into the Bisayan language. [15] He went by the order of his superiors
to Alongala, then without a priest. When he had remained there up to
the beginning of Holy Week, and had made the people ready and active
in all works of piety, it happened that a certain idol-worshiper of
that island, a man of very high rank, Malacaia by name--who owned over
sixty slaves, and who was reverenced by all the Indians most highly,
even as a father--was once looking on, and wondering to see many of the
natives busied in pious works, and so seriously engaged in scourging
themselves. In amazement he said, "Shall I do that, Father?" "Do,"
replied Ximenez, "what they are doing, and scourge thyself." "Will
that scourging do me any good?" asked Malacaia. "It will do thee no
little good," answered the father. The other instantly took off his
tunic and girded himself for the work, and walking upon the stage
with the others, the Christians, he so tragically worked upon himself
that, not content with one scourge, although it was rough with little
sharp studs, he also snatched the scourge from one standing near,
and, as with a two-edged sword, fearfully smote himself upon the back
as if with thunderbolts. These scourgings reached even to the man's
soul, although at the time he knew not what he was doing; for this
noble deed was an example of great profit to others, and he himself,
moreover, received at this time the desire for baptism, for which he
is now being prepared as a catechumen.

X. The Christians taught by the fathers at the establishment at Cangara
have this in common with those at Dulac, that they receive a mighty
protection from the services of the church when duly celebrated. For
as the former, by setting up a cross in the fields and by the use
of holy water, drive the swarms of locusts from their grain, so
the latter by bearing palm-branches and seeds to the church effect
the same result. An old custom of theirs has been condemned--namely