ful
as a retreat and aid for those who in the school for children were
already advanced in reading, writing, and reckoning. Although many
of the boys remained in the lower school as pupils, a considerable
number of students began the study of grammar with the new master,
Father Francisco Vicente Puche, who as an initiation to the studies,
and as a welcome to the bishop, gave with his students a two-hours'
dramatic representation in the cathedral, in honor of his Lordship,
which proved most agreeable, learned, dignified, and devout, and gave
extraordinary pleasure to all the citizens, who had never before seen
such a thing in their city.

There were two Indian peoples among whom we were especially laboring
at that time: one the Bissayans, who are the natives of that country,
to whom we preached, on Sundays and feast-days, throughout the year,
in their own language; the other the Chinese--many of whom, coming from
their own land into this (and many do come in the merchant-vessels),
remain here. They have established in this city, near our house, a
quarter of their own, which at that time was in charge of the Society;
and our fathers administered the sacraments to them and their families,
including their women and servants--Chinese, Japanese, Malucos,
and Bissayans. They repaired with great frequency to confession
and communion, especially on days in jubilees and in Lent; and we
always had catechumens among the infidel Chinese, whom we baptized
only at the notable feasts, and with great solemnity--excepting on
occasions when that sacrament was bestowed on persons at the point
of death. The first confirmations which the lord bishop celebrated
outside of his cathedral were in our church, where he most devoutly
bestowed this holy sacrament upon our Chinese and their families. On
Easter of this last year, he celebrated in the same church, as an
encouragement and a favor, the solemn baptism of the catechumens,
of whom there were a large number; and he was greatly delighted and
edified to behold one of our fathers, his assistant on that occasion,
conversing in the Chinese language.

The fruitful results of these ministries were displayed in many
instances, more especially in regard to purity and constancy. I
shall mention one case only, wherein it seemed to us extraordinary
constancy which could inspire with courage for such resistance an
Indian woman whose former occupation, while she was a heathen, was
so contrary to such c