“In this letter I shall give an account of what our Lord was pleased to accomplish in the island of Bohol after I departed from Sebu with Father Ximenez and Brother Dionisio, on the twenty-ninth of May in the year one thousand six hundred.  When the council adjourned, I set forth to visit the island of Bohol, as your Reverence had instructed me.  There I immediately undertook to unite and bring together the people, a very difficult task, but quite necessary for their instruction.  I began with the people of Loboc, who were dispersed and disunited; and, after many peaceful methods and forcible arguments, God was pleased to bring together more than a thousand souls, gathered from the mountains and rivers—­most of them people reared in war, robbery and murder; until then, it had been impossible to bring them down from the hilly regions and inaccessible mountains where they dwelt.  But non est impossibile apud Deum omne verbum.  Encouraged by our good fortune in Loboc, we sought to unite the Tinguianes (or mountaineers) of Dita and Marabago, a wild people who had never before seen a father.  We brought them together by blandishments and mild threats, and by other methods suited to their capacity, and it pleased our Lord that we were able to persuade them to settle along the river which they call Viga.  There they have erected a church, and Father Gabriel writes me that on Sundays it does not contain them all.  He says that he began by baptizing more than one hundred and twenty children; and that the adults are not only tamed, but even ask for baptism with much fervor.  At night they pray, and sing the doctrine; and in the day-time they chant praises to our Lord.  Those who have dwelt in Bohol, and know the unruly nature of that people, will appreciate the change which our Lord has wrought in them.  When we first begin to address them, your Reverence might behold them on the bank of the river, armed, and so fierce as to arouse one’s fear; yet, at the same time, desirous that I should address them.  This I did, showing them so much affection that they and I became friends; and as hostages they gave me their children for baptism, preparing them to learn the doctrine and to receive holy baptism.  Having brought together the people of Dita, when it seemed to me that they would have no difficulties in the small villages round about, it happened that, when least I expected, I saw as many as forty men coming, armed with lances and shields, whose design it was to break up the union by violence, especially if they should be ordered to assemble in any place not to their liking.  Realizing from their determination the danger to which the others would be exposed, I dissimulated as best I could, so that the others might not perceive their uncivil conduct, and feigned that my desire was the same as theirs—­but with such conditions that I know that they will not fulfil them; and it is obvious, from this very incident, that he who has the authority and force to intimidate them can subdue them.  I think, with Father Francisco Xavier, of blessed memory, that a little gained in peace is worth more than much secured by war.  Thus was ended that disturbance; I did what I could, but not what I desired.  They can, it is true, be instructed where they now are; but the task will be a hard one.