St. Augustine.—­The Order of St. Augustine, the first order to be founded in these islands, has occupied the provinces of Tagalos, Pampanga, Ylocos, and Pintados.  It has in them sixty houses, with one hundred and eight priests and preachers, and fifty-three lay-brethren.  They must establish more houses, both for the entries into new regions, and the new explorations which are to be made; and for the provision of sufficient instruction.  To this end it will be necessary to send annually twenty religious to the order.  These should come from Nueva Espana, where there are many religious.  It would be at very much less cost to the royal exchequer to do this, and most sufficient for this country, because they have already made a beginning with the Indians.

St. Francis.—­The Order of St. Francis has occupied the province of Camarines, where it has forty houses, with one hundred and twenty religious, twenty-three of whom are lay-brethren, and the rest priests, preachers, and confessors.  They need fifty religious, both that they may have sufficient instruction, and for the houses that they are to establish.

St. Dominic.—­The Order of St. Dominic occupies the province of Cagayan, where it has twelve houses, with seventy-one religious.  For the houses which they are to establish in that province, and that the province may have sufficient instruction, they must have twenty priests sent to them annually; for they receive as many lay-brethren in the islands as they need.

The Society of Jesus.—­The Society of Jesus, which is the last established, has twelve houses, which lie in the provinces of Pintados, and in the islands of Camar, Leite, and Babao.  They have in them forty-three religious, of whom twenty-three are priests, preachers, and confessors, and the rest lay-brethren.  For the houses that they are to establish, and in Mindanao, where these religious will have charge of the pacification, they will need fifty priests at one time, and annual help henceforth; for they are reaping a great harvest in this country.  They have two colleges here, one in Manila, and the other in the city of Santissimo Nombre de Jesus, where Latin is taught to the Spaniards, and the Christian faith to the natives, who manifest a deep interest.

The superiors of these orders are religious of much ability, and among the other members of the orders are many excellent linguists, who are accomplishing much in the conversion of the natives, which continues to increase daily.

Report of the Audiencia on the Conduct of Tello

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