made confession.  They welcomed the father with great joy, going more than a quarter of a legua out of the village to meet him; and when he departed from the village they accompanied him to a like distance.  He heard the confessions of some, and all were desirous of removing to our mission-village; they put this desire into execution, at the end of four months, by breaking up the entire village, and proceeding with their families to Silan.  This and other beneficial results from that residence of Silan are well described by Father Gregorio Lopez in a letter written by him for the father-visitor, thus: 

“Early in my stay there, the people told me that in Caibabayan was a catalona, or priestess; and in order to cut the thread of evil, and to gain a knowledge of those distant fields and peoples, I went thither, desiring to act toward them as a father rather than as a judge; and the Lord, who is the true Father of all, fulfilled my desire.  Finding no present evil, but only the report of past things, I sought to reestablish the reputation of the person whom they defamed.  I found in one of the most distant fields, an old man about seventy years of age, who was crippled and had been sick for days.  I baptized him, giving him the name of Ignacio, and invited many others who had not even been baptized—­encouraging in them the desire for so great a good, helping them to learn what was necessary, to which they commonly give attention.  Word was sent from one to another among those mountains and plantations, and those people followed me about with tokens of love and offered to entertain me.  Afterward were baptized there many persons of all ages—­children, youths, and old men.  A few days ago I was informed that in the villages of Malabag, Balete, and Dinglas there were many sick persons who needed help.  I set out in the morning after saying mass, thinking to return in the evening; but when I arrived there and saw the needy condition of the people, I changed my plan, for I found in Malabag many sick persons.  After I had cared for them I heard the confessions of many who were infirm and old, and those who wished to guard against the malady which was attacking many of them—­and perhaps not a few that they might profit, at little cost, by the presence of the new confessor in their village.  I passed on to Balete and found that it had become a hospital.  I went through all the houses to hear confessions, but could not finish them on that day; so I continued this task on the following day, and then went to Dinglas, where I found the same needs.  All, both the sick and those in health, were greatly consoled by my visit; and finally I returned to Silang in the night, with the fiscal and others, who accompanied me.  I had occasion to make other and shorter trips among the plantations in the vicinity of Silang, as they contained sick persons who were in need; I also desired to ascertain what houses and persons were in those country districts.  Moreover, I thus did something to further my plan