ion of
our insignificant Society in the Filipinas, in accordance with the
obligation of my office as procurator sent here from those regions
in the month of July, six hundred and two, and as one who has spent
there fourteen years of the best of his life. [31] I shall follow the
thread of incidents which have befallen the Society in that region, and
the hardships that it has undergone while preaching our holy faith. I
shall also consider how that Society has grown in connection with its
services toward the holy Church. That I may do so more conveniently,
my narrative will begin at the time when our religion was first
established in those islands, treating of the islands themselves,
their characteristics, and those of the nations and peoples who
inhabit them. I shall touch somewhat upon their history and upon
events that have occurred there, noting only what concerns my purpose,
and that briefly; for a complete and copious history of those islands
has been written, [32] with exceeding care, truth, and eloquence, by
Doctor Antonio de Morga of the Council of his Catholic Majesty, and
his auditor in the royal Chancilleria of Manila. Moreover, apart from
the consideration of the above book, it is neither my obligation nor
my profession to write a history; although there certainly are in that
land magnificent, singular, and wonderful things, both profitable and
pleasing to know. I feel confident, however, that the matter contained
in this short narrative will not fail to please your Paternity, in
proportion as you are informed of the fidelity and truth with which
our Lord (may He guard your Paternity) is served in those most distant
parts of the world by your sons who are there.

Of the name of the Filipinas, their discovery, and location. Chapter I.

The Filipinas are a part of the many islands which recent cosmographers
consider adjacent to Asia--as the Canarias and the Terceras [_i.e._,
Azores] are to Africa; and Inglaterra [England], Escocia [Scotland],
Hibernia, Irlanda, Olanda [Holland], Gelanda [Iceland], and the
Oreadas [Orkney] Islands, to Europe. Some of the islands of this
great archipelago cross the equinoctial line, or the torrid zone,
and following the coast-line of Great China and India, terminate on
the north side with the islands of Japon, which extend beyond the
fortieth degree; in the south the archipelago has as yet no known
termination. The Filipinas are between the Malucas and the islands
of Japon;