This island has a village called Hilingigay, which it is said was the source of all the Bisayan Indians who have peopled these shores, and whose language resembles that of Hilingigay.  The Indians remember quite well when they were under our tutelage and teaching, and desire to return to it.  For they assert that since we have left them they have not passed one good day.  They talk in this vein because always the past was better.  That benefice has now about four hundred Indians.  They pay tribute to the king, and belong to the bishopric of Sugbu, being of its jurisdiction in secular matters as well.  It is more than seventy leguas from Manila to Bantayan to the south.

The father provincial established religious in Jaro, on the coast of the island of Sugbu, a place at present called Carcar.  It has in charge more than one thousand two hundred Indians.  It has been visited at times from San Nicolas, and at others from the house of Nombre de Jesus of the Spaniards.  But it seemed best at this time for it to have a prior with assistants, because of the conveniences which were found there, which are not few—­and much more [are they to be considered] in the case of the ministry.  It is about six leguas from the city of Nombre de Jesus, and more than twenty from the end of the district.  The distance can be made in four hours, with the brisa.

The provincial established religious in Hantic [112] on the opposite coast of Panay.  It was an excellent village.  The holy martyr Melo [113] was prior of it.  Now it is fallen back because we left it; and we have taken it once more.  It has about three hundred Indians, and is a visita of Guimbal, which is one legua from Tigbauan, and more than fifty from Manila.

Resident religious were established in Aclan, on the island of Panay, on the coast that looks toward Manila, which is more than fifty leguas away.  This is the best convent of the island.  The provincial thought best to change it for another which is inland from the river of Panay, called Barbaran, a village of people possessed by the devil.  The exchange was effected, and it happened that the secular who was there, died as soon as he reached Aclan, and that the first religious established in Barbaran also died very soon, the one being but little behind the other.  I have never believed in this changing of districts, for since all are of Indians, the betterment is slight, while the damage suffered by the ministry, which is the chief thing, is vast.  I omit to mention other and no less damages that exist, which are not for this place, as they do not concern us.