The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 40 of 55, 1690-1691

Volume 40 — Chapter VII

Reading edition

Some considerations concerning the matter in Father Gaspar de San Agustín’s letter

I confess that I read this letter, in which the reverend author criticises the customs and dispositions of the natives of Filipinas, some years ago. But I read it as I am wont to read other letters, for diversion and amusement, without thinking much about its artfulness, and I was delighted with its erudition. However, when I afterward considered its contents with some degree of thought, I saw that it brought forward, in its whole length, no solid proof of what it tries to make one believe; and it appeared to me a hyperbolical criticism from the very beginning. On that account I resolved to make a few brief commentaries on the matter in the letter, both for the consolation of those whom our Lord may call to these missions, and so that it may be understood that at times sadness and melancholy are accustomed to heighten things, making giants out of pygmies—all the more, if a relish for revery and grumbling be joined with a tendency to exaggeration and with figures of speech corresponding thereto. Consequently, I am surprised that the reverend annalist or chronicler [i.e., San Antonio] of the seraphic province of San Gregorio praises this letter, saying that it is worth printing, since its author has penetrated as far as one may penetrate into the characters of the natives of these islands. And yet the author confesses that it is as difficult to define their nature as are the eight impossible things which are recounted there. That seems to me a fine hyperbole.

From the above one can see that, as he commenced this letter by affirming a hyperbole with eight hyperboles, it is not surprising that I called it hyperbolical; and especially if all the hyperboles that it contains from its beginning to its end be enumerated. But ere I begin to express my opinion I would like to sum up two contradictory and opposite expressions that I find in these authors. The reverend father Fray Gaspar says of the Indians, in his letter, that the difficulty of knowing the Indians lies not in the individual but in the race, for, if one be known, all are known.

What mystery is there in the customs and genius of the Indians that should make them so deep and inscrutable that we cannot reach them, sound them, and explain them? since they are Indians like all the rest of the people of Asia, without there being more or less in them. Therefore, “these profundities, this intricate, confused chaos, this aggregate of contrarieties, this maze of contradictions, are a collection of rhetorical locutions or tropes invented in order to exaggerate and to use hyperboles in what of itself has no mystery—these definitions remaining purely in the manner of speech, or of the conception, of their authors; or perhaps in a mere misapprehension formed by a critical, melancholy, or affected genius.

These and many other like things were overlooked by Father Murillo, who was enraptured by their music, engraving, and rugs. By the aforesaid, one will see with how little truth the statement is printed that the Indians are the greatest enemies that the father ministers have; for certainly all the above could not be reconciled with such a proposition. On the contrary, it must be said that the Indians are those who defend us from our enemies; for, in the presidios, who are the soldiers, who sail in the war fleets, who are in the vanguard in war? Could the Spaniards, perchance, maintain themselves alone in this country, if the Indians did not aid in everything? Little experience and less reflection would he have who should propose such a thing. Therefore, these two things do not harmonize well, that those who hate us should defend us, and that those who are our greatest enemies should be the ones to maintain and support us. Nor is it to be wondered at that there have been insurrections on several occasions; these, perhaps, have not arisen because the Indians were ill-disposed to the Spaniards; but, on the contrary, we know that many of them have been caused by the cruelty, wickedness, and tyranny of some alcalde-mayor and other Spaniards who, having been elevated from low beginnings, try to become gods and kings in the provinces, tyrannizing over the Indians and their possessions. This is often the cause of the insurrections. Would that I could mention some especial cases in this matter. However, I do not care to dip my pen in blood, and write tragedies instead of history. For, although I could say more, the authority and arrogance that every Spaniard assumes upon his arrival in this country is incredible.

Galalon, que en casa come poco,

y á costa agena el corpanchon ahita.

Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurem,

Quam quæ sunt oculis subiecta fidelibus....

... O vitæ tuta facultas Pauperis angustique lares!

O munera nondum Intellecta deum! Quibus hoc

Contingere templis Aut potuit muris nullo

Trepidare tumultu Cæsarea pulsante manu?...

“Although thou be freeborn and sprung from noble parents;

Still even yet thou mayst be a base beast.

Add that thou art an honor to thy country, and claim the noblest kin;

Still even yet thou mayst be a base beast.

Thou mayst have wealth, thou mayst have abundance of elegant furniture;

Still even yet thou mayst be a base beast.

In short, whatever thou shalt be, unless thou have prudence,

I declare that thou wilt ever be a base beast.”

“Obstabatque alijs aliud, quia corpore in vno

Frigida pugnabant calidis, humentia siccis,

Mollia cum duris, sine pondere habentia pondus.”

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Juan José Delgado was a native of Cadiz; the time of his birth is not known. In 1711 he left Spain for Filipinas, and perhaps remained for s Note 2 · Mas used the MS. of the Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar, which is wrongly dated. See post, pp. 278–280. Of the letter itself he says (i, “Pobla Note 3 · For instance, Mas says (p. 63): “Here follows what the author of the celebrated work on the Philippines, called Cronicas franciscanas [refer Note 4 · M. reads on the outside wrapper: “Letter by Fray Gaspar de San Agustin;” and the heading of the letter is as follows: ”+ Letter written by a Note 5 · M. and D. read “mathematical side;” and continuing D. reads “of the double of the cube of the sphere.”Note 6 · i.e., “I was with this generation for about forty years, and I said ‘These people always err from the heart.’” M. omits the Latin phrase and Note 7 · i.e., “He himself knew our formation.” The last word of the Latin phrase is omitted in M.Note 8 · D. reads “excuse myself from the burden and difficulty.”Note 9 · i.e., “It is difficult to know man—a changeable and variable animal.” M. gives only the first four words of this Latin phrase.Note 10 · i.e., “I see men as trees walking.”Note 11 · Not set off into lines in the Ayer MS. A literal translation of the citation, which is rather freely translated in the text, is: “Spring mak Note 12 · D. omits this last phrase.Note 13 · M. omits the epigram. It is the forty-seventh epigram of the twelfth book, and is translated thus in Henry G. Bohn’s Epigrams of Martial (Lo Note 14 · i.e., “As many opinions as persons.”Note 15 · From the Greek words μονος, “one,” “single,” and πας, “all;” thus meaning, “homogeneous.”Note 16 · The Monophysites held that there was but one nature in Christ. They were condemned at the fourth general council held at Chalcedon in 451, b Note 17 · M. greatly abridges this paragraph, among other things omitting all mention of the Monophysites. D. also omits the latter.Note 18 · At this point M. adds “who are the true Indians, so named from the River Indus or from Indostan, for our Indians are so by catachresis or mi Note 19 · The title of the Franciscan Juan de Torquemada’s book, is as follows: Ia (–IIIa) Parte de los veynte y un libros rituales y monarchia Indian Note 20 · The title of Antonio de Ramesal’s book is Historia general de las Indias Ocidentales, y particular, de la governacion de Chiapa, y Guatemala Note 21 · See Vol. VIII, p. 38, note 1.Note 22 · Bartolome (not Bernardino) de las Casas, the great apostle of the Indians. He first went to the New World in 1502 as a planter, became a Dom Note 23 · See Vol. XXIX, p. 189, note 42. San Agustin probably refers to his Virtudes del Indio (1650?). Palafox left many writings, a number of which Note 24 · In D., “taught.”Note 25 · In D., “collect.”Note 26 · M. and D. call these last two peoples the “Mogores” and the “Camarines.”Note 27 · Baltasar Gracian was born in Calatayud, Aragon, in 1601, and entered the Society of Jesus in 1619. He taught belles-lettres, philosophy, mor Note 28 · M. and D. add “For most of the defects and vices of these Indians are common, on account of the,” and continue as above.Note 29 · This passage is badly confused in the three copies. The transcriber of M. has wrongly made the viviendo acephalos of the Ayer copy, bebiendo Note 30 · Both M. and D. omit the passage referring to the influence and dominion of the moon. M. gives the names as “Beyerlinhe,” and D. as “Bayarlin Note 31 · “When they grow delirious in their sickness, they are never frantic, but calm.” (Mas, p. 64.)Note 32 · M. and D. add here “slow.”Note 33 · In the Ayer MS. “serithnophagos.” D. makes it “ictiófagos,” which reading we have adopted; and M. omits the phrase.Note 34 · The abundance of fish is one of the means by which nature aids their necessities. In the rainy season, all the creeks and ravines are full o Note 35 · Mas says (p. 65): “It is not easy for anyone to explain them, so long as he tries to consider these men equal to the Europeans.”Note 36 · This sentence is omitted in M. and D.Note 37 · All the matter above between the word “father” and this point is lacking in M.Note 38 · The solidus was a coin of the Roman empire, which was at first called “aureus,” and worth about twenty-five denarii, but afterward reduced t Note 39 · These passages are translated as follows in the Douay version of the Bible: 4. Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have Note 40 · i.e., “Scarce does he return the half.”Note 41 · In the Douay version: “The sinner shall borrow and not pay again;” being only one-half the verse. M. omits the reference, but gives the pass Note 42 · Delgado (Historia, p. 306) commenting on this passage says: “I find noted many actions of the Indian boys who serve in the houses and conven Note 43 · The paragraph structure of M. and D. differs from our text in the above two paragraphs, and in other places throughout this letter; and the Note 44 · At this point the following paragraphs which are not contained in either the Ayer MS. or in D. occur. “They think that it is a fine thing to Note 45 · “This,” says Delgado (p. 307) “is peculiar only to some workmen, and not to all the nations of these islands, and the same thing happens als Note 46 · M. reads, “in the region of the genitals;” and D., “ears.”Note 47 · Delgado says of this: “Let us give thanks to God that our parents reared us in civilized ways; for if they had not, we would do the same. Bu Note 48 · D. reads “And as yet they have not gotten over the difficulty of folding a cloak with the right side in.”Note 49 · M. and D. read “make gestures of wonder.”Note 50 · “I have observed that they are very stupid in making anything when one tries to give them instructions, but not when one allows them to work Note 51 · These last six words are lacking in M. This refers to the well-known myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. By Auresteo, San Agustin means Aristæus, Note 52 · The last two words are missing in M. and D. Curiosity, says Delgado (p. 307) and impertinence is a characteristic of all the peoples of Asia Note 53 · This argues only their wildness and lack of civilization, says Delgado (pp. 307, 308), and they ought to be taught civilized manners by thei Note 54 · “This proves the severity with which they are treated by their own people, and the kindness that they experience in us.” (Mas, p. 68.)Note 55 · “Thank God,” says Delgado (p. 308) “that I find the prognosis above that says ‘they are great sleepers’ absolutely false.”Note 56 · This sentence is lacking in M. and D.Note 57 · In D., “where the women go.” “They do this because they are humored like children in the convents.” (Mas, p. 69.)Note 58 · M. and D. omit “and perukes.”Note 59 · Literally, “the flower of the saints,” perhaps alluding to some book of lives of saints, thus entitled. M. has “the isles of the saints.”Note 60 · M. and D. omit the last three words.Note 61 · “Nearly all the villages have theaters for cock-fighting. Before fighting, some very sharp knives are fastened to the spurs so that one or t Note 62 · Delgado (p. 308) admits that the youthful servants do break dishes, but they are cheap. “There are Indians in Manila who make and repair wat Note 63 · “The father must have said this of the country people, or of those who are servants; for among those who devote themselves to the arts there Note 64 · D. adds “or [rather] not eating.” This incident is related in the second part of Don Quixote, chapter xlvii.Note 65 · This sentence is omitted in M. The following is there a question, “And what shall we say if they bring four eggs?”Note 66 · A Dominican and the assistant of Archbishop Pardo, who became acting archbishop after the death of the latter. See Ferrando’s Historia de lo Note 67 · Don Fernando Valenzuela, a grandee of Spain, marquis of San Bartolomé de los Pinales and of Villasierra, chief master of the horse, gentlema Note 68 · M. reads “rice in the husk.”Note 69 · M. and D. add “pesos.”Note 70 · Delgado says (p. 308): “If they had as much understanding as the reverend father, they would not do it.” The cases cited prove nothing gener Note 71 · M. and D. read: “Although the Sangleys cheat them, as if they were simpletons, and they are satisfied to be cheated by them.” Delgado says (Note 72 · “And tell me, your Paternity,” says Delgado (p. 309), “who is not given to this vice in this land?”—an interesting commentary on social cond Note 73 · Commenting on this, Delgado (p. 309) says: “Who are the ones who cut the timber, and build the ships, galleys, and galliots, as says Father Note 74 · Delgado (pp. 309–310) says: “This happens perhaps among the boys who serve in the convents in Tagalos and in no other missions; and I have a Note 75 · This is because the Indians do not appreciate the danger, says Delgado (p. 310). This happens often on narrow roads, and not to Indians, but Note 76 · The lengua franca is the trade-jargon of the Orient. The original of the passage above is as follows: “Deó grande nopillar fantacia; mondo c Note 77 · M. and D. add (though with a slight difference in wording) “for they will not believe that he who loves danger will perish in it.” Some Indi Note 78 · Delgado says (p. 310): “This proceeds from their barbarous condition, and because the Spaniards commonly deceive them, and teach them things Note 79 · M. and D. omit “of which I heard,” and the latter reads “and I shall only tell of two of which I was a witness.” Spaniards also, says Delgad Note 80 · See an account of this matter and the trouble caused by it, in Vol. XXXIX.Note 81 · i.e., “Silver and gold have I none”—a reference to Acts III, 6.Note 82 · M. and D. read “miners.”Note 83 · “When the ship ‘Santa Ana’ arrived at Manila in the year 1832 with 250 Spanish soldiers, it was rumored among the women of the tobacco facto Note 84 · M. and D. add “for all the ministers cannot free them from this deceit.”Note 85 · This is not so in general, says Delgado (p. 311), but is true only of some individuals among the various nations.Note 86 · M. reads “respect the Spaniard more.”Note 87 · The truth is that any Spaniard, with rare exceptions, has more penetration, more vivacity, more nobility, more talent, and more courage than Note 88 · D. reads “petty sextons.”Note 89 · Delgado says (p. 311): “It is a fact that nature always inclines rather to evil than to good. But in order to correct their vices there are Note 90 · M. reads “most of them.”Note 91 · This is common throughout the world, says Delgado (p. 311). “That they do not know their age happens commonly among rude and wild people, wh Note 92 · M. and D. omit “than the word of the whole world.” Mas says (pp. 90–96): “The superstitions of these people can be divided into three classe Note 93 · In D., “indolent.”Note 94 · From the word “islands” to this point, is omitted in D.Note 95 · “That they are tyrants, one over the other,” says Delgado (p. 311), “I do not deny. They inherited this peculiarity from their ancestors, an Note 96 · M. omits “and bring it back as cold as ice.”Note 97 · This is a general statement that is not true, says Delgado (pp. 311, 312), for the example given is merely from boys; and, besides, it never Note 98 · This citation is missing in M. It is from Horace’s Satires, book i, ll, 106, 107. E. C. Wickham (Horace for English Readers; Oxford, 1903, p Note 99 · “That they need beatings and the rattan,” says Delgado (p. 312), “as examples prove, is a fact, and they confess it; but they resemble all o Note 100 · M. and D. add “His master chid him, but the lad replied that the hen had but one leg.”Note 101 · This quotation is lacking in M. and D.Note 102 · M. and D. read “in love and esteem.”Note 103 · “I shall not at present enter upon a discussion of whether one ought or ought not beat the Filipino. I shall only remark, as a matter pertai Note 104 · This last phrase and the Latin quotation are lacking in M. Englished that quotation is, “The evil hate sin for fear of punishment.”Note 105 · This phrase is omitted in D.Note 106 · In D. this is “even if it be a leaf.”Note 107 · Delgado says (p. 312): “But if his Paternity knows of this lack, how surprising that this and other things happen in regard to them, such as Note 108 · M. omits the remainder of this sentence. For “Januses,” D. reads “worms.”Note 109 · Because some of the Indians are given to blasphemy, says Delgado (p. 313), it does not follow that all of them are blasphemous.Note 110 · “I shall here attempt a delicate and interesting investigation, namely, the religiousness of the Filipinos. There are opposite opinions on t Note 111 · M. and D. omit all of this last sentence and quotation.Note 112 · A vice common to all the world, says Delgado (p. 313).Note 113 · “Although they have but little honor, they have in effect only too much vanity. When one goes to their houses, they make a great effort to s Note 114 · Delgado (p. 313) utters a warning against judging on this particular, and says “that virtues are not so distant from them, as his Paternity Note 115 · M. omits this sentence to this point.Note 116 · What fault do the Indians have in trying to get and defend their own? There may be excess in this matter, says Delgado (p. 313), but the Ind Note 117 · M. and D. omit this sentence.Note 118 · In regard to this Delgado says (pp. 313, 314) that “there is no dish more relished in this land than defamation and complaint.... This is a Note 119 · The Ayer MS. and M. read “Machiabelo;” D. reads “Macabeo,” i.e., “Maccabæan.”Note 120 · From this point M. and D. read: “They call this mabibig, and this is a thing that will rouse up the entire village against one, the stones, Note 121 · The Indians do not tell tales of one another for a more potent reason than that of being declared mabibig, is Delgado’s commentary (pp. 314,Note 122 · M. and D. read with some slight verbal differences, which translate the same: “For one might happen to have a servant or two who waste and d Note 123 · “This league of the caste of color for mutual protection and defense from the domineering caste is very natural. The Filipinos are not so co Note 124 · Delgado (p. 315) finds this very natural, and dismisses it by the reflection that liberty is dear.Note 125 · In M. and D. this reads: “Therefore when they say that there is no more sugar or no more oil, it is when there is not [sugar] enough to make Note 126 · M. and D. read: “They will place the best cup and plate, [D. mentions only the plate] which are much different than the others, for the mast Note 127 · M. and D. omit this sentence.Note 128 · Spanish, sacabuches consistol y deresistol, a transcriber’s error for con sistol y diastol (this phrase omitted in D.); a play on words, as Note 129 · The citation from Quevedo is lacking in M. San Agustin has slightly misquoted; though it translates the same as the correct version. The lin Note 130 · That is, “Much good may it do you,” an expression used at eating or drinking. San Agustin evidently refers in the following clause to the sc Note 131 · This is not a general rule among the Tagálogs, and much less among the Visayans. Neither are all the Indians forgers. (Delgado, pp. 315, 316 Note 132 · M. omits “alcalde” and reads “prudent and experienced man.” D. reads “a prudent and experienced alcalde.”Note 133 · i.e., “I heard your evidence, and feared.”Note 134 · M. reads “some Indians;” D., “some erudite Indians.”Note 135 · Rabula, “an ignorant, vociferous lawyer;” cf. English “pettifogger.”Note 136 · This sentence is omitted by M. D. reads “all the alcaldes.”Note 137 · The Italian phrase fabro de calumina is used.Note 138 · King Josiah or Josias was slain at Mageddo. See IV Kings (II Kings of the King James version), xxiii, 29, 30; and II Paralipomenon (II Chron Note 139 · M. reads: “the Indians making use of a whole year in order to increase their calumny.” D. reads: “Just see what subtlety and moderate arithm Note 140 · We have thus freely translated the original sin afianzar calumnia, which is a regular law term.Note 141 · “But a short time ago, when Señor Seoane was regent of the Audiencia, as the result of an urgent complaint against a Spanish cura, a verbal Note 142 · From this point, M. and D. read: “but it is to images of some new miracle. They have the habit of devotion, but they seek the newest and for Note 143 · As to the Indians being fond of making pilgrimages to new and distant shrines where some notable miracle has occurred, Spaniards often have Note 144 · San Agustin is speaking of the Indians of Manila and its environs, says Delgado (p. 316): “For this is rarely seen in the other islands. Hen Note 145 · In M. escuitiles; and in D. miscuitiles.Note 146 · The verse number is given correctly in M. San Agustin quotes incorrectly, the proper version being:Note 147 · M. and D. read “Christ our Lord.”Note 148 · “In the Visayas,” says Delgado (p. 317) “very rarely do the Indians imitate the Spaniards in their dress; for almost all of them go barefoot Note 149 · “If father Fray Gaspar had been in Madrid, he would not have been so greatly surprised that those soliciting anything should send their wive Note 150 · M. and D. add “most.”Note 151 · This phrase is omitted in D.Note 152 · It is not to be wondered at that they are literal and material in their conversation, for they know only their villages. See Delgado, p. 317 Note 153 · M. and D. omit this sentence.Note 154 · M. adds: “and run away, for he is the bugaboo, with which the children are frightened.”Note 155 · Dogs do not bark at the Spaniards only, in any country, but at those who are strange to them. Neither do the Indians detest the fathers from Note 156 · “It is difficult to ascertain whether the Filipino is a brave man or a coward. On one side, we see any braggart terrify a multitude; and on Note 157 · In M., “to a great degree;” and in D., “in a certain manner.”Note 158 · D. reads “on this occasion.”Note 159 · Delgado says (p. 318) that the sin of intoxication is overstated. Among the Visayans, intoxicating beverages are indulged in in differing de Note 160 · Delgado denies that the Indians are robbers (p. 318).Note 161 · Delgado says (p. 318): “This passage is absolutely malicious, so far as the Visayans are concerned; for no Visayan woman of good blood will Note 162 · i.e., “At least as to manner.”Note 163 · D. omits this last clause.Note 164 · An adaptation of an old proverb, probably meaning here, “Although sins are committed here, they are not so frequent as in other places.”Note 165 · San Agustin speaks without sufficient authority, says Delgado (pp. 318, 319), for he only remained a short time in Panay, and learned nothin Note 166 · M. reads “fishing.”Note 167 · D. reads “gloomily.”Note 168 · M. reads “For to define them categorically, with an essential and real definition.” D. reads ”For to define them categorically, with an esse Note 169 · M. omits the remainder of this paragraph; and the last sentence in D. reads: “But it they had undertaken the task of defining the Indians, t Note 170 · This was the French poet and theologian John Barclay, who was born at Pont-à-Mousson, in 1582, and died at Rome, August 12, 1621. He refused Note 171 · Probably Joannes Rodenborgh, who wrote the fifth part of Logicæ compendiosæ (Utrecht, 1676).Note 172 · See ante, p. 192, note 109.Note 173 · See ante, p. 191, note 105.Note 174 · i.e., “Passion does not come from custom.” This is lacking in M.Note 175 · i.e., “And infamous need.” This is from the Aeneid, book, vi, line 276.Note 176 · St. Antony of Thebes was the founder of monachism. He is said to have been born at Koma, Egypt, near Heraklea, A. D. 251, and to have died A Note 177 · Formerly called Thebaica regio, one of the three great divisions of ancient Egypt, and equivalent to Upper Egypt. This district was famous f Note 178 · St. Arsenius was a Roman of a noble and wealthy family, who became the tutor of the two sons of Theodosius at Constantinople. He fled to Egy Note 179 · D. reads wrongly “Theodorico.”Note 180 · D. reads “gético.”Note 181 · In the first line of the above citation, which is from the Epistolarum ex Ponto, book i, epistle 3 (to Rufinus) read “littore” in place of “Note 182 · i.e., “Though composed of many, it draws to itself the nature of the more worthy simple form.”Note 183 · “Among the Filipino Indians there are many who are very good, and are very capable of being directed and taught in good and holy customs; an Note 184 · M. and D. add “it is in favor of their comfort, and they commit other greater acts of insolence, for.”Note 185 · i.e., “They enter into the joy of their lord;” a reference to Matthew XXV, 21, 23.Note 186 · i.e., “Not as to the cause, but as the effect.” D. reverses the position of the negative.Note 187 · Heliogabalus the Roman emperor, who ascended the throne in 218 A. D., at the age of fourteen, and was assassinated after three years. He is Note 188 · San Agustin has quoted these lines incorrectly. They are found in ll. 527–531 of Marcus Annæus Lucanus’s Pharsalia, and are as follows:Note 189 · “All religious agree that they die with the utmost indifference, and that when they come to the bedside of the dying one, in order to comfor Note 190 · The location of the above quotation is not given in the Ayer MS., but is given in both M. and D.Note 191 · D. reads “chatcere.”Note 192 · Possibly a reference to Proverbs ii instead of xx (where there is nothing that corresponds to this passage). The translation of the above is Note 193 · This is not quoted correctly, but should be: Venite ad me omnes, qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos. The editor of D. has e Note 194 · This is the wrong reference. In the King James version, it is lxxii, 13, and in the Douay version, lxxi, 13.Note 195 · i.e., “For to him that is little, mercy is granted.” This is not in M.Note 196 · The remainder of this paragraph, and all the next, are lacking in M.Note 197 · i.e., “No sacrifice is more acceptable to God than the zeal for souls.”Note 198 · i.e., “Ye therefore, my friends who are in the world, proceed with security, and cry out and announce my will. I will dwell in your heart an Note 199 · This quotation is not exact, the correct version being as follows: Patientia enim vobis necessaria est: ut voluntatem Dei facientis, reporte Note 200 · In D. “placing.”Note 201 · M. is the only one of the three versions of this letter that locates this citation correctly. We adopt the reading of the Latin Vulgate, as Note 202 · M. and D. omit these last four words.Note 203 · M. and D. read “variety of combinations of.”Note 204 · Of the remainder of the letter, Delgado says (p. 323): “In regard to all the rest that the reverend writer adds, concerning the manner in wh Note 205 · In M. “mildly.”Note 206 · M. gives the reference wrongly as the nineteenth verse.Note 207 · i.e., “Care must, in fact, be taken that the teacher and the father and the mother give discipline to their subjects.”Note 208 · Not in M.Note 209 · In D. “and the merit lies in the patience.”Note 210 · i.e., “Help the poor because of the commandment; and send him not away empty-handed because of his poverty, etc.” M. and D. add the thirteen Note 211 · This paragraph is divided into two paragraphs in M. and D. and is very much abridged. It is as follows: “It is necessary that those Indians Note 212 · i.e., “He who blows his nose too violently generally draws forth blood.”Note 213 · M. and D. make two paragraphs of the above, and read as follows: “One must not press them to give more of themselves than they can, as we do Note 214 · M. and D. add: “anything is entrusted to them.” The remainder of San Agustin’s letter is omitted in D.Note 215 · M. and D. add here: “for thus does the Holy Spirit advise us.” “One day a friend of mine ordered a servant in my presence to go to a certain Note 216 · In the Vulgate, the last word of the Latin in this citation is eum.Note 217 · i.e., “at least in passing.” This is not in M.Note 218 · M. reads “denude themselves of their customs.”Note 219 · M. reads: “For the Indian who is ordained does not give himself a trade because of the more perfect estate.”Note 220 · M. has instead of “from the oar,” “from handling a bolo.”Note 221 · Spanish, la cuña del mismo palo; another application of an old Spanish proverb.Note 222 · M. adds “and those farthest from Manila, where also the remedy is very far away.”Note 223 · Spanish, sobre quítame allá esas pajas—literally, “regarding ‘carry away these straws from me,’” defined by the Academy’s dictionary as, “ab Note 224 · Picota: “a column [the insignia of jurisdiction] or gibbet of stone, which is usually placed at the entrances of towns or villages; on which Note 225 · M. adds “to the father cura.” The reason for this letter may be found possibly in this paragraph, in the hostility of the religious orders t Note 226 · M. reads “How well it could be subdued and composed.”Note 227 · M. adds “in his happiness.”Note 228 · M. reads: “And while they were all gallantly seated in the hall, and she was, very finely adorned with jewels, in the room, surrounded by ma Note 229 · M. reads: “The bride spied the mouse from a long distance, and, not being able to restrain herself out of respect for that function, she aro Note 230 · The rest of this sentence reads in M., “even though they should become bishops.”Note 231 · Matthew xxv, 21.Note 232 · i.e., “The priesthood is the apex of all good things which exist among men.” St. Ignatius the Martyr was born about the middle of the first Note 233 · i.e., “Concerning the dignity of the priesthood.” M. adds: ”Nihil est in hoc secula excelentius sacerdotibus [i.e., ‘There is nothing more e Note 234 · St. Ambrose was one of the four doctors of the western church. He was born at Trèves about 340 A. D., and received a good education in Rome,Note 235 · Antonio de Molina was a Spanish theologian, who was born at Villa-Nueva-de-los-Infantes (Castilla). Entering the Augustinian order, he taugh Note 236 · Paulo Segneri, S.J. was one of the most illustrious men that the Jesuit order has produced. He was a native of Nettuno, Italy, being born Ma Note 237 · The dignity of patriarch in the Catholic church (leaving aside the papal rank) is the highest grade in the hierarchy of jurisdiction. Antioc Note 238 · These last two sentences are missing in M.Note 239 · At this point the letter proper in M. ends with the words: “May God preserve you for many years,” and no signature follows. This is followed Note 240 · In the text, legitimos; probably a transcriber’s error for ilegitimos (“of illegitimate birth”). Other papal letters give leave to dispense Note 241 · i.e., “It was lately related to us.”Note 242 · In the copy of this letter conserved in the collection of Fray Eduardo Navarro of the Colegio de Filipinas, Valladolid, Spain (of which we h Note 243 · Antonio (not Pedro) Urceo, who was also called Codrus, was an erudite Italian, who was born August 14, 1446 at Rubiera, and died at Bologna Note 244 · The date of the Navarro copy is wrongly given as 1725.Note 245 · Pedro Murillo Velarde was born August 6, 1696, at Villa Laujar, Granada, and entered the Jesuit novitiate at the age of 22. Having entered t Note 246 · A kind of sausage composed of lean pork, almonds, pineapple kernels, and honey.Note 247 · This sentence is missing in Father Navarro’s copy.Note 248 · Literally “lose a foothold.”Note 249 · Delgado here refers to the “Opinion” by Murillo Velarde which is prefixed to vol. i of San Antonio’s Chronicas; this is dated at San Miguel,Note 250 · Alluding to the irregular tides in the straits of Euripus, between Eubœa and Greece; during a large part of the month these tides occur as o Note 251 · A name given by the inhabitants of Cuba to the natives of Mexico, and in Vera Cruz to those of the interior. The name is also applied to shr Note 252 · These two rules are respectively: “Evil once, evil is always presupposed;” and “Evil [may spring] from any failing.”Note 253 · These chains were also of Chinese manufacture; apparently the Filipinos took up this industry through their tendency to imitate.Note 254 · The Lygodium scandens, also called Gnito and nitongputi, a climbing fern found throughout the Philippines. Blanco gives the name of the genu Note 255 · The balate is an echinoderm found abundantly in the Visayas, of which Delgado describes three varieties (p. 935): namely the Holothuria scab Note 256 · Father Pedro Murillo says, in his approbation of the Cronicas,249 that “there is no fixed rule by which to construe the Indians; for each on Note 257 · Now if the statements of authors in regard to physical or moral matters are so at variance that we can say that each author has a different Note 258 · But since in this letter, the evil propensities of the Indians, both men and lads, who act as servants, are set down in detail, let us see o Note 259 · [San Antonio,1 in his Cronicas (Manila, 1738–44), i, pp. 129–172, has the following ethnological matter. We omit the side heads.]Note 260 · The citation is from Quevedo’s Poema heroica de las necedades y locuras de Orlando el enamorado.Note 261 · The translation given by Wickham (ut supra, p. 349), is as follows: “What finds entrance through the ear stirs the mind less actively than w Note 262 · The translation of this passage is as follows: “O secure opportunity of life, and lares of the needy poor man! O gifts not yet recognized as Note 263 · Of the native priests of the Philippines, Delgado says (pp. 293–296): “I know some seculars in the islands, who although Indians, can serve