fluence; recounts the beneficial achievements
of the missionaries among the Indians; and deprecates the recent
attempts to restrict their authority. Mas approves Comyn's views, and
proceeds to defend the friars against the various charges which have
been brought against them. In support of his own opinions, he also
cites Fray Manuel del Rio; and he himself praises the public spirit,
disinterestedness, and devotion to the interests of the Indians,
displayed by the curas, many of whom are friars. He argues that they
even show too much patience and lenity toward the natives, who are
lazy and indolent in the extreme; and it has been a great mistake to
forbid the priests to administer corporal punishment to delinquent
natives. Mas is surprised at the lack of religious in the islands,
while in Spain there is an oversupply and the livings are much poorer
than in the Philippines. He enumerates the various dioceses, and the
number of curacies in each, whether filled by regulars or seculars;
and concludes with an extract from the Jesuit writer Murillo Velarde,
on the duties of the parish priest who ministers to the Indians.

A survey of the ecclesiastical system is presented (1850) in the
_Diccionario de las Islas Filipinas_ of the Augustinians Manuel
Buzeta and Felipe Bravo. As in preceding writings of this sort, the
different sees are separately described--in each being enumerated
the territories of its jurisdiction, and its mode of government and
ecclesiastical courts; the number of curacies in it, and how served;
and the number of other ecclesiastical officials, with professors,
seminarists, etc. In the account of Cebu is inserted a letter (1831)
from the bishop of that diocese, appealing for its division into two.

The German traveler Feodor Jagor presents (1873) an interesting view
of the character and influence of the friars. He praises their kindly
and hospitable treatment of strangers, and the ability and knowledge
that they often display; and defends those whom he has known (mainly
the Spaniards) from the charge of licentiousness. He discusses the
relations between the curas and civil alcaldes--the former being
often the protectors of the Indians against the latter.

A survey of the field and labors of the Augustinian Recollects is
obtained from _Provincia de San Nicolas de Tolentino de Agustinos
descalzos_ (Manila, 1879)--presented partly in translation, partly in
synopsis. In it are enumerated the missions in charge