nd their
food, it results that this race have great opportunity to save and
acquire considerable wealth. But their vices, their few necessities,
and their disposition, which is indifferent and lacking in foresight,
does not allow them to better the condition of their birth; and they
remain in the wake of the mestizos, who are always the wealthy people
of the villages." (Mas, pp. 64, 65.)

[117] 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."

[118] This sentence is omitted in M. and D.

[119] All the matter above between the word "father" and this point
is lacking in M.

[120] The solidus was a coin of the Roman empire, which was at first
called "aureus," and worth about twenty-five denarii, but afterward
reduced to about one-half that value. It is used in the same manner as
"farthing" or "cent" would be in English.

[121] 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
given trouble to them that helped them.

5. Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in
promise they humble their voice.

6. But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return
tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time:

7. And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay
one-half, and will count it as if he had found it:

8. But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get
him for an enemy without cause:

9. And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of
honour and good turn will repay him injuries.

[122] i.e., "Scarce does he return the half."

[123] 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 passage.

[124] Delgado (Historia, p. 306) commenting on this passage says: "I
find noted many actions of the Indian boys who serve in the houses and
convents; and all are ridiculous things which we ourselves did in our
own country when we were boys like them." He objects to San Agustin's
quotation from Scripture on the ground that it is too general, and
that those words were not written merely for them. "If twenty cases
have been experienced where the Indian borrower has failed to return
what he borrowed, it cannot be said that the entire Tagalog nation are
sinners, let alone other nations,