ces being knee-deep. The fathers heard
the confessions of all the sick, some of whom our Lord soon took to
Himself. While returning from this village the father passed through
a little hamlet of Christians not dependent on this mission, which
lay within some very rugged ravines; and among all its people there
was not one who had in all his life made confession. They welcomed
the father with great joy, going more than a quarter of a legua out
of the village to meet him; and when he departed from the village
they accompanied him to a like distance. He heard the confessions
of some, and all were desirous of removing to our mission-village;
they put this desire into execution, at the end of four months, by
breaking up the entire village, and proceeding with their families
to Silan. This and other beneficial results from that residence of
Silan are well described by Father Gregorio Lopez in a letter written
by him for the father-visitor, thus:

"Early in my stay there, the people told me that in Caibabayan was a
catalona, or priestess; and in order to cut the thread of evil, and to
gain a knowledge of those distant fields and peoples, I went thither,
desiring to act toward them as a father rather than as a judge; and
the Lord, who is the true Father of all, fulfilled my desire. Finding
no present evil, but only the report of past things, I sought to
reestablish the reputation of the person whom they defamed. I found in
one of the most distant fields, an old man about seventy years of age,
who was crippled and had been sick for days. I baptized him, giving
him the name of Ignacio, and invited many others who had not even
been baptized--encouraging in them the desire for so great a good,
helping them to learn what was necessary, to which they commonly give
attention. Word was sent from one to another among those mountains
and plantations, and those people followed me about with tokens of
love and offered to entertain me. Afterward were baptized there many
persons of all ages--children, youths, and old men. A few days ago I
was informed that in the villages of Malabag, Balete, and Dinglas there
were many sick persons who needed help. I set out in the morning after
saying mass, thinking to return in the evening; but when I arrived
there and saw the needy condition of the people, I changed my plan,
for I found in Malabag many sick persons. After I had cared for them
I heard the confessions of many who were infirm and old, and tho