lleon, by Juan Nino de
Tabora, who was appointed Gov.-General of these Islands (1626-32) by
King Philip IV. The Saint, it is alleged, had encountered numberless
reverses between that time and the year 1672, since which date it has
been safely lodged in the Parish Church of Antipolo--a village in the
old Military District of Morong (Rizal Province)--in the custody of
the Austin friars. In the month of May, thousands of people repair to
this shrine; indeed, this village of 3,800 inhabitants (diminished to
2,800 in 1903) chiefly depends upon the pilgrims for its existence,
for the land within the jurisdiction of Antipolo is all mountainous
and very limited in extent. The priests also do a very good trade in
prints of Saints, rosaries, etc., for the sale of which, in Spanish
times, they used to open a shop during the feast inside and just in
front of the convent entrance. The total amount of money spent in the
village by visitors during the pilgrimage has been roughly computed
to be P30,000. They come from all parts of the Islands.

The legends of the Saint are best described in a pamphlet published
in Manila, [81] from which I take the following information.

The writer says that the people of Acapulco (Mexico) were loth to
part with their Holy Image, but the saintly Virgin herself, desirous
of succouring the inhabitants of the Spanish Indies, smoothed all
difficulties. During her first voyage, in the month of March, 1626,
a tempest arose, which was calmed by the Virgin, and all arrived
safely in the galleon at the shores of Manila. She was then carried
in procession to the Cathedral, whilst the church bells tolled and
the artillery thundered forth salutes of welcome. A solemn Mass was
celebrated, which all the religious communities, civil authorities,
and a multitude of people attended.

Six years afterwards the Gov.-General Juan Nino de Tabora died. By
his will he intrusted the Virgin to the care of the Jesuits, whilst
a church was being built under the direction of Father Juan Salazar
for her special reception. During the erection of this church, the
Virgin often descended from the altar and exhibited herself amongst the
flowery branches of a tree, called by the natives Antipolo (_Artocarpus
incisa_). The tree itself was thenceforth regarded as a precious relic
by the natives, who, leaf by leaf and branch by branch, were gradually
carrying it off. Then Father Salazar decreed that the tree-trunk should
serve for a ped