The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 43, 1670-1700: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 43, 1670-1700: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
Wilkes gives considerable
sound advice in regard to the navigation of this district, trading at
Joló, and various other matters, besides an interesting though brief
history of Joló, before and after the advent of the Spaniards. Those
interesting people the sea-gypsies are described. The expedition
reaches the Straits of Singapore on February 18.
The remainder of the appendix, except the last document, constitutes
letters written by the Jesuit missionaries from Mindanao and
Basilan, and an ethnological survey of the Mindanao peoples by
a Jesuit of Manila who had formerly spent a number of years in
Mindanao. They are all comparatively modern, extending through the
years 1885-1889. January 20, 1885, Father Quirico Moré writes to the
father superior of the missions mainly concerning the Moros about the
Gulf of Dávao, where the Spaniard José Oyangúren defeated them and
brought them under the dominion of Spain. Various events are related
in regard to efforts to reduce these Moros who are less in number
than is generally supposed, for though the Moros generally acquiesce
in the Spanish proposals to assume village life, their willingness
is only feigned. Those about the gulf are the "remains of powerful
and warlike Moros, who in the not distant past collected tribute from
the Mandayas and other heathens." There are two classes of Moros, the
datos, or aristocracy, and the common people. With the first rank must
be included the panditas or priests. Though the Moros endure, they do
not accept, Spanish rule, and await the time when they can throw it
off. Meanwhile they also suffer from the heathens about them, who are
hostile to them. To obtain the best results the officers of dato and
pandita should be suppressed, and other radical measures carried out.
Father Pedro Rosell writes from Caraga, April 17, 1885, in regard
to a visit of inspection of the visitas of the southern part of the
district made by himself and Father Pablo Pastells, in December 1884,
to the Mandayas. He reports a most encouraging state of affairs there
pertaining to the conversion and reduction of the Mandayas. Especially
helpful has been the conversion of three bailanes or priestesses. With
the occasion of that conversion, the writer describes the method
of sacrifice among the Mandayas, and the effects produced on the
bailanes who are believed to be the true mediators between men and
gods. In describing the form of belief Father Rosell finds an analogy
to the Trinity in the Mandaya divinities, and one to Satan in the
two spirits of evil. Of great interest in this letter is the song
sung by the bailanes while sacrificing.
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