almost ten years" before he knew that some of the natives practiced
polygamy, which was not a custom in Manila, Panay, and other islands
where the Spaniards had long dwelt, but had some currency among the
Visayans. In certain parts of Mindanao, the woman has two husbands;
but monogamy is the prevailing custom of the archipelago. The first
degree of consanguinity is the only one which bars marriage. Various
betrothal and marriage ceremonies are described, and their usage
regarding dowries and divorces. Chirino thinks that polygamy in those
islands has been derived from the "cursed doctrine" of Mahomet.

He next relates the entrance of the Jesuit missionaries into the island
of Ibabao (now Samar); they find the people well disposed toward the
Christian faith, and soon have churches and schools established. On one
occasion, all the people of the island of Maripipi come to the fathers
for baptism, and receive it, as they show themselves well prepared
for it. A mission is begun at Catubig, in the eastern part of Samar;
but for lack of workers it has not been maintained. Another mission
has been established in Bohol, where their efforts are greatly aided
by the prevalence of monogamy among the people, who suddenly abandon
their idols and drunken feasts.

Chirino here describes the funeral and mortuary customs generally
prevalent in the islands. The natives practice a sort of embalming of
the dead. The dead person is usually buried in the lower part of his
own house; and the funeral is succeeded by feasting and carousing--the
immediate relatives, however, fasting. At the death of a chief, a
curious taboo is placed upon the entire village, silence being imposed
upon all, under penalty of death. If a man be slain by violence,
his death is avenged by his relatives, the innocent as well as the
guilty being slain by them. Chirino draws curious parallels to all