tranquillity. He has
become so tamed that we can say that he is one of the gentlest and most
useful of all our Indians, and aids in our affairs with much fidelity
and love. I spoke to him occasionally, with no small satisfaction,
of his former savage life. He told me of the places in which he took
refuge and spent the night, and of his hunting serpents--which,
according to his statement (which was verified there), are of so
great a size that they swallow men, deer, and other animals. [75]
Before his baptism, when our acquaintance was but recent, he more than
once offered to accompany me upon my journeys, carrying his dagger,
bow, and arrows. We two journeyed alone through the mountains, he
with great satisfaction in serving me, I with equal security and
confidence in his good fellowship.

In this way, at the time when Father Francisco Almerique was here,
not one man, as this one, but entire villages came in--the good father
choosing their location, and helping them to erect the houses. In
the village of Antipolo, in one year alone (either ninety-four or
ninety-five), nearly a thousand souls arrived at the mission, more than
five hundred of whom were baptized in that same year. They had come
down from some very rugged mountains, far from there, where they had
their houses and cultivated fields; but they neglected all these, out
of love and esteem for our holy faith. No one remained in the mountains
but a few catolones, for thus the priests of their idols are styled. As
soon as this was ascertained, efforts were made that a person able to
do so should remove them from that place, to suppress this cause of
offense to those who were weak. This was done with much gentleness,
and they were brought to us. Thereupon the good father, with his holy
prudence and with the example of his righteous life, subdued their
leader, whom the rest obeyed, and baptized them all. This leader said
that the father's anito (thus they style their deities) was greater
than those of other men, and for that reason they recognized him as
superior. This pagan priest, while offering his infamous sacrifices,
was possessed by the Devil who caused him to make most ugly grimaces;
and he braided his hair, which for his particular calling he wore
long, like that of a woman. But he, beginning (like the Magdalen) with
his hair, cut it off publicly, and with it the power of the Devil,
who held him captive; and receiving baptism, constrained the others
by his ex