adjourned,
I set forth to visit the island of Bohol, as your Reverence had
instructed me. There I immediately undertook to unite and bring
together the people, a very difficult task, but quite necessary for
their instruction. I began with the people of Loboc, who were dispersed
and disunited; and, after many peaceful methods and forcible arguments,
God was pleased to bring together more than a thousand souls, gathered
from the mountains and rivers--most of them people reared in war,
robbery and murder; until then, it had been impossible to bring them
down from the hilly regions and inaccessible mountains where they
dwelt. But _non est impossibile apud Deum omne verbum_. Encouraged
by our good fortune in Loboc, we sought to unite the Tinguianes
(or mountaineers) of Dita and Marabago, a wild people who had never
before seen a father. We brought them together by blandishments and
mild threats, and by other methods suited to their capacity, and it
pleased our Lord that we were able to persuade them to settle along
the river which they call Viga. There they have erected a church,
and Father Gabriel writes me that on Sundays it does not contain them
all. He says that he began by baptizing more than one hundred and
twenty children; and that the adults are not only tamed, but even
ask for baptism with much fervor. At night they pray, and sing the
doctrine; and in the day-time they chant praises to our Lord. Those
who have dwelt in Bohol, and know the unruly nature of that people,
will appreciate the change which our Lord has wrought in them. When we
first begin to address them, your Reverence might behold them on the
bank of the river, armed, and so fierce as to arouse one's fear; yet,
at the same time, desirous that I should address them. This I did,
showing them so much affection that they and I became friends; and
as hostages they gave me their children for baptism, preparing them
to learn the doctrine and to receive holy baptism. Having brought
together the people of Dita, when it seemed to me that they would
have no difficulties in the small villages round about, it happened
that, when least I expected, I saw as many as forty men coming,
armed with lances and shields, whose design it was to break up the
union by violence, especially if they should be ordered to assemble
in any place not to their liking. Realizing from their determination
the danger to which the others would be exposed, I dissimulated as
best I could, so th