ollowed for the
space of one hundred years in their administration of the Indians in
the islands, are as follows:

First, because the Indians are not yet well rooted in the faith,
and there are still a great number of heathen and Moros to be newly
converted--for the sacred Order of St. Dominic has many heathen
in the provinces of Cagayan, Pangasinan, and Ytui. The Order of
St. Augustine has still many heathen among the Yglotes (who belong
to the province of Ylocos) and in the island of Panay. The Society of
Jesus has all the island of Mindanao, those of Jolo, and the islands
adjacent to them, which are for the most part inhabited by Moros and
to a less extent by Christians and heathens. They have abandoned the
Maluccas, where they have labored for so many years; and at present
they administer only the island of Siao which is all Christian. The
Recollect Augustinians administer the Negrillos of Masinlo and many
of the Caragas bordering upon the Mindanaos. The Order of St. Francis
is not lacking in Aetas (who are still heathen) in their districts
of La Laguna and the mountains there to be converted.

Second, because the missions of the Filipinas are suitable for
him who is looking for hardship and not ease. How is it possible
for missions in the islands of old infested by infidel pirates, and
[now] having new conversions of Moros and heathen, not to be full of
hardship? For as a rule, those missions outside the island of Manila
are visited by sea by their ministers; and that brings them no little
trouble besides the constant danger of being killed by the Moros.

Third, because the regulars in those islands now and those who have
always been there have almost all come from Espana, and have gone
to them, not for the purpose of any temporal advantage, but with
the design of reducing infidels to the bosom of the Church. Most of
them are desirous of going thence to Japon, as the reduction of that
empire as well as a portion of that of China belongs to the crown of
Castilla. Since, then, the missions and doctrinas of those islands are
so apostolic, and the zeal of the regulars in going there is expended
only in the direction of promulgating the gospel among heathen, one can
easily infer how necessary it is that the regulars be maintained there
in the strict observance and spirit with which they left Espana. They
fear, and with great reason, that if that subjection be accepted the
regulars in those islands will relax, as has