Chapter LVIII
General summary of all the Christian souls among the natives of these islands
686. I have been unable to state separately the number of souls to whom the seculars minister in the archbishopric and in the bishoprics throughout these islands. I have seen them enumerated only in common. They number 131,279 and live in 142 villages.
The seculars minister throughout this archipelago to 131,279 St. Augustine, throughout the islands 241,806 The Society, in all the islands 170,000 St. Dominic, in all the islands 89,752 Discalced Augustinians, in all the islands 63,149 Discalced Franciscans, in all the islands 141,196
Total 837,182
687. Thus, the number of eight hundred and thirty-seven thousand one hundred and eighty-two Christian souls, among the natives of these islands--who are ministered to spiritually in the above-mentioned provinces, villages, and settlements--is what I get from the special lists sent me for this work by the holy orders, made according to the last enumeration, that for the years 1735 and 1736. I have supplied those which have not been furnished to me (which I have solicited by various means) from the clergy of these islands, with the number mentioned, which is placed by the very reverend father Pedro Murillo on his map. [68] This, together with the account of the royal officials for the year 1735, are the citations that I offer for the proof of my account, if there should be any discrepancy between it and others. I reflect that no one can give a better account of the treasury than he who has continual care of it. It is doubtless true that all or any of them may have unavoidable errors; for the Indians are continually removing, dying, or absenting themselves. Consequently, I judge that the number of souls, of those who are at this time reputed to be natives of these Islands, exceeds one million. The temples [of God] where the instruction is given in villages and visitas are in excess of seven hundred, as was represented to his Catholic Majesty by the royal officials in a report in the year 1720. As for the number of Spaniards and foreigners, the computation is extremely difficult and uncertain; and therefore it is not safe to make a decisive statement.
688. After very painstaking efforts, at the time when this book is in press I receive information about the curacies of the seculars of Zebu, in the following form. The curacy of the sacristy of the holy church, and that of the Parian of the Sangleys, in the city of Zebu; in the island of Zebu, that of Bantayan and Barili; in the island of Negros, in Dumaguete, Binalbagan, Tucauan, and Tanghay; in the island of Panay, in the city of Arebalo, Ahuy, Aclang, Banga, Ybahay, and Culasi. Nearly all those curacies are very large and need assistants. Throughout that jurisdiction and in the Marianas there are various outside vicars, who are generally the religious of those regions. Such is the information which I have obtained from the provisor of that bishopric; but he does not give the number of parishioners, as it is very difficult to ascertain it.
RELIGIOUS CONDITION OF THE ISLANDS
[The following is from _Historia general_, by Juan J. Delgado, S.J. (written in 1751-54), pp. 141-158. The chapters here presented are from part i, book ii.]
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