and the country expected so little)
by the province of San Nicolas de Tolentino, by means of the worthy
children of its bosom whom it sent to that land, and through those
who have continued, furthered, and perfected the arduous attempt at
the culture and civilization of those natives....

The Recollects of Mindanao

[The entrance of the Recollects into Mindanao, and the earlier years
of their preaching there, have been already given in preceding volumes
of this series.]

Division of parishes in Mindanao

Although it is clear that the fathers of the Society of Jesus entered
this land in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-six to
procure its spiritual conquest, by permission of the cabildo governing
the vacant see of Manila, and that the call of the gospel resounded in
the site Tampacan [misprinted Jampacan], when our soldiers retired the
fathers of the Society had to do the same. In the year one thousand
five hundred and ninety-nine, the Observantine Augustinians took
this vineyard in their charge, and father Fray Francisco Xaraba [150]
went to cultivate it with a companion; but undeceived, [and seeing]
that only war could open the way for their preaching, because of
the exceeding ferocity of the people, they abandoned the undertaking
and returned to Cebu. The missionaries of the Society returned [to
Mindanao], and preached on the river of Butuan; and those who were
then converted by them formed a visita of a village in Bohol.

After the deed of arms above mentioned, the Recollect missionaries,
with the necessary permits from the bishop and the royal vice-patron,
founded the first convent and village of Tandag, and then the convent
and village of Jigaquit; a third village and convent on the river of
Butuan, whence they continued their conquests and went up the river
of Butuan to the interior of the island, to a lake called Linao; and
the fourth village and convent, fifty leguas from Butuan. Then they
went to Cagayan, [151] where they also founded a church and convent;
whence they crossed to the island of Camiguin, where they did the same;
and lastly in the island of Surigao and Bislig. Eight settlements,
perfectly organized in the social order, with churches suitable for the
public worship of our true religion, with convenient buildings for the
habitation of their ministers--where they could practice the exercises
of the monastic life, and whence issued the splendors of their edifying
holiness to