ounded, by marvelous occurrences. For instance the large river on
whose shore he was shot, dried up, and was swallowed up by the earth,
and no trace of it was ever found later, neither did it take a course
elsewhere; while the bed of the river became full of agoso trees. And
although the above tree is large, and needs more than ten years to grow
tall, those trees grew up in so short a time that that place appeared
a dense forest, so that they choked and parched the reed-grass, which
never sprang up again. It was said that the earth which was dyed with
his blood has never allowed any grass to grow since, although the grass
about the agoso at whose foot the father fainted is abundant and very
green. That tree is always more flourishing and luxuriant, so that in
comparison with it the other trees seem like withered things. Also
another smaller river which ran past Aglao and Baubuen dried up,
and the earth was left very sterile. It is true that these things
were said, but without any foundation. The large river still remains
and flows in the same course, and that of Aglao has the same course,
and there is no notice or tradition that it had ever dried up; and
it is not possible that so remarkable a thing could be forgotten. It
was true that the agoso under which he rested was preserved and is
still preserved; but in that story are not registered the exaggerated
circumstances, such as that of the grass and of the reed-grass. I
say this with assurance because I have seen it at various times,
and I have passed the large river with some risk. On the bank of
that river I was shown the spot where the father was wounded, and
the agoso in question, in which I found nothing worthy of wonder. In
regard to the other agosos and those newly produced, I proved that
there are both old and new trees, for they are produced without any
cultivation, and are conserved from time immemorial, and their very
great age is recognized by their failing condition. [78]

6. The Augustinian Recollect fathers, who had not left that
administration [of Zambales] voluntarily, although they could not
resist the change with Mindoro, asked for testimonies that they might
present them at court. They protested in due form, and appointed
ministers in their chapters, of whose election they apprised the
Dominican fathers in legal form. Their recourse to court had the
result that the parties [in the matter] were referred by the Council
of the Indias to this royal Audi