preserved even to the present, because of their fortunate progress,
and the friendly reception that our first conquistadors experienced
from their noble loyalty and honorable valor. No other more remote
origin is known of them, but it is conjectured to be like the others.

406. The Mindanaos and Malanaos are Moros, but they seem formerly
to have been heathen (from which today they are considered as
newcomers), and took their names from the celebrated lakes in their
territories. Father Combes says that the Malanaos resemble the Visayans
in their government, and the same is inferred of the Mindanaos; and,
of both, that one must seek there their true origin. The Mindanaos
have always remained Mahometans, and have not allowed the light of
the gospel to enter. The Malanaos, with the district of Bayug, were
reduced to the yoke of Christ at another time, and were for some years
constant to their baptisms by the discalced Augustinian fathers; but
later they grew weary of it. At the present time some of those Moros
have come to the governor of Manila with the title of ambassadors, from
Bayug and Malanao, in order to petition for the discalced Augustinian
fathers as ministers of the gospel. This is not the first time when
they have requested them, as well as the Franciscan religious, as I
have seen in an original document. Since the fathers of the Society
are those to whom those places are adjudged for the preaching of the
holy gospel, and since the disposition of that race is so faithless in
their dealings, some suspicions have been aroused by those embassies,
and we are endeavoring to probe their designs in coming.

407. The Tagabalooyes take their name from some mountains which they
call Balooy, which are located in the interior of the jurisdiction
of Caraga. They are not very far remote from and trade with the
villages [of Caraga], and some indeed live in them who have become
Christians. Others are being converted through the zeal and care of
the discalced Augustinian fathers, who regard them as inhabitants of
Baslig, which is their headquarters and priorate. Those people, as has
been stated above, are the descendants of lately-arrived Japanese. This
is the opinion of all the religious who have lived there and had
intercourse with them, and the same is a tradition among themselves,
and they desire to be so considered. And it would seem that one is
convinced of it on seeing them; for they are light-complexioned,
well built, l