re to other islands. They must
have three convents in the islands of Cuyo and Calamianes, more than
sixty leguas from Manila. Those islands are full of people, so that,
if they would come down from the mountains, many missions might be
established; for in that region the islands are innumerable. There
is the large island of Paragua, and thence succeed islands and islets
even to Burney, the largest island known in all this archipelago. But
there is little hope of entering it, for the king and all the coast
Indians are Mahometans. But those living in the upland and mountains
are even pagans. By the above, the ease with which this damnable poison
has extended will be apparent. Had God's mercy been retarded a trifle
longer in hastening the steps of the Spaniards, the latter would have
found no place to settle; for as I have remarked, long experience
shows that the Mahometan will not receive the Christian law which is
so contrary to his hellish customs. The religious suffered many things
in those islands as they were exposed to a thousand temporal dangers,
and to enemies, with whom the whole region swarms. Those missions
had seculars; and although they did their best, yet at present that
region has another luster, for it appears that the religious, being
more in number, are more suitable for this work.

Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Arce gave the fathers another mission in the
island of Negros, opposite the island of Panay. I think it their best
mission, as it is located nearer us. It has two religious, who do very
good work. The bishop gave them also many missions in Caraga, where
they will be able to spread. Later, we shall conclude this subject with
what the fathers have built in Cavite, the port of Manila, in honor
of San Nicolas--namely, a house and church, which is the best there.

[About the time that the Recollects sail Father Master Solier is
preparing also to go to the Philippines. He has been given "equal
power with him whom the province sent as procurator, in case of the
latter's death." The procurator dies at sea, whereupon Father Solier
assumes his office. He sails with twenty-six Augustinian religious,
eight of whom remain in New Spain--where they suffer many things,
for the government of affairs there falls into the hands of the
creole fathers.]

Those who remained were well received in Filipinas, where they were
desired. They were distributed among the convents, as seemed best
to our father Fray Lorenzo de Leo