the native and the Spanish towns, and called Nuestra Señora de la
Concepción [_i.e._, "Our Lady of the Conception"]. The city agreed to
it in the vote that was taken--although the city was not sufficiently
large for such a convent, for it contained that of the fathers of
the Society, ours, and the cathedral church; and the Parián, a short
distance from there. However, beyond doubt it suited the fathers;
for the bishop seeing that there were no seculars who would go to
the island of Mindanao, and that, with the fort built by Don Juan de
Silva in Caraga, excellent results might be expected, therefore gave
that district to the Recollect fathers, together with the river of
Butuán, situated in the same island. The Recollects accepted it, and
began to establish priorates. Thus they had already seven priorates,
in which more than fourteen religious resided. The convent of Sugbú
served them as a hospitium, asylum, infirmary, and place to rest--to
which purposes more than to anything else it was devoted. Further,
not only are the convents there not supported by the alms of the
city, but also one can say that they support the city; for most of
the inhabitants are poor soldiers, and many now are married there,
and receive the king's ration, which is very meager. Besides these
are others who have ceased to receive the ration; who are so poor
that, were it not for the aid of the religious, they would doubtless
perish. Those who have the most wealth use it up during the year,
being limited to what comes to them from their encomiendas, in order
not to run into debt; but they borrow the rice in the convents. Thus
laymen and religious form a very friendly village and neighborhood.

At this time the alcalde-mayor of Sugbú was Don Juan Alcarazo,
a gentleman so deserving of praises, that the sum of his many good
qualities cannot be told in few words. He was endowed with the courage
of a good soldier, and had served thus for many years in the galleons