means conducive to that end. Hence
it is that father Fray Juan Francisco de San Antonio has inserted
the following narrative in his seraphic chronicle. He says: "Some
of the Tagabaloyes are living now in old villages who have become
Christians, and others are being reduced by the zeal and cultivation
of the discalced Augustinian fathers, who hold them as inhabitants of
Bislig." [29] And it is confirmed that although the district of Bislig
was formerly one of the smallest in the number of its parishioners,
it is now one of the largest in Mindanao, and there is no other reason
for its increase.

[The two following sections of this chapter detail several miraculous
happenings that aided not a little in the conversion of the region
inhabited by the Tagabaloyes. In 1662 when the Spaniards abandoned the
island of Ternate, because of the Chinese pirate Kuesing, one of the
religious images taken away with them was of the Virgin. That image
was given by the governor of Ternate to the alcalde-mayor of Caraga,
who in turn gave it to the garrison of Catel. From its position there
it was known as "La Virgen de la Costa" or, the Virgin of the hill,
"for costa in the language of the country, is the same as castillo
[i.e., redoubt]." The influence of this image was far reaching and
it distributed many blessings and favors to its devotees in times of
drought, in plagues of locusts, and during epidemics, and performed
other miracles that gave it lasting fame. Another image of the Christ
crucified was revered in a village near Bislig, and was later given
a place in the Recollect church at Manila. It was a small ordinary
image such as was used on the altar during mass. As it was very
ugly and misshapen the priest determined to bury it, ordering some
of the natives to perform that task. But when the hole was dug,
and they went to get the image, in its place they found the most
beautiful and symmetrical image that they had ever seen, and nailed
to the same cross. The transformation was announced to be of divine
origin, and this image was accordingly revered as miraculous; and
it proved itself to be so in the future. On account of the miracles
that occurred in the Caraga district the people became more devout
Christians and many abandoned their ancient practices. The remainder
of this chapter does not deal with Philippine matters; as do neither
of the two following chapters.]

CHAPTER VII

The Catholic faith is advanced by the prea