so close to
the edge of the river that it could not be followed without risk. The
rest of the country was so rough that it could not be penetrated. I
was going carefully, but the horse knew little of the reins, and
made a misstep and fell into the river--from so high a precipice that
surely, had there not been much water in the river at that time, we
had broken all our bones. But it was deep and had a strong current,
so that when we fell into it we sank. The horse reached the shore
immediately by swimming. The current carried me above water for a
very great distance, until I seized some reed-grass by which I was
able to reach the shore, where I thanked God for so many mercies. The
fifth was by falling into the Dumangas River from a little boat. The
above one of the ship is the sixth. I have left untold countless
other dangers, while on the sea so many times--now from enemies, now
from the weather. The seventh time is the loss of Sugbu, after the
burning of that city and convent. It is not little to tell what the
missionaries suffer here; but, as they are caused by works for God,
His [Divine] Majesty aids us with His help and protection, when by
any other means it seems impossible to save one's life on account of
the enemies and hardships that surround a religious on all sides. May
thanks be given to His [Divine] Majesty for all. Amen.
In 1631 there happened a wonderful thing in Sugbu. On account of the
ill-success achieved at Jolo, the governor sent Sargento-mayor Tufino
to Sugbu, so that, being posted in Dapitan (situated in Mindanao),
he might prove an obstacle to the Joloans, so that they should not
infest the islands. He reached the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus,
and was lodged in a house belonging to the convent, opposite the
prison; the two houses are separated only by a very wide street. The
sargento-mayor stored his powder, amounting to sixteen barrels, in
his house. The prison caught afire. All the people ran thither, since
if the fire leaped to the house opposite, and caught in the powder,
the city would surely be blown to pieces. The most Holy Child was
immediately taken out, at sight of whom the fire was checked, and
burned only the nipas of that piece, and left the supports on which
it rests intact. This is the latest thing [of this sort] that has
been seen. It was a solemn miracle; but that Lord who is omnipotent
in all things can do this.
CHAPTER XLIII
_Continuation of the preceding_
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