the laborious eagerness of the sowers who have succeeded them,
a great portion of that arid desert has been transformed into the
most charming garden. When I left Philipinas in the year 1738, it
still existed as a most fruitful mission and there were well founded
hopes that if Apollos water the plants established by Paul, it will
receive the most abundant increase from God. [49]

813. [The way was blazed also in the mountain mission with miraculous
occurrences that proclaimed the true God.] It appears impossible that
their inhabitants should not come to know God and should not run
breathless after the odoriferous delicacias of His goodness. There
is still much to do in this regard, for a great number of infidels
still live in the said mountains, and if thirty missionaries were
assigned there, they would not lack employment. But let us praise God
for what has been accomplished, petitioning Him to crown so memorable
beginnings with a good end.

[The fourth section of this chapter does not treat of the Philippines.]

CHAPTER X

The province of Philipinas again receives the ministries of Calamianes,
which it had previously abandoned. Abundance of fruit is gathered
there. Some religious die in Espana.

The year 1681

Sec. I

Our religious begin again to preach the faith in the islands of
Calamianes; and the great fruit which they gather in the conversion
of many heathen.

823. [The Recollect missionaries of Philipinas can rightly be called
apostolic because of their zeal.]

824. In the year 1661, the Chinese pirate Kuesing sent an embassy to
the Philipinas Islands, demanding nothing less than the vassalage
of them all, and threatening the Spaniards who did not comply with
what he called their obligation that they would feel all the weight
of war on themselves. We have already treated of this matter in
another place. [50] So far as we have to do with the matter here,
various measures were taken in the islands because of the fears
caused by the threat, in order that they might be defended in case
that Kuesing fulfilled it. One of those measures was the abandonment
of the presidios of Terrenate, Zamboangan, Calamianes, and others,
in order that they might be able to employ their troops, artillery,
and munitions of war in defending the most important places. That
decree was opposed very strongly, but the objections although
they were thoroughly based on reason could not prevent such action
being taken.