med by his
people, seeing that all refused to help a poor woman, who was in a
very loathsome condition, to go to the church, placed her on his own
shoulders and carried her thither, heedless of the stench and sores,
and careless of staining a very elegant gown which he had put on that
same day. When some persons attempted to restrain him, he responded
that such was the obligation of a Christian.

The increase and fervor of Christianity in Tinagon. Chapter LXIII.

When the first fruits had been paid with a thousand Christians, who, as
we have said, died newly-baptized, in Tinagon and its district, there
were left, upon the arrival there of the fathers of the Society, about
eight thousand five hundred souls. Of this number we baptized from the
month of April of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine,
to the same month of the year one thousand six hundred, more than
nine hundred and seventy persons, almost amounting to a thousand. For
the rest of the catechumens, and for some Christians besides who are
scattered through various villages, the services of three fathers
and three brethren did not suffice, although they were constantly
occupied in instructing them. But our Lord provided us with some boys,
so well disposed and so intelligent in the things of our holy faith,
that they have, upon various occasions, supplied the lack of priests
and the need for catechizing and instruction in those villages. It was
in this way that a native chief in one of those neighboring villages,
having heard one of Ours preach, became so enamored of the things of
our holy faith, and so desirous that he and his villagers might know
them, that he went straightway to his encomendero and entreated him
to find for them some Indian well instructed in our doctrine, who
might impart to them the prayers and catechism. An Indian was sent,
as he had desired; they received him very hospitably, and all promptly
learned the doctrine. They manifested their gratitude for such benefits
by entertaining their teacher liberally during his stay and presenting
some gifts to him at his departure. Two or three times afterward, this
same chief came to ask our fathers to send someone to his district
to baptize his people, saying that they all desired to receive holy
baptism. The earnest affection wherewith they asked for it was manifest
in another Indian whose baptism our fathers delayed until he should be
better prepared for it: but each day his des