Chapter Second
The apostolic see confirms what was enacted in the first general chapter of the reform. Other new privileges are conceded. The preaching of our religious in Filipinas spreads.
Year 1622
[Papal favor, with the confirmation of the enactments made by the first general chapter of the Recollects held in Madrid, puts the reformed order on a tolerably firm footing, and they are able to proceed with their missionary and other efforts with more peace of mind. The first section of the present chapter relates entirely to the affairs of the order at large. The Philippine narration is again taken up in section ii.]
§ II
Preaching of our discalced Recollect religious in the province of Caragha. Description of the country, with detailed and interesting information.
¶The divine Mercy scattered his accustomed favors upon the province of San Nicolàs of Filipinas that year. For its zealous sons, desiring to propagate the holy gospel, but lacking sufficient workers, busied themselves in preserving what had been acquired, until the arrival of very good companions [of their order], when they undertook to go to the province of Caragha, a very principal portion of the island called Mindanao. That island rivals that of Luzòn in size. It is one hundred and fifty leguas distant from Luzòn, and is more than three hundred in circuit, counting promontories and indentations. Its greatest length is one hundred and thirty-six leguas, namely, from the point of La Galera to the cape of San Augustin. It has flourishing villages, especially along the shores of the rivers, which are large and not few. One which flows out of the famous lake of Malanao is larger than the others. That lake is formed from other rivers which dash down from the mountains. The shape of the lake is oval, and its circumference fifty leguas or more, according to report. Its greatest diameter is only sixteen leguas, with its points and bays, and without the latter it is only twelve. In short, that lake is considered as one of the most famous in the world. Its marge is extremely fertile in rice and other food products, which abound in the Bisayas. Its mountains are clothed with cinnamon-trees, brasil-trees, ebony, orange, and other trees that bear delicious fruit. On the lowlands are bred abundance of deer, buffaloes, turtle-doves, and fowls, besides other kinds of game-birds. But in the rough country are sheltered wild boars, civet-cats, and other fierce and wild animals.
There are certain birds that possess remarkable characteristics. The one called tabon is found on the coast of Caragha.[2] It is smaller than a domestic hen, and very like it [in appearance], although not in affection for its young. It lays its eggs, which are three times larger than those of our hens, in sandy places, and easily buries them in a hole about one braza deep. That done, it abandons them, and never returns to examine them again. Thereafter, the preservation of those birds being in the care of divine Providence, the heat of the sun quickens and hatches them, and the chicks, leaving the shell, also break out of the sand above them, and gradually get to the surface in order to enjoy the common light; and thus, without any further aid, they fly away. If it happens that the chick in the egg is buried with its head down, it does not get our, for upon breaking the shell and the sand, it continues to dig always downward, as that is the direction that its head has; and as it misses the road it gets tired and dies, and its cradle serves as its tomb.
Quite different from the tabon is another bird called cagri, which is not found outside of Mindanao.[3] Its shape resembles that of the bat, although it is much larger. It has no wings, but only a membrane resembling a cloak, which falls from its shoulders and covers it even to its feet. That enables it to pass from one tree to another, but it cannot soar like other birds. It spreads out that membrane when it wants to, and it is not without a tail. Its eyes and head resemble those of a very graceful little dog, and its hair is very soft, and at times colored with various colors, pleasing to the sight. It bears so great affection to its young that it carries them hanging to its breasts, just as women do, without leaving them, although it climbs, flees, or runs.
The reader will not be wearied with knowing the characteristics of another animal called hamac. It resembles a monkey, although the head is very round. Its eyes are golden, and very beautiful and large. Its tail is very large and serves it as a seat, and it neatly wraps itself about with it. It does not use its feet to walk; for, in order to go from one part to another, it lets its tail drop, and supporting itself on it, leaps as it wishes. It is not seen by day, because it keeps quiet until night, when it looks for its food, which is only charcoal.[4] All its friendship is with the moon. Accordingly, seated on a tree, it awaits the moon, until the time when it shines. It looks at it fixedly without winking, from the time when it begins to shine until it hides itself. When the dawn comes, that animal loses its sight and returns to its dwelling. If anyone discovers it, that animal takes pains to look at him, and measures and takes note of his person with his sight, from top to toe. That is usually a cause for fear, to those who do not know that characteristic; but, if he knows it, that threatening causes him no fear. Finally, concluding the description of that island, the reader must know that it is called Cesarea, in memory of the unconquerable Charles Fifth—a name that was given it by Bernardo de la Torre, captain and master-of-camp of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, in the year 1543; and under that name it was designated by the documents and writings of that period.