hey
worked along the Calavite side to Pola, which they abandoned either
because those natives were not at all disposed [to accept the faith],
or because those fathers had slight esteem for that island when
compared with what was offered them in Ylocos and Camarines. The
Jesuits also labored there, but always by the method of temporary
missions, from time to time, and had no stability. It only appears
that they were more continual in Naohan (which they founded), as long
as it was preserved by Father San Victores. When the latter went to
the Marianas, the Jesuits resigned that portion into the hands of the
archbishop. It is probable that the latter was Senor Poblete. [64]
He immediately formed two curacies for the secular clergy to look
after those souls. Although there were but few souls, the extent of
their territory was so vast that it was necessary to establish a third
parish. Those seculars maintained what was conquered, but that district
did not yield a sufficient recompense for the three ministers, and
they were paid from the royal treasury and from other pious funds. It
was also even difficult to find seculars who cared to take charge of
such districts, which were truly little to be desired. But obedience
caused that there never was a lack of seculars there, who maintained
themselves until the year 76, when the Recollects went there to take
their places. As the latter immediately placed six ministers there,
they furthered the conquest and reduction greatly in all parts. Hence,
while they only received about four thousand Christians, those were
multiplied in a few years and the number rose to eight thousand, and
in 1716 they reached the number of twelve thousand. There are still a
great number of people in the mountains, which are inhabited by wild
men. Some of those men are quite light-complexioned, and are believed
to have originated from the Chinese and Japanese established there
for the convenience afforded by the island, or who have put in there
because of shipwreck, or been driven thither by the winds. Others are
Cimarron Negritos, who are the first inhabitants, and, as it were, more
native. Trustworthy persons say that those people have a hard little
tail in the proper place for it, which prevents them from sitting
down flat. If it is true (and I do not doubt it, notwithstanding
that it is disputed), it is not so strange that I have no examples
of it. Those prominences of the sacral bone are considered as rar