umerous, and there is no room for all, leave
their homes more easily. In fact, they did that, too, in order to
be surer of the Zambals, in whose severe and warlike minds they did
not have the greatest confidence. Thus did they soften those people,
or let us say frankly, checked their vehemence. The reduction of the
people of the mountain, however much it is talked about, is not known,
as neither is the place where they could form villages or a village
from them. Let us leave then exaggerations, which, when they offend by
comparison, cannot fail to be odious. We shall treat of the restoration
[of that province] below, in its proper place. [71]

[The following extract is from the same volume, and includes
pp. 135-144.]

CHAPTER V

The Augustinian Recollect fathers assume the spiritual government of
the islands of Masbate, Ticao, and Burias. A geographical description
of those islands is presented.

1. Under the metaphor of husbandmen, the prophet Amos describes those
who are employed in the cultivation of souls. The chroniclers of the
Augustinian Recollect fathers describe those fathers for us as zealous
and laborious in their never-ceasing application in planting and
cultivating the word of God in humble hearts. The Recollects assumed
charge, in addition to the fields already mentioned of the island of
Masbate with the neighboring islands of Ticao and Burias. Those islands
belong to the bishopric of Nueva Caceres in ecclesiastical matters,
and to the alcaldeship of Albay in political affairs. Masbate is sixty
leguas from Manila, in a latitude lying between twelve and thirteen
degrees. It is about fifty leguas in circumference, nineteen leguas
long and five or six broad. It was formerly famous for its rich gold
mines, which, when they tried later to work them, it was found did not
produce expenses. The island also has fine copper mines, samples from
which in very recent times were excellent. Information was given of
them by Don Francisco Salgado; and when everything necessary and expert
Chinese for working them had been prepared, he abandoned them, for
he saw that they had much less metal than he had thought. The island
of Ticao is about twenty-three leguas in circumference, nine long,
and more than four wide. That of Burias extends its circumference
to twenty-six leguas, twelve in length, and four in width. These
calculations must be understood only approximately, for they had not
been exactly determined. Al