The island of Panay is more than sixty leguas [68] south of Manila.  The same star stands over the bar of its principal river, the Panay, as at Manila.  Its other river, the Alaguer, is on the other coast.  Both have about the same amount of water, but the Panay flows more slowly, and hence can be ascended more readily.  It is also deeper, so that fragatas can enter over its bar at full tide, for it has about one and one-half brazas of depth.  At low tide, not even the small vessels can enter.  It is two leguas from the bar to the town.  The convent is very large.  With its visitas, it has in charge more than one thousand two hundred Indians.  The alcalde-mayor of that jurisdiction lives there.  As a rule, there are many Spaniards there; for at that port are collected the vessels for the relief expedition to Maluco.  Thence goods are transported in champans to Ilong-ilong, where the port is located, and where the vessels are laden.  There are more than one hundred Chinese married to native women in this town, and their number is increasing daily, so that I think they will end by peopling the country.  I, being twice prior of this convent, learned somewhat of the Chinese language, in order to be able to minister to them; for to do so in Spanish, or in the language of the land, is the same as ministering to Spaniards in Greek.  The river banks above are lined with palm groves, and with villages that are thinly inhabited because of the laziness of the alcaldes-mayor.  The latter imagine that, when their offices are given to them, it is only that they may get money.  They only take heed of that, and prove rather a drawback than an aid to the ministry.  About two days’ journey up the river, and on a branch flowing into the Panay, is the convent of Mambusao [69], a very flourishing house.  Don Fray Pedro de Agurto, first bishop of Sugbu, and a member of our order, gave this to the order.  He was one of the most learned and holy men of all the Indias.  Afterwards he will be glorified, for he is the brightest jewel in this history, and has most honored the habit in these islands.  He was a creole of Nueva Espana, and one of whom all those fathers can be proud.  Ascending the river inland in Panay, and leaving on the right Mandruga and Mambusao, one reaches the convent of Dumalag, after a few days’ journey, more or less.  It is a very important convent, for it ministers to more than one thousand Indians.  There are two religious in each of these convents, prior and assistant.  Before arriving at the convent of Dumalag, the convent of Dumarao, a very important house, has its river on the left.  All of these convents have their churches and houses finished—­although in wood, for it is not convenient to build them of other materials.  Those crossing to the coast of Otong, where the port and fort are located, pass through this district.  They use a hammock [as their bed]; they walk inland a matter of two good leguas.  Then they stop in a visita of Passi called