granted the islands of Ibabao, Capul, Leite, Samar, Bohol, and others
in that vicinity, as well as authority to found a college in the city
of Santissimo Nombre de Jesus.

How the Society extended its labors to the villages of the Indians
outside of Manila. Chapter VIII.

At this time we had again brought our number in Manila to five. In
the place of Father Alonso Sanchez, who was absent in Espana,
and of the late Father Hernan Suarez, two others of us had gone to
the islands and had learned the language; and one of us, in holy
obedience to orders given him, and at the instance of a prebendary
of Manila, began to use it in his benefice, fourteen leguas from the
city. The principal village of this district is called Balayan; in
it and in numerous other villages of the same region there are many
good Christians, converted by the discalced friars of the Order of
the seraphic Father St. Francis--especially in Balayan, among whose
inhabitants there are many persons of note, who are very intelligent
and well disposed. During several years an apostolic man of that
order preached there, named Father Juan de Oliver, whose holy teaching
shone forth in the piety and devotion of that people. I dwelt in that
district for more than two months, and during my stay they kept me well
occupied in the baptism of children and adults, and in confessions and
communions, which were so numerous that all that time seemed to me a
Holy Week. All these peoples hold our holy law in the highest esteem,
and therefore have the deepest respect for its priests. I shall relate
in this connection an incident that befell me at this time with some of
the chiefs of Balayan. There was an epidemic of small-pox (called by
them Bolotong), which was killing off children and old men, although
more fatal to adults than to the young. I was in the habit of walking
through the principal streets twice a day, morning and night, when I
would send boys on both sides of the street to discover and indicate
to me those who desired confession and baptism. Whenever they sent for
me (which was not seldom), I entered the house; all the living-rooms
are in the upper part, the lower floor being used only for household
duties. And it was no small labor to ascend and descend so often,
especially by ladders of cane; which are used everywhere. One day, when
busied in this my occupation, I passed by a group of their chiefs, who,
upon perceiving me, formed a row on one side of the