The Irish standard., 1898-07-23

far surpassed by what the .Jesuits have
done in the island of Mlndanao in half
generation for the spread of Christi
anlty and civilization, as we'll as for the
geographical exploration Of the second
largest island of the archipelago When
they arrived they found Christian
population only on the cast and north
coasts, and in a few isloated spots of
the other coast regions-such as Zam-
boanga, Pollok, Cottabatto Davao, and
Pundabuitan-and these were mostly
Bisayos, with a few Bukidnons, MAN.
dayas, Manobos and Subanos. In the
interior the Spanish Christian settle
mcnts along the Macajalas bay reached
only as far as the upper course Of the
Rio Tagooan; on the Agusan, from the
lako region at Linao to its mouth near
But,lan, only two villages. Bunauan and
Talacogon. All that was then known
of the interior OF Mindanao was the
Lanao lake, the lower course of the
Tulanin or Rio Grandc from its mouth to
Lahabay, and the lake region belonging
to this river of Liguasan or Buluan. OF
the tribes over and above the Bisayas
(Christians), and Moros (Mohammc-
dans), only the Mandayas, Manobos, Su-
banos, and Bukidnon Tor "Nlonteses' of
the Spaniards), We're known by little
more than name. but scarcely mentioned
to contemporary literature. OF tho rest,
except the Tiruraycs. scarce the name
was known. or tho Atlas, Taabawas,
names were unknown.
How changed since then. The net
work of rivers in the great island is
now very we'll known, whilst tho lcgrn-
Diary lake in the center of the island
whence the Rio Grandc was said to flow
and from which the whole island WAS
supposed to derive its namc has now
happily disappeared from our maps In
numerous sketches and maps the mis-
sionarics have recorded the results of
the geographical explorations and dis
coverics. The manners and customs OF
all the heather tribes have been fully
fore, always given mo the greatest pleas
urc to communicate tho results of the
researches of these Philippine mission
aries to wider scientific circles
The Jcsuits can also point to very
great rcjults in their evangelical labors
Most of the heather tribes are now ell
tirely or In part converted to Christian
ity, or have at least settled around their
missions. Even tribe so obstinatcly
refractory to civilization, owing to their
unsettled and wandering life, as the
Mamanllas twho belong to the Negritos)
can already point to Christian villages
But the greatest success Of the lcsuils
has been in bringing n considerable
number of the MOros on the gulf of Da-
vac to embrace Christianity. When ii
is remembered how rare thing it is to
induce Mohammcdan to be baptized, it
must be especially noted that here not
a few isolated Moros living among
Christians have abjured Islam, but that
tho MorOs converted to Christianity arc
SO uuIilcIOuS lllit, It's lllty cull Io longer
live among their former co-rcligionists,
they have been allowed to build their
separate villages In the region of the Rio
Davao.
In 1895 the status of the Jesuit mis-
sons was as follows: 2l3,0G5 souls,
1908 baptisms of children of Christian
parents, 1913 marriages, G,21S funerals,
1888 baptisms of converted hcathens.
In the article, "Dc katolschcn Mis-
sonen," Oscar Ilccht gives the number
of Christians in the Philippines as
100000. This is incorrect. The locks
of the different orders were as follows:
Cnlccd AuglisiinlHns OS.2) ............2OS2, ,131
Dsc;ilccn Augustinans US92) ........1, Ia. laG
FranciscunS nS'2) ......................19lO 80 ,,2
JtSllltS UhE) 21t.O6J
Secular Clergy nS.2) ................... !i7 23l
lotal ............. ..................G e, 1iSSU
H. is difficult to estimate the number of
heathcns and Mohnmmcdans; they can
not be under 100000, nor can they ex-
cecd q million.