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diff --git a/13616.txt b/13616.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f93a30e --- /dev/null +++ b/13616.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8431 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, by E.H. Blair + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 + Volume III, 1569-1576 + +Author: E.H. Blair + +Release Date: December 6, 2004 [EBook #13616] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1803 *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team. + + + + + + + + + +The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 + +Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and +their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, +as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the +political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those +islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the +beginning of the nineteenth century + +Volume III, 1569-1576 + + + +Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson +with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord +Bourne. + + + + + + +Contents of Volume III + + +Preface. ... 15 + +Documents of 1569 + + Letter to Felipe II. Guido de Lavezaris; Cebu, June + 5. ... 29 + Letter to Felipe II. Andres de Mirandaola; Cubu, + June 8. ... 33 + Letter to Marques de Falces. M.L. de Legazpi; Cubu, + July 7. ... 44 + Relation of the Filipinas islands. M.L. de Legazpi; + [Cubu, July 7]. ... 54 + Confirmation of Legazpi's title as governor and + captain-general. Felipe II; Madrid, August 14. ... 62 + + +Documents of 1570 + + Letter to Felipe II. Fray Diego de Herrera; Mexico, + January 16. ... 69 + Relation of the voyage to Luzon. [June, 1570?]. ... 73 + Act of taking possession of Luzon. Martin de Goiti + and Hernando Riquel; Manila, June 6. ... 105 + Letter to Felipe II. M. L. de Legazpi; Panae, July + 25. ... 108 + Evidence regarding the Portuguese expedition against + Cebu. M.L. de Legazpi; Cubu, October 21. ... 113 + + + +Documents of 1571-72 + + Relation of the discoveries of the Malucos and + Philippinas. [1571?]. ... 121 + Requisitions of supplies for the Spanish forces in + the Philippines [1571?]. ... 132 + Conquest of the island of Luzon. Manila, April 20, + 1572. ... 141 + Foundation of the city of Manila. Fernando Riquel; + Manilla, June 19, 1572. ... 173 + + +Documents of 1573 + + Expenses incurred for the expedition to the Western + Islands, 1569-72. Melchior de Legazpi; Mexico, March + 2. ... 177 + Affairs in the Philippines after the death of + Legazpi. Guido de Lavezaris; Manila, June 29. ... 179 + Relation of the Western Islands called Filipinas. Diego + de Artieda. ... 190 + Letter from the viceroy of New Spain to Felipe + II. Martin Enriquez; Mexico, December 5. ... 209 + + +Documents of 1574 + + Letter to Felipe II. Andres de Mirandaola; January + 8. ... 223 + [1]Las nuevas quescriven de las yslas del Poniente + Hernando Riquel y otros; Mexico, January 11. ... 230 + Two royal decrees regarding Manila and Luzon. Felipe + II; Madrid, June 21. ... 250 + Opinion regarding tribute from the Indians. Fray + Martin de Rada; Manila, June 21. ... 253 + Reply to Fray Rada's "Opinion." Guido de Lavezaris + and others; [Manila, June, 1574?]. ... 260 + Two letters to Felipe II. Guido de Lavezaris; Manila, + July 17 and 30. ... 272 + Slavery among the natives. Guido de Lavezaris; + [July?]. ... 286 + + +Documents of 1575-76 + + Part of a letter to the viceroy. Guido de Lavezaris; + [Manila, 1575?]. ... 291 + Letter to Felipe II. Juan Pacheco Maldonado; [Manila, + 1575?]. ... 295 + Encomiendas forbidden to royal officials. Francisco + de Sande, and others; Manila, May 26, 1576. ... 304 + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; Manila, + June 2, 1576. ... 312 + + +Bibliographical Data. ... 315 + + + + +Illustrations + + + + Portrait of Fray Martin de Rada, O.S.A.; photographic + reproduction of painting in possession of Colegio de Agustinos + Filipinos, Valladolid. ... _Frontispiece_ + Landing of the Spaniards at Cebu, in 1565; photographic + reproduction of a painting at the Colegio de Agustinos + Filipinos, Valladolid. ... 35 + Map showing the first landing-place of Legazpi in the + Philippines; photographic facsimile of original (manuscript) + map, contained in the pilots' log-book of the voyage, preserved + in the Archivo General de Indias, at Sevilla. ... 47 + "Asiae nova descriptio" (original in colors), map in _Theatrum + orbis terrarum_, by Abraham Ortelius (Antverpiae, M. D. LXX), + fol. 3; reduced photographic facsimile, from copy in Boston + Public Library. ... 86, 87 + + + + + +Preface + + +The documents presented in this volume cover the last three years of +Legazpi's administration in the islands, the governorship of Guido de +Lavezaris, and the beginning of that of Francisco de Sande. In the +brief period which we thus far survey, the first decade of Spanish +occupation (1565-75), are already disclosed the main elements of +the oriental problem of today: the conflicting claims of powerful +European nations, striving for advantage and monopoly in the rich trade +of the East; the eagerness of unscrupulous Europeans to subjugate +the wealthy but comparatively defenseless Chinese people, and the +efforts of the latter to exclude foreigners from their country; +the relations between the dominant whites and the weaker colored +races; the characteristics, racial and local, of the various oriental +peoples; the Chinese migration to the islands; and the influence of +the missionaries. Interesting comparisons may be made between the +conquests by the Spaniards in the Philippines and those made at an +earlier period in New Spain. + +The royal treasurer in the Philippines, Guido de Lavezaris, writes +(June 5, 1569) to Felipe II, describing the Portuguese attack on Cebu +in the preceding autumn, and briefly mentioning some other matters. A +letter from another official, Andres de Mirandaola (dated three +days later), informs the king of the wreck of a vessel despatched to +Spain with a rich cargo of spices; and he too describes briefly the +encounter with the Portuguese. The danger of another attack leads +the Spaniards to remove their camp to Panay, as being safer than +Cebu. Mirandaola pleads for reenforcements, and asks that soldiers, +of more industrious sort than hitherto, be sent to the islands. He +also gives some interesting information about China and its people; +and asks for an increase of his salary. + +A letter from Legazpi (July 1, 1569) to the viceroy of New Spain +describes the difficulties between the Portuguese and Spaniards at +Cebu, and complains of Pereira's hostile actions there. The settlement +has been removed to Panay; they send their only remaining ship to New +Spain, to entreat aid in their distress and imminent danger, for the +Portuguese threaten to drive the Spaniards out of the Philippines. All +the expense hitherto incurred will be wasted unless a permanent and +suitably-equipped settlement be made at some good port. If supplies +cannot be sent, Legazpi asks for ships with which to transport the +Spaniards home, and wishes to resign his office as governor. With +this letter he sends an account of the islands, "and of the character +and condition of their inhabitants." The natives are unreliable, and +utterly slothful. Cinnamon is the only product of the islands which can +be made profitable to the Spaniards, until they can secure control of +the gold mines, and have them worked. Legazpi offers practical advice +as to the best methods of treating the natives, conducting commerce, +etc. His title of governor in Cebu is confirmed (August 14, 1569) +by royal decree. + +A letter from Fray Diego de Herrera (January 16, 1570) to Felipe +II gives a brief account of events since Legazpi arrived at the +islands. He praises the courage and loyalty of the soldiers, and +asks the king to reward them; and asserts that the hostilities of +the Portuguese must be checked before much can be done to convert +the natives. A document without signature narrates the events of +"the voyage to Luzon" in May, 1570. It is a simple but picturesque +account of the campaign which resulted in the conquest of Luzon +and the foundation of Spanish Manila--evidently written by one who +participated in those stirring events. The Moros (Mahometans) of Manila +profess a readiness to make a treaty of peace with the Spaniards; +but they treacherously begin an attack on the latter--which, however, +results in their own defeat. The Spaniards capture the city and +set it on fire, which compels the Moros to abandon it. The victors +make compacts of peace with the neighboring villages, and return to +Panay. Illustrative of this episode is the "act of taking possession +of Luzon," dated June 6, 1570. + +A letter from Legazpi to the king (July 25, 1570) outlines the events +of the past year. He renews his entreaties for some light-oared +vessels, in which he could send exploring parties through the +archipelago. In pursuance of a royal order, he sends back to Mexico the +Portuguese who are among his troops; but he cannot banish the other +foreigners, as they include his best workmen. He asks royal favor +and rewards for some of his officers. On October 21 of the same year, +he despatches to the king a formal complaint that Pereira had again +appeared at the Spanish settlement (now in Panay), and demolished +its fortifications. + +A writer unknown gives an outline of the controversies regarding the +Line of Demarcation, and of the Spanish discoveries in the Philippines, +and the voyages made between the archipelago and Mexico, up to +1571. Lists of supplies needed [1571?] for the struggling colony +forcibly indicate the difference between the wants of civilized +Europeans and those of the semi-barbarous tribes in the Philippines. + +Another picturesque account of the reduction of Luzon is furnished +(April 20, 1572) by an unknown writer, who claims to have obtained his +information from actual participants in that campaign. He mentions +various interesting details not included in the earlier account, +and narrates occurrences after the conquest of Manila. Legazpi goes +to that place (May, 1571) to establish his official residence; +the natives at his approach set fire to the village, which they +had rebuilt after its destruction by the Spaniards in the preceding +year. The seat of government for the archipelago is founded there; +and amicable relations (involving the payment of tribute by the +natives) are established between the Spaniards and the people of some +neighboring villages. Other communities refuse to make submission, +and defy the invaders; but they are successively reduced to subjection +by the Spaniards. After narrating these transactions, the writer +gives a brief description of the people of Luzon, their mode of dress, +religious rites, and various customs; and makes commendatory mention of +the Chinese who have settled on that island, who are now converted to +the Christian faith. He then enumerates the islands thus far explored +by the Spaniards, mentioning their principal resources and products. In +June, 1572, Legazpi formally establishes the Spanish city of Manila, +and appoints municipal officers. + +An official statement is made by Legazpi's son Melchior, royal +accountant in New Spain (March 2, 1573), of the expenses attending +the Philippine enterprise during the past four years. Layezaris makes +report (June 29, 1573) of Legazpi's death (August 20 preceding), +and of affairs in the islands since then. Allotments of lands which +include the natives who reside thereon (known as "repartimientos" or +"encomiendas"), are being made in the islands, as fast as they are +pacified. Most of Luzon is now subdued; its resources are great, +and will maintain numerous Spanish settlements. The Chinese trade +with its ports is extensive, and steadily increasing; and those +traders are bringing wares of better quality than formerly. Lavezaris +complains of Portuguese hostility and intrigues; a Bornean king +also has attempted an expedition against the Spaniards. The governor +sends a cargo of cinnamon to Felipe; if only he had ships in which to +transport that precious commodity, he could ruin the Portuguese trade +therein. This enterprising official has sent to New Spain plants of +ginger, tamarind, cinnamon, and pepper; the first two are already +flourishing there. He suggests that it would be well to send to the +islands Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, to continue the conversion +of the natives, already begun by the Augustinians. He asks rewards for +his officers, as having faithfully served the king amid great dangers +and hardships--especially Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo. He +advises that municipal officers be changed annually to prevent abuses. + +A Spanish captain, Diego de Artieda, writes (1573) a "Relation +of the Western Islands." He enumerates the islands thus far +discovered by the Spaniards, describing their location, appearance, +and natural resources. He adds much curious information about the +natives--concerning their religious beliefs and rites, customs, mode +of dress, weapons, food, industries, social condition, etc. Artieda +notes all that he has been able to learn concerning Japan and China, +with interesting details as to their civilization, and the skill of +the Chinese as artisans; he mentions the antiquity of printing among +them. He offers to conduct an armed expedition against the coast +of China, if the king will supply him with two vessels and eighty +soldiers. He advises that Spain abandon the attempt to establish a +footing in the Philippines, or else that she ignore the Treaty of +Zaragoza and trade with the Moluccas. + +Martin Enriquez, viceroy of New Spain, writes (December 5, 1573) to +Felipe II, announcing the arrival of ships with despatches from the +Philippines. With them has come the Augustinian friar Diego de Herrera, +who is on his way to Spain to inform the king of the acts of violence +and injustice which are being committed in the islands--especially by +the soldiers, who receive no pay and therefore maintain themselves +by raids on the native villages. Several Spanish officers have been +sent thence to Mexico, by way of punishment for various misdemeanors; +from them the viceroy has obtained much information, which he records +for the king's benefit. The resources of the Philippines are great; +but "every one asserts that the chief deficiency of that land is +justice; and without justice there is no safety." A new governor +is needed there. Reenforcements and supplies have been sent thither +from New Spain every year; but many persons die, and there has been +little increase of population. The riches of China incline some of the +Spaniards to plan for its subjugation to Spanish power. Commerce with +that land would be very desirable; but the viceroy cannot persuade +Spanish merchants to embark therein, on the uncertain and vague +reports thus far received; moreover, the Chinese already possess all +the goods that the Spaniards would export to them. Enriquez asks that +some large ships be provided for the Philippine trade, for which he +has no vessels of adequate size. He sends to the king a cargo of +gold, spices, silks, wax, and other goods. He asks that artillery +and rigging be sent him, and supplies for a reenforcement which he +is planning to despatch next year to the Philippines. He requests the +king to reward the faithful services rendered by Legazpi; and to do so +by providing for his daughters, now of marriageable age, and giving +to his son Melchior some grant in New Spain. The viceroy asks for +orders in various matters, especially in regard to the Inquisition; +and enumerates the documents he sends with this letter. + +Andres de Mirandaola writes (January 8, 1574) to the king. He +enumerates the gold mines thus far discovered in the Philippines, and +the advantages possessed by the islands; and urges the establishment of +Spanish power therein. He describes, as well as he can from reports, +the extent and resources of China, and hints that Spain might find +it worth while to conquer that rich kingdom. + +Of much interest is the brief narrative (sent from Mexico January 11, +1574) by Fernando Riquel, Legazpi's notary, of events in the islands +during 1570-73. The governor founds a town in Cebu, and allots to +his followers the land and the natives who reside thereon. In April, +1571 he conducts an expedition for the conquest of Luzon (the events +of which have been related in previous documents). Riquel mentions the +coming of the ships, Legazpi's death, and other events. The islands +are in a peaceful condition; the lands are allotted in such districts +as have been pacified; there is promise of an abundant income from +the tributary natives; and the gold mines are very rich. The Chinese +trade is described; and Riquel thinks that China, notwithstanding +its great population, could be subjugated "with less than sixty +good Spanish soldiers." His narrative is followed by a list of the +articles carried in the ships which bear his letters--gold, spices, +silks, cotton cloth, and porcelain. + +On June 21, 1574 Felipe II bestows on Luzon the title of "New kingdom +of Castilla," and on Manila that of "Distinguished and ever loyal +city;" and permits the establishment of a new municipal office. On the +same day Fray Martin de Rada, provincial of the Augustinians in the +Philippines, gives his written opinion regarding the exaction by the +Spaniards of tributes from the Indians. He declares that he and all +his brethren regard the conquests made in these islands as unjust; and +denounces the acts of injustice, oppression, and extortion committed +against the helpless natives. Rada asserts that the rate of tribute +is three times as high as it ought to be, considering the poverty +of the Indians; and urges the governor to reduce the amount levied +to one-third of the present exaction, and to protect the natives +from oppression. + +Lavezaris and other officials at Manila undertake to defend +themselves from Rada's accusations, writing (probably very soon +after his "Opinion") a letter to the king to state their side of the +contention. They deny some of Rada's statements, and excuse their +action in other matters, casting the blame for many evils on the +treachery of the natives. They claim that they are protecting the +friendly Indians, and have nearly broken up the robbery and piracy +formerly prevalent among those peoples. They assert that the natives +are well supplied with food, clothing, and gold, and that the tribute +levied is moderate, and not a burden on the people; also that it is +regulated according to the relative wealth of different classes and +regions. This is illustrated by interesting quotations of prices and +values, and enumeration of goods obtained in trade, and of the products +of native industry. The officials admit that the natives pay tribute +only under compulsion, but say, "They like to be compelled to do so;" +and they consider all poverty among the Indians as due to laziness and +drunkenness. It is also far better for them to pay tribute than to be +raided by the Spanish soldiers for the means of supporting themselves, +as was done before the encomiendas were made. + +Two letters from Lavezaris (July 17 and 30, 1574) give account of the +past year's events. Juan de Salcedo has conquered the rich province of +Los Camarines in Luzon; and the governor will try to found a Spanish +settlement there. The town founded at Cebu was almost deserted by +the Spaniards; but Lavezaris obliges them to return thither and aids +them in their poverty. He hopes to establish commerce with Borneo +and eventually to found a Spanish post in that island; and has other +plans for increasing the domination of Spain in the East Indies. Juan +de Salcedo has subdued the province of Ilocos, and founded the town +of Fernandina. The Chinese trade is steadily increasing. The natives +of Luzon are being rapidly converted, and missionaries are needed to +care for their souls; Lavezaris especially recommends the Theatins +for this work. He forwards a cargo of cinnamon to the king, to which +he adds various curiosities, and specimens of oriental jewelry; +and sends to New Spain certain plants and roots of economic value, +which he desires to introduce there. He has been obliged to send +Mirandaola to New Spain under arrest; so the office of factor is +vacant, and should be filled. An attorney-general is also needful in +the islands. Lavezaris complains of the Augustinian friars for opposing +the collection of tributes from the natives. Some reenforcements have +come from New Spain. Upon receiving this letter, the royal Council +orders that arrangements be made to furnish necessary supplies for the +islands from New Spain. Another copy of the document is forwarded to +Spain, to which, as it goes on a later vessel, the governor adds some +further items of news. Salcedo has pacified not only Los Camarines, +but Albay and the island of Catanduanes. The prospect is excellent for +the establishment and prosperity of Spanish colonies in the island +of Luzon. The governor sends with his letter maps of Luzon and the +coast of China. A letter (undated) from Lavezaris enumerates the +reasons for which persons are enslaved among the native tribes. He +advises that the Spaniards adopt this institution; otherwise, "this +land cannot be preserved." + +An undated letter (1575?) by the same official, to the viceroy of +New Spain, mentions the orders given by the latter that all Indians +and negroes carried from the islands must be returned. Some Chinese +junks have been seized and pillaged. As a result, the trade which +was flourishing between the Spaniards and the Moros of Luzon has been +almost destroyed for the time--a serious matter, for the Moros supply +the Spaniards with provisions. Lavezaris asks that more married men be +sent to the islands. Some remarkably fine pearls have been obtained +near Bantayan. He asks the viceroy to provide him with a cipher code +for future communications. + +Captain Juan Pacheco Maldonado sends to Felipe II (probably in 1575) +a report on the condition and needs of the Spanish colony in the +Philippines. He begins by narrating briefly the conquest of Luzon; +then describes the island and its trade, which is carried on with both +China and Japan. On account of its wealth and importance, Luzon should +be thoroughly subjugated; and Maldonado enumerates the provisions +that should be made for that end. Forty or fifty ecclesiastics should +be sent; and to aid in their labors a prelate should be appointed, +for which post the writer recommends Fray Diego de Herrera. Maldonado +urges that five hundred soldiers be sent from Spain and that with these +troops conquest should be made of the Liu-Kiu and Japan Islands. He +asks also for artisans to build ships, suggesting for this purpose +the negro slaves thus employed at Havana. + +The new governor, Francisco de Sande, issues a decree (May 26, 1576) +forbidding royal officials in the islands from holding encomiendas +of Indians, and appropriating to the crown those formerly granted +by Lavezaris. The affidavits annexed to this document enumerate the +payments of tribute made by the natives, and indicate the need for +Sande's action. The governor sends to the king a report (dated June 7, +1576) of his first year's work, accompanied by a letter (dated June +2). He desires to subjugate China, an undertaking which he eloquently +urges upon the king. This report will be given in the next volume. + +_The Editors_ + +March, 1903. + + + + + +Documents of 1569 + + + + Letter to Felipe II. Guido de Lavezaris; June 5. + Letter to Felipe II. Andres de Mirandaola; June 8. + Letter to Marques de Falces. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi; July 7. + Relation of the Filipinas Islands. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi; + July 7. + Confirmation of Legazpi's title. Felipe II; August 14. + + +_Sources_: MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, at Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first two documents are translated by Arthur +B. Myrick; the others, by Alfonso de Salvio. + + + + + +Letter from Guido de Lavezaris to Felipe II + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +This letter will serve to advise your Majesty that by the _capitana_ +"San Pablo," which left this port on the first of July in the past +year 1568, I wrote at length to your Majesty regarding events which +had happened up to that time; and I refer you to the letters which +will go on this despatch-boat in the general budget, which is thus +accidentally increased. Now I shall relate the history of this +ship, and what happened to us after it left, with as much brevity +as possible, both to avoid prolixity and because the governor Miguel +Lopez will give your Majesty a longer and fuller relation. This ship +was despatched with more than four hundred _quintals_ of cinnamon for +your Majesty, besides small wares and other articles as specimens, +which would give no little satisfaction in that land. There arrived at +this port of Cubu on the eighteenth of September of that year a small +vessel of Portuguese, whose captain was Antonio Rrumbo de Acosta, +a person who had already come, the year before, to this port with +letters from the Captain-general Gonzalo Pereyra. He said that the +captain-general was coming with, all his fleet to see the governor +[of the Philippines] and provide him with necessaries, and that having +been separated from his fleet, he [Acosta] came to seek shelter at this +port, as he had knowledge of it, whence he would return immediately +to seek the fleet. He did so, having first been well received by +the governor [Legazpi] and this whole colony. On the twenty-eighth +of that same month, he came back to this port with letters from the +captain-general to the governor, saying that the former was very +near the port. The governor answered his letters, and despatched +them; and on the thirtieth of the same month, the captain-general +entered the port with a heavy fleet of Portuguese. They came with +nine sail--four ships of deep draught and five galleys and _fustas_, +without counting other small vessels which the natives of Maluco use +for the service of the larger boats. They remained in this port certain +days, peacefully, during which the captain-general and the governor +saw each other twice--once on land and the other time on sea. At the +last visit, the Portuguese stated that he would serve summons upon +us, which he at once proceeded to do. On the fourteenth of October he +sent the first summons, which the governor answered. The Portuguese +made answer to this reply and after that made his third demand; and +on the same day when he did this, he came to blows with us, in which +nothing was gained. He surrounded us at the entrances of this port (of +which there are two, one to the east and the other to the west). He +always endeavored to make war on us from the outside, in order to +guarantee his own safety as much as possible. Many people were seen +from this camp, and he captured many more, without it happening that +they could take or kill any of us. He granted life to a few soldiers +and boys that fled from this camp and went to his fleet. During the +time of this blockade, the flagship was burned because it was of +no use, and so that the nails it contained might serve for a ship +that was being made. At this time came the news that the _capitana_ +"San Pablo" had been lost in the Ladrones during a storm, and while +the ship was moored. All the people had escaped and came to these +Filipinas islands in a bark which they made from a small boat. It +was a marvelous thing that one hundred and thirty-two people should +come in it as they did. May God pardon whomsoever did us such harm +in losing this ship in this manner. The Portuguese had notice of +this loss, and, having kept us surrounded all the rest of the year, +went away from this port on the first of January of this year 69, with +different ideas from those which they brought hither--because they had +maintained that we must go with them to India; and the captain-general +demanded in his papers or summons that we should leave these islands, +since they were within the demarcation of the king of Portugal. Now +because, as I said, the governor will give your Majesty at greater +length the news of all this, and is sending a relation and the +copy of the demands, I shall say nothing further of it. I finish by +saying that the despatch-boat "San Lucas" is being sent away today, +in order to request that your Majesty may send us sufficient help, +suitable to our need, which is very great, as they who are going to +you in this ship will bear witness; and by referring you to all that +I have before explained to your Majesty. In the ship "San Juan," +which left this port on the twenty-sixth of July, of the year 67, +I sent certain tamarind trees and ginger roots to be planted in the +more fertile districts of that Nueva Espana. Now I am sending your +Majesty by Rrodrigo Despinosa, chief pilot who came in the _capitana_, +some roots of pepper already sprouted, for the same purpose. I, as +a zealous servant of your Majesty, am always, so far as my little +strength permits, watchful of everything that concerns the royal +service. And because I personally desire to inform your Majesty of +these things, and in order that I may do it as fully as I have heard +it, I beg your Majesty to do me the favor to send me your favorable +permission, in order that I may do so in the first ship that may leave +these parts for that Nueva Espana; and because in all things I hope to +receive favor from your Majesty, in regard to all the rest referring +to the aforesaid letters that I wrote your Majesty which are likewise +going on this vessel. I close begging our Lord to keep your Majesty's +sacred royal Catholic person, and prosper you with increase of greater +kingdoms and seigniories, as we, your Majesty's servants and vassals, +desire. From Cebu, June 5, 1569. Your Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty's +faithful vassal and humble servant, who kisses your royal feet, + +_Guido de Lavesaris_ + + + + +Letter from Andres de Mirandaola to Felipe II + + +Sacred Catholic Majesty: + +With the _capitana_ which left this port on the first of July, +five hundred and sixty-eight, I sent your Majesty a relation of +what had happened up to that day in this place, with the fidelity +and loyalty which I owe as your Majesty's servant; and so will I do +in this. It pleased God that the _capitana_, making the return trip +from Nueva Spana [2] for the second time, should lose the way, and +be driven upon the island of Guan, which is one of those called the +Ladrones, where they were lost on account of the storm that struck +them there. Assuredly this caused great sadness and anxiety in this +camp, besides the great loss that it occasioned us, both because +that ship was very convenient and important for the expedition, +and because of its large cargo of cinnamon and other goods which +would have given great satisfaction in your Majesty's kingdoms and +seigniories. It carried, registered for your Majesty, one hundred and +fifty _quintals_ of cinnamon; and for private individuals more than two +hundred and fifty--which consignments we allowed to be carried on the +register, mindful of the misery and necessity which the people were +suffering, and considering that they had nothing else with which to +help themselves. On this account, permission was given to take these +goods, and with the idea that if it should seem best in Nueva Espana +to take them at a moderate [price] [3] in your Majesty's name, they +would be thus taken; and advices to that effect were sent. There were +also specimens of pieces of [gold], porcelain, and other things, as I +have said, which would give great happiness to your Majesty's vassals +and make them desirous to come to these parts to serve God and your +Majesty. As I have said, it pleased God that everything should be lost, +and that the men should be saved, although with considerable risk of +life. Moreover, after both privations and shipwreck had happened to +them in a land where they had neither refuge nor refreshment, they +had to deal with the most brutish and least civilized tribe of people +ever seen hitherto. Our men experienced great difficulty with those +people, because of their utter barbarism and their savage manner of +fighting. God, who brought them to this port, protected them, showing +them his divine clemency and pity. May He give us grace to serve Him, +and may He keep us in your Majesty's service. + +There arrived at this island, where we had settled in your Majesty's +name, Gonzalo Pereira with the fleet (of which we sent your Majesty +news by the _patache_ "San Juan"). He arrived on the second of October +of the year five hundred and sixty-eight; and he came thus, with +four galleons and six small galleys, which took position near this +your Majesty's camp, after having gone through certain formalities +and requisitions, as your Majesty will see by these letters. [4] +The said blockade lasted three months, during which they made war on +us, not as on Christians, and your Majesty's vassals, but as against +infidels and tyrants. They uttered all the insults and inflicted on +us all the humiliations that they could, taking away from us the +entrances to the harbors, whence came our provisions, and burning the +houses and possessions of our neighboring friends--which certainly +gave these pagan natives a great notion of cruelty, seeing that +with such wicked ways and such cruelty the Portuguese were trying +to hurt and annoy us. And in this way, seeing that by fighting they +might lose more than they would gain, they did not care to fight, +but resolved to take, on the side toward the sea, the harbor entrances +(which are two) with their ships, as they were fully aware that we had +nothing with which to resist them. Accordingly, they kept us shut up; +and in all this time no food or anything else could be brought in for +our support, for which reason we ran a great risk of perishing and +dying in great misery. The governor, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, acted +with the power delegated to him by your Majesty, doing in everything +all that was possible, as was evident by the messages and requests +to which I refer, which were made in your Majesty's name. + + +It has pleased God that through some loss of his men, who died from +diseases, the Portuguese should raise the blockade on New Year's +Day of this year five hundred and sixty-nine. He went away with his +fleet, without leave-taking or without saying anything more than to +warn us that he would return in a short time, with forces enough to +crush and destroy us. Therefore it was decided to change the site +and situation of this camp to a province called Panae, where it is +believed that we can hold out until your Majesty provide us with +help and reenforcements, in order that your Majesty's affairs and +vassals may not be so injured by the vassals of the king of Portugal- +a place where no damage may be done, for never since these parts +were discovered have the Portuguese resorted thither, and neither the +king of Portugal nor his vassals had trade or commerce, nor can they +possess anything there. Therefore your Majesty will understand how +little respect the Portuguese have--in your Majesty's absence, and in +a place where they can act thus--for what is due to your Majesty. They +are willing to execute very correctly the conditions and clauses of the +agreement, that is to say those conditions that are in their favor, +but will not admit any excuse or exoneration however reasonable or +legitimate it may be. We are quite certain that your Majesty will +already have taken action in these matters, so that the Portuguese +cannot continue to harass us. This present enterprise is of such a +nature that, if your Majesty wishes to continue it--an enterprise so +long desired, and in which God has afforded your Majesty so fortunate +and evident a result--it offers God a great increase of his Catholic +faith, which may be cultivated in these regions, and to your Majesty +an increase of great kingdoms and seigniories. As I have said above, +the continuance of the liberty due to our government in these lands +would assure your Majesty of being served with the greatest diligence +and care, such service being especially necessary. I have to report, as +your Majesty's faithful servant and vassal, that the persons appointed +to your Majesty's royal service are of little experience, and that any +business, however light it is, gives them a fright. Accordingly, they +content themselves with doing little, and continually oppose certain +things which have been discussed touching the royal treasury--as has +occurred in the case of the fifths, for which my companions asked, +during my absence, in a certain council that was held, telling +the captains that for the present these ought not to be given. And +although I do not believe that the amount is yet so heavy that it +could swell your Majesty's royal treasury, through the good custom +and law permitted by God, which that would put an end to--the answer +that I gave when they notified me of it, was that, since they were +like myself, your Majesty's servants and vassals they were in duty +bound to increase your Majesty's crown and royal estate, to the best +of their ability, and ought to do so. + +It is especially necessary that your Majesty order that the people +who are to come to these parts from Nueva Espana shall be sent +without regularly appointed captains, but that they shall bring +a person suitable to command them as far as these islands, to the +point where the governor, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, shall reside, in +order to deliver the people to him and give up the command; and that +your Majesty shall assign to this duty persons who shall seem to be +better qualified for your Majesty's royal service, because thus our +reenforcements will come more conveniently and with less expense to +the royal treasury. There will thus be an opportunity for rewarding +the persons who have served your Majesty here, as being also men +experienced and conversant in the business and affairs of this land, +and accustomed to the hardships to be encountered here. I think that +those who newly come will feel these hardships keenly, on account of +this country being, as it is, very different from other regions--as +your Majesty will see in the case of Diego de Artieda. [5] He came +on the _capitana_, in which he wished to return immediately after +having transacted his business, and having served your Majesty very +little, as your Majesty will, by this time, have full information and +account; and the cause, as far as it is known, has been his unsteady +disposition. I say this, that your Majesty may have the most important +information in this matter; and in everything your Majesty will act +as suits your pleasure. + +When the Portuguese were in this harbor, it was learned that they were +trading and bargaining on the coast of China and Japan; and that it +was a business by which they were maintaining themselves, since it +was the most extensive and advantageous trade that has been hitherto +seen in any place where trade has been carried on. I am certain of +this from what I heard from them in general, and especially from +the captain-general and other persons in the fleet that came here, +mainly to learn what your Majesty is doing--a thing they strenuously +denied. I make this observation as one who transacted the business +with them and with the said captain-general, for your Majesty and in +your Majesty's royal service. Your Majesty will understand, without +doubt, their feelings at learning that your Majesty was continuing +this affair and expedition--which were quite evident in the messages +and summons served on us by them, and their procedures while here. One +or two persons were captured in an islet, when we went to discover it, +who were there with a vessel, which we chanced to encounter--in this +vessel, as I have said, being these two men. They appeared to be more +intelligent than the others whom we met. It was learned that the Moros +from Borney had robbed them; consequently they had nothing except some +gold and silver not worth more than a hundred _escudos_ [6] and some +other articles of no value. It was learned from these men that China +is a very important country and that its people are highly civilized, +engage extensively in trade, and have a well-ordered government. They +tell of thirteen cities called Chincheo, Cantun, Huechiu, Nimpou, +Onchiu, Hinan, Sisuan, Conce, Onan, Nanquin, and Paquin. [7] Paquin is +the court and residence of the king. Fuchu, Ucau, Lintam, and Cencay +are cities of especial note. There are in all fifteen in which they +say that the king has placed his governors. The king is named Nontehe, +and a son of his Taycu. This is the relation that we have been able +to get from these men--hitherto, outside of the ancients, the only +description of the greatness of China that your Majesty has. They +say that these people are so fearful of a prophecy related to them +many times by their astrologers--namely, that they are to be subdued, +and that the race to subdue them will come from the east--that they +will not allow any Portuguese to land in China; and the king orders +his governors expressly not to allow it. Throughout his land he has +enforced great watchfulness, and stored military supplies, as these +Indians give us to understand. All of us your Majesty's servants and +vassals are quite sure that, in your time, China will be subject to +your Majesty, and that in these parts, the religion of Christ will +be spread and exalted, and your Majesty's royal crown increased, +and all this in a very short time. + +I humbly beg and beseech your Majesty that you will grant me the favor +of increasing my salary to three thousand ducats, in consideration of +the poorness of the country and the fact that we have to be supplied +from Espana and your Majesty's realms with what we need to maintain +ourselves. Consider also the position that was granted me in your +Majesty's name by Don Luis de Velasco, viceroy of Nueva Espana (whom +may God keep in his perpetual glory); I have served until now in these +districts as your Majesty's faithful servant, enduring great hardships +and misery; and that, in order to join this expedition, I spent my +patrimony and ran into debt besides, to the extent of many gold pesos. + +It was agreed to despatch this _patache_ on account of the delay there +has been in sending your Majesty's despatches from Nueva Espana, and +also to let your Majesty know our negotiations with the Portuguese +and our great necessity; for there does not remain to us a larger +boat in which we can give notice of what happens, nor supplies enough +to be able to make one. In consideration of this, your Majesty will +be pleased to have provided, with diligence, sufficient assistance, +so that we may find out what there is in these regions; and, that +God and your Majesty may be served therein, we are sure that your +Majesty will have this provided for. May our Lord guard your sacred +royal Catholic person and increase your kingdoms and seigniories. From +Cubu, June viii, 1569. + +Your sacred Catholic Majesty's faithful servant, who humbly kisses +your Majesty's royal feet. + +_Andres de Mirandaola_ + + + + +Letter from Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to the Marques de Falces + + +On the first of July of last year, I despatched from this port +Captain Felipe de Salzedo in the flagship to that Nueva Espana, +to give your Excellency [8] an account and relation of what had +occurred until then, and to carry specimens of articles produced in +this land. It pleased God that the ship should be wrecked while at +anchor in one of the Ladrones Islands; for it was driven on the coast +and all that was on board was lost, except the crew. They returned to +these islands with much difficulty, in the boat, which they repaired +for that purpose, as well as they could. Felipe de Salcedo saved +the packet of letters for your excellency, which accompanies this +letter. A few days after the departure of the flagship from here, +I heard that a Portuguese fleet was coming toward us. In fact, it +came in sight of this port--seven vessels in all, sailing in a line, +four galleons and three _fustas_. The captain-general of the fleet +was a gentleman called Goncalo Pereira. At first, he declared that he +came there only to see us and to inquire whether we needed anything +that he could supply us; but after he had entered the port with fine +words, offers, and promises both general and specific, he tried to +persuade us to go with him to India, saying that he was surprised at +our remaining so long in this land, when we knew that it belonged +to the king of Portugal. I answered him that I had believed myself +to be on land of his Majesty, but that, not being a cosmographer, +and not possessing a commission from his Majesty in regard to it, I +did not wish to contradict him or quarrel with him on that subject. I +assured him that, on arriving in this land, I was obliged to go into +winter-quarters here; and that I had despatched a ship to his Majesty +with a relation of what had occurred on the voyage. I added that I +had been expecting and still expected an answer to that report; and +that for lack of ships I had postponed my departure from the country +until they should be sent from Nueva Espana. To this he answered that, +on the contrary, it seemed to him that we wished to take possession +of the land of his king, with the intention of passing over into +China and other regions which were likewise his, thus breaking the +compact made between the kings of Castilla and Portugal. That was +satisfactorily answered by me, in the above manner, and I assured him +that my intention was not to injure his king in anything whatever, or +to seize anything belonging to him, because such was the injunction +imposed upon me by his Majesty. All this did not prove sufficient, +and he said that he could not go away from here unless either he +took us away, or we left the country immediately. He began to issue +some written injunctions, which, together with our answer to them, +accompany the present letter, so that your Excellency may know what +occurred. My intention was always to avoid giving him occasion for +commencing hostilities; but it availed little, for without any cause +whatever he started the war, and began to demolish with his artillery +some gabions we had built on the coast for our defense. He blockaded +both entrances to this port with his ships, to prevent us from bringing +in provisions or anything else, as will be confirmed by the testimony +accompanying this letter; and declared that, if they could not capture +us by any other means, they would do so by hunger. Thus he besieged +us for nearly three months, and the harm which he could not inflict +upon the Spaniards he inflicted upon the natives of the neighborhood +who were our friends. He burned and destroyed seven or eight towns, +and gave the natives to understand that this land belonged to the king +of Portugal. He said that we were thieves on a plundering expedition, +and that the Portuguese would destroy and kill those who befriended +us. From this we clearly saw and understood the good-will with which +they had come. Many towns which had been won to us have withdrawn from +our friendship, especially those lying along the coast of Mindanao, +where cinnamon is bartered. These towns the Portuguese injured, +and captured and took away some of the people. On the New Year's +Day just passed, they raised the blockade and departed; for God, +our lord, in His infinite goodness and mercy was pleased, through +the very means by which they thought to defeat us, to force them +to depart--namely, because of lack of provisions; although at their +departure they threatened to return soon and take us away by force. + +After the blockade had been raised, and we saw the great need and +distress into which they had brought us, the captains and leaders of +the camp discussed the course which was to be taken for our defense in +case the Portuguese should return hither, as they are likely to do. All +agreed that we should change our location and settlement, because it +would be impossible to defend ourselves here where they could, simply +by closing the entrances to the port, as they did at first, starve +us, on account of the lack of food on this island. In view of other +causes and arguments set forth for this change, we thought that the +river Panae, situated forty leagues from this place, would be a more +suitable site, for it abounds in rice, and no one from the sea could +prevent us from going up the river to the mountains. Accordingly we +have removed thither the artillery, although the quantity of powder +and ammunition now remaining is so small that the artillery can be +of little help in any place. We have decided to send the companies +around the river into other towns, where they can sustain themselves +until we hear from the enemy. + +The flagship having been lost, I tried to repair this _patache_ +"San Lucas," in order to send word to your Excellency that I have +no other ship left, nor can I send further information until its +return. Thus we are left surrounded on all sides by water and +enemies, awaiting the mercy of God, and the help and remedy which +your Excellency will be pleased to send us, for we cannot expect +it from any other source. During the blockade by the Portuguese, +we did not lack infamous men who, persuaded by words and promises, +turned traitor and passed from this camp to their fleet. These men, +whose names accompany this letter, did us no little harm. If the +enemy return, may it please God that there be no more thus inclined; +for, as we are poor and needy, and have not seen for many years any +letter or order from his Majesty, or from any other person in his +royal name, concerning what we ought to do, some of our men are much +disheartened. On the other hand, they are strongly solicited by the +Portuguese with many offers and promises--a thing which I most regret, +and which gives me more grief than the harm which the enemy can do +us. May it please God to remedy this, for he knows what we need. + +Before now I have written that if his Majesty has an eye only on the +Felipina islands, they ought to be considered of little importance, +because at present the only article of profit which we can get from +this land is cinnamon; and unless order is established and a settlement +is made, his Majesty will continue to waste money--although since +then I well understand that this land possesses regions which would +more than pay for the money spent on them. If his Majesty desires +more important things hereafter, he needs to have a settlement here +with a sure harbor and port. In order that a better explanation may +be given concerning what I am saying, I send to your Excellency a +summary relation on the nature of this country and of the natives, +[9] so that your Excellency may examine it and provide what is most +necessary for the service of God and his Majesty and for the welfare of +this land. I also send with this letter the register of the flagship, +so that it may be learned what it was carrying, and what of the cargo +was lost. + +What we most need and lack at present is powder, ammunition, +arquebuses, and pikes. We are so short of them that a third of our +men possess no weapons with which to fight. I humbly beseech your +Excellency kindly to favor me by sending us what I have asked for, by +this same _patache_, or by any other which might speedily be sent. This +aid, even if no men or other supplies be brought over, will, with the +news of favors to be received hereafter, give courage to the men; and +will make them stand their ground and defend themselves until the other +supplies arrive. Otherwise, I think it will be exceedingly difficult +for them to do so. If your Excellency holds a warrant from his Majesty +to provide what we need here, may your Excellency be pleased to see +that it be fulfilled with the haste which the matter demands, and for +which we beg and implore; otherwise, may your Excellency favor us by +sending vessels by which we might leave this land, and not perish here +without any profit. And I am sure that his Majesty will be pleased +with that, for he would not wish us to perish here for lack of ships, +as long as he expects nothing else from this land. + +I am sending in this _patache_ five pieces of artillery as +ballast. They are medium-sized cannon, in very good condition; and, +with their ammunition cases and fittings may be utilized by the ships +which your Excellency may be pleased to despatch. They will not be +missed here, for we lack powder and ammunition even for the cannon +which are left. + +I notified your Excellency, through the flagship, that I detained +Captain Diego de Artieda against his will, for he desired to depart +with the ship. He has now insisted and claimed that he should return; +and I, in order not to oppose and detain him longer against his will, +have permitted him to depart on the _patache_. On the same vessel +departs father Fray Diego de Errera, [10] who has been our prior +here, and whom we shall greatly miss. Only one religious is left us, +the father Fray Martin de Herrada, [11] and it is fortunate that he +is with us. If this work is to go on, it will be necessary to send +him companions and religious suited for so great and holy a work, +and who might help him to sustain the charge and labors of this +land, where they cannot be rewarded at present as much as in that +Nueva Espana. The people who come here, whether they be religious +or laymen, should be such as are willing to settle in this land as +permanent residents, and not return in the same ship on which they +came. Your Excellency will provide for this and in all other necessary +matters. I humbly beg your Excellency to have much compassion on me, +and kindly give me permission to go into retirement, entrusting the +affairs of this land to the hands of one who might take them up with +more energy. This will be a very great favor to me. + +Before now I have written that it is best not to allow any Portuguese +to come over with the other people. This matter ought to have careful +attention, for the Portuguese are not to be trusted, and will profit +us little. Many of them, both soldiers and sailors, came on the +flagship, and I would be glad to see them far from here. I beseech +your Excellency to be pleased to take the necessary measures in this +respect; for it is certainly an important matter, upon which much +depends. Felipe de Salzedo is coming in this _patache_ and will give +a more complete relation of everything; I refer you to him. May our +Lord keep, etc. + +From this island of Cubu, July seven, 1569. + + + +Relation of the Filipinas Islands and of the Character and Conditions +of their Inhabitants. + + +This archipelago is composed of many islands. Some of them are large, +and most of them thickly populated, especially on the seacoast and +all along the rivers. The mountains are also inhabited; but there +are not as many large towns as along the coast and the rivers. The +inhabitants of these islands are not subjected to any law, king, or +lord. Although there are large towns in some regions, the people do not +act in concert or obey any ruling body; but each man does whatever he +pleases, and takes care only of himself and of his slaves. He who owns +most slaves, and the strongest, can obtain anything he pleases. No +law binds relative to relative, parents to children, or brother to +brother. No person favors another, unless it is for his own interest; +on the other hand, if a man in some time of need, shelters a relative +or a brother in his house, supports him, and provides him with food +for a few days, he will consider that relative as his slave from that +time on, and is served by him. They recognize neither lord nor rule; +and even their slaves are not under great subjection to their masters +and lords, serving them only under certain conditions, and when and +how they please. Should the master be not satisfied with his slave, +he is at liberty to sell him. When these people give or lend anything +to one another, the favor must be repaid double, even if between +parents and children, or between brothers. At times they sell their +own children, when there is little need or necessity of doing so. + +These people declare war among themselves at the slightest +provocation, or with none whatever. All those who have not made a +treaty of peace with them, or drawn blood with them, are considered +as enemies. Privateering and robbery have a natural attraction for +them. Whenever the occasion presents itself, they rob one another, +even if they be neighbors or relatives; and when they see and meet +one another in the open fields at nightfall, they rob and seize one +another. Many times it happens that half of a community is at peace +with half of a neighboring community and the other halves are at war, +and they assault and seize one another; nor do they have any order +or arrangement in anything. All their skill is employed in setting +ambuscades and laying snares to seize and capture one another, and +they always try to attack with safety and advantage to themselves. + +The land is fertile, and abounds in all provisions common to this +region. [12] If at times some places lack the necessaries of life, +it is because the natives are the laziest people in the world, +or because they are forced to leave their towns through war, or for +other reasons. The land is neither sowed nor cultivated. Another cause +for the lack of provisions is, that they have so little authority +over their slaves. They are satisfied with what is necessary for the +present, and are always more ready to rob their neighbors of their +possessions, than to work and cultivate their own land. + +More or less gold is found in all these islands; it is obtained from +the rivers, and, in some places, from the mines, which the natives +work. However, they do not work the mines steadily, but only when +forced by necessity; for because of their sloth and the little +work done by their slaves, they do not even try to become wealthy, +nor do they care to accumulate riches. When a chief possesses one or +two pairs of earrings of very fine gold, two bracelets, and a chain, +he will not trouble himself to look for any more gold. Any native who +possesses a basketful of rice will not seek for more, or do any further +work, until it is finished. Thus does their idleness surpass their +covetousness. In spite of all this, we see that the land possesses much +gold; for all men, whether they be chiefs or not, whether freemen or +slaves, extract and sell gold, although in small quantities. Then, too, +many ships come every year to these islands, from Bornei and Luzon, +laden with cloth and Chinese goods, carrying back gold [13] with them; +yet, with all this regular withdrawal of gold, the natives have always +gold enough with which to trade. All these things permit us to infer +that, if the mines were worked steadily and carefully by Spaniards, +they would yield a great quantity of gold all the time. Nevertheless, +in some places where we know that mines exist, the natives do not +care to work them; [14] but, on the arrival of the foreign vessels +for purposes of barter, they strike a bargain with those foreigners +and allow them to work in the mines for a period agreed upon. From +this it is clearly evident how slothful these people are. + +There are places in these islands where pearls can be found, although +they are not understood or valued by the natives; therefore they do +not prize them, or fish for them. Cinnamon is also to be found here, +especially in the island of Mindanao, where a large quantity of it is +gathered on the headland called Quavit, [15] and in Samboaga and other +parts of the said island. In some places we have seen pepper trees and +other drugs which the natives do not value or cultivate--from which, +with care and cultivation, they might derive and obtain profit. + +At present cinnamon is the only article in the land from which we can +derive profit; for, as I have said above, the gold supply will always +be small until the mines are worked. I believe that if the land is +settled and peopled by Spaniards, we shall be able to get plenty of +gold, pearls, and other valuable articles. We shall also gain the +commerce with China, whence come silks, porcelains, benzoin, musk, +and other articles. Thus partly through commerce and partly through +the articles of commerce, the settlers will increase the wealth of the +land in a short time. In order to attain this, the first and foremost +thing to be attempted is colonization and settlement. Through war +and conquest, carried on by soldiers, who have no intention to settle +or remain in this country, little or no profit will result; for the +soldiers will rather impoverish the land than derive profit from it. + +If your Majesty looks forward to this land for greater and richer +things, it is necessary to people it, and to have a port here; for +this land has many neighbors and is almost surrounded by the Japanese +islands, China, Xava [Java], Borney, the Malucos and Nueva Guinea. Any +one of these lands can be reached in a short time. This country is +salubrious and has a good climate. It is well-provisioned, and has +good ports, where can be found abundance of timber, [16] planking, and +other articles necessary for the building of ships. By sending here +workmen, sails, and certain articles which are not to be found here, +ships could be built at little cost. Moreover, there is great need of +a good port here, for it is very dangerous for large ships to sail +very far in among these islands, on account of the shoals and tides +hereabout. For this reason, it would be better to build galleys and +light boats with oars, to go to the lands above-named, whence they +would bring the cargoes for the heavy vessels. Thus the latter would +not leave any port of these islands which might be founded for this +purpose; and by this method the voyages and trading would be effected +with great rapidity in every direction. The large ships would simply +come to such ports as I have said, load their cargoes, and return. + +I believe that these natives could be easily subdued by good +treatment and the display of kindness; for they have no leaders, +and are so divided among themselves and have so little dealing with +one another--never assembling to gain strength, or rendering obedience +one to another. If some of them refuse at first to make peace with us, +afterward, on seeing how well we treat those who have already accepted +our friendship, they are induced to do the same. But if we undertake to +subdue them by force of arms, and make war on them, they will perish, +and we shall lose both friends and foes; for they readily abandon their +houses and towns for other places, or precipitately disperse among the +mountains and uplands, and neglect to plant their fields. Consequently, +they die from hunger and other misfortunes. One can see a proof of this +in the length of time which it takes them to settle down again in a +town which has been plundered, even if no one of them has been killed +or captured. I believe that by peaceful and kindly means, they will +be easily won over, although it may take some time to do so--because, +in all towns where Spaniards have brought peace and not destruction, +the natives have always begged for friendship, and have offered to pay +tribute from what they gather and own in their lands. And although at +times they do not fulfil their promise, it is not to be wondered at; +for the country is not yet sufficiently settled and secure. I am sure +that, when this is so, they will be subdued and will do whatever is +justly commanded them. + +These natives will be easily converted to our holy Catholic faith, +for most of them are heathens, excepting the natives of Borney and +Lucon (who are chiefly Moros), and a few converted chiefs of these +islands. [17] These Moros have little knowledge of the law which they +profess, beyond practicing circumcision and refraining from pork. The +heathens have no law at all. They have neither temples nor idols, +nor do they offer any sacrifices. They easily believe what is told +and presented forcibly to them. They hold some superstitions, such +as the casting of lots before doing anything, and other wretched +practices--all of which will be easily eradicated, if we have some +priests who know their language, and will preach to them. Certainly, +there is a great opportunity to serve God, our Lord, and to expand +and extol our holy Catholic faith, if our sins do not hinder the work. + +In some of these islands, [18] the mountain regions are inhabited by +blacks, with whom as a general rule, the Indians are at war, and whom +the latter capture and sell, and also employ as slaves. + +Marriage among these natives is a kind of purchase or trade, which the +men make; for they pay and give money in exchange for their women, +according to the rank of the parties. The sum thus paid is divided +among the parents and relatives of the woman. Therefore the man who +has many daughters is considered rich. After marriage, whenever the +husband wishes to leave his wife, or to separate from her, he can do +so by paying the same sum of money that he gave for her. Likewise the +woman can leave her husband, or separate from him, by returning the +double of what he gave for her. The men are permitted to have two or +three wives, if they have money enough to buy and support them. The +men treat their wives well, and love them according to their habits +and customs--although they are all barbarians and have no manners +or politeness. + +_Miguel Lopez de Legazpi_ + +[_Endorsed_: "There is no date." "Relation of the Filipinas Islands +and of the character of their inhabitants."] + + + + +Confirmation of Legazpi's Title as Governor and Captain-General + + +Don Phelippe, etc. Inasmuch as Don Luis de Velasco, our former viceroy +of Nueva Espana, through my orders equipped a fleet and the necessary +men in the port of La Navidad for the discovery and finding of the +Western Islands; and inasmuch as he was pleased with you, Miguel Lopez +de Legazpi, and with your merits and services rendered, and named and +appointed you captain-general of the above-mentioned fleet and its +men; and inasmuch as (so we learn from the reports and information +sent to us), having pursued your voyage and route, you discovered the +aforesaid islands and settled in one of them, called Cubu; and with +your men disembarked there, fought against several towns, and built +a fortress for the defense of the said island and its inhabitants: +therefore, in consideration of this, and of the services rendered in +this expedition, and of the private expenses that you have incurred +in making it; and because we believe that it is best for our service, +and for the prosperity and settlement of the said islands, and for +the welfare of their inhabitants--it is our will that henceforth, +as long as you live, you shall be our governor and captain-general +of the island of Cubu, and of the other settlements which you or +any other person whatsoever may hereafter make in the island. You +are also empowered to administer our civil and criminal justice, in +company with the officers of justice who may be appointed in the said +island and settlement. By this our ordinance, we command municipal +bodies, courts, magistrates, knights, squires, officials, and good +men, in all the cities, towns, and hamlets, which shall exist or be +colonized in the said island and province, and our officials and others +residing therein, each and every one of them, as soon as they shall +be required--without any delay or hesitation, and without any further +requirement or consultation on our part, and without awaiting or +expecting any other ordinance, second order, or third injunction from +us--to take and receive from you, the said Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, +the oath and formality requisite in such case, and which you must +fulfil. After you have done this, you shall be recognized, received, +and regarded as our captain-general of the said island and settlement, +as long as you live. And they shall freely grant and consent that +you fill and exercise the said offices, and that you administer and +execute our justice among them--either personally or through your +subordinates, whom you are empowered to appoint and shall appoint +to the offices of governor, captain-general, constables, and other +offices annexed and suitable to your government. You may dismiss and +remove these subordinates, whenever you desire, or consider it best +to do so for the fulfilment of our service and the execution of our +justice, and to appoint and substitute others in their stead. And you +may hear, examine, and decide any civil or criminal suit or case that +may arise in the said island, or in its towns which you have founded +or shall found, and in those settlements which shall be made in the +future, either among our colonists or among others who are natives +of the island, now or in the future. You and your said subordinates +are also empowered to take the payments annexed and pertaining to the +said offices, and to make any investigation you think best in cases +at law, precedents, and all other matters annexed and pertaining +to the said offices. You and your said subordinates shall perform +the duties which pertain to our service and the execution of our +justice, and to the colonization and government of the said island +and towns. In order that you may enjoy and exercise the said offices +and execute our justice, all persons shall yield obedience to you +as to their persons and property; they shall offer and cause to be +offered you all the support and help that you may request and need +from them; in everything they shall respect and obey you, and shall +carry out your orders and those of your subordinates; and they shall +neither in whole nor in part place or consent to place any obstacle +or hindrance in your way. By the present decree we entrust you and +consider you entrusted with the aforesaid duties, and the enjoyment +and exercise of the same. We give you power and authority to enjoy +and exercise your office, and to administer and execute our justice +in the said island and in the settlements that have been and shall +be founded in the cities, towns, and villages of the said island, +and its boundaries, by you or your subordinates as aforesaid. And in +case that you should not be received by them, or any one of them, +by this our decree we order any person or persons who exercise or +shall exercise the authority of our justice in the towns of the said +island, to relinquish and surrender it to you, the said Miguel Lopez +de Legazpi, as soon as they shall be requested to do so; and they shall +enjoy the same no longer without our [19] permission and special order, +under the penalty which private citizens are liable to and incur who +make use of public and royal offices without possessing the due power +and authority. We hereby suspend, and already consider as suspended, +all such persons. Furthermore we order that the fines pertaining to +our exchequer and treasury imposed by you and your subordinates, be +enforced; and you must enforce them, and deliver and surrender them to +our treasurer in the said island. And further we order that if you, +the said Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, should consider it fitting to our +service and to the execution of our justice, that any one whosoever, +now or in future, in the said island, should leave it, and should not +enter or remain therein, and that he should present himself before us, +you may so order in our name; and you must banish him from the island +according to the ordinance governing this matter, giving to the +person thus banished the reason for his banishment. And if it seem +best to you that the reason should be kept secret, you shall give +it in a statement closed and sealed; and shall send the same to us +by a different person than the one banished, in order that we may be +informed of it. But you must take notice that, when you are compelled +to banish anyone, such banishment should be only for very serious +reasons. We hereby give you full power to exercise the aforesaid +offices as our governor and captain-general of the said island and +settlements, and to enact and execute our justice therein, with all +due rights, titles, and interests. It is, moreover, our pleasure and +order that you shall have and receive an annual salary of two thousand +ducats or seven hundred and fifty thousand maravedis in consideration +of the said offices. You shall enjoy this from the day when you took +possession of the said island of Cubu, in our name, and as long as +you hold the said offices. We order our officials of the said island +to pay you the above-mentioned two thousand ducats from the revenues +and profits accruing to us in any manner in the island during the +time of your rule. Should this amount not be collected during the +said time, we are under no obligation to give you any of it. The +officials shall take a receipt from you, and a copy of this decree, +signed by a notary-public. We order that the said two thousand ducats +be received and placed on the accounts every year, from the said +day and henceforth. Let no person act in any manner contrary to this +decree. Given in Madrid, August fourteen, one thousand five hundred +and sixty-nine. + +_I, The King_ + +Countersigned by Francisco de Eraso. Signed by Luis Quixada, Vasquez +Capata, Molina, Aguilera, Villafane. + +[_Endorsed_: "Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Title of Governor and +Captain-general of the island of Cubu."] + + + + +Documents of 1570 + + + + Letter to Felipe II. Fray Diego de Herrera; January 16. + Relation of the voyage to Luzon. [June?] + Act of taking possession of Luzon. Martin de Goiti and Hernando + Riquel; June 6. + Letter to Felipe II. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi; July 25. + Evidence regarding the Portuguese expedition against + Cebu. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi; October 21. + + +_Sources_: MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The second and third documents are translated by +Alfonso de Salvio; the others, by Arthur B. Myrick. + + + + +Letter from Fray Diego de Herrera to Felipe II + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +In the fleet that your Majesty had sent from this Nueva Espana to +the islands of the West, there were among the people some religious +of St. Augustine who were in your Majesty's service. By your order, +I was one of them. We had a prosperous voyage as your Majesty will +already have been fully informed. The fleet effected a landing, and +founded a colony (in accordance with the instructions brought from +this Nueva Espana) in the island of Cubu--as that place abounds in +food, has a very good port and is a healthful region, as has been +since found by experience; and it is very strong for defense, in +any casualty that might befall us. From that place a ship was sent +to discover the return route [to New Spain]. It succeeded well, +although it appears that some of its men died. The people who +remained there have all this time endured very great privations, +notwithstanding the richness of the region, because they could make +no settlement so peacefully that it was not against the will of the +natives. Therefore they were disquieted, and many fled, deserting +their towns; and those who remained determined not to cultivate their +fields, or to sow, believing that by this stratagem they could drive +us from their land. Consequently they and ours have endured very +great extremities, because the same thing was done in other islands +where the Spaniards went to find food--so much so that many times the +natives have taken the food more than four leagues inland, carrying +it upon their shoulders, and crossing creeks and rivers with it, +with great risk of their lives. Then too another cause of so great +distress has been the lack there of boats with oars; and the fact +that, up to the present, no one has ventured to seek richer and more +abundant lands--which are very near, as Lequios, Japan, and Jaba +[Java], therein fulfilling your Majesty's commands. After all that, +came the Portuguese fleet, arriving about the end of September of last +year (1569), under command of Gonzalo Pereira. That man, although we +made every possible effort for peace with him, would agree to nothing +except that, in any case, we must leave these islands, or else go +with him. The first could not be done, because we had no ships; nor +the second, because that was very ignominious for us. Therefore as we +came to no agreement, he determined to begin hostilities, and make +war on us, trusting to his numerous ships--although afterward it +did not turn out as happily as he thought, as your Majesty will see +by the relation which the viceroy sends from this Nueva Espana. [20] +The blockade being so long and rations so scant, the poor soldiers were +in such distress that they took to hunting rats, of which there are +great numbers in that land, and which are much larger than those of +Espana. With all this privation, and the allurements and abundance in +the Portuguese fleet, they served your Majesty with as great loyalty +and cheerfulness in this war, and in all the rest, as I believe any +men in the world have ever displayed in their king's service. There +was nothing which gave them so great pleasure as being ordered to +do things wherein they risked their lives. Therefore it seems to me +that your Majesty ought to reward their services, because until this +present assistance ordered to be sent them by your Majesty (which is +very helpful), they have had nothing but two almudes [21] of uncleaned +rice every Saturday (after cleaning which there remained but one), +without receiving any other gratification. + +I came to this Nueva Espana to give information of the great need of +supplies there, and of some injuries done to the natives on account +of the extremities that the soldiers suffered, and of many other +things which seemed to me fitting for the service of our Lord and +of your Majesty. I have informed the viceroy of all those things; +so that, as he is nearer to those regions than is your Majesty, +he may remedy them. I believe that he will remedy them, because +he is a good Christian and conducts this business as earnestly as +your Majesty would desire. Some of these things I think it will be +necessary to submit to your Majesty's consideration, and I believe +that this has been done. They have ordered me to return immediately +to the islands, because they tell me that in so doing I shall fulfil +your Majesty's service. + +In what concerns the conversion of the natives, nothing has as yet +been really done, until we know your Majesty's will, because so near +Cubu there are lands as great and as rich as this, which belong to +your Majesty--as China, Lequios, Jabas [Java], and Japan. We have +heard that you will order us to go to those places and leave these +other islands--which, although they have many mines and rivers of +gold, are very ordinary, in comparison with the former. The people +there are very barbarous, while those others are civilized. Now that +your Majesty's will is manifest to us, we will commence the work in +earnest, because hitherto, only about one hundred persons have been +baptised. It will be a very great obstacle to conversions, if the war +with the Portuguese continues. Therefore, I beg your Majesty through +love of the Lord that some means and expedient be adopted to prevent +its continuation; because, besides the great scandal given to the +natives, it is a great pity that Spanish and Portuguese, who are so +friendly in Espana, should come here to kill each other, as if they +were infidels. I could advise your Majesty regarding everything else +in these regions, such as the nature of the land and the nature and +conditions of the peoples and what would be most profitable to your +Majesty in it. A true relation of everything has been given to the +viceroy, so that he may send it to your Majesty. May our Lord keep +your Majesty's royal person in good health and in his service many +years, and increase you into greater kingdoms. Mexico, January 16, +1570. Your Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty's least and humble servant, + +_Fray Diego de Herrera_ + + + + +Relation of the Voyage to Luzon + + +On the eighth of May of this year, one thousand five hundred and +seventy, the master-of-camp, Martin de Goite, left the river of Panay +with ninety arquebusiers and twenty sailors on board the following +vessels: the junk "San Miguel," of about fifty tons' burden with three +large pieces of artillery; the frigate "La Tortuga;" and fifteen +_praus_ manned by natives of Cubu and of the island of Panay. The +officers who accompanied the master-of-camp were Captain Joan de +Salzedo [22] (grandson of the governor), Sergeant-major Juan de Moron, +Ensign-major Amador de Rriaran, the high constable Graviel de Rribera, +and the notary-in-chief Hernando Rriquel. + +After sailing northwest for two days, they arrived at the +island of Zibuyan, a high and mountainous land known to possess +gold-mines. Without talking to any of the natives, they left that +island, which is situated about fourteen leagues from the river of +Panay, and went to the island of Mindoro. Among other islands passed +was that of Banton, where lived certain Spaniards, who had gone there +in vessels belonging to friendly Indians. The island of Banton is +about fifteen leagues from Cibuyan. It is a small circular island, +high and mountainous, and is thickly populated. The natives raise a +very large number of goats here, which they sell in other places. The +natives of this island of Banton, as well as those of Cibuyan, are +handsome, and paint themselves. From the island of Banton to that of +Bindoro there is a distance of about twelve leagues. The master-of-camp +reached this latter place, and anchored there with all the vessels +in his charge. Mindoro is also called "the lesser Lucon." All its +ports and maritime towns are inhabited by Moros. We hear that inland +live naked people called Chichimecos. As far as could be seen, this +island lacks provisions. + +News reached the master-of-camp that, in a river five leagues from +the place where the ships had anchored, were two vessels from China, +the inhabitants of which these natives call _Sangleyes_. [23] Seeing +that the weather did not permit him to send the large ship, because the +wind was blowing south by west, he despatched Captain Juan de Salzedo, +with the _praus_ [24] and rowboats to reconnoiter the said ships, and +to request peace and friendship with them. This step had scarcely been +taken when the southwest wind began to blow so violently, that our +people were compelled to put into a harbor, and to find shelter for +that night behind a promontory. Four _praus_ and the frigate, unable +to do this, found shelter farther away; and, keeping always in sight +of the shore, these vessels looked for the ships all that night. The +next morning they were overtaken by five of the other vessels and the +frigate, which were searching for them. The master-of-camp and captain +Juan de Salzedo were still behind, with the large junk and the other +_praus_. At break of day, the _praus_ which had preceded the others +reached the river where the Chinese ships were anchored. The Chinese, +either because news of the Spaniards had reached them, or because they +had heard arquebuse-shots, were coming out side by side with foresails +up, beating on drums, playing on fifes, firing rockets and culverins, +and making a great warlike display. Many of them were seen on deck, +armed with arquebuses and unsheathed cutlasses. The Spaniards, who +are not at all slothful, did not refuse the challenge offered them by +the Chinese; on the contrary they boldly and fearlessly attacked the +Chinese ships, and, with their usual courage, grappled them. This was +certainly a rash move on their part, for the Chinese ships were large +and high, while the _praus_ were so small and low that they hardly +reached to the first pillar of the enemy's ships. But the goodly aim +of the arquebusiers was so effective that the Chinese did not leave +their shelter, and the Spaniards were thus enabled to board their +ships and take possession of them. There were about eighty Chinese +on board the two ships; about twenty were killed in the affray. The +soldiers searched the cabins in which the Chinese kept their most +valuable goods, and there they found silk, both woven and in skeins; +gold thread, musk, gilded porcelain bowls, pieces of cotton cloth, +gilded water-jugs, and other curious articles--although not in +a large quantity, considering the size of the ships. The decks of +both vessels were full of earthen jars and crockery; large porcelain +vases, plates, and bowls; and some fine porcelain jars, which they +call _sinoratas_. They also found iron, copper, steel, and a small +quantity of wax which the Chinese had bought. Captain Juan de Salzedo +arrived with the rear-guard of the _praus_, after the soldiers had +already placed in safety the goods taken from the Chinese ships. He +was not at all pleased with the havoc made among the Chinese. The +master-of-camp, Martin de Goite, who had remained behind with the +large ship, showed much more displeasure, when he heard of the +occurrence. As soon as he was able to cast anchor with the junk in +the river of Bato (the name of the place where the Chinese vessels +were found), he made all haste to make them understand that he was +sorry for their misfortune, and that they had done wrong in sallying +forth against the Spaniards. Nevertheless, he said he would give them, +besides their freedom, a ship, in which they might return to their +own country without any hindrance--besides whatever was necessary +for their voyage. This was highly appreciated by the Chinese, who, +being very humble people, knelt down with loud utterances of joy. + +After this proposal had been made clear to the Chinese, and gladly +accepted by them, the master-of-camp entrusted the chief notary, +Hernando Rriquel, with the repairing of one of the ships--ordering +him to have the hatchway taken out, and to send all that the ship +contained to the port of Panay. Seeing that the sails, masts, and +rigging of the vessels were so different from ours that none of his +men had any knowledge of them, the master-of-camp thought best to ask +the Chinese to send three or four of their sailors with the junk to +Panay, in company with some friendly Moros of Lucon, who were with the +Spaniards. The Chinese very willingly agreed to that, and provided the +required men. Thus the ship was despatched with twelve Lucon Moros, +four Chinese, and four Spanish soldiers of the guard. + +In this river of Bato was found some green pepper [25] growing on trees +as small as shrubs, with their clusters like agias. Here they learned +that the town of Mindoro, which is the capital of that island, was five +leagues from Bato, and that three more Chinese ships were there. They +also heard that the Moros of Mindoro had made great preparations +for its defense, and had provided themselves with a large number of +culverins, arrows, and other offensive weapons, and were intrenched +in a very strong fort. In consideration of this, and the fact that the +Spaniards in this country have always desired to come in conflict with +people who do not flee from them, they decided to proceed immediately +to that island--although the natives of the river of Bato offered +them peace, and promised to pay them two hundred gold _taels_ [26] +(the equivalent of two thousand _pesos de minas_ in Spanish reckoning), +if they would remain there a few days. The master-of-camp assured them +of peace, and, telling them to have the money ready upon his return, +set out for the port of Mindoro. Departing from the river of Baco in +the morning, the Spaniards arrived, by noon, at the town of Mindoro, +which is an excellent though poorly-sheltered seaport. The harbor has +only one entrance. Its waters beat against a hill which is the first +and the smallest of a chain of three hills overlooking the port. The +other two hills are very craggy and thus form a defense to the pass +for the natives. Many armed Moros appeared on the first hill--bowmen, +lancers, and some gunners, linstocks in hand. All along the hillside +stood a large number of culverins. The foot of the hill was fortified +by a stone wall over fourteen feet thick. The Moros were well attired +after their fashion, and wore showy head-dresses, of many colors, +turned back over their heads. Many of them were beating drums, +blowing horns made from shells, and ringing bells. The number of men +was quite large. + +The master-of-camp arrived with his ship, ahead of the oared +_praus_. When the first _prau_ arrived, he embarked in it +with the chief notary, Hernando Rriquel, the interpreter, and a +recently-converted Moro, who served as guide. With only these men, and +one soldier armed with a shield, the master-of-camp advanced toward +the Moro fort. He reached the foot of the hill, without allowing any +others to follow him; and, being unable to proceed any further on +account of its steepness, he summoned from above two Moros, to treat +for peace. There seemed to be a difference of opinion among the Moros, +as was gathered from their demeanor, for some made gestures of war, +and others of peace, some of them even going so far as to throw a +few stones and level the culverins. On the whole, they were not very +anxious to fight. Meanwhile, the master-of-camp was so near them that +they could have spit on him. All the Spaniards had already disembarked, +and stood at an arquebuse-shot from the master-of-camp. The latter was +so anxious to win over those Moros and gain their confidence, because +they exhibited fear, that he wished to climb the hill on all fours +to reach them; but his companions dissuaded him from this. At this +time Captain Juan de Salzedo, the sergeant-major, the high constable, +and the ensign-major, came up; and the master-of-camp, the captain, +and the officials were assembled there, with but one soldier, for the +master-of-camp would not allow the others to advance. The Moros having +seen the peaceful attitude of our people, one of them descended the +hill, almost on all fours. Our Moro guide advanced toward him; but, +on account of the great steepness of the hill, he had to be helped +up by the other Moro. After they had seen and recognized each other, +and after the customary embrace and kiss, they descended to the +master-of-camp. The latter told the Moro who had come down, through +the interpreter, that he need not fear; for he had not come to harm +them, but to seek their friendship. The Moro carried the message to +the others upon the hill, and a chief came down; and, upon reaching +the master-of-camp, said that he and all the town wished to be his +friends, and to help the Spaniards with whatever they possessed. The +master-of-camp answered that the proposition was acceptable; whereupon +the Moro chief asked him to withdraw from that place--saying that, +after they had withdrawn, he would come to treat of friendship and +of what was to be given. The master-of-camp, in order to please him, +agreed to this; and told the chief that he was going to review his men, +and that he should not be offended when he should hear arquebuse-shots +and the noise of artillery. Accordingly, he withdrew to the place where +his men were drawn up in order, and there a fine review took place--the +company closing ranks in such perfect order that both the friendly +Indians (who came with us, to the number of five or six hundred) and +the Moros were greatly frightened. The master-of-camp ordered that the +cannon amidship on the large vessel be fired, although not to increase +their fright. The review had not yet ended when a Moro came with sixty +gold taels, which he gave to the master-of-camp--asking him not to +be offended if the gift were not brought quickly, because the people +had dispersed through fear, and therefore it could not be collected so +soon; but he promised that they would raise the amount to four hundred +taels. The master-of-camp received this gold, and had it placed in a +small box, the key of which he gave to the Moro, telling him to keep +it until the promise was fulfilled; but to consider that after treason +nothing could be more blameworthy than falsehood. The Moro salaamed +low, and said that he would not lie, and that they would fulfil their +promise, little by little. And so they did, for, on that same day, +four more messengers came with gold; and all entreated and begged the +master-of-camp not to be offended at the delay, if there should be +any. With these flatteries and promises the Moros detained us about +five days, during which time we had friendly dealings and intercourse +with them, although they mistrusted us to a certain extent. They had +already abandoned the first town on the shore and had withdrawn to +a hill about two hundred paces away. There most of them had taken +their wives, children, and part of their goods, although the best +part of their property was kept farther inland. This hill was so well +fortified by nature, that, had it not been for the two ladders, which +the Moros kept in two places, one could have ascended it only with +wings. Notwithstanding all these difficulties, our Spaniards paid +them friendly visits. On this little fortified spot the Moros had +built their huts, as high as Mexican market-tents. They resembled a +crowd of children with their holiday toys. During these five days, the +Moros had, little by little, given two hundred taels of impure gold, +for they possess great skill in mixing it with other metals. They give +it an outside appearance so natural and perfect, and so fine a ring, +that unless it is melted they can deceive all men, even the best of +silversmiths. While in this port of Mindoro the master-of-camp sought +information concerning the distance to Manilla and the towns which +would be found on the journey. Our interpreter disagreed with the +Moros of Mindoro as to the number of days it would take; but they +all agreed that it was far, and that perhaps the weather would not +permit us to sail thither. The natives of Mindoro added also that +the Spaniards were crazy to go to Manilla with so small a force, +and that they pitied us. They recounted so many wonders of Manilla +that their tales seemed fabulous; they said that there were very +large oared boats, each carrying three hundred rowers, besides the +warriors; that the people were well armed and excellent bowmen; +that the ships were well equipped with artillery, both large and +small; and that any one of those vessels could attack two _praus_, +and sink them when within range. With these accounts the Moros tried +to discourage the Spaniards; but the more they attempted to frighten +them with such things the more desirous they all became to set foot +in Manilla. In view of this, the master-of-camp did not wait for the +full payment of what the Moros had promised; but, warning them to have +the remainder ready upon his return, he left them on friendly terms, +and set out for the town of Manilla with all his men. + +He left the port of Mindoro at midnight, and the next morning cast +anchor before a small island lying between Mindoro and Lucon, where +he remained two days waiting for the _praus_. Meanwhile, having +sufficient leisure, he crossed over to the shore of Lucon, which +was about two leagues distant; and discovered in that same island +a wide, spacious bay. The _praus_ went forward, in company with one +of the Moros belonging to the town of Balayan, who had offered their +friendship. These Moros pointed out to Captain Juan de Salcedo, who +went with the oared _praus_, the mouth of a river which led inland +to a lake, called Bombon. [27] All the _praus_ entered this river, +and came upon an uninhabited town. After the Moro guides from Balayan +had gathered all the house commodities that they could store in their +_prau_, they told the Spaniards that they wished to warn their own +village, so that their people should not be anxious; and so they went +away, leaving the Spaniards in that river. + +The master-of-camp took a different route with his junk, and cast +anchor before the town of Balayan, two leagues from the river +of Bombon. While anchored there, and while the master-of-camp was +fretting over the non-appearance of the _praus_ that sailed with him +(since now it was already two hours after nightfall), at that very +time one of them, under command of Captain Juan de Salcedo, made its +appearance. He had been wounded in the leg by a poisoned arrow. Soon +afterward, the other _praus_ and vessels which had sailed in his +company arrived. They reported to the master-of-camp that they +had entered a narrow arm of the sea, which the land inward forms +into a medium-sized lake, around which seemed to be many people and +much cultivated land. The country seemed thickly populated and well +tilled. Captain Juan de Salcedo advanced farther up those waters, in +search of a fortified place of which information had been received on +the way thither--situated on both sides of the water, and thus very +high and rugged, and suitable for laying ambuscades. This proved to +be true; for suddenly, and without them being able to see any one, +many arrows came flying through the air, one of which wounded Captain +Juan de Salcedo in the leg; and many more would have been wounded had +not the _prau_ been supplied with canvas guards. The arquebusiers +immediately hastened to their posts with their medicine, [28] and +prevented the Moros from discharging another volley of arrows, which +ceased at their coming. The captain secured an antidotal herb for his +wound; and, seeing that the approach to the fort was too dangerous and +that it was impossible to effect a landing, he went back to collect +his _praus_, and to look for a shore where he could easily disembark. A +landing-place was found near the town; the men disembarked, and set out +on foot in search of the Moros. The latter appeared in a broad plain, +covered with grass about a hand-span high. The men were divided into +two troops, in order to attack the Moros, who were shooting arrows as +rapidly as they could, and wildly shouting. The Moros waited until +the Spaniards began to hit their flanks with arquebuse bullets; and +then, seeing the rage of their opponents, they took to flight. Our +men pursued them to the very gate of their town, where more than +forty Moros fell under the fire from the arquebuses. + +The Spaniards entered the town, and set free two Chinamen, who were +kept there in chains. They learned from these men the ostensible +reason for their imprisonment, as follows. Two Chinese ships had come +to trade with the Moros in this river; but, hearing of our presence +in Mindoro, they desired to betake themselves thither. The Moros +would not allow them to go away. In the quarrel that ensued over +the question of their departure, the Chinese fired a culverin from +one of the ships and killed a Moro chief. The Moros assembled to +avenge him, and overtook the Chinese as they were about to sail out +to sea through the estuary. It seems that the vessels were wrecked +on certain shoals at the entrance to the estuary, and the Chinese +with all their possessions fell into the power of the Moros, who +inflicted on them a severe punishment--seizing them all, and putting +them to death by inches in a most cruel manner, flaying their faces, +and exposing them on reeds and mats. When the Spaniards entered the +town, they encountered not a few similar sights; and so recent was +this deed that the flayed faces of the Chinese were still bleeding. + +Such was the account given by Captain Joan de Salcedo of what had +occurred that day during his absence from the master-of-camp. The +Balayan Moros who had come out peacefully detained the master-of-camp +there for three or four days, giving him, little by little, some +impure gold. The latter, to avoid any further delay, decided to +proceed to Manilla. Accordingly, he left these Moros, on peaceful +terms, telling them to collect for his return what was lacking of +the amount promised. Then he sailed along the coast toward Manilla, +which was said to be three leagues from that town. The chiefs of this +town of Balayan said that they wished to accompany the Spaniards +one day's journey from their town, in order to avenge themselves +for injuries and wrongs received at the hands of some neighboring +communities on the coast called Tulayansi. Therefore seven or eight +_praus_ of Moros went with us, and, when we reached that coast, +two _praus_ with white flags were seen, which advanced to the ship +of the master-of-camp. Upon arriving there, they declared that they +were natives of that coast, and that three towns, which could be seen +with the naked eye, wished to be our friends, and to give us tribute +as the others did. The master-of-camp received them in peace, and +assured them of friendship, notwithstanding that the Balayan Moros +who came with us opposed him--saying that those people ought not to +be admitted to friendship, because they were hostile to themselves +for making peace with us first. These arguments were of little avail, +for the master-of-camp declared to both parties, that he had come +to make friendship with all, and that his friends should have no +differences between themselves; that, in case they did, it would be +right for them to go to the Spaniards for the settlement of them; +and that the one breaking with the other would be considered as enemy +of the Spaniards. When they heard this answer, both sides promised to +abide by that decision, whereupon the master-of-camp dismissed them +all, advising those natives who had lately offered their friendship, +to have the tribute ready upon his return. + +According to the men of Balayan the enmity between these towns was +because a Balayan vessel, on its return from Manilla, laden with +merchandise, was driven by stormy weather on that coast of Tulay, +and the natives showed them so excellent hospitality that, instead of +helping and receiving them kindly, as neighbors should, they stole the +goods of the Balayans and killed two of them, setting their heads on +stakes. Similar sights were noticed by the Spaniards in these towns, +which still exhibited the cruelty of the deed. + +This coast is called Tulay. It has broad shoals and for this reason, +as well as for the keen desire of all our men to set foot in Manilla, +they remained there only one night. Therefore at dawn they set out +for the town called Menilla, which according to report was quite +near. They sailed along the coast, noting many bays and ports. There +were some towns along the shore, whose inhabitants and citizens had +sought other shelter, taking away the best of their possessions. The +oared vessels came to shore, to see what these towns contained; but, +finding no people, they sailed on. The large vessel was sailing about +a league from the coast. Here they met some small boats, which the +natives call _tapaques_. They were laden with provisions, rice, and +salted sardines without the heads, resembling those which are found in +Espana. The soldiers of the _praus_ took away a quantity of rice from +the Moros, who did not defend themselves. The latter were allowed to +depart in freedom, with their vessels. There were some who did defend +themselves, and wounded two Spaniards and killed one of the friendly +Indians who accompanied us. The master-of-camp, as he was sailing +in the large vessel, was unable to put a stop to these disorders, +for they were occurring in his absence. When he learned of this, +and that the Moro ships were coming from the bay of Menilla laden +with provisions, he cast anchor in a small port; and there, calling +together all the _praus_, censured the men for their disorderly +conduct, ordering them not to depart from his ship from that time on. + +The next morning, having heard from a Moro captured in one of the +_tapaques_ that the town of Menilla was very near, all the vessels and +_praus_ set sail, taking the captured Moro as guide. In the afternoon +they came in sight of a very large bay, which formed a wide gulf. It +resembled a narrow sea with its entrance at that point; but the guides +affirmed that the land was one, and so it proved to be when we entered +the bay. We had taken with us from Panae a Moro, a native of the town +of Menilla, who has had intercourse with Spaniards for many years and +is well known among them; for, when the camp was in Zebu, he always +came to sell them provisions. Before the master-of-camp started on +this expedition from Panay, this Moro, and his wife and one son, +had become Christians. He left his wife in Panay, and accompanied +the master-of-camp as interpreter. He had taken with him his brother, +who was likewise a native of Menilla. When we entered the bay, these +men advised the master-of-camp not to cast anchor before the town of +Menilla itself, for the coast was treacherous, and to enter the river +it was necessary to wait for high tide. They advised him to anchor +in a small sheltered port, two leagues from the port of Menilla; +and thence to send word to Raxa [29] Soliman, the greatest chief of +all that country, with whom the terms of peace and friendship were +to be made, and whose opinion was to be heeded. + +The master-of-camp found this advice good, and felt at ease about the +port; for he had been fretting over the possibility of finding shelter +in all that bay, which, because it was so large and spacious, seemed +almost harborless. Therefore we sailed straight to the harbor pointed +out by the guides, reaching it two hours before nightfall. The land all +around this bay, in the part where we anchored, and which the guides +declared to be the port of Menilla, was really marvelous. It appeared +to be tilled and cultivated. The slopes were smooth, and had but little +herbage. In fact, so excellent indications have not been seen in this +land, as were seen there. After the master-of-camp cast anchor in the +small port, the _praus_ and the frigate arrived there. On that day +it was decided to send to Raxa Soliman, lord of Menilla, to request +peace and friendship; and that the man appointed for this should be +the brother of Mehomete, the converted Moro. It was decided that the +captive Moro and a Cafre [30] interpreter should go to examine the port +and its position, as well as to sound the mouth of the river. These men +departed the next morning, two hours before daybreak. Before leaving +the ships, Mehomate's brother, who had been married in Menilla, +said that he would be able to bring back an answer on the same day, +as he intended to rest at his own house. The master-of-camp was so +desirous of making peaceful terms with the town of Menilla that, +although hasty by nature and disposition, he patiently waited there +for three days after the Moro's departure. The Moro returned with +another man, his uncle, who was said to be a servant of the king +of Menilla. He had been sent to act as ambassador, with certain +other Moros who accompanied him. He tried to make us understand, +with high-sounding words, that his master was a most magnificent +lord. After a great show of authority and many pauses, he finally +declared that the king of Menilla wished to be the friend of the +Spaniards, and that he would be pleased to have them settle in his +land, as they had done in Cubu and Panay. The master-of-camp answered, +through the interpreters, that he was much pleased to consider the +king of Menilla as a friend of the Spaniards, since his only aim in +coming was that of offering them peace and friendship. He also added +that to carry out these wishes it was necessary for them to see each +other. He therefore declared that he was going to set out immediately +for the said town of Menilla, and said that the Moro should precede him +to advise the chief of it. The Moro ambassador begged him not to set +sail until he had already gone a little distance, for he wished to go +first to advise his master. The master-of-camp promised him to do so, +and so managed that, until the Moro had gone a considerable distance, +he would not set out. But when it appeared that the Moro had advanced +about half a league away from us, all the vessels set out in the wake +of his _prau_. We sailed along a thickly settled coast. Moros came out +in _praus_ from some of the towns to complain of the Raxa Soliman, for +having plundered their towns and killed many of the inhabitants. The +master-of-camp was going ahead under full sail; and, receiving all +of these people very kindly, we kept on until about ten o'clock in +the morning, when we passed the bar of the river of Menila. The town +was situated on the bank of the river, and seemed to be defended by a +palisade all along its front. Within it were many warriors, and the +shore outside was crowded with people. Pieces of artillery stood at +the gates, guarded by bombardiers, linstock in hand. A culverin-shot +from us, and close to the houses of the natives, were four Chinese +ships. Immediately the Chinese came in their skiffs to visit the +master-of-camp. They brought him brandy, hens, winnowed rice, a few +pieces of silk, and knick-knacks of little value. They complained to +the master-of-camp of the Moros of Menilla, saying that the latter +had taken away by force the helms of their ships and the best of +their goods without paying for them. The master-of-camp received +them kindly; but, desiring to be at peace with all, he waived that +question. Then having dismissed the Chinese, he sent the interpreter +ashore to tell King Soliman that he wished to confer with him, and to +make arrangements therefor. The interpreters returned quickly, and said +that they would meet at the edge of the water, and that Raxa Soliman +would come thither. The master-of-camp immediately landed with the +Spaniards, to meet him. Immediately an uncle of the ruler, who also +bore the title of king, advanced with so large a following that he +was thought to be Soliman himself. He embraced the master-of-camp, +and appeared to be a man of good intentions. Soon after came the +other ruler, his nephew Soliman, who was a younger man than he who +first came. Soliman assumed an air of importance and haughtiness, +and said that he was pleased to be the friend of the Spaniards, +but the latter should understand that the Moros were not painted +Indians. He said that they would not tolerate any abuse, as had the +others; on the contrary they would repay with death the least thing +that touched their honor. This speech having been made through the +interpreter, the master-of-camp gratified the chief with kind words; +then after they had embraced each other and made a friendly compact, +the Moro entered his fort. The master-of-camp returned to his ship, +leaving all the oared boats and most of his men on shore, less than +thirty paces from the town; and gave general orders that no man +should enter the town, until the Moros, who seemed quite irritated, +had regained their calm. Then leaving ashore the sergeant-major, +Juan de Moron, in command, he returned to his ship to have it moored +and set in order. + +In the afternoon of the same day, at three o'clock, the Moro Mahomate +asked permission to spend the night among his relatives, and the +master-of-camp granted his request. During the day the Moros came +to look at the soldiers ashore with their arquebuses and lighted +match-ropes. The Moros carried their weapons and showed a rather bold +attitude. They even did things which the Spaniards not often tolerate; +but in order to obey the orders of the master-of-camp, and not give +the appearance of starting hostilities on our side, they overlooked +all the unmeasured boldness displayed by the Moros. At nightfall the +men ashore withdrew to the ships, where they slept. The next morning +the Moro Mahomete returned with the same ambassador who had first +come. The latter bore a message from Rraxa Soliman, to the effect +that he had been informed that a tribute was to be asked of him; +and that, consequently, he would not allow the Spaniards to enter +the river. The master-of-camp--as one desirous of peace, and in view +of the orders of the governor to make peace with the said town of +Menilla--in his answer, requested the messenger to tell his lord not +to believe such reports, for hitherto he had not asked for any tribute +from him. He added that they would see each other again, and make a +friendly settlement, which would be to his taste. Thus he dismissed +the messenger; and he himself, after a little thought, went ashore +with only the Spanish and Moro interpreters, without notifying any one +of what he was going to do. He entered the palisade, whose gates were +guarded by many Moros, and was led by the Moros straightway to a small +house, where he was bidden to await King Soliman. As soon as the latter +heard that the master-of-camp was within the fort, he hastened to him; +and both went to a house where they made a friendly compact, after +the fashion of the land--namely, in this wise: the master-of-camp drew +blood with the two chiefs, uncle and nephew--both called Rraxa, which +in the Malay language signifies king. The Moros drank the blood of the +master-of-camp mixed with wine, and the master-of-camp drank that of +the Moros in a similar way. Thus the friendship was established, on the +terms that the Moros of Menilla were to support the Spaniards who came +to settle there; and, doing this, they should pay no other tribute. The +master-of-camp asked them for a list of the neighboring towns on the +bay; and they gave him the names of forty towns of those situated on +the shore, besides those inland. After this friendly agreement had +been made with the Moros, who promised to give some food for our men, +the master-of-camp left the fort, much to our pleasure. The Moros, +notwithstanding the great security given them by the master-of-camp, +persisted in their hostile and warlike attitude; and, even on account +of the peace made, would not lay aside their weapons--on the contrary, +the number of armed men seemed to be increasing continually. + +In the afternoon of the same day the chief notary went to the fort +with the permission of the master-of-camp, to see whether any of +the kings wished to trade for the royal testoons which he had in +his charge. He went there accompanied by a boy only, and spoke of +the matter to one of the chiefs. The latter received him very kindly +and showed him some gold trinkets, which he wished to exchange for +gold. For each gold piece the Moro asked five of silver, but the +notary would give him only three. The Moro Mahomete, who was present +at this trading, and acted as go-between, told the chief notary to +postpone the bargain until another day; and to return to the ship, +and tell the master-of-camp that King Soliman said that, in order to +celebrate the peace made that day, he was about to pass in review his +people, both on sea and on land, and should fire all his artillery, +at which no offense should be taken, for all was in celebration of the +peace. The chief notary left the port with the message, and found the +master-of-camp receiving information in the above-mentioned vessel +of friendly Indian rowers; they were saying that, having relatives +among the Moros, they had learned that the latter were planning to +fall upon the Spaniards at the first rain, when it would be impossible +for them to make use of the arquebuses. From this news, and from the +preparations which the Moros were making on both sea and land for the +great review they said they were about to give, we saw that they were +anxious to start the affray. At this time the Moro Mahomete arrived +with a message from Rraxa Soliman, to the effect that King Soliman +had learned that the lord of Candola, a town on the other side of the +river, intended to fight the Spaniards on sea and had invited him to +join in the attack; but that he, Soliman, had refused to do so. For +this reason he would get in readiness, and, if the chief really +came to offer battle, he would aid the Spaniards with his people, +since the master-of-camp was his friend. This new message gave a full +understanding of the deceitful plan of the Moros; notwithstanding all +this, the master-of-camp sent his thanks to Soliman for the warning, +saying that he would be pleased to fight any one who desired to fight +with him. He added that if it were not so late he would immediately +go to the town of Candola to fight with that chief. Having dismissed +the envoy with this message the master-of-camp ordered all the men +to be on the watch, and for all the crews of the _praus_ to sleep +on land. That day the sunset was so blood-red that it presented a +wonderful sight. The men said that the sun was blood-stained. All +that night the men, both on land and sea, slept fully armed. The next +morning two or three soldiers were going ashore in a little canoe, +when, seven or eight paces from land, their small canoe suddenly +filled with water and the men went to the bottom. One of the soldiers, +Juan Nunez, a native of Talavera, was drowned. At ten o'clock of that +same morning, some sails were seen at sea, and the master-of-camp, +thinking them to be the ships of those who were coming to fight with +the Spaniards, despatched a _prau_ to reconnoiter them. As the _prau_ +came near them, these vessels were seen to be _tapaques_, and the +master-of-camp, fearing that the _prau_ might do them harm, called +it back by firing a cannon seaward. The Moros, who were waiting +an opportunity for treason--but had not manifested it because it +had not rained as they had expected--therefore opened the war; and +without any warning, fired three cannon-shots, one after another. One +of them pierced the side of the ship, and struck the cast-room, +scattering its ashes among the bystanders; the other two shots were +high, passing over the ship half-way aft; and one would have killed +many men had the aim been a _vara_ [31] lower. The Moros had begun +their treacherous work even before this; for they had seized some of +the friendly Indians who had gone there to feast with their friends, +had wounded the Indian slave of a soldier, beaten and frightened two +or three others, and wounded another soldier with an arrow. When the +effrontery of the Moros was seen, and that they could do us some injury +with their artillery, it was decided to attack them. [32] Therefore in +the twinkling of an eye, the Spaniards attacked and took the palisade, +hurling down the bombardiers with linstock in hand, giving them no +chance to fulfil their duties. After this first artillery had fallen +into their hands, they immediately took the town, and set fire to it, +on account of its being large. The Moros abandoned the burning town, +for they were unable to resist the attack of the arquebusiers, or +rather the will of God, who had ordained it so--a self evident fact, +since for every Spaniard there were a hundred Moros. The large ship was +firing upon a Moro boat with long-bladed oars, which was far up the +river. This vessel was said to have three or four hundred fighting +men and rowers on board, with many culverins and large pieces of +artillery. The cannonball struck the water, for the vessel was some +distance away, surrounded by more than five hundred Moro _praus_ +and other large ships full of armed men, bowmen, and lancers. All +these ships were scattered by the artillery of the large junk. + +The town was rapidly burning. The master-of-camp hurriedly took the +artillery from the Moros--thirteen pieces, small and large. He took +care to protect the vessels of the Chinese, who had been greatly +frightened. He ordered the return of the sails and helms which the +Moros had taken away from them; and the Chinese, attaching the helms to +their ships as quickly as they could, proceeded to cast anchor near the +junk, so that the firing should do them no harm. The master-of-camp, +having captured the enemy's artillery, fired upon them with their own +pieces, while they were fleeing, thus inflicting upon them severe +losses, both on land and water. About one hundred dead were found +on land, having been burned to death, or slain by arquebus bullets; +more than eighty persons were taken captive; and many others were +killed in the _praus_, as they fled up the river. The rain expected +by the Moros came when the town was quite destroyed by fire. The loss +in the town was considerable, for it was large, and carried on an +extensive trade. In the town lived forty married Chinese and twenty +Japanese. Of these some came to see the master-of-camp on board the +ship, before the breaking out of hostilities, among whom was a Japanese +with a Theatin cap, from which we thought him to be a Christian. When +we asked him if he was one, he answered in the affirmative, saying +that his name was Pablo [Paul]. He adored an image, and asked for +some beads; but people say that he was among the Moro bombardiers. + +Among the prisoners were the Chinese wives of some of the Chinese +who had married and settled in the town; and although it would +have been justifiable to make them slaves, because their husbands +had fled with the Moros, the master-of-camp was unwilling to do so, +but simply handed them over to the Chinese of the ships. One of the +Chinese women wished to come with us, and we have found since that +she was insane; now she is with the governor, who will send her +back to her own country. Those who saw Soliman's house before it +was burned, say that it was very large, and that it contained many +valuable things, such as money, copper, iron, porcelain, blankets, +wax, cotton, and wooden vats full of brandy; but everything was +burned to the ground with the house. Afterward the iron and copper +furnished gain to whomsoever wished to take it, for a great quantity +of it which this house and others contained, was found on the ground +after the fire. When the prisoners captured were asked why the Moros +had broken the treaty of peace and friendship, they answered that +the young Soliman was to blame, for he always opposed his uncle, +the other chief; that he had a malicious disposition; and that it +was he who gave the order to fire, and who even fired with his own +hand the first shot, which struck the ship. Next to Soliman's house +was another which was used as a store-room. It contained much iron +and copper, as well as culverins and cannon which had melted. Some +small and large cannon had just been begun. There were the clay and +wax moulds, the largest of which was for a cannon seventeen feet long, +resembling a culverin. The Indians said that the furniture alone lost +in Soliman's house was worth more than five thousand ducats. + +After the burning of this town the master-of-camp waited two days +in the river for some message from the Moros, but seeing that no one +appeared, and that he had but few men with him to seek them inland; +and that the bay and waterway was such that, in order to sail out of +it, they needed the northeast wind (which was now blowing, although +feebly); and that the southwest gales were coming, so that, as the +interpreters affirmed, if the necessary steps were not taken the +probability was that the large ship would not leave the place; and +in order not to lose the ship and its artillery--the master-of-camp +decided to leave the bay immediately after having first asked full +information concerning the towns upon its coast. Thus we set sail +in company with only the Chinese and their four vessels; these said +that they had no articles of trade in their vessels except some large +earthen jars and porcelain. Many of the soldiers bartered trifles of +little value with them in exchange for wax, which the Chinese greatly +value and even buy with gold. From what we could see and hear of them, +the Chinese are a very humble people. It seems that they observe +among themselves a certain form of politeness and cleanliness. They +became great friends with us, and gave us letters of security, which +consisted of white cloths that they had with them, upon which were +painted the royal coat of arms. They promised to come the next year to +this river of Panay, and to establish trade with the Spaniards. All +that the Chinese asked was given them, which pleased them much, +and they were shown the best possible treatment. Then they left us, +and, according to what they said, went to Mindoro. The master-of-camp +cast anchor in the port where we halted before; and there we remained +another day, to see whether or not any of the natives would come to +us for peace. Seeing that no one came, the master-of-camp, fearing +lest the northeast wind would cease, left the harbor with his vessels, +for it would not be possible to do so when the southwest wind should +blow. He coasted past the towns which had made peace on the voyage +hither, until the town of Balayan was reached. Thence we despatched +the junk to the island of Panae with Captain Juan de Salcedo, who +had not yet recovered from his wound in the leg, and five or six +sick soldiers. The master-of-camp remained with the oared _praus_ +in order to win over all the towns which were desirous of peace. Thus +leaving them behind pacified and assured of friendship, he returned +to the camp; for the governor had sent them by sea an advice-_prau_ +on the arrival of the fleet from Nueva Espana. Such, then, are the +events of this voyage. + +[_Endorsed_: "An account of the conquest and discovery of Manilla." + +"May eight, 1570." "Relation of the discovery of the island of Lucon, +one of the western islands."] + + + + +Act of Taking Possession of Luzon [33] + + +In the island called by the natives "Luzon the greater," in a town +and river of the same called Manila, on the sixth of June in the year +one thousand five hundred and seventy, the honorable Martin de Goite, +his Majesty's master-of-camp in these Western Islands, declared before +me, Hernando Riquel, chief government notary, and in the presence +of the undersigned witnesses, that, inasmuch as--a thing well and +generally known--his Excellency being in this river of Manila, with +the men and ships accompanying him, and having made peace and drawn +his blood with two chiefs, styling themselves kings of this said town +(by name Soliman and Raxa respectively), and without giving them +cause or treating them in a manner that would make the said natives +change their attitude, the above said chiefs began war treacherously +and unexpectedly, without advising him beforehand; and wounded and +seized certain Indians accompanying us. After that they discharged +the artillery in their fort, two balls from which struck the ship "San +Miguel," on board of which was the said master-of-camp. He, in order +to guard himself from the injury which the said Moros were doing him in +starting the war, and to prevent their artillery from harming his men, +attacked the said fort of the Moros, and captured it by force of arms +and is now in possession of it. And inasmuch as the said fort and town +of Manila have been won in lawful and just war, and since, according +to the said natives, Manila is the capital of all the towns of this +said island: therefore in his Majesty's name, he was occupying and +did occupy, was taking and did take, royal ownership and possession, +actual and quasi, of this said island of Luzon and of all the other +ports, towns, and territories adjoining and belonging to this said +island. Moreover, as a sign of real occupation, he ordered his ensign +to raise the flag of his company on the fort built by the natives, +had the artillery found in the said fort taken for his Majesty, and +performed other acts and duties as a sign of real occupation. And +when he had thus taken the said possession in his Majesty's name, +he asked me, the aforesaid notary, to certify and attest it, and +to draw up a statement so that the proceeding might be clearly set +forth. In fulfilment of that demand, I, the said Hernando Riquel, +certify, as an actual witness, to whomsoever may see this present, +that the said master-of-camp took and seized in his Majesty's name +the said possession in the manner above specified. And in affirmation +of the above I draw up this statement, which the said master-of-camp +signed; witnesses to all the abovesaid being the sergeant-major Juan +de Morones, the high constable Graviel de Rrivera, the ensign-in-chief +Gaspar Ramirez, and many other soldiers in the said fort. + +_Martin de Goite_ + +Drawn in my presence: + +_Hernando Riquel_ + +Collated with the original, which is in my possession. + +_Hernando Riquel_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Possession taken of the island of Lucon in his Majesty's +name." "Possession of Luzon."] + + + + +Letter from Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to Felipe II + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +With Captain Joan de la Ysla, who arrived at this river on St. John's +eve last, I received a letter from your Majesty from the Escorial +[34] dated the sixteenth of November, of the year sixty-eight, with +the despatches and the favors that your Majesty was pleased to grant +this camp. For these and for other things that we expect from your +Majesty, all these faithful vassals of your Majesty, and in their +name for all, kiss your Majesty's royal feet and hands. We pray God, +our lord, to give us time and opportunity, as loyal vassals employed in +your royal service, to merit being the instruments of the augmentation +of your royal crown, with increase of new realms and dominions; and +that in the fortunate days of your Majesty the Christian faith may +be planted, grow, and increase in these lands, where the infidelity +and rule of the Devil, our adversary, so long prevailed. + +With the ships that left here last year (sixty-nine), under Captain +Felipe de Salcedo, I sent your Majesty a report of everything that +happened until then and the affair with the captain general of the +Portuguese fleet. They write me that this same Felipe de Salcedo +took this despatch to your Majesty on a despatch boat that was sent +from Mexico, for this purpose, whereby your Majesty will have seen, +learned, and understood what occurred here. We have had no word here, +since then, of the Portuguese; nor do I believe that they will return, +because they were much harassed, and also I am certain that none +of those that went from here will have any desire to return. That, +however, is no reason why I should neglect what concerns your Majesty's +royal service. I await them within three months in this archipelago, +which is the time in which they can come; and so I live with as much +foreboding as if I had them before me. + +By other letters I have entreated your Majesty, informing you of the +necessity in this archipelago for boats with oars; and how important +they will be for the further discovery of other things of greater +importance, which until now has been neglected, through not having +these boats. Twice I have sent men in Indian _praus_ for explorations +to the north and northwest of us. Once they discovered certain islands, +small but well peopled with Moros; and the other time they discovered +on the coast of Lucon, which is a large island, several settlements +of Moros. The latter have artillery, which they themselves cast and +finish, and likewise powder and other ammunition. Some of the towns +received them in peace, but others would not. The possessions taken +in your Majesty's name accompany the present letter. These Moros +have much more trade, because they make voyages for that purpose, +going among the people on the Chinese mainland, and to the Japanese. I +again repeat how advantageous it would be to your Majesty's service to +have some oared vessels here, because the Spanish are not accustomed +to navigate with skill in those of the Indians, and run great risks +by going in them. And in order that this may not occur, will your +Majesty please command that what seems best to you in that case be +ascertained and provided. + +The Portuguese left us so badly accredited with these natives that some +of them withdrew from our friendship; and it has been necessary to turn +to pacifying them again, and at somewhat greater cost than the first +time. In the future we shall have the greatest care in their conversion +and good treatment, as your Majesty commands. We will gladly strive +to bring them to the subjection and dominion of your royal Majesty, +and with those who refuse and do not wish it, we shall adopt more +convenient means to preach and teach to them all the evangelical law, +wherein God our lord and your Majesty will be well served. + +In fulfilment of your Majesty's orders, on these two ships which +are going to Nueva Espana, I send ten or twelve Portuguese from this +camp. Some still remain but it seemed to me that to avoid trouble, it +was well not to send many together. I am certain that some of them are +good soldiers, and have served your Majesty very well. There has not +been heard or imagined of them anything that they ought not to have +done, but your Majesty's order was very well considered and noted, +and therefore will be executed. On the first ships that leave here +will go those who remain. The foreigners of these nations can not +be banished at present, without considerable inconvenience; because +all the workmen, carpenters, gunners, and half of the sailors are +foreigners, Some of the soldiers are Flemings, and others Italians, +Venetians, Greeks, French, and so on. Wherefore no new action has +been taken in this at present, until your Majesty is pleased to have +the matter looked into, and shall command what you think best to be +done about it. + +We have had news here from Mexico that a certain fleet that sailed +from Peru in your Majesty's name, to discover Nueva Guinea and +other lands in those western regions, was instructed to settle all +the lands extending westward between ten degrees north latitude and +sixty degrees south latitude. This was incredible, because, as your +Majesty knows, the fleets that have left Nueva Espana in your Majesty's +name have discovered many islands and lands as far as the equator, +and in south latitude. What I have settled, subdued and discovered +in your Majesty's name commences at six degrees latitude north of the +equator, and extends from there farther north. If it were conceded to +those from Peru up to ten degrees, it would be equivalent to giving +them the greater part of all this Filipinas archipelago, and more. I +thought that I ought to inform you of it, so that your Majesty could +make what provisions seemed best to you. + +Melchior de Legazpi, my son, who for a long time has resided at that +court, has charge of my affairs; and last year, Captain Felipe de +Salcedo, my grandson, went to give your Majesty a report of affairs +here. I humbly pray your Majesty to have them sent back, granting them +favor so that they may come to serve your Majesty in these regions. + +Captain Joan de la Isla goes to that court, and will return on the +same ship on which he went. He has served and labored much; I pray +your Majesty to reward him as he merits. With him I send your Majesty +two bronze culverins [_versos_] made by the Moros of this land, so +that your Majesty may see what dexterity they possess in working and +casting artillery. Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty, may our Lord guard +and increase the life and person of your Royal Majesty with more +kingdoms and seigniories for many happy years, with victories over +your enemies, as your royal heart desires. From this island of Panae, +on St. James' Day, July xxv, 1570. Your Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty's +most humble and faithful servant, who kisses your royal feet and hands. + +_Miguel Lopez de Legazpi_ + + + + +Evidence Regarding the Portuguese Expedition Against Cebu--1570 + + +In the island and town of Cubu in the Western Felipinas islands, +on the twenty-first of October, one thousand five hundred and +seventy, the very illustrious Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, governor and +captain-general for his Majesty the king, Don Felipe, our lord, and of +his troops and royal fleet for the exploration of the said islands, +in the presence of me, Fernando Riquel, chief government notary, +and of the undersigned witnesses: he declared that, whereas the day +before yesterday, the nineteenth of this present month, while he +was building some gabions on the river of Cubu, for the defense of +certain pieces of artillery, which he ordered to be mounted there, +Gonzalo Pereira, captain-general of the Portuguese fleet which is +anchored in this port, wrote to him that he must stop work on those +gabions which were being made on the said river. To please him, the +said governor, although the gabions were for the defense of the said +artillery, yesterday (the twentieth of the said month) ordered the +men to stop work. In the morning the said captain-general wrote to +him again, ordering him to demolish the said gabions, as it seemed +to him that they were being made as a menace to him and his fleet; +and that he should reply to him what he intended to do in this matter, +for, whether he answered or not, it will be held as if answered. At +the same time when the Portuguese sent the above letter, the said +governor had written to the said captain-general, and had sent to him +the factor Andres de Mirandaola, and myself, the said Fernando Riquel, +with an answer to a requisition which the said captain-general had sent +him the day before. Whereupon the captain-general again sent word that +he must order the said gabions to be destroyed; because, if they were +not destroyed between that time and the evening of that day, he would +take it for granted that war was declared. This said day, after dinner, +the aforesaid persons having returned with this message of reply to +the said governor, they told him how the galleys and small boats of +the Portuguese fleet were coming ashore. The said governor ordered the +master-of-camp, Martin de Goiti, to go to see what was wanted. The said +Portuguese--immediately, and before the expiration of the time-limit +set by the said captain-general, and without waiting for any response +to be given--those of the said galleys and _fustas_, began to batter +down the said gabions with a great number of guns; and they continued +this almost until sunset. Nevertheless, the said governor ordered that +no one should discharge any artillery at them from his camp; on the +contrary, he reproved an artilleryman who, without his permission, +discharged one gun. While the said Portuguese were demolishing the +said gabions, the said governor sent the said answer to the said +captain-general, complaining that he was commencing and making unjust +war, against all reason and without the said governor having given +any occasion for it. Not only did the Portuguese not relax at all but +sent part of his galleys and fustas to blockade the other entrance to +this harbor, which lies toward the east, so that nothing can enter or +leave this camp. The governor declared that the said Portuguese have +said and published that through famine they will seize and carry us +away prisoners, by force. In order that the manner in which the said +captain-general and his men commenced to make war--and they began it, +as is related hereafter--may be manifest both now and in the future, +he said that he asked me, the said notary, as he did, to certify +these facts to all the aforesaid in public form, in such wise that +witness may be had for the protection of the rights of his Majesty, +and of himself in the king's royal name. All those who were present +he ordered to witness it, and signed it with his name. + +I, the said Fernando Riquel, chief notary aforesaid certify to +whomsoever shall see this present, or copies of it drawn up in public +form, that on yesterday, Wednesday in the morning, the twentieth of +this said month, I, having gone by the order of his lordship the said +governor to the flagship where the said captain-general Gonzalo de +Pereira was, to take him a certain answer to a requisition sent by the +said captain-general to the said governor, the said captain-general +sent an oral message through me, the said notary, and the factor, +Andres de Mirandaola, to the said governor, to the effect that, +if on the evening of that day the gabions on the river of Cubu were +not ordered to be demolished, he would consider war declared. With +this message we came from the said ship. Almost at high noon, and +after dinner, I, being in the said governor's room, despatching +certain messages which the said governor had to send to the said +captain-general, we heard a heavy fire of artillery. It was reported +to the said governor that the Portuguese, in _fustas_ and galleys, +were attacking and firing upon the river of Cubu, where there were +certain works and soldiers from this camp. The said governor ordered +that no artillery should be fired from this camp; on the contrary, he +reproved an artilleryman who fired a piece without his permission. Then +he sent me, the said notary, with a letter and other despatches to the +said captain-general. I went to his galleon and on my way thither, +I saw that the said galleys and _fustas_ were discharging artillery +at the said river and the gabions. Having arrived where the said +captain-general was, and having complained in the name of the said +governor, he replied that he had ordered the firing of those pieces, +and those being fired at the time, to frighten the troops who were on +the said shore with the said gabions. Also the said captain-general +said that he intended to make war without wasting so much powder +as was wasted that day; that on the following day if they did not +remove the gabions, war would begin in earnest. So on the said day +at this hour (which might be eight o'clock, more or less), I see, +and it is seen clearly, that three galleys of the said Portuguese +fleet are rounding the island of Matan with oars, against a head wind, +toward the other entrance of this harbor eastward. In affirmation of +the abovesaid, I signed here my name, jointly with the said governor, +who asked to have given him necessary copies of this testimony. There +were present, as witnesses to the said request, Captains Luis de la +Haya, Andres de Ybarra, Juan de Salcedo, Juan Maldonado de Verrocal, +and many other soldiers of this camp. + +_Miguel Lopez de Legazpi_ + + + + + +I, the said Fernando Riquel, chief notary of the royal fleet that +came for the exploration of the Western Islands, and their government +for his Majesty, certify to the aforesaid, in the form and manner +abovesaid, wherefore I here affix my usual signature and flourish, +in witness of the truth. + +_Fernando Riquel_ + + + + + +I, Sancho Lopez de Agurto, royal notary of the royal _Audiencia_ and +_chancelleria_ of Nueva Espana for his Majesty, hereby certify that +Miguel Lopez de Legazpi by whom this testimony is signed is governor +and captain in the Western Islands; and Fernando de Rriquel, by whom +this testimony is witnessed and signed, was appointed as his Majesty's +government notary--as appears by other acts that he has exercised and +exercises in the said office; and the handwriting and signature of +the said subscription appears like those that I have seen him make, +all of which are alike. In order that this may be manifest, by the +order of this royal _Audiencia_, I gave this present, which is dated +from the City of Mexico, on the eighteenth of January, one thousand +five hundred and seventy. Wherefore I sign in witness of the truth. + +_Sancho Lopez de Agurto_ + + + + + +I, Jhoan Augustin de Contreras, his Majesty's recorder of the royal +_Audiencia_ of this Nueva Espana, certify that Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, +whose signature is attached to this testimony, was appointed governor +and general of the islands of the West and Fernando Riquel as his +government notary; and that I have certain information that they +discharge their offices in those provinces and this is a matter +well and generally known regarding the above-mentioned persons. And, +having seen them writing and signing their names many times, I hold and +recognize as their writing and signatures, those which are contained +in the above testimony of this other part, given by Miguel Lopez de +Legazpi and Fernando Rrequel, and followed with the subscription of the +said Fernando Requel. I saw the aforesaid despatched as such governor +and general and government notary of those islands, in the first fleet +sailing thither in the month of December of the year sixty-four, +and to which I refer. In affirmation whereof, I gave this present, +which is dated at Mexico, the twenty-eighth of January, one thousand, +five hundred and seventy. + +Accordingly, in witness of the truth, I here affix this my signature, +which is as follows: + +_Joan Augustin_, his Majesty's notary. + + + + +Documents of 1571-72. + + + + Relation of the discoveries of the Malucos and + Philippinas. [1571?] + Requisitions of supplies for the Spanish forces in the + Philippines. [1571?] + Conquest of the island of Luzon. April 20, 1572. + Foundation of the city of Manila. Fernando Riquel; June + 19, 1572. + + + +_Sources_: MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias at Sevilla. The +third is obtained from Retana's _Archivo del Bibliofilo filipino_, +iv (Madrid, 1898). + +_Translations_: The first two documents are translated by Alfonso de +Salvio; the third, by J. G. Gill; the fourth, by James A. Robertson. + + + + +Relation of the Discoveries of the Malucos and Philippinas, and +Various Negotiations Concerning Them + + +From what may be gathered in the said account and various agreements +concerning the navigation, discovery, and commerce of the Western +Islands, especially those of Maluco, Philippinas, and Cubu, we must +assume that the discovery of the Yndias was begun by order of the +Catholic Sovereigns, in the year ninety-two, and on the second of +May of the following year, ninety-three. + +The supreme pontiff, Alexander the Sixth, granted to the Catholic +Sovereigns of Castilla and Leon, and to their successors, the +navigation of the Yndias, with all the privileges, favors, indulgences, +and prerogatives which had been granted to the kings of Portugal in +respect to the Yndias of Guinea, part of Affrica, and other Yndias +which they might conquer. This is contained more fully in the bull +of concession, an authentic copy of which is to be found in the +Archives of Simancas. On the third of the said month and year, the +same supreme pontiff made a concession to the Catholic Sovereigns of +Castilla and Leon, and their successors, of all the Yndias in general, +the islands and mainlands which had been discovered or should be +discovered in the limitless future, drawing a line from pole to pole, +one hundred leagues west of the Acores and Cabo Verde islands. All +land already discovered and to be discovered, found west and south of +this line (being not actually occupied by any Christian prince before +Christmas and the beginning of the year one thousand four hundred +and ninety-three) [35] was to be the navigation and discovery of the +kings of Castilla, and was to come under their kingdom, seigniory, and +jurisdiction. He who passed this line without permission would incur +blame and punishment, as is more fully shown in the original bull, +which is sealed with lead and deposited in the Archives of Simancas, +and dated at Rome on the fourth of May of the said year. + +On the twenty-sixth of September of the said year one thousand +four hundred and ninety-three, the same supreme pontiff conceded to +the Catholic Sovereigns, and their successors, besides the general +concession of the Yndias, whatever conquest they might make in their +name in the eastern, western, and southern islands, "provided they +be not occupied by any other," etc., as is more fully shown in the +original bull given in Rome on the sixth of October of the same year, +and deposited in the Archives at Simancas. + +These concessions made to the Catholic Sovereigns of Castilla and Leon +and their successors, as well as that made to the Kings of Portogal, +respecting the navigation of the East Indies, caused and still cause +dispute and controversy between the kings of Castilla and those +of Portugal, concerning the boundaries which should separate their +navigation and discovery--the limit and bound which is to be drawn +from pole to pole on this side of our hemisphere, and concerning the +other bound and meridian line which is to be drawn in the hemisphere +corresponding to the upper one. + +Differences have existed and still exist between the kings concerning +the line of demarcation which was to be drawn between their +respective navigations and discoveries in this our hemisphere. The +kings of Castilla claim that it was to be drawn according to the +papal concession, one hundred leagues west of the islands of Acores +and Cabo Verde; the kings of Portugal claim that it was to be drawn +farther west, so that their side of the demarcation might include +most of the coast of Brasil, and of that Tierra Firme [36] adjoining +it. They agreed to settle this controversy, and the kings of Castilla +consented to have the line of demarcation drawn two hundred and seventy +leagues farther west than the line decreed in the bull of concession, +as is set forth in a deed of agreement. + +(In the original instrument, drawn on paper, the said year, in the +presence of Fernand Alvarez of Toledo, secretary of the Catholic +Sovereigns, and in the presence of Estevan Vaes, secretary of the king +of Portogal, is found a confirmation by the Catholic Sovereigns. The +said instrument, drawn on parchment, in Arevalo, on the second of +July, 1495, is fully signed by the Sovereigns. The signature of the +prince is found below. The instrument is countersigned by the said +secretary. The seal was removed, but the cord to which it was attached +remains. The confirmation of the said instrument of Tordesillas by +King Don Joan of Portogal is attested by a contract written on five +pages of parchment, signed by the king, and countersigned by Martyn +de Veyra. The confirmation was given in Ebora on February 27, 1525) + +[It] practically reads that on the seventh of June, one thousand four +hundred and ninety-four, the attorneys of the Catholic Sovereigns and +of the king of Portogal empowered by their masters met in Tordesillas, +and drew up the said instrument. The agreement reached was that a +line or meridian was to be drawn from the Arctic to the Antarctic +pole, three hundred and seventy leagues west of the islands of Cabo +Verde. Everything west of the said line or meridian was to belong +to the kings of Castilla, and that east was to be the navigation, +discovery, and conquest of the kings of Portogal. The sea of the king +of Portogal was open for navigation to the kings of Castilla, with +the understanding that the latter should follow their course without +any deviation. Whatever should be found up to the twentieth of the +said month of June in the first two hundred and fifty leagues of the +three hundred and seventy, was to belong to the kings of Portogal; +and that which should be found in the remaining hundred and twenty +leagues was to belong to the king of Castilla. + +_Item_, both parties agreed to send within ten months an equal number +of ships, pilots, astrologers, and sailors to mark out the said line +of demarcation. + +It is not specified that within the said ten months they did send +the said pilots, astrologers, and sailors to draw the said line of +demarcation; on the contrary, it is clear that the said line was +not drawn; for according to the copy of a decree and declaration of +the Catholic Sovereigns given in Madrid on May the seventh, 1495, +and signed by the secretary Samano, it is urged that the said line +be drawn--from which it is evident that the line had not been drawn +within the ten months. That this line had not been drawn appears +also from the conferences and records concerning the possession and +ownership of the Malucos, between the commissioners of both parties +in the year twenty-four at the bridge of Acaya, Yelves, and Badajoz, +where the determination of this line of demarcation was discussed; +and the determination thereof, discussed under three heads. + +First, whether a spherical or plane surface should be considered in +drawing the line of demarcation. + +Second, how should the islands of Cabo Verde be properly situated +and located. + +Third, from which of the said islands should they begin to measure +the three hundred and seventy leagues for the demarcation. + +The Castilians agreed with the Portuguese to employ the spherical +surface and still not to exclude the plane surface and other +measurements. The second point appears not to have been discussed. As +to the third, the Castilians disagreed with the Portuguese, saying that +the three hundred and seventy leagues were to begin from the island +of Santo Anton, the most western of the islands of Cabo Verde. The +Portuguese claimed that they ought to begin from the islands of +La Sal and Buena Vista, the most eastern of the group. It seems +(the original having been destroyed) that each party was striving to +have the islands of Maluco fall on his side of the demarcation--thus +contending for the contrary of what they claimed in the year 1494, +when each party, ignorant of the differences which would arise about +the Malucos, was striving to have the coast of Brasil fall on its +side of the demarcation. + +_Item_: From the Castilian and Portuguese sea-charts it appears that +the said line of demarcation was neither drawn nor determined; because, +in the model sea-charts deposited in the India house of trade in +Sevilla, this line or meridian is found drawn from pole to pole so as +to cut our hemisphere three hundred and seventy leagues from the island +of Sancto Anton, the last of the Cabo Verde islands. It also cuts the +coast of Brasil about two degrees from the equinoctial line through +the land of Humos, the tropic of Capricorn, the Cape of Dospermitas, +and the river of Sant Salvador. According to these charts, the line of +demarcation of the king of Portogal includes three hundred and ninety +leagues through which the line of demarcation passes inland, and for +a distance of six hundred leagues down along the coast. Within the +line of demarcation of the kings of Castilla fall all of Tierra Nova +[Newfoundland], of the Bacallaos, and of Labrador. In the Portoguese +sea-charts, this line of demarcation is so drawn as to cut Brasil +farther north than the great river of Orellana or Amazonas, two +degrees from the equinoctial line, and thirty-eight degrees south, +through the low submerged districts, so that it cuts the land seven +hundred leagues inland and almost one thousand three hundred leagues +along the coast, including within the demarcation of Portogal all of +Tierra Nova, Bacallaos, and Labrador. + +[Here follows some matter which we omit, as superfluous--an account of +Portuguese settlements in Brazil, decisions of the Junta of Badajoz, +and the Treaty of Zaragoza.] + +After the execution of the said deed, one of the first and chief +instructions in the settlements and discoveries made, as well as on the +merchant vessels and fleets despatched, is that no one shall go beyond +the line of demarcation of the king of Portogal, and the boundaries +specified in the said contract. A similar injunction forbidding men +to go beyond the boundaries of demarcation of the king of Portogal +was made after the execution of the demarcation deed, in the year +fourteen hundred and ninety-four. + +1535. In the year thirty-five, Simon de Alcacava was despatched with +two hundred and forty men. He passed the strait of Magallanes and +one of the ships returned to Santiago de Cuba. + +1536. In the year thirty-six, Cortes sent Grijalva and Alvarado with +two ships below the equinoctial line. They reached the Malucos. + +1542. In the year forty-two, Don Antonio de Mendoza sent from Nueva +Espana Ruy Lopez de Villalobos with four ships, four hundred soldiers, +and four hundred Indians. He discovered Mindanaos, Cubu, and Nata. + +1543. In the year forty-three, Villalobos despatched Bernardo de la +Torre to give an account of the expedition and its route; he discovered +and named the Philippinas islands. + +1545. In the year forty-five, the said Villalobos went to the island +of Nuzo, to the city of Sanuso, to Gilolo, and to Tidori. From Tidori +he sent Ynigo Ortiz de Roda as captain, and Gaspar Rico as pilot. On +the way they discovered the coast of Nueva Guinea, which had been +discovered by Saavedra in the year twenty-seven. + +1545. On November the ninth, 1545, his Majesty the Emperor wrote from +Bruxas [Brussels] to Don Antonio de Mendoca, viceroy of Nueva Espana, +saying that the ambassador of the king of Portogal had in behalf of +the latter complained that the fleet of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos went +to the islands of Maluco; and that, being requested by the governor +of that place to leave, had gone to another island, where it remained. + +(Ruy Lopez de Villalobos died, and his companions endured so many +hardships, that finally they were obliged to return to Spana by way +of the province of Yndia. This is verified by a letter of Fray Gonzalo +de Santistevan, an Augustinian, who was with the fleet.) + +In order to please the king of Portogal, his Majesty ordered the +captain and his people to leave that place immediately. The said +viceroy and other magistrates in whose districts the captain and his +men might land were requested to arrest them, and to confiscate their +drugs and spices. His Majesty warned the viceroy that this decree was +issued to please the king of Portogal, and requested him to send news +of the outcome. Dissembling and secrecy was required, etc. + +1559. On September 24, 1559, a decree of his Majesty was sent from +Valladolid to Don Luys de Velasco, ordering him to send men to discover +the Philippinas islands, and other places where spices could be found; +but in doing this they were to avoid Maluco and other places forbidden +by the compact. + +1560. On May 28, 1560, Fray Andres de Urdaneta wrote from Mexico that +he had received the above-mentioned decree of September 24, and offered +himself to undertake the expedition. He sent a memorial in which he +declared that the Philipina island does not come within the agreement, +and that the expedition could be made under the pretext of going to +rescue the men who were captured from the fleet of Fray Garcia de +Loaysa in the year 1525, from the one which Cortes despatched in +the year 1527, from that which Don Antonio sent in 1542, and from +another ship despatched by Cortes, which was lost on its course from +Nueva Espana. Don Luys began to get ready the fleet. At his death the +_Audiencia_ of Mexico made haste to complete the preparations; and +on the first of September, one thousand five hundred and sixty-four, +instructions were given to Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who had been +appointed governor and general of the discovery of the Western +Islands. The latter set sail with four ships on November 21, 1564. On +April 27, 1551 [_sic_], he reached the island of Cubu, where he built +a fort. He took possession in his Majesty's name of the Barbudos +Islands, the Ladrones, Cibabao, the bay of Sant Pedro and Maletie +in the island of Camiguinni, and Bohol. He despatched the flagship +under command of his grandson Phelippe de Salzedo, and Fray Andres de +Urdaneta. They set sail on June the first, sixty-five, and on September +the eighteenth they came in sight of the first land of Nueva Spania, +the island of Sant Salvador, which is in twenty-nine and five-sixths +degrees north latitude. On the first of October, they reached the +port of La Navidad; but, without stopping there, they proceeded to +Acapulco which is a better port, forty-five leagues nearer to Mexico. + +As soon as the flagship arrived, an advice-ship was despatched +from Nueva Spana. It reached the royal settlement at Cubu on the +fifteenth of October, 1566, without the store of arms, ammunition, +and other provisions needed. The captain and ensign were missing, +for they had been killed in a mutiny. + +Phelipe de Salzedo as general, Captain Artieda with a company, and +another company of Juan de Aguirre for Captain Andres de Ybarra, +set sail in April, 1567, with two ships and three hundred men, both +sailors and soldiers. They reached Cubu August 20, 1567. + +The general Miguel Lopez despatched a ship commanded by Joan de la +Ysla. It reached Nueva Espana November 16, 1567; and Espana June 5, 68. + +The Council hastened to get ready a ship in Santander with the +said aid, arms, and ammunition, and to entrust it to the said +Joan de la Ysla. The preparations were carried out by Joan de +Penalosa, administrator of the marine tithes, to whom the affair was +entrusted. The ship set sail with good weather August 27, 1569. The +ship, its repairing, and the goods it carried cost four million +eight hundred and seventeen thousand eight hundred and seventy-six +and one-half _maravedis_, as is evident by the memorandum of Joan de +Penalosa for the said day. + +The ship reached Nueva Spana on the last of October, 1569. On March +9, 70, it left the port of Acapulco with two hundred men including +sailors, soldiers, workmen, and married men. Joan de la Ysla says +that the officials of Nueva Spana wasted one hundred and twenty-six +thousand _pesos_ on his expedition, and as much while he remained +there. He reached the islands at the end of May, and cast anchor in +the island of Marapite. Thence he sent despatches to the governor and +awaited his orders. On the arrival of the orders he set sail, June 20, +and reached Panae, where the governor was, on the twenty-third of June. + +On July 27, he left Panae for Nueva Spana, with two of the three +ships which the other had brought, and reached the port of Acapulco in +Nueva Espana, November 21, 1570. January 25, 1571, he left Sant Juan +de Lua, and reached Sant Lucas April 17, 1571. Through an advice-ship +sent by the viceroy, Juan de la Ysla was requested to set sail with +the two ships, not later than the month of February. The time to set +out from Nueva Spana is from the beginning of November to the latter +part of January; the voyage will last two months. The time to set out +for Nueva Espana is from the end of July to the beginning of August; +the voyage will last three months. + + + + +Requisitions of Supplies for the Spanish Forces in the +Philippines--1570-71 (_circa_) + + +Memorandum of the articles asked for by the governor of the Felipinas +islands--with a note of what can be supplied from Nueva Espana, and +what must be brought from Espana. This memorandum was brought last +year by the advice ships. [37] + +First, he asks for rigging. We must buy some of that brought by the +merchant fleet; for none was sent here from Espana on his Majesty's +account. A supply must be sent, for it is very expensive here. + +(Six hundred and forty-five _arrobas_ and fourteen _libras_ of small +rigging were taken.) + +They ask also for pitch. It will be sent from here + +(A large quantity of pitch and tar was taken.) + +Tow. We have very little of it in this country. + +(There were taken cxxxvii _arrobas_ of tow, and cvii _arrobas_ of +old rigging for the same purpose.) + +Saltpetre. We shall send what we have from here. + +(Six _quintals_, nine _libras_ were taken, because they need it there +only to refine the powder; likewise xi _arrobas_ of sulphur.) + +Powder. We have it here. + +(There were taken cl _quintals_ [38] and three _arrobas_.) + +Two shipmasters to build ships and galleys. Shipmasters are not to +be found in this land. + +(Only one carpenter was taken, for we could not supply more.) + +Twelve carpenters for the same purpose. We shall look for them here +although it will be difficult to find any. + +Twelve calkers. They also will be supplied from the merchant ships. + +(Four were taken.) + +Two overseers. They will be procured here. + +(Enough men were sent for that purpose.) + +Galley captains who know how to make lateensails. They are not to be +found in this land, unless some come on the merchant ships. + +Fifty bombardiers. There are none here, except those who are in the +port. We shall try to send some. + +(Five were taken, and these are sufficient; for Robles, who went there +as artillery founder after having served all his life in these royal +houses, will instruct enough of the soldiers going from here so that +they may serve whenever it is necessary.) + +Two artillery founders. + +(One went, Robles by name--he who is mentioned above.) + +Two military engineers to fortify a stronghold. They are not to be +found in this land. + +(Some of the soldiers who went there can make valuable suggestions +in that respect.) + +Five hundred pikes. We shall send the iron heads from here, for +the wood can be found in the islands. (Three hundred pikes were +sent; for we heard afterward that the wood of that land was of an +inferior quality. Therefore may your Majesty be pleased to order +that a thousand pikes be sent us, for the wood of this country is +irreparably worm-eaten.) + +Corselets. Any quantity. There are very few of them in our military +stores. + +(None of them will be found here, unless your Majesty orders that +they be sent from Espana. It is not right that the military stores +of these royal households be left without corselets.) + +Large artillery, six pieces, averaging forty _quintals_; and two +swivel-guns. We do not have them here, and it is very difficult to +transport them to the wharf; so that it will be better to cast them +in the islands. + +(The governor wrote that he had there a number of pieces of artillery +which he had bought; and others that had burst, from which some might +be made. Eighty _arrobas_ of tin were taken; and now they are taking +cc _quintals_ of copper, for we had no time to extract it last year.) + +A good arquebuse officer. He will not be easily found here. + +(He was sent.) + +Thin wrought iron for forelock plate-bolts. We shall send it from +here, although Valero said that it would be less expensive if it came +from Espana. + +(Ninety-two _quintals_, two _arrobas_, and nine _libras_ were taken.) + +Thin iron plates. We will send them also from here. + +(The ninety-two _quintals_, two _arrobas_ and nine _libras_ contained +a quantity of iron plates.) + +Fine steel for carpenters' axes and other tools. All of this that +comes in the merchant ships will be sent from here. + +(Twenty _arrobas_ of steel were taken.) + +Two pairs of bellows of the best kind. We have them here. + +(Four pairs were taken.) + +Two screws. We shall send them from here. + +(They were taken.) + +One anvil. It will be sent from here. + +(One large anvil was taken.) + +Two screw plates to make screws for arquebuses. We shall send them +from here. + +(One was taken.) + +Two grind-stones. They will be sent from here. + +(Two were taken.) + +Two dozen carpenters' axes. We will send them from here. + +(They were taken.) + +Six French saws. They shall be sent from here. + +(They were sent.) + +Oil. We must send some of that which comes in the merchant ships. + +Lead. We have it. + +(cc _quintals_ were taken. But this is the first time that we have +been asked for lead; for each time that soldiers go, they take with +them all the lead they wish; and it was never known that they needed +it there. The vessels here are leaded, but not there; for never until +now has any vessel been launched there, that has to sail on this course +[between the Philippines and New Spain].) + +Tin. We must buy some of that which comes from Espana, for we have +none here. + +(Eighty _arrobas_ were taken--those above-mentioned.) + +Copper. We have it here. + +(cc _quintals_ are being taken now; for it had not been extracted +when the ship sailed.) + +Tallow. + +(ccxix _quintals_ and three _arrobas_, less a small quantity used in +repairing the ship in the port, were taken; and more of it will be +taken this year. + +Trumpeters and mechanics. + +(At the time we had no Indians to send them, nor do we have any now.) + +Indian workmen of all trades: tailors, shoemakers, carpenters, masons. + +(At the time we had no Indians to send them, nor do we have them now.) + +In addition to all the above the vessel took the founder who was +going to cast artillery. + +One tulcapote, to cover the clay mould for the artillery. Two +levels. One claw hammer. One medium sized saw. One _quintal_ +of steel to make files, punches, and drills, for boring the +artillery. Twenty-nine _arrobas_ and ten _libras_ of wrought iron for +the manufacture of _animas_, sledge hammers, tongs, and hammers with +which to work the iron for the artillery. A screw-plate with seven +holes; and seven sledge-hammers. One anvil and forge. Another small +forge and three screws. + +[_Endorsed_: "Without date or signature."] + +[All these items apparently refer to articles subsequently added to +the list; for on the MS. each one is checked off.] + + + + + +Memorandum of what we need in this camp of his Majesty which is +stationed and has its residence in the Western Islands, in addition +to the requests made in the letters and memoranda which have been +sent in the past. It is as follows: + +_Bellows_: First of all we need four pairs of bellows--two pairs made +of dressed leather, and the other two of rawhide. They should be sent +wrapped in coarse frieze, and placed in their jars, so as not to be +gnawed by worms. + +_Tubes_: Four pairs of bellows-tubes large enough for the forges. + +_Axes_: One hundred Viscayan iron axes for the carpenters. + +_Anvils_: An anvil weighing about one _quintal_ or six _arrobas_. + +_Pitch_: Three hundred _quintals_ of pitch. + +_Tar_: A large quantity of tar. + +_Tallow_: Tallow in quantity, as may be needed, to be sent in suitable +skins or casks. + +_Nails: Item_, nails one span in length, and for crosswise +timbers. _Item_, spikes and clinch nails. + +_Sail-cloth:_ A quantity of sail-cloth. + +_Paper_: A large bale of paper, for we have none. + +_Books_: Twelve books of large paper, bound in parchment, for the +accountant. + +_Twine and sail needles_: Some sailmaker's twine and long sail-needles. + +_Saws_: A dozen carpenters' hand-saws. + +_Steel_: Some good steel, for the kind we have here is worthless. + +_Tacks and leather_: Tacks and some pieces of +tanned leather for the pump. + +_Hoops, casks, and staves_: Casks and hoops suitable for this land, +because we have used a third of those brought here by the ships, in +repairs for the return, voyage. Let a large quantity of staves be sent. + +_Coopers: Item_, two coopers. + +_Carpenters: Item_, some ship-carpenters, provided they be good +workmen. + +_Rope-maker: Item_, a rope-maker, for we are in great need of one to +make rigging here. + +_Tarpauling-nails_: A quantity of tarpauling-nails. + +_Grappling-irons_: Some grappling-irons, for the frigates have lost +those brought by Captain Juan de la Ysla in the year seventy. Let +some be of five _arrobas'_ weight, and the others from four to six +_arrobas_. + +_Anchors_: Some anchors, of three or four _quintals_ each. + +_Boilers_: Half a dozen pitch boilers, for we have none of them. + +_Wine_: Wine for the sacrifice of the mass, and for the sick; also +some vinegar. + +_Assayer: Item_, an assayer, for we are in much need of one. + +_Negroes_: We are in great need of negroes for the labors of this +camp, so as to avoid the inconveniences that arise from [depending on] +the natives. + +_Soap_: One or two _quintals_ of soap; we greatly need it for the +rigging which is being made in this land. + +_Padlocks_: A dozen padlocks, for they are not to be found here. + +_Mariner's compasses_: Half a dozen of mariner's compasses. + +_Hour-glasses_: Twenty hour-glasses indicating one to one-and-a-half +hours. + +_Screws_: Two good screws for filing arquebuses. + +_Iron wire_: Six _libras_ of iron wire to repair arquebuse locks. + +_Tin_: Two _libras_ of sheet-tin for the tinning of locks. + +_Rigging_: All sorts of rigging. + +_Sawyers_: Sawyers. + +_Smiths_: A smith who knows how to make crowbars, adzes, axes, and +chisels, and how to sharpen tools. + +_Gunpowder_: A large quantity of gunpowder. + +_Sulphur and saltpetre_: Sulphur and saltpetre. + +_Medicines_: Some medicines for the sick and wounded. + +_Lead_: Lead, both in bars and in sheets. + +_Gunners_: Gunners are much needed. + +_Pickaxes, shovels_: Pickaxes and crow's-foot shovels. + +_Kettles_: Large and small mess-kettles, for there are none. + +_Balances_: Two new balances, one of them small. + +_Weights and denominations_: Weights to weigh gold and silver, +graduated from two to four _libras_. + +_Bells_: Small and large bells for churches. + +_Measures_: Measures of one _arroba_, half-_arroba, azumbre_ and +_quartillo_. + +_Half-hanega_: Two half-_hanegas_, one _celemin_, and one +half-_celemin_. [39] + +_Fishing-nets and fishermen_: Two fishing-nets and a couple of +fishermen [_pescadores_], if they are to be found. + +_Stamps for the tithes_: Stamps for branding the tithes, for those +which were sent are out of order; also a small anvil and hammers, +for marking the fifths. [40] + +_Tow_: A large quantity of tow, for we have none. + +_For the main church: Item_, we need a pair of chalices with their +silver pitchers, two missals, and some altar-cloths and linen for the +main church of this city. We need them because all that was sent us +was taken by the Augustinian religious, and we are unable to get any +of them. + +_Andres Cauchela Salvador de Aldave_ + + + +Relation of the Conquest of the Island of Luzon + + +An account of the discovery and conquest of the islands of Luzon and +Mindoro, together with the most important events which took place +therein, being a brief and summarized relation of the conquest and +reduction of all that has been conquered and subdued in these islands +up to the present time. Likewise is contained herein a description +of the civilization of the people and their mode of living; the +weapons which they possess and use; and the forts which they build +to defend themselves against their enemies. I have ventured to +write this relation because I have been informed that many things +concerning events in this land have been written, and sent to Nueva +Espana, which are the merest fable and conjecture. For instance, +they say that there are in this country Moors like those of Barberia +[Barbary], and that their strength in arms is quite equal to that +of those people; and that they fight and defend themselves like the +Turks. Those who have so written are in error. Much to the contrary, +it is quite certain that the natives of this island of Luzon, whom +we Spaniards commonly call Moros, are not so; for the truth is that +they do not know or understand the law of Mahoma--only in some of +the villages on the seacoast they do not eat pork, and this for +the reason that they have had dealings with the Moros of Burney, +who have preached to them a little of the teaching of Mahoma. As I +shall farther on treat more in detail of the rites and ceremonies of +these natives, I shall in the first place describe the wars between +them and the Spaniards, without useless amplification or omission; +for thus have I been instructed to do by a certain person who has +ordered me to write, and thus whatever I may say in defense of these +natives will be read without any mistrust whatever, for whosoever +reads this will know the truth with regard to what occurs here. + +The first thing which I shall attempt to relate herein will be an +expedition which was made by Captain Juan de Salzedo when he was +governor in the island of Panai. As has been already related in other +accounts, written in the year sixty-nine, the Portuguese raised the +blockade established by them on the island of Cubu against the camp +of his Majesty, because of certain difficulties which arose; and the +governor determined to cross to the island of Panay with his captains +in order to levy tribute upon the people of certain provinces. His +nephew, recently made captain of the company which his brother Felipe +de Sauzedo had brought to these islands, was sent with forty soldiers +to certain islands. This captain embarked in fourteen or fifteen small +native boats, and set out for an islet which is called Elem, [41] +and when we had reached this island we did not find any resistance +whatever, for all the natives came to us in peace. From there, led +by a guide, he crossed to the island of Mindoro, and made an attack +one night just about dawn upon a very rich native village called +Mamburau, and plundered it. Many of the natives were captured, some +of whom afterward bought their liberty, and others were allowed to +go free. Thence he took a guide for a little islet, Loban by name, +which is fifteen leagues farther. When the captain was departed, +the natives, who had fled from the village, returned and saw the +havoc and destruction caused by the Spaniards, and were unwilling +to return to rebuild it; accordingly they themselves set fire to +it, and totally destroyed it. The captain, having arrived at his +destination at midnight, with all possible secrecy leaped ashore, and +arranged his men and the Pintados [42] Indians whom he had with him in +ambuscade near the villages, in order to make the attack upon them at +daybreak. However, the natives of this island having been informed of +the hostile incursion of the Spaniards, withdrew with their children +and wives and all their belongings that they could take with them, +to three forts which they had constructed. Now since these were the +first natives whom we found with forts and means of defense, I shall +describe here the forts and weapons which they possessed. The two +principal forts were square in form, with ten or twelve culverins on +each side, some of them moderately large and others very small. Each +fort had a wall two _estados_ high, and was surrounded by a ditch two +and one-half _brazas_ in depth, filled with water. The small weapons +used by these natives are badly tempered iron lances, which become +blunt upon striking a fairly good coat of mail, a kind of broad dagger, +and arrows--which are weapons of little value. Other lances are also +used which are made of fire-hardened palm-wood and are harder than the +iron ones. There is an abundance of a certain very poisonous herb which +they apply to their arrows. Such are the weapons which the natives +of these islands possess and employ. Now as the captain approached +the villages at daybreak, and found them empty, he proceeded through +a grove to the place where the first fort was situated; and, having +come in sight, negotiated with them, asking whether they desired to be +friends of the Spaniards. The natives, confident of their strength, +refused to listen, and began to discharge their culverins and a few +arrows. The captain, seeing that they would not listen to reason, +ordered them to be fired upon. The skirmish lasted in one place or +the other about three hours, since the Spaniards could not assault +or enter the fort because of the moat of water surrounding it. But, +as fortune would have it, the natives had left on the other side, +tied to the fort, a small boat capable of holding twenty men; and +two of our soldiers threw themselves into the water and swam across, +protected by our arquebusiers from the enemy, who tried to prevent +them. This boat having been brought to the side where the Spaniards +were, fifteen soldiers entered it and approached the rampart of the +fort. As soon as these men began to mount the rampart, the Indians +began to flee on the other side, by a passage-way which they had made +for that very purpose. It is true that thirty or forty Moros fought +and resisted the entrance of the Spaniards; but when they saw that +half of our people were already on the wall, and the rest in the act +of mounting, they all turned their backs and fled. A hundred or more +of them were killed, while of our men five were wounded. In this way +was the fort taken, together with fifty or sixty prisoners, ten or +twelve culverins, and everything else in it. On the morning of the +next day, which was the second of May, in the year one thousand five +hundred and seventy, the captain set free one of the Moro prisoners, +and sent him to the second fort, which was in the middle of the island +very near the first one, and charged him to tell them that he summoned +them to surrender peacefully. The Moro having performed his mission, +and delivered the message of the captain to those in the fort, they +sent back the reply that they did not desire to be friends with the +Spaniards but were eager to fight with them; and with this reply +the Indian aforesaid returned to the captain. On the following day +we went with some four hundred friendly Indians to the fort; and the +captain, advancing within sight of it, addressed them, asking that they +should be friends with the Spaniards and not try to fight with them, +as that would result badly for them. They again declared that they +did not desire this friendship, and began to fire their culverins and +discharge arrows; and in return the soldiers discharged, on all sides, +their arquebuses. But during the whole day we were not able to enter +the fort, for we Spaniards were very few in number; and the heat was +intense, and we had not eaten, although it was near night. The captain, +seeing that he had not accomplished anything, decided to return to +the boats which he had left behind, and on the next morning again to +besiege the fort, and hem them in as closely as possible; and thus he +did. Having come in this manner and having grounded his boats upon a +beach close to the enemy, when these latter saw the determination of +the Spaniards, and that they would not depart under any circumstances +until they had conquered them, they therefore determined to make peace +and become friends. To this end the leaders came out of the fort and +made peace and friendship with the captain, becoming good friends, +which they are up to the present time. They gave him a hundred _tall +[taels]_ of gold, which he divided among his soldiers. From there the +captain went to a rock belonging to another small islet very near to +that of Loban, and lying in the sea at a very short distance from the +said islet. The natives who lived in that island had retired to this +rock to the number of about three hundred warriors. The captain, +having arrived on the same day at about ten o'clock, went around +the rock, and we captured a small boat containing thirty men. Many +volleys from the arquebuses were fired at them during this day; +and on the following morning the soldiers began to make ladders to +scale the rock--whose occupants, when they saw the determination of +the Spaniards, came to terms of peace and friendship, giving another +hundred _tall_ of gold, following the example of those of the other +fort, who had been left good friends. The captain returned with all +of us who were with him to the island of Panay, where the governor +was with the master-of-camp, who had returned from another expedition +made with his men to an island called Acuyo. Thereupon the question +was discussed of sending men jto explore the island of Luzon; and it +was agreed that the master-of-camp and captain Juan de Sauzedo should +set out upon this expedition with a hundred soldiers. + +The necessary preparations having been made for this expedition, +the master-of-camp and the said captain embarked in two of our +small ships, with three large pieces of artillery, and accompanied +by fourteen or, fifteen ships of the Pintados Indians, our friends, +who in their own language are called Viseys. They sailed out of +the river of Panay in the year of seventy, above mentioned, on the +third of May, the day of Sancta Cruz. I did not take part in this +expedition but shall describe literally everything which occurred in +it. I have drawn my information from the others who participated in it, +and more especially from two of my associates, both of whom went on +this expedition, and who are men of great reliability--an advantage, +as I have before mentioned. The master-of-camp arrived at the island +of Mindoro, the village and port of which had the reputation of being +very great and very strong, but which proved to be an exaggeration, +for the village is small, containing only about three or four hundred +inhabitants. The master-of-camp having arrived, as I have said, +at that port, the Indians were drawn up on a declivity before the +village, and made signs that they intended to prevent the entrance +of the Spaniards. The master-of-camp, with all his soldiers, leaped +ashore in front of the village on a little plain, and, approaching the +village in a zigzag course, thus attacked it. The gunners who were in +the ship were ordered to discharge a cannon in the air when the attack +was made, and this was done. The Indians seeing that they intended +to enter the village by force, made peace with the master-of-camp, +and paid him tribute; and they have remained friends and vassals of +the royal Spanish administration up to the present day. This is the +port where enter all the passengers who come from the islands of the +Pintados and from Espana to this island of Luzon, where the governor +resides. From here the master-of-camp set sail for the island of +Luzon, or rather the port and village of Manilla, which was said +to be large and very strong. It is but just to say that it is not +more than one-tenth as large and as strong as in Nueva Espana and +in other places it is reported to be; and yet, in comparison with +the natives of this land, the inhabitants of Manilla were powerful, +for they had twelve pieces of small and inferior artillery and a few +culverins, with such other weapons as I have already mentioned. This +village of Manilla is situated on a tongue of land extending from +east to west between the river and the sea, and a fort had been +built on the extreme western end of this peninsula at the entrance +to the port. The sea makes a very large harbor about thirty leagues +in circumference; and bordering upon this harbor are many villages, +among which is that of Manilla. [43] Manilla is now a Spanish city, +founded in the name of his Majesty by the governor Miguel Lopez +de Legazpi. The captain-general and Captain Juan de Sauzedo having +arrived in view of this port of Manilla, entered in peace, and under +the safe-conduct of two native chiefs of the said village. One of +these was called Laya, lately deceased, who died a Christian; the +other was called Raxa Soliman. With these two chiefs were drawn up +articles of peace, although Raxa Soliman was suspected of lack of +good-faith, while Laya was always to be trusted, even until the day of +his death. While these peaceful negotiations were in progress between +the master-of-camp and the two chiefs above-mentioned, there collected +a large number of natives of various classes; and yet there were not +so many a" was reported in Nueva Espana, where it was claimed that +there were in all eighty thousand Moros in this village of Manilla, +when this event took place. Indeed one should subtract seventy-eight +thousand from the eighty thousand mentioned, in order to arrive at +the two thousand which there might have been from the said village of +Manilla and those in its environs, including the women and children, +who were present in great numbers. Now, as I say, these negotiations +being in progress, some of the natives desired peace and others war; +for indeed the Indians had some pride, and it seemed to them that +the Spaniards were very few and could be easily slain, even if only +with clubs. Thus it was that, at the end of three days during which +these friendly negotiations continued (because it was impossible to +come to an agreement, or conclude them), one day at ten o'clock, on +the twenty-fourth day of the month of May of the year above mentioned, +the Indians, who were in the fort, began to discharge their artillery +at two of our ships, which were moored very near by. The master-of-camp +was ashore with eighty soldiers, close to this same fort, on a small +piece of level ground. The fort was made of palm-tree logs surmounting +a very narrow mound, and the pieces of artillery protruded from +immense gaps by which the soldiers could enter at will, as I have +said above. Now when the Moros began to violate the articles of +peace and friendship which the master-of-camp had made with them, +the latter was deeply concerned; for he had great fear, because the +enemy were in force. Yet, when he saw that the battle had broken out, +he put on his helmet, and commenced to encourage his soldiers, telling +them that they should acquit themselves as Spaniards, and as they had +always done in critical times. Thereupon he ordered them to attack +the fort through the openings made for the artillery, and it pleased +God that not one of the gunners had the courage to fire his piece; +and so great was the confusion, that they trembled upon seeing the +Spaniards enter with so great spirit, and, turning their backs, +abandoned themselves to flight, and slew one another in their mad +rush for freedom. The master-of-camp, realizing that the village was +large and rich, and that the victory was his by the grace of God, +for the soldiers were few, feared lest our soldiers should, through +greed, set to plundering the houses and become widely scattered; and +that, if the enemy should see them thus scattered, they would return +and attack them when unable to reunite. That he might avoid this +danger he ordered the village to be set on fire, and the soldiers to +collect upon the promontory, which order was obeyed. In this manner, +as related, it befell the master-of-camp, and the victory was obtained +over those of Manilla. The artillery which they possessed, and which I +have mentioned above--namely, ten or twelve medium-sized pieces and +a few culverins--was taken. On the other bank there was a village, +whose chief was named Alcandora, with whom the master-of-camp did +not wish to deal as yet, for he knew that the governor desired to +establish a settlement in this island. Therefore, as he desired that +this chief should stay where he was and do him no injury, he left him +and returned to the island of Panay, making peace and friendship, +on the way, with many villages on this same island of Luzon. Upon +reaching the island of Mindoro, and being in a river which is called +Vaco, news came to him that Juan de la Ysla had arrived from Nueva +Espana with three ships sent by the viceroy, Don Martin Enrriquez, +and with the letters which the said Juan de la Ysla was bringing +from Espana from his Majesty. News was received likewise of the +payments of money which were being made to the soldiers in the +service of his Majesty in these regions. There also came on these +ships the most reverend Father Diego de Herrera, a member of the +order of St. Augustine, who had gone hence a year before to Nueva +Espana, on business which pertained to the public welfare and to the +service of God and his Majesty. The master-of-camp, having received +the news as to these ships, made haste and arrived in the middle of +the month of June at the river of Panay, where the governor was. He +was well received by the governor and by all, although it grieved +the governor much that they had burned Manilla, for he had planned +to take up his residence in this village of Manilla, as he afterward +did. According to the story told by those who were present, it does +not seem that the master-of-camp was at fault in the burning of this +village; for he did it in order to make sure of the victory, and so +that the enemy might not return to attack him. This is my opinion, +for I regard him as a good Christian. Laying aside this question, +I shall relate the doings of the governor. + +The ships having arrived at the said island of Panay, orders were given +for all the other captains who were scattered with their companies +through the other islands to assemble. The papers and letters of +his Majesty were opened, and it was seen that it was his will for +the lands to be settled and divided among those who conquered and +subdued them. Other and greater favors were conferred by his Majesty, +who has always striven and will always strive that our Lord should +be served. The will of his Majesty having thus been revealed to the +governor, he determined to go to found a colony on the island of +Cubu, which he did, naming it El Nombre de Jesus. He left this colony +populated by forty or fifty colonists, giving them some villages and +islands in the immediate environs. From that island he returned to the +above-named island of Panay, whence he decided to sail, with the rest +of his men and all his munitions of war, to the island of Luzon. He +was detained here, however, for five or six months, during which time +the people suffered great distress from the lack of rice in the island, +because of the swarms of locusts which had prevailed for two or three +years. Therefore the father provincial preached to us each day, and +strongly urged the governor, in all his public sermons and private +conversations, that he should depart from this island and not permit +the people to suffer so great distress. Therefore, influenced by +the prayers and warnings of the said father, and because he saw that +there was reason therefor, he decided to sail out of the said river +of Panay with all his fleet and army, to settle the island of Luzon. + +Accompanied by the ships necessary for such an expedition, the governor +set sail in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-one, on +the day after Easter, taking with him the father provincial, Fray +Diego de Herrera, the master-of-camp and all the other captains, and +two hundred and thirty arquebusiers. It was on the twentieth of the +month that he set sail, and with fair weather he arrived at the island +of Mindoro with his whole fleet of twenty-six or twenty-seven ships, +large and small, including both our own and those of the natives who +came with us. He remained on that island fifteen or sixteen days, +and from thence set out for the island of Luzon, where we arrived a +week later, at the bay which I have before mentioned and on which +Manilla is situated. When the natives knew that the governor had +come with his entire force to settle upon their lands, and when they +saw him entering the bay, they set fire to their village of Manilla +(which they had rebuilt after its burning, a year before, by the +master-of-camp); and this time many of the houses were consumed and +many remained standing, while the natives crossed to the opposite +shore, to the village of Alcandora. The governor having arrived at +the port of Manylla one day in the middle of the month of May, at +two o'clock in the afternoon, Alcandora came out in a little boat to +welcome him in peace and friendship, and speak to him on behalf of Raxa +Soliman and Laya, begging that he would treat them with friendship, +and pardon them for having taken up arms the past year against the +master-of-camp. He said that on the following day they would come, +under safe conduct from him, to talk with him and make peace. The +governor received him very well, and told him through an interpreter +to retire for the night to his house and to come on the next day with +the two Raxas, saying that he would make peace with the latter, and +would treat them as sons; for he had no ill-feeling toward them, but +rather regretted that they had resisted the master-of-camp. Thus with +these assurances, Alcandora took his leave, going to his house greatly +pleased. The next day the governor disembarked in Manilla and the three +chiefs came to talk with him and declare themselves his friends. It +should not be understood in Nueva Espana or in Espana that the chiefs +in this land are absolute rulers, or that they have great authority +or power. Rather the very opposite is true, for there exist among +them the most primitive conditions to be found in any race. It often +befalls that in one village, however small it may be, there are five, +six, or ten chiefs, each of whom possesses twenty or thirty slaves, +whom he has the power to sell, or treat as he pleases. Others there +are who are called _timaguas_ (that is to say, freemen), over whom the +chiefs have no power--except that the timaguas are under obligation to +follow their own chief when war arises between the different factions; +and even this service is not compulsory and cannot be obtained by +force. As I have said, there prevails among them the utmost rudeness +and lack of harmony; so that if one says "basket," the other responds +"crossbow." He who has the most gold and riches is the greatest chief +and of the highest nobility, and is the most respected, in accordance +with the vanity and vainglory of this world. It occurs to me now that +this is borne out by the proverb current among the Spaniards, namely, +"Dost thou wish to know thy value? see what thou hast." + +These three chiefs, having become our friends, offered to bring all the +surrounding country to terms of peace with us, a thing which they did +not succeed in accomplishing, for they were not sufficiently powerful, +as I have said, each village having its own chiefs. Indeed there are +but very few chiefs who have authority over as many as two or three +villages, for the reason which I have given above. The character and +customs of these people, and their clothing, ornaments, and mode of +government I shall describe further on--that is to say, of the people +of this island of Luzon and of the other islands round about. As for +those farther away in China, we are informed by those who come from +there to trade with these islands that they are a cleanly, well-clothed +race, and of higher morals. This is worthy of some belief, on account +of the Chinese who come to these islands to trade, and whom we see +walking about, well and decently clothed. Leaving this subject for +its proper time and place, I shall continue to relate the governor's +actions after disembarking in Manilla, on the sixteenth of May of +the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-one. At the end of a +week he published an edict that, in accordance with the command of his +Majesty, he would give lands and _repartimientos_ to those who desired +to settle in the city of Manilla, which he was founding in the name +of his Majesty. Accordingly, all those who came with him, captains, +soldiers, and gentlemen, settled as citizens in this city; but up to +the present, and it is now about a year since the city was founded, +there are very few who have _repartimientos_ or even homesteads. This +is, as I have said, a very unsatisfactory manner in which this city +was founded and settled. I shall now return to relate briefly the +war with the natives, which the Spaniards have carried on even to +the present day. + +All that I have above related having taken place, it was decided to +make peace with the nearest villages, some of whom had come to beg +it from the governor, and others would not. Among those who would +not come was a village called Butas, situated on an inlet on the +other side of the river flowing past Manilla, and about a league +and a half away. This village, uniting with the others near by, sent +word that they did not wish peace or friendship with the governor; +and had the boldness to come as far as the village of Alcandora, +quite close to Manilla, whence they sent defiance to the governor and +the captains. Having endured this a number of times and having made +offers of peace, it finally became impossible to endure such insolence; +and the governor had to send the master-of-camp, with seventy soldiers +and several native leaders, by sea to fight with those Indians at their +village, where they were waiting with twenty or thirty of their boats, +with one or two culverins in each boat. He set out (after having heard +mass) on the day of the Feast of the Holy Ghost, which was the third +of the month of June in the year above mentioned. The master-of-camp, +having embarked with the soldiers, arrived at the place where the +enemy were assembled at twelve o'clock on that day. When they saw that +he was entering the port, they sailed out to attack him with their +boats (which were, as I said, twenty or thirty in number), and with +a great outcry began to fire their culverins and many arrows. It was +God's will that they caused no injury to our forces. Taking note of +the order used by the enemy, the command was given for the Spaniards +to fasten their boats by twos, and to row slowly toward the opposing +forces. When they were in close proximity, all the arquebusiers began +to shoot and to cause injuries among the enemy--who, not being able to +endure the firing, which killed many of them, began to turn their backs +and retreat to the land. When the Pintados Indians who accompanied +the master-of-camp saw the enemy in retreat, they threw themselves +into the water in pursuit, and caused great slaughter among them; for +they are bitter enemies of the natives of this island of Luzon. And +thus they attacked them on land, capturing all their boats and taking +two hundred of the natives prisoners; and later they captured two or +three hundred more. On the land there were five or six culverins in +a little fort, which was captured. In this manner were routed those +Indians, who had shown so much pride and had so little courage. On +the morning of the next day the master-of-camp came to the city with +all the booty, and divided the prisoners as slaves among the soldiers, +reserving a fifth for his Majesty. + +A few days having passed in peace and rest, there came certain Indians +who told the governor that in the province of Capanpanga there were +many densely-populated rivers; and that most of the people thereon +did not desire to have friendly relations with the Spaniards. The +master-of-camp had to go therefore upon this conquest with one hundred +soldiers. When he had entered the said province, some of the natives +retired to forts which they had built, and tried to resist him. He +routed them, and took from them some culverins in their possession +and they were left pacified. While he was subjugating this province, +there came news that two ships had arrived from Nueva Espana, sent by +the viceroy Don Martin Enrriquez, with a reenforcement of one hundred +soldiers, under the captaincy of Juan Lopez de Aguirre. The governor +thereupon ordered the master-of-camp to go to Panay, to send the said +ships to this port of Manilla, and to bring back his wife, who was +in Cubu. In consideration of this service the first _repartimiento_ +in this island and a river called Bonbon was allotted to him. + +At this same time of which we have spoken, there came down from up +the river which flows by Manilla, several chiefs of a village named +Caynta, to proclaim themselves friends of the governor. This said +village had about a thousand inhabitants, and was surrounded by very +tall and very dense bamboo thickets, and fortified with a wall and a +few small culverins. The same river as that of Manilla circles around +the village and a branch of it passes through the middle dividing it in +two sections. Now when they had made their declarations of friendship +to the Spaniards, and saw our situation and condition in Manilla, +they came to think lightly of us; and, after their departure to their +village, sent word that they did not care to be friends, but would +rather fight with the governor and his men. They said that, if the +Spaniards would come up the river for this purpose, they would see how +the people of Caynta would hurl them from their lands. The governor +gave them a month or two to return to their allegiance, and sent +certain friendly Indians to treat with them; but no conclusion could +be reached until the governor sent his nephew Juan de Sauzedo with one +hundred soldiers to conquer them, or rather to destroy them. During +this interim there arrived the two ships coming from Nueva Espana, +which had been lying in port in the island of Panay. I have already +told above how the master-of-camp had gone to order them to come to +this port of Manilla. On the fifteenth of August, the day of the +Assumption of our Lady, they arrived; and on the same day Captain +Juan de Sauzedo embarked in a galley, with his hundred soldiers and +three pieces of heavy artillery, to go to the fort of Caynta. He +ascended the river for three days before he reached the fort. After +his arrival, the captain, following out the orders of the governor, +waited three days longer, summoning them to return to the terms of +peace and friendship with the Spaniards which had been arranged with +the governor at Manilla. The ill-fated creatures were intractable, +on account of the confidence which they had in their miserable fort; +and for response told the captain that they desired to fight. They +called upon their hearers as witnesses of the fact, saying that on the +day of the battle it would be seen that their God was better than the +one worshiped by the Castilians. This latter statement was shown to +be a falsehood; for God our Lord was vindicated, and they and their +demons, whom they call gods, and worship, were proved liars. Thus +on the third day, when the period set for summoning them had passed, +the captain prepared his men; and, leaving the galley and the three +pieces of artillery in a bend in the river with sufficient men, made +a detour with the rest, and, on the side where the fort appeared the +weakest, they entered. As they were entering, the enemy killed two +men with a very small culverin which they had; and another man they +pierced through his coat of mail and all with a lance of fire-hardened +palm-wood, so that there were three dead. I have already said at the +beginning of this relation that the lances of palm-wood are harder +than iron. The fort having been entered, as I have told, the enemy +made no resistance after the Spaniards were within. Whoever was able +to flee to save his life fled, and of the Indians there were slain, +men and women, four hundred persons. The rest who had escaped came +thereupon, and made terms of peace and friendship. The fort and all +the bamboo thickets surrounding it were destroyed, and the people +are today very humble and submissive. There were found in this fort +but four culverins. Their having artillery, and the source of their +knowledge of casting it, I shall state in a few words, for I forgot +to do so at the beginning. According to the natives of the province +of Capanpanga and Manilla, there were two Spaniards, from the first +fleets which came to this land, who had been captives among them. One +of these was a Fleming, the other a Vizcayan; and from them they +learned to cast artillery. I do not affirm this, although, as I say, +the natives make this assertion. I am inclined rather to the belief +that they have learned it from the Moros of Burney, with whom they had +dealings. The fort of Caynta was destroyed, as I have related. This +fort or village was very near a great lake of fresh water located +about four leagues from the city of Manylla. It was reputed to be +very large and thickly populated along the shores; but it is not +one tenth so thickly populated as they say. With regard to the lake, +I shall state what it is like, for I have gone all around it afoot, +and seeing gives authority. It is more than twelve leagues long and +two wide, and is fresh. Its freshness is caused by the fact that +a great number of streams enter it, and only two flow from it; and +for this reason also it is very deep, because much water enters and +there is but little outflow. The villages about this lake, containing +about twenty-four or twenty-six thousand men, were pacified by the +captain Juan de Sauzedo. From here the latter crossed with sixty men +to the opposite coast of this island, in quest of some mines which +the natives had told him were very rich and abounding in gold. The +galley was left in the lake above mentioned. These mines are on the +opposite coast of this island, which is the northeastern, and the +natives call them the mines of Paracali. [44] When the captain had +arrived at the mines with his soldiers, who had suffered much on the +march because it was in the wet season, they found them excellent +and very rich, and more than thirty or forty estados in depth. The +natives were afraid and did not await the coming of the Spaniards. Some +of the soldiers complained also that the captain conducted himself +badly. And thus they returned having lost by death four soldiers, +among whom was the sergeant Juan Ramos, newly come to this land. I +believe, according to reports, that possession of these mines will +be taken, and the whole coast thereabout conquered--for it is a very +rich land--if our Lord will it and give his divine sanction thereto, +for here we are gaining little profit. + +I have told above how the master-of-camp had gone to Cubu for his +wife; arriving there, he returned with her to this city. There was +a river in the province of Capanpanga, named Vites, the inhabitants +of which refused to be friends of the Spaniards; they were reputed +to be very powerful. The master-of-camp had to take upon this +expedition one hundred and fifty soldiers, and was accompanied by +a native guide from the same river who was an Indian chief hostile +to the natives of Vites. This man had come to the Spaniards with +the offer to conduct them into Vites in perfect safety, without any +danger whatever; and this he did, getting the master-of-camp and the +hundred and fifty soldiers with him into the place. When the natives +saw the Spaniards so safely within their gates and at their fort, +they surrendered themselves in peace and friendship and destroyed +their fort. All the other villages round about came to offer their +friendship; and thus we gained possession of this stronghold, which, +by reason of the reports of the natives, was regarded as somewhat +dangerous--but there was no more resistance experienced from it than +what I have related. With this expedition was ended the last of the +wars which have been waged in this island and in that of Mindoro, +the most important being written in this relation. + +I shall now give my attention to the treatment of certain facts with +regard to the natives of this land, simply telling their manner of +living, dressing, and dealing with one another. I shall describe +a few things which I have seen as to the idols worshiped by them, +and shall not enlarge upon other details. + +In the first place, the men are of medium size, and dark. They wear +their hair clipped short, like the Spaniards. They wear a little +cloth headdress and a small piece of cloth to conceal their private +parts. From the belt upward, some wear a short doublet of coarse +material, with half-sleeves and open in front. There is no manner of +footwear. Among them the manner of dress and ornamentation is very +indecent. The women are exceedingly ugly and most indecent. They clothe +themselves with a piece of cloth hanging down from the belt, and a +very small doublet, so that their bellies are left exposed. They can +only be compared to mares glutted with hay. They have no personality or +rank whatever, and eat and drink most vulgarly. There is no difference +between the chief and his slave, or between the slave and his master, +in the matter of eating and drinking. + +As for their sacrifices, each one of the natives, so far as I have +seen, has in his house many idols, to whom they pray. They call +God, _Batala_, and the chief idol which they have is thus named; +but others call him _Diobata_ [45]--at least among the Pintados +they give him this name. The natives of this island usually call +him Batala, and even consider him God of all creation. Accordingly, +after the religious came to this land and commenced to preach the +faith of Jesus Christ, and to baptize, the natives have not known +how to give any other name in their language to God our Lord, except +that of Batala. They are people easily converted to the faith, and +in the short time while those religious have been in this island, +they have gathered much fruit and have baptized many people--men, +women and children, who have all been baptized without any chief or +native Indian of this land denying our faith. Quite to the contrary, +if they are questioned in regard to it, and preached to about it, they +say that it is very sacred and very good. Returning to the discussion +of the way in which they conduct their feasts, it is as follows. + +When any chief is ill, he invites his kindred and orders a great +meal to be prepared, consisting of fish, meat, and wine. When the +guests are all assembled and the feast set forth in a few plates on +the ground inside the house, they seat themselves also on the ground +to eat. In the midst of the feast (called _manganito_ or _baylan_ in +their tongue), they put the idol called Batala and certain aged women +who are considered as priestesses, and some aged Indians--neither more +nor less. They offer the idol some of the food which they are eating, +and call upon him in their tongue, praying to him for the health of +the sick man for whom the feast is held. The natives of these islands +have no altars nor temples whatever. This _manganito_, or drunken +revel, to give it a better name, usually lasts seven or eight days; +and when it is finished they take the idols and put them in the +corners of the house, and keep them there without showing them any +reverence. As I have said, they all, from the least to the greatest, +eat and drink to the point of losing their senses. In the villages +nearest the sea some do not eat pork, the reason for their not eating +it, which I have already given, being that, in trading with the Moros +of Burney, the latter have preached to them some part of the nefarious +doctrine of Mahoma, charging them not to eat pork. In this they act +most childishly, and when, by chance any of them are asked why they +do not eat it, they say that they do not know why; and if one asks +them who Mahoma was and what his law commands, they say that they do +not know the commandment or anything about Mahoma, not even his name; +nor do they know what his law is, nor whence it came. It is true that +some of them who have been in Burney understand some of it, and are +able to read a few words of the Alcoran; but these are very few, and +believe that he who has not been in Burney may eat pork, as I have +heard many of them say. They swear by the sun and by the moon, and +all the islands have this oath in common--a fact that I have noticed +since our coming to this land. It does not seem to me that they are +accustomed to worship animals, stars, clouds, or other things which +many idolatrous pagans are wont to adore. I believe, nevertheless, +that they have many other customs with regard to sacrifices and +witchcraft, for they actually practice these; but there is little +advantage in wasting the time or burdening the mind therewith, for any +rational person will be able to understand sufficiently the rest after +reading what is herein written. Among them, up to the present day, +I have not observed any sin against nature, which is saying a great +deal of so uncivilized a race; yet with regard to their treatment +of women, they are so vicious and licentious that any race whatever +might excel them, and this is no insignificant evil and sin. Their +custom in taking wives is the following. + +Whoever is the richest and has the most gold also has the most wives, +and offends most God. There is a law among these natives which is +not bad--namely, that however many wives a man has, among them all he +regards one as his legitimate wife; and if, when he dies, he has no +children by this woman, the children of the others do not inherit. In +illustration of the truth of this, one may cite the death of Laya, +whom I have already mentioned. When this man died, a Christian, he had +no children by his legitimate wife, and although he had many by his +other wives, they did not inherit; therefore his property descended +to a legitimate nephew of his. It is true, however, that the bastard +children may deprive them of their property. I have above shown the +characteristics and mode of government among these natives. They do +not care to know more than that they are Indians, like all the other +Indians. The chiefs are but slightly distinguished in dress from +the slaves and freemen. Both women and men wear anklets of gold, and +bracelets upon their arms. In regard to the wars waged between them +and the Spaniards hitherto, I have already told the principal exploits +of captains and soldiers among them. I have already designated the +captains who have achieved the most noted deeds in this conquest; and +nothing further will be found. If it were necessary to give proof by +calling upon all who are in this land, I would be ready to do that. As +to what has taken place among the Pintados and among the Portuguese, +my relation does not concern itself therewith; but I claim that the +most important events which have occurred on these islands, touching +the relations between the natives and the Spaniards, are those related +and declared by me. As for the Portuguese, I shall say only that +the Spaniards have shown great fidelity and bravery in the service +of his Majesty, although they never came to a hand-to-hand struggle +with the Portuguese--except in a few ambuscades, where they took some +captives, as has been written at great length by many chroniclers who +live here. May God grant that they write the truth; for, as far as I +can learn, very little credit can be given them except in the case of +father Fray Diego de Herrera and Fray Martin de Herrada, who, being +religious and strongly attached to the service of God and the public +good, will write the whole truth; and yet I do not believe that they +will interest themselves in secular affairs. Now that I have written +the customs and practices of the natives of these islands, I shall +make a few remarks on the Indians of China, for I had begun to state +them before. I said that they come to trade with the natives and the +Spaniards of this island of Luzon as well as to all the islands in +this region, to import and sell silk stuffs, very good cotton robes, +and other small articles, very neat and similar in make and style +to those worn by them. As I began to say above, both men and women +are vigorous and light complexioned. I say women, for some are to be +found living in this island of Luzon. These Chinese live among these +natives because they have fled from their own country, on account +of certain events which took place there. They brought their wives +with them; all of them, both men and women, number about one hundred +and fifty. They became Christians after coming here. They are a very +unassuming and modest people; they clothe themselves with long robes +of cotton cloth and with silk. They wear wide breeches, and sleeves +and stockings, like the Spaniards. They are a very ingenious and +cleanly people. This, is in brief what we have seen. They wear their +hair very long, men as well as women, tied up and well arranged upon +their heads. I have treated thus far of various matters; I come now +to speak of the fertility of these islands, of what is gathered and +sown in them, mainly with regard to those in which I have been. + +The island of Mindanao is very large and poorly populated, at least +in the part in which I have been, which is from the river of Butuan +to the cape of Calamita, about eighty leagues along the coast. It is +an extremely rough country. The natives there obtain very pure gold, +for the mines are numerous and very rich. The cape of Caahuite, +located in this island, and where cinnamon is gathered, lies in +five degrees of latitude, and is toward the southeast. It is a very +unhealthy country. As I remarked above, I have been at that cape. From +the cape to the river Grande de Mindanao, the distance is about sixty +leagues. We were very near this river of Mindanao with the small boat +of the flagship which was lost in the Ladrones. Up to the present day +none of the Spaniards of our number who were in that ship, have been +in that river. Near this cape there is an island called Taguima, +[46] and between the island and the said cape the vessels of the +Portuguese pass on their way to Maluco for cloves. Therefore if +the king our lord take Maluco for his own (for people say that his +Majesty has a right to it), the ships sent out will be able to carry +out two commissions in one voyage, taking on a cargo of cloves and +of cinnamon, for Maluco lies in the course, and is a very good port, +where they must of necessity touch. I have called attention to what I +have seen in this island. Finally, I shall now speak of all the others +which are on terms of peace, at least as far as concerns those where +the Spaniards have been. The second is the island of Negros, which is +absolutely peaceful. It contains about twenty thousand inhabitants, +and is divided among the Spaniards who remained in Cubu. There are +said to be gold mines there. Next is the said island of Cubu, which +is poorly populated. Between these three islands there are many +insignificant islets, some of them inhabited and some not. These I +shall not mention, in order to avoid prolixity, but in all of them +there are mines. Farther to the northwest from Cubu are Baybay, Bayugo, +Abuyo, Cavalian, Tandaya, Barciogama, and other islets, among these +which I have mentioned. They are divided among the same citizens of +Cubu. Very few of them have peaceable inhabitants. With them as with +the others, it is best to bring about peace in these islands. Rice, +cotton, great numbers of swine and fowls, wax, and honey are produced +there in great abundance. There are many mines, as has been shown, and +the natives say that they are well populated. There is gold in all of +these islands; but the most important thing is wanting, Spanish people +to colonize them. There remains to the west the island of Panay, which +was very populous and fertile, and yielded great abundance of rice, +swine, fowls, wax, and honey. The natives say that there are gold +mines in this island; and, since they say it, it must be true. The +gold found there is very pure. When the governor was in that island +there fell upon it--because of our sins and those of the natives, +or God knows what--an extremely great plague of locusts, which has +lasted three years and still continues. No field is sown which they +do not destroy. A great famine and pestilence have sprung up among +the natives of that island, so that more than half of them have died; +and they will continue to die until God our Lord is pleased to remove +his anger from over it. From that island to the island of Luzon it is +about sixty leagues, and in the course is that of Mindoro. This is an +island where much wax and honey is produced. It contains many gold +mines, and rivers where gold is gathered. I have been all about it; +on the farther coast, which is to the south, it is well populated, +while on the northern coast is the village called Mindoro, as well as +other thickly-populated rivers. Those who have not seen it or set foot +upon it say that it contains about eight thousand men. I shall dare +to affirm from what I have seen of it that it has more than fifteen +thousand. It is very near the island of Luzon. Between this island +and the others above named, lie many small islets, which are friendly, +although they have but small populations. As I say, next is the island +of Luzon, where the governor resides now, and which was settled in the +manner above related. This island is thickly populated and large. The +greater and better part of it is still to be conquered, I would say +from what I have seen of the villages and land. It does not seem to +me that there will be any more resistance from any of them when they +learn of the advantages of friendship with the Spaniards; for they +have already been informed of the way in which those are treated +who resist. To the present time, all that has been explored in this +island is about fifty or sixty leagues along the coast from Manilla +to Yvalon, [47] which is the landing-place for the ships sailing to +Nueva Spana. On the farther coast, to the north, nothing is explored +except the mines of Paracali, which were discovered by Captain Juan +de Sauzedo when crossing from Manilla to the other sea with sixty +men, as I have told above. Near these mines there is a large and +thickly-populated river called Bico. [48] According to the reports of +the natives, all of it is thickly populated. This island extends a long +distance from Manilla toward the west. Toward the south is a province +called Yloquio, which is said to be very rich in gold mines; but the +Spaniards have not seen it as yet. The natives have not been able to +say how far this island extends in longitude. I have already said that +all of it is thickly populated, and that it has a great abundance of +rice, fowls, and swine, as well as great numbers of buffaloes, deer, +wild boars, and goats; it also produces great quantities of cotton and +colored cloths, wax, and honey; and date palms abound. In conclusion, +it is very well supplied with all the things above mentioned, and +many others which I shall not enumerate. It is the largest island +which has thus far been discovered in these regions. As I say, it is +well populated and very rich in gold mines. There is much trade with +China. That part of it which has thus far been conquered and pacified, +the governor has begun to allot to the conquerors. + +I could write many other things about this land, and the conditions +existing in it; but I omit them, in order to avoid prolixity. Therefore +I bring the present relation to a close, to the honor and glory of +our Lord Jesus Christ, the one and everlasting God, Father, Son, and +Holy Spirit, and of the glorious Virgin Mary, our Lady, in the year +one thousand five hundred and seventy-two, in this city of Manilla, +on the twentieth day of the month of April. + + + + +Foundation of the City of Manila + + +I, Hernando Riquel, notary-in-chief and governmental notary for his +Majesty in these islands of the West, do hereby certify most solemnly, +to whomsoever shall see this present, that the most illustrious +Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, governor and captain-general in these said +islands, gave the title of city to this colony of Manila, on the third +day of the month of June of the past year, seventy-one; and on the +twenty-fourth day of the same month and year, which was St. John's day, +he appointed two _alcaldes_ in ordinary, one _alguacil-mayor_, and +twelve _regidores_; and on the day following he appointed one notary +for the _cabildo_ and two notaries public for the court of the said +_alcaldes_, [49] as is set forth in greater detail, and appears by the +list of the said appointments, which are in my possession. Therefore, +that this might be manifest, I have been ordered by the aforesaid +governor to draw up the present document; which is done in the said +city of Manilla, on the nineteenth day of the month of June, in the +year one thousand five hundred and seventy-two. + +_Fernando Riquel_ + +[_Endorsed_: "June 19, 1572. Copy of the [notarial record of the] +bestowal on Manilla of the title of city, and the establishment +of alcaldes and regidores." _And, in another hand_: "For the first +article of the 7th, consult the viceroy."] + + + + +Documents of 1573 + + + + Expenses of expedition to Western Islands, 1569-72. Melchior + de Legazpi; March 2. + Affairs in the Philippines, after the death of Legazpi. Guido + de Lavezaris; June 29. + Relation of the Western Islands, called Filipinas. Diego + de Artieda. + Letter from the viceroy of New Spain to Felipe II. Martin + Enriquez; December 5. + + + +_Sources_: The first two documents are from MSS. in the Archivo de +Indias at Sevilla; the third, from a MS. in the Museo-Biblioteca de +Ultramar, Madrid, collated with another copy at Sevilla; the fourth +is taken from _Cartas de Indias_ (Madrid, 1877). + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by James A. Robertson; +the second, by Arthur B. Myrick; the third, by Alfonso de Salvio; +the fourth, by Francis W. Snow. + + + + +Expenses Incurred for the Expedition to the Western Islands 1569-72 + + +I, Melchior de Legazpi, chief accountant for his Majesty in this Nueva +Espana, hereby certify that from the original books and orders for +payment pertaining to his royal accountancy, now in my possession, +it appears that from the twelfth of February of the year five hundred +and sixty-nine--when the _alcalde_ Bernardino de Albornoz entered +upon his duties as royal treasurer in this Nueva Espana--until the +end of December in the year five hundred and seventy-two, there has +been audited and paid from his royal chest (the three keys of which +are in charge of the treasurer of the royal estate) the sum of three +hundred and twelve thousand one hundred and seventy-six _pesos_, +seven _tomines_, and eight grains of common gold, each _peso_ of the +value of eight _reals_. [50] This sum includes whatever pertains to +the expedition of the Western Islands--for the crews and outfits of +the royal ships that were built to send aid to the said islands; the +tackle, food, and necessary armament for the said ships; the wages +of the soldiers and mariners sailing therein, besides the wages of +the sailors who have been serving in that capacity in the said Western +Islands since before the years above mentioned, and those of other men; +the furnishing of provisions to those who for the said time have been +engaged in the work of preparing and despatching the said vessels; +and the gunpowder, artillery, military supplies, and other necessary +articles sent in the vessels to his Majesty's camp, established in +the said islands in his royal name. All this is as set forth in detail +in the said books of his Majesty's accountancy, to which I refer. + +In certification of the above, and in order that by the same it may +be manifest, I give the present--by command of the most excellent +Don Martin Enrriquez, viceroy, governor, and captain-general for his +Majesty in this Nueva Espana--in duplicate, in Mexico, on the second +day of March in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-three. + +_Melchior de Legazpi_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Expenses incurred by the royal estate for the expedition +to the Western Islands in the years dlxjx. lxx. lxxij."] + + + + +Affairs in the Philippines After the Death of Legazpi + + +Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty: + +When I came to these islands in company with the general Miguel +Lopez de Legazpi, I gave your Majesty an account of the events of +the expedition. Since then I have not done so, understanding that +the governor sent word by every ship, as was proper, how affairs were +going here. Now was our Lord pleased to take him from this life, and I, +being treasurer of the royal exchequer, succeeded him in the office +by a royal provision, emanating from the royal _Audiencia_ of Nueva +Espana. To make myself better understood, your Majesty perhaps knows +that in the year forty-two, I came to these regions as accountant, +with General Villalobos, who sailed from Nueva Espana, sent out by +the viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoca. I was in the Maluco Islands, +and went thence to Yndia and from there to Espana and Nueva Espana, +to inform your viceroy of the success of the expedition. I brought +with me from Yndia the ginger root, which has grown so well in Nueva +Espana. Don Antonio de Mendoca sent me to Espana to inform your Majesty +of the proceedings that should be taken in this discovery. After that +mission, I returned with your Majesty's despatch to Nueva Espana, +where they were commencing to build the ships and fleet in which +General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came for the discovery of these +islands. In his company, I passed thither, for the second time, in +the year sixty-four--serving your Majesty as treasurer of your royal +exchequer until, as I have said, Miguel Lopez died, on the twentieth +of August in last year, seventy-two. + +In a chest was found the royal decree, by which, in your +Majesty's name, he enjoyed and exercised his office as governor and +captain-general. Before his death, the said Miguel Lopez had founded, +on the island of Cubu, where we first resided, a city called El +Santisimo Nombre de Jesus ["the most holy name of Jesus,"] because of +an image of the child Jesus that we found there. Here in this island +of Lucon, he founded the city of Manilla, where from that time until +his death he resided, with all his people. He had commenced to levy +taxes, and was assigning _repartimientos_ in the islands and towns +that were being pacified; and I am now doing the same. This island of +Lucon is large and well populated. The greater part of it has been +explored and reduced to your Majesty's service. On account of the +lack of men, and the little time that we have spent here, we have +not been able to investigate everything. The land contains many rich +gold mines. The natives in general acquire, possess, and trade great +quantities of gold. The country abounds in provisions--rice, wine, +fish, hogs, Castilian fowls, and wild buffaloes; in short, it is so +well provided that it can maintain many Spanish settlements, which will +produce good fruit, both spiritual and temporal. Ships from China come +to trade at many ports of this island. It is understood as certain +that the mainland is very near us, less than two hundred leagues; +so that, if we are reenforced, I hope in our Lord that much fruit +and service will result to God and your Majesty. For reenforcements +have come to this island so slowly that, in eight years, only seven +hundred soldiers have arrived; and, moreover, when some arrive others +are dead as a result of the hardships and distress that have been +encountered. Nevertheless, our Lord indeed be praised for having +given us, now and in the future, greater repose in a larger land. + +Of the natives of this island, some are Moros and Mahometans, +especially those living near the coast. Those in the interior are +pagans. Their arms are numerous and good, namely: culverins, large +and small; lances, daggers, and arrows poisoned with herbs. They +wear corselets of buffalo-hide and of twisted and knotted rope, and +carry shields or bucklers. They are accustomed to fortify themselves +in strong positions, where they mount their artillery and archery, +surrounding them outside with ditches full of water, so that they seem +very strong. But our Lord (who assists us, because his holy faith is +at stake) has always given us the victory, to his and your Majesty's +honor and glory. + +The Chinese have come here on trading expeditions, since our arrival, +for we have always tried to treat them well. Therefore during the two +years that we have spent on this island, they have come in greater +numbers each year, and with more ships; and they come earlier than +they used to, so that their trade is assured to us. Those that come +here are, like the people of this land, almost naked, on account of +the hot climate. They do not bring to sell the silks and beautiful +things that they take to Malaca. They say that, if there were any one +to buy them, they would bring all we wanted; and so, since trading with +the Spaniards, they bring each year better and much richer wares. If +merchants would come from Nueva Espana, they might enrich themselves, +and increase the royal customs in these parts--both through trade and +through the mines, the richness and number of which are well-known +to us. + +Your Majesty knows how antagonistic the Portuguese are in everything +here. When they can do us no harm in their own persons, they try to +do so through others. Last year Chinese vessels came to this city +to trade and told us how the Portuguese haa asked them not to trade +with us, because we were robbers and came to steal and commit other +depredations, so that these people wonder not a little if this be +true. As the treatment accorded to the Chinese neutralizes these +reports, more vessels came this year than last, and each year more +will come. I advise your Majesty of this, because it is better to have +certain peace or open war with the Portuguese, and not to be uncertain, +and not to have them trying to harm us at a distance. Every year we +are disturbed by fears of their coming. This year I had news from +Moro merchants, who came from the island of Borney, that last year +their king had collected a large fleet to descend upon us. After +having embarked, he gave up for the time the voyage because of +the severe storms; but gave out that he would return this year and +bring the Portuguese with him. I exerted myself to get together the +Spaniards, who were pacifying these islands and had the island of +Borney reconnoitred in two parts, by oared vessels of the sort that +the natives use. I instructed them that if they could get any of +the Moros from Borney, they should bring them, in order to get at +the truth; and so they did. The people whom I sent for this purpose +arrived near Borney, and because they did not dare bring small boats +near the island itself, they halted about eight leagues from it, +and captured six Moros. By these I was informed that the coming of +the king of Borney was uncertain, and that he lives in great privacy +and prudence, keeping himself informed about us. With the people that +I sent for this purpose was a pilot, who had mapped the islands and +lands that he saw on the way. He said that it was about two hundred +leagues to the west from here to Borney. With this relation I send your +Majesty the map of this island, and of those near Borney and China. + +Last year, seventy-two, the governor Miguel Lopez despatched two ships +to Nueva Espana a few days before his death; but, as it was late when +they started, and the weather bad, they could not that year make the +voyage. They came back, therefore, much disabled and disordered. After +the death of the governor, who had made liberal provision for their +repair and [the MS. is torn here] rigging and pitch, which it has +been no little trouble to find. This year, therefore, God willing, +three ships will go, so that they may not for lack of vessels neglect +to send reenforcements. + +Since the death of the governor, Miguel Lopez, I have had made from +the gold that has been brought and given by the natives as tribute +and service, some jewels, which I send to your royal Majesty and to +the Queen our mistress, with some specimens of the articles brought +by the Chinese. These two ships now carry one hundred and thirty-six +marcos [51] of gold, just as it was obtained from the natives who +gave it as tribute. I hope in our Lord, that henceforth your Majesty +will be better served with the first fruits of this land. I am also +sending to Nueva Espana three hundred and seventy-two _quintals_ +of cinnamon, which I had brought from the island of Vindanao, where +there is a great quantity of it. There is no longer any necessity +for the Portuguese to export hereafter any more cinnamon into your +Majesty's kingdoms and seigniories; because a greater quantity can be +brought from these districts than can be sold in Europe, if ships are +supplied. I am sending also to Nueva Espana shoots of the cinnamon +and pepper trees, so that they may be planted there and benefit +your Majesty. I have also sent previously a tamarind tree, and have +been informed that it is already bearing fruit in Nueva Espana. I +have tried to have some rigging for the ships made on this island, +because what is brought from Nueva Espana is completely rotten and +useless, and for want of rigging the vessels have many times been +unable to sail. God has been pleased that we should succeed in our +endeavors--a thing that will be of great service in the despatching +of the fleets that your Majesty will cause to be constructed here. I +have also procured pitch for the same purpose; and, although there is +not much of it, what has been discovered will be of great assistance. + +The baptism of the natives steadily continues, and they are being +received into our holy faith and religion. I hope in our Lord that +the spiritual and temporal good will continue to increase day by day, +to the glory of our Lord and to your Majesty's honor. It will conduce +much to the conversion of these natives to have some religious of +the society of Jesus, and friars of the order of St. Francis, come +to these districts; because it has a most edifying influence upon the +covetous disposition of these barbarians, to see that those fathers do +not receive or have anything to do with money--which will be a good +example for them. May your Majesty provide in this regard according +to your pleasure, for it would certainly greatly rejoice everyone to +see those holy people here. + +As the labors that have been endured and are being endured in this +expedition are prolonged and heavy, it has happened that many of +the _encomenderos_ [52] to whom _repartimientos_ were given have +died. Understanding that it will be for the good of your Majesty's +service, I have reapportioned and am reapportioning the Indians, +as is done in Gautemala and other parts of the Indies. I beg your +Majesty to favor this and send confirmation of it, because in no +other way can this island be maintained for the present. + +I send to beg your Majesty to grant me favor regarding certain +petitions made in my own name. I am confident of receiving this as from +a lord and prince so magnanimous that he will take into account that I +have busied myself almost all my life in your royal service. So also +those who have served your Majesty in these regions send, severally +and jointly, to beg your Majesty to reward them, having recourse to +your Majesty as to a fountain of all liberality, all being confident +of receiving what they ask, as they are continually receiving favors. + +Martin de Goiti has served and serves your Majesty in this country +in the capacity of master-of-camp. With great faith and diligence has +he served, and serves, notwithstanding his age or sufferings. On the +contrary, he is just as ready today to undergo hardship as he was the +first day. So on account of his qualities and his experience in warlike +matters and the Christian spirit which he shows in all dealings with +the natives, and the fidelity and truth that has always been found +in him, I recommend him in general terms to the most important office +in your Majesty's service. I most humbly beg you that all favors may +be granted him, because he is worthy and deserving of them. + +Juan de Salcedo, grandson of the governor Miguel Lopez, has served +and serves your Majesty in these districts in the capacity of captain +of infantry. He is one who has exerted and does exert himself in +whatever he has been commanded--not only in the conquests, discoveries, +and pacification of these islands, but in everything else that has +occurred and occurs from day to day in your Majesty's service. In all +of these, and in expeditions of great importance entrusted to him in +this land, he has given a very good account of himself. He merits, +and it is fitting that your Majesty should resolve to grant him, +some favor. In paying his grandfather's debts and for the repose of +his soul, he has spent all his possessions. What the governor left +was but little, and did not suffice for this, because he had spent +his income in helping some poor soldiers, and in other matters of +your Majesty's service, and was therefore poor and needy. + +The governor, Miguel Lopez, in this city of Manila appointed in +your Majesty's royal name certain _regidores_ to serve as long as +it should be your Majesty's pleasure. I did the same in the town +of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus. [53] The said governor changed the +_cabildo_ of the said town at the end of the year, and I believe +would have done the like in this city, had he lived; because I +assure your Majesty that it is a thing of great inconvenience and +disturbance to have perpetual _regidores_. The _regidores_ in this +city from its foundation discharged their duties little more than a +year, during which time there were among them parties and factions; +as a result of this, the governor, seeing certain of them maltreat or +affront one of the _alcaldes_-in-ordinary in the town-hall, sent two +of the said _regidores_ with the record of their trial, referred to +your royal _Audiencia_ in Nueva Espana. I removed the said _cabildo_, +and appointed new _regidores_, as in the first town. And so I think +it a matter very important to your Majesty's service that, for the +present, there should be no perpetual _regidores_ in these parts, +but those who are elected annually; because in this way they will do +their duties well, understanding that the office is to last but a short +time. On the contrary, they will, if elected in perpetuity, become +careless, as experience shows. I advise your Majesty of this so that +if perpetuity of these offices is demanded, you may do what seems best. + +After the departure of these ships if it be our Lord's will, I shall +continue the _repartimiento_ of this land, in those places discovered +by Captain Juan de Salcedo and the master-of-camp in this island of +Luzon, on the coast of Yloco; for it would be impossible for this +fleet to sustain itself in any other way, on account of the great +privation and poverty endured in the past and present by the soldiers, +especially since they are not now permitted to make raids. These were +wont to be made formerly, in order to support themselves; but they +proved of great harm and prejudice to the natives; and by them God +our Lord, and your Majesty were not served. With this remedy these +evils cease. Everything will be done which is thought most suitable +for the service of your Majesty, and the support of this your camp +and fleet. May our Lord for many and fortunate years guard and prosper +your Majesty's state with increase of greater kingdoms and seigniories, +as we, your Majesty's faithful vassals, desire. Manila, June 29, 1573. + +Your Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty's faithful vassal and most humble +servant, who kisses your royal feet. [54] + +_Guido de Lavezaris_ + + + + + +Relation of the Western Islands Called Filipinas + + +(Captain Artieda, who went to those islands for the king, wrote this +relation.) [55] + +Nueva Espana has two ports in the South Sea. That which is called +Acapulco is [very] good and can give shelter to many ships, no matter +how large they may be; it is in seventeen and one-half degrees of north +latitude. The other is called Puerto de la Navidad; its entrance is +shallow, and it can therefore give shelter to small ships only. It is +in nineteen and one-third degrees of north latitude. From whichever +of these ports one goes to [any of] the Western Islands, the best +route is to sail strictly in the latitude in which lies the island +that one wishes to reach; for in the season of the _brisas_, which is +the right time to make the voyage, favorable stern winds are never +wanting. The season for the _brisas_ lasts from the end of October +to the end of April. From the end of April to the end of October +the _vendavals_ blow, [56] which will be of help on the way back; +but let it be remembered that he who wishes to return ought to take +a higher degree of latitude, because there the winds will not fail him. + +In view of your Majesty's command and orders from Don Luis de Velasco, +viceroy of Nueva Espana, the expedition commanded by Miguel Lopes +de Legaspi has discovered since November twenty-first, 1564, the +following islands to the west, in the South Sea: + +North-southwest from Puerto de la Navidad, in about ten degrees of +north latitude, and at a distance of eleven hundred and twenty leagues, +were found some islands running east and west. The inhabitants +were dressed in a sort of cloth made of thin palm-bark. The men +wore long beards, and for that reason the islands received the name +of Barbudos. [57] No weapons were found among them, from which we +can infer that they are a peaceful people, and that they had never +come into conflict with other men. They live on cocoanuts, roots, +and fish. It was learned that they kept some Castilian fowls. These +islands may be about one hundred and seventy-five leagues from Nueba +Espana [S: Nueva Guinea]. + +[Further west by a distance of four hundred leagues lie the +islands called Chamurres or Ladrones, which, according to report, +number thirteen islands. The largest of all is not forty leagues +in circumference. They are all alike in appearance, trade, and +food products. I have seen but the island of Guahan. Their weapons +consist of slings and clubs hardened in fire, which they use instead of +lances. They hurl stones to so great a distance with their slings, that +they are beyond range of the arquebuses. They live on rice, bananas, +cocoanuts, roots, and fish. They have great quantities of ginger.] + +Further west is the island of Mindanao, with a circuit of three +hundred and fifty leagues. It is in its greatest measurements one +hundred and forty leagues long, and sixty leagues wide. The northern +promontory juts out between the two rivers of Butuan and Zurigan, +famous for their gold, although the Spaniards who went there were +able to find but little--or, to be more accurate, none. According to +what I have learned, all the gold mines of this island are so poor +that the natives offer their labor for a gold _maes_ [58] or three +reals per month. In this island cinnamon grows. I believe that, +if good order be established there, we shall be able to barter for +eight hundred _quintals_, and even [one thousand] [59] for a year +of this article; for I was present at the barter of that which was +lost with the flagship. In one month we bartered for more than six +hundred _quintals_ of cinnamon at three reals per _quintal_, this +money being reckoned in iron of that land. This island contains +pitch. [I do not declare here the trade, rites, clothing, weapons, +and food of this island, because many others are just like it; and I +will place this information at the end of these islands, in order to +avoid prolixity.] The middle of the island lies in fully seven and +one-third degrees of north latitude. + +Northeast of Mindanao is another island called Tandaya. There are +certain rocky islands with an island called San Lorenzo in their +midst. The fact of their being small and uninhabited does not debar +anyone who wishes from finding them on the chart. Tantaya has a +circuit of one hundred and forty leagues, and is almost triangular +in shape. [The clothing, weapons, rites, and food of this people +are the same as that above.] Its center lies in fully twelve degrees +north latitude. + +Nearer the island of Mindanao than the above-named, and extending in a +north and south direction ten leagues from the point of Mindanao, is +another island called Baybay. It has a circumference of ninety-eight +leagues, and forms a strait on the east with the island of Tandaya, +less than a league wide; and another on the south with a very small +island, called "Panae the little," [60] through which strait one cannot +pass, except in a small and light vessel. West of this strait is the +island of Mazoga. It is reported here that this island is very small, +and that it has a population of six or eight Indians. [It forms another +strait, which can be passed by any ship.] The center of the said island +of Baybay is in eleven degrees of latitude. [It has the same people, +weapons, trade, and customs as the islands above.] + +There is another island, called Zubu, where the camp was established, +and remained until broken up by the Portuguese, on account of the +excellent harbor formed by it with another island called Mattan--which +is almost uninhabited, unwholesome, and a large part of it covered +with swamps. It is here that Magallanes was slain. The port has two +entrances, opening northeast and southwest. Through my influence +and with [S: against] the consent of most of the men, the camp was +removed to the island of Panae. I went there by order of the governor, +and drew the plan of a fort, which now is being built. [It has the +same people, and trade, and customs as the islands named above.] The +center of it is in about ten and two-thirds degrees of latitude. + +Farther west is another island, called Buglas, or Negros, because the +inhabitants are black. It is one hundred and twenty-five leagues in +circumference with a distance north and south of forty-five leagues, +and east and west of twenty leagues. Its center lies in ten and +one-third degrees. [It has the same people and weapons as the islands +above.] + +Northwest of Buglas lies Panae, an island abounding in rice and all +kinds of provisions. The camp was moved thither, and, as abovesaid, +I drew the plan of the said fort between the two arms of a river, +because it is impossible to effect an entrance by one arm. In the +other arm and below the fort, fourteen gabions were made and twelve +large pieces of artillery mounted for the defense of the entrance +and passage. The fort is situated two and one-half leagues inland, +and the ground all the way to the fort is a swamp, covered with +tangles of bushes; so that enemies can approach the said fort only +through the river, where are planted the above-mentioned gabions and +artillery. The position is excellent, and such that it needs only a +few men to defend it against many. The bar of the river is not more +than one braza deep; and its coast thereabout, for more than twenty +leagues, is very forbidding. Its center lies in about eleven and +one-third degrees of latitude. + +Northeast of Panie is the island of Masbat, with a scanty and poor +population. There were found gold mines from two to four _estados_ +[61] in depth, somewhat more or less, although I have not measured +them. I understand that the mines yield very little on account of the +scanty population, and its trade is of slight value. [The people are +the same as those of the above islands.] The center of this island +lies in thirteen degrees of latitude. + +Farther to the northeast of Masbat lies the island of Ybalon or +Luzon. It is a large island, with many rivers, in which gold is +found--although, as I have ascertained, in but little quantity, because +its most influential inhabitants are Moros. While I was in Panae, [S: +the leading man among its people] sent a Moro, his steward or treasurer +to trade there; but he could hardly get for me one _marco_ of gold +in exchange for four of silver, which he bought for me. Buffaloes +are to be found here. We have [M: not] explored much of its coast, +and I have seen no one who could inform me fully concerning its +south-eastern, southern, and eastern parts, because no one has sailed +around it. Between this island of Ybalon and that of Panae, lies +Masbat. Farther on, and lying north and south, are some other small +islands, in one of which is to be found much brazil-wood. Although all +the others have it, I mention this because the Anglis [S: Sangleyes] +from the mainland of China come for it, in order to dye their +silk. [62] In this island of Luzon are three settlements of Moros, +who do not know the law of Mahoma in its entirety. They eat no pork, +and pay reverence to the said Mahoma. [The rest of the inhabitants +are the same and have the same customs as those above.] The southern +portion of this is in about thirteen and one-third degrees of latitude. + +South of [that island of] Zubu, between it and Mindanao, is another +small one, called Bohol; between Bohol and Matan lie [as already +mentioned] many small islands--uninhabited, except for game; for which +reason they contain many deer and wild boars, as is generally true +in most of the islands. However, this is so warm a region that the +game spoils on the very day when it is killed. This island contains +many palms and roots, on which the natives live. Rice is lacking. + +Southwest by south from the port of Cavite, which is in six and +one-half degrees of latitude in the island of Mindanao where +cinnamon grows, lies a small island, called Taguima. [63] There +the natives captured from the Portuguese a small vessel, killing or +making prisoners many of its crew. The latter were ransomed by the +people of Jolo, with whom the Portuguese are on friendly terms. We +have not seen this island of Jolo. Its inhabitants are pirates. [64] +It lies to the southwest. Goats are found in Taguima, but no rice is +harvested. Civet cats are found there. While we were bartering for +cinnamon, men from two towns of that island came to us, and asked +to be received as subjects and tributaries of your Majesty. One of +these towns lies in seven degrees of latitude. + +There are no lords in these islands. Each man is master of his +own house and slaves; and the more slaves one owns, the greater +and more influential is he reckoned. The people are divided into +three classes. The _Datos_, who correspond to knights, are the most +important; the _Tigamas_ [S: _Timaguas_] are the freemen; and the +_Orispes_ are the slaves. The _Datos_ boast of their old lineage. These +people rob and enslave one another, although of the same island and +even kindred. They are cruel among themselves. They do not often dare +to kill one another, except by treachery or at great odds; and him +who is slain his opponents continue to strike even after he is dead. + +The word for mourning is _marabae_ [S: _marahaze;_ margin: +_magarihe_]. Among their customs is this: that when some relative +is killed, they do not cease mourning until they have avenged him +[(on the Spaniards)]. If the dead person is a near relative, they +quit mourning, when they have either killed a man or taken captive a +woman. They cut their hair. In time of mourning, they withdraw into the +house of the principal and nearest relative; and there, covered with +old and filthy blankets, they crouch on the floor and remain in this +position without talking or eating, for three days. During this time +they only drink. After the three days, they eat nothing which has come +in contact with fire until they have taken vengeance or observed their +custom [S: ceremony]. They place on their feet and wrists some rings +of a certain wood, called _bejuco._ [65] When the reasons for mourning +are not so serious, they are released from it by striking with a lance +or a dagger a deer or a wild boar, even if the animal be already dead. + +In every port [S: village] we find that the people have their god. All +of them call him _divate_ [S: Diuata], and for surname they give +him the name of their village. They have a god of the sea and a god +of the rivers. To these gods they sacrifice swine, reserving for +this especially those of a reddish color. For this sacrifice they +rear such as are very large and fat They have priests, whom they +call _bailanes;_ and they believe that the priests talk with their +gods. When they are about to perform the sacrifice, they prepare the +place with many green branches from the trees, and pieces of cloth +painted as handsomely as possible. The _bailan_ plays on a heavy +reed pipe about one braza in length, such as are common to that land, +in the manner of a trumpet; and, while thus engaged, the people say +that he talks to their gods. Then he gives a lance-thrust to the +hog. Meanwhile, and even for a long time before commencing the rite, +the women ring a certain kind of bell, play on small drums, and beat +on porcelain vases with small sticks--thus producing a sort of music +which makes it very difficult for them to hear one another. After the +hog is killed, they dress it, and all eat of the flesh. They throw a +portion of the dressed animal, placed in nets, into the river or into +the sea, according to the location of the village; and they say that +they do this in order that the god of the river or that of the sea may +eat it. No one eats of the part touched by the lance-thrust, except +the _bailan_. These people believe that their souls go down below; +and they say that world is better, and that [since] it is cooler +than the world above, where the heat is so great. They are buried +with their riches--blankets, gold, and porcelain. When chiefs die, +slaves are killed and buried with them, so that they may serve their +masters in the other world. If the dead man is renowned as a seaman, +they bury with him the vessel in which he sailed, with many slaves +to row him, so thathe may go in it to the other world. [66] + +Considering their size, those islands are very thinly populated. The +people are generally very dark, more so than the natives of Nueba +Espana. There are but few islands where blacks are not found among +the mountains. The inhabitants of the lowlands are of the former +kind, and are accustomed to tattoo their bodies, arms, legs, and even +their faces, where a beard should grow, with very carefully-drawn and +handsome figures. The greater the chief, or the more valiant he is, +the more he tattoos himself, leaving untattooed only the parts covered +by the breech clout--the [clothing or] dress worn by them, and which +covers only the privy parts. Both men and women suffer no hair to grow +on their bodies except on the head. They wear the hair long and take +good care of it so that it will grow. The men bind their hair on the +crown of the head with a small piece of gauze, and the women bind it +with bands made of the hair itself. All of them, both men and women, +are fond of [wearing] beads, earrings and perfumes. The garment worn +by them [the women] is made of linen drawn together like a bag or +sleeve with two very wide openings. The amount by which this garment +is too wide they gather up into many folds upon the left side, which, +knotted with the same linen, rest there. A small, tight-fitting shirt +is worn, which does not reach to the knees [S: waist], and covers no +more than the breasts. They wear garlands of flowers on their heads. It +is a very immodest dress, for it leaves uncovered the greater part of +the legs and body. The women are generally depraved. They are given +to abominable lustful habits. + +The weapons they use are the following: shields, breast-high, and +little more than half a _vara_ [67] wide; lances, two and a half +_varas_ long, with iron and steel points a third as long as the lance, +and as wide as the hand. In some districts the lance-points are long +and ground to a very fine edge. Cutlasses or daggers, from a half +to three-fourths of a _vara_ long, are made of the same shape as +the lance-points. Those people have armor consisting of cotton-lined +blankets, and others of rattan. Some wear corselets, made of a very +hard black wood resembling ebony. They use bows which are very strong +and large, and much more powerful than those used by the English. The +arrows are made of reeds, the third part consisting of a point made of +the hardest wood that can be found. They are not feathered. They poison +the arrows with a kind of herb, which in some regions is so deadly +that a man dies on the same day when he is wounded; and, no matter how +small the wound is, there is no remedy, and the flesh will surely decay +unless the antidotal herb, which is found in Luzon, be first applied +to the wound. Arrows are also discharged through blow-guns with the +same effect, although not with the same range. The Moros, who trade +with the Japanese and Sangleyes [S: Indians or Japanese], possess +in their houses, and bring in their vessels, bronze culverins, so +excellent and well cast, that I have never seen their equal anywhere. + +Rice is the main article of food in these islands. In a few of them +people gather enough of it to last them the whole year. In most of the +islands, during the greater part of the year, they live on millet, +_borona_, roasted bananas, certain roots resembling sweet potatoes +and called _oropisa_, as well as on yams [_yunames_] and _camotes_ +[68] whose leaves they also eat, boiled. They eat Castilian fowls and +pork. In the islands inhabited by Moros, some goats are raised; but +there are so few of them that wherever fifteen or twenty Spaniards +arrive, no goats will be seen for the next two or three years. The +cocoa-palm offers the greatest means of sustenance to the natives, +for they obtain from it wine, fruit, oil, and vinegar. These people +eat many kinds of herbs which grow both on land and in the sea. Some +of these herbs have been used by our people as articles of food. The +scarcity of all kinds of food here is such that--with all that is +brought continually from all these islands, in three frigates, one +_patache_, and all the other native boats that could be obtained--each +soldier or captain could only receive [as his rations] each week two +_almudes_ of unwinnowed rice--which, when winnowed, yielded no more +than three _cuartillos_. This ration was accompanied by nothing else, +neither meat nor fish. + +The natives sustain life by eating little and drinking much--so +heavily, that it is a marvel if they are not drunken all the time, +or at least from noon on. And the more important their position, +the more intoxicated do they become, for they have more to spend for +this purpose. The inhabitants of the coast are fishermen who barter +their fish and buy from those living inland, who till the soil, the +above-named foods. They eat all kinds of shell-fish and slimy plants +which grow at the bottom of the sea. + +They are but ill supplied with cloth. They use a kind of cloth made of +wild banana leaves [69] which is as stiff as parchment, and not very +durable. The natives of Panae and Luzon manufacture a cotton cloth +with colored stripes, which is of better quality. This cloth is used +by the Spaniards when they can find it; otherwise they use the cloth +above-mentioned. Both kinds are so scarce, that we are suffering great +privations for lack of clothing. The people are very poor. There are +few islands where, as it is reported, gold does not exist--but in so +small quantities that quite commonly [as I think I have said] a native +can be hired to dig, or to work as he is commanded, for three reals +a month. A slave can be bought for fifty reals, or sometimes for a +little more. It is therefore evident that it is not possible to save +from the mines much gold, as can be seen by any man who zealously +wishes to serve your Majesty who laments the great expenses of both +men and money incurred here. + +In that land people buy and sell slaves to one another in great +numbers, and even bring them to the islands of the Moros. Most slaves +are children and grandchildren of slaves from time immemorial. In +this connection, it seems to me that it would be less troublesome, and +that God would be better served, if the Spaniards bought these slaves +and took them to Nueva Espana, where they would become Christians; +they would thus supply the great need for slaves there, and would +prove a resource for the Spaniards who live there. + +Farther north than the aforesaid islands are others, the nearest to +Luzon being called Xipon [S: Japan]. We have not seen this island, +and what I shall say about it has been related to us by the Moros who +carry on trade with that land. It is said that the island possesses +silver mines, and that silks and other necessary articles from China +are purchased with the silver; for all the people, both men and women, +are well clad and shod. And because of being so near China, they have +acquired the civilization of that country. These people manufacture +very good cutlasses, which they call _legues_. These have single or +double hilts, are very sharp, and are curved like Turkish cutlasses. On +the side without any edge, they are about half as thick as the finger, +but the edge is very sharp. It is said that Theatin religious have +gone thither from Portugal; but I do not know the result of their +mission. The Portuguese tell me that the natives of that land are +considered very warlike. The women are virtuous, modest, and very +jealous of the men [a very rare thing for these regions]. They [S: +the men] shave or pluck out the hair from their heads. + +A little to the east between these islands and China are the islands +of Lequios. They are said to be rich; but we have been unable to learn +much about them, for I have not seen any one who has been there. For +this reason I conclude that they must be small, and that the people +are not much given to commerce. + +Likewise immediately north is the mainland called China. This is a +vast country--so much so that, as we are assured, it extends as far as +Tartary; for merchants who have traded there say that the two nations +are at war with each other. The Chinese are highly civilized. They +work iron with tools. I have seen iron inlaid with gold and silver, +as cunningly and skilfully wrought as they could be in any part of the +world. In like manner they work in wood and all other materials. The +Portuguese say that the Chinese are good people--that they possess +somewhat of the light of the world, but they see it with only one +eye. They make gold into threads as is done in Milan, and weave raised +designs of it on damasks and other silken fabrics. They possess +all kinds of weapons that we have. Their artillery, judging it by +some culverins I have seen that came from China, is of excellent [S: +better] quality and better cast than ours. They have also a form of +government; but they do not elect a governor (or captain, as they +call him) unless he is a great astrologer and has first foretold +the weather, future events, and the true outcome of things; so that +he may be able to provide for future necessities. In each city and +province there is an armed garrison. The people dress well; they wear +beards and are as white as ourselves. The women are very beautiful, +except that they all have small eyes. They wear long shirts and robes, +reaching to the ground. They dye and dress their hair carefully, and +it is even said that they rouge and color their faces. It is said that +the king of that land is so great a lord, that his camp is composed of +three hundred thousand men, two hundred thousand of whom are mounted on +horses. On painted articles I have seen pictures of horsemen armed with +coats of mail, Burgundy helmets, and lances. The country is so fertile +and well provisioned, that it is believed to be the best country in +the world. The Moros with whom I have talked have told me that the +Chinese are not as warlike as we are, and are heathens. They possess +matrices [70] with which they have printed books from time immemorial. + +If your Majesty desires to have this land explored, I am at your +service provided I be given two ships of about two hundred and +fifty tons each, with forty soldiers to each vessel, and all the +artillery, ammunition, and provisions that will be necessary. Then, +with our Lord's help, and bearing some power of ambassador to the +lord of the land, I will enter the country myself, returning by way +of Nueva Espana after having explored the coast. I will ascertain +how both trade and conquest must be carried on there. I will carry +out all other orders that your Majesty may be pleased to give me, +as well as whatever your service shall demand. + +Southeast [S: west] by east from the island of Zubu are the islands +of Maluco, where cloves are found; and it is not known whether they +exist in any other regions. They lie below the equatorial line The +names of the islands in which cloves are found are: Maluco, Gigolo [S: +Jilolo], Maquian, Motel, and Momoy. Near those islands [it is said is +one called Sunda, which contains pepper. To the east of those islands], +at a distance of one hundred and twenty-five leagues, is Nueba Guinea, +and three hundred and thirty-two leagues west of them is the island +of Burney. This island is well-provisioned; and according to what +some Moros, natives of Burney, told me, it belongs to one lord. It +is said that there are a great many pearls of enormous size, even +as large as pigeon's eggs; but my opinion is that all the natives of +that land are great liars, and exaggerate things. + +All these islands with more than two hundred and fifty leagues +hereabout, are included in the compact which the sacred Majesty now +in glory made with the most serene king, Don Juan of Portugal. Even +if it were outside of the compact, if your Majesty does not wish to +continue the spice trade, on account of the great expense and the +little profit that it now yields, or will yield in the future, I think +that it would be advisable to withdraw the people from the islands, +as your Majesty can hope to draw no other profit from this land. I +say this as a loyal subject of your Majesty, for it grieves me to +see so much money wasted on a land which can be of no profit whatever. + +If your Majesty prefers the spices, I think that it would be better +to break the agreement, since it is for so small an amount, that +three hundred and fifty thousand ducats [71] would be gained in two +ships going from Nueba Espana to those regions. When this is done, +your Majesty's domains will extend as far as Maluco, according to +what was told me by the Augustinian friar, by name Fray Martin de +Herrada, a native of Navarra, who was prior at the time when I left +the Western Islands. He is a great arithmetician, geometrician, and +astrologer [--one of the very greatest in the world]. He has measured +this, and told me so. He has also written a book on navigation and +the measurement of the earth and the sea, east and west. I believe +that he will send the book by Fray Diego de Herrera, prior of the +aforesaid islands of your Majesty. Then we shall be able to trade in +spices with the whole world; for as I have said before, cloves cannot +be found save in the five islands of Maluco. + +I have written all that can be said on this subject; and I say this +because I have seen other accounts both in print and in manuscript, +which depart very much from the truth. In order that your Majesty +may not be deceived, I sign this account with my name. + +If your Majesty should desire to know especial details about that land, +I will, at your command, give oral information. + +[_Endorsed on Sevilla MS_: "Superb! Excellent! Relation of the route +to the Western Islands." _And in a more modern hand_: "By Captain +Juan de la Ysla. Islands of the West."] + + + + +Letter from the Viceroy of New Spain to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +On the fifteenth of November there arrived at the port of Acapulco one +of two ships, which sailed from the Philipinas islands on the first +of July. The second, the flagship, entered on the twenty-fourth, for +it was leaking so badly that they succeeded in making port only with +great difficulty. On account of this danger, knowing the nearness of +the land, the flagship had determined to keep off shore, thinking this +course possible because of its better sailing qualities. Ultimately +they availed themselves of the land only for the purpose of taking +aboard water because their supply was failing. They entered harbor +without having lost either any people or any of their cargo. Don Pedro +de Luna, the captain, died of illness two hundred leagues away from +land, as did a few sailors also. + +Fray Diego de Herrera had taken passage in one of these vessels. It was +his intention to continue the journey to Spana to give your Majesty +an account of the wrongs committed in those islands, because of the +lack of justice; and to tell you that the soldiers, inasmuch as they +are unpaid and receive no rations, are being supported at the Indians' +expense, and that on this account many extortions are practiced. The +factor Andres de Mirandaola, Captain Juan Pacheco, and Juan de +Morones, sergeant-major, also came. The factor and sergeant-major +were sent because of certain crimes which they are said to have +committed; however, I do not think that these are very serious. By +these men I have been informed of matters relating to those islands, +and of the nature of the land. They give a very good account thereof, +especially of the island of Luzon, where there are settlements very +thickly inhabited, by both Indians and Moors [Moros], although the +latter must not be thought of as really of that race, but only as +having had the name attached to them. [72] It is not believed that +they are very sincere in the profession of the Mahometan religion, +as many of them both drink wine and eat pork. There are many gold +mines, which are worked similarly to the silver mines here. A few of +some depth were seen there, although the people, naturally indolent, +work them but little--and then only to the extent of their necessities, +when the opportunity of barter is offered them--declaring that whenever +they have any need for the gold, the mines are close by. Fray Diego +de Herrera gave me an account of many other things likewise. I am +sending an abstract of his report today, which has been confirmed by +those who have come from those regions. + +Every one asserts that the chief deficiency of that land is justice; +and without justice there is no safety. He who at the present time +exercises the duties of general is not, I believe, held in much +esteem; for they knew him when he held the inferior position of a +bookseller here. To enter into this subject is very disagreeable to +me, but, as your Majesty's servant, I am obliged to mention this; for +I am convinced that, if this venture is to succeed, as I hope in God +that it will succeed, your Majesty must appoint a man to that office +who will be respected and esteemed, and who possesses the necessary +qualifications both for peace and war. I beg your Majesty not to make +trial, especially in the case of those who are to participate in the +administration of justice, of men from the Indias. + +As for the question of helping the Philipinas islands, I have up to +this time adhered to the instructions which your Majesty has ordered +to be given me. Since I came here, I have never failed in any year +to send a ship or ships with reenforcements and munitions; but sea +and land and climate have their effect, and the number of men is +constantly diminished; so that, although people are regularly sent +thither, they are actually but little increased in numbers. The object +and plan which should be pursued in matters yonder I do not know; but, +whatever it may be, people are necessary, for the islands are many. As +for the mainland of China, it is so large a land and so thickly settled +that one of its hundred divisions, according to report, is as big as +half the world itself. It is learned from the Chinese that they admit +strangers only with reluctance to their land. For this reason, more +and better soldiers would be needful than those who could go from this +land, for those born here are but little used to hardship--although it +is also understood that the people of China, in spite of possessing +weapons, horses, and artillery, are but little superior in valor to +the Indians. Commercial relations are now beginning to be established +with the Chinese; but until this is definitely completed the hopes of +the merchants here will not rise, in spite of all I do and contrive +with them to encourage and spur them on; for, to tell the truth, no +certain information comes of a nature to induce them to go. And one +of the difficulties consequent upon this commerce and intercourse is, +that neither from this land nor from Espana, so far as can now be +learned, can anything be exported thither which they do not already +possess. They have an abundance of silks, and linen likewise, according +to report. Cloths, on account of the heat prevalent in the country, +they neither use nor value. Sugar exists in great abundance. Wax, +drugs, and cotton are super-abundant in the islands, whither the +Chinese go to obtain them by barter. And thus, to make a long matter +short, the commerce with that land must be carried on with silver, +which they value above all other things; and I am uncertain whether +your Majesty will consent to this on account of having to send it to +a foreign kingdom. I beg your Majesty to consider all these matters, +to inform me concerning them, and to give explicit orders to the +person in charge here so that no mistakes may be made. + +The management of affairs here is attended with great difficulty, +especially concerning the people who shall go; for it is almost +necessary to force them to go. Also with regard to the ships, which +are taken wherever they can be found. Usually they are miserable +little vessels, which draw but little water, and cost almost as much +in employing them as a ship of six hundred toneladas--necessitating, +as they do, pilot, master, mate, and sailors. Nor is it possible +to get along with less, especially for the different watches, +for otherwise the vessels could not possibly be navigated. And, +inasmuch as it does not appear that the merchants are inclined to +buy and fit out ships with a cargo, I am not sure, if this business +is to go on at your Majesty's expense, whether it would not be wise +to have two ships of about five hundred toneladas constructed; and to +arrange that one of them should not return the same year it went, in +order to have time to collect thoroughly all the articles of barter; +but that it should return the following year, and another ship then +set forth from here. In this way, and in accordance with this plan, +after the first expedition a ship would sail from there every year, +while another would depart hence every year. One of them alone +would be sufficient to contain the people going to those islands, +and keep business progressing and increasing there, since there is +no regular expedition. + +These ships bear one hundred and thirty-six marcos of gold for +your Majesty and some few gold jewels and other things, as your +Majesty will order confirmed by this memorandum which the general +sends. Likewise they carry almost two hundred and eighty quintals of +cinnamon, besides some belonging also to individuals, which I have +not seized from them, but have paid them a moderate price for it, +of which a previous account has been given to your Majesty. Since +your Majesty has not had any answer sent me regarding it, I gather +that your Majesty does not desire that this should be done. Likewise +I infer the same with regard to other things to which your Majesty +has had no answer made me. And besides all this, the ships carry +silks of different colors (both damasks and satins), cloth-stuffs, +a little gold, and a lot of cotton mantles, both white and colored; +a quantity of wax, glazed earthenware; and other knick-knacks such +as fans, parasols, desks, and numberless other little manufactured +articles. On account of its being an initial attempt, and because the +merchants' interest in this commerce has not been roused or acquired, +the matter of import and export duty, as I have written your Majesty, +has not yet been settled upon. For the future, however, I will see +that they make payment like the rest. + +I do not believe that the cinnamon will prove a success in this +land, for it is very little used, because of the use here of other +spices which grow in these regions. I beg your Majesty to order what +disposition is to be made of the same; and likewise to be pleased to +advise me whether cinnamon imported by individuals shall be allowed +to be brought here. + +They say that in an island called Cauchi, not two hundred leagues +from Manilla (where the Spaniards are settled now), there is a +great quantity of pepper, and that the Chinese resort thither for +trade. This seems to be the best site which could be chosen, and to +secure it would obviously be attended with but little difficulty. I +see no other objection in this, other than that I fear the opportunity +for general trade, which is desired there, may not exist; and that +the Chinese will resent being deprived of their trade, which must be +very lucrative to them, or having to depend upon the Spaniards to +carry on the same. But all the ability to remove these obstacles, +and to arrange everything satisfactorily, depends upon the person +whom your Majesty may place there to administer justice, and to see +that no wrongs are done; for in the absence of unjust conditions, +self-interest will attract people. + +Your Majesty orders that no Portuguese shall go to the islands; yet +it is understood that some have gone there, and have married Indian +women. Will your Majesty please order whether they shall, on this +account, be allowed to remain; or whether they, together with the +Indian women, shall be sent away? + +I had given orders that, when any ship should come from the islands, +it should reconnoiter the coast of China on the way, in order that more +information of the land and its commerce might be obtained. I gave your +Majesty an account of this before the step was taken; and I likewise +enclosed the instructions concerning the procedure, which I thought +should be observed. General Miguel Lopez had ordered that it should +be adhered to; but when he died, it appeared to Guido de Labezarii to +be a dangerous enterprise on account of the coast being unfamiliar +and unknown, as well as a region where our ships might fall in with +Portuguese or other people. This is a fact, but nothing of importance +can be done without danger. Still we shall postpone the carrying +out of this until your Majesty shall arrange matters concerning that +land; and the person who manages affairs there will make all suitable +provision, since he will have more information upon the subject. + +As I have already written your Majesty, there is a lack of artillery +here, for those islands take it all--so that I have no artillery +for a ship which I am now despatching, and which was built in the +port of Acapulco; and I shall have to take some of that brought by +the other vessels coming here. In future, will your Majesty kindly +order some to be sent both for an emergency like this, and for these +royal settlements? + +Together with this ship, I will endeavor to send one of those that have +arrived here which may be repaired; and in them I wish to send all the +people able to go--a number not in excess of one hundred and eighty +men--and some munitions. The flagship, which is of larger tonnage, +will be repaired and put into shape, for it is in bad condition; +as well as another ship which was to sail thence within twenty +days. Afterward, the vessels will remain, in order that they may +go from here in a year, and take more people with them. Meanwhile, +your Majesty will have time to make such provision as you think best. + +The rigging which is bought here is that conveyed by the ships from +Espana, and is very costly and very inferior in quality; but nothing +else can be done. I beg your Majesty, therefore, to send from yonder +a large quantity of rigging, both small and cable size, for ships of +small tonnage and for larger vessels (provided your Majesty think +it is well to do so). Please have sent also a lot of canvas. Your +Majesty will have to order the officials to make selection of both, +and to see that it is very good; or else let them send to Vilbao +[Bilbao] where they say the best rigging is made, and at the most +reasonable prices. This must come, moreover, with the fleet, if it +is to be utilized by these ships. + +The accountant Melchor de Legazpi, on hearing of the death of his +father, wished to go to throw himself at your Majesty's feet, in order +to beg you to remember his father's services, and how he had died in +your royal service; and he had for this purpose sold his property, +and was poor and even not free from debt. However, I prevented him +from going, by telling him to write to your Majesty, and recall his +father's services to your Majesty. Certainly, from the accounts I have +received, his father did perform such services; and I understand that +he was a good man, and served with all possible loyalty. + +The boon which his son desires does not lie in those islands, but +must be given by your Majesty in this land, and to the extent that +seems best to you, in order that certain of his sisters, who are of +a marriageable age, may not be left unprovided for. In those islands +he was to have had a repartimiento which they say was a very good +one. This repartimiento possessed a large amount of provisions, and is +called Vitis and Lau. I believe that it was this which General Miguel +Lopez wished your Majesty to grant him and the same thing is desired +by the successor to his office. My opinion is that it would be well to +annex it to the royal crown, in order to supply soldiers and sailors +with provisions from it. Your Majesty could order the accountant +Legazpi to be given such recompense in this land as your Majesty may +be pleased to give him; for by remembering the dead your Majesty will +encourage the living--so that, in addition to the mere duty involved, +they may die for you with the utmost zeal. Whatever your Majesty may +do for him, moreover, I shall consider as a favor done to myself. + +As for the procedure which this royal Audiencia is to adopt with the +Inquisition, there is only a mere document which bears no signature; +a copy of which I send which relates thereto. Neither the auditors +nor alcaldes are satisfied with this, and they think that they +should possess more authority than an unsigned paper. Your Majesty +will send whatever orders seem best to you, for there is no other +provision here save the general order which your Majesty gave for +all the Inquisitions. + +I am sending your Majesty today copies of some letters which were +Written to me from the islands, in order that your Majesty may have +an account of those regions, up to the departure of these ships. One +is from General Miguel Lopez Legazpe, and another from Guido de +Labezarrii; two from Fray Martin de Rada, and two from Fray Francisco +de Ortego. I am sending also a copy of the list of gold mines of the +islands; the certificate of the villages which have been annexed to +the royal crown; the procedure adopted by the master-of-camp, Martin +de Goyti, in making the treaty with the Indians; the peace made with +Indians of Manilla; the account, given by a Chinese, of the coast of +China, and the picture of the same; a little book which Fray Martin +de Rada sends your Majesty, _de latitudine et longitudine locorum +invenienda_, the memorandum sent by General Guido de Labezarii to +your Majesty; and, finally, the instructions which I had given to +the person who was to go to explore the Chinese coast. I enclose +also the ordinances which your Majesty ordered sent to the officials +of Veracruz with affidavit of delivery; and a copy of the decrees +which Cardinal de Siguenca, inquisitor-general, sent. [73] May our +Lord preserve the royal Catholic person of your Majesty many years, +and grant you the increase of kingdoms and seigniories, as we your +Majesty's servants desire. Mexico, December 5, 1573. + +Your Majesty's loyal servant, who kisses your royal hands, + +_Don Martin Enriquez_ + +[_Superscription_: "To His Royal Catholic Majesty, King Philipe our +sovereign, in his Royal Council of the Indies."] + + + + +Documents of 1574 + + + + Letter to Felipe II. Andres de Mirandaola; January 8 + [74]Las nuevas quescriven de las yslas del Poniente Hernando + Riquel y otros; January 11 + Decrees regarding Manila and Luzon. Felipe II; June 21 + Opinion regarding tribute from the Indians. Martin de Rada; + June 21 + Reply to Fray Rada's "Opinion." Guido de Lavezaris, and others; + [June?] + Two letters to Felipe II. Guido de Lavezaris; July 17 and 30 + Slavery among the natives. Guido de Lavezaris; [July?] + + + +_Sources_: The second of these documents is from a MS. in the +archives at Simancas; the third, from _Doc. ined. Amer. y Oceania_; +the remainder, from the Archivo general de Indias at Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The second document is translated by Jose M. Asensio; +the third, by Frederic W. Morrison; the sixth, by Alfonso de Salvio; +the remainder, by Arthur B. Myrick. + + + + +Letter from Andres de Mirandaola to Felipe II + + +11. The [75] mines of which we have been informed, and which have been +seen thus far are those of Masbad, which are good, from the rivers +of which it is said to be taken. Much gold is found in the island +of Vindanao, in the districts of Butuan, Curigao, and Parasao. It +is said that much gold is mined there and that it is the loftiest of +all these islands. In the island of Luzon, where we are at present, +are the following mines and rivers: In Patro there are mines, as +well as in Bondo and Pacorago, and in Malabago, in the district of +Galvan. There are mines likewise in the province of Ylocos, in the +neighborhoods of Balatao, Turrey, Alingay, and Dinglas. These are very +rich mines from which, it is said, much gold is extracted, and that +there are many metals and rivers which have not been examined. On the +other coast there are also mines, which are called those of Paracali, +and a river is near by; from there much fine gold is taken out. In +other parts there are more mines, which will yield a great deal of +gold throughout, if Spaniards operate and work them. [76] + +12. The kinds of gold that are found among the natives of the city +and vicinity of Manila are: Bizlin, which is worth two pesos a +tael. The weight of a tael is one and one-eighth ounces. The second +kind is Malubay, and the third is Linguinguin. These are the kinds +of gold with which the natives trade and barter. The Malubay gold +is worth the same as the Bizlin. The Linguinguin gold is worth +four pesos. There is another kind of gold which the Spaniards call +_orejera_ [earring], which is worth five pesos. The Indians call it +_panica_. There is another finer sort of gold which they call _ylapo_ +and another which they call _guinuguran_. From what I have heard this +last is the standard, because in assay it is equal to the wrought +gold of Spanish jewelry. All these fine golds in the possession +of the natives are never used by them except for some marriage or +other important affair. For goods for which they trade and barter, +they use Malubay and Bizlin and Linguinguin. + +13. And if your Majesty attempt henceforth other and more important +things in this land, it will be necessary to have towns and ports here, +because this land is in the near neighborhood and almost in the midst +of other lands--Japan, China, Jaba, Borney, Malucos, and Nueva Guinea, +so that one can go to any of those regions in a short time. It is +a healthy land of tolerable climate, and it has sufficiently good +harbors where there is abundance of wood and timber, and other things +necessary for the building of ships; and it would cost but little +to bring workmen, sails, and some articles which are not to be had +there. It is also necessary to make a good harbor there, in order +that ships from outside may find anchorage. It is very dangerous for +large and deep vessels to pass among so many islands, with their +shoals and tides. It would therefore be necessary to build there +galleys and light-draught oared vessels, in order to go to those +regions that I mention above, and to carry cargoes which the heavy +vessels would have to carry to this Nueva Espana; the latter would +not leave any port of those islands which might be settled for this +purpose. They could thus cruise and trade in all places in a very +short time; and the heavy ships would only have to go to the harbor, +to take on their cargoes and return. + +14. Of the mainland I will make a report conforming to what I have +heard, and what I have been able to get from the natives of it--both +those who lived in Manila, and those who have traded between the city +of Manila and the mainland, whence come the ships that have visited +the Spanish settlements. From what I have heard, there are, for two +hundred leagues (rather less than more), towns and fortresses ready +for conquest, on the coast whence have come these ships, as far as +Canton. On one river there is a fortress, containing a certain number +of soldiers as a garrison; but their number I could not ascertain from +those people. There are at the mouth of the river a few islets and +shoals. There is another fortress and town, about fourteen leagues +farther up the coast, in a little bay, called Occia. Opposite the +bay are a few islets, which are apparently uninhabited. About ten +leagues farther up the coast there is another river, with a town and +fortress called Sihua. Farther up the coast about twelve leagues there +is another large and very swollen river which from what I have heard +makes a junction with the river of the city of Canton. There is a town +and fortress here called Cincin. It is understood that from that port +sail the ships that come to Manila, and others that go to Vindoro, +Balayan, and Elen. [77] Farther up the coast is a large bay with +many islets at its mouth, one of which is called Amyhu. Within the +bay there is a fort and a town called Aycum. Farther inland there is +a very broad river that leads to Canton; about two leagues up there +is another fort and town called Cionciu, from which ships also come +hither for our trade, because, as I learned from the natives, that +is a large province, and has a great amount of commerce. About ten +leagues farther up the coast there is a broad river with a fort and +a town named Tisciu. Opposite this river there is an island called +La Mao. About fourteen leagues farther is the great river of Canton +where it is said there is a large fort with an ordinary garrison--as +nearly as I could make out, of about six or seven hundred soldiers, +who guard the fort, and their captain and governor, from the city and +province of Canton. Opposite this river are islets where the Portuguese +go to trade, because they are not allowed to enter Canton. [78] The +first of these islets, as one enters the river, is called Tanquian; +and then come the islands where the Portuguese anchor their ships, +where there are neither houses nor anything else; but it serves as +a harbor for their vessels. The place where they are is called the +_quiao_ of Canton. Even as far as Paquin [Peking], which is the city +of the king of China, it is said that one would have to be on the +road a year; and all the route would be found full of cities and +large provinces. Those on the road are Chincheo, Cantun, Hinchiu, +Mimipou, Ouchiu, Yrinari, Sisvan, Conceonau, Nanguin, and Paquin, +where the court and the king reside. There are other provinces, namely +Suchiu, Veou, Histau, Cencay. The last king, who died two years ago, +was named Ontee, and his son who succeeded him is called Taycii. [79] +The latter has issued a general pardon for all those, who were out +of their native lands, who should return freely to the condition in +which they were during the life of his father; for, before, there was +a law that he who did not return to his country within a year should +be condemned to death, and his goods confiscated for the expenses +of justice. But this new law ordered that the former law would not +be enforced for four years, within which time those who wished to +return to their former conditions might do so freely. Therefore some +of those converted to our holy faith, who were in the city of Manila, +have returned with their wives and children. Father Fray Augustin +de Alburquerque who is charged with the conversion of the Chinese, +wished to go to the mainland this year with these Christians and the +traders who came to the port of Manila. It seemed that there was no +way of getting there--because, as we are told, a law had been passed +that no foreigner whatever might enter the mainland under the penalty +of losing his life; and those who convey them thither should receive +the same punishment. Accordingly, no one dared to take foreigners +thither. The fertility, abundance, riches, and curiosities of die +land need not be related here, on account of the notoriety that, +from the beginning, exists regarding these things. Of all the things +that Europe has, cloth and velvet are the only ones lacking in this +country; in all else it is better supplied--both in food, and in +other particular and interesting articles. In the City of Mexico, +January viii, MD. LXXIIII. Catholic royal Majesty, your Catholic +royal Majesty's faithful servant, who humbly kisses your Majesty's +royal feet, and commends himself to your royal favor, + +_Andres de Mirandaola_ + + + + +Las Nuevas Quescriven de Las Yslas +del Poniente Hernando +Riquel y Otros + + +Sienpre e ydo dando avisso delo de por aca y asi Lo haze de Presente +Rrefirendo algunas Cosas delo q asubcedido despues q sCriui y di Razon +enlos Vltimos nauios q llegaron aese rreyno el ano pasado de 1570. y +tocarelo mas Notable dexandolo que no loes para otros autores mas +desoCupados rremitiendome a los capitanes pasajeros y otras personas +q Van en estos nauios. + +A 17 de nouj delano pasado de 1570 partio El s_r_. gouer_or_. Miguel +lopez delegaspi del rrio de panai a cubie y conforme ala orden q +tenia de su mag_d_. poblo vna villa concinq_ta_. v_o_s. a los quales +dio rrepartimi_o_ de yndios con parecer del prouincial fray min de +herrada y del mr_e_, de Campo y capitanes. + +ACauada de asentar esta poblon se boluio a panae a donde llego y +estubo hasta q se apresto para la jornada de manila ques e la ysla +de luzon adonde al presente esta la principal poblacion y Campo de su +Mag_d_. Partio a diez y seis de abril de mill e qnie_o_ y setenta y vno +segundo dia de pascoa de Resurresion enbarcose e la galera nonbrada La +leona despana q se aCauo en esta sazon enel Camino se detubo 32 dias +asi llego ala dha poblacion de manila y antes de llegar a ella como +quatro leguas Vino Vna espia la qual ebiaron los principales atomar +tiento del yntento q se traya y entendido del s_r_. gouer_or_. queera +toda Paz y amistad y q p_a_ tratarlo como Conbiniese y mas a gusto +delos principales y naturales venia en ps_a_. la espia mostro alegrio +particular deentenderse y entonces se declaro como venia auer lo +q esta dho y asi fue muy satisfho y rregalado de su senoria y se +boluio y el gouer_or_ siguio su viaje endemahda del puerto con buen +biento galerno y Como desde la pobl_on_ nos Vieron y no auia llegado +la espia comencaron a poner fuego a los Casas el q_l_ llegado fue pte +p_a_ q no pasase adel_te_ yncendio porque entendiero de la espia como +ybamos de paz y asise aseguraron y dispusieron a benir nos a Reciuir +al Camino los principales rraxa El viejo y aljandora y el maguno +marlanauay y sale laxa que son los mas principales desta trra el +Raxa soliman por temor delo q hizo el ano pasado no Vino en Conp_a_ +destos y entendiende el gouernador q poreste temor no Venia ebiole +conestos principales seguro debaxo del qual Vino el dia sigui_e_ +sienpre mostraua temor dio disCulpa delo pasado facil y discreta y +en suma dixo estas Razones no tube Culpa enlo q se hizo[?] porque +ya saues que en esta trra no ay rrey ni Caueca sola sino q Cada vno +tiene su parecer y opinion y asisiguen lo q mas gusto les da Vbo +alg_o_s q pudieron mas q yo pues sin licencia mia rronpieron la paz +y amistad y hizieronme Caer en falta y si esto no fuera asi y por mi +pte y Consejo se hiziera merecia Pena y si fuera Rey desta trra como +soy solo s_r_. demihazienda nose quebrara la palabro que di p_o_ Como +dependio de muchos yo no pudemas se oy adel_te_ e lo que ami tocare +por mi ps_a_ sugetos y amigos p_o_Curare de q sea cierta la paz y +amistad q se asento aviendo entendido el gouer_or_. el Razonami_to_ +concediole perdon general por lo pasado con Cargo que enlo presente +y futuro Cumpliese lo que prometia y haziendolo asi en n_e_. de su +mag_d_. sele hazia toda mrcd con estos Razones y otras y muchos +rregalos fueron este Raja y todos los demas muy cont_o_s de auer +asen_do_. las pazes y el Campo se alojo trra y abemos hecho Cosa lo +mejor q se pudo y Cada diase Van haziendo. + +El dia de Pascoa de Spiritusanto Vinieron a la Costa desta poblaccion +ciertos moros de la Comarca della con n_s_. de To[?] y tantos naujos +y ebiaron a dezir al gouer_or_. q_e_ Venian a pelear con su gente +rrespondioles q_e_ mirasen bien lo q_e_ dezian porque el no queria +mandarlos matar ni hazer dano sino todo buen aCogimiento y Vecindad +p_a_ q_e_ Con liuertad pudiesen hazer suscontrataciones y otros +muchos Razones p_o_mesas rregaladas y exortaciones Xptianas y no +basto antes se ensoberbesieron mas pertinazm_te_. Visto esto m_do_ el +gouer_or_. que elmr_e_. de Campo min. de goyti fuese a ellos el qual +lo hizo con mucha presteza lleuando Consigo la gente que le parecio +lo qual ebarco en al_o_s de los naujos que auia [?] aComodados'y +dexo[?] orden que le siguiesen los soldados que dexo senalados y llego +al sitio que se senaloe Vnos esteros de mar p_a_ darse la batalla naual +como se hizo y desbarato y rrindio a todos los enemigos con muy poco +dano delos Espanoles con ser los Contrarios mucha gente de guerra y +traer artilleria Visto q_e_ por tan pocos Xptianos fueran Rendidos se +admiraron y puro temor en toda la trra p_a_ que los naturales temen +en mucha figura esta gente y Con este buen subceso estubo alg_o_s +dias quieto este Campo. + +Despues desto se trato con ynstancia paz con los naturales desta trra +por buenos medios afixando la q_e_ se auia tratado con los primeros +y alg_o_s q_e_ no auian sido en ella dezian q_e_ no querian paz ni +amistad Con el gouer_or_. ni Con su gente ni verlos ni oyrlos porque +no se les seguia prouecho y por esto vbo demandas y rrespuestas y +vista su pertinacia fue neces_o_ ebiarles a hallanar y asi se hizo +en diferentes p_tes_ especial a vna prouj_n_ q_e_ tiene mucha gente +nonbrada panpagan comarcana a esta ciudad de manila y a todos seles +hazian rrequerimientos y amonestaciones q_e_ viniesen a obidiencia de +su mag_d_. y alos que nolo quisieron hazer fue neces_o_ pelear p_a_ +rrendirlos y asi se Hizo sin dano notable. + +est_Do_ en este est_do_ las Cosas desta trra tubo el gouer_or_. rueba +dela llegada delos dos naujos Santiago y San Ju_n_ q_e_ dio tanto +Cont_o_ como se puede eCarecer y avnque llegaran muy travajados se +rrepararon lo mejor q_e_ ser pudo p_a_ q_e_ hiziesen ttorna viaje +a esa nueua spana y el mismo Cont_o_ se Reciuio con el auer llegado +d_n_ p_o_ deluna conel nauio SpirituSanto y asi se despacharon delos +tres los dos El ano pasado y pasales tarde hallaron en la mar tpos +contr_o_s y les fue forcado a Ribar y asi saldran aora med_te_. nro +Senor a principio del mes de Julio deste ano de 1573. + +a los 20. de ag_o_ del ano pasado de 1572. fue nro Senor seruido +de llevar p_a_ si al gouernador miguel lopez de legaspi murio +rrepentinam_te_. aviendosse aquel dia leuantado sano en su scriptorio +se hallo Vna prouj_on_. de su mag_d_. librada por esa rreal avd_a_. en +el tiempo q_e_ tubo en si el gouierno por muerte del vissorrey d_n_ +luis de vel_co_ e la q_e_ senalaron subcesores del Cargo de miguel +lopez y al que Pertinecio de presente fue al thes_o_. guido delabasaris +y asi se le entrega el gouierno por el mr_e_. de Campo y officiales +de su mag_d_. y por el cavildo dela ciudad y otros officiales y todo +esta pacifico y e seruicio de su mag_d_ + +De Presente Residimos en esta ciudad de manila e la ysla de Luzon +que es lo mejor destos distritos el gouer_or_. pasado y el presente +Repartieron la trra y moradores della q_e_ estan pacificos y asise +yra rrepartiendo lo q_e_ se pacificare ase hecho tasacion delo q_e_ +Cada tributa_o_ a se dar e Vn ano que es vna manta de algodon de q_e_ +ay mucha abundancia en esta ysla de diez varas de largo y dos de +ancho es rropa de que vsan los naturales p_a_ bestirse delgada asi +mismo an de dar dosa_s_. de arroz y vna gallina entiendese lo daran +sin pesadunbre porla mucha abundancia q_e_ de todo tienen ay mucha +jente, asi se entiende seran alg_o_s muy principales Repartimientos +de mucha Renta. + +en esta ysla ay muchas minas de oro y pte dellas sean Visto por +espanoles y dizen que las labran los naturales como en la nueua spana, +las minas de plata y el metal lleua su veta seguida como la plata an +hecho dello ensayes y aCude atanta rriqueza q_e_ no lo scriuo porq_e_ +no entiendan que me a largo el tpo descubrira la verdad. + +deste oro Vsan Los naturales y lo mezclan con metal de Cobre tan +sutil m_te_. que enganaran alos diestros artifices despana. + +Anse desCubierto enesta trra muchos grangeros y asi se entiende los +abra y la mejor contr_on_ q_e_ auido ni sea desCubierto en todas +las yndias. + +De Vn ano a esta pte, binieron al puerto desta ciudad tres naujos +dela china y a las yslas comarcanas otros 5. y los que aqui llegaron +traxeron mr_ca_s. delos q_e_ vsan entre ellos como lo suelen hazer +de ord_o_. ay poco Camino desde esta ysla ala trrafirme tardose en +nauegar Como 8. dias. + +Como estos naujos llegaran a la Vista del puerto desde la mar +ebiaron a pedir seguro el gouer_or_. se lo dio y se les hizo muy buen +tratami_to_. traxeron alg_o_s menudencias avnque poca Cantidad porque +los naturales con quien principalm_te_. bienen a Contratar lo q_e_ +comunm_te_. Vsan y p_a_ ellos se trae son tinajas grandes y boca basta +hierro Cobre estano y otras cosas a su modo y p_a_ los principales +alg_o_s piecas de seda y porcelanas finas y esto no delo muy Curioso +p_a_ espanoles traxeron alguna locafina y otras Cosas lo q_l_ Vendieron +muy bien porque alos que aqui estamos nos sobra dineros y a los chinos +les falta q Vender fueron tan engolosinados q_e_ cierto bolberan de +aqui a 6. o 7. meses y traeran Cosas muy Curiosas y e mucha abundancia. + +traxeron muestra de muchos generos de Cosas q_e_ ay e su trra p_a_ +entender el precio en que los podran vender como es azogue, polbora +pimienta Canela fina clauo acucar hierro Cobre estano laton sedas +texidos de muchos suertes y en madexas rrexalgar alCanfor loca +de diferentes suertes rrica naranjas dulces y otros mill generos y +menud_a_s q_e_ no traen mas los flamencos asi mismo traxeron ymagenes +de crusificos y sellos muy Curiosos en que se asentar a nro modo la +Causa desta Venida demas dela ord_a_ que ellos tienen fue alg_o_s +chinos q_e_ an estado entre nosotros y eran esclauos y se les dio +liuertad y pasaje p_a_ su trra los q_a_les dieron noticia, desta +poblacion ala qual podian venir con seguridad y Contratar con liuertad +y Paz a entender esto vinieron Con los naujos y Cosas ya rreferidos. + +ase entendido que esta gente son muy delicados e su contrat_on_. traxe +y Costumbres y Cada dia se entendera mas porque ay alg_o_s V_o_s desto +poblacion q_e_ son naturales dela china de quien se etiende ques trra +muy rrica y poblada y que el rrey tiene muy buena orden de guerra y sus +fronteros muy fortificados con muchos fuercas y artilleria y gente, +de guarnicion y Cuidado enellos dizen que desde la ciudad de Canton +ques Vna delas mas fuertes poblaciones dela maritima de trrafirme ay +distancia de Camino de Vn ano p_a_ llegar a paquin ques donde esta el +Rey esto se entiende por trra costa a Costa y enel Cami_o_ ay muchas +poblaciones de Ciudades muy populosas pero si su mag_d_. fuese seruido +se podria allanar y Conquistar con menos de 60 espanoles buena gente. + +Otros menudencias auia de q_e_dar Razon de Xolo se hazer porque se +entenderan delo que van en estos naujos lo mas esencial delas Cosas +desta trra es lo q_e_ tengo rreferido el dia de oy a Cont_o_ enella +porlo mucho q_e_ promete la rr queza y contrataciones todo sea p_a_ +servir a nro s_r_. + +Rel_on_ delo q traen los dos nauios q Vinieron delas yslas del +poni_te_ y otros Cosas q_e_ a esto toca q_e_ se ponen p_a_ q_e_ +mejor se entienda la Calidad de aquellos prouj_a_s. + +448. marcos de oro de diferentes quilates. + +712 p_a_s de todas suertes desedas. + +312 q_e_s de canela. + +22U300 p_a_s de loca fina dorada y de otras suertes. + +11U300 m_a_s de algodon q_e_ cada vna vale a 2 p_a_s de oro Comun +y mas. + +930 a_s_ de cera q_e_ Cada a_a_ vale 15 p_o_s de oro Comun. + +334 a_s_ de hilo de algodon q_e_ Cada a_a_ vale a 17. y 20 p_o_s del +dho oro. + +otras muchas Cosas de menudencias traen q_e_ no sea valian por no +entenderselos precios dellos. + +en otro nauio q esta a la Carga, y se espera Cada dia se etiende + +Vendra mucha Cantidad de todos las Cosas q_e_ estos dos naujos +traxeron. + +Para sus mag_d_s. En Particular ebian deaquellos prouj_a_s. muchos +joyas y Coronas de oro sedas porcelana y tinajas rricas y otras +Cosas muy Primas q_e_ los Principales ebian en reConocimi_o_ de su +vasallaje y por premicias deaquella trra de Presento se alistan dos +naujos en que Yran 200 Soldados de socorro enel entre tanto q_e_ se +adrecan mas naujos en que se entiende yra gran Cantidad de gente, +segun a sonado esta bu_a_ nueua la q_l_ se ebia a su mag_d_. por +dos duplicados en diferentes naujos q_e_ nra senor lleue ensaluo, +de mex_o_ xj de henero 1574. a_o_s + +[_Endorsed at beginning_: "Rel_on_ De Las nueuas quescriuen delas +yslas del poni_te_ herDo rrequel scriu_o_ degouernacion dellas y otros +Cuyos Cartas binieron e Vno de dos nauios que partieron del puerto +de manila a primero del mes de Julio de 1573. a_o_s y surgio enel +puerto de Acapulco desta nueua spana, a 15. de nouj_e_. del dho ano."] + +[_Endorsed at end_: "Nuebas Delas yslas phelipp_a_s." _In another +hand_: "anos 1573 y 1574 Noticias de las Yslas del poniente hoy +Filipinas y de la china escritas por Hernando Requel Secretario de +la Gobernacion de ellas, y otros en el ano de 1573. enviadas desde +Mexico el ano 1574. adonde las dirigio."] + + + + +News from the Western Islands by Hernando Riquel and Others + + +I have always given advices of affairs hereabout, and therefore do so +at the present, referring to some things which have happened since +I last wrote--a letter sent by the last ships which arrived in that +kingdom in the year 1570. I will mention the most notable events, +leaving other and unimportant matters for other writers who may be +less occupied than I; and I refer you to the captains, passengers, +and other persons who go in these ships. + +On the seventeenth of November of the year 1570, the governor Miguel +Lopez de Legaspi left the river of Panai for Cubie. [80] According +to the orders given him by his Majesty, he established a town of +fifty inhabitants, to whom he allotted repartimientos of Indians, +[81] with the approbation of the provincial, Fray Martin de Herrada, +and of the master-of-camp and the captains. + +After establishing this town [82] he returned to Panae, where, after +his arrival, he remained until he prepared for the expedition to +Manila--a city in the island of Luzon, and at present the principal +settlement and camp of his Majesty. He set out on the sixteenth +of April of the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-one, +on Easter Monday. They embarked on the galley called "La Leona de +Espana," completed in that season. On the way, they were detained +thirty-two days before arriving at the said town of Manila. Before +arriving there, and at about four leagues' distance, there came a +spy sent by the chiefs to ascertain the purpose of the Spaniards in +going thither. He was told by the governor that his purpose was one +wholly of peace and friendship; and that, in order to confer about +this more conveniently, and further to please the chiefs and natives, +he was coming in person. The spy appeared greatly pleased at this, and +then it was explained how the governor happened to go there, as has +been said. He was well satisfied thereat, and, having received some +presents from his Lordship, he returned to his people. The governor +continued his voyage toward the port, with a mild and favoring wind. As +the spy had not yet returned, the people of the town, as soon as they +perceived us, commenced to set the houses on fire. As soon as the spy +came, he made them put out the fire, explaining that our purpose was +peaceful. They were thus reassured, and the chiefs--the aged Rraxa +[Raja], Aljandora, Maguno, Marlanavay, and Salelaxa, the principal men +of that land--prepared to come to receive us on the way. Raxa Soliman, +through fear on account of what he did last year, did not accompany +the others. When the governor learned that he did not come because of +fear, he sent him by these chiefs assurance of safety. On the following +day he came, but displayed continual fear. He excused himself for the +past with fluency and adroitness; and, according to the reasons which +he gave, there was no guilt in his actions. "As you already know, +there is no king and no sole authority in this land; but everyone +holds his own view and opinion, and does as he prefers. There were +some persons more powerful than I, for, without license from me, they +violated the peace and friendship, thus obliging me to be guilty of a +lapse of duty. But if it had not been done in this wise, and they had +done it with my approbation and advice, I would merit punishment. If +I were king of this land, instead of being only the master of my own +estate, the word I had given would not have been broken. But as this +depended on the many, I could not, nor can I henceforth, do more than +personally endeavor that my subjects and friends keep the peace and +friendship that was established." When the governor understood the +cause, he granted general pardon for the past, charging that now +and in the future the promises made must be fulfilled. Therefore, +in the name of his Majesty, he granted full grace. Because of these +and other reasons, and by means of many presents, this Raja and all +the other chiefs were satisfied, and peace was well established. A +camp was formed in the land, and we have established a settlement, +as well as we could; and every day more is being accomplished. + +On the day of Pentecost there came to the shore of this settlement +certain Moros of the region hereabout, some seventy in number, and +with as many boats; they sent word to the governor that they came +to fight with his troops. He replied that they must consider well +what they were doing, as he was not willing to command that they +be killed, or to inflict any harm upon them. On the contrary, he +offered asylum and right of residence, that they might freely carry +on their traffic. Many other arguments, promises, and presents were +given them, and Christian exhortations made; but to no effect, for +they stubbornly grew more boisterous. At this, the governor commanded +that the master-of-camp, Martin de Goyti, should attack them. This the +latter did with exceeding promptness, taking with him such troops as +he chose. They embarked on several of the ships which had been made +ready, leaving orders that the soldiers whom he had designated should +follow him. They proceeded to a place marked by certain estuaries, +to engage the enemy in naval battle. This was done, and the enemy +were completely defeated; and they surrendered after inflicting but +little injury upon the Spaniards, notwithstanding the great force of +the enemy, and their many pieces of artillery. When they saw that they +were conquered by so few Christians, they were astonished; and fear was +inspired in all the natives of the country, who hold the Moros in high +estimation. By this success, the country remained quiet for some time. + +After this earnest efforts were made to come to friendly terms with the +natives, and they were told of the treatment which had been accorded +to the first ones. Several of those who had not been in this group +declared that they desired no peace or friendship with the governor, +or with his people; nor did they wish even to see or hear them, as +no profit resulted to them thereby. On this account arguments were +given pro and con; and in view of their obstinacy it was necessary to +undertake to subdue them. This was done in many places, especially +in a well-populated province named Panpagan [Pampanga], near this +city of Manila. Demands and admonitions were given to all that they +should render obedience to his Majesty. Those who refused to do so, +it was necessary to fight and subdue, which was accomplished without +much damage. + +When the affairs of this country were in this condition, the +governor heard of the arrival of two ships, the "Santiago" and the +"San Juan." This caused universal satisfaction; and although the +ships arrived in a bad condition, they were repaired as well as they +could be, in order to make the return voyage to that Nueva Spana. The +same pleasure was experienced at the coming of Don Pedro de Luna [83] +in the ship "Spiritu Santo." Of the three ships, two were despatched +last year; but on account of their late departure they experienced +stormy weather on the sea, and were compelled to put into port +again. Accordingly, God willing, they will sail at the beginning of +the month of July of this year, 1573. + +On the twentieth of August of the past year, 1572, our Lord was +pleased to call to Himself the governor, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. He +died suddenly, having that day arisen in good health. In his cabinet +a provision of his Majesty was found, issued by that royal Audiencia +during his administration, on account of the death of the viceroy, +Don Luis de Velasco. Therein were designated the successors of Miguel +Lopez; and the office at this time fell to the treasurer, Guido +de Labasaris. The authority was therefore delivered to him by the +master-of-camp, his Majesty's officers, the cabildo of the city, and +other officials. Everything is at peace and at his Majesty's service. + +At present we reside in this city of Manila, in this island of +Luzon, which is the most important of these districts. Both the +former and the present governor apportioned the land, and the +inhabitants thereof who were pacified. Thus as the land is subdued, +it will be divided. Taxation is imposed in such a manner that every +tributario must pay annually a piece of cotton cloth, which is very +abundant in these islands. It must be ten [?] varas [84] in length +and two varas wide. It is a thin cloth used by the natives for their +clothing. Moreover, there must also be given two arrobas of rice, +and one hen. It must be understood that this can be levied without +difficulty, as there is an abundance thereof, and everyone possesses +these articles. There are many people, so it is evident that there +will be some very important repartimientos, yielding good profit. + +In this island, there are many gold mines, some of which have been +inspected by the Spaniards, who say that the natives work them as is +done in Nueva Spana with the mines of silver; and, as in those mines, +the vein of ore here is continuous. Assays have been made, yielding +so great wealth, that I shall not endeavor to describe them, lest I +be suspected of lying. [85] Time will prove the truth. + +The natives use this gold and mix it with copper, so cleverly as to +deceive the best artisans of Espana. + +Many traders have been encountered in this land; so, it is plain, +the country will have them and the best trade which has been or may +be discovered in all the Yndias. + +A year ago there came to the port of this city three ships from +China, and to the neighboring islands five more. Those which came +here brought merchandise such as is used among the Chinese, and such +as they bring here ordinarily. The distance from this island to the +mainland is not great, the voyage lasting about eight days. + +When those ships came in sight of the port, they sent from the sea to +ask for assurance of safety. The governor granted it, and they were +treated very well. They brought some trifles, although but a small +quantity, as the natives, with whom they come principally to trade, +commonly use, and for them are brought only large earthern jars, common +crockery, iron, copper, tin, and other things of that kind. For the +chiefs, they brought a few pieces of silks and fine porcelain; but +these goods are not especially out of the common. For the Spaniards +they brought some fine ware and other articles, which they readily +sold, since we who are here have plenty of money, and the Chinese need +it. They are so delighted that they will surely return in six or seven +months, and will bring a great abundance of many very rare articles. + +They brought specimens of many kinds of goods peculiar to their +country, in order to arrange the price at which they can be sold--such +as quicksilver, powder, pepper, fine cinnamon, cloves, sugar, iron, +copper, tin, brass, silks in textiles of many kinds and in skeins, +realgar, [86] camphor, various kinds of crockery, luscious and sweet +oranges; and a thousand other goods and trifles quite as many as the +Flemings bring. Moreover, they brought images of crucifixes and very +curious seals, made like ours. The cause of this unusual visit is +that freedom, and passage to their own country, were given to some +Chinese who were slaves among us; those people spread the news of +this settlement, where they could come with safety and trade freely; +accordingly they came, with the ships and goods to which we have +already referred. + +It must be understood that those people are very peculiar in their +traffic, costume, and customs; every day this is more evident, since +some of the inhabitants of this city are natives of China. From them +it is learned that the land is very rich and thickly populated. The +king is well prepared for war and the frontiers are well fortified +with many forts with artillery and garrisons wherein strict watch +is kept. They say that from the city of Canton, one of the strongest +towns on the coast of the mainland, there is a distance of one year's +travel before arriving at Paquin [Pekin], the residence of the king; +this means from coast to coast of the land. There are many very +populous cities on the way, but if his Majesty would be pleased So +to command, they could be subdued and conquered with less than sixty +good Spanish soldiers. + +There are a few other small matters to be mentioned concerning Xolo, +which will be made clear by what is sent in these ships. The matter +most essential to this country is what I have already referred to +today, regarding trade. May the good prospect of riches and traffic +be all to the service of our Lord. + +_Relation of what was brought by the two ships which came from the +islands of the West, and other things referring thereto given that +the resources of those provinces may be better understood._ [87] + +448 marcos of gold, of different degrees of purity. + +712 pieces of all kinds of silks. + +312 quintals of cinnamon. + +22,300 pieces of fine gilt china, and of other kinds of porcelain ware. + +11,300 pieces of cotton cloth, each worth 2 pesos or more of common +gold. + +930 arrobas of wax, each arroba worth 15 pesos of common gold. + +334 arrobas of cotton thread, each arroba worth 17 to 20 pesos of +said gold. + +Many other small articles were brought, the value of which cannot be +given as it is not known. + +By another ship which is now being loaded and which we expect every +day, it is understood that there will come a large quantity of all +the goods which these two ships have brought. + +For their Majesties individually, are sent from those provinces many +jewels and crowns of gold, with silks, porcelains, rich and large +earthen jars, and other very excellent things which are sent by the +chiefs in token of their allegiance. For the first fruits of that land +two ships are being prepared in which reenforcements of two hundred +soldiers will be sent. In the meantime, more ships are being prepared +in which it is understood that many people will sail. This good news +is forwarded to his Majesty by two duplicates in different ships, +which, may it please our Lord, may arrive in safety. From Mexico, +January xj, 1574. + +[_Endorsed at beginning._ "Relation of the news written from the +islands of the West, by Hernando Rrequel, government notary thereof, +and others, whose letters came in one of two ships which left the port +of Manila on the first of the month of July, 1573, and anchored at +the port of Acapulco of this Nueva Spana on November 15 of said year."] + +[_Endorsed at end:_ "News of the Phelippinas Islands." _In another +hand:_ "1573, 1574. Information about the Western (now Filipinas) +Islands and China, written by Hernando Requel, government notary +thereof, and others in the year 1573; sent from Mexico in 1574, +whence he addressed them."] + + + + +Two Royal Decrees + + + +Bestowing Titles on Manila and Luzon + + +Don Phelipe, by the grace of God, etc. + +Inasmuch as we have been informed by the council and by the +judicial and executive departments of the city of Manila, in the +island of Luzon of the West, that the citizens and inhabitants of +the said city have served us with much faithfulness and loyalty, +and have endured great hardships; and that, after the said island +was discovered and pacified, and the said city founded therein, +the governor, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (now defunct), in our name, +gave to the latter the title and designation _Ynsigne e siempre +leal Cibdad_, ["Distinguished and ever loyal City"], and to the said +island of Luzon that of _Nuevo Reyno de Castilla_ ["New Kingdom of +Castilla"]; and inasmuch as supplication has been made to us, for +the greater welfare of the said city and the perpetual remembrance +of the services of its citizens, that we order the confirmation +of the said title _Insigne e siempre leal Cibdad de Manila_, and +to the said island of Luzon that of _Nuevo Reyno de Castilla_, and +that it might be our will that they be so designated and named, or +however else might be our pleasure: now therefore, we, after careful +consideration of the above, and of the good and loyal services that +the said city and its citizens have rendered us, do regard favorably +the above supplication; and by the present we do confirm and approve, +to the said city of Manila, the title _Insigne e siempre leal Cibdad_, +given it, in our name, by the said governor, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi; +and to the said island of Luzon, the said title and appellation _Nuevo +Reyno de Castilla_. And we do consent that the said city of Manila +bear forever the designation and title _Insigne e siempre leal_, and +the said island of Luzon that of _Nuevo Reyno de Castilla_, which we, +by this, our decree, grant as title and appellation, with leave and +permission to be so designated and called as abovesaid, and to place +the same on any or all documents that are drawn up and contracted, +and on all letters that are written. And we do hereby order the same, +under our hand and seal, and with the confirmation of my Council of +the Indies. Given at Madrid on the twenty-first day of June, in the +year one thousand five hundred and seventy-four. + +_I The King_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Registered."] + + + + + + +Granting to Manila the Office of Corredor de Lonxa for the Estates +of the City + +Don Felipe by the grace of God, etc. + +Inasmuch as we are aware of the services which the city of Manila +in the island of Luzon, entitled _el nuevo Reyno de Castilla_ ["the +new Kingdom of Castilla"], and its citizens and inhabitants, have +rendered us; and considering our desire for its honorable increase +and colonization: it is our pleasure to bestow upon the said city of +Manila, as we do, by this present, the office of _corredor de Lonxa_ +[88] thereof, for the estates of the city, for such time, and no more, +as may be our pleasure. And it is our wish that in said office be +vested the jurisdiction and administration of the same according to +and in such manner as our corredores de Lonxa have exercised and do +exercise it, in the cities, towns, and villages of these our kingdoms +and seigniories, as well as in those of our Indias, islands, and +Tierra-Firme of the Ocean Sea; we will also that there be appointed +for said office of corredor de Lonxa, the person or persons whom the +city may see fit to appoint; and that the said person or persons +through the said appointment, and by virtue of this, our decree, +shall be authorized to enjoy and exercise the said office in all cases +and matters pertaining to it, in such wise as the other corredores de +Lonxa of the other cities, towns, and villages of these our kingdoms, +and of our aforesaid Indias, enjoy and exercise it. And they shall +enjoy the income and fees annexed and pertaining to the said office, +provided that the income which said persons shall give each year be +for the estates of said city, to be expended and distributed for +the common welfare of the same, and not for any other thing--for +which purpose we direct the present decree to be given, signed by +my hand and countersigned by our secretary. Madrid, June twenty-one, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-four. + +_I The King_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Registered."] + + + + + +Opinion of Fray Martin de Rada on Tribute from the Indians + + +Most Illustrious Lord: + +Your Lordship [89] asks me to give, in writing, my opinion of affairs +in this land; and to invent a remedy which shall result more to the +service of God, our Lord, and of his Majesty, and to the security of +the consciences of those who live in this land. I say the same that +I said lately in conversation with your Lordship, when your Lordship +asked me in the autumn whether it would be right that the Indians +should give tribute. I told your Lordship that I had determined to call +an assembly of all the religious that were in this land, so that all +of us in common could discuss the affairs of the country. Until then, +it did not seem to me that any change should be made, except that the +Spaniards should raise tribute by similar methods to those employed +farther down on the coast--namely, a small amount of rice, equivalent +to seventy gantas, [90] and a piece of cloth, for each Indian giving +tribute. Having assented to this--although some religious, and that +rightly, have found fault with the tribute, both in the pulpit and in +the confessional, and in other and private discussions--I waited until +all should come here, and the conference should be called as I desired, +in order that everything might be better reasoned out. Seeing now the +great delay of some, and that we would have to leave this town--some +alone, and others in company--have taken the opinion of all the fathers +who were to be found here. They unanimously affirm that none among +all these islands have come into the power of the Spaniards with just +title. For, although there are many and just causes for making war +on some nations or towns, no governor or captain can do so without +an express mandate for it from his Majesty, excepting only that war +which is waged in defense of their persons and property, others being +unjustly undertaken; since neither in the first instructions that we +received, nor in later ones, has his Majesty ordered us to make war +on the natives of these islands. Rather did he order the contrary, +in a letter that Juan de la Isla brought from his Majesty, written +from the Escorial to the governor (who is now in glory), and which I +saw. That letter declared that any conquest made in these islands by +force of arms, would be unjust, even if there were cause for doing +so. All the more unjust are these conquests that in none, or almost +none, of them has there been any cause. For as your Lordship knows, +we have gone everywhere with the mailed hand; and we have required the +people to be friends, and then to give us tribute. At times war has +been declared against them, because they did not give as much as was +demanded. And if they would not give tribute, but defended themselves, +then they have been attacked, and war has been carried on with fire +and sword; and even on some occasions, after the people have been +killed and destroyed, and their village taken, the Spaniards have +sent men to summon them to make peace. And when the Indians, in order +not to be destroyed, came to say that they would like to be friends, +the Spaniards have immediately asked them for tribute, as they have +done but recently in all the villages of Los Camarines. [91] And +wherever the Indians, through fear of the Spaniards, have left their +houses and fled to the mountains, our people have burned the houses +or inflicted other great injuries. I omit mention of the villages +that are robbed without awaiting peace, or those assaulted in the +night-time. Pretexts have been seized to subjugate all these villages, +and levy tribute on them, to such amount as can be secured. With what +conscience has a future tribute been asked from them, before they +knew us, or before they have received any benefit from us? With what +right have three extortions, of large amounts of gold, been made on +the Ylocos, without holding any other communication or intercourse +with them, beyond going there, and demanding gold of them, and +then returning? And I say the same of Los Camarines and of Acuyo, +and the other villages that are somewhat separated from the Spanish +settlements. In all this is it not clear that tribute is unjustly +raised? Likewise he who sends them for it or orders it, as also the +captain in the first place, next the soldiers and those taking part +in it, and those who advise it; and those who, being able to, do not +prevent it; and those who, being able to make restitution, do not do +so--all these together, and each person individually, are entirely +responsible for all injury. And it is the same in the villages in +the neighborhood of the Spanish settlements; because, although they +may have some religious instruction, and under the shelter of the +Spanish are safe from their enemies, and some injuries which have +been done them have been redressed, they do not fail to receive great +molestation and injury through the continual presence of the Spaniards, +and never-ending embarcations. Finally, they were free, and, to speak +openly, not reduced to vassalage. And when base and foundation fail, +all that is built thereon is defective--all the more as the Indians are +not protected from their enemies, nor maintained in justice, as they +should be. Many piracies go on as before, and those most thoroughly +subdued suffer the worst, because, being robbed by others who are not +so subject, they are given neither any satisfaction nor allowed to +secure it for themselves. And there is not sufficient reason for his +Majesty to have ordered that the land shall be allotted and divided +into encomiendas; because his Majesty was ill informed, as appears +by his own letter, since he had been assured that, without any war, +they had of their own accord become his Majesty's vassals. Therefore it +seems to have been entirely against his Majesty's will. If at any time +we have been of opinion that the land should be allotted, as indeed +it now seems to us, or likewise if the land is to be maintained, it +was and is to avoid greater injury and robberies, which are committed +without any remedy, when there are no repartimientos. Therefore, only +one thing now works injury. We are trying to render the land orderly, +and not turbulent as it was before, when no one knew anything about +it. Even now some of the Spaniards treat the natives very ill. More +than all, the tribute which is now raised (three maez [mace] for each +Indian) is excessive, in our opinion, considering what we saw from the +beginning among them and our intercourse with them, and our knowledge +of their labors, and of the tools with which they cultivate the ground, +and their great difficulty in supporting themselves--for they even +live a part of the year on roots; and the common people can scarcely +obtain a robe with which to clothe themselves. Whence it happens that, +at the time of collecting the tribute, some of them demolish their +houses--which at the least would be worth as much as the tribute +itself, if they should be sold--and go into hiding, in order not to +pay the tribute. They say that afterward they will return to build, +with the labor of a month or two, another house. From others it is +necessary to demand the tribute with arquebuses and other weapons, and +men, in order to make them give it; and most of them it is necessary +to imprison to make them provide the tribute. Therefore most of the +owners of encomiendas maintain stocks, in which they keep as prisoners +the chiefs or _timaguas_ [freemen] who do not supply the amount of +the tribute from their slaves when they themselves cannot obtain it +from the latter. Thus, considering all this and other inconveniences, +that, in order not to go into greater details, I do not set down, +it was the opinion of the majority of the fathers, that--even if the +whole affair were justified, and the Indians maintained in peace, +justice, and religious instruction--for the present, and until the +Indians have other opportunities, and other and better tools to +cultivate the land, and until the land is more fertile, all that +is taken from each Indian, in general, above the value of one maez, +in food and raiment, is cruelty, and oppresses them too heavily. + +Your Lordship should consider that in Nueva Espana, the Indians at +first gave nothing but food (then worth a great deal) and service. And +all times are not alike, for now they can give little, but in course +of time, the earth growing more fertile, they can give more; so that +what is collected of all this that the Indians now, in strict justice, +do not owe, and that which until now has been raised, has been unjustly +raised, on account of the evil way in which these Indians have been +conquered, and because his Majesty's orders regarding them have not +been obeyed. + +And because your Lordship asks my opinion as to what ought to be +done, I say that, considering that the land is already subjugated and +divided into repartimientos--and for many reasons which, in order not +to be prolix, I omit--there is no reason to abandon it, since it is +very necessary that those who reside here should be supported. Your +Lordship ought, in the opinion of the majority of the captains, to send +his Majesty a true, simple, and clear report, without dissimulations, +of the methods that have been adopted in all this conquest; and of its +present condition, and the methods adopted in collecting the tributes, +so that his Majesty, as a thorough Christian, may decree what is to +be done in the matter. In the meanwhile, the least amount of tribute +possible should be taken for the support of all, considering that it +is not owed; and those who have repartimientos should support those +who have not. It seems to me that if the tributes should be regulated +to the one maez of food and raiment for each Indian, which I spoke +of above, there will be sufficient for both classes if our people aid +themselves with other profits that may be obtained. In order that this +may be collected with some tribute, your Lordship should in every way +try to protect these natives, and to do them justice; and to abolish +abuses and punish pirates, etc. We on our part, shall do what we can +to aid them, instructing them in our holy faith. Since this is my +opinion I sign it with my name. Done at San Pablo of Manila, on the +twenty-first of June, one thousand five hundred and seventy-four. + +_Fray Martin de Rrada_ + +[_Endorsed_: "These opinions are to be kept on file, in order that +they may be passed upon by the Council."] + + + + +Reply to Fray Rada's Opinion + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +Replying to the opinion that was given by the father provincial, Fray +Martin de Rada, of the order of St. Augustine, on affairs in this land, +and on the raising of tribute from its natives, we confess that it was +zealously done, in the service of God, our Lord, and for the security +of our consciences. In this estimation we hold and repute him. But, +as sometimes the very wise are misled--now through too great zeal, and +again by their ignorance of some things, which if they had understood +fully, they would not have been misled--we shall not fail to point +out in the "Opinion," certain things which we consider harsh, harmful +to this whole community, and very prejudicial to the development +of this land. Taking up the principal point to be answered in the +"Opinion"--namely, that his Majesty was ill informed of the affairs +of this land, as thus appears by his letter which Captain Juan de +la Ysla brought, we affirm that it is very erroneous. For what his +Majesty says in his letter is the same of which report was made before +he wrote it, and the same which was occurring when the report was +made of the affairs of this land, and so to say, more clear, public, +and notorious--namely, that the governor (who is now in glory), when +he entered this land, entered it in peace, inviting to his friendship +all the natives. Thus in the island of Ybabao which was the first of +these Filipinas islands of which possession was taken, Indians came +to the ships from the shore, who made friends and rendered obedience +to his Majesty. These came of their own will, to make friends, and at +the first, before any bartering of food and other small articles was +made, and without anything of their possessions being asked. The same +was done on the river Calayan, where were Captain Andres de Ybarra +and father Fray Diego de Herrera. Peace was made, and nothing was +asked or taken from them; and they remained friends. And although +in the island of Ybabao certain Indians treacherously killed there +Francisco Gomez and another Spaniard, no war was made upon them for +that reason. Rather the governor was always calling for peace from +all the natives of the islands where he went, without making war +on anyone. So in Bohol the chiefs gave their obedience, and came to +the ships of their own will. From that place a contingent was sent +to Butuan to make friends with the chief. Captain Juan de la Ysla +and that same father provincial went there and made friends with +Limanpao, lord of Butuan. From there they went to Cubu, where they +summoned and from the small boats invited the natives to make peace, +proclaiming for two or three days the summons, until those natives +shot arrows from the shore at those in the boats, who were continuing +to summon them peaceably to make peace. Therefore father Fray Andres +de Urdaneta, he who was calling upon them for peace, made a harangue +to the people, saying that they were apostates, and that war could be +made against them legitimately. The governor disembarked there, with +the opposition of the natives. After having planted a colony there, +many Indians of the neighborhood, and even those of Cubu, came in peace +to render him obedience. Thus a true report was made to his Majesty, +for many Indians became friendly in these islands and made submission +without war being waged upon them. Nor would it have been made against +any others, without first quietly and pacifically calling for peace, +making much of them, and giving them clothes, articles of barter, +food, and other small articles, which they asked for. If afterward any +occasion arose for making war for the pacification of the friendly +Indians who were disturbed by the others who were not friendly, +it cannot be said on that account that a false report was made to +his Majesty; for whatever was going on in the land at our arrival +there has been written to him, and true reports of what has happened +have always been sent him. Therefore, by the above, it is clear and +manifest that true and faithful reports have been made to his Majesty. + +The "Opinion" says further that no land among all these islands has +come with a just title into the power of the Spaniards. To this we +have only to reply that we came to these districts by his Majesty's +order, and therefore are here, obeying his royal mandate; and, as +we are not lawyers, we shall cease discussing the justice, title, +or cause that his Majesty has or can have in these islands. In what +concerns the robberies and injuries that have been committed (if any +have been) in this land, the natives have given the occasion for it, +some of them being traitors and breaking the peace, as they have +broken it at different times, especially in this city of Manila. The +master-of-camp, Martin de Goiti, having come hither the first time and +entered in peace, and having made and ratified it with the rajas of +Manila, without the Spaniards on their part giving them any occasion, +the natives tried to kill the latter, discharging at them five or +six pieces of artillery, the greater part of which hit the junk on +which was the said master-of-camp. Thus the Spaniards were forced +in self-defense to fight and enter the city, as it was entered. And, +if the city was burned, it was for the security of the few Spaniards +who had entered it, that the natives might not attack them among +houses closely joined together. The same natives confessed that they +themselves had begun the war. Further, as for assaulting villages +at night, this has been done in the case of rebellious villages that +defied the Spaniards. It was necessary for the security of our friends +to break and crush their pride, to avoid greater evil. If some have +gone to excess in this matter, it is the individual excess which casts +blame on the community in general, because the instructions that the +governors have given and do give, whenever any expedition is made, +are Christian in tone, and quite in conformity with those which they +have from his Majesty. If sometimes the commanders have inflicted +injury or waged any war, it is because the malice of the natives is +so great, that wherever they sally out in war, with their ambuscades +and other treacheries they provoke the Spaniards to self-defense. If +the latter go with the mailed hand, it is for the security of their +own persons; for, if they were unarmed and unprepared, the natives +would kill them--as they have done to many Spaniards whom they have +caught astray and alone, killing them and practicing great cruelties +upon them. Therefore it is necessary to go everywhere with weapons in +hand, for the security of the Spaniards; for there is so little justice +and reason among these natives, and they never obey one another, or +have lords or headmen among them, but all sorts of disorders, clans, +and factions. Before the Spaniards came hither, the natives killed +one another in their own villages for very slight causes. Wherefore +it is clear that wherever the Spaniards go, they must go ready and +prepared to defend themselves, as they are but few among many infidels, +and loyal among traitors. Therefore it is a perfectly good argument +to say that wherever they go they go with weapons in hand. As to +the matter of maintaining the natives in peace and justice, it is +a just one. Therefore we try in every way to protect those who are +friendly to us. Those who are in the neighborhood of the Spaniards +are very well protected and defended--not only from their enemies, who +aforetime were wont to make war on them, but even from their servants +and the members of their households, who among them were wont to kill, +punish, and enslave one another, a thing not done now. And if this is +done in any remote district, it is in places in which, on account of +their remoteness, no remedy can be had from the Spaniards. Thus it is +of great use and profit that the Spaniards have come to the natives +hereabout, on account of the security that they have from one another, +and because they have free recourse to their trade and interests +without being hindered or robbed by any one. They were not accustomed +to this security before the Spaniards came hither, because it is a +thing publicly known and notorious that even in their own houses they +were captured and robbed. They were not free to go fishing on the sea +without being captured. Now not only are they safe in their houses, +but they go safely to different places, without any harm being done +them. If there are piracies, they are very far from this town and +in places where the Spaniards do not go. It is a very ancient custom +that the natives had among themselves, of capturing, robbing, killing, +and imprisoning one another. Now there are few injuries committed, in +comparison with what used to be committed before the Spaniards came +here. Every day there will be fewer, because we are ever striving +to take and punish such pirates, as today there were some taken in +this town. In regard to the tribute that has been raised, and the +amount of tribute in gold that is collected from Los Ylocos and Los +Camarines, without giving them any greater benefit than going there +and collecting the tribute, it is a matter clearly to be understood, +that, for the support of those who live in this land, it is quite +necessary that the natives assist with tribute as they do in the +other part of the Indies. They are not considered friends, nor do they +have any security, without first having paid the tribute--which is, +in proportion to their condition and wealth, very little; and which +they are willing to give gladly and without compulsion. In each +island, district, and village, the natives give what they please, +for in some places they give provisions, and in others wax, cloth, +and other things which they obtain from their harvests. To them +it is little, and almost nothing, because they have those things +abundantly. If gold has been collected from the Ylocos and the +Camarines, it is because the land is very rich in mines, and because +they have great quantities of gold. Cloth and provisions are worth +more to them than in other districts, and so the natives would rather +give the tribute in gold, of which they have an abundance, than in +cloth and provisions, which they lack. If up to this time the said +districts and villages have not been settled, it is on account of +having so few men in the land and because it is not possible to +do anything else. Moreover, Captain Juan de Salcedo has already +settled in Los Ylocos, has built a village there, and has a cleric +to instruct them in the tenets of our holy Catholic faith; and he +made a settlement in Los Camarines shortly after they were pacified +and discovered. Although we have not gained a complete knowledge of +the nature of the land and settling it, because Spaniards are going +about everywhere still, exploring and making an end of pacifying +it. When there is any possibility of settling it, that will be done, +as has been done in the other districts where the natives have made +and are making peace. + +As regards the excessive tribute which in the "Opinion" is said to +have been collected from the natives, to generalize from individual +cases is to confuse the whole matter. We say this because a great +part of this country is taxed differently in different places, and +the natives vary in wealth. In some parts they are rich, in others +farmers, in others merchants, in others miners; and, again, in others +they live by robbery and assault. So the late governor taxed this bay +of Manila and its vicinity--being informed of, and having seen with +his own eyes, the quality and fertility of the land, and the wealth of +its natives--two fanegas each of unwinnowed rice for a year's tribute, +and a piece of colored cloth of two varas in length and one in breadth; +and, in default of this, three maes of gold--in gold, or in produce, +as they prefer. This said tribute is so moderate, that with six silver +reals, which an Indian gives to his encomendero each year, he pays +his tribute entirely. A maes of gold is commonly worth two reals, and, +when gold is worth more, the maes is worth two reals and a half; so, +even at that, it is not half the tribute that the Indians pay in Nueva +Espana. The Moros pay this tribute of three maes as being more wealthy +people, and because they are excellent farmers and traders. They are +so rich that, if they would labor and trade for four days, they would +gain enough to work off the tribute for a year. They have various +sources of gain and profit; and so they have an abundance of rich +jewels and trinkets of gold, which they wear on their persons. There +are some chiefs in this island who have on their persons ten or twelve +thousand ducats' worth of gold in jewels--to say nothing of the +lands, slaves, and mines that they own. There are so many of these +chiefs that they are innumerable. Likewise the individual subjects +of these chiefs have a great quantity of the said jewels of gold, +which they wear on their persons--bracelets, chains, and earrings +of solid gold, daggers of gold, and other very rich trinkets. These +are generally seen among them, and not only the chiefs and freemen +have plenty of these jewels, but even slaves possess and wear golden +trinkets upon their persons, openly and freely. To say, then, that +the Indians are so wretched that they live on roots during part of +the year, and in some places are accustomed to support themselves for +a certain part of the year on sweet potatoes, sago bread, and other +vegetables they find, is wrong. It is not so in all districts, but +only in some of the Pintados [92] islands; nor is this through any +lack of prosperity, but because they are vicious, and eat all sorts +of food. They are so lazy that they will not go four leagues out +of their villages to buy rice, but spend their time in drunkenness, +idolatries, and feastings. As they get along also with those eatables +until they harvest their rice, they do not miss it; because they are +a people who, when any of their relations die, will, as mourning, +willingly go without eating rice for four or six months, or even a +year. They live on other foods and grains that they possess, and in +many parts of the Pintados they live a part of the year on borona, +millet, beans, fish, swine, and fowl, and many kinds of wine. Not for +that reason do they fail to be rich and have golden jewels, slaves, +lands, and gardens. The Pintados are not as rich as the natives of +this island of Luzon (who are called Moros), because they are not as +capable in labor and agriculture. So they are taxed to a less amount, +each Indian being taxed for a fanega and a half of unwinnowed rice, +and a piece of cloth, white or colored, woven from a plant. [93] +In other districts they have other tax-rates, each suitable to their +prosperity. Up to this time the natives have not been injured, nor are +they now injured, by paying the tribute which is imposed upon them, +because it is so moderate that they can pay it without any labor. For +by breeding four fowls under their houses every year (which can be +done without any cost), they can pay their tribute, over and above +which they have many advantages and profits. Now more than ever, with +the stay of the Spaniards in these regions, they have established and +increased their trade, and they continue to increase it every day. The +"Opinion" states that the encomenderos can be supported with the one +maes that each Indian gives every year. It is very certain that no +one can be supported on so small a tribute, because there are many +encomenderos who cannot be supported on a tribute of three maes, +and they live in great poverty, through having so few Indians. One of +these encomenderos has for his share less than three hundred Indians, +and many five and six hundred, and as very few have over a thousand, +especially are they in need where goods are so dear and gold is valued +so slightly. A pair of shoes is worth a half-tael of gold, which +would be the tribute of eight Indians. A shirt is worth six pesos, +and so on; all other Castilian articles are worth double their price +in Nueva Espana. Then, if the Indians here should pay every year +two reals (the equivalent of one maez) as tribute, one could not +live here by any means, especially since the natives are so rich, +and have so many profits and sources of gain, and are more rich +in lands than those of Nueva Espana. They have a great deal of +cloth with which to clothe themselves; many silken fabrics worked +with gold, greatly esteemed and of high value; many porcelains and +fine earthenware jars; lances, daggers, bells, and vases; and many +adornments for their persons, of which they make use. They also +have great quantities of provisions, which they gather every year +from their irrigated lands; palm wine, and wine of the nipa palm, +which they collect ordinarily every day during the whole year and +many other wines, made from rice or cane--to say nothing of the great +profits they make from wax and gold, which are ordinarily produced +in all the islands. There is a great deal of cotton, which they work +and spin, and make into fine cloths; these are very valuable to the +Indians in their trade. The Chinese bring them many silks, porcelains, +and perfumes; with iron and other articles, from which they make great +profits. For all this and many other reasons and causes, which are well +known everywhere, the said natives can pay the tribute which is imposed +upon them, and much more, without any difficulty. If some natives in +some of the villages decamp in order to avoid paying the tribute, +as is stated in the "Opinion," it is not on account of any lack of +means, but because the natives are spirited, and make it a point of +honor to pay the tribute only when forced. They like to be compelled +to do so. This is not the case with all of them, but only with some +who, after debaucheries and guzzling of wine, come to the Spaniards, +and say that they have nothing wherewith to pay the tribute. This is +not true of whole villages, but of certain individuals, who, as they +seldom obey their chiefs, do whatever wine incites them to. All this +is no reason to detract from the prosperity and riches of the natives; +for if some Indians go without robes and loin-cloths, they must be +slaves and laborers--not because they lack cloth, since it costs them +so little to make a robe that there is no one who cares to work who +has not one; and not only robes, but many other valuables. For all +these causes and reasons, then, although the "Opinion" of the father +provincial and the other religious has been given with good and holy +zeal, it is, nevertheless, exceedingly harmful to the augmentation +and settlement of this land, and the perpetuation of the Spanish +rule therein. To the natives themselves it is pernicious; because, +if they do not pay tribute to the Spaniards, the latter have to +take from them their provisions and such things as they possess, in +order to support themselves--as was done before the land was divided +into repartimientos, and before the natives paid tribute. It is, +therefore, most useful and profitable for the natives to pay tribute, +by which the said Spaniards can be supported comfortably, and without +vexation to them; and if the tribute is too small and the Spaniards +can not be supported on it, it will come to the point of taking away +their property on the sea, as was done before the land was divided +into repartimientos, but does not happen now. On the contrary the +natives are all very secure and quiet, and come and go to trade, +and are altogether much profited and enriched by the repartimiento. + + +_Guido de Lavezaris_. +_Juan Maldonado_. +_Martin de Goiti_. +_Andres Cabchela_. +_Luis de la Haya_. +_Salvador de Aldave_. +_Joan de la Ysla_. +_Amador de Arriaran_. +The licentiate _Chacon_. +_Gabriel de Rribera_. + + +In my presence, + +_Fernando Riquel_ + + + + +Two Letters from Guido de Lavezaris to Felipe II + + +Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty: + +In the past year of seventy-three, I sent to your Majesty, by two +ships despatched to the kingdoms of Nueva Espana, a written account of +what had occurred in these regions until that time. A few days after +the departure of these two ships, I despatched another one, which had +taken more time in its preparations. The last-named vessel followed a +different course from the others, and put into a harbor again, after +having sailed all around this island of Lucon, on account of the bad +weather with which it met. The ship has been detained until now in +order to repair it, and to make all the necessary preparations. We +are waiting every day for the arrival of the ships from Nueva Espana, +for it is already time that they should arrive; but, in order that the +vendavales may not prevent the navigation of this ship, we shall not +detain it here until the others arrive--although it would have been +much better for the service of your Majesty to receive an explanation +of matters regarding which an answer was expected. + +With the service of God and that of your Majesty in mind, as soon +as the ships left for Nueva Espana, I despatched Captain Juan de +Salcedo in July, seventy-three, with one hundred and twenty soldiers +in vessels like those used by these natives, to win over and conquer +Bicor River and the province of Los Camarines, on the east side of +this island of Lucon. He brought under the dominion and obedience +of your Majesty all that region, with about twenty thousand of +its natives, with as little injury as possible. Some villages paid +their tribute in gold. They have abundant stores of food, and possess +goldmines. The people are the most valiant yet found in these regions; +they possess much good armor--as iron corselets, greaves, wristlets, +gauntlets, and helmets--and some arquebuses and culverins. They are +the best and most skilful artificers in jewels and gold that we have +seen in this land. Almost all the people of Los Camarines pursue this +handicraft. Close upon the province of Los Camarines and Bicor River +are the mines of Paracali. As soon as the ships arrive, I shall try to +effect a settlement near those mines with the people that may come, +for I consider it a matter of importance for the service of your +Majesty; and I shall continue the apportionment of the discovered +and peaceful district of that region. + +In July of the past year, seventy-three, a ship despatched by the +viceroy Don Martin Enriquez arrived at these islands from Nueva +Espana. It brought us news which caused great joy and satisfaction in +this camp of your Majesty. We learned that God had granted the Queen, +our lady, the delivery of a prince, [94] so much desired by all, +and that her Majesty is enjoying the good health so needful. Our +Lord was pleased to grant us such a marked favor, and we beseech +Him to preserve your Majesty, the Queen our lady, and his Highness +many years for us; for only thus shall we not fear any adversity, +nor can we desire greater things in this new world. + +In order that we might better celebrate this news, we heard at the +same time of the victory won by the most serene [95] of Austria over +the fleet of the Turk, a victory which has proved as great and signal +as we expected from the zeal of his Holiness and from your Majesty; +for God having seen that both had taken His honor so at heart, has been +pleased to show part of His strength, so that in a single day He has +made your Majesty master of the sea. Considering the great Catholic +zeal of your Majesty, God will be pleased also to make your Majesty +master of the land in which His holy faith is exalted, and afterward +He will grant you a share in heaven, as one employed in matters so +holy deserves. I pray that God may preserve your Majesty and so great +a brother many years for the welfare and prosperity of Christianity. + +On account of the necessity of visiting the islands of Cubu, Panae, and +others near by, and for the arrangement of matters therein necessary +for the service of your Majesty, and the preservation of those natives, +I went there in the month of November, of last year, seventy-three, +and found that the town of Nombre de Jhesus in the island of Cubu was +almost deserted, and that its inhabitants were roaming about in the +neighboring islands. I ordered them to assemble and resettle the said +town; and since in doing so they would be poor and needy, I gave and +distributed among them in the name of your Majesty all that was near +at hand. Then I visited all the other towns until I reduced all things +to the order and arrangement necessary, and left the natives quiet +and reconciled. It took me four months to accomplish this so that I +returned to the city of Manila in the month of March of this year. + +As I considered the friendship of the king of Borney an important +matter for the service of your Majesty, I sent to him a Moro, a native +of this island, as messenger, with certificates of security so that +his people may freely come to these islands to trade, as they were +accustomed to do. For the friendship of this king and the commerce will +open us a way for the establishment of a community and the erection of +a fort in that island; and if people come [hither from Nueva Espana] +it will be necessary for me to go or to send others to settle that +island, for the service of your Majesty requires it. + +The lord and chief of Bindanao River [96] has also notified me, +through letters, that he wishes to be our friend and your Majesty's +vassal. This is also an important matter, for the place is suitably +situated for your royal service. That river is the most important +one in the island and the latter receives its name from it. If I +have the opportunity I shall send men there; and, if convenient, +we shall make a settlement there. + +In case I have people and ships enough, I intend to send men to +discover the islands of Lequios [Liu-Kiu] on this side of Japan. This +will be of much importance to the service of your Majesty. + +Inasmuch as this island of Lucon is so large, and as, for the +preservation of the natives, we need some settlements of Spaniards +to protect and defend them, and teach them our holy Catholic faith, +it seemed best to send Captain Juan de Salcedo with seventy or eighty +soldiers to people the coast of Los Ylocos, on the shores of a river +called Bigan. There I ordered him to found the town of Fernandina +in memory of the prince, our master [97] (may he live many happy +years); and I continued to apportion, in the name of your Majesty, +all that had been discovered and won over thereabout, reserving for +your Majesty what had been ordered me through your royal decree. + +The Chinese, in view of the kind treatment that they have always +received and do receive at our hands, continue to increase their +commerce each year, and supply us with many articles as sugar, wheat, +and barley flour, nuts, raisins, pears, and oranges; silks, choice +porcelains and iron; and other small things which we lacked in this +land before their arrival. This year they gave me a drawing of the +coast of China, made by themselves, which I am sending to your Majesty. + +There is great need in these regions of Franciscan, Dominican, and +Theatin religious, and of some ecclesiastics, for the conversion of +the natives. The Theatins are much and especially needed; for, as +an eyewitness, I know the great results that they have obtained in +Yndia. With the coming of more people, it will be necessary to found +a few Spanish settlements in this island of Lucon, which is large, and +in other islands; for already these natives are being baptized daily, +and are embracing our holy faith and religion. They are very quiet and +reconciled, and will be more so when many religious of the said orders +have arrived; for at present we have only ten Augustinian religious +here, and they are not sufficient for the great labor demanded of +them. I repeat that the service of your Majesty requires the presence +here of Franciscan religious and of some Theatins. + +This year we have brought from the island of Bindanao three hundred +quintals of cinnamon for your Majesty. This ship, being small, will +carry no more than eighty quintals, so that we have here three hundred +and fifty quintals more to send in the ships which may come later. + +I am also sending to Nueva Espana cinnamon plants, and pepper plants +of the round and large variety; also roots taken from Chinese stock, +so that they may be raise here for your Majesty. + +I am sending a bundle of cinnamon branches with leaves, and three +flasks of cinnamon water, for her Majesty the Queen, our lady. + +Last year I sent to your Majesty in this ship a cup and fourteen +earrings of gold. Now I do the same, and add four daggers of the kind +used by these natives. + +For his Highness the prince our master, I am sending a crown, two +gold chains, and two daggers. Not considering the objects themselves, +or the person who sends them, may your Majesty accept them as articles +sent from regions so far away, with the desire of serving your Majesty. + +For the good management of your royal exchequer, we need two men to +fill the offices of treasurer and of factor. These offices are vacant +at present; for while the governor Miguel Lopez lived I served as +treasurer, but at his death I succeeded him in his charge, and sent +the factor under arrest to Nueva Espana for certain charges made +against him. Your Majesty will also see that we are supplied with an +attorney-general, for we are in much need of one. + +Juan de Ledesma and Valmaseda, your Majesty's secretaries, sent to +this your camp three of your royal decrees, in which we are ordered +not to fill again the office of purveyor-general or any other office in +these islands; and that from the gold, silver, and jewels discovered, +the royal fifths shall be taken. [98] This will be heeded and carried +out according to the orders of your Majesty. I am also ordered to +send a report concerning the slaves of these islands, how and for +what reasons they are enslaved; and also concerning the Augustinian +religious who are here. In fulfilment of the latter command, I say that +at present there are only ten religious of the said order in these +islands. As to the slaves, I am sending to the members of your Royal +Council of the Indies the report which your Majesty orders me to make, +and in which I explain the conditions and causes of their slavery. [99] + +We do not notify your Majesty of the many details which arise here, +because we have reported, and do report all to your viceroy of Nueva +Espana, who attends to your royal service in all that we need here with +much diligence and promptness, so that nothing has been overlooked. + +Since we came to this settlement of the city of Manila, the religious +who reside in these islands have shown so much scruple in regard to +collecting tribute from reconciled and apportioned communities that +some of them have several times affirmed in the pulpit that one could +not conscientiously levy tribute, and have made other assertions +at which all have been grieved. Since this idea is being stirred up +now more than ever, I asked the provincial of the order to give me +his opinion concerning the matter in writing. He did so, and gave me +an opinion which, although prompted by holy zeal and commendable in +certain respects, is nevertheless severe; and, if it should be heeded, +this land could not be maintained. To anticipate the religious who +might notify your Majesty, or send copy of the said "Opinion," and +to keep your Majesty informed of the truth, a reply to the "Opinion" +was drawn with the consent of the master-of-camp, captains, and other +prominent persons. The contents of the reply will be verified and +proved by many Spanish and native witnesses; accordingly, may your +Majesty, together with the members of your royal Council, be pleased +to provide what is most necessary for the service of your Majesty. + +While this ship was on the point of departure, one of two ships +which your viceroy Don Martin Enrriquez despatched from Nueva Espana +arrived here, on the fifth of the present month. Through these ships +he sends one hundred and fifty soldiers, some married men, and three +Augustinian religious. The other ship has not yet arrived. This camp +of your Majesty was much pleased at the news of the birth of the new +infante. May he rejoice your Majesty for many years. + +The officials of your royal exchequer who reside in Mexico write that +they are not empowered by your Majesty to provide this camp with some +very necessary supplies which were asked from them for this land. May +your Majesty be pleased to exercise your accustomed magnanimity, and +order them to provide us with what is necessary for your Majesty's +service, and for the maintenance of this camp and commonwealth, +according to the memorials which the royal officials of these islands +shall send to them. + +This last ship brought a decree from your Majesty issued at San +Lorenco el Real on June fourth, seventy-two. The decree orders me +and the officials of your Majesty to send, by the first ships which +shall leave this place, a report of your royal exchequer from the time +this land was discovered and settled until the day when the report +is sent, and to do so at the beginning of every year to come. This +order will be heeded and carried out according to the wishes of your +Majesty--although, these ships having already departed, we shall not +be able to do so until the departure of the others a year from now. + +Last year, I wrote to your Majesty that the Indians who were deserting +the encomiendas were again being allotted to the Spaniards who serve +your Majesty in this camp. The same is being done now, since it +is necessary for the service of your Majesty, and the preservation +of this land. I beseech your Majesty to favor this measure and to +confirm what has been already done, and whatever allotment should +be made hereafter; for the soldiers have suffered much, and no day +passes away without the death of some one. Unless the land were thus +allotted, it would lack means of sustenance. + +The office of treasurer, which I filled when Governor Miguel Lopez +was alive, is now vacant; and since I sent the factor under arrest to +Nueva Espana, thus leaving here only the accountant, I appointed as +treasurer for the proper management of your royal exchequer, Salvador +de Aldave, until your Majesty be pleased to provide otherwise. He +has served almost a year in the said capacity, with all diligence +and care, and he possesses all the qualifications required for +such an office. From the time he came here, over seven years ago, +he has served your Majesty loyally in the discovery, conquest, and +pacification of these islands for more than seven years, namely, from +the time of his arrival. He fills the office well, and is worthy +of whatever favor your Majesty may be pleased to grant him. May +our Lord preserve the sacred Catholic royal person of your Majesty, +and add greater realms and seigniories, as we your Majesty's faithful +subjects desire. Manila, July 17, 1574. Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty, +your loyal subject kisses the royal feet and hands of your Majesty. + +_Guido de Lavezaris_ + +[_Addressed:_ "To the Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty, the King Don +Philipe, our sovereign."] + +[_Endorsed:_ " Philipinas, 1574. To His Majesty. From Guido de +Labezaris, July 17, 1574." "Let it be made into a relation." "Received, +March 7, 1575."] + +[_Remarks by the council, appended to this letter:_ Answer that I +receive it with gratitude, and that the governor appointed by his +Majesty will take account of it, and will reward him according to +his services. + +Let a decree be sent to the viceroy and officials of Nueva Espana +so that with the money received from here they might supply these +islands with the articles which may be requested as necessary for war +and other emergencies, according to the memorial which the governor +and officials may send. Another decree should be sent also to the +governor of these islands charging him to strive most diligently +to facilitate commerce, and take care that the moneys belonging to +your Majesty be sent to the officials of Nueva Espana, in order that +they may provide the islands with the supplies that will be needed, +and which will be requested from here. For the fulfilment of this, +orders should be sent to the viceroy and officials.] + + + + + +[The following letter, dated July 30, of this same year, is identical +with the foregoing in almost every word, as far as the twenty-sixth +section. The new matter in the second letter is herewith presented.] + +26. Up to this point, this letter is a copy of the letter which I wrote +to your Majesty by the ship "San Juan." What afterward occurred is, +that the said ship left this port on the nineteenth of the present +month. May God grant the propitious voyage for which we hope. + +27. One of the two ships despatched from Nueva Espana has not yet +arrived, nor do we know anything about it. I have sent men to look +for it in two different directions, with the oared boats of these +natives. It is thought that the vessel is detained on account of +stormy weather, and that with the help of God it will soon be here. + +28. On the twenty-fourth of this month, there arrived at this city +Captain Pedro de Chaves, who, when Captain Juan de Salcedo returned +from the province of Los Camarines, had remained there with men +to continue the exploration and pacification still remaining to be +carried on. When Captain Juan de Salcedo returned from that province +the whole land was quiet and tranquil, and its natives, as well as +those of the province of Albay, were reduced to the service of your +Majesty. He had also won over the island of Catanduanes five leagues +from that coast The natives of that island were famous sea-pirates, +who did much injury wherever they went. The people of that region are +well disposed, and possess gold, mines, and plenty of provisions. Now, +with God's help, the whole land will be apportioned and distributed +among the conquerors of these islands, according to your Majesty's +orders. The mines of Paracali, which are a day's journey from Bicor +River, will be settled, for they are in a suitable place; and when +they are given to the Spaniards and worked by them, the land will +increase in population and its commerce will prosper. I have faith +in God that from this small beginning He will enlarge and increase +the kingdoms and seigniories of your Majesty, and we shall be able +to carry the true knowledge of the holy Catholic faith to so many +barbarous and blinded men who are found in these regions, including the +vast kingdom of China and many others. Heaven has this good fortune +in store for your Majesty, so that it may be fulfilled during these +propitious times of your Majesty. + +29. Accompanying this letter, I send a map of the island of Lucon and +of the coast of the mainland of China, from which it appears that, +from the coast and great river of Cagayan at the northern extremity of +this island to the nearest point of China, it is but a short distance +by sea, a matter of forty leagues or thereabout. By next year when +we shall have seen and explored more of this land, I shall send your +Majesty a fuller description of it than now. + +30. I am also sending your Majesty another paper which I received from +the Chinese, upon which is printed a map of the whole land of China, +with an explanation which I had some Chinese interpreters make, +through the aid of an Augustinian religious who is acquainted with +the elements of the Chinese language. They have promised me to bring +next year other maps drawn in more detail and with more precision; +and, God willing, I shall send them to your Majesty. + +31. By the ship "Spiritu Santo," now about to sail, I am sending +to your Majesty's officials in Mexico eighty quintals of cinnamon +and forty-six quintals of wax. For lack of room we have a quantity +of cinnamon left over. May our Lord preserve the sacred Catholic +royal person of your Majesty with an increase of greater kingdoms +and seigniories, according to the desire of your Majesty's faithful +subjects. Manila, July 30, 1574. + +Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty. His loyal subject and faithful servant +kisses the royal feet and hands of Your Majesty. + +_Guido de Lavezaris_ + +[_Addressed:_ "To his Majesty--from the Islands of Lucon."] + +[_Endorsed:_ "Guido de Lavezaris. July 30, 1574. Received August 15, +1575. D."] + + + + +Slavery Among the Natives + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +By one of your royal decrees, dated Madrid, May 18, 1572, your Majesty +commands me to send you an account of the slaves that exist in these +parts; and how, and with what justification, they are slaves. What +has been ascertained about them, to the present time, in this island +is as follows: + +Some are slaves from their birth. Their origin is not known, because +their fathers, grandfathers, and ancestors were also slaves. But +although the reason for their slavery is not known, we may believe that +it was for some one of the causes here named. Some are captives in wars +that different villages wage against each other, for certain injuries +and acts of injustice, committed either recently or in ancient times. + +Some are made captives in wars waged by villages that have +neither treaty or commerce with them, but go only to rob, without +any cause. This is because a chief of any village, when he dies, +imposes upon it a sort of mourning or grief; all his near relatives +promise to eat no bread (which is rice), millet, or borona, and to +wear no gold or any holiday dress, until they take some booty, or +kill or capture men. They would go to do this, wherever they could, +and where there were no friends or powerful towns who could easily +avenge themselves. Some, especially those who pride themselves on +valor, have a custom, after gathering their harvests, of going to +rob, without any cause, towns with which they have no commerce or +relationship; or whomsoever they meet on the sea, where--a thing that +causes wonder--they exempt not even their relatives, if the latter +are less powerful than they. Some are enslaved by those who rob them +for a very small matter--as, for instance, a knife, a few sugar-canes, +or a little rice. Some are slaves because they bore testimony, or made +statements about some one, which they could not prove. Some are thus +punished for committing some crime; or transgressing rules regarding +some of their rites or ceremonies, or things forbidden among them, +[100] or not coming quickly enough at the summons of some chief, or +any other like thing; and if they do not have the wherewithal to pay, +they are made slaves for it. + +If any one is guilty of a grave crime--that is, has committed murder or +adultery, or given poison, or any other like serious matter--although +there may be no proof of it beyond the suspicion of the principal +person against whom the hurt was done, they take for their slaves, or +kill, not only the culprit but his sons, brothers, parents, relatives, +and slaves. + +If any one who is left an orphan come to the house of another, +even of a kinsman (unless it be his uncle, paternal or maternal), +for food only, its inmates enslave him. Likewise in time of famine +and distress, during which they may have given relatives food only +a few times, they have sold the latter for their slaves. + +Many also become slaves on account of loans, because these loans +continue to increase steadily every three or four months; and so, +however little may be the sum loaned them, at the end of little more +or less than two years they become slaves. And now, sacred Majesty, +if it be forbidden, in those places where the Spanish live, to acquire +slaves in any shape or manner--those who were made slaves and were +slaves before we came here and are slaves now, and whom the natives buy +and sell among each other, as merchandise or other profitable wares +that they possess--without them this land cannot be preserved. This, +your Majesty, is all known here of the slaves that I have been able +to find out, having diligently sought and made the acquaintance of +persons who know their language and customs. + +_Guido de Lavezaris_ + + + + +Documents of 1575-76 + + + + Part of a letter to the viceroy. Guido de Lavezaris; [1575?] + Letter to Felipe II. Juan Pacheco Maldonado; [1575?] + Encomiendas forbidden to royal officials. Francisco de Sande, + and others; May 26, 1576 + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; June 2, 1576 + + + +_Sources_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias at Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Alfonso de +Salvio; the second and third, by Arthur B. Myrick; the fourth, by +Jose M. Asensio. + + + + +Part of a Letter to the Viceroy by Guido de Lavecaris + + +I am very glad that your Excellency adjusted matters by ordering the +return of the negroes and Indians who had been carried from this land; +for all of us were very anxious as to the number that we were to send +hereafter in the ships which should leave these regions. May our Lord +prosper your Excellency's life so that it may be of service to our +Lord and to his Majesty, as it has been thus far. + +In this voyage our men seized two Chinese junks laden with merchandise, +plundered all the goods, and brought here one of the laden junks +and four Chinese. Afterward these Chinese, together with the others, +who had remained in those islands where they had been seized, were +sent back, so that they might return to their own country. I was +exceedingly sorry that such an injury should be inflicted upon men who +had neither offended us nor given us occasion to justify this action; +and what grieves me most in this affair is the news which the Chinese +will carry to their own country about us, and about the good deeds +which were done to them, and which they saw done to others, for our +credit in China. + +As a result, most excellent Sir, the commerce between us and +these Moros of Lucon has come to a standstill, on account of the +ill-treatment that they have received at our hands. They carried +back to their land all that they could, and in so doing they caused +us no little injury; for we had a share in the commerce maintained +with them, since the Moros brought and sold to us provisions. This +suited us well, for already there was no other place where we could +settle in this neighborhood except Lucon; but now I do not know what +plan and arrangement can be made. May our Lord adjust matters as it +pleases Him best, for certainly there is need of it. + +A few days ago I went to the island of Cubu to set free some friendly +Indians whom some soldiers had seized in a village which had paid +tribute, and which held a deed of security. It was very difficult +to get them back, for they had been sold and were already among the +Indians. This cost me no little labor; but our Lord, who helps good +intentions, favored me, and all the Indians were returned to their +village at my expense. This success caused much joy and satisfaction +among the Indians of the neighborhood. + +Your Excellency should also try to send all the married men who can +possibly come. For with the existence of settled communities the +natives of this land will feel more secure, and the married Spaniards +will devote themselves to sowing and raising the products of the land; +but, if married men do not come, order and harmony will be lacking, +as they have been hitherto. + +The recent arrival of married men caused great joy among all the +natives of these islands, for they do not feel safe with us--saying +that we do not intend to remain in the land, since we do not bring our +wives with us. Up to this time they have mistrusted us much; but, on +seeing the arrival of women, they have become somewhat reassured. If +your Excellency orders many to come, and if a community of married +people is established, the natives will become totally reconciled +and will serve us better. + +Between this island of Panae and that of Cubu we have found +a pearl-fishery, from which the natives are accustomed to obtain +their pearls. This year the governor [101] sent there a Spaniard to +fish for the pearls, in company with the Indians of an island called +Bantayan, which lies near the fishery. Some of the pearls he brought +were as large as hazel-nuts, or a little smaller, and others were +much smaller. It is said that, on account of bad weather, he was not +able to fish there more than two hours, and consequently he did not +gather very many pearls. Many fisheries of a similar kind are to be +found in these islands. + +One of the things, most excellent Sir, which has caused and still +causes us much injury, as it concerns both the souls and the peace +of mind of these wretched natives, is our incurable greed, which is +so deeply rooted in our hearts. The eyes of the understanding are +so closed in that respect that only God could uproot it from our +hearts. May our Lord remedy it according to His knowledge of what is +necessary for His service. + +I beseech your Excellency kindly to send me a cipher system, so +that I may give notice of what we need for the service of God and +of his Majesty. I beseech your Excellency to forgive my boldness, +for certainly my desire and intention is to be fully successful in +the service of his Majesty and of your Excellency. + + + + +Letter from Juan Pacheco Maldonado to Felipe II + + +Catholic Royal Majesty: + +In the year of seventy, your Majesty's camp being in the island of +Panae, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, your governor, was informed that the +island of Luzon was very fertile and well populated, and afforded a +good opportunity for trade. Since the island of Panae was poor, and +the men there were in great extremity, he sent the master-of-camp, +Martin de Goiti, with a sufficient force to examine the island +of Luzon, and offer peace and friendship to its natives. The said +master-of-camp, having arrived at the said island of Luzon, at the +port and city of Manila, found that the natives had built a fort and +mounted six pieces of heavy artillery and a number of chambered guns, +and had collected a large force to defend the entrance. The said +master-of-camp, seeing that the people of the said town of Manila had +taken up arms, required them many times, by means of an interpreter +whom he brought, to receive them in peace; because the governor sent +them to win their friendship, and to see if there was any place +where they might come to settle, and not to do them any harm. The +natives of Manila would not admit these reasons, on the contrary +they began to discharge their artillery, trying to sink the vessels +that the said master-of-camp brought. The latter, seeing that they +made war on him, disembarked his men, took the fort without assault +and its artillery. The men fled inland, forsaking the town and fort, +where the said master-of-camp awaited them four days, to see if they +would make peace, to which effect he questioned them many times. When +he saw that they would not accept his terms, he took their artillery +and ammunition and returned with these to the island of Panae, where +was the aforesaid governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. When the latter +heard the true report and relation that was brought from that land, +he left, in the year following (of seventy-five) [102] the island of +Panae, where he had settled, for that of Luzon, because the latter +is well populated and has a considerable trade with the neighboring +islands and the mainland of China. He entered the harbor with his +fleet and by means of the interpreter whom he carried with him, +using on many different occasions, the necessary means, he urged and +notified the natives to receive him in peace, as vassals of your +Majesty. He told them that by your Majesty's order the Spaniards +had come to that land to protect the natives from their enemies, +to instruct them in civilization, and to preach to them the gospel +and the way of salvation--for such is the attitude that your Majesty +is pleased should be taken toward them--but the said natives would +not consider it. They put the governor off with long delays for four +days, during which the latter permitted nothing to be landed from the +fleet. Thus he made the natives certain of his intention. At the end +of the four days, the chiefs of the said town and vicinity came to +seek peace for themselves and their villages. The said governor, in +your Majesty's name, received the acknowledgment and vassalage which +they owed your Majesty. Peace and friendship being thus effected, +the governor disembarked with all his men, and in your Majesty's +royal name took possession of the whole island of Luzon. He founded +and settled the city of Manila, and called the said island _El nuevo +reino de Castilla_ ["the new kingdom of Castilla"]. Having done this, +he tried in every way to bring the most of the natives to actual +acknowledgment. Many did not do so, nor have they been willing to; +on the contrary, they induced others not to submit, saying that the +Castilians, as they call the Spaniards, could not remain in that +land, since they were so few; and that the people, by making war on +them, could make an end of them. So it was necessary to subdue those +rebels. This made trouble, because in the end they will be subjected +by the said governor and the troops whom he has brought with him. The +governor was diligent in reconnoitering the said island, which he found +to be very rich in many gold mines, which the natives improve and work, +especially in the province called Ylucos. The latter is very fertile, +abounding in provisions: rice, fowls, swine, goats, buffaloes, deer, +and many kinds of lake-birds, all in great abundance. In this island +there are many provinces, and in each one of them there are different +tongues and customs. The greater number of the people are Mahometan +Moros and Indians; besides other Indians who tattoo themselves in the +fashion of their ancestors, and invoke the demon. They have no native +king. Certain of the richest individual chiefs rule the country. They +wage war with one another, take prisoners in their wars, enslave them, +and sell them from province to province. + +This island of Luzon is sixty leagues from the mainland of China. The +city and harbor of Manila is in thirteen degrees north latitude. This +island measures five hundred leagues in circumference. It has fine +harbors, bays, and rivers of good depth, better harbors being found +along the south side. This island is little more than one hundred +leagues east of the island of Burney. Likewise the islands of Maluco, +Filolo [Gilolo], Tidore, Ternate, and Ambon, called the Malucos, +are three hundred leagues south of this island of Luzon. So also +the rich country of Japan, whence is brought great quantities of +silver, is three hundred leagues, more or less, distant from die +island of Luzon. Every year Japanese ships come to these islands +laden with merchandise. Their principal trade is the exchange of gold +for silver, two to two and a half marcos [103] of silver for one of +gold. Two hundred leagues south of Luzon is the island of Mindanao, +whence is brought cinnamon. Likewise about one hundred leagues +north of Luzon, and very near the mainland of China, is an island +that they call Cauchi, which has a great abundance of pepper. The +king of China maintains trade with mis island, and so there are many +Chinese there. They have their own agency for the collection of the +pepper. Twelve or fifteen ships from the mainland of China come each +year to the city of Manila, laden with merchandise: figured silks of +all sorts; wheat, flour, and sugar; many kinds of fruit; iron, steel, +tin, brass, copper, lead, and other kinds of metals; and everything +in the same abundance as in Espana and the Indies, so that they lack +for nothing. The prices of everything are so moderate, that they are +to be had almost for nothing. They also bring a great deal of bronze +artillery, very well wrought, and all sorts of military supplies. This +island of Luzon is very suitable and convenient for trade with China; +men can reach the mainland from this island, because it is so near. On +this same island there is very good material for building ships and +galleys, if it should please your Majesty to send workmen for this +purpose. As has been pointed out above, the said island of Luzon +is very clearly shown to be fertile and abounding in provisions, +cloth, apparel, and whatever is most necessary for the preservation +of human life. Therefore this island ought to be settled and pacified, +and what there is in it sought out and discovered, because the island +is so large and powerful. For that reason, it is desirable that your +Majesty be pleased to provide what is necessary for that purpose, +and for his plans for the future, as follows: + +The first thing necessary, in order to secure and settle the said +island of Luzon, to gain accurate information of what is yet unknown +about it, and to sustain the claims that we have advanced, is to send +Spanish people--that is, religious and soldiers. + +The religious whom your Majesty might send for the present are forty +or fifty friars--learned theologians of mature age and good life and +habits. With these and the religious of the order of St. Augustine, +who have five monasteries in the neighboring islands--namely, one in +the island and town of Cubu, another in the island and town of Oton +[in Panay], another in the island and town of Mindoro, another in +the city of Manila, and another in Tondo (which is in Luzon)--great +results will be achieved; for the religious of these five monasteries +have labored much and assiduously in the conversion of the natives, +and our Lord has been well served. By the preaching of the gospel to +them, which has been done by these said religious, there have been +converted to our holy Catholic faith, receiving the water of baptism, +a great number of Indians, especially those from the island and town +of Cubu, who were pagans, [104] and easily converted. And likewise +in the island of Luzon, some native Chinese who were settled there, +being people of greater intelligence, have recognized the truth of +the divine law and are baptized and live as Christians. As the rest of +the people are Moros, it has not been possible to secure the desired +result, on account of their resistance. This may be attained, by the +favor of God, if your Majesty be pleased to send the said number of +forty to fifty religious, of the kind above described. + +Second, your Majesty will be pleased to send also, with the said +religious, a prelate, creating bishop or archbishop of the said city +of Manila the reverend father Fray Diego de Herrera, of the order +of St. Augustine. The father is a man of learning and of good life, +who has labored much for the conversion of the Indians of those +islands. With him send as many of the secular clergy as your Majesty +pleases, who can act as prebends, canons, and chaplains; these likewise +should be persons of learning and good life, and should all be subject +to the above-mentioned prelate. + +The third has to do with soldiers. May your Majesty please to send five +hundred soldiers here, who may be posted in the said island of Luzon, +so that by their help the said governor can subjugate and settle the +said island of Luzon, and discover other neighboring islands. + +Fourth: These said five hundred men can come at less cost, provided +your Majesty be pleased to keep to the following order: that the said +troops should be collected in Espana under the pretext that it is done +for the convoy of the fleet which goes from these kingdoms to the said +Nueva Espana. Accordingly, of the two hundred men who ordinarily are +accustomed to go from Sevilla to Nueva Espana in convoy of the said +fleet, one hundred may be left behind, the number of these hundred +being supplied on the journey over from the number of the said five +hundred; on the return trip of the said fleet from Nueva Espana to +these kingdoms, the places of the said hundred soldiers may be taken +by a hundred passengers, from those who generally come. As a result, +at each trip and return one hundred soldiers will be spared, and thus +between seven and eight thousand ducats saved. + +Fifth: When the said five hundred men have arrived in Nueva Espana, +on the very day when they disembark in the harbor of Vera Cruz, they +shall go directly to the harbor of Acapulco, which is one hundred +and twenty leagues, more or less, from the harbor of Vera Cruz. For +when the said troops arrive at the port of Acapulco, it will be more +than two months since the fleet from the said island of Luzon will +have arrived at the port of Acapulco. So the troops can be embarked +immediately on the said fleet, and make their way to the island +of Luzon and other islands. To try to raise the said five hundred +soldiers in Nueva Espana would be impossible, on account of the great +cost that would result; because each soldier would cost more than one +hundred and fifty pesos as a gratuity (the sum usually given), or even +a greater sum; and even if the said expense should be incurred, they +could not arrive under the banner of the hundred soldiers above--and +that with great trouble and vexation, as is well known. + +Sixth: It is necessary, on the arrival of the said five hundred +soldiers, at the said islands, to effect immediately the purpose for +which they were brought--namely, to subjugate, settle, and explore both +the said island of Luzon, and those regions nearest China: the Japans, +the Lequios, and the island of Escauchu; this is a very important +matter. It is necessary that your Majesty should send us workmen, +masters to build ships and galleys, locksmiths, and blacksmiths to +the number of fifty. For all of these workmen your Majesty, if he +so please, could take the negro slaves whom your Majesty has on the +fortifications of Habana, considering that the fortifications are +finished now, and the men are no longer needed there. + +Seventh: When the said fifty workmen have arrived, considering +in these islands the great plenty and abundance of wood, iron, +and other materials most necessary for building the said ships, +the said workmen should build three or four vessels each year, so +that the trip can be made from Nueva Espana to the said islands and +return, with two fleets. Likewise from the larger islands can be +made voyages of discovery, subjugation, and colonization, and thus +ascertain thoroughly the secret of the so great riches and trade +possessed by the said islands, in order that your Majesty may be best +served in everything. I beseech and supplicate this, and especially +that your Majesty be pleased to provide promptly everything thus +requested--seeing that delays might cause bad results, because of +the small number of the Spaniards, and the great work to be done at +present in this island of Luzon; and because those here deserve all +the reward and kind succor that your Majesty may extend to them. + +_Juan Pacheco Maldonado_ + + + + +Encomiendas Forbidden to Royal Officials + + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-sixth day of May, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-six, the very illustrious doctor, Francisco de +Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty of these islands +of the West, and auditor of his royal Audiencia established in the +City of Mexico in Nueba Espana, declared that it is an encumbrance +and damage to the royal treasury for his Majesty's officials to hold +encomiendas of Indians; and, as such, his Majesty has forbidden this +by laws, and recently in a letter which his Majesty wrote to the said +officials in the year seventy-four, in which it appears they ask from +him permission to own Indians. In this letter there is a paragraph +of the following tenor: + +"As for what you ask concerning repartimientos of Indians--namely, +that favor be granted you, because you have served as discoverers of +these islands--such a thing has appeared to us unsuitable, considering +your offices; and therefore there is no good reason for acceding to +your request in this matter. In other affairs, there will be occasion +for granting you rewards (and you will bring it to mind when you +send to our Council of the Indies reports of what has been in your +charge), and when it has been seen in what ways you have served. The +same will be done in regard to increase in your salaries. Madrid, +April twenty-five, one thousand five hundred and seventy-four." + +The governor says the same; and because the aforesaid persons are +freed from private affairs in order to fulfil their duties, as they +are obliged, he did order, and now so orders, that they shall not +hold the said Indians in encomiendas, and retracted those which were +granted them by Guido de Lavecares, treasurer of these islands--who +at that time filled the office of governor thereof, on account of the +death of the governor Miguel Lopez. He said that he placed, and he +did so place, the villages which the said officials at present hold, +under the rule of your Majesty's royal crown. They are as follows: +the natives of Balayan and the river Aguan, and of the villages +of Bulabuty, Mata, Amblaca, and Mabulau; the river Mabotan, the +mines of Gumun and Gaogao, the river Bacoun, the village of Longos; +the river Ysin, and the villages of Minangona and Mina--who, it is +reported, are held by the accountant Andres Cauchela; the natives of +the coast of Tule who, according to report, are held by the factor, +Andres de Mirandaola; and a thousand Indians, who, according to +report are held by the treasurer, Salvador de Aldave in the Sunguian +Emasingal valley. In order that his Majesty may possess them as +his royal property, like the others that he personally holds, the +governor ordered the officials of the royal estate, whether present or +future, that they shall hold those encomiendas as the royal property, +make collections, and have the natives instructed in the tenets of +our holy Catholic faith. He charged this upon their consciences, +and in the royal name, relieved his Majesty and himself from that +responsibility. And, further, he ordered a duplicate copy of this +act to be drawn up, and to send the same to his Majesty. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + + +Before me, + +_Fernando Riquel_ + + + + + +In the city of Manila, on May twenty-six, one thousand five hundred +and seventy-six, I, the notary undersigned, read and made known +the act of his Excellency, herein contained, to the accountant, +Andres Cauchela, official of his Majesty's royal treasury, who said +he heard it, and that he will answer it. Witnesses, Alonso Ligero, +and Balthasar de Bustamante. + +_Diego Aleman_, notary-public. + + + + + +In the city of Manila, in this said day, month, and year aforesaid, I, +the notary undersigned, made known and read the act herein contained, +decreed by his Excellency, to the factor and inspector, Andres de +Mirandaola, official of his Majesty's royal treasury, in his own +person, who said that he heard it, and that he will answer what seems +to him necessary. Witnesses, Gaspar de Yola and Melchior Corila. + +_Diego Aleman_, notary-public. + + + + + +In the city of Manila, in this said day, month, and year aforesaid, I, +the notary undersigned, made known and read the act herein contained, +decreed by his Excellency, to the treasurer, Salvador de Aldave, +official of his Majesty's royal treasury, in his own person, who said +that he heard it. Witness, Antonio Caballero. + +_Diego Aleman_, notary-public. + +In the city of Manila, on May twenty-six, one thousand five hundred +and seventy-six, the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, +governor and captain-general for his Majesty in these islands of the +West, and auditor of his royal Audiencia established in the City of +Mexico in Nueva Espana, said that whereas, since the officials of +the royal treasury have been in these islands, they have collected +from the trade and royal estate in their charge, many pesos of gold; +and whereas, it is reported that, on account of their salaries, they +have--despite the decree of his Majesty in their letters-patent, +and notwithstanding this letter which they have also received--held +Indians without his Majesty's permission, and contrary to his decrees +and letters: therefore the governor said that he ordered, and he did +order, that whatever they have collected from the Indians held by them +in encomiendas be understood as counted toward the salaries which his +Majesty may have ordered to be paid to them; and from this time, each +third of the year, when they shall collect their salaries, they shall +go before his Excellency, so that having seen the needs and the state +of the treasury, they shall be paid proportionally, in accordance with +the same. And they shall do nothing contrary to this, under penalty +of five hundred pesos for the exchequer for each person and for each +violation. Because in this present year of seventy-six, we have been +informed that each person has collected the said tributes for the whole +year, they, shall all declare, clearly and specifically, under oath, +the amount thus collected, and for what persons and by whose hand +it was collected, so that when the first third comes due, it may be +suitably adjusted, according to the above declaration. From now on they +shall collect no more, except on the account of the royal treasury, +under whose royal jurisdiction they are this day placed. This act shall +be filed with the other, and a duplicate shall be made of the whole, +to be sent to his Majesty. It was signed by Doctor Francisco de Sande. + +Before me. + +_Fernando Riquel_. + + + + + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of May, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-six, I, the notary undersigned, +read and made known the act of his Excellency, herein contained word +for word, to the accountant Andres Cauchela, official of his Majesty's +royal treasury, in his own person. I took and received his oath, which +he made before God and the blessed Mary, with the sign of the cross ++, in due legal form; and under this charge he promised to tell the +truth. Being asked what tributes he has collected from the villages +herein mentioned, the form in which they were collected, and under +whose direction and by what persons, he said that in this present +year of seventy-six, he sent to the villages of Bacayan (which is his +encomienda) Juanes de Betaria, now defunct, to collect the tribute +from the natives thereof. This man went thither, and collected nine +hundred small pieces of white cotton cloth, three or four of which each +one gave him as tribute. Likewise he collected, and brought to this +deponent, one hundred and fifty pesos in broken silver and testoons, +and six tae[l]s of nejas gold, all of which he has, as said, together +with seventy fowls. All this he gave and delivered to this deponent, +and said that he had collected it from the natives of the said villages +of Bacayan. The said Juanes de Guetaria _[sic]_ went by the order of +his Excellency to collect the said tributes. He declared that, during +this said year of seventy-six, he had not collected anything else from +the said villages; and from the others that he holds as encomiendas he +has not collected anything since he has held them. This is the truth, +which he signed with his name, the witnesses being Alonso Ligero and +Baltasar de Bustamante. + +_Andres Cauchela_ + +Before me, _Diego Aleman_, notary-public. + + + + + +In the city of Manila, this said day, month, and year aforesaid, I, +the notary undersigned, made known and read the act herein contained, +decreed and ordered by his Excellency, to the factor and inspector +Andres de Mirandaola, in his own person, from whom was taken and +received the oath. He swore before God and the blessed Mary, and on +the sign of the cross +, in due legal form, under which obligation he +promised to tell the truth. This deponent, being asked what tributes he +has collected in this present year of seventy-six, from the villages +which he is said to hold as encomiendas, in the lowlands of Tuley, +and what persons have collected them, and what they collected, says +that it is true that this deponent sent to the said villages of the +lowlands of Tuley one Pedro de Bustos, a soldier, who collected the +tributes from the natives thereof. This was for the present year +seventy-six. This said Pedro de Bustos, this deponent being out of +this city, went to the villages, and collected a certain number of +bales of cotton, which might weigh thirty quintals, a little more or +less. This deponent did not receive anything else, nor did the said +Pedro de Bustos give him any account of what he collected, because +at that time he was out of this city with the sergeant-major, Juan +de Moron. This deponent has not collected anything from the said +villages during this present year, seventy-six. This is the truth, +and what actually took place, which he signed with his name, the +witnesses being Juan de Navarrete and Melchor Correa. + +_Andres de Mirandaola_ + +Before me, _Diego Aleman_, notary-public. + + + + + +On this said day, month, and year aforesaid, I, the notary +undersigned, read and made known the act herein contained, decreed +by his Excellency, to the treasurer, Salvador de Aldave, official of +his Majesty's royal treasury, in his own person. From him I took and +received an bath, which he took before God and the blessed Mary, +and on the sign of the cross +, in due legal form, under which +obligation he promised to tell the truth. Being asked what tributes +this deponent has collected from the villages which it is said he +holds as his encomiendas in the provinces of Yloco, and the amount +thereof, and what persons have collected them in his name, he said, +under obligation of his oath, that Bartolome de Vega, a soldier, +who about fifteen or twenty days ago came from the province of Yloco, +told this deponent that in this year of seventy-six he had collected, +from the said villages, tribute from two hundred Indians. This tribute +did not come to the hands of this deponent, but went to the factor +Andres de Mirandaola in payment of a debt of the royal exchequer, +owed to the said factor, and which this deponent was ordered by his +Excellency to pay, although he did not owe it. Thus this deponent has +received nothing out of what the said Bartolome de Vega collected this +said year, of the said two hundred tributes, beyond one hundred and +sixty pieces of white cloth from Yloco, which the said Vega gave and +delivered to this deponent--a little more or less, he does not remember +exactly. This said treasurer said that he was making this declaration +to execute his Excellency's order, and protests that he should incur +no loss, because the content of the said act ought not to extend to +his case, as he is not the proprietor of the said office and duty of +treasurer; and because, in all the time that he has held it, he has +received neither salary, gratuities, nor allowances, as will appear by +his Majesty's books. To those he refers, because he, as holding and +occupying the said office which the treasurer Guido de Lavacares had +held, has conducted and exercised the said office as others have done, +who at the present day hold encomiendas of Indians. This he said was +his declaration, and he so made it, and signed the same with his name. + +_Salvador de Aldave_ + +Witness, Anton Caballero. + +Before me, _Diego Aleman_, notary-public. + + + + + +I, the said Fernando Riquel, had this copy made from the original +acts, which are in my possession. Therefore I here affixed my name +and customary flourishes, in witness of the truth. + +_Hernando Riquel_ + + + + +Letter to Felipe II by Francisco de Sande + + +Catholic Royal Majesty: + +Although I have served your Majesty in Nueva Espana as attorney, +criminal judge, and auditor in the royal Audiencia of Mexico, I +have not written to your Majesty since the year 67, in order not +to disturb you; I have always written to the royal Council of the +Indies what I considered meet to your royal service. Now I have come +to and reside in these Filipinas islands, where I serve your Majesty +as your governor and captain-general. As I am so far away, and have +grown old in your Majesty's service, and have examined affairs here, +and seen the importance, the isolation, and the dangers of this colony, +I venture to address your Majesty briefly. I write at length, however, +to the royal Council of the Indies, to whom I give account of the +voyage, and its events, and of the needs of this land, and I refer you +to that letter; I have also written of its condition, and of matters +concerning the mainland of China, with what I consider it fitting for +your Majesty to order. I humbly beg that your Majesty be so good as to +examine the above-named relation, and provide therefor, as what refers +therein to the expedition to China is a matter of great moment to your +Majesty's service. This enterprise would be easy of execution, and of +little expense, as the Spanish people would go without pay, and armed +at their own cost. They will be chosen from the provinces, and will +be glad to pay the expenses. The only cost will be for the agents, +officers for the construction and command of galleys, artillerymen, +smiths, and engineers, and the ammunition and artillery. Food can +be supplied to them here, and the troops are energetic, healthy, +and young. This is the empire and the greatest glory which remains +for the king of the world, the interest which surpasses all others, +and the greatest service to God. + +I think that I have drawn a true picture of the people, as they are the +best in the world for tributarios. They have waged war against the king +of Tartaria. [105] If they made war on this coast, his occupation, +and even that of both, God helping, would soon be over. They have +many enemies in this archipelago, who are more valiant than they and +who will be of great help. I beseech your Majesty to provide what +is most fitting, that the power and laws of so just and great a king +may encircle the world. + +In these Filipinas islands there are at present five hundred Spaniards +in all, and if there were ten thousand, all would be rich. As there +are so few we suffer many hardships, since we are among so many +enemies. Our only consolation, and mine in particular, is that we +are serving your Majesty. Our diligence is unremitting, and we hope +for your Majesty's favor. Your Majesty will provide in this for your +own cause, and that of the Catholic church. As I write at length +to your Majesty's Council, this letter is but brief. May our Lord +guard the royal Catholic person of your Majesty, and increase your +kingdoms and seigniories, is the wish of your Majesty's vassals and +servants. Manila, in the island of Lucon of the Filipinas, June 2, +1576. Royal Catholic Majesty, from your Majesty's loyal vassal and +servant, who kisses your royal hands, + +The doctor, _Francisco de Sande_ + + + + + +Bibliographical Data + + +All the material of the present volume is found in the archives +of Spain--mainly in the Archivo de Indias at Sevilla, and in +two patronatos therein; from transcripts of these documents our +translations are made, except as otherwise noted. One of these +patronatos is thus described: "Simancas Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; Cartas y expedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistas +en consejo; anos 1567 a 1599; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6." Under this +pressmark are found the following documents: 1569--letters by Lavezaris +and Legazpi (this a copy, perhaps made by the viceroy to send to +the king), and confirmation of the latter's title; 1570--the last +two; 1573--Lavezaris's relation; 1574--Lavezaris's letters to king; +1576--the last two. The other patronato is: "Simancas--Filipinas; +Descubrimientos, descripciones y poblaciones de las Yslas Filipinas; +anos 1566 a 1586; est. 1, caj. 1, leg. 2|24." This is the pressmark +for the following documents: 1569--Mirandaola's letter, and Legazpi's +relation; 1570--the first three; 1571-72--all; 1573--Melchior de +Legazpi's certificate of expenses; 1574--Mirandaola's letter, Rada's +"Opinion" and reply of officials thereto, and Lavezaris's report on +slavery; 1575--both documents. + +Mirandaola's letters of 1569 and 1574 are bound together. Regarding +the MS. of "Requisitions of supplies" (1571?), see Bibliographical +Data of _Vol_. II, under "Letter to Audiencia of Mexico" (1565). The +account of the conquest of Luzon (1572) has been published by Retana +in his _Archivo bibliofilo filipino,_ t. iv, no. 1; our translation +is made therefrom. The original MS. of Diego de Artieda's relation +(1573) is conserved in the Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar at Madrid; +its pressmark is "711, 20-3_a_, caja n_o_ 22." The MS. ascribed +by some former archivist to Juan de la Isla, but apparently almost +identical with Artieda's (see notes thereon in the text), is in the +Archivo de Indias at Sevilla; its pressmark is: "Simancas--Filipinas; +Descubrimientos, descripciones y poblaciones de las Islas Filipinas; +anos 1537 a 1565; est. 1, caj. 1, leg. 1|23." It is out of its proper +chronological place. We have adopted the Madrid MS. for our text, +because it contains Artieda's signature; but have incorporated therein +all additional matter, or important changes found in the Sevilla copy, +as has been stated _ante_, note 54. The letter of Enriquez (1573) +is taken from _Cartas de Indias_ (Madrid, 1877), pp. 290-296; the +material for this publication is found, as stated by the editors, +in the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid; but they do not locate +therein the documents selected by them. Riquel's relation (1574) +is a MS. in the Archivo general of Simancas; its pressmark is: +"Secretario de Estado, leg. 155." In Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar, +Madrid, is a MS. containing part of the material of this document; +it is bound with the Artieda relation. In the Real Academia de +la Historia, Madrid, is another MS. (a copy by Munoz) which is +similar to the document of our text, in part; the MS. from which we +translate may be a compilation from these other documents and from +other letters written by Riquel which are alluded to therein. The +document of our text was written partly on shipboard (in a vessel +which left Manila July 1, 1573), and completed at Mexico, from +which city it was despatched to Spain in January, 1574. The royal +decrees of 1574 are taken from _Doc. ined. Amer. y Oceania_, xxxiv, +pp. 68-71; the originals are probably in Sevilla. The decree forbidding +encomiendas to royal officials is at Sevilla, its pressmark being, +"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; Cartas y expedientes de +los oficiales reales de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; anos 1564 a +1622; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 29." Sande's relation of 1576 has been +published in Retana's _Archivo_, ii, no. 1. + +It may be well to explain here the method of, arranging and locating +documents which is employed in the Sevilla archives. The first division +is that of patronatos (sections), designated by names which show the +character and source of the documents therein--as "Simancas--Bulas," +that is, papal bulls, which had been brought to Sevilla from +Simancas. Each patronato is divided into estantes (shelves), these +into cajons (cases), And these again into legajos (packets); the +legajo is sometimes further divided into ramos (parts) and numeros +(numbers). Any document may thus be easily and accurately located. + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] This document is printed in both Spanish text and English +translation. + +[2] Evidently meaning that the ship was proceeding to Spain, since +it carried a cargo of spices for the king. + +[3] The words in brackets are conjectural readings, the MS. being +illegible in these places. + +[4] Referring to Legazpi's official despatches, evidently sent to +Spain by the same vessel which carried these letters by Mirandaola +and Lavezaris. This document appears at the end of _Vol_. II, under +the title, "Negotiations between Legazpi and Perdra." + +[5] A relation purporting to have been written by this officer will +appear later in this series. + +[6] The _escudo_ was a Spanish silver coin worth about 50.1 cents of +United States money; it was equivalent to ten _reals_. + +[7] These cities of China may be thus identified: Chincheo (also +written Chinchew) is the modern Chwan-Chow-Foo (variously written +Shen-tsheou, Tsiuen-Tchou, and Tsiuan-tchau), in the province of +Fo-Kien. Cantun (Canton; _Chin._ Kwang-Chow-Foo) is the metropolis +of the province of Kwang-Tung. Huechiu is Hu-Chau (Hou-Tchou), +Nimpou is Ning-Po, and Onchiu is Wan-Chau--all in the province +of Che-Kiang. Hinan may refer to one of the towns on the island of +Hainan, which lies south of Kwang-Tung. Conce (also, by early writers, +spelled Cansay) was later known as Khing-Sai (or Kingsze)--the modern +Hang-Chau (Hang-Chow-Foo) in the province of Che-Kiang. Onan is +probably Ho-Nan, in province of same name. Nanquin (Nanking) is the +capital of Kiang-Su province; and Paquin is the modern Peking, capital +(as then) of the Chinese Empire. Fuchu (Fu-Chau, or Foo-Choo) is in +the province of Fo-Kien. Cencay is probably the modern Shang-Hai, +in the province of Kiang-Su. Sisuan, Lintam, and Ucau cannot be +satisfactorily identified. The name Lequeios, which occurs elsewhere +in this volume, refers to the Luchu (Liu-Kiu, or Loo-Choo) group, +which lies between Japan and Formosa. For early accounts of China, +its people, and its commerce, see Henry Yule's _Cathay and the Way +Thither_ (Hakluyt Society, London, 1866). See pp. xli, xlii of that +work for interesting citation regarding the civilization and excellent +character and reputation of the Chinese people. + +[8] Gaston de Peralta, Marquis de Falces, was the third viceroy of +New Spain; he arrived at Mexico on October 16, 1566. Incurring the +hostility of the _Audiencia_, he was removed from his office, and +returned to Spain in March, 1569. + +[9] The document here referred to will be found directly following +this letter of Legazpi. + +[10] Diego de Herrera was born at Recas, Spain, and entered the +Augustinian order in 1545. He was in Mexico when Legazpi's expedition +was organized, and accompanied Urdaneta therein, as a missionary +to the heathen beyond the sea. When the latter returned to Mexico, +he left Herrera as prior of his brethren; and in 1569 Herrera became +superior of the mission, with the rank of provincial. He immediately +went to Mexico, and brought back reenforcements of friars to the +Philippines. For the same purpose, he went to Spain in 1573; returning +thence with missionaries, they were wrecked on the coast of Luzon, +where they all were slain by the natives (April 25, 1576). + +[11] Martin de Rada (Herrada) also went with Legazpi to the +Philippines, from Mexico. He was born at Pamplona, July 20, 1533, and +at the age of twenty became an Augustinian friar; he was noted for his +mathematical and linguistic ability. In 1572, he was provincial of his +order in the Philippines, and was sent as ambassador twice to China +and once to Borneo. On his return voyage from this latter mission, +he died at sea, in the month of June, 1578. + +[12] At this point may be presented some additional matter, obtained +from a document (also in the Sevilla Archivo general) which purports +to be a letter from Mirandaola to the king, but dated June 8, 1574. He +has apparently incorporated therein the greater part of the Legazpi +relation of 1569 which is presented in our text--adding thereto some +interesting details. At this point, he enumerates the kinds of food +used by the natives--"namely rice, millet, borona [a grain, also +called _mijo_, resembling Indian corn], Castilian fowls, buffaloes, +swine, and goats. They have wines of many kinds: brandy, made from +palm-wine (which is obtained from the cocoa-nut palm, and from the +wild nipa palm); _pitarrillos_, which are the wines made from rice, +millet, and borona; and other wines, made from sugar-cane. There are +fragrant fruits--large and small bananas, and _nancas_. These _nancas_ +are as large as a winter melon, and contain a yellow fruit of the size +of a friar's plum, within which is a kernel that, when roasted, has +the flavor of a chestnut. It has a delicious taste, and there is no +fruit in Spain that will compare with it. There is abundance of fish, +and much game--deer, mountain boars, and excellent waterfowl." For +enumeration and brief description of the leading vegetable products +of the archipelago, see _Philippine Gazetteer,_ pp. 70-95. Fuller +descriptions are given in various documents which will be reproduced +in the present series. + +We may add here that, "on the death of Legazpi, which occurred in +August, 1572, so many unauthorized and irregular acts were committed +by Andres de Mirandaola that the governor, Guido de Lavezares, was +compelled to ship him to New Spain, with other persons whose presence +in the archipelago cast odium on the Spanish name" (_Cartas de Indias_, +p. 804). + +[13] The Mirandaola MS. already mentioned enumerates the articles +exported from the Philippines--"wax, cotton, cotton-seed, tortoise +shells, and buffalo horns;" also the imports, "provisions, buffaloes, +live hogs, and wine;" also "silks, porcelains, benzoin, and musk." + +[14] "Because they say that their god orders them not to take out +the gold, except on the arrival of foreign vessels." (Mirandaola MS.) + +[15] Cabit, in the Mirandaola MS.; now Cauit, a point in N.E. Mindanao. + +[16] For account of the forest wealth of the archipelago, see the +recently-issued _Gazetteer of the Philippine Islands_, published +by the United States Bureau of Insular Affairs (Washington, 1902), +pp. 85-93; it contains a list of nearly two hundred kinds of trees +whose wood has economic value. + +[17] "All the natives of Cubu have been converted, both chiefs and +followers, except two chiefs, Sumaquio and Batungay. These men have +not been converted, because they are not willing to leave their wives; +Sumaquio has two wives, and Batungay three." (Mirandaola MS.) + +[18] "In Panae, and in Luzon and Vindanao." (Mirandaola MS.) + +[19] This word may be "your;" it is uncertain whether the Spanish +word is _nra_ or _vra_. + +[20] Evidently referring to the account of these proceeding which +Legazpi sent to the viceroy, Marques de Falces (See p. 44 ff., _ante_). + +[21] The _almude_ is one-twelfth of a _fanega_, or about 4 1/4 United +States quarts. + +[22] Juan de Salcedo (Salzedo, Sauzedo) was born in Mexico about +1549; his mother was Teresa Legazpi, daughter of the governor. He +came to Cebu in 1567, and, despite his youth, displayed from the +first such courage, gallantry, and ability that he soon won great +renown--especially in the conquest of Luzon; he has been called "the +Hernan Cortes of the Philippines." These qualities brought him rapid +military promotion; but his career was brief, for he died at the early +age of twenty-seven (March 11, 1576), from drinking too much water +while overheated by a hard march. He died a poor man; but his will +provided that what remained from his estate, after paying his debts, +should be given to certain natives belonging to his encomienda. + +[23] _Sangleyes_: derived from _hiang_ (or _xiang_) and _ley_, +meaning "a traveling merchant;" appellation of Chinese traders in +the Philippines. + +[24] The _prau_ or _parao_ (a name of Malay origin) was a large, flat +boat with two masts, and lateen sails; used for carrying freight, +and employed in the rivers and bays. + +[25] Cf. Friar Odoric's description of the green pepper found +in Malabar (called by the Arabs Balad-ul-Falfal, "the Pepper +Country")--growing on vines which the natives plant against tall +trees for support, and bearing fruit "just like bunches of grapes;" +see Yule's _Cathay_, vol. i, pp. clxxvii, 77. + +[26] The tael is a Chinese money of account, worth formerly about +$1.50; now $1.68, "Tael" is the trade name in China for the ounce of +silver; it also designates a weight, of 1 1/3 oz. avoirdupois. + +[27] This lake, about seventeen miles long, is the second largest +lake in Luzon. It is also named Taal, after the celebrated volcano +in its midst. Its outlet is the river Pansipit. + +[28] Spanish _pildoras_ ("pills"); a jocular allusion to the leaden +bullets from the muskets. + +[29] The Malay appellation _raja_ or _raxa_, meaning "a sovereign," +is used of rulers in Manila or Tondo. See Retana's note on Zuniga's +_Estadismo_, vol. ii, pp. 521*, 522*. + +[30] Cafre (or Kafir): a term applied by Mahometans to the heathen +natives of conquered countries; it means "infidels." From this +originated the name Kafiristan ("country of infidels"), applied to +the region north of the Punjaub of India and south of the Hindu-Kush +Mountains; its people are called Kafirs. See Yule's _Cathay_, vol. ii, +p. 554. + +[31] _Vara_: a measure of length, equivalent to a little more or +a little less (in different Spanish countries) than thirty-three +English inches. + +[32] In the Spanish text, _se acordo dar sanctiago en los +moros_,--literally, "it was decided to give the 'Santiago' among +the Moros,"--the _Santiago_ ("St. James") being the war-cry of the +Spaniards when engaging with Moors and other "infidels." + +[33] Bound up with the MS. of this document, in the archives at +Sevilla, are similar official acts for "the islands of Luban, Similara, +Baluyan, Helin, and Vindoro." + +[34] The palace of the Escorial was built in the town of that name, +twenty-four miles from Madrid, by Felipe II; it was begun in 1563, +and completed in 1584, except that the pantheons were added by Felipe +IV. The total cost is estimated at L660,000 sterling; it is one of the +largest buildings in the world, being a rectangle of six hundred and +eighty by five hundred and thirty feet. It is a palace and monastery +combined, the latter being in charge of the Augustinian order. + +[35] The matter in parentheses is side notes in the original. + +[36] _Tierra firme_: this term means simply "the continent," and +was at that time applied to the northern mainland of South America, +as distinguished from the adjacent islands. + +[37] Internal evidence indicates that this list was prepared in New +Spain. In the MS., in the right-hand column are enumerated the articles +demanded for the Philippines; on the left is a statement of articles +sent--various memoranda being made on each side. As here presented, +the items in the left-hand column follow (within parentheses) the +corresponding items on the right hand. + +[38] The Spanish _quintal_ (100 _libras_), varied in different +provinces; that of Castilla was equivalent to 101.6097 United States +pounds. Other denominations: 25 libras = 1 arroba; 4 arrobas = +1 quintal; 20 quintals = 1 tonelada. + +[39] Of these measures of capacity, the first set are for liquid +measure: 4 copas = 1 cuartillo; 4 cuartillos = 1 azumbre; 8 azumbres = +1 arroba _mayor_ or _cantara_. This _arroba_ equals 4.26304 gallons, +and is supposed to contain the weight of 35 _libras_ of pure (_i.e.,_ +distilled) water. The _arroba_ for oil, however, is only 3.31853 +gallons. + +The other measures are for dry substances. _Hanega_ is only another +form of _fanega_ (= 1.599 bushels), which is described in _Vol_. II, +note 72; the _celemin_ is the same as the _almude_ (note 20, +_ante_). Table: 4 ochavillos = 1 racion; 4 raciones = 1 cuartillo; +2 cuartillos = 1 medio; 2 medios = 1 almude; 12 almudes = 1 fanega; +12 fanegas = 1 cahiz. + +[40] References to the shares, in goods discovered or produced, +which were to be set aside for the king and the church. + +[41] _Elem:_ in Retana's text, "el _M_." In some old documents appears +the name Elen (or Helin); it apparently refers to the islet off the +southwest point of Mindoro which is now called Ylin. + +[42] _Pintados_ ("painted"): a term applied to the inhabitants +of the Visayas (and afterward extended to those islands), because +they painted their bodies with red clay--or, as some writers say, +on account of their being tattooed. + +[43] The name Manila is derived from a Tagal word, _manilad,_ meaning +"a place overgrown with _nilad_"--which is the name of a small tree, +bearing white flowers _(Ixora manila)._ + +Some writers claim that the name is a corruption of _Maydila,_ +from the Tagal words _may_ and _dila_, meaning "the place that has +a tongue"--alluding to a tongue-shaped island formerly at the mouth +of Pasig River.--_Rev. T. C. Middleton_, O.S.A. + +[44] Gold and other minerals are still obtained from the mines of +Paracale (in the province of Ambos, Camarines), Luzon. + +[45] Blumentritt says (_Dic. mitologico de Filipinas_, pp. 34, 35), +of the appellation Bathala: "This name, of Sanscrit origin, is or was +given to various gods of the Malay Filipinos. The ancient Tagalos +called their principal god _Badhala_, or _Bathala mey-kapal_ ["God +the creator"], and gave the same name to the bird _Tigmamanukin_, +... and sometimes to the comets or other heavenly bodies, which, +in their opinion, predicted future events." This is analogous to +the manner in which the North American Indians apply such terms as +"Manitou," "wakan," or "medicine," not only to their divinities, +but to any phenomenon that is mysterious or incomprehensible to them. + +The term _Diwata_ (_devata, diobata_), also of Sanscrit origin, is +applied variously by different races in the archipelago--sometimes to +the souls of ancestors (whom they invoke); sometimes to any inferior +spirits, whether good or bad (_ut supra_ pp. 45, 46). + +[46] A reference to the island of Basilan, off the southwest point +of Mindanao; it was formerly called Taguima. The route for ships here +mentioned was through the strait of Basilan. + +[47] Yvalon (or Ibalon) was the ancient name of Albay; it was sometimes +applied to the entire island of Luzon. + +[48] The Bicol river, which crosses the province of Ambos Camarines +(Sur), while Paracale is in the same province (Norte); both are on +the opposite coast from Albay. Yloquio is probably Ilocos; but that +province is north, not south, of Manila. + +[49] This municipal organization may be thus defined: The _cabildo_ was +the municipal official corporation--nearly the same as the American +city council; the _regidores_ were members of it. The _alguazil_ +was an official who executed the orders given by the _cabildo_, or +by the _alcaldes_ (judges). Regarding this subject, see Historical +Introduction, _Vol_. I, p. 56; also _Dic.-Encicl. Hisp.-Amer, art_: +Cabildo, Alcalde, etc. + +[50] The _peso_ was a money of account, commonly supposed to be worth +fifteen _reals vellon_. There was also a silver coin called a _peso_, +which was valued at eight _reals_ of silver, and weighed one _onza_ +(a trifle more than the English ounce). The _real_ (=34 _maravedis_) +is equivalent to nearly five cents of United States money; it is no +longer coined, but is still a unit of value throughout Spain. The +_tomin_ for gold was equivalent to 8.883 grains (United States +weight), and for silver to 9.254 grains. From a document published +in _Doc. ined. Ultramar_, vol. ii, pp. 461-463, it appears that seven +_tomines_ of gold were equivalent to one _peso_ of gold. + +[51] The table of weights to which the _marco_ belongs is as follows: +12 granos = 1 tomin; 3 tomines = 1 adarme; 2 adarmes = 1 ochava or +dracma; 8 ochavas = 1 onza; 8 onzas = 1 marco; 2 marcos = 1 libra (= +1.016097 United States pounds). + +[52] _Encomenderos_: persons to whom _repartimientos_ or _encomiendas_ +were granted (see _Vol_. II, note 18). + +[53] The name first given to the present city of Cebu, on the island +of that name. Another early name was San Miguel, given because the +settlement was founded on St. Michael's day. + +[54] Bound with this MS. is an abstract of the same, evidently made +for the royal council by some secretary. In the margin are noted, +opposite the various points, instructions for the governor of the +islands. In reply to this letter Lavezaris is to be thanked for his +care, and exhorted to continue it. The licentiate Francisco de Sande +is about to go from New Spain to the Philippines, to take account of +Legazpi's administration and to act as governor. The king is advised +to reward Lavezaris, and suitable rewards should be given to Martin +de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo. Sande is to be instructed to accord +good treatment to the Chinese, in order to invite their trade and +win them to the faith. Peace and friendship must be maintained with +the Portuguese. The lists of _encomiendas_ granted by Legazpi and +Lavezaris, with full information regarding them, must be sent to the +government. Sande should be instructed to do what he considers best, +in regard to the appointment of _regidores_. + +[55] Regarding the authorship of this document, see Bibliographical +Data. In its presentation here, we have interpolated in brackets the +additional matter found in the Sevilla copy; and likewise words which +alter the sense, prefixing to these "S:", to indicate the different +reading of the Sevilla document. Matter in the Madrid copy which +would give a different meaning from that at Sevilla is indicated by +"M:". The title of the latter is: "Relation of the Western Islands, +and the route thither from Nueva Espana." + +[56] The _brisa_ is the north, northeast, or east wind, the _vendaval_ +the south or southwest wind. The observations made for a considerable +period at the Jesuit observatory in Manila indicate the main prevalence +of winds as follows: north and northeast, November to January, +inclusive; east, February to April; south and southwest, May to +October. See Algue's account of these winds, in his _Archipielago +Filipino_, vol. ii, ch. iv; also (with additional observations, +and citations from other authorities) in _Report of the Philippine +Commission_, 1900, vol. iv, pp. 227-256. In these is discussed the +question whether these prevalent winds can be properly termed monsoons. + +[57] Probably some of the Marshall Islands. + +[58] The Chinese _tael_ (weight) is equivalent to 1 1-3 United States +ounces avoirdupois. The _mace_ (_masse_) is one-tenth of the _tael_, +and equals 60.42 grains. These terms are also applied to moneys of +account in Chinese trade. + +[59] The words "one thousand" do not appear in the Madrid copy, +having probably, in the course of time, been worn off (as have other +words or letters) from the edges of the paper. + +[60] Now Panaon; separated from Leyte (here called Baybay) by Panaon +Strait. Tandaya was the early name of Samar Island, which is separated +from Leyte by San Juanico Strait. Mazoga is the same as Massava of +other early writers; it is now Limasaua Island. + +[61] The _estado_ was equivalent to 1.85472 English yards, having +nearly the same value as the _braza_. + +[62] Probably the _sibucao (Caesalpina sapan_); its wood produces a red +coloring-matter which is highly valued, especially by the Chinese. Some +varieties of it are more highly esteemed than are those produced in +Brazil. These "Brazil" Islands are apparently the small groups north +of Luzon, now known as Batanes and Babuyanes. + +[63] An archivist's marginal note on the Sevilla MS. reads: "Doubtless +this should be Bassilani"--which is the modern Basilan, an island +southwest of Mindanao. + +[64] Regarding piracy in the Philippines, see Barrantes's _Guerras +piraticas de Filipinas_ (Madrid, 1878); and Montero y Vidal's _Historia +de la pirateria en Mindanao, Jolo y Borneo_ (Madrid, 1888). + +[65] A term (imported from America, and from the Nahuatl language) +applied to several species of _Calamus_: the rattan--a plant of great +use to the natives for many purposes. + +[66] Compare the custom among the Norse vikings--a warrior, at the +approach of death from natural causes, embarking alone in his vessel, +floating out to sea, and setting it afire, that he might perish +with it. + +[67] The table for Spanish measures of length: 12 puntos = 1 linea; 12 +lineas = 1 pulgada; 6 pulgadas = 1 sesma; 2 sesmas = 1 pie (the foot, += 11.128 U. S. inches); 3 pies = 1 vara; 4 varas = 1 estadal. Also, +9 lineas = 1 dedo; 12 dedos = 1 palma. The _legua_ of 8,000 _varas_ +equals 4.2151 United States miles. + +[68] _Camote:_ the sweet potato (_Ipomoea batatas_.) + +[69] An interesting reference to one of the earliest and most +characteristic industries among the natives of the Philippines. The +"wild banana" is the _abaca_ (_Musa textilis_); its product (made +from the fibers of the leaves) is commonly known as "Manila hemp," +and is one of the chief exports from the islands. Two kinds of cloth +are now made by the natives from the _abaca_, called _sinamay_ and +_tinampipi_; in making them, they use only primitive handlooms. See +Zuniga's description of this manufacture, in _Estadismo_ (Retana's +edition), vol. ii, pp. 41, 42: cf. pp. 94, 95, where he praises the +cotton cloths made in the Philippines. + +[70] The Spanish word is _moldes_; this sentence regarding the art of +printing in China is not in the Sevilla MS. Gonzalez de Mendoza gives +an interesting account in his _Hist. gran China_ (Madrigal edition, +Madrid, 1586), part i, book iii, ch. xvi, fol. 87-87b; he says that +the Chinese understood and used the art of printing more than five +hundred years before Gutenberg. He supposes that this invention was +carried to Germany via Russia and Muscovy, or by way of the Red Sea +and Arabia. The Augustinian Herrada and his associates took to the +Philippines a great many books, "printed in various parts of that +kingdom [China], but mostly in the province of Ochian [the former +province of Hu-Kwang, now forming the two provinces of Hou-Nan and +Hou-Pe] ... for therein were bookshops of the largest size," where +books were sold at low prices. In ch. xvii (fol. 89-91), Mendoza +enumerates the subjects treated in the books procured by Herrada; +they included history, statistics, geography, law, medicine, religion, +etc. See also Park's translation of Mendoza (Hakluyt Society, London, +1853), vol. i, pp. 131-137, and editorial note thereon regarding +antiquity of printing in China. + +[71] See the Treaty of Zaragoza, _Vol_. I, pp. 222-239. + +[72] The term Moros ("Moors") was applied by the Spaniards and +Portuguese to these Malayans, simply because they were, at least +nominally, Mahometans. Their residence was mainly in the islands of +Mindanao, Jolo, Paragua, and Balabac. Most of them were pirates, +who for centuries harassed not only the Spanish settlements, but +those of the Filipinos. + +[73] A note by the editor of _Cartas de Indias_ says: "The documents +here named do not accompany this letter." + +[74] This document is presented in both Spanish text and English +translation. + +[75] The latter part only of this document is here presented; for +somewhat more than half of it is practically a duplicate of Legazpi's +_Relation_ of 1570--which see (_ante_, pp. 108-112), with footnotes +indicating all important variations therefrom found in the first half +of the Mirandaola letter. The part appearing here is matter additional +to the Legazpi _Relation_. + +[76] For localities in which gold is found in the Philippines, +see _Philippine Gazetteer_, pp. 83, 84. See also Combes's _Hist. de +Mindanao_, lib. 1, cap. iv, with Retana's note thereon, col. 787; +in the note is information apparently obtained from this document of +our text. + +[77] The viceroy of New Spain, Martin Enriquez, makes the following +interesting comments on the Chinese trade with the Philippines, in +a letter to the king dated January 9, 1574: "Since I wrote to your +Majesty by the despatch ship, I have seen some of the articles which +have been received in barter from the Chinese; and I consider the whole +thing as a waste of effort, and a losing rather than a profitable +business. For all they bring are a few silks of very poor quality +(most of which are very coarsely woven), some imitation brocades, +fans, porcelain, writing desks, and decorated boxes; indeed, did +I not have respect for more than the good government of this land, +I would not permit a single one of these things to be brought into +this kingdom. To pay for these they carry away gold and silver, and +they are so keen that they will accept nothing else. I am told that +they took away more than forty thousand ducats in gold and silver +from the islands; and if this were not regulated, they would always +have the best of it--although, if the Spaniards who traffic there +with them were business men, they themselves would reject the goods +carried to them, and would try to ascertain what goods the Chinese +have and their value, and arrange so that the exchange should be +profitable. I tell your Majesty of this because I shall write the +general no more than that he must not permit Spaniards to carry on +barter with gold that has not paid the tax." + +[78] In 1560 the Portuguese obtained the loan of a spot near the +mouth of the Canton estuary, where they were permitted to establish +a trading-post, which was named Macao. Before many years elapsed, +more than five hundred Portuguese merchants resorted thither annually +to trade. "By the regular payment of their rent (five hundred taels +a year), as well as by a judicious system of bribing, the Portuguese +long enjoyed the practical monopoly of the external trade of the great +mart of Canton with the West." See D. C. Boulger's _History of China_, +ii, pp. 146, 169. + +[79] The Chinese rulers here referred to are known in history by +different names from those here given, even after making allowance for +their pronunciation by Spaniards. Moutsong, twelfth emperor of the +Ming dynasty, died in 1572, and was succeeded by his son Chintsong, +better known under the name Wanleh. As this prince was then but six +years old, his mother acted as regent during his minority. + +[80] The Ultramar MS. (see Bibliographical Data at end of this volume) +reads, "the river of Panaca to Cubo." + +[81] From this point this paragraph in the Ultramar MS. reads as +follows: "As justly as possible. But although it was done thus, +complaints were heard, because not so many natives were found as +the list made by the person who had visited this district gave us to +understand. This list was so summary that it could not be true. The +encomenderos urged that the governor should make the number of each +repartimiento equal to the list. Therefore each encomendero received +the number for which he petitioned." + +[82] The Ultramar MS. reads here: "named Cebu, he set out for Prognal." + +[83] Martin Enriquez writes to the king (January 9, 1574), urging that +a new governor for the Philippines be appointed: "I beg your Majesty +to appoint, within a very short time, some person who shall have +the necessary qualifications for governing that land; for otherwise +neither Christianity nor the royal estate will be able to make much +progress there. Even since I wrote to your Majesty, I have heard +fuller details of certain things from among the many which are bound +to occur, and all through lack of justice. I had charged Don Pedro +de Luna to bring me a detailed relation of everything that he should +hear concerning matters there, and, as he died at sea, I sent word to +the Alcalde Mayor of Acapulco to look through his coffers for all his +papers, and send them to me, suspecting that I would not like to trust +everything to his memory. In this way I have ascertained from them +that there is beyond question need that your Majesty should endeavor +to secure better administration of justice there, and provide some +one to take greater care of your Majesty's finances." + +[84] The Munoz letter (see Bibliographical Data at end of this volume) +says, "four varas." The reading of our text is uncertain, as the +number is not written in full, but is designated by a contraction +difficult to read. + +[85] The Ultramar MS. has the following: "It is enough to say, and +I swear it on my oath as a Christian, that there is said to be more +gold in this one island than iron in Vizcaya." This is very similar +to the reading in the MS. copied by Munoz. + +[86] The red sulphuret of arsenic. + +[87] This and what follows was apparently added by the officials +in Mexico. + +[88] _Corredor de Lonja_ (_Lonxa_) is undoubtedly a commission +merchant: apparently the decree confers upon the city the right to +appoint brokers of this class.--_A.P. Cushing_. + +[89] This document is evidently addressed to the governor, then Guido +de Lavezaris. + +[90] The ganta = 8 chupas = 3 liters. + +[91] An ancient province of Luzon, so called from the name given in +Manila to the many porticos constructed out of the nipa palm. It was +erected into a province during the governorship of Guido de Lavezaris, +and was conquered by Salcedo. It is mountainous, and contains rich +mines of various metals, and a fertile soil. It is now (since April 27, +1901), under American government, known by the name of Ambos Camarines. + +[92] The early name of the islands now known as Visayas (or +Bisayas)--the group lying between Luzon, Mindanao, and Mindoro; +so named from their inhabitants, known as Pintados ("painted men") +from their tattooed bodies. + +[93] Referring to the abaca, or wild plantain (note 68). + +[94] Referring to the birth of a son to Felipe II and Anna of +Austria--probably that of Jacobo (or Jaime), born in 1572 or 1573, +who died in 1582. + +[95] The name and title of this commander are, by some _lapsus +calami_, omitted in the MS. The reference, however, is obvious, +to Don Juan of Austria, illegitimate son of Carlos I (but finally +publicly acknowledged by him); this prince gained signal renown in +wars against the Mahometans. + +[96] The Rio Grande of Mindanao. + +[97] The first-born son of Felipe was Fernando, born in 1571; he died +at the age of four years. The town named for him is now called Vigan; +it is located on Abra River, and is capital of the province of Ilocos +Sur, Luzon. + +[98] Of the decrees here referred to, two may be found in _Recopilacion +de leyes de las Indias_ (5th ed., Madrid, 1841), lib. viii. One +(tit. iv, ley xxiv) provides that vacancies in crown offices shall be +filled by the viceroy, or by the president of the Audiencia; the other +(tit. x, ley xviii), that gold and silver found in seaports, which +has not been duly taxed and stamped, shall, if there be no smelting +establishment in such place, be forfeited to the royal treasury. + +[99] See _post_, p. 286. + +[100] Apparently a reference to the custom of _taboo_ (or _tabu_), +of which traces exist among primitive peoples throughout the world, +but most of all in Polynesia. The word means "sacred"--that is, set +aside or appropriated to persons or things regarded as sacred; but +the custom, although doubtless originating in religious observances, +gradually extended as a social usage. It is among many peoples +connected with totemism, and is considered by many writers as the +gradual outgrowth of animistic beliefs. + +[101] This was Doctor Francisco de Sande, who entered upon his duties +as governor of the Philippines in August, 1575. He had previously been +a member of the Audiencia of Mexico. While governor, he desired to +undertake the conquest of China; but Felipe II ordered him to confine +his activities to the preservation of what Spain had already gained +in the islands. Sande was recalled in 1580. + +[102] Thus in the original (_setenta y cinco_); but it must be a slip +of the writer, since Legazpi removed to Manila in May, 1571, which +was organized as a city a year later--as is shown by the "Documents +of 1571-72," _ante_. + +[103] The _marco_ was the unit of weight used in weighing gold and +silver in the different Latin countries. In Spain it was equivalent +to O.507641 lb. + +[104] "Most authors use this nomenclature: 'Moros' are Mahometans, +of more or less pure Malay race, in whose civilization are the +remains of Oriental barbarism; 'infidels' or 'pagans,' [gentiles], +Filipinos whose only religion is one of the idolatrous rites, more +or less absurd, which are natural to savages: and 'Christians,' the +Indians whom our meritorious religious have converted to the faith +of Jesus Christ."--_Retana_ (_Zuniga,_ ii. p. 9*). + +[105] Referring to the Tartar chief Yenta, who harassed the Chinese +empire from 1529 until 1570--raiding the frontiers, carrying away +rich plunder and many captives (in one campaign, it is said, 200,000 +persons), and even threatening Pekin itself. Finally (1570) peace was +restored, Yenta acknowledging the sovereignty of the Chinese emperor, +and receiving in return the title of prince of Chuny. Yenta died in +1583. See Boulger's _Hist. China_, ii, pp. 141-144, 150, 154. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, by E.H. Blair + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1803 *** + +***** This file should be named 13616.txt or 13616.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/6/1/13616/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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