wonder, and they rendered thanks to our Lord,
who by means of His own sweet name and holy cross had delivered them."

The number of people who were gathered into villages in the district
of Alangalang, and the result of our labors therein. Chapter LVII.

At no time did the Filipinos have any form of towns with civic order
and political government, such that at least one island, or a number of
villages, recognizing one person as their lord, might live under his
protection and rule; but he who was most powerful conquered others,
and ruled over them. As there was not only one such, but almost
all the chiefs asserted their authority, and conquered and ruled,
the general result was that each chief remained apart from the rest,
having his own followers, and fortified himself, keeping up an attitude
of defense. Consequently, they were usually at war with one another,
neighbors against neighbors--perpetually engaged in petty warfare,
with ambuscades, violence, robbery, murders, and captures.

Very seldom, if ever, did any of these bands become friendly and live
in the same neighborhood or village, and aid each other and combine
against enemies. Even rarer were the lords who ruled large towns,
such as Sebu, Manila, Cainta, and a very few others. To this must be
added the fact that those who were able to remove from the vicinity
and danger of such turmoils, and flee to the mountains to spend their
lives, would there build their houses and, close by, cultivate their
groves and fields. As a result, in places and at times favorable to
the enjoyment of this tranquillity, many persons migrated; and soon
the country districts abounded with homes--so that in some districts,
and even in many today, one may journey many leguas, all the way
through dwellings and plantations (which are cultivated and divided
into fields), in the same manner as, here in Europe, the farm-houses
and cottages are wont to stand. This was the condition of all those
islands, and, in particular, of this island of Leite; the greater
part of the people everywhere divided and scattered in rural hamlets,
in rugged, inaccessible, and mountainous localities. Besides these,
there were houses at considerable distances from one another, without
any order, or any trace of streets or village, placed along the banks
of the rivers, and surrounded by their grain-fields and groves. On
account of these conditions, the first concern of Father Cosme de
Flores, upon entering