Is /usr/bin/gcc a MIPS cross-compiler? If not, how do you expect it to work?

Right, I wasn't using a cross-compiler. That's the problem. I haven't succeeded in cross-building yet. I'm using a distro with a non-common directory structure and I still have to figure out how to specify both GCCs. But it has nothing to do with the ticket. So I've just closed it. I apologize for the noise.