farther than conjectures, as in everything else,
after so much toil. It serves only as a light, so that others may infer
a truer origin. And the same is true of Pangasinan, which lies next.

411. On this account, and without all the above serving as an
obstacle, one can also conjecture the origin of other nations who
are scattered through the innumerable islets of these archipelagoes;
for they may proceed from all India extra Gangen and from its most
renowned kingdoms, such as Sian, Camboja, China, Cochinchina, Tunquin,
Japon, the Lequios, etc.--especially when not few affirm that the
Chinese dominated all this archipelago, and that they were the first
settlers of the Javas, as is mentioned by Barros. In fine, these are
the conjectures that I have found. Other conjectures may be made from
their customs and ceremonies, in the comparison of which the curious
will find not a few strong arguments, if they read thoughtfully. But,
at the last, God is the only one who knows the truth, to which our
limited judgments cannot penetrate.

CHAPTER XL

Of the characteristics [genio] and genius [ingenio] of the
Filipino Indians

[Paragraphs 412, 413, and a portion of 414 will be found in our
Vol. XXVIII, pp. 220-223. The balance of the chapter follows.]

... They are the greatest enemies that the father ministers have. They
are impious in the known necessities of their parents and relatives,
and very charitable to a guest who comes to them and stays leisurely
in their houses, without knowing him and without sending him
away; and they do not even take warning by the experience of great
inconveniences. Many other contradictions and contrarieties are found
daily in these Indians by those who have communication with them and
know them, so that in them vices are united to their opposed virtues,
as if related. Only in the matter of lying there is no contradiction,
for one cannot tell when they are not lying. Neither does one know
when they are thankful for any benefits received; for one could
write by thousands the cases of their ingratitude which have been
experienced--either not taking any account of the good that is shown
them, regarding it as a justice due them; or paying with treachery
pure and simple their greatest benefactors. All these are truths,
and although (in the opinion of Terence) they gain hate for the
one who states them, it is not right for the Indians who may read
this to hate me; for I know it all b