among themselves a confraternity in honor of the relics. Their piety
shows practical results, especially in the modesty and virtue of their
women, qualities which the heathen neither value nor desire; Chirino
narrates some instances of triumphant virtue. An account is given of
the foundation and progress of the girls' seminary of Santa Potenciana:
and of the various ministrations of the Jesuits in the hospitals and
elsewhere in Manila. The writer relates the methods of conducting
the mission of Taytay, and events there during the year 1597. Three
fine churches are erected, and the missionaries gain the good-will
not only of those Indians, but even of the savages in the mountains;
the taming and conversion of one of these, the fiercest of his tribe,
is narrated. After him, entire villages come to live near the mission,
the father in charge helping them to establish their homes there;
he even converts all the heathen priests of one tribe. Not only
the Tagalos but the Negrillos resort to the mission, and many are
converted. Chirino laments the idolatries and superstitions which
still linger among even the more civilized natives; and proceeds
to recount their religious and superstitious beliefs. All their
religion is based on tradition and custom, and is handed down in
songs. Their beliefs regarding gods, demons, etc., are mentioned;
Chirino reduces most of these to their adoration of their ancestors,
in whose honor they worship various images. They also worship animals,
birds, and other natural objects; and have many superstitions. Chirino
demolishes the little buildings dedicated to the anitos. Among those
people their priests are also their physicians, or "medicine-men;"
and in both rôles they deceive the credulous and ignorant votaries
of superstition. The mode of offering sacrifices is described. In the
mission village at Taytay, certain idolatrous rites have been secretly
practiced, under the influence of the heathen priestesses; but this is
revealed by the faithful among the natives to the missionaries, who