are computed to be included in this residence, whose instruction is
generally in charge of five priests.

Within a few years seven priests have given their lives and shed their
blood in this island for the administration of the holy gospel, at
the hands of the Moros and apostates: two in the residence of Dapitan,
[40] and five in the district of Samboangan. Of these, one was in Siao;
[41] two in Buayen, [42] a kingdom of the Moros; and two others but
recently in this current year of 1656, in the capital of the entire
island--namely, the river of Mindanao, in the settlement where
King Corralat lives and holds his court. [43] There are, besides,
other lathers who have been captives, one of whom died in captivity;
[44] and others who have died in the Spanish presidio, at their posts
as chaplains.

The products of Mindanao and its islands are in general the same as
those of the other islands--namely, rice, palms [_sc._, cocoanuts],
a quantity of wax, vegetables, civet, and wild cinnamon (which is used
fresh). In the island of Jolo, a quantity of amber has been found at
times, and some large pearls. It alone of all the Filipinas Islands
has elephants.

Mission to Borney

With the opportunity of the oared fleets of the presidio of Samboanga,
which--accompanied by a number of Indian volunteer vessels from the
district of Dapitan, and others of our missions--have sailed during the
last few years to this great island, and since our fathers have always
accompanied them and acted as their chaplains, a mission has been
formed there at the same time; and the ministries of the Society have
been exercised in those so remote parts, with not a little gain, and
great hopes of numerous Christians, since those baptized number seven
hundred--among whom are some of the chiefs of the neighboring islands,
who have already offered vassalage to the king our sovereign, and
asked for ministers of the gospel. If God be pleased to let our arms in
Mindanao be free, and if this undertaking that has been begun in Borney
be continued, it will be without doubt to the great exaltation of our
holy faith, and the advantage of the Spanish state in these Filipinas
Islands. For, besides freeing the islands from the continual invasions,
fires, thefts, and captivities by those pirates, they will enjoy the
fertility, wealth, and abundance of this island, which is the largest
one of these archipelagos, having a circumference of four hundred
and fifty legu