The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 291 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 291 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55.

CasiguiranFrancisco Garcia—­The encomienda of Casiguiran lies on the same coast opposite Manila.  It belongs to Francisco Garcia, who collects there five hundred tributes, which represent two thousand persons.  Half of it is hostile, and more than half has neither justice nor instruction:  One minister is needed. ...  D.

BaleteJuan Martin—­The encomienda of Balete belongs to Juan Martin Picon.  He collects the half of five hundred tributes, for the other half is hostile and without justice or instruction.  The magistrate of Calilaya administers justice to one-half of it alone.  It needs one minister. ...  D.

Thus Calilaya has five thousand five hundred tributes, or twenty-two thousand persons, who have but little instruction.  Nine ministers are necessary now, so that it may have some instruction.  With the nine ministers it will have sufficient instruction; but it has adequate justice.

MarinduquePoyatos—­The island of Marinduque, belonging to Captain Poyatos, has seven hundred tributarios, or two thousand eight hundred persons.  It has justice, and needs one minister so that the people may be instructed. ...  DCC.

BatanCaptain Esguerra—­The encomienda of Batan belongs to Captain Esguerra, who is his own deputy.  This said encomienda has one thousand tributes, or four thousand persons.  It has one monastery, containing four Dominican friars. ...  M.

Thus in the city of Manila, along its coast and the coast opposite, and in the provinces of Pampanga, Pangasinan, Ylocos, Cagayan, La Laguna, Camarines, Masbate, Zebu, Panay, Balayan, and Calilaya, which is all of Luzon and the other Philippinas Islands settled, there are one hundred and sixty-six thousand nine hundred and three whole tributes.  Each tribute includes husband, wife, and excepting the sons, the children.  Therefore there are six hundred and sixty-seven thousand six hundred and twelve souls in the said provinces, besides the religious of the convents of Manila.  One hundred and forty ministers—­twenty of whom are ecclesiastics, seventy-nine Augustinians, nine Dominicans, and forty-two Franciscans—­are divided among the provinces to instruct the natives and administer the holy sacraments.  It appears from this relation that there is a lack of ministers through the departures above noted.  It shows that one hundred and sixty-one more ministers are needed to furnish adequate instruction.  These should be sent very soon, and even a greater number, for when they arrive here, one-fourth of these will have died.  His Majesty has thirty-one encomiendas in the said provinces.  Private individuals have two hundred and thirty-six.  Of these, however, from many of those in Cagayan and some in other districts no tribute can be collected, because they are not pacified, while others are quite worthless or of slight importance.

The said provinces have twelve alcaldes-mayor, each with his deputy; and, in addition, are three who are their own deputies.  In some of these districts it is impossible to go to administer justice, because of their distance from the capitals where the alcaldes-mayor live.  This must be carefully looked into and these needs supplied.

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.