once so populous, has lost many of its men by conscription for the
Spanish forts, being sent away even to Maluco. It is often raided
by the head-hunting tribes of the interior--something which cannot
be checked, especially on account of the heedlessness and lack
of foresight inherent in the character of the Indians. They are
lazy, deficient in public spirit, and have no initiative; what they
accomplish is only under the vigilance and urging of the missionary
or the alcalde-mayor. The Panay convent is near the Spanish fort
at Arevalo, and the fathers have the privilege of treatment by the
surgeon there--"who, without being able to distinguish his right hand,
bleeds and purges, so that in a brief time the sick man is laid in
his grave." The creoles of Nueva Espana die early, and "do not reach
their majority."

In 1581, Fray Andres de Aguirre is elected provincial of Filipinas:
his many virtues and achievements are extolled by our writer. Medina
here takes occasion to advocate the policy of gathering the Indians
into reductions and there teaching them the civilized ways of
Europeans. He makes interesting observations on the character
and temperament of the natives; and complains of the opposition
encountered by the missionaries from the Spaniards, "by whose
hands the devil wages warfare against the ministry; consequently
the religious tire themselves out, and the devil reaps what harvest
he wills." But the Spaniards oppress the Indians; and, "if it were
not for the protection of the religious, there would not now be an
Indian, or any settlement." Moreover, it is the religious who are
taming those wild peoples, and reducing them to subjection to the
Spanish crown. All these points are illustrated by anecdotes and
citations from actual experience. Under Aguirre's rule as provincial,
some extensions of missions are made. Among these is Bantayan--since
that time abandoned by the Augustinians, as Medina records, and almost
depopulated by the raids of Moro pirates. An attempt is made to remove
its inhabitants to settlements in Cebu Island; but they refuse to
leave their homes. Medina recounts numerous instances of cruel and
oppressive treatment of the Indians by the Spaniards, and of insolence
and opposition on the part of the latter to the missionaries and their
work. With this, he also urges that the religious be allowed to inflict
punishments upon the natives, when the latter are disobedient or commit
misdeeds. In this argum