In all other things, he did his utmost in the service of the province, as the great religious that he ever was. As he busied himself in going at times to the country, he happened to discover some remarkable things. Among others, he discovered in Dumalag a vast cave, which must have extended more than one or two leguas. The father walked a great distance in it, but never found its end, for his lights went out. Another time he found a cedar-tree in the mountains of this district, which some wind had laid low. He had a boat made of it, the largest one ever seen in these islands that was made from one log. I embarked in it; it must have been more than one braza long. It was laden with more than one hundred baskets of winnowed rice, and it carried many planks of remarkable size before the log was destroyed. A man on one side of it was unable to see the person on the other side. To conclude, the tree had the largest diameter that I have ever seen. I have traveled widely and seen many trees, but none of equal size.
While Father Baraona was prior of Salog, he had come from Dumangas, and was returning to his convent. He did not cross in the open, but went slowly along the coast. When they reached a beach, his crew stopped to eat, but he meanwhile walked inland. He had a dog which went before, and, following it, the father found that it had laid hold of a boar, which had tusks one palmo long, and which was as large as a yearling heifer. It was so furious that it had beaten down the reeds as a number of mares thresh out the corn. No sooner did it see the father than it attacked him. The father gave it a slight lance-thrust in the skin, but the point, turning, entered no farther than the very outside. The dog remained true, and held the boar by one leg; but the boar did not discontinue to strike at the father with great fury. But the blows that it thus gave him were received in his habit, which he endured until the arrival of the Indians, with whose aid they killed that savage animal. Brother Fray Andrés Garcia assured me that he had never seen anything so terrible looking in España, Italia, or any place. Many other things happened to the father, which might make a long history, but do not apply to the matter in hand.
He was much loved by the Indians, for he rendered free and open aid to them, so far as he was able.
Chapter XXXVIII
Of the election of our father Fray Juan Enríquez
Our father Fray Alonso de Baraona, in the course of his government, as a person who so well understood the province and its members, thought that no one was better fitted to govern it than our father Fray Juan Enríquez, then the senior definitor. Concerning him, I have not said much of what was seen, and the troubles which he suffered, on the occasion of the unhappy death of our father Fray Vicente. We were made to see how unjust that was, for our Lord freed him from those annoyances with so much honor, by making him provincial, to the applause and pleasure of all; and he was elected May 7, 1620. The father master, Fray Pedro García, presided over this chapter, as he had letters-patent for that from our most reverend father-general, which the archbishop brought, together with his title as master, when he came from España to these islands. He was received in the province although it has not been the custom to have masters in it. May God arrange matters in the future, for in this [capacity the archbishop] shows his devotion not a little. As definitors were elected, in this chapter: father Fray Hernando Guerrero; the second, father Fray Antonio de Ocampo;[47] the third, father Fray Juan de Henao;[48] and the fourth, father Fray Hernando Becerra. The visitors were our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida and father Fray Juan de Tapia.
The chief proceeding in this chapter after the regular business—that is, what is here regarded as most important—the provision for offices, was the appointment of father Fray Juan de Tapia as definitor for Roma, and also to the procuratorship for the court of España. He is a man of great worth, and has been very useful in the islands and labored not a little, to the approbation of all. For he was with Don Pedro de Acuña in the taking of Maluco, and founded there a house in the name of the order; and there he was not only the father and consolation of all, but a very valiant soldier, who strove for the service of his king as well as the best. While definitor, he was also prior of Manila, increasing that convent with many works—as he did afterward in the convents among the natives where he was prelate, which he left notably increased. During that triennium, while going out as visitor, he went also as prior of Manila, and on making the voyage to España, was very well received there. Beyond doubt he would have secured the bishopric had he been a trifle more active, but he was always slow when his own affairs were concerned, and did not consider them as the affairs of the order, which he always managed with the greatest diligence and care. Consequently, he brought back a fine company [of religious] as we shall see in due time.
Our father Juan Enríquez was unwilling that there should he any failure in the growth of the province during his term. Accordingly, although it was said that it was of little advantage to have a convent in Maluco, yet the provincial kept it, sending a father there. He also maintained the other convents, notwithstanding that he suppressed that of Cavite—as if it were not the most important, for that place is growing daily; and although it be not for the gain, at least it may serve as a hospitium for those journeying to and fro between here and España. All the orders are doing the same thing, although they can not support themselves there.
He visited all his province, although he did not come to that of Bisayas, for the sea was very much infested with enemies, and his predecessor had gone through it more than any of the other prelates had done. At that time the province enjoyed great peace and quiet, which was due to the prudence of our father, who ever carried himself as the admirable religious that he was.
During that triennium I acted as prior of Panay for the second time; for during the intermediary chapter of our father Baraona I went as prior to Aclán, which was a house with a vote. Soon after the arrival of the said visitor, that priorate falling vacant, he appointed me to it, and for the sake of the vote. And on returning, that triennium, together with the office of vicar-provincial, while in that convent, and having in my company father Fray Martín de San Nicolás (who I have already said was with Captain Lázaro de Torres at the rout of Mindanao), we were eating one fast day [dia de pescado], when a large fishbone, which must have been as long as a sewing-needle and was thick and bent, and had a very sharp point, lodged in the father’s throat. Although he said nothing to me for a moment, he stopped, ceased eating and commenced to groan, as one who feels a very great pain. Afterward he kept changing color, but without saying a word. I was about to ask him what was the accident that caused his pain. I saw him rise, for already his breath was failing, and with a loud voice he cried, “Ah! blessed St. Nicholas! help me, for I am choking!” And, upon saying that, he threw from his throat a fishbone of the size above mentioned. It had been so securely fastened there that it seemed as if that fishbone could not have been dislodged without divine aid, as was proved by the mark of the blood on it. It was considered as a wonderful thing, and the said father, in token and proof of gratitude, is keeping the fishbone, and tells the circumstance to everyone, while he always celebrates as best he can the feast of that saint. Of a surety, he shows himself very devout.