausearoguetoldthemabitofnonsenselikethefollowing.Hetold
themthatthekingofEspaahadgoneoutfishing,andtheTurkshadcome
uponhimandmadehimcaptive;andthatthekinghadgivenforhisransomall
theIndiansoftheprovinceofOton.Theybelievedthissothoroughlythatit
waswithgreatdifficultythatthealcaldeDonSebastiandeVillarrealandthe
fatherministerscouldquietthem,andconsiderabletimepassedbeforethey
weresureofthewholematter.162
Thesecond:WhileIwasinthevillageofLipa,aminewasdiscoveredin
thatofTanavanwhichwassaidtobeofsilver.GovernorDonFaustoCruzaty
Gongorsentministersandofficialsinordertofindoutaboutitandtoassayit.
Thesemenmadetheirefforts,butthemineonlysaid,Argentumetaurumnon
estmihi.163Butthedevilwilledtohavesomerogueatthistimetosowthis
deceit,namely,thattheministers164saidthattheminewouldyieldnosilveruntil
alltheoldwomenofCometanhadbeencaught,andtheireyespluckedoutand
mixedwithotheringredients,inordertoanointtheveinoftheminewiththat
mixture.Thiswasbelieved,sothatallwasconfusionandlamentation,andthe
oldwomenhidinthefields;andittookalongtimetoquietthem,andcostthe
ministersgreatdifficulty,astheIndianswouldnotbelievethembecausethey
wereCastilians,untiltimeitselfundeceivedthem. 165

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38.MayGoddeliverusfromanyoneofthoseIndianswhomtheyconsider
assages,whosaysanybitofnonsense,eventhoughitbeagainstthe
faith,166andtheyonlyrespond,Vicanongmaronong,"Thussaythesages,"and
itislaborlosttopersuadethemtothecontrary;fortheauthoritythatthese
scholarshaveoverthemisincredible.
39.Theyareextremelyarrogant,andhencethesonwillnotobeyhisfather,
ortheheadman,orcaptainofthevillage.167Theyareonlyboundinthisbyfear,
andwhentheyhavenofeartheywillnotobey.Theyonlyrecognizethe
Spaniardtobemorethanthey;168andthistheysayonlybecauseofaninterior
impulse,whichforcesthemagainsttheirwillandwithouttheirknowingwhy.
ThisistheprovidenceofGod,sothattheycanbegoverned.
40.TheyareveryfondifimitatingtheSpaniard 169inallhisbadtraits;such
asvarietyofclothes,cursing,gambling,andtherestthattheyseethe
coxcombs170do.Theyshuntheimitationofthegoodthingsinthedealingsand
civilizationoftheSpaniards,andintheproperrearingoftheirchildren.Forin
alltherestthattreatsoftrickery,drunkenrevelries,andceremoniesintheir
marriages,burials,andtyranniesoneagainstanother,theyobserveexactlywhat
theylearnedfromtheirancestors.Thustheyuniteinonethevicesofthe
IndiansandtheSpaniards.171
41.Justasthepoorarearrogant,soalsoaretheoldonesignorant,andthey
arenottobedistinguishedfromtheyouths.Consequently,intheirweddings,
banquets,andrevelriesonewillseeoldmenwithwhitehair,mixedwiththe
lads;andslouchyoldwomenwiththeirscapularies,clappingtheirhandsand
singingnonsensicalthingswiththelasses.ScarcelyisthereanIndianwho
knowshisage,andmany172donotknowthebaptismalnamesoftheirwives,
aftertheyhavebeenbaptizedforfiftyyears.173
42.Theyaresoignorantthattheydonothavetheslightestknowledge
concerningtheoriginoftheancestorsfromwhomtheydescend,andwhence
theycametosettletheseislands.Theydonotgiveanyinformationconcerning
theirpaganism,whichisnottheworst;andtheyonlypreserveincertainparts
someridiculousabuses,whichtheyobserveatbirthsandsicknesses,andthe
cursedbeliefthatpersuadesthemthatthesoulsoftheirancestorsorthe
grandfathersofthefamiliesarepresentinthetreesandatthebottomof
bamboos,andthattheyhavethepowerofgivingandtakingawayhealthandof
givingsuccessorfailuretothecrops.Therefore,theymaketheirancestors
offeringsoffood,accordingtotheircustom;andwhathasbeenpreachedto

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themandprintedinbooksavailsbutlittle,forthewordofanyoldman
regardedasasagehasmoreweightWiththemthanthewordofthewhole
world.174
43.Theyacttyrannicallyonetowardanother.Consequently,theIndianwho
hassomepowerfromtheSpaniardisinsolent175andintolerableamong,them
somuchsothat,inthemidstoftheiringratitude,someofthemrecognizeit,
althoughveryfewofthem.Yetitisafactthat,iftheSpaniardshadnotcometo
theseislands,theIndianswouldhavebeendestroyed;for,likefish, 176the
greaterwouldhaveswallowedthelesser,inaccordancewiththetyrannywhich
theyexercisedintheirpaganism.177
44.Theyarewantinginunderstandingandreflection,sothattheydonot
recognizeanymeansinanything,butgotoextremes.Consequently,ifoneask
themforwarmwater,theybringitboiling,andtheniftheyarereproachedand
toldthatonewishesitmoretemperate,theygoandbringitbackascoldas
ice.178Inthisviciouscircleofextremes,theywillcontinueceaselesslywithout
findingamean.Considerthen,howtheywillactinprudentialmatters,where
onemustseekthemeanandnottheextremes,assaysthepoet: 179
Es[t]modusinrebus;suetcertideniquefines.
Quosultra,citraquenequitconsistererectum.180
Thisisthecauseofgreatanxietytous,andwiththemacauseofgreat
happinesstoseeusgrowimpatient,eventhoughitcostthemsomeblows,
whichtheytakeverywillinglybecausetheymakeusimpatient.Theycelebrate
thisinalivelymannerinthekitchen.ThereisnothingthattheIndianregrets
morethantoseetheSpaniardorthefathercalm,andthathepatientlyandwith
forbearancerestrainshishandfromthemwhenitisnecessary;forbutrarelydo
theydoanythingwillingly,andhencethemostprudentamongthemarewont
tosaythat"therattangrowswheretheIndianisborn." 181Virgaindorsoejus,
quiindigetcorde(Proverbsx,13).
Theyresembleinthisamischievousladwhoservedagoodcleric.Oneday
hismastersenthimtobuyahen,andhestoleandhidaleg. 182Hismasterwas
silent,andoverlookedtheincident.Itcametopassthatthemasterandthelad
walkedintoafield,wheretheycameuponsomecranes,allofthemwithone
footliftedhighintheair.Thereupontheladsaidtohismaster,"Sir,thehen
waslikethesebirdswhichhavebutonefoot."Theclericanswered,"No,my

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lad,forthesebirdshavetwofeet;andifyoudonotbelieveit,look."Sosaying,
hethrewastickatthecranes,whichflewawayinfright,showingtheother
foot.Atthistheladsaid,"O,sir,hadyoudonethesamewithme,thehen
wouldalsohavehadtwofeet."Doubtless,thisladmusthavebeenofthesame
dispositionasthesegoodbrother,whodonothinggoodwithoutabeating.Tu
virgapercutieseum(ProverbsXXIII,14).183
IthappenedthatanAugustinianreligiouswhostilllivesandisverywell
knownforhisgreatlearning,arrivedintheseislandsintheyear1684,andwas
given,shortlyafterhisarrival,aladofeightornineyearsforhisservice.The
ladwassocleverandlively,thathewasheldinesteem, 184andthesaidreligious
wasveryfondofhim,becauseofhisgreatactivity.Theladconsideredthatthe
fatherwasverypatientwithhim,andchidhisneglectverymildly.Onedayhe
saidtothefather"Father,youknowthatyouarenew.ConsidertheIndianslike
myself.Youmustnotoverlookanything.Ifyouwishtobewellserved,you
mustkeeparattan,andwhenIcommitany.fault,youmuststrikemewithit;
andthenyouwillseethatIshallmoveasquicklyasasparrowhawk.Foryou
mustknow,Father,thattherattangrowswheretheIndianisborn.SohaveI
heardsaidbytheoldIndians."185Troubleenoughdothepoorwretcheshave,
foronemaysayofthem:Oderuepeccaremaliformidinaepenae.186
45.Onecangivethemnothing,evenifitbegiven,187forifhehappento
giveoneanythinginthepresenceofothers,evenifitbeaneedle, 188allwill
demandthatinjusticethesamebegiventothem.Inthistheycloselyresemble
thelaborersofthetwentiethchapterofSt.Matthew,whoconstruedasaninjury
thefavorthatthehouseholdershowedtotheircompanions.Thisis
covetousnessandlackofconsideration.Sofaristhisfoolishnesscarriedthat
theIndianwilltakefiftylasheswillingly,ifheknowswithcertaintythatallthe
othersaretogetasmuch.Surelytheycausegreattroublewiththiswretched
habit,andthosewhomightconfersomebenefitonthemoftenavoiddoingso.
46.Theyaresodistrustfulthattheythinkthatthegroundonwhichthey
walkandtheairwhichtheybreatheareabouttofail.Thisdoesnotmakethem
moreprovidentandindustrious,butmorefoolishanddull.Therefore,ifthere
aremanytoconfesstheytrooptogetherallinabody,eachonedesirousof
beingfirst.Thiscausesextraordinarytroubleandimpatiencetotheconfessor.
But,iftherearebutfew,theycomealeguaapart;andonemustsummonthem,
andtheytakeanhourtocome.Ifthefatherrisesinanger,orbecauseitislate,
thentheyallcometogetherinacrowd,andsay"Father,meonly."Thisisabit

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offoolishnessinwhichonecantracethegreatdeficiencyoftheir
understanding.189
47.Astheyaresocurious,andfondofknowingwhateverdoesnotconcern
them,whatoccurswhenmanyofthemconfesstogetheriswondroustosee.For
allofthemkeepasteadfastgazeontheonewhoisconfessing.Oneis
astonishedandamusedtoseeallthewomenwiththeirfacesturned
backward190sothattheyseemtobebiformedJanuses,orpaiddancerswitha
maskatthebackofthehead.Inthismanner,theyremainuntiltheendofthe
function.ThesameistrueonAshWednesdayorattheadorationsofthecross
onHolyFriday,whenallofthemwishtokissatonetime,orinothersimilar
functions.
48.Theyaremuchgiventothesinofblasphemy,191becauseoftheirnatural
vileness,theirpride,and,theirpresumption.Henceitisquiteusualforthemto
complainofGod,whomtheycallPaghihinanaquit,askingwhyHedoesnot
givethemthisorthat,andhealthorwealth,asHedoestoothercreatures.They
utterwordsofnonsensethathorrifythosewhodonotknow,thatitproceeds
fromtheirgreatlackofunderstandingandconsideration,andfromtheirvery
greatdisabilityforconformingthemselveswiththedivinewill. 192Thusthe
royalprophetDavid,whencompelledbyhissuperiorenthusiasmtotouchwhat
heconsideredinferiormatter,and[whenhe]lifteduphiscomplaintsofthe
divineProvidence,wasexcusedbyhisignorance,aswillbeseeninPsalm
LXXII,[23],wherehehumbleshimself,saying:Utjumentumfactussumapud
te:etegosempertecum.193
49.Theyareveryvain,194andtheyspendtheirmoneynevermorewillingly
thaninfunctionsofvanity;fortheyconsiderthemselveshighly;andwishtobe
esteemedwithoutdoing.anythingworthyofesteem.Themenespecially,even
thoughtheydonothaveanythingtoeat,mustnotforthatreasonfailtohavea
shirtandahat,andtodressinstyle.Theygivebanquetsveryfrequently,for
veryslightcauses;andeverythingresolvesitselfintoeating,drinking,andgreat
noise.Theirvanityistheonlythingthatcausesthemtolessentheirlaziness,in
ordertogetthewherewithaltokeepupthisesteem,andapplausefromtheir
compatriots.195
50.Theyarerevengefultoanexcessivedegreesomuchsothattheyare
vileandcowardly;andtheministershavegreattroubleinreconcilingthem
withtheirenemies;andalthoughtheydoitthroughfear,itisneverwiththe
wholeheart,forthispassionhasgreatinfluenceoverthem.Andsincethey

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needmagnanimityandmanlinesstoovercomeit,andthesevirtuesareforeign
tothem,196hategenerallyforcesitsrootsintothemsodeeplythatitis
impossibletoeradicateitinawholelifetime. 197
Thisisthereasonwhytheyaresoinclinedtolitigation,andtogoingbefore
theaudienciasandcourtswiththeirquarrels,198inwhichtheywillinglyspend
theirpossessionsforthesolepurposeofmakingothersspendtheirsandof
causingthemharmandtrouble.Forthattheyareevenwonttopledgetheirsons
anddaughters.199
51.Inordertobecontraryineverythingtoothernations,theyhavelustbut
nolove.Thisisinregardtotheillicitlove;forinthesupernaturallovewhich
gracecausesinthesacramentofmarriage(sincedivineimpulseworksinthis)
theirevildispositionisconqueredandmostofthemmakeverygoodhusbands.
Butinillicitintercoursethemenhavenootherpurposethanbodilyappetite,
andtodeprive[ofvirginity]asmanywomenastheyhavedone,inorderto
sportwithit.Foritisalongestablishedcustomamongthemthatthewomen
shallgivetothemen,andthelattershallbetheonesservedandfeted;while
onlyblows,kicks,andtroublearegiventothewomen.Sotrueisthisthatone
mightsaythattheyhaveaninfernobothinthisandintheotherworld.Hence
thewomenareverypoorlyclad,forthemenwanteverythingforthemselves.200
52.Butinthemidstofthis,whichappearsinhuman,onemaypraisethem
forhavingsucceededintreatingtheirwivesastheydeserve,inordertokeep
themsubmissiveandhappy;forthissubmissionmakesthembetter,and
humble,andprudent,andconformabletotheirsentenceofbeingsubjectto
man.AndiftheEuropeanswouldlearnthisusefulandprudentmanagement
fromthem,theywouldliveingreaterpeaceandwithlessexpense;and
marriagewouldbemoremildandquiet,andwellordered,accordingtoreason,
andbetterdirectedtowardtheendforwhichitwasinstitutedasweseeisthe
casewiththesepeople,withafertilitythatcausesourwonder.
53.Theyhaveanotherremarkablecustom,whichhasbeentaughtthemby
theinfernalMachiavellian201Satan,whichisgoodfortheirbodies,butbadfor
theirsouls.Thisisthattheyobserveverystrictlytheconcealmentofone
another'sfaultsandwrongdoing.Theyendeavortoseethatnotransgression
comestotheearofthefatherminister,oralcalde,oranySpaniard.They
observethiswithpeculiarsecrecy,althoughtheymaybeatenmityamong
themselves;andreadytokillastheysay.Consequently,themostseriouscrime
thatcanhappenamongthemistotellthefatheroralcaldewhatispassingin

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thevillage.202Theycallthatmabibig,becauseitisthemostabominablefault
andtheonlysinamongthem.203
54.Thisworstofcustomsisveryprejudicialandtroublesometothe
Spaniardsandtothefatherministers.Foritmighthappenthatonehasone
servant(orall)whowastesanddestroysthepropertyofhismaster,andthereis
[noone]whowilltellhimwhatispassing.204Butifithappensthatthewasteful
servant.leave,thenalltheotherstellwhathedid;and,whateverislacking
afterward,theythrowtheblameonthatabsentservant.IftheSpaniardreprove
theservantwhomhemostesteemsandbenefits,askinghimwhyhedidnottell
oftheevilthattheotherservantwasdoing,hereplieswithgreatdudgeonthat
theymustnotaccusehimofbeingmabibig,ortalebearerofwhathappens.This
iswhattakesplace,eveniftheservantsknowthattheyareflayingtheirmaster.
Consequently,thefirstthingthattheydowhenanynewservantcomesis,to
threatenhimifheturnmabibig,andafterwardsmakehimdoalltheworkthat
belongstothemall,whiletheoldservantsarequitefreefromtoil.Hencethe
fewerservantsaSpaniardhas,thebetterservedwillhebe;foronlythe
newcomerworksanddoeseverything,andtheothersnotonlydo,nothing,but
areallservedbyhim.205
55.Theyhaveanotherpeculiarity,whichalwayscausesmegreatwonder.I
amtryingtodiscoverthecausetherefore,butIonlyfind,sofarasIcanmake
out,thatitisduetotheirincapacityandingratitudeandtheirhorrorofthe
Spaniards.Thisis,thatwhilethedifferencebetweenthepoverty,wretchedness,
andwantoftheirhousesandtheanxietyandpovertyinwhichtheylive,when
comparedwiththeabundance,goodcheer,goodclothes,andcomfortwhich
theyenjoyintheserviceofcertainSpaniardsisalmostinfinite,iftheyhappen
tobedischarged,ortoleaveforsomeveryslightcauseoccasionedbytheir
prideandvanity,theyturnfromoneextremetotheother,socontentedwiththe
presentmiserythattheydonotrememberorevenconsiderthepastabundance.
Iftheybeaskedinwhatconditiontheylivedbetter,theyanswerthateverything
isoneandthesame,andhencewedonotgetrevengebysendingthemawayin
anger[enembiarlosconDios].Butwhatgreathappinessistheirs!206
56.TheywouldratherscornthegoodsofthefatheroroftheSpaniardsthan
enjoythemandprofitbythem.Hencewhattheyloseisgreaterthanwhatthey
spend.
57.Theyaregreatlylackinginforesight.Hencetheservantsandstewards
donotadvisetheirmastertoprocureanyarticleuntilitiscompletelygone.

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Thereforewhentheysaythatthereisnomoresugarornomoreoil,itiswhen
thereisnot[oil]enoughtowhetaknife.207Consequently,greatdeficienciesand
annoyancesaresufferedbecauseofthiscustom.
58.Iftherearevisitorsorgueststodinewiththemaster,theydonot
considertheguestsatall,thuscausingthepoormasterofthehousegreat
shame;208anditisnecessaryforhimtoexcusehimselfbythepoorinstruction
thatthedevilgavetheminthismatter.Nomisfortunecanbegreatertohim
thantooffendagainsthiscivility;andinamannerthatseemsgoodtothem,for
doubtlesstheyaresopersuadedbythedevil.Itisalsotheircustom,whenthere
iscompany,foralltogotothekitchenandleavethemasteralone. 209
59.Theirstomachsarelikesackbuts,withsystoleanddiastole; 210andthus
theycontractandexpandtheminawonderfulmanner.Foralthoughthey
observeparsimonyintheirownhouses,itisamatterforwhichtopraiseGodto
seethemgorgethemselvesandgulpdownthingsattheexpenseofthe
Spaniards,asQuevedosaidthereofGalalon:"Galalon,whoeatsbutlittleat
home,overloadshisgoodlypaunchatanother'sexpense."211
60.Butsaytothem,Buenprovecho;212forusuallytheselossesarewell
retrievedwhentheyrow.Theyarehorrifyingandfrightfulinventing,their
anger,bothagainstoneanother,andagainstthefatherministers;andthere
wouldbesomuchtosayinthisthatitwouldneverbefinished. 213Theyareable
tomaketheircomplaintsinsuchamannerandtosuchpurposethatthey
persuadethosewhoknowmostabouttheir,falsityandtrickerythattheyare
tellingthetruth.Irememberthatanalcaldeofexperience214washeardtosay,
whentheIndianscametohimwithcomplaints:Audiviauditionemtuam,et
timui.215ThereareusuallyIndians,bothmenandwomen,inthesuburbsof
Manila,whohireoutasmournersinthemannerofthemournersofthe
Hebrews,andsuchaswereinstyleinCastillainthetimeoftheCid.The
authorsofthequarrelgofirstintothehouseofsomelawyer216wellknownfor
hiscleverness,whoisoneofthosecalledinlawrabulas, 217whodonotknow
whichistheirrighthand.Thesemenkeepbooksofformulasandofpetitions
directedagainstallthehumanrace;forexample,inthisform,"suitagainst
alcalde;"andthenfollowallthecrimesandexcessesthatcanbecommittedby
alcaldes.218Thesamethingistrueofsuitsagainstministersandcuras,andin
themisenclosedallpossibilityofirregularconduct.Thenthesaid"smithof
calumny,"219astheItaliansays,takesthenamesoftheplaintiffsand
defendants,andafewfacts;andthenputsitallinthebookfrombeginningto
end[depepa],withoutomittingoneiota.Andthisisnottospeak

18

uncertainly;forinthearchivesofthecourtwillbefoundthechartwhichwas
discoveredinthepossessionofacertainrabulanamedSilva,who,inaddition
tothishadskillincounterfeitingroyaldecreesanddocuments.
61.Whenthepetitionhasbeenmade,theygowithittothemourners,and
theygotopresstheirsuitwithalamentationlikethatofMagedoforKing
Josias,whichwouldsoftenstones.220Thathasbeeninvestigatedbyseveral
governorsinmytime.IrememberoneinvestigationbyDonJuandeVargas,
andanotherbyDonGabrieldeCrucelaegui;andmanywhoareliving
rememberthem.Letthemjudge,then,thepitythatoughttobeexpressedfor
thefatherministers,whosehonorisexposedtosogreatdanger.
62.Theircunninganddiabolicalclevernessinmakinganaccusationisnot
theequal[i.e.,ismorethantheequal]oftheircapacity;anditisknownthat
theyhavethespecialsuggestionofthefatherofdiscord,Satan.Irememberthat
theybroughttoacertainprovincialacomplaintagainstthefatherminister,
sayingthathekepttwelveIndiansbusyincaringforbutonehorse.The
provincialmadeaninvestigationandfoundthatthefatherhadbutoneIndian,
andthatheusedthesaidhorseagreatdeal,inordertoattendtothe
administrationofsouls.Whenthecalumniatorswerechiddenforthefalsityof
theircomplaint,theyexplaineditbysaying,"Father,thatIndianis,intruth,but
one;butheischangedeverymonth,andattheendoftheyeartherearetwelve
men."Justseewhatsubtlety,andwhatconfusionintheirarithmetic;inorderto
maketheiraccusationtheIndiansmaliciouslyspeakingofayearinorderto
givecolortotheircalumny.221Somanycasesofthissortcanbestated,thatthey
areunending.Andwithallthis,thesenativeshavesuchpersuasiveness,or
powersofenchantment,thattheygenerallydeceiveandpersuadethemost
experiencedwiththeirlies.
63.Inasmuchasanysortofcomplaintisreceived,withoutsubjectingthe
accusertoapenaltyincasethathecannotprovehisallegations 222asoughtto
bethecase,andaccordingtotheordersoftheMexicanCouncilnoone's
honorissafe.For,iftheyprovetheiraccusations,theyarethegainers,whileif
theydonotprovethemtheyreturnhomeascoolasever,fortheyalwaysgoto
gainandnevertolose.223
64.Theyareveryfondofceremonialactsandfestivalswherethereissome
novelty;andfondoflongpilgrimages224toimagesofsomenewmiracle,while
theyforgetabouttheold.225

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65.Theyareespeciallyfondofcomediesandfarces,andtherefore,thereis
nofeastofconsequence,unlessthereisacomedy.226Ifpossibletheywilllose
norehearsal,andinalltheypayattentiononlytothewittyfellowwhodoes
innumerablefoolishanduncouththings,andateachofhisactionstheyburst
intoheartylaughter.Hewhoplaysthispartacceptablyreceiveshisdiplomaas
aningeniousfellow,andhaspermissiontogoandcomeanywhere,andevento
cajolethewomenbeforetheirhusbands;andthelattermustlaugh,eventhough
theyhavenowishtodoso.Itisverynecessarythattheserepresentationsbenot
harmful,formanyofthemareprinted.Accordingly,theyreceiveconsiderable
benefitfromthesefunctionsandexternalacts,suchasthedescentfromthe
cross,andotherrepresentations,whicharepatternedafterthose
calledescuitales227inNuevaEspaainwhichisverifiedthetruthofthe
sentenceintheArsPoeticaofHorace,verses18[0181].228
Segniusirritantanimosdemisaperaures,
Quamquaesuntoculisconspectafidelibus.
66.Consequently,thosewhohaveexperiencearewonttodeclarethatthe
faithentersintotheIndiansthroughtheeyes;andhenceitseemsworthyof
considerationthatitwastheapostleSt.ThomaswhomourLord229had
preparedfortheteachingoftheIndianshewhodesiredthatthebeliefinhis
gloriousresurrectionmightenterthroughtheeyes:Nisividero...non
credam(Johnxx,25).
67.Theyareextremeintheirobservanceoftheirusagesandcustoms,which
theycallogali.Tobefoundwantinginthese,isagreatinfamy;and,
consequently,inordernottobreakthemtheywilltrampleeverythingunder
foot.Theceremoniesandabuses,practicedintheirweddingsandfuneralsare
numerousandcurious,andnosuccesshasbeenhadinsuppressingthem;
notwithstandingalltheeffortsthathavebeenmade;foralltheywantfromthe
Spaniardsistheirclothes,andalltheevilthattheyseeinthem.Ibelievethat
thesecustomswillneverbesuppressed.230
68.Anothercuriouspeculiarityisthatalthoughtherearegenerallysome
fewwhoarejealous,if,theyhaveanybusinesswiththeSpaniards,theywill
notgothemselves,butwillsendtheirwivesordaughterswithoutanyfearof
danger,inorderthattheirbusinessmaybe,welldespatched.231

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69.Theyareverymaterialandliteralintheirconversations,andonecannot
saytheslightestwordtothewomeninjest,howeverslightitbe;forthemost
discreetthingthattheywillanswertoonewillbe,Tampalasanca,whichmeans,
"Youarea232shamelessfellow;"and,ifnotthat,233atempestofwords,that
willmakehimrepenthavinggivenoccasionforthem.234Thisaloneistheir
customwiththeSpaniards.235
70.Itisathingtobewonderedatthateventhedogshaveanother
disposition;andhaveaparticularaversiontowardSpaniards.Whentheysee
Spaniards,theychokethemselveswithbarking.Andwhenthechildrenseea
fathertheycryimmediately,236andthusfromtheircradletheybegintohold
everywhitefaceinhorror.237
71.TheyaresocowardlythattheyfearanyIndianwhobecomesabully
amongthemsomuchthat,iftheyonlyseehimwithapoorknife,theyfear
himsogreatlythathecandowhateverhewishes.Allthevillagetogetherwill
notbeboldenoughtoarresthim,fortheysaythatheisposongwhichisthe
sameas"bold."Ihavehadmanyexamplesofthis.238
72.Theviceofdrunkennessisregardedbythemasrankinthefourth
degree,239andtheyhavemadeitapointofnobility;forthechiefestmenthink
thattheyarethebestworkmen,atthisoccupation. 240Itisafactthatthosemost
giventothisvicearetheIlocans,thentheVisayans,andthenour
Taglogs.241ThePampangoscanbeexemptedfromthisrule,fortheyarevery
temperateinthiswretchedhabit,aswellasinalltheotherthingswhichwe
havementioned.Theyareverydifferent:fortheyaretruthful,andlovetheir
honor;areverybrave,andinclinedtowork;andaremorecivil,andofbetter
customs.Inregardtothevicesherementioned(fortheyare,inthelastanalysis,
Indiansliketherest),theykeepthemmoreoutofsightandcovered.Inall
thingsthePampangoshaveanoblenessofmindthatmakesthemtheCastilians
ofthesesameIndians.Consequently,thatpeoplemustbedistinguishedfrom
therestinitscharacter,inallthatwehavesaid.
73.Returningnowtotheothers,ingeneral,theypossessvanitywithout
honor;foramongthemitisnoreasonforlessesteemtobedrunkards,robbers,
orconniversinevildeeds,or[topractice]otherlikevirtues. 242Theylose
reputationandhonoronlyiftheygetthereputationofbeingsorcerers.
Consequently,intheopinionofaverylearnedminister,thereisnocaseofa
restitutionofhonor,unlesssome,accusationofthisinfamoussinisimputedto

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them.Intheirmarriagesandamongtheirkindredtheirdisgustisnotmoved
exceptbythis,fortheothersareexcusedbyselfinterest,butthisfaultisnot. 243
74.AllthatIhavesaidofthemenisverydifferentinthewomen,saltem
quoadmodum.244Fortheyareofbettermorals,aredocileandaffable,andshow
greatlovetotheirhusbandsandtothosewhoarenottheirhusbands.Theyare
reallyverymodestintheiractionsandconversation,tosuchadegreethatthey
haveaverygreathorrorofobscenewords;andifweaknaturecravesacts,their
naturalmodestyabhorswords.245ThenotionthatIhaveformedofthemisthat
theyareveryhonorable,and,mostofall,themarriedwomen.Althoughbeans
areboiled,itisnotbythekettleful,asinotherregions. 246Scarcelywillonefind
aTaglogorPampangoIndianwoman,whowillputherpersontotrade;and
theyarenotsoabandonedasweseeinthewomeninotherregions.Theyare
veryaversetowardtheSpaniard,andlovetheequality[inmarriage]oftheir
ownnation;and,asaforeignreligioussaid,aresuited"eachmantoeach
woman."TheyrarelyhaveanyloveforaSpaniard.Theyhaveanother
peculiarity,whichiftheIndianwomenofAmericahad,thatlandwouldnotbe
sofullofmulattoes,whoareaferociousandwickedrace.Thisistheirhorror
forCafresandnegroes,whichissogreatthattheywouldsoonersuffer
themselvestobekilledthantoreceivethem.TheVisayanwomen,however,
arereadyforeverything,andarenotsofastidious.Onthecontrary,theyare
veryreadytoconsenttoanytemptation.247
75.Thewomenareverydevout,andineverywayofgoodhabits.Thecause
forthisisthattheyarekeptsosubjectandsocloselyoccupied;fortheydonot
lifttheirhandsfromtheirwork,sinceinmanyofthevillagestheysupporttheir
husbandsandsons,whilethelatterarebusiedinnothingelsebutin
walking,248ingambling,andwearingfineclothes,whilethegreatestvanityof
thewomenisintheadornmentanddemeanorofthesegentlemen,forthey
themselvesareverypoorlyandmodestly249clad.
76.InallthatIhavesaid,tothispoint,concerningthenatureandmoralsof
thesepoorpeople,Ihavedonenomorethantoapproximate[tothetruth],as
themathematicianshavedoneinthesquaringofthecircle.Foranessential
substantial,andexhaustivedefinition250isforsomeotherperson,towhom
divineProvidencechoosestocommunicatethisdifficultmatter. 251Very
praiseworthyisBarclayo,forinhisEupormionandhisArgenis,252he
succeededindiscerningthenaturesofnations;asdidJuanRodemborgio, 253and
ourGracianinhisCriticon.254ButhadtheytreatedoftheFilipinos,theywould
nothavebeensosuccessful.

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77.ThebishopofLaPuebla,DonJuanPalafox,255wroteakeentreatiseon
thevirtuesoftheIndiansofNuevaEspaa,inwhichhisuncommonintellect
andhisholyandgoodintentionaredisplayedmoreclearlythanisthetruthof
hisargumentonthesubject;forinacuriouswayheendeavorstomakevirtues
ofalltheirvicesandevilinclinations.ForinwhattheymeritbeforeGod
throughtheirwills,theydonotmeritifitbetheimpellingforceoftheirnatural
inclinationandmannerofliving,becauseabsuetiisnonfitpassio.256One
cannot,indeed,comparethevoluntarypovertyofSt.Franciswiththatofthe
Indians,whichisbornoflazinessandfullofgreed;fortheirsisthe
infamouspovertywhichVirgilplacesinhell:etturpisegestas.257Andjustas
theeconomyofapoorwretchisnotreckonedasfasting,soitwillnotbeproper
tosaythatifSt.Anthony258wentbarefoot,theIndiansdothesameandthat
theyliveoncertainroots,asdidthefathersoftheThebaid. 259Forthefasting
andtheausteritiesofSt.Arsenius260hadadifferentimpellingmotivesincehe
leftthepleasuresandesteemofthecourtoftheemperorTheodosius 261than
thatwhichtheycanhave,beingsobornandreared,andneverhavingseen
anythingelse.Hence,OvidsaysoftheGetasthattheyleftthedelightsand
comfortsofRoma,andreturnedtoseekthepovertyandmiserytowhichthey
wereaccustomedinPontus:
Romaquidmeliusscyt[h]ico262quidfrigorepeius?
HctamenexillaBarbarusurbefugit.263
78.ItisnotmyintentiontoincludetheSangleymestizoshere,astheyarea
differentrace.ForalthoughtheywerethechildrenofIndiansatthebeginning,
theyhavebeenapproachingmoreandmoretotheChinesenationwiththe
lapseofsuccessivegenerations.Etcompositumexmultisatrahitadsenaturam
simplicisdignioris.264Consequently,Ileavetheirdescriptionforwhomever
wishestoundertakethattask;forIfearthatIshallsucceedbutveryillwiththe
taskwhichIhavehereundertaken,asitissodifficult.
79.Finally,summingupalltheabove,theinferencewillbethatallthe
actionsofthesewretchedbeingsaresuchasaredictatedbynaturethroughthe
animal,intentsolelyonitspreservationandconvenience,withoutany
correctivebeingappliedbyreason,respect,andesteemforreputation.
Consequently,hewhofirstsaidofacertainpeoplethatiftheysawthewhole
worldhangingononenailandneededthatnailinordertohanguptheirhat;
theywouldflingtheworlddowninordertomakeroomforthehat,wouldhave
saiditoftheIndianshadheknownthem.Fortheythinkonlyofwhatis

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agreeabletothem,orofwhattheappetitedictatestothem;andthistheywill
putinaction,iffear,whichalsodwellsinthem,donotdissuadethem. 265Hence
theywillbeseendressedintheshirtsandclothesoftheirmasters,forthesole
reason266thatbecausetheynosooner,enteranyhousethantheybecomethe
ownersofeverythinginit.Andtheworstthingisthat,althoughtheyarenot
goodandfaithfulservants,intrantingaudiumdominisui.267
80.Theyalsohaveotherqualitiesworthyofenvy,nonquoadcausamsed
quoadefectum.268Suchistheircontentmentwiththeirlot,fortheybelievethat
thereisnopeopleinthewholeworldbetterthanthey,andthatiftheypossessa
bamboonut,alittlericeforafewdays,afewsmallfish,andacoupleofleaves
oftobacco,theydonotenvythetablesofXerxesorEliogabalus, 269andcan
singwithLucan:
OtutapotestasAugustiparviquelaris.
Proh!muneranondumintellectaDeumquibushoc
Contingeretemplis,velposuitmurisnullo
Trepidaretumulto,Caesareapulsatamanu.270
81.Theyarealsoworthyofenvyforthecalmnessandconformitywith
whichtheydie,withsowonderfulpeace,asiftheyweremakingajourneyfrom
onevillagetoanothertheLordworkinginthesecreaturesastheLordthatHe
is,271forinthattransitHismercyshinesforthmore;andthussaidDavid
(Psalm,XLVII,21)Domini,Domini,exitusmortis;272whencethat
reduplicationwhichtheHebrewgrammarcallsohatsere,273signifiesthe
superlativeinnameandaction.Thesameisthedeclarationofdivinewisdom
(Proverbs,XX):Inviisjustitiaeambulo,inmediosemitarumjudicii,utditem
diligentesme.274TheFathercelestialsummonsthemforthereliefoftheir
burdens,andofthetroubleswhichtheyhavehadduringlife:Venitequi
laboratis,etoneratiestis,etegoreficiamvos(Matthewxi,28).275
Foritisafactthatifoneconsiderthelifeandlotofmostofthem,they
resemblethatmerchantinthegospelofMatthew(chapter13),whogaveall
thathehadforthepreciouspearl;foritcoststhemmorethanisapparentto
becomeChristians,withsomuchcuttingoftimber;andmanypersonal
services;andthusGodgivesthemthetruerestofdeath,astopoorandneedy

24

ones.Parcetpauperi,etinopi,etanimaspauperumsalvasfaciet(Psalm,xii,
13).276Exiguoenimconcediturmissericordia(Wisdom,vi,7).277
82.Inalltheaforesaid,Ifindnomorethantheclawbywhichthislioncan
berecognized,becauseofthedifficultyofthematter;thereforeIreferthe
mattertoanotherwhohasgreatertalentandexperience;whocantellmore,
sinceIcannotdoeverything.278Irememberoncetohaveheardfroman
inexperiencedpreacherthisingeniousbitofnonsense,thatinpraisingSt.John
theBaptisthecitedthatpassageofSt.Matthew(chapterxi,[7]),caepitJesus
dicere[adturbas]deJoanne;
83.AndhesaidthatJohnwassogreatasaint,thateveninthemouthof
ChristourLorditwas[only]possibletobeginspeakingofhim,butthatnoend
couldbereached.ThesameIshallsayofthismatter,inallcandor.
84.Thereisnolittletolearnandstudyinthematter,concerningthemanner
inwhichonemustbehavewiththemespeciallyweministers,whocomefrom
remotelandsinordertoassistandteachthem;forbecauseofnotunderstanding
thisarightmanyhavebecomedisconsolate,andhaveconceivedahorrorofthe
Indians,andhavereturnedtoEspaa,ortheyhavelivedamidgreathardship,in
acontinualcombatofimpatienceandanxiety,thusfrustratingthegood
vocationwhichbroughtthemtotheseislands,avocationsoacceptabletoGod
ourLord.For,assaystheangelicdoctorSt.Thomas,22,book188,article
4:Deonullumsacrificiumestmagisacceptum,quamcelusanimarum. 279To
thosewhotakethischargeuponthem,thewordsoftheLordinHisrevelations
toSt.Brigidaareofgreatconsolation.Amongmanyothers,hesays(book2,
chapter6):Vosergoamicimeiquiestisinmundoproceditesecuri,clamate,el
anuntiatevoluntatemmeam.Egoeroincordeetinorevestro.Egoerodux
nesterinviaetconsolatorinmorte.Nonrelinquamvos,proceditealacriter
quiaexlaborecresitgloria.280Foritisafactthatallthisexhortationis
necessary,inordertocombatthefrictionthatiscausedtotheEuropean
dispositionbydealingwithpeopleofcustomssodifferent,andwhichhas
causedsomanytolosetheirreason.
85.Thereforethecompasstowhichthenavigatormustalwaysbeattentive,
inthegulfofthecustomsofthisexasperatingrace,ispatience.Forthisisthe
onlyremedywhichChristourLordlefttoHisdisciplesfortheattainmentof
thisministry:(Lukexxi,[19])Inpatientiavestrapossidebitisanimasvestras;
andSt.Paul,inHebrewsx,36:patientiaestvobisnecessaria,utreportetis,
repromissionis.281

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86.Withthisknowledgeandwithoutlosing282thisstrongprotectionone
mustcontinuallyconsiderthatallthesevicesandeviltraitsaredictatedand
impelledbytheirnature,attimesaidedbythesuggestionofthecommon
enemywhenhehopestosucceedincausingusimpatience.Veryworth
consideringinthisarethewordsofSt.Paul(2Cor.,xi,19,20):Libenterenim
suffertisinsipientescumsitisipsisapientis.Sustinetisenimsiquisvosin
servitutemredigit,siquisdevorat,siquisaccipit,siquisextollitur,siquis
infaciemvoscaedit.283Forallthesehardships,andgreater,mustbesuffered
hereamongthesebrothers.284
87.Iconfessformypartthat,atthebeginning,Iwasafflictedandwas
greatlytormented,untilwiththelapseoftimeIcametorealizethatsuchwas
theirdispositionandnature,andthatthesetreescouldgivenobetterfruit.In
timeitbecametomeamotiveforpraisingGodtoseethevarietyofconditions
and285customswhichHehasplacedinhumannature,whichissobeautified
withvariety;andItookparticularpleasureinseeingyouthsandboysdoingall
thingsbackwardwithoutanymalice,andwithouthavingprompters,like
actors;butmovedonlybythathiddenpeculiaritythatmakesthemsodifferent
fromallothernations,andsouniformamongthemselves,[alikeness]whichis
sogreatthatanyonewhohasseenoneofthesemonopantoshasseenthemall.
WiththeseconsiderationsIlivedconsoled,andsucceededinmakingofthem
waxandwick,asthesayingis.286
88.First,onemustnotshoutoutatthem,forthatisamatterthatfrightens
andterrifiesthemgreatly,ascanbeseenifonecriesoutatthemwhentheyare
unawarewhenthewholebodytrembles;andtheysaythatasinglecryofthe
Spaniardpenetratequitetotheirsouls.
89.Onemustnotstrikethemwiththehands,forifweareofflesh,theyare
ofiron,andthehandwillsuffergreatly,forGoddoesnotchoosethattheybe
correctedsoindecently.287
90.Alloftheirfaultsmustnotbeoverlooked,fortheywillbecomeinsolent
andworsedaily.Consequently,itisnecessaryforthefatherministerstogive
themsomelashesasafather,withgreatmoderation,foritisenoughtogive
lashesforvanityandhaughtiness.Thismustbeobservedespeciallyinthelads,
asistheorderoftheHolySpirit(Proverbs,xxiii,13,14):Nolisubtraherea
puerodisciplinam;sienimpercussieriseumvirga,nonmorietur.Tuvirga
percutieseum:etanimamejusdeinfernoliberabis.288ThecommandofSt.

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Gregoryshallbeobservedcarefully(2p.pastoral,chapter6):Curandumquippe
estutrectoremsubditis,etmatrem,etpatremseexhibeatdisciplina. 289
91.Nothingmustbetakenawayfromthem,orreceivedfromthem,without
payingforit;fortheyareverypoor,andtheleastthingproducesagreatwant
withthem.Itmustbeconsideredthattheirgreatestmiseryarisesfromtheir
lazinessandrudecondition,andthatthathabitkeepstheminitsgrasp,andthey
suffergreatpoverty;forEgestatemoperataestmanusremissa(Proverbs,x,4).
Wemustconsideralsothattheysupportusandthattheypayastheyareable
forourlabors.Ifanythingbegiventothem,letitbepurely290forGod'ssake
andasanalms,forifitbelentitwillbeentirelylost,boththemeritandthe
patience291consideringtheirnecessityandnottheiringratitude,asathing
ordainedbyGod.Proptermiseriamasumepauperem,etpropterinopiameius
nedimitaseumvacuum;etcaetera(Ecclesiasticus,xxix;12).292
92.Itisbetter,inselectingservantsamongtheIndiansfortheinsideofthe
house,toseethattheybethesonsofcaciquesorchiefs.Theymustbeshown
neitherlovenorfamiliarity.Theymustindeedalwaysbetreatedwell,butwith
uprightnessandseriousnessofface.Itmustbeconsideredthatinproportionas
theyarebettercaressedandclothed,theworseandmoreinsolenttheywill
become.ThisistheteachingoftheHolySpiritinProverbsxxiv,21:Qui
delicateapueritianutritservumsuum,posteasentieteumcontumacem.They
mustbetaughttheirduties,andmustalwaysbeorderedtoperformthemwith
prudenceandcircumspection,forotherwisetheywillcomegraduallytolose
respectfortheirmaster,andforthecharacterwhichGodpresentstotheminthe
Spaniardinordertodominatethem;andthenwillresultthesamethingthat
happenedtothelogwhich,Aesopsays,wasplacedinthelakebyJupitertobe
kingofthefrogs.Butthefrogs,seeingafteratimethatitdidnotmove,made
sportofit,andjumpedontopofit,etc.Notmanythingsshouldbeorderedof
thematonetime;fortheirmemoriesareverypoor,andtheywillonlykeepthe
lastoneinmind.Thekeysofthepantryortothemoneymustnotbeentrusted
tothemforthatwouldbeplacingopportunityandtemptationintheirhands,
andtheyneverresistit.Goodinstructionandsubjectioninthehouse,and
aboveall,thegoodexampleoflifewhichtheyseeintheirmasters,instilmuch
intothem;andundersuchconditionstheygenerallybecomegoodservants,
especiallythoseofthePampangonation.Ontheotherhand,also,onemustnot
expectagoodservantinthehouseofabadmaster.293
93.Onemustnotexhaustthemorsqueezethemmuchbeyondwhattheycan
giveofthemselves,aswedowiththelemon,forallthatwillbepressedoutwill

27

bebitter,assaystheproverbofthecommentary;quinimisemungit,solet
extorquerecruorem.294Neitherisitwellorpropertogoaboutvisitingthe
caciquesorgoingupintotheirhouses,exceptwhennecessityrequiresit;for
immediatelythewholevillagewillbefilledwithenvyandcomplaint,andthe
esteemofthefatherministerswillsufferconsiderably.Besides,theirstench
andvicedonotrenderthisdiversiondesirable.295
94.When296theyaresentwithamessagetoanyplace,onemustvery
patientlyawaitsomenotablefailurecaused'ordinarily'bytheirnaturalsloth
andlaziness.297Sicutacetumdentibus,etfumusoculis,sicpigerhisqui
miseruntillium(Proverbs,X,26).298
95.IdonotbelievethatIshouldomitmention,saltempertransenam,299of
amatterveryworthyofconsiderationnamely,thatifGodchoosestochastise
theflourishingtheChristianityoftheseislandsforourandtheirsins,byplacing
itinthehandsofIndiansordainedaspriests(asappearsabouttothreatenus
verysoon);ifGoddonotapplyaremedy,whatabominationswillnotfollow!
Fortodeclarethattheywillchangetheircustoms300andtheaforesaidvicesis
impossible.Onthecontrary,theirarrogancewillgrowworsewithexaltationto
sosublimeanestate;theircupiditywith.powerwillbebetterfed;their
laziness,withthelackofnecessity;andtheirvanity,withtheapplausethatthey
wouldwishtohave;fortheywoulddesiretobeservedbythosewhomthey
wouldinanotherestaterespectandobey;andthevillageswouldsufferfrom
thecursementionedinIsaiahxxiv,2,sicutpopulus,sicsacerdos.Forthe
Indianwhoisordaineddoesnotbecomeapriestbecauseitisthecallingthat
conducestothemostperfectestate,301butbecauseofthegreatandalmost
infiniteadvantagethatcomestohimwiththenewestatethathechooses.How
muchitdiffersfrombeingafathercura,tobeabaguntaoorsexton!From
payingtribute,tobeingpaidastipend!Fromgoingtothe[compulsory]cutting
oftimber,tobeingservedinit!Fromrowinginabanca,toberowedinit!That
doesnotcountwithaSpaniard,who,ifhebecomeacleric,oftengiveupan
officeasalcaldemayor,captain,orgeneral,withmanyothercomfortsinhis
nativeplace,whilehishouseisexaltedaboveallthenationoftheIndians.Let
onecontrastthiswiththevanitywithwhichonewhohasbeenfreedfromthe
oar,302orfromanaxinthecuttingoftimber,willgivehishandtobekissed!
Whataburdenforthevillagewillbethefather,andmother,sisterandnieces
rankedasladies,whenmanyotherbetterwomenarepoundingrice!Forifthe
Indianisinsolentandintolerablewithbutlittlepower,whatwillhebewithso
muchsuperiority!Andifthewedgefromthesamelog303issopowerful,what

28

willitbeifdrivenbysogreatauthority!Whatplagueoflocustscanbe
comparedtothedestructionthattheywouldcauseinthevillages? 304What
respectwilltheIndianshaveforhim,seeingthatheisoftheircolorandnation
andespeciallythosewhoconsiderthemselvesasgood,andevenbetter
perhaps,thanhewhobecameacura,whiletheydonotbecomeanythingbetter
thanbilangoorservant?Howseverelythegoodcurawillchastisethem,andfor
triflingoffenses!305asweseetheIndiansdowhentheyactasgobernadorcillos
oftheirvillagesforevenasingleyearwhenthefirstthingthattheydo,andin
whichtheymostdelight,isimmediatelytoplacethepicota306infrontoftheir
houses,inordertoapplylasheswiththehangman'sstrap[penca].What
tyrannywillthecurapracticeonthem,suchastheyarewonttopracticeifthey
haveanypowerandauthority!Howwellthewedgeofthesamewoodwill
forceitsway,withouttherebeinganyonetosaytohim,curita
facis?[i.e.,"Dostthouplaythecura?"]307
96.Therefore,ifanyinsurrectionormutinyshouldarise,howwellcouldit
bearrangedandprepared,308ifthecuraenteredalsointothedance,asheis
alsoanIndianandinterested?For,inalltheinsurrectionsthathaveoccurredin
theseislands,respectforthefatherministershasbeenofgreatimportance;but
theveryoppositewouldhavehappenedifthesewereIndians.Theninthe
frequentcarousalsandfeastsofwhichtheyaresofond,andonwhichtheir
vanityandtheirchieftainshiparefounded,withoutanydoubttherewouldbe
greatindecency;forthecurawouldbeverytenderofconsciencewhowould
notpledgethemintheircups.Inthatandothertemptationswouldhappenwhat
Lucianrelatesinthesecondofhisdialogues.
97.Anobleyouthhadaverybeautifulandgentlefemalekitten,whichhe
esteemedsohighlythathebeggedthegoddessVenustochangeitintoa
beautifulmaiden,inorderthathemightmarryher.Thegoddessdidso.
Thereupon,theyouth309immediatelyarrangedthewedding,towhichhe
invitedthebestpeopleofthecity.While,then,thebridewasrichlyadorned
withjewelsandsurroundedbymanyotherwomen,310andtheguests,amouse
happenedtoappear,andbegantoapproachtheminordertoeatsomecrumbs
ofbreadwhichwerescatteredabout.Thebridesawit,and,withoutpowerto
controlherself,ranafterthemousethroughoutthelengthofthehall,andthe
guestsswereunabletorestrainher.Thegroomwasashamed,and
said,311"Gentlemen,yourpardon;forthisgirlwasformerlyacat,andwill
alwayshavethehabitsandbadtraitsofthatanimal."

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98.IbelievethatthesamethingwouldhappenwiththeIndians, 312even
whentheybelongtothecaciquesornobility;foritisincrediblethattheycan
stripthemselvesofthepeculiaritiesoftheirnature.Iatleastdonotbelieveitat
present,althoughGodourLordcanveryeasilydoit,forHeistheOnewho
raisesupsonsofAbrahamfromthestones.Butwemustnotaskformiracles
needlessly,butallowtheIndiantoremainanIndian,andgotohislaboras
before.Ifitisdesiredtopreparethemforthehighministryofthepriesthood,it
isadvisabletotestthemintheofficesofalcaldesmayor,captains,regidors,
andcouncilors;foritappearstomethatthereisnoonewhocansaythatthese
saidofficesaregreaterandofhigherrankanddignitythanthepriesthood,at
leastwheretheInquisitionexists.Then,iftheyconductthemselveswellinthe
saidemployments,theycanbegiventhemanagementofthebodyandbloodof
JesusChristourLord;andthenonecansaywithreason:Quiainpaucafuisti
fidelissupramultateconstituam.313For,astheChurchteachesusthroughthe
mouthsoftheholyfathers,thedignityofthepriesthoodissogreatthatthatof
thekingsoremperorsoftheworldcannotcomparewithit.ThussaysSt.
IgnatiustheMartyrinhisepistletoSmyrna,chapterx,Sacerdotiumestapex
bonorumomnium,qusuntinhominibus.314St.Ambrose,inchapter2ofhis
bookDedignitatesacerdotum315sayssostillmoreclearly.316Father
Molina317hasconsiderabletosayonthisinthefirsttreatiseofhisLibrode
sacerdotes[i.e.,"Bookofpriests"]ashasFatherSeeri318inhisCura
instruido[i.e.,"thecurainstructed"].
99.Thenisitpossiblethat,eventhoughtheyareCatholicsandfaithfulsons
oftheChurch,wemustexalttosoloftyanestatemenagainstwhomthere
wouldbesomanycomplaintsiftheybecamealfrezesofacompanyinthe
regimentofManila?CanthesacredhabitofSt.Peter,whichwereligious
venerateasthatofthegreatestdignity,andtowhichweyieldthemost
honorableplacewhich,assaidthepatriarchofAntiochia319totheemperorof
China,isthefirstrankandorderoftheChurchbeobligednottoexperience
disgustatsuchlowcreatures?Idonotknowinwhatit[i.e.,theproposalto
ordainIndians]canconsist,unlessitbethatinitisrealizedthevisionthatthe
saidSt.PeterhadinCaesareawhenthesheetwasletdownfromheavenfilled
withtoadsandserpents,andavoicecommandedhimtoeatwithoutdisgust
asisreadinchapterxoftheActsoftheApostles.Foralthoughitsignifiedthe
callingofheathendom,itmustnotbeunderstoodinmoralthingsofthe
barbarousandmeannatureofsomepeoplesthatcomposethatheathendom,in
ordertoconstitutetheecclesiastichierarchy.320WhenIcometodiscussthis

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matter,Ifindnoend,andIfindthatwecanonlysay:Domine
adauge[nobis]fidem(Luke[x]vii,[5]).321
100.Itisalsoafactthatthesacredcanonsdonotdemandfromthosewho
areordainedmorethananhonorablelifeandexample,andasufficient
knowledge.Then,inordertodispensethespuriousandlegitimate 322andthe
mestizos,thereisabriefofGregoryXIIIwhichbegins"Nuperadnosrelatum
est,323issuedatRoma,January25,onethousandfivehundredandseventyfive.
Forallthat,Iregardthem[i.e.,Indiansaspriests]asirregular,notonlyforthe
reasonsgivenandstatedabove,butalsobecausetheylacktheecclesiastical
andpriestlymentalability,andtheprudencenecessary;andwithouttheseall
therestservesasalmostnothing,asPedroUrceolosangwithgracefulelegance
inhis"Epigrams:"
Sislicetingenuusclarisqueparentibusortus;
Essetamenvelsicbestiamagnapotes.
Addelocuspatriaeetclarostibisumepropinquos;
Essetamenvelsicbestiamagnapotes.
Sinttibidevitae324sitlargaetmundasupellex;
Essetamenvelsicbestiamagnapotes.
Denique,quidquideris,nisisitprudentiatecum;
Magnaquidemdico,bestiasempereris.325
101.MayGodourLordpreserveyourGraceforthemanyyearsofmy
desire.Manila,June8,onethousandsevenhundredandtwenty. 326Yourhumble
servant,whokissesyourhand,

FRAYGASPARDESANAGUSTIN

31

[OnaloosepaperinsertedinthecopyofthisletterownedbytheMuseo
BibliotecadeUltramar(whichasstatedabove,isunsigned),whichwas
formerlyownedbythewellknownSpanishscholarPascualdeGayangos,is
thefollowing:"Accordingtoparagraphs[ofthisletter]whichPaternoinserted
inhisworkLaantiguacivilizaciondeFilipinos(Madrid,1887),p.241,this
lettermusthavebeenwrittenbyfatherFrayGaspardeSanAgustn;and
accordingtoSinibaldodeMas,whoinsertsentirepassagesfromthisMS.in
hisInformesobreelestadodeFilipinasen1842,i,pp.63132,andattributesit
toFatherGaspar."Paternohasnothadaccesstothedocumentitself,buthas
usedMas.]

83JuanJosDelgadowasanativeofCadiz;thetimeofhisbirthisnotknown.In1711heleftSpainfor
Filipinas,andperhapsremainedforsometimeinMexico:itisprobablethathereachedFilipinasasearlyas
1717.HeseemstohavespentmostofhislifeintheVisayanIslandsSmar,Ceb,Leyte,etc.butto
havevisitedmostofthepeoplesinthearchipelagoatsometimeorother.HisHistoriawaswrittenduring
theyears175154;thedateofhisdeathisnotknown.SeesketchofhislifeintheHistoria(Manila,1892),
pp.xxi.[backtotext]
84MasusedtheMS.oftheMuseoBibliotecadeUltramar,whichiswronglydated.Seepost,pp.278280..
Oftheletteritselfhesays(i,"Poblacion"p.63):"Theseparagraphsandotherancientdocumentswillshow
us...howlittletheindividualswhonowoccupyushavechangedsincethattime."[backtotext]
85Forinstance,Massays(p.63):"HerefollowswhattheauthorofthecelebratedworkonthePhilippines,
calledCronicasfranciscanas[referringtoSanAntonio'sChronicas]says:'Theveryreverendfather,Fray
GaspardeSanAgustin,anAugustinianfromMadrid,"'etc.Bowringmakesthis:"Amongthemost
celebratedbooksonthePhilippinesarethe'CronicasFranciscanas'byFr.GaspardeSanAgustin,an
AugustinemonkofMadrid;"andfollowinggivestheimpressionthathemakestheselectionsdirectlyfrom
SanAgustinaridiculouserror.
Inregardtotheword"monk"usedbyBowring,thatauthorisagaininerror,technicallyatleast,anerror
thatisquiteoftenmetwithinmanyworks.AspointedoutbyRev.T.C.Middleton,O.S.A.,inaletter
datedDecember8,1902,theonlyregularsinthePhilippineswhocouldrightfullybestyled"monks"were
theBenedictines.Themembersoftheotherordersare"friars,"theequivalentoftheSpanish"frailes."The
monksarestrictlycloistered.Thefriarsappearedfirstinthethirteenthcentury,anddonotliveastrictly
cloisteredlife.[backtotext]
86M.readsontheoutsidewrapper:"LetterbyFrayGaspardeSanAgustin;"andtheheadingoftheletter
isasfollows:"+LetterwrittenbyanagedreligiousofPhilipinastoafriendinEspaa,whoaskedhimasto
thenatureandcharacteristicsoftheIndiannativesoftheseislands."D.reads:"Letterwrittenby thevery
reverendfatherFray....givinghimanaccount..."[backtotext]
87M.andD.read"mathematicalside;"andcontinuingD.reads"ofthedoubleofthecubeofthesphere."
[backtotext]

32
88i.e.,"Iwaswiththisgenerationforaboutfortyyears,andIsaid`Thesepeoplealwayserrfromtheheart."'M.omitstheLatinphrase
andreadsinitsplace"andIhaveonlylearnedthattheyarealmostincomprehensible."D.readsasM.andthenadds"andthereforeIshallonly
say,"followedbytheLatinphrase.[backtotext]
89i.e.,"Hehimselfknewourformation."ThelastwordoftheLatinphraseisomittedinM.[backtotext]
90D.reads"excusemyselffromtheburdenanddifficulty."[backtotext]
91i.e.,"Itisdifficulttoknowmanachangeableandvariableanimal."M.givesonlythefirstfourwords
ofthisLatinphrase.[backtotext]
92i.e.,"Iseemenastreeswalking."[backtotext]
93NotsetoffintolinesintheAyerMS.Aliteraltranslationofthecitation,whichisratherfreelytranslated
inthetext,is:"Springmakesmegreen;burningsummer,yellow;autumn,white;andchillwinter,bald."M.
omitsallthequotationafterthefirstthreewords;D.reads"Glaucumque"insteadof"flavamque."Thepoet
mentionedbySanAgustinwasaWelshmanbythenameofJohnOwen,or,accordingtohisLatinname,
JoannisAudoenus.Hewasbornabout1560,atArmon,Wales,anddiedinLondon,in1622.Hestudied
lawatOxford,andafterwardbecameateacheratvariousplaces.HeimitatedtheEpigramsofMartial,and
hisEpigrammatawerepublishedfirstinthreebooksatLondon,in1606,butwerelateraugmentedbyseven
morebooks.Theywerereprintedmanytimesinvariouscountriesandeventranslatedintootherlanguages
amongthelatter,intoEnglish,French,andSpanish(Madrid,167482).Oneofthebesteditionsisthat
printedatParisin1774.[backtotext]
94D.omitsthislastphrase.[backtotext]
95M.omitstheepigram.Itisthefortyseventhepigramofthetwelfthbook,andistranslatedthusinHenry
G.Bohn'sEpigramsofMartial(London,1877):"Youareatoncemoroseandagreeable,pleasingand
repulsive.Icanneitherlivewithyounorwithoutyou."IthasbeenseveraltimestranslatedintoEnglish
verse.[backtotext]
96i.e.,"Asmanyopinionsaspersons."[backtotext]
97FromtheGreekwords,"one,""single,"and,"all;"thusmeaning,"homogeneous."[backto
text]
98TheMonophysitesheldthattherewasbutonenatureinChrist.Theywerecondemnedatthefourth
generalcouncilheldatChalcedonin451,butthedecisionofthatcouncilwasafewyearslatersetasideby
animperialencyclicalissuedbytheemperorBasilicus.DuringthenextcenturytheMonophysitessplitup
intomanysects,andfoughtamongthemselves.TheMonophysitesstillexistinArmenia,Egypt,Syria,and
Mesopotamia;andarerepresentedbytheArmenianNationalchurch,theJacobiteChristiansofSyriaand
Mesopotamia,theCopticchurch,andtheAbyssinianchurch.TheschismaticChristiansofSt.Thomasare
nowconnectedwiththeJacobites:SeeAddisandArnold'sCatholicDictionary,pp.597,598.[backtotext]
99M.greatlyabridgesthisparagraph,amongotherthingsomittingallmentionoftheMonophysites.D.
alsoomitsthelatter.[backtotext]
100AtthispointM.adds"whoarethetrueIndians,sonamedfromtheRiverIndusorfromIndostan,for
ourIndiansaresobycatachresisormisusage."[backtotext]

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101ThetitleoftheFranciscanJuandeTorquemada'sbook,isasfollows:1a(IIIa)Partedelosveynteyun
librosritualesymonarchiaIndianaconelorigenyguerrasdelosIndiosoccidentalesdesuspoblaones,
descubrimiento,conquista,conversionyotrascosasmaravillosasdelamismatierra(Sevilla,1615;inthree
parts).[backtotext]
102ThetitleofAntoniodeRemesal'sbookisHistoriageneraldelasIndiasOccidentales,yparticular,de
lagovernaciondeChiapa,yGuatemala.EscrivesejuntamentelosprincipiosdenuestrogloriosoPadre
SantoDomingo,ydelasdemasreligiones(Madrid,1620).
RemesalwasborninAllarizinGalicia,andtooktheDominicanhabitinSalamanca,wherehealso
becamedoctoroftheology.HewassenttoCentralAmericain1613,andonhisreturnwrotehisbook.See
Moreri'sDictionaire,vii,p.68;andHoefer'sNouvellebiographicgnrale,xli,col.956.[backtotext]
103SeeVOL.VIII,p.38,note1.[backtotext]
104Bartolome(notBernardino)delasCasas,thegreatapostleoftheIndians.HefirstwenttotheNew
Worldin1502asaplanter,becameaDominicanreligiousin1510,andin1514begantopreachagainstthe
crueltyinflictedontheIndiansbytheSpaniards,forthepurposeofalleviatingtheirmisfortunes,making
numeroustripstoSpain.HefinallyobtainedfromCrlosIthe"NewLaws,"whichweresorigorousthatan
attempttoenforcethemresultedinaninsurrectioninPeruunderGonzaloPizarro,foranaccountofwhich
seePedroGutirrezdeSantaClara'sHistoriadelasguerrascivilesdelPeru,15441548(Madrid,1904
05).HefinallyreturnedtoSpainforthelasttime,anddiedafterafewyearsintheDominicanconventof
Valladolid.Hiswritingsaremany,andimportant.ThereferenceinthetextmaybetohisBrevissima
relaciondeladestruccindelasIndias(Sevilla,1552);ortohisHistoriageneraldelasIndus,which
existedonlyinMS.,until1875.[backtotext]
105SeeVOL.XXIX,p.189,note42.SanAgustinprobablyreferstohisVirtudesdelIndio(1650?).
Palafoxleftmanywritings,anumberofwhichareofacontroversialnature.[backtotext]
106InD.,"taught."[backtotext]
107InD.,"collect."[backtotext]
108M.andD.calltheselasttwopeoplesthe"Mogores"andthe"Camarines."[backtotext]
109BaltasarGracianwasborninCalatayud,Aragon,in1601,andenteredtheSocietyofJesusin1619.He
taughtbelleslettres,philosophy,moraltheology,andtheHolyScriptures,andpreachedforseveralyears.
HewasrectorofthecollegeatTaragona,Catalunia,wherehediedDecember6,1658.Hisfirstbook,El
Hero,appearedin1630.ThemostfamousofhisnumerousworkswashisCriticon,whichisprobablythe
bookreferredtointhetext.Itisasortofsatireonthevicesandcustomsofthetimes;andinplacesreminds
oneofPilgrim'sProgress.Itwaspublishedinthreeparts,thefirstin1650atMadrid,andtheothertwoat
Huesca,in1653.MostofhisworkswerepublishedunderhisbrotherLorenzo'sname.Histalentinwriting
isvitiatedbyhisaffectationandotherfaults.SeeTicknor'sHistoryofSpanishLiterature(NewYork,1854);
Sommervogel'sBibliothque;Moreri'sDictionaire,iv,p.174;andHoefer'sNouvellebiographie,gnrale,xxi,cols.570,571.
[backtotext]
110M.andD.add"FormostofthedefectsandvicesoftheseIndiansarecommon,onaccountofthe,"and
continueasabove.[backtotext]
111Thispassageisbadlyconfusedinthethreecopies.ThetranscriberofM.haswronglymadetheviviendo

acephalosoftheAyercopy,bebiendoased[i.e.,drinkingwhenthirsty?]whichhardlymakessense.That

34
MS.continues,"andinconfusedanarchy,"whichisbetterthantheAyerreading.D.reads"Whobesides
havingbeenlivingasthegreatestbarbarians,leaderless,andinconfusedanarchy."[backtotext]
112BothM.andD.omitthepassagereferringtotheinfluenceanddominionofthemoon.M.givesthe
namesas"Beyerlinhe,"andD.as"Bayarlinch."
LaurentiusBeyerlinckwasanotedFlemishsavantandlitterateur.HewasbornatAntwerpin1578,and,
afterstudyinginthatcitywiththeJesuits,wenttoLouvain,whereheenjoyedabeneficeuntil1605.Inthat
yearhewasrecalledtoAntwerptobecomeheadoftheseminary,andsoonafterwardobtainedacanonry
andthenanarchdeaconrythere.HisdeathoccurredinAntwerp.June22,1627,attheageoffortynine.
Notwithstandinghisshortlifeandhisreligiouslabors,hewroteasurprisingamount.Aneditionof
hisMagnumTheatrumVitaeHumanaeappearedinLondon,ineightvolumes,in1678.See
Moreri'sDictionaire.[backtotext]
113"Whentheygrowdeliriousintheirsickness,theyareneverfrantic,butcalm."(Mas,p.64.)[backto
text]
114M.andD.addhere"slow."[backtotext]
115IntheAyerMS."serithnophagos."D.makesit"ictifagos,"whichreadingwehaveadopted;andM.
omitsthephrase.[backtotext]
116Theabundanceoffishisoneofthemeansbywhichnatureaidstheirnecessities.Intherainyseason,
allthecreeksandravinesarefullofwaterandfish.Theveryricefieldsswarmwitheels,shrimps,anda
speciesoffishcalleddalag,whichisabouttwopalmoslongandmorethantwoinchesthick.Itisespecially
interestingforanEuropeantoseeacrowdofpeopleinthemonthofOctoberonthehighroad,busily
fishinginthesowedfields.Asthericeisnowgrown,itisimpossibletoseethewaterthatbathesandwets
itsroots,andconsequently,whenthehooksaredrawnoutwithfishtwopalmoslongonthem,itappearsto
beenchantment,ortheinconsequentialthingsofadream.Asthewaterdriesup,thefish,stillliving,gather
downintowardthehollowswherethereisyetsomewater;andtheyaretherecaughtwiththehand,or
killedwithclubs.
"TheIndianshavethreemeals[perday]:breakfast,dinner,andsupper.Thesethreemealsconsistofrice
boiledinwaterbutdrylikethericecookedintheValencianstyle,orliketheTurkishpilao.Inadditionthey
eatatrifleoffreshorsaltfish,somesortofmeatstew,camotes,etc.;butrarelydotheyhavemorethantwo
differentdishes,unlessitistheoccasionofabanquet.Inthedearestprovinces,the[expenseof]common
foodcannotbeestimatedatmorethanonehalfrealofsilverperdayperadult;andsincethedailywage
thattheyearnisatleastonehalfrealandtheirfood,itresultsthatthisracehavegreatopportunitytosave
andacquireconsiderablewealth.Buttheirvices,theirfewnecessities,andtheirdisposition,whichis
indifferentandlackinginforesight,doesnotallowthemtobettertheconditionoftheirbirth;andthey
remaininthewakeofthemestizos,whoarealwaysthewealthypeopleofthevillages."(Mas,pp.64,
65.)[backtotext]
117Massays(p.65):"Itisnoteasyforanyonetoexplainthem,solongashetriestoconsiderthesemen
equaltotheEuropeans."[backtotext]
118ThissentenceisomittedinM.andD.[backtotext]
119Allthematterabovebetweentheword"father"andthispointislackinginM.[backtotext]

35
120ThesoliduswasacoinoftheRomanempire,whichwasatfirstcalled"aureus,"andworthabout
twentyfivedenarii,butafterwardreducedtoaboutonehalfthatvalue.Itisusedinthesamemarineras
"farthing"or"cent"wouldbeinEnglish.[backtotext]
121ThesepassagesaretranslatedasfollowsintheDouayversionoftheBible:
4.Manyhavelookeduponathinglentasathingfound,andhavegiventroubletothemthathelpedthem.
5.Tilltheyreceive,theykissthehandsofthelender,andinpromisetheyhumbletheirvoice.
6.Butwhentheyshouldrepay,theywillasktime,andwillreturntediousandmurmuringwords,andwill
complainofthetime:
7.Andifhebeabletopay,hewillstandoff,hewillscarcepayonehalf,andwillcountitasifhehad
foundit:
8.Butifnot,hewilldefraudhimofhismoney,andheshallgethimforanenemywithoutcause:
9.Andhewillpayhimwithreproachesandcurses,andinsteadofhonourandgoodturnwillrepayhim
injuries.[backtotext]
122i.e.,"Scarcedoeshereturnthehalf."[backtotext]
123IntheDouayversion:"Thesinnershallborrowandnotpayagain;"beingonlyonehalftheverse.M.
omitsthereference,butgivesthepassage.[backtotext]
124Delgado(Historia,p.306)commentingonthispassagesay:
"IfindnotedmanyactionsoftheIndianboyswhoserveinthehousesandconvents;andallare
ridiculousthingswhichweourselvesdidinourowncountrywhenwewereboyslikethem."
HeobjectstoSanAgustin'squotationfromScriptureonthegroundthatitistoogeneral,andthatthose
wordswerenotwrittenmerelyforthem."IftwentycaseshavebeenexperiencedwheretheIndianborrower
hasfailedtoreturnwhatheborrowed,itcannotbesaidthattheentireTaglognationaresinners,letalone
othernations,whichmaynothavebeenseen.Suchasuppositionisillogical."[backtotext]
125TheparagraphstructureofM.andD.differsfromourtextintheabovetwoparagraphs,andinother
placesthroughoutthisletter;andtheparagraphsarealsounnumberedinbothoftheseversions.Thecopy
ownedbyEduardoNavarro,O.S.A.,Valladolid,agreeswiththeAyerMS.inhavingnumberedparagraphs,
butthenumberingisnotinallcasesthesame.[backtotext]
126AtthispointthefollowingparagraphswhicharenotcontainedineithertheAyerMS.orinD.occur.
"Theythinkthatitisafinethingtomeddleandtakepartinthingswheretheyarenotinvited.
Consequently,ifanyofOurswishestoattendtoanybodilynecessity,notfittomention,evenwhenhe
leastwishesit,therecomesanIndianbeforeorbehindhimeventhoughheleavethebancaandseekthe
mostretiredspottodowhatnoothercandoforhim.
"Theycruellytreattheanimalsthatservethem,andthedangeroflosingthemdoesnotmovethemto
thecontrary.ThusfollowingtheveryoppositeofSt.Paul'scommand:Nonalligavisvosbobi

36
trituranti[i.e.,"Thoushaltnotmuzzletheoxthattreadethoutthecorn,"ITim.v,18,aquotationfrom
Deut.xxv,4],theytiethepoorcoworcarabaotoapostafterithasworkedallday,and,ifitisahorse,they
feeditwithoutremovingbitorbridle.Andiftheyhavetolookaftertheircarabaoitmustbeoncondition
oftheirbeingatopofitwhileitmovesfromplacetoplace;andontheroadtheymakesoresonits
buttocks."
ThattheIndiandoesnotshutadoorthathehasopened,etc.;Delgadosays(p.306):"Thisisdoneby
boys,andiscommoninourowncountry.Itisnotbecauseoflaziness,butperchance,forlackofattention,
orthelivelinessormischievousnessofboys,inwhichtheagedandprudentIndianscannotbeincluded."
Hehasoftenseenthecarpenterscarefullycollecttheirtoolsandtakethemaway,sothattheyshouldnotbe
lost.SanAgustin'scriticismistoogeneralandhasproceededfromwhathehasexperiencedinafew
foolishlads.[backtotext]
127"This,"saysDelgado(p.307)"ispeculiaronlytosomeworkmen;andnottoallthenationsofthese
islands,andthesamethinghappensalsoinourowncountryamongcobblers,tailors,andotherdeceitful
andtrickyworkmen."
Mascommentsasfollows(pp.66,67):"Thereisnotailor,cobbler,orworkmanofanykind,whodoes
notbeginbybeggingmoneywhenanyworkisordered.Ifheisacarpenter,heneedsthemoneyinorderto
buylumber;ifalaundryman,tobuysoap.Thisisnotforlackofconfidenceinreceivingtheirpay,forthe
samethinghappenswiththosewhohavethebestcredit,withthecursofthevillage,andevenwiththe
captaingeneralhimself.Itconsistsfirstly,inthefactthatthemajorityhavenomoney,becauseoftheir
dissipation;andsecondly,becausetheyaresurethataftertheyhavereceivedapartoftheirprice,their
customerwillnotgotoanotherhouse,andthathewillwaitfortheworkmanaslongashewishes(whichis
usuallyaslongaswhathehascollectedlasts),andthatthenthecustomerwillhavetotaketheworkinthe
wayinwhichitisdeliveredtohim."[backtotext]
128M.reads,"intheregionofthegenitals;"andD.,"ears."[backtotext]
129Delgadosaysofthis:"LetusgivethankstoGodthatourparentsrearedusincivilizedways;forifthey
hadnot,wewoulddothesame.Buthowmanyblowsandlasheswehadtotaketobecomeso!Andindeed
itmustbenotedthatitisnotsomuchbecauseofrudenessthattheIndianscratcheshimself,ordoesother
thingssomewhatmoreindecentandcoarse,ashashappenedtomeattimeswhenwiththem;butbecauseof
asortoffearorrespect,thatsoconfusesthemthattheydonotknowattimeswhattheyaredoing,oreven
whattheyaresaying."Thecriticism,likeothersofSanAgustin,istoosweeping.Delgadohasnotnoticed
thisamongtheVisayans,althoughhehasnoteditamongtheTaglogs.Becausesomewomenarecoarse,
coarsenesscannotbechargedingeneraluponallthewomenoftheislands.[backtotext]
130D.reads"Andasyettheyhavenotgottenoverthedifficultyoffoldingacloakwiththerightsidein."
[backtotext]
131M.andD.read"makegesturesofwonder."[backtotext]
132"Ihaveobservedthattheyareverystupidinmakinganythingwhenonetriestogivetheminstructions,
butnotwhenoneallowsthemtoworkintheirownmanner.Forexample,onedesirestohavethecork
whichhasslippeddownintoabottledrawn.Thebestthingtosaythen,is'Seehere,getthiscorkout
withoutbreakingthebottle.Takecare!'ThereupontheIndiangoesandfixesitaswellashecan.OnceI
askedanoldwomanforsomefiretolightmycigar.Thereweremanylivecoalsonthegroundremaining
fromafire.Shetookahandfulofearthinherpalm,andatopofthatplacedacoalwhichshepresentedto
me.Inthiswaytheydothingsthatattimesshowsufficientingenuityandskill,especiallywithbambooand
rattan.GeneralAlavadeclaredthattheir,brainswereintheirhands."(Mas,pp.67,68.)[backtotext]

37
133TheselastsixwordsarelackinginM.ThisreferstothewellknownmythofOrpheusandEurydice.
ByAuresteo,SanAgustinmeansAristus,probablyanearlyGreekpoet,butdeifiedasabeneficentgod
andworshipedinvariouspartsofGreeceandotherplaces.HewassaidtobethesonofApolloandthe
ThessaliannymphCyrene,andwasrearedbyHermes,whomadehimimmortal;althoughheisalso
sometimescalledthesonofUranaandGaea.HisconnectionwiththeOrpheusmythwasprobablyan
innovationofVirgil(Georgics,iv,ll.315558)whotellshowhecausedthedeathof.Eurydice,whowas
killedbyaserpentwhilefleeingfromhispersecutions.SeeSmith'sDictionaryofGreek,andRoman
BiographyandMythology,andSeyffert'sDictionaryofClassicalAntiquities(London,1891).
"Itisstillthecustominmanyofthechurchesforthementotaketheirpositionsinthecentertowardthe
upperpart,andthewomeninthelowerhalf."(Mas,p.68.)[backtotext]
134ThelasttwowordsaremissinginM.andD.
Curiosity,saysDelgado(p.307)andimpertinenceisacharacteristicofallthepeoplesofAsia.
"Theyhaveaskedmeoftenastomyemploymentoroccupation,mymannerofliving;andtheamount
ofmypay.Thisproceedsfromthetoleranceandbenevolencethattheygenerallyfindinthe
Spaniards."(Mas,p.68.)[backtotext]
135Thisarguesonlytheirwildnessandlackofcivilization,saysDelgado(pp.307,308),andtheyoughtto
betaughtcivilizedmannersbytheirmastersoratleastbythemissionaries.TheSpanishhousesgenerally
haveporters,sothattheIndianscannotpenetrateintothemostretiredapartment.Itmayhappenattimesin
Manila,orinsomeofthemissions;butitisnotthecustomintheVisayas,orintheprovinceofTaglos.
Delgadohasneverhadsuchathinghappentohim,fortheIndianshavealwaysannouncedtheirarrival
beforeentering.[backtotext]
136"Thisprovestheseveritywithwhichtheyaretreatedbytheirownpeople,andthekindnessthatthey
experienceinus."(Mas,p.68.)[backtotext]
137"ThankGod,"saysDelgado(p.308)"thatIfindtheprognosisabovethatsays'theyaregreatsleepers'
absolutelyfalse."[backtotext]
138ThissentenceislackinginM.andD.[backtotext]
139InD.,"wherethewomengo."
"Theydothisbecausetheyarehumoredlikechildrenintheconvents."(Mas,p.69.)[backtotext]
140M.andD.omit"andperukes."[backtotext]
141Literally,"theflowerofthesaints;"perhapsalludingtosomebookoflivesofsaints,thusentitled.M.
has"theislesofthesaints.[backtotext]
142M.andD.omitthelastthreewords.[backtotext]
143"Nearlyallthevillageshavetheatersforcockfighting.Beforefighting,someverysharpknivesare
fastenedtothespurssothatoneortheotheriskilledatthefirstmeeting.Onthisaccountthecockfight
doesnotoffertheinterestorsportthatitdoesinEspaa,andotherplaces,anditoccupiestheattentionof
thesepeoplesolelyasameansofwinningorlosingmoney.Inreality,acockpitisahouseofplay.Before

38
thetwofowlsareplacedinattitudeoffight,thebetsareplacedontwospindles.Oneofthemgenerally
offersagreatsuminfavoroftheblackcock,whileothersbetonthewhiteone,untilthesumismatched.
Theleadingcocksareloosedandoneofthemiskilledinlessthantwominutes.Thisisinfacta`monte,'as
isplayingtheracesorbettingonthejack[atcards].TheFilipinos,bynatureidlersandgreedy,are
passionatelyfondofplay,fortheyconsideritanexcellentanduniquewayofgettingmoneywithout
working;andtheygatherlikefliestotheseperniciousplaces,inordertospendwhattheyhaveandwhat
theycansucceedinborrowingorrobbing;abandoningtheirmostsacredandperemptoryobligations.
Furthermore,theypassmanyhours,bothintheirhousesandinthecockpit,teachingacockhowtofight
andtohavenofearofthepeople;andexaminingtheothercocks,inordertoascertainbycertainrulesand
markswhichwilltriumphandwhichwillsuccumb.Thereisnothingmorecommonlyseeneveninthevery
streetsofManilaitself,thanamansquatteddownonhisheelswithoneofthesefowls,inorderthatit
mightbecomeaccustomedtothenoise,sothatitmightnotgrowconfusedorbecomefrightenedinthepit.
Therearemenwhotakeheedofnothingelseorhaveotherthoughtduringthedaythanoftheircocks.
"Thegovernmentauthorizesthesewretchedgatherings,notonlyonSundays,butalsoonThursdaysor
fairdays,whicharenotfew,andhasrentedouttherightofopeningthesetheaters.Lastyearthis
departmentproducedabout40,000pesosfuertes.Asadrecoursewhichmusthaveoccasionedandwill
occasionsomanytears,crimes,andpunishments,sincesomuchvagabondageistherebycaused.Thereare
oftenseriousquarrels,whichtwojudgesofthetheaterendbydecidingaccordingtothelaws.Whenany
oneofthe.contestantsdoesnotconformtothesentence,hehasrecoursetothealcalde,whotakesthe
evidencesinregardtothematter;andthesequarrelsgenerallygoonappealtothesuperintendency,andto
theupperlitigiousassembly.Thesecausesarejudgedaccordingtoexistinginstructions,whichwere
writteninAmerica.
"TheIndiansarealsoveryfondofcards.Theyplaybrisca,burro(whichisdistinctfromthatofEspaa),
andpanguingui,whichisagameplayedverycommonlybytheChinese.Inthisoccupationtheyoftenpass
allthenightuntildawn;andthecabezasdebarangaylosethetributesoftheirsubjects,andtheyhavetogo
immediatelytojail,ortaketothemountain.
"Theygenerallyplayduploattheirpartiesagameconsistinginarithmeticalcombinationsandalso
ourgameofforfeits."(Mas,pp.6971.)[backtotext]
144Delgado(p.308)admitsthattheyouthfulservantsdobreakdishes,buttheyarecheap."Thereare
IndiansinManilawhomakeandrepairwatchesandotherdelicatebaubles,anddonotbreakthem.
Consequently,notonlycantheyhandlebamboo,rattan,nips,andbolos,butalsootherthings;andthey
makeandhandlethemlovingly."
"Thisisbecausetheyaregenerallyheedless,sometimesthroughstupidity,andatothertimesbecause
theyarethinkingoftheirsweetheart,orofsomethingelse,insteadofwhattheyaredoing.Whenthe
Filipinodropsadish,theSpaniard,saysnothing,orissatisfiedbycallinghimonlyabrute,animal,or
savage;whileinhisownhome,hewouldnotescapewithoutsomebuffets,whichhavemoreeffectonthis
racethanwouldthePhilippicsofCicero."(Mas,p.71.)[backtotext]
145"Thefathermusthavesaidthisofthecountrypeople,orofthosewhoareservants;foramongthose
whodevotethemselvestotheartstherearesomewhoturnoutworkverydelicateanddifficulttoexecute,
eveninEuropaas,forinstance,thetextilesandembroideryofpia,andthegoldchainsorbejuquillos,
etc."(Mas,pp.71,72.)[backtotext]
146D.adds"or[rather]noteating."ThisincidentisrelatedinthesecondpartofDonQuixote,chapter
xlvii.[backtotext]

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147ThissentenceisomittedinM.Thefollowingisthereaquestion,"Andwhatshallwesayiftheybring
foureggs?"[backtotext]
148ADominicanandtheassistantofArchbishopPardo,whobecameactingarchbishopafterthedeathof
thelatter.SeeFerrando'sHistoriadelosPP.Dominicos,vi,p.cxlvii;andourVOL.XXXIX,"ThePardo
Controversy."[backtotext]
149DonFernandoValenzuela,agrandeeofSpain,marquisofSanBartolomdelosPinalesandof
Villasierra,chiefmasterofthehorse,gentlemanofthechamber,etc.,thefavoriteofthemotherofCarlosII
ofSpain,MarianaofAustria(withwhomhisconnectionwas.saidtobedishonorable),was,asayouth,
pagetotheDukeofInfantado.HewenttoRomewiththeduke,whowasappointedambassadortothe
papalcourt.Onhisreturnhegainedthefavorofthequeen'sconfessortheGermanJesuitNitard,who
introducedhimintocourtcircles.Hisrisetofavorwasrapid,forhewastalentedandhandsome.Afterthe
downfallofNitard,hegainedentireascendancyovertheweakqueen,whoshoweredhonorsuponhim.
FinallyhewasexiledtothePhilippines(1676),throughtheeffortsofDonJuanofAustria,uncleofthe
king;andwasimprisonedinthefortofCavitewherehelandedMarch29,1679.OnthedeathofDonJuan,
thefirstactofthequeenwastohaveValenzuelafreedfromhisexile,andaspecialshipwassenttothe
PhilippinestotakehimtoSpain.Itisreported,however,thathediedinMexico,whileonhiswaytoSpain,
fromthekickofahorse.HebuiltthebridgeovertheManzanaresatToledo,atthecostofonemillion
ducats.SeeHarrison'sHistoryofSpain(Boston,1881);MonteroyVidal,i,p.364;andConcepcin,Hist.
dePhilipinas,vii,pp.349364.AdocumentinVenturadelArco'sMS.collection(vol.iii)whichisa
compilationfromoriginaldocumentsintheRealAcademiadelaHistoria,Madridgivesanaccountofthe
receptionaccordedtoValenzuelaonhisarrivalatthePhilippines,andsomedetailsofhislifethere.[back
totext]
150M.reads"riceinthehusk."[backtotext]
151M.andD.add"pesos."[backtotext]
152Delgadosays(p.308):"Iftheyhadasmuchunderstandingasthereverent:father,theywouldnotdo
it."Thecasescitedprovenothinggeneral,sincetheyareonlyparticularcases."Butitmustbebornein
mindthatalltheIndiansoftheseislandsareverypoor,anddressverypoorlyandlivemeanly;andwhen
theyseethattheSpaniards,andespeciallythesebishopsandmarquises,bearthemselveswithsogreat
ostentation,and.aresofreeandmagnanimousandliberal,astheirnobilitydemands,someIndiansoflittle
capacityareemboldenedtobegfromthemthingsthattheyoughtnot;fortheythinkthatsuchmenwill
neverremainpooreventhoughtheygivemuch."WebegGodoftenforthingsoutofseason.
"Thisisbecausetheyknowbeforehandthattheyasknonsense,andassumethattheirdemandwillnotbe
granted,buttheyonlyaretryingtoseewhetheritmightbemetbyanychance;fortheyareaccustomedto
theextremegoodnessoftheSpaniards,anddonotfearmakingthemangrybyanabsurddemand."(Mas,
pp.72,73.)[backtotext]
153M.andD.read:"AlthoughtheSangleyscheatthem,asiftheyweresimpletons,andtheyaresatisfied
tobecheatedbythem."
Delgadosays(p.309):"ThisIabsolutelydeny,forIhavemorethanonceseenthataftertheIndians
havetraversed,thewholeParinoftheSangleystoselltheirgoods,iftheyarenotofferedmorethanfour
theyimmediatelycarrytheirgoodstotheSpaniardsortothefathers,inordertogeteightforthem;andthis
mustbetongodsacalooy,thatis,forcharity,whichtheSpaniardandthefatheralwayspracticewiththem."

40
"Thisisafact,butitneedsexplanation.TheFilipinoisbynaturephlegmatic,andespeciallywhenitisa
questionofbuyingorsellinganything;forheexertshimselftogetthelargestprofitpossible,andthe
calculationofthatcostshimmuchtrouble.Acountrymancomes,forinstance,toselltwoorthreequintals
ofindigotoamerchant.Thereupon,hedoesnotcomealone,butisaccompaniedbyrelativesandfriends,
andsometimeswomen.Veryoftentheindigobelongstofourorfiveowners,whoallcomeinthewakeof
theseller.Eachpropositionmustbecommunicatedtothesocietythatissquattedthereinacircleontheir
heels.Thematterisdiscussedatlength,andthenitisdecidedtolowerthepriceonepesoperquintal.The
buyerclaimsthatthepriceshouldbethreepesos.Finallythispointissettled.Thenanotherdiscussion
begins,namely,thattheindigoisdamp,andthatsomepoundsmustbeallowedforwaste.Inshortthe
transactionissotiresomeandsoeternal,thatthereareveryfewSpaniardswhohavethepatiencetoendure
somuchimpertinenceandimportunity;andtheygenerallyendbysayingdryly,'Willyouorwillyounot
giveit?'Andthentheyorderthemangrilyintothestreet.TheChineseandmestizosdonothurrythem,but
onthecontraryinvitethemtoeat,andkeepthemintheirhousesforthreeorfourhours,andsometimes
days.Finally,theygetthegoodsforwhattheywishtogive,andmoreoftencheatthemlikeChinese.For
theFilipinoisverystupideveninmattersofselfinterest.OnceIwaswithaSpaniardwhowasbuying
indigo.AfterthetradinghadcosthimmorepatiencethanJobmusthavehad,theindigowasweighed
beforehim,theaccountwasreckoned,themoneymadereadyandplacedonthetableinpilesof20pesos,
whiletherewasoneof7,whichwasplacedseparately,andanotherofrealsandcoppercoins.Themanwho
hadbeenmostattentivetoeverythingtookthepilesof20'sandleftthepileof7.Wecalledhimbacktotell
himtotakethatmoneywhichhehadleft.Thereuponhetookthesevenpesos,anditwasnecessarytocall
himbackthethirdtimetotellhimthatallthemoneyonthetablebelongedtohim.Hehimselfhad
determinedthatthepriceshouldbe52or53perquintal,andthenhetookwhatwasgivenhim.The
majorityarethesame.ThenitislearnedthataChinesehasboughtfor20thesamequantityofindigofor
whichaSpaniardoffered25.ItissaidthataFilipinowouldratherreceiveonerealfromaChinesethanone
pesofromaSpaniard,aswehavejustseenwaswrittenbyFatherGaspar."(Mas,pp.73,74.)[backtotext]
154"Andtellme,yourPaternity,"saysDelgado(p.309),"whoisnotgiventothisviceinthisland?"an
interestingcommentaryonsocialconditions.[backtotext]
155Commentingonthis,Delgado(p.309)says:"Whoaretheoneswhocutthetimber,andbuildtheships,
galleys,andgalliots,assaysFatherMurillo,andworkintheshipsintheport?Thentheydothisstretched
outintheirhouses,assaysourfathermaster?Itistruethattheyarealwayspoor,butthetruecauseofthat
isdifferent.LetthemnotadmitintoManilasomanyheathenChinese,whopossessinthemselvesallthe
tradesandemployments,bywhichonemayseekhislivelihood.TheIndianswouldapplythemselvesto
thesetrades,andwouldnotliestretchedoutintheirhouses,fortheSangleysdonotallowthemtoengage
intheseortoseektheirlivelihood.''
Massays(pp.7577):"IhaveneverreadasinglemanuscriptorprintedbookabouttheFilipinosthat
doesnotspeakoftheirlaziness.
"I,accustomedtoheartheterm'lazy'giventoSpaniards,andtoothermenwhohavebeenorareidle
ratherthroughtheinfluenceofbadlawsorbecauseofthelackoflaws,thanbecauseoftheimpulsesof
theirphysicalorganizationwasreadytobelievethattheFilipinoswouldbefoundtoexhibitthesame
characteristicinregardtothisespeciallywhenIrememberedthesystemofdeliveringtheprovincesto
tradinggovernorsandmonopolistsandtheprohibitionforsomanyyearsoftradingwithforeignports,
whichstillexists,withtheexceptionofthecityofManila.Butinspiteofthefactthatthesethings
powerfullyinfluencetheobstructionofthefountsofwealthandchokeincentivestoworkIhaveseen
thingsthathavemademechangemyopinion.Forinstance,Ihavedesiredtosendpeopletogetgrassfor
myhorses;and,inspiteofthefactsthatitwasveryabundantandnear,andtherewasnottheslightest
doubtaboutthepay,Ihavebeenunabletogetanyonetogoforit.Onarrivingatavillage,Ihave
endeavoredtogetaguidetoaccompanymetothenextvillage;and,inspiteofthefactsthatthedistance
wasnotmorethanonehourandtheroadexcellent,Ihavefounditdifficulttoobtainhim.AndevenIhave

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obtaineditbymeansofthejustice,as[acarrierof]baggage;althoughonepaysforthisservice,according
totheschedule,onesilverreal,withwhichaFilipinohasenoughtoliveonforatleasttwodays.Afew
weeksbeforemydeparturefromFilipinasIwasatanestatebelongingtoreligious,wheretherearevarious
individualswhoenjoyanannualsalarysufficienttosupportthemselves,onconditionthattheyguardthe
estateagainstrobbers,andthattheyworkwhenevernecessary,inwhichcasetheirday'swageispaidthem.
Thequestionwasraisedoftransferringthericeinthehuskfromonegranarytoanother,distantabout20
paces,andtheywerenottoworkmorethanthehoursusualinthatcountry,whichareveryfew,forwhich
theyweretobegivenonesilverrealdaily,besidestheirfood.Allthiswasinadditiontotheirannualpay.It
istobenotedthattheseasonwasthedryestandcoolestofthewholeyear,namely,themonthofJanuary,
andaFilipino'ssupportcostthenaboutfivecuartosperdiem.However,bynomeanswouldtheyconsentto
workconsecutivelyallthedays,fortheysaidthatwhennightcametheywereexhausted,andneededrest
onthefollowingday.HadInotbeenpresentthereIwouldnothavebelievedit.Ihavebeeninmany
FilipinohutswhereIsawmanymenandwomenpassthedaywithoutdoinganything,whileeverything
wasindicativeoftheirpoverty.Ihaveexaminedtheconditionofthefields,andIhavediscoveredthatany
manmaybecomewealthy,andyetallliveinwretchedness.Ihavebeenmuchsurprisedtohearthatthey
mustbeorderedbyedicttosowthefields,sothatthepropitiousseasonmaynotpassby;andthatthose
whoallowtheirhousestoburnarepunished.EspeciallyhaveInotedthattheChinesemestizos,whoare
partlyofthesamebloodasthemostdiligentChineseimmigrants,arealwayscomfortable,andsomeof
themhaveaccumulatedconsiderablewealth.ThismightallbeinthehandsoftheFilipinos,whoarethe
mostancientinhabitants,haveenjoyedandenjoygreaterprotection,andhavebeenownersofallthe
estatesthatarenowpossessedbythemestizos,whichthelatterhaveboughtbythefruitsoftheirindustry
andtheireconomy.ItistobenotedthatalltheChinesewhocometoFilipinasareverypoor,andcome
fromacoldercountry.GentilsaysthattheFilipinoshaveacquiredtheirlazinessfromtheSpaniards;butif
theyhavelearnedindolencefromtheSpaniards,whydidnotthemestizoslearnitalso,whoareonthe
contrarysoactiveandindustrious?Whyhavetheynotlearnedtobediligentfromthemestizos,sincethey
haveamorecontinualandintimateintercoursewiththemthanwiththeSpaniards?Iconcludebysaying
thatafterexaminingandweighingeverythingthoroughly,Iamoftheopinionthatthereexistsinthenature
oftheFilipino,quiteindependentofanyaccessoryandmodifyingcause,anelementofquietandinertia
thatisbutslightlyneutralizedbytheambitionofacquiringconsiderationandwealth."[backtotext]
156Delgado(pp.309310)says:"Thishappensperhapsamongtheboyswhoserveintheconventsin
Tagalosandinnoothermissions;andIhavealsoseenthemawakenedinanothermanner.Andalthough
thisseemsamatterforlaughteramongusSpaniards,itisnotsoforthem.Fortheydoitinordernotto
maketheotherimpatientbywakinghimsuddenly,anditservesamongthemasakindofprudenceand
respect.Thesamethinghappenswhentheycallatthedoorofanyhouse.Butgenerallytheyenterwithout
theformulasofetiquette."
"Thisisahardfactandhasbeencalledtomyattentionoften.Forinanyothermatterwhatsoever,itis
wellunderstoodthatignorancemakesanunpolishedmanappearquitedistinctfromacivilizedman.But
whenitcomestowakingonewhoissleeping,Icannotconceivethatwisdom,orevenaknowledgeof
reading,canhavetheleastinfluence.ButIbelievethatIhavediscoveredtheoriginofthispeculiarity.The
remontadosFilipinosofAbrahavethegreatestrespectforasleepingman.Theirdeepestcurseis'MayIdie
whenasleep.'Theiroath,whentheycometotheprovinceofIlocosfortheelectionofgobernadorcillos,for
causes,.etc.,is'MayIdiewhenasleep,''Mayaboltoflightningstrikeme,'etc.'Thissamefearofdying
whenasleepexistsalsoinothertribesandintheprovincesofIlocos,andmusthavebeenformerlya
generalidea,since,aswehavealreadyobserved,theoriginofourChristianizedIndiansandthoseat
presentremontadosand,calledinfidelswasthesame.Whetherthisfeararosefromsomediseaseinwhich
thepeoplesleptAnddidnotawaken,orwhetheronlyfromthesimilitudeofsleeptodeath,itisdifficultto
ascertain.However,itisalwayssurprisingthat,sincenoonenowdiesorbecomessickbecausehisrestis
interrupted,theIndiansstillconstantlypreservethissostupiddread;sothatevenafteramasterhasordered
hisservanttoawakenhim,thelatterhasgreatdifficultyindoingitinaquickandpositivemanner,
althoughheknowsthat,ifhedonotexecuteit,itwillputhismasteroutgreatly:Thatshowsatleastthe

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mostpowerfulinfluenceofhabitonthemindsofthesemen.Somewhatsimilartothisisourcustomof
saying'Jesus,'whenanyonesneezesacustomwhichIhaveheardexpressedby'Godblessyou,''Avous
souhaits,''Salute,'etc,amongallthepeoplesofEuropa...Thiscustomgenerallyallowsthemanwho
recievesanaccidenttodiewithoutaid;becauseofnotawakingthephysicianorcura."(Mas,pp.77,78.)
[backtotext]
157ThisisbecausetheIndiansdonotappreciatethedanger,saysDelgado(p.310).Thishappensoftenon
narrowroads,andnottoIndians,buttoSpaniardsormulattoes,andneitherwillyieldtotheother,
whereuponquarrelsensue.Butthelesseralwaysyieldstothegreater.Ithashappenedonceortwiceto
Delgado.
"Thisisafact,andaproofoftheirindifferenceandstolidity."(Mas,p.78.)[backtotext]
158ThelenguafrancaisthetradejargonoftheOrient.Theoriginalofthepassageaboveisasfollows:
"Deograndenopillarfantacia;mondocosicosi;siestarescritointestaandarandar;sinoacmorir."M.
reads"anandarandar,"andhasotherslightdifferences.D.reads"ha(de)andar"andhas.alsootherslight
differences.
ThefullnameoftheauthorabovementionedisGabrielGomezdeLosada,andhisbookisEscuelade
trabaios,inquartolibrosdividida:Primero,delcautiveriomascruel...Segundo,Noticiasygoviernode
Argel:Tercero,necessidadyconvenienciadelaredemptiondeCautivosChristianos:Quarto,elmejor
cautivorescatado....(Madrid,1670).[backtotext]
159M.andD.add(thoughwithaslightdifferenceinwording)"fortheywillnotbelievethathewholoves
dangerwillperishinit."
SomeIndiansarefatalists,butnotall,saysDelgado(p.310).TheVisayansaregenerallycareful,and
watchoutforthecrocodiles.Thosewhohavebeendevouredbythosereptileshavealwaysbeenevil,and
weresopunishedbyGodfortheirsins.Massays(p.79),thatthisfatalismmusthavebeenimportedfrom
Asia.[backtotext]
160Delgadosays(p.310):"Thisproceedsfromtheirbarbarouscondition,andbecausetheSpaniards
commonlydeceivethem,andteach.themthingsthatarenotverygood,especiallythe
convictguachinangos,ofwhomthiscountryisfull.Butthattheycannotbepersuadedthatitisasinto
stealfromthereligiousorfromtheSpaniards,Iregardasainmisapprehension,oratleastitisnotcommon
forthistohappen,althoughhisPaternitybringsforwardsuchevidence,thatonecannotdoubthim.ForI
haveseenthecontraryinmanyvillages."
Mas(pp.80,81),says:"ItisafactthatsomeIndianshavebutlittlescrupleinstealingfromSpaniards,
fortheysaythatallthatthelatterpossessisofthePhilippinesandconsequentlytheirs.Butdonotbelieve
thattheyhaveanyconsiderationfortheirfellowcountrymen.Initsproperplaceweshallseethattheftis
thegreatestpartofthecriminalityoftheislandsItistobenotedthattheygenerallyrobonasmalland
rarelyonalargescale;fortheirambitionislimitedtosatisfyingaviceortobetteringtheirpresent
condition,butnotinchangingit.
"ThefatherprovincialoftheAugustinianreligious,saidinhisprintedreport,inthecompilationmade
concerningthecausesoftheinsurrectioninIlocosin1807:
"`TheIndiansofIlocoshavebecomehighwaymen,likethoseoftheotherprovinces.Theystealcows,
horses,andcarabaosfromtheirowncountrymen;andthosewhoareoccupiedinthistradearereadyforall
sorts.ofevil.Itisnotsurprisingthatmanyoftheseshouldhavecomewiththedeserterswhofirstrebelled

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inthemountainsofPiddig,andthatothersshouldunitewiththemwhenthefirewasfanned.Butonecan
notcallthisacauseforinsurrection,nordoIbelievethatforsuchtheftsthemeansshouldbetotakethe
stealersofcarabaostoManilasothattheymightbepunished;butitisenoughforthealcaldesmayorto
watchovertheirprovinceandpunishthesethefts.Bysodoingtheywouldsucceedinlesseningthefts,for
theexterminationofthemisasimpossibleasismakinganendoftheclassesofthethievesaccordingtothe
proverboftheIndians,`Whentheratsdie,thenthethieveswillcometoanend.'
"Itistruethatperhapsoneoughtnottoascribeallthisdemoralizationtoaperversedisposition.One
must,nothavelivedamongtheFilipinos,orhavebeenveryblindinregardtothem,tosaythattheyareall
thieves.Thereareverymanywho,althoughtheycouldstealwithimpunity,donotdosoThefrequency
oftheftmayproceedfromothercauses.Perhapsthesystemofmercyandimpunitythathasdictatedandis
dictatingthesentencesoftheAudienciaofManilahascontributedthereto"[backtotext]
161M.andD.omit"ofwhichIheard,"andthelatterreads"andIshallonlytelloftwoofwhichIwasa
witness."
Spaniardsalso,saysDelgado(pp.310,311),recountthingsthatarenotcredible,and"itisnottobe
wonderedatthatsomerudeandignorantpeopleshouldbelievesuchnonsense;andiftheybelievesome
thingsthataretoldthembysomescholars,itisbecauseoftheauthorityofthosepeopleamongthem...This
happenscommonlyinotherplaces,besidesamongtheIndians."[backtotext]
162Seeanaccountofthismatterandthetroublecausedbyit,inVOL.XXXIX.[backtotext]
163i.e.,"SilverandgoldhaveInone"areferencetoActsIII,6.[backtotext]
164M.andD.read"miners."[backtotext]
165"Whentheship'SantaAna'arrivedatManilaintheyear1832with250Spanishsoldiers,itwas
rumoredamongthewomenofthetobaccofactorythatthosesoldierswerecomingtotakeawaytheir
childreninordertoirrigatetheminesinEspaawiththeirblood.Allwerearousedandfledtotheirhomes,
tooktheirchildren,andbegantotakerefugeinthehousesoftheSpanishwomen,andtheycouldnotbe
persuadedthatitwasallnonsense.ThehouseofDoaDoloresGoyenawasfilledwiththem.Alsomany
menarmedwithspearscameoutonthestreets;butthedisordergraduallysubsided."(Mas,p.82.)[backto
text]
166M.andD.add"foralltheministerscannotfreethemfromthisdeceit."[backtotext]
167Thisisnotsoingeneral,saysDelgado(p.311),butistrueonlyofsomeindividualsamongthevarious
nations.[backtotext]
168M.reads"respecttheSpaniardmore."[backtotext]
169"ThetruthisthatanySpaniard,withrareexceptions,hasmorepenetration,morevivacity,more
nobility,moretalent,andmorecouragethanaFilipino.Thissuperioritycandonolessthanhaveitseffect.
Fortherest,fewinManilahaveanexactideaoftheFilipinocharacter.Theirarrogancemaybeseeninthe
importancewhichthegobernadorcillosgivetothemselves.Theygodailytothecityhall,buttheymake
tworegidorsgototheirhousestogetthem.Theretheregidorswaituntilthegobernadorcilloisreadyto
comeout,andthelatterthengoesinsolemnstatetothecityhall,precededbytheregidorsandthe
alguacils,withstaffsinhand.Whentheseofficersreachthedoorofthecityhall,theystopinordertoallow
thegobernadorcillotopassbetweenthem;andheenterswithoutnoticingthesalutesgivenhimbythe
guards,whotakeofftheirhatstohim.Heimmediatelytakesaseatwhichisonanelevatedplatform,and

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therehethinkshimselftobeonathrone;andeventheSpaniardswhoentercasually,especiallyinthe
villagesonthehighroad,appearofbutlittleimportancetohim.Thisistheplacewheretheauditorsofthe
AudienciaofManila,andallotherswhohaveanyshareinthegovernmentofFilipinas,oughttocome
incognito,andasifinpassing,inordertoknowtheFilipinosinsteadofforminganopinionoftheir
characterfromtheservantsoftheirhouse,orfromthosewhogotothecapitalwithclaspedhandsanda
downcastlookintheireyestoasksomefavorofthem.Thestrangethingis,thattheIndiansdonotlearn
fromthealcaldesmayor,whoadministerjusticewiththegreatestequality,andwhodonotsitinan
elevatedplace,orevensitdown,andgointothestreetwithoutanyfollowing.Thisaristocraticspiritmay
beobservedinthechurch.Alltheprincipales,whoconsistofthegobernadorcillos,cabezasdebarangay,
andallotherswhohavethetitle`Don'andwearajacket,seatthemselvesinthecentralaisleornave;and
thefollowingorderofetiquetteisingeneralscrupulouslyobserved:thegobernadorcillo;theex
gobernadoralos,whoarecalledpastcaptains,inorderoftheirseniority;theactualfirstlieutenant,who
mustbeacabezadebarangay;thetwolieutenants;andninepresentofficials;theexcabezas,inorderof
seniority.Ifanyexcaptainfromanothervillageispresent,hetakesaseatamongthoseofhisclass,andis
giventhefirstplace,outofcourtesy.Whenthelieutenantsandofficialsleavetheirposts,theyarenot
calledprincipales,asaretheothers,buttitulados.(Mas,pp.83,84.)[backtotext]
170D.reads"pettysextons."[backtotext]
171Delgadosays(p.311):"Itisafactthatnaturealwaysinclinesrathertoevilthantogood.Butinorder
tocorrecttheirvicesthereareferventandzealousministersinallparts,whopreachtoandteachthem."
Massays(pp:8589):"InfactsomeIndianspracticeceremoniesintheirmarriageswhichdatefrombefore
theconquest.
"Onthebirthofaninfant,thenewbornchildissometimestakentoanotherhouseinordertofreeitfrom
thePatianac;and,whenthechildistakenoutforbaptism,aromaticsubstancesandincenseareburnedfor
thesamereason.
"Whenapersondies,theycelebrateanovenain.hishouseatnight,wheretherelatives(andsometimes
thosewhoarenotrelatives)assemble.Afterpraying,itisnotseldomthattheysitdowntogamble.Onthe
lastdaythereisagreatbanquet,andsometimesadance.Thesemortuaryfeastsarepracticedevenyet,in
alltheirpurity,inthemountains,aswehavealreadyseen.
"Ifpossible,bothmenandwomenbathedailyintheriver.Thewomenenterthewaterwrappedin
theirtapices,takingcarethatthebosomiscovered.Whentheyareinthewatertheytakethatgarmentoff
towashthemselves.Themenenterthewaterwithwidepantaloonsandthebodybare.Theyentertheriver
atanyhourandbeforeeverybody;butonemustconfessthattheydoitwithgreatdecencyandmodesty.
WhenIwasinSantaCruzdelaLaguna,thecurapublishedanedictorderingmenandwomennottobathe
inthesameplace.Thatgaverisetomanyjokesandjests,anditistobesupposedthattheycontinuedtheir
oldtimecustoms.Theyconsiderusasnotovercleanly,becausetheyseeusmakelessusethantheyofthe
bath...ItisalsothecustomforthefamiliesofthecountryandmanyEuropeanstobathetogether.During
theoutdoorsportsofManila,atthesummerhousesofMariquina,orotherneighboringtowns,thechief
diversionisthebath.Thewomengenerallyenterthewaterwearingakindofblouse,andthemenwith
widepantaloonsandthebodyuncovered.NewcomersfromEuropadonotconsiderthisamusementatall
decent.
"Theykissbybringingthenostrilnearanddrawinginthebreath.Thisistheplainkissinthemountains,
butsomeFilipinosoftheplains,especiallyofManila,havealsobecomeaccustomedtokisswiththelips;
buttheyalwaysputthenosetothefaceatthesametime,andiftheyhaveasincereaffection,theyalways
smellasiftheyweregivingadeepsighwiththeirmouthclosedWhentheylookatapersonfroma
distance,anddesiretoexpresstheirdesiretokisshim,theyconstrictthenoseinthemannerofone

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smelling.Averyextremekindofkissisgivenbyrubbingthenoseonthespotthattheywishtofeel,and
drawinginthebreathaslongaspossible.
"IamgreatlysurprisedthatnooneofthewritersontheFilipinoshasspokenofthisremarkablefact,which
springsfromtheirexquisitesenseofsmell.Itissogreatthataservantcantellhismaster'sshirt,afteritis
cleanedandironed,eventhoughitlieswithtenortwelveothershirtsresemblingitandbelongingtoother
persons,bysimplysmellingthem.Theyalsoassertthatifamanbenearawomanforwhomheexperiences
afeelingoflove,sheknowsitbytheodorofhisperspiration,andviceversa.Asapledgeofaffection,they
askforashirtthathasbeenwornwhichtheyreturnafterithaslostitsodor,andreplacebyanother,just
aswebegforalockofhair.
"Theyhadthecustomofcircumcision,acustomswhichtheydidnotacquirefromtheArabs,sinceitisstill
practicedonthepeaksoftheindependentmountains.Theypracticeitstill,andthatagainstthewillofthe
curas.Ancientcustomshave,verygreatforce.Itistobenotedthatthemannerofoperationisnotthesame
asthatpracticedbytheJews,forthecutismadefromtheuppertothelowerpart.
"Theyhadthecustomthatthesuitorforamaiden'shandwenttoserveinthehouseofhisfuturefatherin
lawforthreeorfouryears,anddidwhateverhewasaskedingeneral,themostonerousduties.Thenthe
parentsofthebridehadtogivehimahouse,clothes,etc.,andthemarriagewascelebrated.Inmany
provinces,asforinstance,inBulacan,thereisnownotraceofthiscustom,becauseoftheabuseswhich
werecommitted.Thiscustom,whichwemeetinthefirstpagesoftheOldTestament,couldnothavebeen
acquiredfromtheMussulmans,whobytheirKoranholdlawsdiametricallyopposed.Thiscustomisstill
followedinLaguna,althoughtheyoungmandoesnotliveinthehouseofhislovedone,forthecuradoes
notpermitit.Thefriarshavedonetheirutmosttodestroythiscustom.
"Theyscarifynewborninfantsinordertodrawbloodfromthem;andthenapplylightedmatchesto
variouspartsofthebody,whichcausethemburns,andservetheplaceofcaustics.
"Womeninchildbirththeysuspendbythehairinordertostoptheflow;and,afterparturition,they
compresstheabdomen,andpressdownwithgreatforceonboththighsatonce,inordertomaketheorgans
returntotheirformerposition;andtheyperformotherthingsoflikenature,whichweconsiderasinjurious
andnonsensical.ButtheyholdoneoftheiroldwomenhigherthanthebestParisphysician.
"Theyconsiderthebaletetreeassacred.Atmarriage,theycarryitdishesoffoodasanoffering;anditis
verydifficult,orimpossible,tomakethemcutoneofthem.Ithashappenedthattheyhavebeggedincense
fromthecuraonvariouspretextsinordertogoimmediatelyandburnitunderabaletetree.
"Theyareveryfondoftellingtalesofloveadventures,ofwitches,andenchantment,andeverythingelse
thatisrareandmarvelous,eventhoughitbenonsenseandagainstcommonsense.
"Theybelievethatalldiseasesarecuredbydrawingouttheairthathasbeenintroducedintothebody;and,
consequently,theirfavoriteremedyistosupplyakindofcuppingglassofChineseorigin,whichtheydrag
overtwopalmosonanypartofthebody,andwhichleavesagreatredstreak.
"Theyrespecttheirfathersandmothersgreatly,andeventheyoungerbrotherstheolder.Ihaveseena
marriedwoman,onenteringherhouse,kissthehandofasisterolderthanherself.
"Inorderthatayoungmanmaymarry,hemustgivethebridethemoneyorotherthingsuptohervalue;
andthatpriceisoftenkeptbytheparents.Theparentswouldratherhavetheirdaughterremainsingle,even
thoughshebewithchild,thantogiveherwithoutadowry.Itisnotseldomthatonecanhearamothersay
thatshewillnotgiveherdaughterforlessthanonehundredpesos,orfifty,etc.

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"Inordertostrikefiretheytakeabitofbamboo,andslititdownthemiddlelengthwise.Inthehollowor
innerpart,theydigoutoneportionnearthecenter,whichleavesthebamboomuchthinner.Thenonthe
outsidetheyopenachink,lengthwise.Thentheytaketheknife,andscrapingtheupperpartoftheother
halfbamboo,theymakesomeveryfineshavings.Thesetheyrollaboutbetweenthetwopalmsofthe
handsuntiltheyformasmallball,andthattheyplaceinthehollowofthehalfbamboo.Thelatterthey
placeontheground,withtheshavingsbelow.Thenwiththeotherhalfbamboo,theyrub(whilesinging)
acrosstheonewhichhastheshavingsbelowit,uponthesamepointwheretheshavingsareplaced,andina
fewsecondstheybegintosmoke.Thereupontheyrubfasterandblow,andablazestarts.Allthisisthe
workofoneminute.
"Ongoingoutbetweenpeople,orwhenpassinginfrontofanyone,theybendthebodyandclaspthehands,
whichtheythenmoveforwardasiftheywishedtoopenapathorcuttheair.Thisisasignofrespect,or
theirmethodofaskingleavetopass.
"Thewomenride,horseback,notastride,butwithasidesaddle,asdoEuropeans."[backtotext]
172M.reads"mostofthem."[backtotext]
173Thisiscommonthroughouttheworld,saysDelgado(p.311)."Thattheydonotknowtheirage
happenscommonlyamongrudeandwildpeople,wherevertheymaybe;buttheirageisknownverywell
bytheirdatosandchiefs,inordertoassignthemtheirplaceinthetributereadily.Inwhatpertainstotheir
ancientbeliefs,thereisnodoubtthatthesearepreservedinsomeparts,andthereisnolackofbabailanes,
whoaretheirpriestessesordiuateras;butonemustconsiderthatallthesepeoplesoftheIndiasarenew
Christians,andtheseedthattheenemyhadsown,andwhichhadthrustsodeeprootsintothem,hasnotyet
beencompletelydestroyed."[backtotext]
174M.andD.omit"thanthewordofthewholeworld."
Massays(pp.9096):"Thesuperstitionsofthesepeoplecanbedividedintothreeclasses.Thefirstconsists
inbelievingthatcertainmonstersorghostsexist;towhichtheygivenamesandassignspecialduties,and
evencertainexteriorforms,whicharedescribedbythosewhoaffirmthattheyhaveseenthem.
SucharetheTigbalan,Osuang,Patianac,Sava,Naanayo,Tavac,Nono,Mancuculan,Aasip,therock
Mutya,etc.
"TheAntingantingisanyobjectwhichpromiseswealthorhappiness,aswewouldspeakofthegirdleof
Venus,ortheringofGiges.
"ManySpaniards,especiallythecuras,imaginethatthesebeliefsarenotverydeeplyrooted,orthatthey
havedeclined,andthatmostoftheFilipinosarefreefromthem.Thisisbecauseinthepresenceofsuchthe
Filipinosdonotdaretellthetruth,notevenintheconfessional,becauseoftheirfearofthereprimandthat
surelyawaitsthem.Ihavetalkedtomanyaboutthesethings,someofwhomatthebeginningbeganto
laugh,andtojokeaboutthepoorfoolswhoputfaithinsuchnonsense.ButwhentheysawthatIwas
treatingthematterseriously,andwiththespiritofinquiryasarealthing,theychangedtheirtone,and
madenodifficultyinassuringmeoftheexistenceofthefabulousbeingsdescribedabove.
"Thesecondclassconsistsinvariouspractices,likethatofburningincenseunderthebaletetree;putting
ashesatthedoorofthehousewhereapersonhasdied,inorderthattheymightrecognizethetracksofthe
soulofthedeadone;leavinga.plateforthedeadmanatthetable,etc.

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"WhenDonG.PieirowenttoCulambain1841,forthepurposeofclimbingaloftymountain,he
encounteredinnumerabledifficultiesingettingpeopletoaccompanyhim,inspiteoftheordersofthe
superiorgovernment;andhehadtodesistandclimbfromthevillageofLosBaosaccompaniedbythe
cura,whohadtheroadopenedforhim.Thereasonforthat,asthesaidreligiousassuredme,wasthefearof
theFilipinosfortheanito,althoughtheexcusesthattheyofferedwerequitedifferent.

"InthesaidvillageofLosBaos,theybelievethatthereisanantingantinginoneof

thehotwatersprings,whichhaswaterat67Reaumur.ThisconsistsintheDivineChild,whoappearsand
hopsaboutinthewateronGoodFriday;andhewhocatchesHimobtainstheantinganting.Thislastyear,
1841,amantriedtogettoonear,andfellin.Hisentirebodywasscalded,andhewasbled;butnotone
dropofbloodcouldbedrawnfromhisbody,andhediedonthefollowingday.
"Thethird,andtomethemostremarkable,classisfoundnotincertainpersonagesorsuperstitiousand
determinedproceedings,butinsuddenandcapriciousscenes,andinimprobableandinexplainable
apparitions.
"ThereisscarceaFilipino,eventhemostenlightened,whodoesnottellmarvelousthingsthathave
happenedtohimwondrousvisions,muteandspeechless;ghosts,goblins,strangefigures;deadpeople;
dogs,andfabulousandneverimaginedanimals;castles,andballsoffire,thathaveappearedtohim;
frightfulnoisesofallsortsthathavescaredhim;and,finally,themostimprobablestoriesandbitsof
nonsensethatcouldbeinventedbythemostravingmaniac.
"Onhearingthemrecountsomanyoftheseextravagances,andseeingthattheydistinguishthemfrom
dreams,Ihavebeenunabletobelievethattheyweredeceits;andobservingtheirfacesverycarefully
duringthenarration,Ihavebeenconvincedthattheywereintimatelypersuadedthattheyhadseenthe
thingsthattheydescribed.Whencecanthismentalweaknesscome?Itisnotfromignorance,forIhave
noticedthesamethingasintheothers,inseveralclericswhohavestudiedintheuniversityfortenor
twelveyears.OnedayIwasinaconventwheretheboardsofthefloorbegantocreakbecauseofdryness,
andthecoadjutorbecamesofrightenedthathewentawaytosleepinanotherhouse;andtheChristian
reflections,jests,andangeroftheSpanishcuracouldnotrestrainhim...TheFilipinocura,DonJ.
SeverianoMallares,committedandcausedtobecommittedfiftysevenassassinations,becausehebelieved
thathecouldbythismeanssavehismother,who,hehadpersuadedhimself,hadbeenbewitched;andwas
hangedintheyear1840.Theattorneyonthatcausetalkedinpathetictermsoftheindescribableand
barbarousprodigalityofbloodshedbythatmonster.Reflectinguponthisphenomenon,Iaminclinedto
thinkthatitisbasedontheirnaturaltimorousness.[backtotext]
175InD.,"indolent."[backtotext]
176Fromtheword"islands"tothispoint,isomittedinD.[backtotext]
177"Thattheyaretyrants,oneovertheother,"saysDelgado(p.311),"Idonotdeny.Theyinheritedthis
peculiarityfromtheirancestors,andithasasyetbeenimpossibletouprootitentirely,asmanyothers
whichtheylearnedfromtheirancestors.However,thesevicesarenotsocommonastheywereformerly.
AndnotonlywouldtheIndiansoftheseislandshavebeenconsumediftheSpaniardshadnotcomehither,
buttheywouldhavebeenconqueredandenslavedbytheneighboringnations,suchastheBorneans,
Chinese,andJapanese,asweseeinthebooksofhistory.
"..TheprincipalesweretheaimofthepopularwrathintheIlocaninsurrectionin1807.'Killallthelords
andladies'wasthecry,whilethepeoplehastenedtowardthecapitaltopetitionfortheabolitionofthe
monopoliesandthefifths.Thesamethinghappenedintheyear1814."(Mas,p.97.)[backtotext]

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178M.omits"andbringitbackascoldasice."[backtotext]
179Thisisageneralstatementthatisnottrue,saysDelgado(pp.311,312),fortheexamplegivenis
merelyfromboys;and,besides,itneverfreezesinFilipinas.[backtotext]
180ThiscitationismissinginM.ItisfromHorace'sSatires,booki,ll,106,107.E.C.Wickham(Horace
forEnglishReaders;Oxford,1903,p.163),translatesthepassageasfollows:"Thereismeasurein
everything.Therearefixedlimitsbeyondwhichandshortofwhichrightcannotfindrestingplace."[back
totext]
181"Thattheyneedbeatingsandtherattan,"saysDelgado(p.312),"asexamplesprove,isafact,andthey
confessit;buttheyresembleallothernationsinthisparticular...Butitmustbeemployedwithprudence
andmoderation,asthedisciplineisemployedbyourfathersinourownlands,regardingthemassonsand
smallchildren,andnotasslavesorasourenemies.ForGodhasbroughtustotheirlands,inordertowatch
overthem,andmaintainsushereforloveofthem.WemustnotethattheIndiansarenotsobadasthey
seemtous....ItmustalsobeobservedthattherearemanySpaniards,andevenministers,whoare
melancholyandcrabbed,andsoillconditionedandmoody,thateverythingwoundsthem,andtheyare
contentedwithnothing.AlltheactionsoftheIndiansdispleasethem,andtheyevenbelievethattheIndians
dothempurposelytomakethemimpatientandtojestwiththem.Fromsuchillconditionedpeoplethe
Indianssuffermuch,andtolerateandenduremuch,becauseoftheirrespectforthem.Consequentlywhat
thereverendfathersaysbelow,namely'thatitcoststhemmoretobeChristiansthanonewouldbelieve'isa
factandtrue."
"TheSpaniardscryoutandareindespairatseeingthecontinualandgreatactsofrudenessofthe
Filipinos,someofwhicharedonemaliciously,withthesoleobjectofmakingusangry,whentheycontract
hateforus.AttimesaftertheyhaveweariedanddisgustedtheSpaniardsgrievously,andhavecausedthe
lattertogivethemabuffet,thisisacauseforgreatsportamongthem,andtheycelebrateitinthekitchen
amidgreatguffaws,asIhaveheardmanytimes.Especiallyisitsoifthosewhoaremadeangryarewomen.
ButtheSpaniardspersistinnotbeingconvincedofthisfact,norwilltheyeverlearnhowtotreatthis
people.TheoldmenofthecountrysaythattheSpaniardisfireandtheFilipinosnow,andthatthesnow
consumesthefire."(Mas,pp.97,98.)[backtotext]
182M.andD.add"Hismasterchidhim,buttheladrepliedthatthehenhadbutoneleg."[backtotext]
183ThisquotationislackinginM.andD.[backtotext]
184M.andD.read"inloveandesteem."[backtotext]
185"IshallnotatpresententeruponadiscussionofwhetheroneoughtoroughtnotbeattheFilipino.I
shallonlyremark,asa.matterpertainingtothissection,thatthefirstthingthatoneseesinanyoftheir
housesistherattanhanginginacorner.WhenafatherplaceshissoninanySpanishhouse,thisishis
charge:`Sir,beathimoften.'Toeducatetheyoungpeople,ortoestablishorderinanyplacewithouttheuse
oftherattan,isathingthattheydonotunderstand."(Mas,p.99.)
ItissaidthatevenatthepresentdayaFilipinofatherwillnothesitatetochastisehissoncorporally,even
afterthelatterhasattainedhismajority.[backtotext]
186ThislastphraseandtheLatinquotationarelackinginM.Englishedthatquotationis,"Theevilhatesin
forfearofpunishment."[backtotext]
187ThisphraseisomittedinD.[backtotext]

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188InD.thisis"evenifitbealeaf."[backtotext]
189"Delgadosays(p.312):"ButifhisPaternityknowsofthislack,howsurprisingthatthisandother
thingshappeninregardtothem,suchasthatallkeeptheirfacesturnedtowardhimwhoconfesses.Ifhis
Paternitywouldthenpreachthemasermonandcorrectthem,Iassurehimthattheywouldcorrect
themselves,andthesebackwardlookingdancerswhoaresoimmodestinthechurch,whentheyoughttobe
modestlythinkingoftheirsinsandrepentingofthem,wouldcorrectthemselves,andwouldnotcause
wonderandlaughter."[backtotext]
190M.omitstheremainderofthissentence.For"Januses,"D.reads"worms."[backtotext]
191BecausesomeoftheIndiansaregiventoblasphemy,saysDelgado(p.313);itdoesnotfollowthatall
ofthemareblasphemous.[backtotext]
192"Ishallhereattemptadelicateandinterestinginvestigation,namely,thereligiousnessoftheFilipinos.
Thereareoppositeopinionsonthismatter,andseriouserrorsareliabletoarise..."Thewomenalwayswear
scapularsabouttheneck,andusuallysomesortofasmallcross;andareliquary,containingthebonesofa
saintandabitofthewoodofthecross.Butthishasbecomeapartofthedress,likeearringsornecklaces,
andboththedevoutwomenandthosewhoarenotdevoutwearthem.
"Thewallsofthehousesareoftencoveredwiththeengravingsofsaints,andonthetablesaremanyglass
globesandurnscontainingsaints,virgins,andlittlefiguresoftheDivineChild,whichgenerallyhavethe
faceaswellasthehandsofivory,andsilverclothesrichlyembroidered.Inwelltodohousesthereareso
manythattheyresembleastorehouseofsaintsratherthanahabitation.Inmanyhousesthisisamatterof
vanityandostentation;andtheyregardvaluablesaintsastheydobureausandmirrorselsewhere.
"Inthechurchgreatsedatenessanddevotionorsilencereigns.Inthevillagesthechurchisdividedinto
threeparts.Inoneendthewomenareseated,intheotherthemen,whilethegobernadorcillosand
principalesoccupythecenter.However,thisisnotobservedverystrictlyinsomevillages.Insome
churchestherearemeninthefronthalfandwomeninthebackhalf.Whenasmallvillageisfounded,in
ordertogettheconcessionforasettlementandforacuratheyoffertogivethelatter,inadditiontopaying
thesanctorumtribute[atributepaidtotheChurchbyallPhilippinenativesofsixteenyearsandover],a
monthlyquantityofrice,eggs,fowls,etc.,buttheyareafterwardveryremissinlivinguptotheiroffer.
Manyfriarshavehadtohaverecoursetothealcaldesandtotheofficialsofthedistrict;andIhaveeven
heardofoneofthemwhohadtotakeamusketandkillthefowlsintheyards,andcarrythemtothe
convent.
"TheyareveryfondofsingingthepassionorhistoryofthedeathofJesusChrist,whichiswrittenin
Taglogverse.DuringtheeveningsofLent,theyoungmenandwomenassembleinthehousesforthis
purpose.Butalthoughthiswasareligiousgatheringatthetimewhenitwasoriginated,atthepresenttime
ithasbeenconvertedintoacarnivalamusement,ortospeakmoreplainly,intoapretextforthemost
scandalousvices;andtheresultofthesecanticlesisthatmanyofthegirlsofthevillagebecomeenceinte.
SotrueiswhatIhavejustsaidthatthecurashaveprohibitedeverywherethesingingofthepassionat
night;andsomeofthecurasgooutwithawhipinordertodispersethemorrather,sendthefiscalofthe
churchtoascertainwhoissinging,andsendforsuchpersonimmediatelytobeathim.
"TheysaythatallthesaintsareSpanish,sincethepatronsoftheirchurchesarealwaysofthisclass.They
wouldhavenovenerationforasaintwithaflatnoseandthephysiognomyofaFilipino.
"Whenanysickpersonrefusestoconfess,hisrelativesrequesthimtodoso.Inthiscasetheydonottell
himthathewillbecondemned,etc.,but,`Considerwhatashameit,willbe;justthinkwhatpeoplewill

50
say;considerthatyouwillbeburiedoutsideofholyground.'Theideaofbeingburiedonthebeachiswhat
givesthemmostfear.Thiscanonlybeexplainedbysayingthattheyhaveseenthecemeteryandthebeach
andnothell,northeotherworld,which,asonewouldbelieve,coststhemmuchtoconceivealthoughin
realitytheydobelieveinit,inthesamewayasmanyEuropeansbelieveinit,butwithoutunderstandingit,
andonlybecausethesagesgiveassuranceofit.
"Inspiteofthisindifferenceregardingthefuturelife,theygenerallyordermassessaidforthesoulsoftheir
ancestors,andnotbecauseofcompromiseorvanity,buttruefaith.anddevotion,althoughthisdoesnot
arguemuchinfavoroftheirreligiousness.FortheIgorots,whoarethetypeoftheFilipinos,althoughthey
donotbelieveintheimmortalityof,thesoul,havemanysuperstitionsinregardtotheshadesofthedead
"Insomeplacesthecurashavetolockthedoorsofthechurchaftermass,sothatthepeoplewillnotdepart
withouthearingthesermon,andthisinplacesquitereligious,asisPangasinan.Manyofthosewhoare
carriedtoMindanaoortoJoloascaptivesbecomerenegadeswiththegreatestease;andthentheywillnot
return,eventhoughtheymay.
"Somemakethesignofthecrossastheygodownthestairways.Allstoponthestreetatthesoundofthe
prayerbell;andthesamethinghappensinthehouses,wheretheyoftenprayontheirkneeswithtrue
devotion.Theyallremovetheirhatswhenpassinginfrontofthechurch,andmanystoptopray.
Nevertheless,allthecurasassertthattheymakeafalseconfession,fortheyonlyconfessthethree
followingsins:absencefrommass,eatingofmeatduringLent,andvainblaspheming;althoughitis
apparenttothecurasthattheyhavecommittedothergreatersins.Itisagreattroubletogetthemtotake
partintheprocession,andthosewhocandosoescapethroughthecrossstreets.InManilaitisnecessary
fortheregimentalheadstoappointsoldierstogototakepartinthisact,andtopaythemonehalfreal;and,
wereitnotforthisexpedient,itwouldsometimesbeimpossibletodoit.Thecurashaveconsiderable
troubleinthevillagesingettingthemtoconfess.Theyaregivenfortydaysofgrace,andmanycomeafter
beingthreatenedwithtwentyfivelashes;whilemanyofthedegreeofcaptain,endmanywhoarenot,get
alonginspiteofallwithoutconfession.InthevillageofLilio,onthebrowofMountBanahao,wherethere
are1,300tributes,thereweremorethan600personswhodidnotconfessintheyear1840;andthishasnot
beenoneofthemostremissvillagesinthefulfilmentofitsreligiousduties."
[FatherJuanFerrando,whoexaminedMas'sMS.,saysthat`theFilipinosconfessaccordingtothe
instructionthatisgiventhem.InManila,asIknowbyexperience,theyconfessaswellasthemostfervent
Spaniard,andIhaveheardmanyfatherssaythesameofmanyIndiansoftheprovinces.']
"Verymanyofthemalsonevergotomassinanyvillagewherethecuraisnotespeciallyzealous.Inthe
cityofVigan,wherethereareabout30,000persons,notmorethan500or800wenttochurchduringmy
staythereonanyfeastday,exceptoneofespecialdevotiontocelebrateavirginpatronessofthecity.
Therehasbeenandismuchtalkoftheinfluenceofthecurasinthevillages.Nodoubtthereissomethingin
it,buttheirrespectanddeferencetowardtheparishpriestisinfluencednotalittle,inmyopinionbytheir
idea(andonenotillfounded)ofthepowerofthepriest,oftheemploymentthathecangive;andoftheir
hope,thathewillprotectthem,inanyoppressionthattheyreceivefromthecivilgovernmentorfromthe
soldiers.Inreality,thefriarusuallyaddresseshisparishionersinthelanguageofpeace,whichisthe
methodwhichfitswellintothephlegmaticFilipino.Heconstituteshimselftheirdefender,evenwithout
theirhavinganyregardforhimnowfromtheinjuriesthattheavariceoftheirgovernorscausesthem,
nowfromthetendencyofthesetoacquirepreponderanceandtocommand,whichisthefirstinstinctof
man.Consequently,thefriars,byresistingandrestraininginallparts,andatsogreatadistancefrom
Madrid,thetyrannyorgreedoftheSpaniards,havebeenveryusefultothevillages,andhavebeen
acquiringtheirlove.Andsincetheislandsarenotkeptsubjectbyforce,butbythewillofthemassofthe
inhabitants,andthemeansofpersuasionareprincipallyinthehandsofthereligious,thegovernmentis
necessarilyobligedtoshowthelatterconsiderabledeference.Fromthisfactoriginatestheirinfluencein

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temporalaffairs,andthefearmixedwiththerespectwithwhichtheyinspirethepeople.Threefacts
naturallyresultfromallthis.Thecura,speakingingeneral,istheonewhogovernsthevillage.
Consequently,whenanewvillageisformeditsinhabitantsdonotcaretobeannexedordependenton
anothervillageinregardtospiritualthings;butdesireandpetitionforaparishpriestoftheirown,inorder
thattheymighthaveinhimapowerfuldefenderintheirdifferencesandsuitswithothersettlements,or
withthealcaldeoftheprovince.Lastly,theascendancythattheministerisseentoenjoyisperhapsas
muchcivilasreligious,ifitisnotmoreso.Andinfact...althoughtheyhaveoftensucceededinpacifying
seditionsbytheirmerepresencealone,andtheinsurgents,forinstance,inIlocosintheyear1807,
surrenderedtothefriarthecannonthattheyhadcapturedfromabandof36soldiersandtwopatrolsofthe
guard,whowererouted,.yetatothertimesnotonlyhaveindividualsbutwholemassesrefusedtolistento
theadmonitionsofthereligious,havecompletelylostrespectforthem,haveinsultedthem,threatened
them,woundedthem,andevenassassinatedthem,andhavenotlackedthecomplementofallthis,
profaningthechurches.
Ishallnotmentionthetheftsinthechurches,suchasonewhichhappenedinthecapitalofPangasinan
whenIwasthereinthatprovince;forthesemightbeconsideredassingleindividualdeeds,isolatedand
insignificant.Ideducethen,astheresultantconclusionofalltheseobservations,thattherearemany
Filipinos,especiallyamongthefemininesex,whohavethetruefearofGod,butmanyotherswhofeela
greatnaturalindifferenceinthismatter.Theyexhibitscarceadispositiontowardreligion,afactthatI
believemustproceedfromtheirlittleconsiderationofthewondersofreligion...whichisamarkoftheir
smallamountofintelligence,fortheyshowgreatindifferenceforthepunishmentsoftheotherworld,and
eventheecclesiasticalpunishmentsofthis.Nothingshowsthissoclearlyastheinsincereconfessions
whichtheymakeinordertofinishwithit.Itistobenotedthatalmostthesamethinghappensatthehour
ofdeath,andthatthisisseeninthesmallandremotevillageswhereSpaniardshaveneverbeen.Neither,
canitbetheresultoferrorsorfaithorphilosophicreading,sincethepeopleknownootherbooksthan
thoseofthedoctrineorthepassion.
"CombiningtheabovedataandobservationswithwhatIhaveheardrecounted,andwhatweseein
manuscriptsandprintedbooksaboutthemethodbywhichtheoldtimereligioushavemaintaineddevotion
intheseislandswhichhas,beenbycallingthelistinordertoascertainthosewhodidnotobservetheir
obligationtoattendmassandconfession,andbypunishinginthechurchcourtyardthosewhoareremiss
IaminclinedtobelievethatthelawofJesusChristislearnedheresuperficially;andthatifthesystem
adoptedsomeyearsagobecontinued,ofobligingthecurastoreducethemselvesonlytothemeansof
preaching,prohibitingthemrigorouslyfromcompulsiveandpositivemeans,beforeacenturypassesthere
willbebutfewpurebloodednativesinthisarchipelagowhoaretrueanddevoutChristians.(Mas,pp.100
106.)[backtotext]
193M.andD.omitallofthislastsentenceandquotation.[backtotext]
194Avicecommontoalltheworld,saysDelgado(p.313).[backtotext]
195"Althoughtheyhavebutlittlehonor,theyhaveineffectonlytoomuchvanity.Whenonegoestotheir
houses,theymakeagreatefforttoshowofftheirwealth,eveniftheyhavetobedaloaninordertomeet
theexpense.TheydonotcaretoburytheirrelativesfortheloveofGod,althoughtheytryifpossibleto
avoidthepaymentofthefuneralexpenses.Acuratoldmethatafteramanhadpaidhimtheburial
expensesabaguioorhurricanebegan;whereuponthemancametogethismoney,sayingthathewishedthe
burialofapauper,becauseintheend,noonewouldhavetoseeit."(Mas,p.107.)[backtotext]
196Delgado(p.313)uttersawarningagainstjudgingonthisparticular,andsays"thatvirtuesarenotso
distantfromthem,ashisPaternitywrites."[backtotext]

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197M.omitsthissentencetothispoint.[backtotext]
198WhatfaultdotheIndians.haveintryingtogetanddefendtheirown?Theremaybeexcessinthis
matter,saysDelgado(p.313),buttheIndiansdonotgotolawonlytocausetrouble.[backtotext]
199M.andD.omitthissentence.[backtotext]
200InregardtothisDelgadosays(pp.313,314)that"thereisnodishmorerelishedinthislandthan
defamationandcomplaintThisisacountrywhereidlenesssitsenthroned;forwhentheshipis
despatchedtoNuevaEspaathereisnothingtodoforawholeyear,buttocomplainanddiscussthelives
ofothers."Delgadodoesnotbelievethatlustistheonlyfeatureintheintercoursebetweenmenand
women.Neitherdoeshebelievethatwomenaretreated,astheydeserve,withkicksandblows;northat
suchtreatmentisinaccordancewithconjugallove,orwiththetextofwomenbeingsubjecttomen.San
Agustin'sadvicetoEuropeansisnotgood.[backtotext]
201TheAyerMS.andM.read"Machiabelo;"D.reads"Macabeo,"i.e.,"Maccabaean."[backtotext]
202FromthispointM.andD.read:"Theycallthismabibig,andthisisathingthatwillrouseuptheentire
villageagainstone,thestones,andthelanditself.Hence,theconcubinagesamongthem,andotherevils,
havenohumanremedy,norcanhave;fornoonewishestobemabibig,forthatisthemostabominable
faultandtheonlysinamongthem.[backtotext]
203TheIndiansdonottelltalesofoneanotherforamorepotentreasonthanthatofbeing
declaredmabibig,isDelgado'scommentary(pp.314,315)namely,thefearofprivaterevenge."Butthe
prudentIndiansalwaysadvisethefatherminister,ifthereisanyscandalinthevillage;nowinconfession,
sothatitmightberemediedwithoutanyoneknowing.thepersonwhohastoldit;nowbyafictitiousand
anonymousletter,ashashappenedtomeseveraltimes.Onemustexerciseprudenceinthismatter,forall
whatiswrittenorspokenisnotgenerallytrue."[backtotext]
204M.andD.readwithsomeslightverbaldifferences,whichtranslatethesame:"Foronemighthappen
tohaveaservantortwowhowasteanddestroythepropertyoftheirmaster,andnootherservant;however
kindlyhehasbeentreatedbyhis.master,willtellhimwhatishappening:"[backtotext]
205"Thisleagueofthecasteofcolorformutualprotectionanddefensefromthedomineeringcasteisvery
natural.TheFilipinosarenotsoconstantinmaintainingit,however,thatitisnotbrokenbytwomethods:
byofferingmoneytotheaccuser,orbybestowingsomanylashesoneachonewhoisimplicatedinthe
crime."(Mas,p.109.)[backtotext]
206Delgado(p.315)findsthisverynatural,anddismissesitbythereflectionthatlibertyisdear.[backto
text]
207InM.andD.thisreads:"Thereforewhentheysaythatthereisnomoresugarornomoreoil;itiswhen
thereisnot[sugar]enoughtomakeacupofchocolate,oroilenoughtowhetaknife."[backtotext]
208M.andD.read:"Theywillplacethebestcupandplate,[D.mentionsonlytheplate]whicharemuch
differentthantheothers,forthemaster,andwillonlylookafterhim,andpaynoattentiontotheguests."
[backtotext]
209M.andD.omitthissentence.[backtotext]

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210Spanish,sacabuchesconsistolyderesistol,atranscriber'serrorforconsistolydiastol(thisphrase
omittedinD.);aplayonwords;asthesackbutformsthevarioustonesbylengtheningandshorteningthe
instrument.Thephrasesystoleanddiastoleisnowappliedtothealternatecontractionandexpansionofthe
heart;SanAgustinapparentlyusesitthroughfondnessforalearnedphrase.[backtotext]
211ThecitationfromQuevedoislackinginM.SanAgustinhasslightlymisquoted;thoughittranslatesthe
sameasthecorrectversion.Thelinesareasfollows:
Galalon,queencasacomepoco,
yacostaagenaelcorpanchonahita.
ThecitationisfromQuevedo'sPoemaheroicadelasnecedadesylocurasdeOrlandoelenamorado.[back
totext]
212Thatis,"Muchgoodmayitdoyou,"anexpressionusedateatingordrinking.SanAgustinevidently
refersinthefollowingclausetothescantyfaresuppliedtothosewhorowintheboatsascompulsory
service.[backtotext]
213ThisisnotageneralruleamongtheTaglogs,andmuchlessamongtheVisayans.Neitherareallthe
Indiansforgers.(Delgado,pp.315,316.)[backtotext]
214M.omits"alcalde"andreads"prudentandexperiencedman."D.reads"aprudentandexperienced
alcalde."[backtotext]
215i.e.,"Iheardyourevidence,andfeared."[backtotext]
216M.reads"someIndians;"D."someeruditeIndians."[backtotext]
217Rabula,"anignorant,vociferouslawyer;"cf.English"pettifogger."[backtotext]
218ThissentenceisomittedbyM.D.reads"allthealcaldes."[backtotext]
219TheItalianphrasefabrodecalumniaisused.[backtotext]
220KingJosiahorJosiaswasslainatMageddo.SeeIVKings(IIKingsoftheKingJamesversion),xxiii,
29,30;andIIParalipomenon(IIChroniclesoftheKingJamesversion),XXXV,2225.[backtotext]
221M.reads:"theIndiansmakinguseofawholeyearinordertoincreasetheircalumny."D.reads:"Just
seewhatsubtletyandmoderatearithmetictheyuseinordertomaketheiraccusation;theIndianslumping
togetherawholeyearinordertogivepasturetoonesinglehorse;"andthenadds:"Andtherearesomany
casesofthisthatifImentionedthemallIwouldneverend."[backtotext]
222Wehavethusfreelytranslatedtheoriginalsinafianzarcalumnia,whichisaregularlawterm.[backto
text]
223"Butashorttimeago,whenSeorSeoanewasregentoftheAudiencia,astheresultofanurgent
complaintagainstaSpanishcura,averbalprocesswasorderedtobemade,andfromitnottheslightest
chargeresultedagainstthepriest.Anotherjudgewasentrustedwiththeformingofanotherverbalprocess,

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withthesameresult.Thesupremetribunal,beingpersuadedthatthematterwasnotallcalumny,sentan
expresslycommissionedjudgefromManila,whofoundnomorecrimethandidtheothers.
"Ipersonallysawarepresentationsignedbythegobernadorcilloandalltheprincipalesofavillage,in
whichtheyaffirmedthattheircurahadforcedthewifeofthefirstlieutenant;hadpunishedthelieutenant
foropposingherbeingkepttosleepintheconvent;wentoutonthestreetdrum;wentintothetownhallto
beatindividualsofthemunicipality;andhadnotcelebratedmassonSundayforthesamereasonofbeing
drunk.Whenaverbalprocesswasmadeofit,allretracted.Ibecameacquaintedpersonallywiththisfriar,
whoisafinefellow"(Mas,pp.113,114.)[backtotext]
224Fromthispoint,M.andD.read:"butit.istoimagesofsomenewmiracle.Theyhavethehabitof
devotion,buttheyseekthenewestandforgettheold."[backtotext]
225AstotheIndiansbeingfondofmakingpilgrimagestonewanddistantshrineswheresomenotable
miraclehasoccurred,Spaniardsoftenhavethesamelove.SeeDelgado,p.316.[backtotext]
226SanAgustinisspeakingoftheIndiansofManilaanditsenvirons,saysDelgado(p.316):"Forthisis
rarelyseenintheotherislands.HenceinthetwentyfouryearsthatIhavelivedintheVisayas,onlyinthe
cityofCebhaveIeverseenanyotherthansomereligiousdrama[autosacramental],orthepiecesofthe
schoolchildren."[backtotext]
227InM.escuitiles;andinD.miscuitiles.[backtotext]
228TheversenumberisgivencorrectlyinM.SanAgustinquotesincorrectly,theproperversionbeing:
Segniusirritantanimosdemissaperaurem,
Quamquaesuntoculissubiectafidelibus...
ThetranslationgivenbyWickham(utsupra,p.349),isasfollows:"Whatfindsentrancethroughtheear
stirsthemindlessactivelythanwhatissubmittedtotheeyes,whichwecannotdoubt."
"TheyareveryfondofseeingtheatricalpiecesTheymakesometranslationsfromourdramas,andthey
makeapieceoutofanythingalthoughitisdestituteoftherulesofart.Theyareespeciallyfondofvery
longcomedies,thatlastamonthormore,withmanyhoursofrepresentationdaily.Thesearedrawnfrom
historiesorfromstories,andtheystagethem.InTondotherewasplayed,forinstance,Matilde,las
Cruzadas[i.e.,"Matilda,ortheCrusades"].TheCelestinawasprobablytheoriginofthistaste.Filipino
poetshavewrittenseveraldramasofthiskind,aswellassomeepic,religious,andlovepoems.Butinthe
epochprevioustothearrivaloftheSpaniards,itappearsthatthereexistedonlyafewlovesongs,ofwhose
meritsIcannotjudge,asIknowthelanguagesoslightly.
"Theyhaveversesofasmanyastwelvesyllables,whicharetheonesgenerallyusedintheirpoems.
Theyaredividedintoquatrains,whosefourversesrhymeamongthemselves.TheFilipinorhyme,however,
consistsinthelastletterbeingavoweloraconsonant...Theyreadalltheirversesinasingingtone,and
thequatrainsofthetwelvesyllableversearereadwiththemotifofthecomintan,whichistheirnational
song.ThecustomofsingingwhenreadingpoetryisapracticeofChina,andofalltheAsiaticpeoples
whomIhavevisited.ThekindofversificationwhichIhavejustcitedisevidentlyanteriortoourconquest,
asisalsotheabovementionedair,whichisadjustedtoit.Thisairismelancholyanddoesnotresembleat
allanyChineseorIndianmusicthatIhaveheard.Thereareseveralcomintans,justastherearedifferent
boleros,Polishdances,orTyroliandances.SomeofthemhaveagreatresemblancetothemusicofArabia.

55
OntheslopesofCamachin[whichisamountaininsouthernMindanao],Iheardasongwhichisexactly
andpurelyofthatsort..."(Mas,pp.115,116.)
The Celestina mentioned by Mas is a noted dramatic storyprobably written about 1480, and
by Rodrigo Cota, of Toledo, and otherswhich has exercised a very strong influence on the Spanish
national drama. It has great literary merit, admirable style, and well-drawn pictures of human nature; and it
attained so extensive and continual popularity that even the Inquisition did not place Celestina in the Index
until 1793, notwithstanding its grossness of thought and language. (Ticknor, History of Spanish Literature,
i, pp. 262-272.)[backtotext]

229M.andD.read"ChristourLord."[backtotext]
230"IntheVisayas,"saysDelgado(p.317)"veryrarelydotheIndiansimitatetheSpaniardsintheirdress;
foralmostallofthemgobarefoot,accordingtotheircustom,andwearlongblackgarmentsthatcoverthe
entirebody(whichwecallcassocksorlambong),verywidebreeches,andtheshirtoutside.Fortheycan
neveraccustomthemselves,asdotheSpaniards,togatheringitinside,asisthecustomofthecountry.I
haveseenthesameamongtheTaglogs,withtheexceptionofsomeservantsoftheSpaniards,andsome
officialsandclerks,amongthem.Butthesemendonotmaketherulefortheothernationsofthis
archipelago,whoarenumerousanddifferent.IcantrulytellwhatIseeamongtheSpaniardsofVisayas,
whodressinthesamemannerastheIndians;andveryrarelydotheyputonshoesandstockingsor
slippers,exceptonanimportantfeastdaywhentheygotothechurch,fortheycannotendureitanyother
way.ItisafactthattheIndiansdopreservesomewhattheirancientcustomsindistrictswherethereisless
civilizationandinstruction;butwheretheyarewelltaughtanddirected,theyhavealmostforgottenthese."
"Acuratoldmethathehadsurprisedamanandthreeoldwomencroucheddownbesidethecorpseofthe
former'sdeadwife.Thefourpeoplewereallcoveredoverwithsheets,andwereintheattitudeoflistening
withtheclosestofattentiontoseewhetherthedeceasedwouldsayanythingtothem.Theypracticemany
simplicitieslikethisinalltheirsolemnceremoniesofwhichwehavespoken.Sogeneralisthisthatinthe
ordinancesofgoodgovernmentinforce,thereisanarticlethatordersthepersecutionofidolatryand
aniterias."(Mas,pp.116,117.)[backtotext]
231"IffatherFrayGasparhadbeeninMadrid,hewouldnothavebeensogreatlysurprisedthatthose
solicitinganythingshouldsendtheirwivestoobtainfavors.Moreover,theFilipinos,notonlyfearing,but
withfullconsciousness,generallysendandeventaketheirwivestotheSpaniardstoobtainsome
employment,ormerelyformoney.Themostdirectmeansforageneraltoobtainthefriendshipofa
marriedwomanistowinoverthehusband,justasinordertogetasinglewomanonemustgainoverthe
mother.Ihaveknownveryintimatelyastewardwhowasverymuchinlovewithhiswife,andwasjealous
evenofhershadow.Nevertheless,attheleastinsinuationofhismasterhetookhertothelatter'sapartment,
anditappearsthathedesiredhertogothereveryoften.Uponthinkingoverthismatter,Iamconvinced
thatapartialcauseofitisthelittleimportancethattheyattachtotheactoflove;andespeciallyinthefact
towhichtheyarepersuadedthatnooneoftheirwomenwilleverloveus;andtheyareonlyhandedoverfor
theprofit;andarelentusasapersonalservice,justlikeanyother;andwhenthewomangoesawayfrom
us,shetakesherheartwithher,whichisallfortheFilipinos."(Mas,p.117.)[backtotext]
232M.andD.add"most."[backtotext]
233ThisphraseisomittedinD.[backtotext]
234Itisnottobewonderedatthattheyareliteralandmaterialintheirconversation,fortheyknowonly
theirvillages.SeeDelgado,p.317.

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"Ihaveobservednoneofthis,especiallyinthewomentowhomIhavetalked.Almostallofthemare
alwaysattentive,courteous,andkind."(Mas,p.118.)[backtotext]
235M.andD.omitthissentence.[backtotext]
236M.adds:"andrunaway,forheisthebugaboo,withwhichthechildrenarefrightened."[backtotext]
237DogsdonotbarkattheSpaniardsonly,inanycountry,butatthosewhoarestrangetothem.Neither
dotheIndiansdetestthefathersfrombirth.ThefactthattheIndiansyieldtoanyonewhoassumesa
boastingattitude,especiallyifhebedrunk,andhaveaknife,isnotsomuchcowardiceasprudence."I
believethatthereverendfatherwasverymelancholy,andtiredoftheministry,whenhebegantowritehis
letter."(Delgado,pp.317,318.)
"Ifourfatherhadtraveled,hewouldhaveknownthatdogsbarkatanyonewhoseclothesareunfamiliarto
them.Inregardtotheirhorrorofwhitefaces,heatleastexaggerates.Itisnotatallstrangethatachild
shouldcryatanobjectbeingpresentedtohimthathehasneverhadinhiskenbefore.Ihaveseenmany
childrenburstintosobsatthesightofmyeyeglasses.Itisafactthatsomeofthemhavejustaslittleas
possibletodowithus,eitherforcontempt,embarrassment,orantipathy;butthereareaverygreatnumber
whoprofessaffectionforus.Whenthegovernmentsecretary,Cambronero,diedintheyear1840,allhis
servantsshedtearsabundantly.AservingmaidoftheSeoradeRecaowasleftdesolate,whenthelatter
embarkedforEspaaashorttimeago.Anoldwomanontheoccasionof[theengagementof]Movalesin
theyear1823,gaveCol.SantaRomanaproofsofgreataffectionandfidelity.Duringthesameengagement,
whileDonDomingoBenitowasharanguinghisartillerysergeantsandtellingthem'Ishalldiethefirst,'one
ofthemanswered,`No,Sir,Ishalldiebeforeyou.'WhentheJesuitswereexiled,thevillagesthatthey
administeredgrievedexceedingly.InthearchivesofSt.Augustine,Ihaveseentherelationofoneofthe
friarswhowenttherefortheirrelief,andhepaintsinlivelycolorsthememorypreservedoftheJesuits:
'Heretheycannotlookuponawhitehabit;notwithstandingthekindwordsthatwespeaktothem;andthe
presentsthatwemakethemwecannotattracttoourselvesthegoodwillofthesepeople;hence,whenwe
callachild,herunsawayinsteadofcomingtous.'Ihaveseensomeservantsreadyandanxioustogowith
theirmastertoanypartoftheworld;and,iftheSpaniardswouldtakethem,manywouldgotoEspaa.
Whensomeinsurgents,intheislandofLeiteputAlcaldeLarainthestocks,hisservantfeignedtobein
accordwiththem.Hemadethemdrunk,andthentookhismasterfromthestocks.Hefittedupabarangay
quickly,inwhichtheyattemptedtoescape,butthenightwasstormy,andallweredrowned.Andfinally,I
myselfhavereceivedseveraldisinterestedproofsoftheirgoodwill."(Mas,pp.118,119.)[backtotext]
238ItisdifficulttoascertainwhethertheFilipinoisabravemanoracoward.Ononeside,wesee,any
braggartterrifyamultitude;andontheother,somefacedangersanddeathwithunmovedspirit.Whenone
ofthemdecidestokillanother,hedoesitwithoutthinkingatalloftheconsequences.AmanofVigan
killedagirlwhodidnotlovehim,sixotherpersons,andabuffalo;andthenstabbedatatree;andkilled
himself.
Anotherservantofthetobaccosuperintendentkilledagirlforthesamereason,beforeacrowdofpeople,
andthenhimself.AsoldierkilledagirlforthesamereasonwhileIwaspassinginfrontofSantoThomas.
Acoachman,inNovember,1841,triedtokillanotherman,becauseofaloveaffair;and,failinginthe
attempt,killedhimself.Filipinosailorshavecommittedmanycruelties,andhaveareputationthroughout
theentireIndianSeaasturbulentfellowsandassassins.The[insurance]companiesofBengaldonotinsure.
atfullriskavesselinwhichonehalfthecrewisofislanders.WhenIwasintheislandofPinang,atthe
straitofMalacca,ItriedtogetpassagetoSingapore,inordertogotoFilipinas,inthebrigantine"Juana"
andtotakeinmycompanyasaservantoneoftheseventeensailorsofManila,whohadbeendischarged
fromaPortuguesevesselbecauseofarowthattheyhadhadwiththecaptain.Thecommanderofthe
"Juana"wasaChinese,andthecrewMalayan;countingsailorsandChinesepassengerstherewereabout
40personsaboard.Undernoconsiderationwouldthecaptainadmitmetogetherwiththeservant,telling

57
me:`No,no,evenifyougivemeahundredpesos;IwilltakenomanfromManila.'Infact,aftermuch
begging,Ihadtoresignmyselfandleavehimashore,andtakeshipwithoutknowingwhowouldguideand
serveme;forIunderstoodneitherChinesenorMalayan.Atthesametime,IhaveheardthattheFilipinos
arecowardsinastorm.TheinfantrycaptainMollatoldmethatthecaptainofapontnwhichencountereda
heavytempestbegantoweep,andthesailorshidinordernottowork;andhehadtodrivethemoutofthe
cornerswithastick,forwhichtheybegantomutinyandtotrytopitchhimoverboard.Ashoretheyhave
givensomeproofsofboldnessbyattackingSpaniardstotheirfacesSergeantMateowasboldly
confrontedintheinsurrectionof1823.Thesoldiershavetheexcellentqualityofbeingobedient,andifthey
haveSpanishofficersandsergeants,willnotturntheirbacksonthefire;butalonetheyhavenevergiven
proofofgallantry.InthewarwiththeEnglish,theyalwaysfledandthefewEuropeanswhomAndahad
werehishope,andthesoulofallhisoperations.Ihaveaskedmanyofficerswhohavefoughtwith
Filipinos,eitheragainstthesavagesinthemountains,oragainstladrones;andtheyallhavetoldmethat
whenitcomestofighting,theypreferredtohavetwentyfiveEuropeanstoonehundredFilipinos.Many
allege,inproofoftheirbravery,theindifferencewithwhichtheydie;butthisisratherasignofstupidity
thanofgoodcourage.Fromalloftheabovedata,wemightdeducethattheindividualwhomweare
analyzingismoreoftenfoundtobecowardlythanimpassiveandfearless;butthatheisapttobecome
desperate,asisveryfrequentlyobserved.Theyexpressthatbytheideathatheishotheaded,andatsuch
timestheycommitthemostatrociouscrimesandsuicide.Heiscruel,andshedsbloodwithbutlittle
symptomsofhorror,andawaitsdeathcalmly.Thisisbecausehedoesnotfeelsostronglyaswedothe
instinctoflife.Hehasnogreatspiritforhazardousenterprises,asforinstancethatofboardingawarship,
breakingasquare,gainingabridge,orassaultingabreach,unlesshebeinflamedbythemostviolent
passions,thatrenderhimfrantic."(Mas,pp.119121.)[backtotext]
239InM.,"toagreatdegree;"andinD.,"inacertainmanner."[backtotext]
240D.reads"onthisoccasion."[backtotext]
241Delgadosays(p.318)thatthesinofintoxicationisoverstated.AmongtheVisayans,intoxicating
beveragesareindulgedinindifferingdegrees,whilemanyareabstemious."Iwouldliketohearwhatthe
TaglogIndianswholiveamongSpaniardsinManilawouldsaytothisstain,thatisimputedtothem
alone."
"PerhapsthismayhavebeensointhetimeofFatherGaspar,astheFilipinospreservedmoreoftheir
ancientcustomsthannow,forweseethatintoxicationisverycommonintheindependenttribeslivingin
themountains;buttodayitisnotobservedthatthe[civilizedFilipinos]drinkmorethantheindividualsof
othernationswhoareconsideredsober."(Mas,pp.121,122.)[backtotext]
242DelgadodeniesthattheIndiansarerobbers(p.318).[backtotext]
243Delgadosays(p.318):"Thispassageisabsolutelymalicious,sofarastheVisayansareconcerned;for
noVisayanwomanofgoodbloodwillmarrywithotherthanherequal,howevereverpoorshebe.And
althoughallareofonecolor,theymakegreatdistinctionsamongthemselves."
"ThesamethingisrecountedbyFatherMozotobethecaseamongthemountainsavages."(Mas,p.122.)
[backtotext]
244i.e.,"Atleastastomanner."[backtotext]
245D.omitsthislastclause.[backtotext]

58
246Anadaptationofanoldproverb,probablymeaninghere,"Althoughsinsarecommittedhere,theyare
notsofrequentasinotherplaces."[backtotext]
247SanAgustinspeakswithoutsufficientauthority,saysDelgado(pp.318,319),forheonlyremaineda
shorttimeinPanay,andlearnednothingoftheotherpartsoftheVisayans."Iknowverywellthatwhathe
imputestotheVisayanwomenisnotabsolutelytrue.ForgenerallytheydetestnotonlyCafresandnegroes,
butalsoinequalityinbirth.TheyarenotsoeasyashisPaternitydeclaresinadmittinganytemptation,and
therearemanyofthemwhoareverymodestandreserved."Badwomenexisteverywhere,evenamongthe
whites.
"Thereisnodoubtthatmodestyisapeculiarfeatureinthesewomen.Fromtheprudentandevenhumble
mannerinwhichthesingleyouthsapproachtheirsweethearts,onecanseethattheseyoungladieshold
theirloverswithinstrictboundsandcausethemselvestobetreatedbythemwiththegreatestrespect.I
havenotseenloosenessandimpudence,evenamongprostitutes.Manyofthegirlsfeignresistance,and
desiretobeconqueredbyabravearm.Thisistheway,theysay,amongthebeautifulsexinFilipinas.In
Manilanowomanmakestheleastsignorevencallsouttoamanonthestreet,orfromthewindows,as
happensinEuropa;andthisdoesnotresultfromfearofthepolice,forthereiscompletefreedominthis
point,asinmanyothers.ButinthemidstofthisdelicacyofintercoursethereareveryfewFilipinogirls
whodonotrelenttotheirgallantsandtotheirpresents.Itappearsthatthereareveryfewyoungwomen
whomarryasvirginsandverymanyhavehadchildrenbeforemarriage.Nogreatimportanceisattachedto
theseslips,howevermuchthecurasendeavortomakethemdoso.Somecurashaveassuredmethatnot
onlydothegirlsnotconsideritdishonorable,butthink,onthecontrary,thattheycanprovebythismeans
thattheyhavehadlovers.Ifthisisso,thenweshallhaveanotherproofthatthese,Filipinospreservenota
littleoftheircharacterandprimitivecustoms;since,accordingtotheaccountofFatherJuan.Franciscode
SanAntonio,itwasashameforanywoman,whethermarriedorsingle,beforethearrivaloftheSpaniards,
nottohavealover,althoughitwasatthesametimeasettledthingthatnoonewouldgiveheraffection
freely.
"Thattheyaremoreaffectionatethanmenisalsoafact,but,thisiscommontothesexinallcountries...
"ThattheyrarelyloveanySpaniardsisalsotrue.Thebeard,andspeciallythemustache,causesthema
disagreeableimpression,andhewhobelievesthecontraryismuchmistaken.Besides,oureducation,our
tastes,andourrankplaceaveryhighwallbetweenthetwopersons.Thebasisofloveisconfidence;anda
rudeFilipinogirlacquireswithgreatdifficultyconfidencetowardanEuropeanwhoisaccustomedto
operasandsociety.TheymayplacethemselvesinthearmsofEuropeansthroughinterestorpersuasion;but
afterthemomentofillusionisover,theydonotknowwhattosayand.onegetstiredoftheother.The
FilipinogirldoesnotgrowwearyofherFilipino,fortheattainments;inclinations;andacquaintancesof
botharethesame.NotwithstandingtheFilipinoslive,asIamtold,convincedthatnotoneoftheirbeauties
hastheslightestaffectionforus,andthattheybestowtheirsmilesuponusonlyforreasonsofconvenience,
yetIimaginethatsometimesthejokeisturneduponthemselvesespeciallyiftheSpaniardisveryyoung,
hasbutlittlebeard,andisofalowclass,orcanlowerhimselftothelevelofthepoorFilipinogirl."(Mas,
pp.123125.)[backtotext]
248M.reads"fishing."[backtotext]
249D.reads"gloomily."[backtotext]
250M.reads"Fortodefinethemcategorically,withanessentialandrealdefinition."D.reads"Forto
definethemcategorically,withanessentialandrealsubstantialdefinition,awaitsanother."[backtotext]

59
251M.omitstheremainderofthisparagraph;andthelastsentenceinD.reads:"Butiftheyhadundertaken
thetaskofdefiningtheIndians,theywouldnothavebeensosuccessful."[backtotext]
252ThiswastheFrenchpoetandtheologianJohnBarclay,whowasbornatPontMousson,in1582,and
diedatRome,August12,1621.HerefusedtoentertheSocietyofJesus,andfollowedhisfathertoEngland
wherehepublishedapoematthecoronationofJamesI,whichfoundconsiderablefavor.WhileinLondon
hewasaccusedofheresy,andwassummonedtoRomebyPaulV.InLondonhepublishedacontinuation
ofhisEuphormion,thefirstpartofwhichhadappearedin1610.ThisconsistsofaLatinsatireintwobooks.
HisArgeniswaspublishedinParisin1621,andtherewasaLeydeneditionin1630.Itisastory,writtenin
proseandpoetry,ofthevicesofthecourt.Itwasverypopularandwastranslatedintomanylanguages.See
Hoefer'sNouvellebiographiegnrale.[backtotext]
253ProbablyJoannesRodenborgh,whowrotethefifthpartofLogicaecompendiosae(Utrecht,1676).
[backtotext]
254Seeante,p.192,note109.[backtotext]
255Seeante,p.191,note105.[backtotext]
256i.e.,"Passiondoesnotcomefromcustom."ThisislackinginM.[backtotext]
257i.e.,"Andinfamousneed."ThisisfromtheAeneid,bookvi,line276.[backtotext]
258St.AnthonyofThebeswasthefounderofmonachism.HeissaidtohavebeenbornatKoma,Egypt,
nearHeraklea,A.D.251,andtohavediedA.D.356.Inearlylifeheretiredtothewilderness,andlivedin
seclusionuntil305,whenhefoundedthemonasteryofFayum,nearMemphisandArsino.Heisthepatron
ofhospitallers,andhisdayiscelebratedonJanuary17.HislifewaswrittenbySt.Athanasius,acondensed
translationofwhichisgivenbyS.BaringGouldinhisLivesoftheSaints(London,1897,1898),i,pp.249
272.SeealsoAddisandArnold'sCatholicDictionary,p.596;andNewInternationalEncyclopedia.[back
totext]
259FormerlycalledThebaicaregio,oneofthethreegreatdivisionsofancientEgypt,andequivalentto
UpperEgypt.Thisdistrictwasfamousforitsdesertwhichbecamethehabitationofmanyoftheearly
Christians,amongthembothSts.AnthonyandArsenius.SeeLarousse'sGrandDictionnaire.[backtotext]
260St.ArseniuswasaRomanofanobleandwealthyfamily,whobecamethetutorofthetwosonsof
TheodosiusatConstantinople.HefledtoEgyptafterthedeathofTheodosius,inshameatthepoorresults
ofhisteaching.Therehelivedinthedesert,wherehewascalled"thefatheroftheemperors."Hedied
about440,afteralonglifeofseclusion.HefiguresinKingsley'sstoryofHypatia.Hisdayiscelebratedon
July19,andheisespeciallyreveredinFranceandBelgium.SeeBaringGould(utsupra),viii,pp.446
448.[backtotext]
261D.readswrongly"Theodorico."[backtotext]
262D.reads"gtico."[backtotext]
263Inthefirstlineoftheabovecitation,whichisfromtheEpistolarumexPonto,booki,epistle3(to
Rufinus)read"littore"inplaceof"frigore."Thetranslationofthetwolinesisasfollows:"Whatisbetter
thanRome?WhatisworsethantheScythianshore?Yetthebarbarianfleesthitherfromthatcity."[backto
text]

60
264i.e.,"Thoughcomposedofmany,itdrawstoitselfthenatureofthemoreworthysimpleform."[back
totext]
265"AmongtheFilipinoIndianstherearemanywhoareverygood,andareverycapableofbeingdirected
andtaughtingoodandholycustoms;andbecausetherearemanybadones,whogovernthemselvesnotby
reason,butbythepressureofpublicopinion,itcannotbesaidrightlyandconscientiouslythatallarebad."
(Delgado,p.320.)
"Thisparagraphappearsadmirabletome,andamoreexactideaoftheFilipinocannotbegiveninsofew
wordsatleastsuchasheisatpresent,eitherbecauseofcircumstances,orbecauseofhisphysical
constitution,orofthetwothingstogether."(Mas,p.127.)[backtotext]
266M.andD.add"itisinfavoroftheircomfort,andtheycommitothergreateractsofinsolence,for."
[backtotext]
267i.e.,"Theyenterintothejoyoftheirlord;"areferencetoMatthewXXV,21,23.[backtotext]
268i.e.,"Notastothecause,butastheeffect."D.reversesthepositionofthenegative.[backtotext]
269HeliogabalustheRomanemperor,whoascendedthethronein218A.D.,attheageoffourteen,and
wasassassinatedafterthreeyears.Heisknownchieflyforhisactsofmadnessandbestiality,andhis
cruelty.[backtotext]
270SanAgustinhasquotedtheselinesincorrectly.Theyarefoundinll.527531ofMarcusAnnaeus
Lucanus'sPharsalia,andareasfollows:
...OvitaetutafacultasPauperisangustiquelares!
OmuneranondumIntellectadeum!Quibushoc
ContingeretemplisAutpotuitmurisnullo
TrepidaretumultuCaesareapulsantemanu?...
Thetranslationofthispassageisasfollows:"Osecureopportunityoflife,andlaresoftheneedypoorman!
Ogiftsnotyetrecognizedasagod!Whattemplescouldenjoythisblessing,orwhatwallsbeinconfusion
inanytumult,ifthehandofCaesarmove?"[backtotext]
271"Allreligiousagreethattheydiewiththeutmostindifference,andthatwhentheycometothebedside
ofthedyingone,inordertocomforthim,theyremaincolduponseeinghowlittlethosepeoplearechanged
bythewordsthattheirapproachingperilinspiresinthem.Confessionsatsuchatimearegenerally
somewhatmoresincere,butalwaysveryshortandstupid.Therelativesarenotatallcarefulabouttalking
ofhisdeathinthepresenceofthesickpersonas,forexample,oneofthemremarkingtothecuraina
verynaturalandquietvoiceinhisuncle'spresence(whostillfullyretainedhisfeelingandhearing):'See,
Father,itwouldbewiseforyoutoconsecratethewindingsheet,forIthinkthatheisabouttodiesoon.'
Thesameindifferenceistobeobservedinacriminalcondemnedtoanypunishment.Heisseatedonhis
heelsonabamboobench,smoking.EveryfewmomentsthereligiousenterstogivehimaChristianword,
towhichthecriminalgenerallyanswer.:'Yes,Father,IknowquitewellthatIhavetodie;whatamItodo
aboutit?Iamanevilman;Godsodecrees;suchwasmyfate;'andotherthingsofthissort.Heeats
regularly,andsleepsasonanyotherday...[This]isonlyoneadditionalproof,andinmyopinion,anot

61
slightone,thattheFilipinoraceisinferior,atleastinspiritualmatters,toourrace."(Mas,pp.128,129.)
[backtotext]
272ThelocationoftheabovequotationisnotgivenintheAyerMS.,butisgiveninbothM.andD.[back
totext]
273D.reads"chatcere."[backtotext]
274PossiblyareferencetoProverbsiiinsteadofxx(wherethereisnothingthatcorrespondstothis
passage).Thetranslationoftheaboveis:"Iwalkinthewaysofjustice,inthemidstofthepathsof
judgment,sothatImaycallmyselfdiligent."[backtotext]
275Thisisnotquotedcorrectly,butshouldbe:Veniteadmeomnes,quilaboratisetoneratiestis,etego
reficiamvos.TheeditorofD.hasemendedthispassage.[backtotext]
276Thisisthewrongreference.IntheKingJamesversion,itislxxii,13,andintheDouayversion,lxxi,
13.[backtotext]
277i.e.,"Fortohimthatislittle,mercyisgranted."ThisisnotinM.[backtotext]
278Theremainderofthisparagraph,andallthenext,arelackinginM.[backtotext]
279i.e.,"NosacrificeismoreacceptabletoGodthanthezealforsouls."[backtotext]
280i.e.,"Yetherefore,myfriendswhoareintheworld,proceedwithsecurity,andcryoutandannounce
mywill.Iwilldwellinyourheartandinyourmouth.Iwillbeyourleaderontheway,andyour
consolationatdeath.Iwillnotleaveyou.Proceedwitheagerness,forgloryincreasesfromthelabor."D.
reads"audacter,""boldly,"insteadof"alacriter."M.givesbutaportionofthecitation.[backtotext]
281Thisquotationisnotexact,thecorrectversionbeingasfollows:Patientiaenimvobisnecessariaest:
utvoluntatemDeifacientis.reportetispromissionem.ItisnotinM.[backtotext]
282InD."placing."[backtotext]
283M.istheonlyoneofthethreeversionsofthisletterthatlocatesthiscitationcorrectly.Weadoptthe
readingoftheLatinVulgate,asSanAgustinhasnotquotedexactly.[backtotext]
284M.andD.omittheselastfourwords.[backtotext]
285M.andD.read"varietyofcombinationsof."[backtotext]
286Oftheremainderoftheletter,Delgadosays(p.323):"Inregardtoalltherestthatthereverendwriter
adds,concerningthemannerinwhichthosewholivewiththeIndiansoughttocomportthemselves,Ihave
nothingmoretosayortoadd.Foritisallwellwrittenandnoted,andthosewhocomenewtotheseislands
willdoverywelltoreaditandtodoasthereverendfatherprescribes,teachingtheIndianstoreadand
writeandotherknowledge,fortheyhavegreatcapacityofallandatthesametime,civilization,whichis
verynecessarytothemandwheretheyfailandsin,punishthemaschildren,andnotasslaves.Bysodoing
theywillobtainfromthemwhatevertheywish."

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Massays(pp.130,131)oftheadvicegivenbySanAgustin:"Iwouldbeveryglad,anditwouldbevery
advantageousforthem,ifalltheSpaniardswouldadoptthissystemwhichisbothwiseandunique.But
quitetothecontrary,manypersonsthinkthattheFilipinosoughttounderstandthemattheslightest
insinuationandveryreadily.ForanyfaulttheybecomeimpatientandcalltheFilipinosbrutes,and
carabaos,andexpressthemselvesinthepresenceoftheFilipinosinthemostviolentmanner,andinthe
mostinsultingtermsabouttheraceingeneral,eventothepointofwishingtodestroythemandother
barbarousandsanguinaryideasofwhichtheirheartisnotcapable.Andtheydonottakenotethatsuch
outbreaksofwrathonlyservethepurposeofconfusingtheFilipinos,renderingthemmorestupid,and
rousinguphatredagainstthemandalltheSpaniards."[backtotext]
287InM."mildly."[backtotext]
288M.givesthereferencewronglyasthenineteenthverse.[backtotext]
289i.e.,"Caremust,infact,betakenthattheteacherandthefatherandthemothergivedisciplinetotheir
subjects."[backtotext]
290NotinM.[backtotext]
291InD."andthemeritliesinthepatience."[backtotext]
292i.e.,"Helpthepoorbecauseofthecommandment;andsendhimnotawayemptyhandedbecauseofhis
poverty,etc."M.andD.addthethirteenthverse,asfollows:Perdepecuniampropterfratremetamicum
tuum;etnonabscondasillamsublapideinperditionem.TheEnglishofthisis:"Losethymoneyforthy
brotherandthyfriend:andhideitnotunderastonetobelost."TotheaboveparagraphM.andD.addthe
following:"Forthemeritbecomesgreaterinproportiontotheiringratitudeifwefulfilourobligationandif
theyactaccordingtotheirdispositionFor,assaystheroyalprophetDavid(Psalmxxxvi,21),Mutuabitur
peccator,etnonsolvet:justusautemmisereturettribuet."[backtotext]
293ThisparagraphisdividedintotwoparagraphsinM.andD.andisverymuchabridged.Itisasfollows:
"ItisnecessarythatthoseIndianswhoaretakenasservants,beshownnoloveiftheyarechildren,but
alwaysuprightness,foronemustconsideritasmostcertainthatinproportionastheyarebetterclothedand
caressed,theworsetheywillbecomewhentheygrowup.ThisistheteachingoftheHolySpirit:[theverse
fromProverbsasabovefollows].Theymustbetreatedwithgreatuprightnessandprudence,forotherwise
theywillgraduallylosetheirrespecttothecharacterthatGodpresentstothemintheSpaniard.[Thefable
ofKingLogfollowsasabove.]"[backtotext]
294i.e.,"Hewhoblowshisnosetooviolentlygenerallydrawsforthblood."[backtotext]
295M.andD.maketwoparagraphsoftheabove,andreadasfollows:"Onemustnotpressthemtogive
moreofthemselvesthantheycan,aswedowiththelemon,forthatwhichwillbeexpressedwillbebitter,
and,assaystheproverb[inD."andassaysalawcommentary"]Quinimisemungitsoletextorquere
cruorem.WemustrememberinallthistheteachingoftheholyCouncilofTrent,session13[inD.
"3"]dereformat,chapterI,whosewords,althoughtheyareverywellworthreading,Iomitonaccountof
theirlength.Itisnotpropertogoupintotheirhouses,exceptwhennecessityrequiresit,keepingtherein
theevangelicalprecept(Lukex,7[wronglycitedasxx]):Nolitetransirededomoindomum.Foronewill
losemuchinestimation,whiletheirvices[inD."coldness"]donotmakethisadesirablediversion."
[backtotext]
296M.andD.add:"anythingisentrustedtothem."TheremainderofSanAgustin'sletterisomittedinD.
[backtotext]

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297M.andD.addhere:"forthusdoestheHolySpiritadviseus."
"Onedayafriendofmineorderedaservantinmypresencetogotoacertainhousetoaskinhisnamefor
thelastgazettesfromEuropa.Iadvisedmyfriendtogivetheservantanote,sincethelatterwould
doubtlessgiveexpressiontosomebitofnonsense.Hetooknonoticeofme,andsenttheservant.Infact,
themanunderstood"aceite"[i.e.,"oliveoil"],for"gaceta"[i.e.,"gazette"],andreturnedwithabottleof
oliveoil.Hismasterwasverymuchputout,whileIburstintoaroaroflaughter.Apeculiarthingisoften
observedinservants,namely,whenoneofthemisordered,`GotothehouseofDonAntonio,'beforethe
messageisfinishedtheservantbeginstogo;andonehastocallhimbackandsaytohim,`But,manalive,
whereareyougoing?'and,ifheisallowedtogo,hereacheshisdestinationandsaysthathehasbeensent
there,andthenreturnswhencebecame,orutterssomefoolishremark."(Mas,p.133.)[backtotext]
298IntheVulgate,thelastwordoftheLatininthiscitationiseum.[backtotext]
299i.e.,"atleastinpassing."ThisisnotinM.[backtotext]
300M.reads"denudethemselvesoftheircustoms."[backtotext]
301M.reads:"FortheIndianwhoisordaineddoesnotgivehimselfatradebecauseofthemoreperfect
estate."[backtotext]
302M.hasinsteadof"fromtheoar,""fromhandlingabolo."[backtotext]
303Spanish,lacuadelmismopalo;anotherapplicationofanoldSpanishproverb.[backtotext]
304M.adds"andthosefarthestfromManila,wherealsotheremedyisveryfaraway."[backtotext]
305Spanish,sobrequtameallesaspajasliterally,"regarding'carryawaythesestrawsfromme,'"
definedbytheAcademy'sdictionaryas,"aboutathingoflittleimportanceorvalue."[backtotext]
306Picota:"acolumn[theinsigniaofjurisdiction]orgibbetofstone,whichisusuallyplacedatthe
entrancesoftownsorvillages;onwhichareignominiouslyexposedtheheadsofpersonsexecutedorof
criminals"(Brcia,Dicc.etimolgico).[backtotext]
307M.adds"tothefathercura."Thereasonforthislettermaybefoundpossiblyinthisparagraph,inthe
hostilityofthereligiousorderstoadmittingtheFilipinostothepriesthood.[backtotext]
308M.reads"Howwellitcouldbesubduedandcomposed."[backtotext]
309M.adds"inhishappiness."[backtotext]
310M.reads:"Andwhiletheywereallgallantlyseatedinthehall,andshewas,veryfinelyadornedwith
jewels,intheroom,surroundedbymanyladies."[backtotext]
311M.reads:"Thebridespiedthemousefromalongdistance,and,notbeingabletorestrainherselfoutof
respectforthatfunction,shearoseandbegantorunthelengthofthehall.Sheoverthrewthepeople,and
theywereunabletorestrainthefairbride,andcausehertodesistfromherundertaking.Theangrygroom
saidtothem."[backtotext]

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312TherestofthissentencereadsinM.,"eventhoughtheyshouldbecomebishops."[backtotext]
313MatthewXXV,21.[backtotext]
314i.e.,"Thepriesthoodistheapexofallgoodthingswhichexistamongmen."
St.IgnatiustheMartyrwasbornaboutthemiddleofthefirstcenturyoftheChristianera,andissaidto
havebeenbaptizedbytheapostleJohn.HewasbishopofAntiochforfortyyears.ArrestedbytheRoman
authoritiesbecauseofhispreaching,hewassenttoRome,wherehewaskilledbywildbeastsinthearena,
probablyabout107A.D.HemetthefamousPolycarpwhileonhiswaytoRome.Manyepistlesexist
whicharesaidtohavebeenwrittenbyhim,althoughsomeofthemareprobablyspurious.Hisdayis
celebratedonFebruary1.SeeS.BaringGould(utsupra),ii,pp.15,andNew
InternationalEncyclopedia.[backtotext]
315i.e.,"Concerningthedignityofthepriesthood."M.adds:"Nihilestinhocseculoexcelentius
sacerdotibus[i.e.,`Thereisnothingmoreexcellentinthisworldthanthepriesthood'];andabove,horor
igitur,etsublimitassacerdotalisnullispoteritcomparationibusadequarisiregumfulgoricompares,et
principumDiadematilongeeritinferius,quamsiplumbimetallumadurifugoremcompares.[i.e.,
`Thereforethepriestlyreverenceandheightcanbeequaledbynocomparisons.Ifitbecomparedtothe
splendorofkingsandthediademofprinces,thecomparisonisfarmoreinferiorthanifthemetalleadwere
comparedtogleaminggold.']AndofthisFatherDonAntonioMolinaspeaksatlengthinhisadmirable
book."[backtotext]
316St.Ambrosewasoneofthefourdoctorsofthewesternchurch.HewasbornatTrvesabout340A.
D.,andreceivedagoodeducationinRome,andenteredintotheRomancivilservice.Electedtotheoffice
ofbishopofMilan,inwhatwasregardedasamiraculousmanner,hesoonbecameoneofthegreat
strongholdsoftheyoungreligionofChristianity.Tohimwasduethehonorofreceivingthegreat
AugustineintotheChurch.Hisdeathoccurredin397A.D.HisdayiscelebratedonDecember7;andin
Milanheisregardedasapatronsaint.TheAmbrosianLibraryofthatcityisnamedforhim.SeeS.Baring
Gould(utsupra),xv,pp.74104;andNewInternationalEncyclopaedia.[backtotext]
317AntoniodeMolinawasaSpanishtheologian,whowasbornatVillaNuevadelosInfantes(Castilla).
EnteringtheAugustinianorder,hetaughttheology,untilhelaterretiredtothehouseatMiraflores,where
hediedSeptember12,1612.HewroteabookcalledInstrucciondeSacerdotes,whichwaspublishedin
variousplacesinSpain,andlatertranslatedintovariouslanguages,amongthemtheLatin.See
Hoefer'sNouvellebiographiegnrale,xxxv,col.892.[backtotext]
318PauloSegneri,S.J.wasoneofthemostillustriousmenthattheJesuitorderhasproduced.Hewasa
nativeofNettuno,Italy,beingbornMarch22,1624,andenteredtheSocietyDecember2,1637.Heearly
becamedeafthroughhisexcessivestudy.Afterteachingthehumanitiesandrhetoric,hebecameapreacher
andmissionary,traversingItalyonhismissionaryjourneysduringtheyears16651692.In1692hewas
calledtoRomebyInnocentXII,totaketheplaceofhispreacherinordinary.HisdeathoccurredatRome,
December9,1694.HisinfluenceonItalyisrankedbysomeonlysecondtothatofSavonarola.Hisstylein
writingisregardedasofchiefrankinpurityandaccuracyforhiscentury.Hiswritingswerenumerous,and
havebeentranslatedintomanylanguages,someofthemintoGreekandArabian.Thebookmentionedin
thetextisIlparrocoinstruito:operaincuisidimostraaqualsisiacuratonovelloildebitochelostrigne,e
laviadatenersenell'adempirlo(Firenze,1692).SeeSommervogel'sBibliothque;andHoefer(ut
supra),xliii,cols.685,686.[backtotext]
319ThedignityofpatriarchintheCatholicchurch(leavingasidethepapalrank)isthehighestgradeinthe
hierarchyofjurisdiction.Antiochearlyoccupiedahighplaceamongthepatriarchates,althoughwiththe

65
lapseoftimeitlostitshighposition;andfinally,aftertheschismbetweentheeasternandwestern
churches,theappointeetothatdignitydidnotactuallyassumetheoffice.SeeAddisandArnold'sCatholic
Dictionary,pp.35,36,and640.ThepatriarchmentionedinthetextwasthefamousCardinalCharles
ThomasMillarddeTournon.SeeVOL.XXVIIIp.118,andnote56;Concepcin,ix,pp.1123;and
CrtineauJoly,v,pp.3854.[backtotext]
320TheselasttwosentencesaremissinginM.[backtotext]
321AtthispointtheletterproperinM.endswiththewords:"MayGodpreserveyouformanyyears,"and
nosignaturefollows.ThisisfollowedbythequestionsformenandwomenofMurilloVelarde.[backto
text]
322Inthetext,legitimos;probablyatranscriber'serrorforilegitimos("ofillegitimatebirth").
Otherpapallettersgiveleavetodispensewiththeaboveclasses,whocouldnot,otherwise,bepromotedto
holyorders.Bothclassescould,also,beraisedtochurchdignities,butonlytominordignities,andnotto
highonesasbishoprics,etc.Thedistinctionbetweenespuriosand[i]legitimosseemsmerelytohavebeena
legalone,asbothtermsmeanthesameineffect.REV.T.C.MIDDLETON,O.S.A.[backtotext]
323i.e.,"Itwaslatelyrelatedtous."[backtotext]
324InthecopyofthisletterconservedinthecollectionofFrayEduardoNavarrooftheColegiode
Filipinas,Valladolid,Spain(ofwhichwehavethetranscriptionofafewpagesattheend),thisword
readsdivina.[backtotext]
325Antonio(notPedro)Urceo,whowasalsocalledCodrus,wasaneruditeItalian,whowasbornAugust
14,1446atRubiera,anddiedatBolognain1500.Hewasagoodeducatorofyouth,butofcholerictemper.
WhileactingastutorinoneofthenobleItalianfamilies,afiredestroyedmostofhispapers,whichso
workeduponhimthatheretiredintoalmostcompleteseclusionforsixmonths.In1482hewentto
Bologna,wherehetaughtgrammarandeloquence.Althoughduringhislifehegavedoubtsofhis
orthodoxy,hisdeathwasallthatcouldhavebeenwished.Hisworkswerepublishedinfoureditions,the
firstbeingatBolognain1502,underthetitleInhocCodriVoluminehaeccontinenturOrationes,seu
sermonesutipseappelabatEpistolae.Silvae.Satyrae.Eglogae.Epigrammata.Thetranslationoftheabove
citationisasfollows:
"Althoughthoubefreebornandsprungfromnobleparents;
Stillevenyetthoumaystbeabasebeast.
Addthatthouartanhonortothycountry,andclaimthenoblestkin;
Stillevenyetthoumaystbeabasebeast.
Thoumaysthavewealth,thoumaysthaveabundanceofelegantfurniture;
Stillevenyetthoumaystbeabasebeast.
Inshort,whateverthoushaltbe,unlessthouhaveprudence,
Ideclarethatthouwilteverbeabasebeast."

66
OfthenativepriestsofthePhilippines,Delgadosays(pp.293296):"Iknowsomesecularsintheislands,
whoalthoughIndians,canserveasanexampleandconfusiontotheEuropeanpriests:Ishallonlybring
forwardtwoexamples:one,thebachelorDonEugeniodeSantaCruz,judgeprovisorofthisbishopricof
SantisimoNombredeJess,andcalificadoroftheHolyOffice,afullbloodedIndianandanativeof
Pampanga.AndinasmuchastheauthorofthisletterconfessesthatthePampangosareadifferentpeople,I
shallnameanother,namely;thebachelorDonBartolomSaguinsin,aTaglog,acuraofthedistrictof
Quiapo(outsidethewallsofManila),anIndian,andanativeofthevillageofAntipolo.Iknewhisparents,
andhadfriendlyrelationswiththemwhileIwasministerinthatvillage.Bothmenwereesteemedfortheir
abilitiesandveneratedfortheirvirtues,inTagalosandVisayas."Inaddition,"thoserearedinanyofthe
fourcollegesinManila,fortheclericalestateareallthesonsofchiefs,peopleofdistinctionamongthe
Indiansthemselves,andnotofthetimaua,oroftheclassofolipon,astheVisayansays,
ormaharlicaoralipin,astheTaglogcallstheslavesandfreedmen.ThereverendfathersofSt.Dominicor
oftheSocietyreartheseboysandinstructtheminvirtueandlearning;andiftheyhaveanyofthevicesof
Indians,thesearecorrectedandsuppressedbytheteachingandconversationofthefathers.Furthermore,
whenthemostillustriousbishopspromoteanyofthesementoholyorders,theydonotproceedblindly,
orderinganyonewhomevertobeadvancedbutonlywithgreatconsiderationandprudence,andafter
informingthemselvesofhisbirthandhismorals,andexaminingandtestinghimfirstbeforetheministryof
soulsisentrustedtohim;andtosaythecontraryistocensurethemostillustriousprelates,towhomwe
owesomuchvenerationandreverence.Furthermore,thereareamongtheseIndians,many(andperhaps
mostofthem)whoareasnoble,intheirlineofdescentasIndians,asisanySpaniard;andsomeofthem
muchmorethanmanySpaniardswhoesteemthemselvesasnoblesinthisland.For,althoughtheirfate
keepsthem,inthepresentorderofthings,inanalmostabjectcondition,manyofthemareseigniorsof
vassals.Theirseignioryhasnotbeensuppressedbytheking,norcanitbesuppressed.Suchwe
callcabezasdebarangayinTaglog;andGinhaopaninVisayan.Theyandtheirchildrenandrelativeslose
nothingoftheirnobilitybecausetheyservethekingincuttingtimber,inthefleets,orinotherpersonal
serviceswhicharenecessaryinthisland.Astheylosenothing,itisalsomuchhonorforthemthattheking
beservedbythem.Accordingly,therearesargentosmayor,mastersofcamp,captains,governorofthe
villages,andlieutenants,andallareIndiansofdistinction.Thesewouldnotgotorowinabanca,andtheir
handswouldcertainlybefreedfromhandlingabolooranaxinthecuttingoftimber,andtheirmothers,
wives,anddaughterswouldnothavebecomespinners,ifitwerenotforEspaa.Andalthoughallthe
Indiansseemofonecolortothefather,thiscoloriswelldistinguishedamongthem;andtheyarevery
respectfultotheirchiefsandmuchmoresototheirpriests,eventhoughthesebeIndianslikethemselves."
Delgadocontinuesbysayingthat,althoughsomeofthenativepriestshaveturnedoutbadly,thatisnot
sufficienttocondemnthemall.ItisarbitrarytodeclarethattheIndianentersthepriesthoodsolelyforhis
owncomfort,andbecauseoftherespectshownhim,andnotbecauseofthespiritualblessings.Many
Spaniardsalsoentertheecclesiasticalestatemerelyforaliving.ThereareexamplesofNegro,Japanese,
andChinesepriests."Consequently,itisnottobewonderedatthatthemostillustriousprelatesandbishops
shouldordainIndianshereandinNuevaEspaa,andinotherpartsoftheIndias."[backtotext]
326ThedateoftheNavarrocopyiswronglygivenas1725.[backtotext]