返回Google圖書搜尋

Carta de Fr. Gaspar de San Ag[ustí]n. aun Amigo suyo en España, que le pregu[nt]ia el natural igenio de los Indios naturales de estas Islas Philipinas

出版	1720
URL	http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=mEhtkgAACAAJ&hl=&source=gbs_api

註釋Contemporary copy of a letter, dated June 8, 1720, from Father Gaspar de San Agustín to a friend in Spain, describing the nature and character of the native peoples of the Philippines. To begin, San Agustín emphasizes the difficulty of describing the Filipinos, whom he sees as a maze of contradictions and oppositions, although he then launches into a vigorous criticism of their nature. He considers them a barbarous people, with no ruler or organized government, and labels them ungrateful, lazy, rude, and impertinent. He laments their ignorance and superstition, their lack of religious devotion, their obsession with cockfighting, and their behavior towards the Spaniards. He does, however, exempt the Pampangos people from his attacks, for he considers them the "Castilians" of the native Filipinos: more noble, brave, and honorable. He also praises Filipino women as devout, modest, and moral. In closing, San Agustín offers missionary priests who come to work in the Philippines suggestions for dealing with the natives. The missionaries will have better success if they are patient, if they recognize that the evil traits of the Filipinos are a product of their innate nature, and if they constantly chastise the natives, using the lash when necessary. Appended to Father San Agustín's letter is a section entitled "Pregunta del Padre Pedro Murillo de la Compañía de Jesus: Que cosa es el Indio?," a brief satirical "catechism," portraying the Indian as inconsistent, unpredictable, and cruel. The last section, "Resumen de toda la Carta por el dicho Padre Murillo" is a succinct summary of the criticisms of the natives expressed by San Agustín in his letter.