The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-10-18
The Bishops Letter.
Rutuan. June 10, 1G


Last night l reached Butuan after
IN alEday trip in launch on the Agu-
an river from Talocogon.
Thank God for the graces and the
Gavors of this Vista, and for the un-
usual excellent health during the
Thole trip | have had most unusual
cyperiences and am surprised that
id not get chills and fevers so COM
non in the interior of the Agusan
province. Padre Sastre and two of
lis muchachos were taken down with
the fever, but soon recovered. Then,
enc of my muchachos fell victim and
became very serious for nearly week.
Then, another muchacho began to feel
inwell and asked for quinine in time;
out l never took a drop of medicine
nd never had the slightest fever.
l had four days of the hardest hik-
ing with ten constabulary, Mansaca
Dato guide and fifteen cargadores
through forests, valleys and rivers.
We walked from six to eight hours
f0rding and walking breast deep the
same river of Agusan, and then we
continued through the woods over the
nils, so that we were continually in
our wet clothes and shoes for several
hours every day for those four and a
aalf days of this trip. Our route lay
through wild country inhabited by
Mansaca infidels who seem to be very
peaceful. We found no roads at all,
not even a foot path. At night we
had shelter in the little houses of the
Mansacas; except one night, when we
camped on the banks of a little
stream. Here we slept under a TEN.
porary nipa shelter and the branches
of the trees. 1t was great expert.
ence. l was able. thank God, to use
my portable altar every day, saying
Mass even in the woods.
When l reached Compostela my
good, devoted and kind constabulary
soldiers continued while l remained to
await Padre Sastre, who arrived two
days later During this interval OF
two days, I slept day and night, re
gaining the strength l had lost. The
province is very large and all our jour
neys, after this, were made in canoes
large trees followed out in the shape
of boat, but with outer riggers to
keep it from upsetting). We spent
whole days and nights on the rivers
sleeping as best we could, in the
canoe. Some towns are two days and
night distant from one another. |
am delighted / visited so many vii
lagos, never before visited by Bishop
| had confirmation in many places
Compostela from Butuan, by river, is
about one hundred and fifty miles
out we entered many side rivers of
great distances, also. r. q. s.s
Once several of these distant towns
were fiourishing. little parishes; but
now they are visited only once year,
and some only once in two years. 1t
is good field for some half dozen
missionaries. The natives are good
slmple-minded, kind people. l had a
busy time with many inconvenience /;
out | felt extremely happy that
through the mercy of God, so much
spiritual good was accomplished
Many children were baptized and con.
armed combinations about sixteen
hundred). Many marriages were
blessed; and a number of old Chris
ian Datos were confirmed Thank
God for it all. l regretted that had
to omit many villages in the interior
as it would take three months for
this province alone.
4 am to have combinations here to-
day. Tomorrow. I,go to Nisipit. Then
to Buenavista, Carmen, etc, returning
to Butuan on Sunday. My Journey
then shall begin for Cabadbaran, ia
bonga, Lake Maynit; and thence tc
the Surigao province. ] shall try te