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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:27 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:27 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12635-0.txt b/12635-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a97a5b --- /dev/null +++ b/12635-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8416 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12635 *** + +Prepared by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed Proofreaders Team. + + + + + The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + + 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 IV, 1576-1582 + + + E. H. Blair & J. A. Robertson + + + +Contents of Volume IV + +Preface + +Documents of 1576-78: + + Relation of the Filipinas Islands. Francisco de Sande; Manila, + June 7, 1576. + + Relation and Description of the Phelipinas Islands. [Francisco + de Sande]; Manila, June 8, 1577. + + Bull for erection of the diocese and cathedral church of + Manila. Gregory XIII; Rome, February 6, 1578. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; Manila, July 29, 1578. + + Grant of a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who visit + churches of the Friars Minors. Gregory XIII; Rome, November 15, + 1578. + +Documents of 1579-82: + + Royal decree regulating the foundation of monasteries. Felipe II; + Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; Manila, May 30, 1579. + + Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao. Francisco de Sande + and others; Manila, April 19, 1578, to June 10, 1579. + + Appointments to vacancies in Manila cathedral. Felipe II; + [promulgated from?] Guadalupe, March 26, 1580. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonçillo Ronquillo de Peñalosa; Manila, + July 17, 1581. + + Ordinance restricting departure from the islands. Gonzalo + Ronquillo de Peñalosa; Manila, March 2, 1582. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa; Manila, + June 15, 1582. + +Bibliographical Data + + + +Illustrations + + +View of Mallaca, in _Eylffte Schiffahrt_, by Levinus Hulsius +(Franckfurt am Mayn, 1612), p. 64; enlarged photographic facsimile, +from copy in Harvard University Library. + +"Indiae orientalis, insularumque adiacientium typus" (original +in colors), map in _Theatrum orbis terrarum_, by Abraham Ortelius +(Antverpiae, M. D. LXX), fol. 48; reduced photographic facsimile, +from copy in Boston Public Library. + +"Incola ex Insulis Moluco" (picture of a Moluccan warrior; original +in colors), engraving in _Voyage ofte Schipvaert_, Jan Huygen van +Linschoten (Amstelredam, M. D. XCVI), p. 64; photographic facsimile, +from copy in Boston Public Library. + + + + + +Preface + + +The first official report sent by Governor Francisco de Sande to +the home government is dated June 7, 1576. It is introduced by a +description of the winds prevalent in the Indian Archipelago. Arriving +at Manila (August 25, 1575), he finds that much of the city has +been destroyed by a Chinese pirate named Limahon; and he relates, +in a graphic manner, the circumstances of this affair. In the first +attack (September, 1574), fourteen Spaniards and more than eighty +Chinese are slain. The enemy renew the attack a few days later, +but are repulsed with much loss. The Moros of the vicinity rebel, +insulting and robbing the friars and defiling the churches. The +Chinese proceed to Pangasinan, where they erect a fort, determining +to establish themselves there. All the Spanish forces are assembled, +and an expedition is sent (March 23, 1575), under Juan de Salcedo, +to attack the marauders. In the first encounter the Spanish are +victorious; but through mismanagement they fail to follow up their +success, and finally the Chinese depart from Luzón. A Chinese officer +named Omocon comes to search for the pirate Limahon; on his return, +he carries some Augustinian friars to China, but they return in +a few months. The Chinese bring certain presents to the governor, +which he turns over to the king. He does not like that people, saying +that they are mean, impudent, importunate, and deceitful. He relates +many interesting particulars regarding the country and people of +China--derived from the various reports which have come to him from +traders, missionaries, and the Filipino natives. + +Sande has a poor opinion of the trade with China; the only useful +article which the Chinese bring to the Philippines is iron. He urges +here, as in the letter preceding this report, that the king should +at once send an expedition for the conquest of China, for which four +thousand to six thousand men would be needed. He argues that this +enterprise would be an act of justice, for several curious reasons: +it would free the wretched Chinese from the oppressive tyranny and +cruelty of their rulers; it is right to punish them for their many +crimes and vices; and they ought to be compelled to admit foreigners +to their country. The governor is not troubled by any scruples of +conscience respecting the Line of Demarcation; for he affirms that +all the region from the Moluccas to the islands of Japan, inclusive, +with Borneo and all the coast of China, is "within the demarcation +of Spain." He is ready to drive the Portuguese out of the Moluccas, +if the king will consent thereto. + +Sande gives further details as to the Philippines and their people. The +climate is healthful, for those who live temperately. The culture +of rice is described, and the fertility of the soil praised. Much +interesting information is given regarding the characteristics, +habits, and customs of the people; he regards most of them as drunken, +licentious, and idle, and avaricious and murderous. The governor has +rebuilt the ruined fort at Cebu; but he thinks that a settlement +there is useless and expensive. He asks for oared vessels, with +which to navigate among the islands; and he is anxious to seize +the Moluccas for Spain. He complains of the reckless manner in +which repartimientos had been assigned by Legazpi and Lavezaris, +an abuse which he is trying to reform. He has revoked many of these +allotments, and placed them under the control of the crown. He has +established two shipyards, which have done good work in building and +repairing vessels. He needs artillery, or else skilled workmen to +make it; also fifty good gunners, two master-engineers, and more +troops. Sande has founded a hospital at Manila, mainly for the +soldiers--apparently the first in the islands; and is planning to +build a house in which convalescents may be properly cared for. He +has begun to fortify Manila, and is making other preparations for its +defense. The province of Pampanga, almost the only source of supply +of food for the Spaniards, has been appropriated by Sande for the +crown; he asks the king to confirm this action. He is endeavoring +to stop various leaks in the royal treasury, and is providing for +the worthy poor. He mentions the royal order that all the Indians +should be induced to settle near the districts already pacified, in +order to render them sedentary and to convert them to the Christian +faith--a plan which he considers quite impracticable. The governor +is greatly annoyed by the careless and extravagant administration +of the royal funds by the officials at Manila; he makes various +recommendations for securing better and more economical conduct of +the public service. He reports the religious status of the land, and +calls for more priests, especially recommending the Franciscans, "since +they live among the natives, and we need not support them." Certain +concessions and exemptions should be continued, as the people are so +poor; and for that reason customs duties ought not to be levied until +the people can afford to pay them. The two friars whom the Chinese +captain Omocon had consented to convey a second time to his country, +not having means to satisfy with gifts his avaricious nature, had +been therefore abandoned on a lonely island, where they are rescued +by a passing troop of Spaniards. Sande enumerates various documents, +maps, etc., which he is sending to the king; and he again appeals for +consent to his proposal for the conquest of China. A paper containing +memoranda for reply to this letter indicates that the king declines +to entertain this scheme, and advises Sande to expend his energies +upon the preservation and development of the lands already conquered. + +In another report, dated June 8, 1577, Sande furnishes some information +additional to that in the preceding document. The Moros of Luzon +are very shrewd traders, and are skilful in alloying the gold which +they obtain in that island. This practice causes the governor much +perplexity regarding the currency question. He has succeeded, during +the past two years, in putting "the affairs of the royal estate into as +good order as in Mexico;" and has reformed various abuses, small and +great. He explains the manner in which he has aided needy soldiers +and other persons in want, and reassigned encomiendas of persons +deceased. As for the natives, Sande says that they are not simple, +foolish, or timorous; "they can be dealt with only by the arquebuse, +or by gifts of gold or silver." He has maintained good discipline +among the soldiers, and reformed them from the vicious habits which +had been prevalent among them. He asks that the concessions made +regarding the customs duties and the royal fifths be continued, +on account of the poverty of the colony. He renews his request for +more religious teachers, and asks not only for secular priests, +but more friars--especially those who cannot own property, as the +Indians will have more regard for such. He explains in detail his +difficulties regarding the proper disposal of the crown funds by the +royal officials, and the heroic treatment made necessary by their +inefficiency and mismanagement. The property of Guido de Lavezaris +is confiscated, and the goods of other wrong-doers are seized. The +city is now surrounded by a palisade and rampart; and the river-bank +has been protected against the action of the waves. He has built, +or has now in the shipyards, vessels worth in New Spain one hundred +thousand ducats, which have cost him less than fifteen thousand. The +resources of the land are being developed; the rebellious natives +have been pacified; churches, and a house for the friars, have been +erected; and a residence for the governor has been built. In all +these undertakings, he finds it necessary to watch everything, and +superintend the workmen; this care and oversight has enabled him to +secure good returns from the expenditure of the public funds. + +A papal bull dated February 6, 1578, erects the diocese of Manila, +and constitutes its church a cathedral; the duties and privileges +of the bishop thereof are enumerated. He shall be subordinate to +the archbishop of Mexico; and the usual tithes and other dues are +remitted. Sande writes to the king (July 29, 1578) a brief report +of his expedition to Borneo in the months of March to May preceding; +and requests rewards and promotion for himself and his brothers. By +a decree dated November 15, 1578, Pope Gregory XIII grants "plenary +indulgence to all the faithful who visit churches" of the Franciscans +in these Oriental regions. On May 13, 1579, King Felipe issues a +decree regarding the foundation of monasteries in the Philippines. Fray +Domingo de Salazar (a Dominican) has been appointed bishop of Manila, +and will soon go thither with friars. The governor is ordered to +ascertain where monasteries are needed, and there to erect buildings +for this purpose. + +Sande informs the king (May 30, 1579) of the result of his efforts +to subdue other and neighboring islands. The city in Borneo which +he attacked in the preceding year has been rebuilt, and the king of +that land is ready to submit. The king of Jolo (Sulu) has become a +vassal of Spain, and peace has been made with the people dwelling on +the Rio Grande of Mindanao. Sande is still eager to set out for the +conquest of the Moluccas and of China, and is doing all that he can +to accumulate shipping and artillery for that purpose. + +This letter is accompanied by a bulky document containing the official +notarial record of the expedition which Sande mentions. The governor +learns from Filipino natives of Luzon that the king of Borneo oppresses +and plunders their countrymen who visit his land--thus wronging vassals +of Spain; and that the Borneans, being Mahometans, are spreading their +heresy among the peoples of the archipelago. Sande writes a letter +to this ruler, announcing his desire to confer with him, and to make +a compact of peace and friendship. He demands from the king not only +free opportunity for Christian preachers to evangelize the Borneans, +but also the cessation of any further Mahometan propaganda by Borneans +among the Filipinos. The king must also surrender any persons whom he +has forcibly detained, with all their possessions; and must provide +the Spaniards with food--for which, however, he will receive pay. No +answer being made by the Borneans, and Sande's envoys not returning to +the fleet, he enters the port, despite the resistance of the native +vessels therein. The people thereupon flee inland, and the Spaniards +enter the town, seizing there various possessions of the king--among +them letters from the Portuguese, one of which is signed "El Rey" ("the +King"). Sande takes possession of all Borneo for Spain. He then sends +(May 23, 1578) one of his officers, Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, +to subdue the Sulu Islands. He is instructed to reduce, as gently +as he can, the pirates of that group to peaceful agriculturists, +and secure from them the payment of tribute. Next, he is to go +on a similar errand to Mindanao; and, as many of its inhabitants +are Mahometans, he must strive to uproot "that accursed doctrine" +there. Sande returns to Manila, whence in the following year (February +28, 1579) he despatches Juan Arce de Sadornil with a fleet to Borneo, +giving him detailed instructions for his conduct on this expedition. He +is to ascertain the condition of affairs there, and gently endeavor +to gain the submission of the king as a vassal of Spain. Sadornil +goes to Borneo, and conducts various negotiations with the king, but +cannot induce the latter to confer with him in person. Finally, seeing +that he can accomplish nothing, and that his men are suffering from +confinement and illness, he decides to return to Manila; and he advises +Sande that a settlement of Spaniards in Borneo must, to be successful, +be made in the town where the Moro court resides. In June, 1578, the +king of Sulu submits to the Spanish power. From the Moluccas comes the +news that the people of Ternate have revolted against the Portuguese, +who have been compelled to abandon their fortress there and retreat +to Amboina. Their trade in spices is therefore greatly injured, for +the time; and other Malayan peoples are also hostile to the Portuguese. + +Sande again sends (January, 1579) an expedition to Mindanao and +Sulu, under Captain de Ribera, to secure their submission to Spanish +authority. His instructions lay special stress on proper care for the +health of the troops. The tribute desired from Sulu consists of "two or +three tame elephants." Ribera goes to the Rio Grande of Mindanao, but +can accomplish nothing; for the natives, in terror of the Spaniards, +have abandoned their villages, fleeing to the mountains. Ribera erects +a fort at the delta of the river, and receives the submission of a few +neighboring chiefs; but, as his men are being prostrated by sickness, +he obtains from a friendly _dato_ (chief) a list of the Indian villages +and their population, with such information as he can gather, and +departs--sending a small detachment of troops to pacify the district +of Butuan. Going to Cavite, Ribera finds there a deputation from Sulu, +who bring a little tribute saying that their people have been harassed +by famine ever since Figueroa came, a year before, to demand tribute +from them. Finding upon investigation that this story is true, he +gives back their tributes, receiving instead a cannon which they had +taken from a wrecked Portuguese galley. Ribera then returns to Cebu. + +A royal decree of March 26, 1580, provides for appointments to +fill vacant benefices in the cathedral at Manila The new governor, +Ronquillo de Peñalosa, writes to the king (July 17, 1581), asking +whether Manila is to be regarded as his capital and head-quarters, +and giving advice in various matters. Like many such documents, +this is endorsed: "Seen; an answer is unnecessary." + +As some of the Franciscan friars who have come to the Philippines +have preferred to labor in China, Peñalosa orders (March 2, 1582) +that no person shall leave the islands without his permission. In a +letter dated June is of that year, he complains to the king that he +has not received the expected reënforcements of men from New Spain; +that the Audiencia of that country (in which is now Sande, superseded +by Peñalosa as governor of the Philippines) meddles with his government +and threatens to make trouble for him; and that he needs a competent +assistant in his office. Ternate is now under Spanish control, +and Spain monopolizes the rich spice-trade; Panama is the best +route therefor. An "English pirate," presumably Sir Francis Drake, +has been intriguing with the Malays at Ternate, and the post there +should be more heavily fortified. The newly-appointed bishop, Salazar, +has arrived; on account of his austerity and his wish to dominate, +he is not a favorite with the people. + +_The Editors_ + +April, 1903. + + + +Documents of 1576-78 + + Relation of the Filipinas Islands. Francisco de Sande; June 7, + 1576. + + Relation and description of the Phelipinas Islands. [Francisco + de Sande]; June 8, 1577. + + Bull for erection of the diocese of Manila. Gregory XIII; + February 6, 1578. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; July 29, 1578. + + Indulgence to those who visit Franciscan churches; + Gregory XIII; November 15, 1578. + + +_Sources_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo de +Indias, Sevilla, excepting the papal decrees; the first of these is +from _Doc. inéd., Amér. y Oceanía_, xxxiv, pp. 72-79, the second from +the _Crónica de la provincia de San Gregorio_ of Fray Francisco de +Santa Inés (Manila, 1892), i, pp. 215, 216. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Rachel +King; the second, by José M. Ascensio; the third and fifth, by +Rev. T.C. Middleton, O.S.A.; the fourth, by G.A. England. + + + +Relation of the Filipinas Islands + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +I sailed from the port of Acapulco, Nueva España, on the sixth of +April of the year seventy-five, as I had previously informed your +Majesty from that port. On account of setting sail during the calms, +we were delayed, so that it took us seventy-two days to reach the +Ladrones. There we filled our water-butts, and I took on board a large +anchor that I found there that had belonged formerly to the flagship +lost there by Ffelipe de Sauzedo; in the other ship we placed four +small boat-loads of ballast. All this detained us only a day and a +half. On nearing the cape of Spiritu Santo in Tandaya, one of the +Philipinas, our progress was impeded by the vendaval, and our pilots +also gave us considerable trouble, so that I arrived at Manilla on +the twenty-fifth of August of the year seventy-five. On that day I +took possession of the office of governor and captain-general. + +2. Although your Majesty may know better than I the matters I am +about to relate, still, like a country-man, I wish to speak, and +to tell what I myself have experienced. I am informed here that +throughout the entire sea in these latitudes there are two general +seasons. During one, the dry season, the _brisas_, as they are called, +blow from the southeast to the north, finally blowing directly from +the north; while in the other, or wet season, the _vendavales_ blow +from northwest to south-southeast. Thus, during these two seasons, the +winds blow from every point of the compass. For this reason it will be +seen that coming from Nueva España, from the east toward this western +region, the brisas would help; while the vendavales, especially the +usual one, which is a south-westerly wind in the channels of these +islands, would impede the progress of the ship. These two general +seasons begin in some years somewhat earlier than in others, and in +some places before they do in others. However, it is quite clear and +evident that by the end of May and the middle of June, the vendaval +begins here from the west (and I believe that this is true of all the +southern sea), and blows strongly night and day. Now if for any reason +it should cease for a moment it would only be to burst forth again with +renewed vigor. Such a period of quietness is called here _calladas_ +["silence"]. The brisa begins in November, and lasts until the end +of May. Between these two general seasons two others exist, called +_bonanças_ ["gentle winds"] which last from the middle of March to the +end of May, and comprise also part of September and October. During +that time the bonança of April and May is the most prevalent wind, +although other winds are blowing constantly. Should the usually mild +winds prove severe, then the opposite season would develop, so that +in April a vendaval often presents itself, and in September a violent +brisa may blow. These seasons, I think, correspond to those of the +northern sea, as you may be already aware--although I do not know +whether they are at all regular, for the fleets of merchant ships +leave Nueva Spaña the middle of April and somewhat later, taking +thirty, forty, and sixty days to reach Havana, a distance of three +hundred leagues. Although the pilots tell us that this is a good time +to sail in a southeast direction, they cannot deny that they endure +very great hardships from the calms caused by the bonanzas. During +this journey from Nueva España to Havana, many people have met their +death. Leaving in February in a few days one reaches Havana. But I, +sailing the sixth of April (that is, in the middle of the bonança +season), did not encounter bad weather, being detained twenty days in +the calms thirty leagues from Nueva España. Neither did we encounter +so feeble winds that our progress might have been retarded; nor did +the vendaval of July burst forth before it was due. + +3. I learned in these islands that this city had been burned by a +pirate and that there had been a war. There they asked me for lead, and +I readily complied with their requests, until I was weary of granting +petitions. I thought that we had some lead; but on summoning my men, +and searching for it, only five or six arrobas were found; and that was +in sheets, such as are used to stop leaks in ships. Arriving at Manila, +I could get no lead; and, not being able to obtain it elsewhere, we +took from the sides of the ships somewhat less than seventy arrobas, +some of which was used. With what is left we remain, hoping for the +grace of God; for should not the ship sheathed with lead arrive, I do +not know what would become of this camp of your Majesty. Your Majesty +will understand, then, the condition of affairs here; and will please +have pity and consideration for the men who are serving your Majesty +here, so far away, and with so much hardship and so much danger. + +4. On my arrival, I found Manila in great part burned and +destroyed. Let me relate what occurs here. They say that the kingdom +of China is often invaded by corsairs, and that one named Limahon (or, +as the Chinese call him, Dim Mhon) had committed great depredations +in China, whereby he had amassed great wealth. He was pursued +by his king to the region near the upper point of this island of +Luçon. Near an island about forty leagues from Luçon, he captured a +Chinese merchant-ship that was en route from this city of Manila for +purposes of trade. The merchants carried with them a quantity of gold +and many reals of four Mexicans each, and other things obtained in this +island, which were highly esteemed by them. Demanding with threats, +where they had obtained this gold and silver, he robbed them of their +goods, which they said had been obtained in Luçon, in trade with the +Castilians. A pilot assisted him greatly in his negotiations here, +for he said that the people were quite secure and careless, and were +scattered through many places; and that, if he would come to the +island in a short time, he would find only old people and invalids, +as a galley was about to leave in order to take a captain to Mindanao +and perhaps had already gone, so that there would be no one with whom +to fight. The above-mentioned Limahon believed him, and thereupon came +to the city. On the way, however, at dawn of day, without himself being +seen, he met one of your Majesty's galliots. On this vessel there were +twenty-two people, counting soldiers and sailors. This ship was sent +by Captain Juan de Saucedo, who was in Ylocos, to some villages of +Çinay [Sinay], near by, for provisions. This vessel had been taken +from this city by order of Guido de Lavezares, in order to explore +the province of Cagayan, to which I sent Don Luis de Sahajossa this +last winter. When the corsair saw the galliot, he lowered his small +boats and made an assault upon it; but, although the galliot was badly +equipped, the soldiers defended themselves bravely from the attack of +the small boats. The natives on the coast, say that a bronze falcon +weighing fourteen quintals was fired five times. This falcon was called +"Vigilantib" by the soldiers, on account of this word being used as an +inscription upon it. As the corsair saw what a brave defense they made +against the small boats, he bore down upon them with his whole fleet, +consisting of sixty-two large ships, and with their great fire-bombs +they burned the galley in a very short time. The poor fellows in it +not having confidence in their oars--as they had only four oars to a +bench, the galliot having fifteen benches--those still living threw +themselves into the water. Thus they all perished, either at the hands +of the Chinese or at those of the natives, who are wont to act in this +manner. The Chinese sacked the galley, and placed the "Vigilantib" +and other arms in their ships. This falcon was the greatest loss +sustained by the galley, which was lost because it had been poorly +equipped and had an insufficient number of men; they, as a result, +could not warn Manila and other places. Had they been supplied with +ammunition, it would have been easy to escape; and even, with the +"Vigilantib" alone, to have destroyed their fleet. + +5. With this prize captured from the galliot, the corsair proceeded +toward Manila. At this time a soldier, Sayavedra, sergeant of Juan +de Saucedo, who was in one of the neighboring villages, saw what had +happened, and that the galley had been burned; and he wrote a letter +to this effect to Juan de Saucedo, sending it overland by an Indian +to Vigan, where Saucedo was located with one hundred men. In a short +time Juan de Saucedo saw the ships of the corsair and his armament; +so he sent a virey to advise the people of Manila of what was taking +place. The ships in advance, on discovering the virey, deceived its +occupants, and stood out to sea, to round a promontory, through the bay +of which was coming the deceived virey. The _virey_ is a kind of vessel +used by the natives of these islands; it has but little steadiness, +and always navigates near the shore. While this little boat was going +around the bay, all the ships came upon it at once. The occupants of +the little boat had to run aground, in order to escape with their +lives, and to hide in the hills. Then they took out their weapons, +and paused to see what was taking place. The Chinese broke up the +ship, but did not completely destroy it, and then continued their +journey. The soldiers again took to their vessel, and slowly wended +their way to Manila, arriving there one day after St. Andrew's Day, +at noon, and after the corsair had made the first assault. They spread +the news that Juan de Saucedo was coming from Ylocos with all haste, +for he had found out who Limahon was. These soldiers landed in a +hostile region, that of a certain people called Zambales; they are +very much like the Chichimecos of Nueva España, who have no ambition +higher than that of cutting off men's heads. They are accustomed to +the use of bows and arrows. Consequently three soldiers in a rough +country could not have escaped, unless God had kept their boat from +being entirely destroyed by the Sangleyes. + +6. The corsair continued his journey, and, intending to make an attack +at dawn, anchored outside the bay, and sent all his small boats ashore +in charge of some captains, in the early part of St. Andrew's Eve. They +say that the corsair remained with the ships; but that in the boats +there were seven hundred men, among whom were a few arquebusiers, and +many pikemen, besides men armed with battle-axes. [1] They were clad in +corselets which are coats lined with exceedingly thick cotton. They had +durable bamboo hats, which served as helmets; they carried cutlasses, +and several daggers in their belts; and all were barefoot. Their +manner of warfare or of fighting, was to form a squadron composed of +men with battle-axes, among whom were placed some arquebusiers, a few +of the latter going ahead as skirmishers. One of every ten men carried +a banner, fastened to his shoulders and reaching two palms above his +head. There were other and larger banners also, so that it appeared as +if some important personage was coming who served in the capacity of +master-of-camp. These, then, were the people who made the first attack. + +7. The entrance to the bay of this city of Manila is southwest of +Manila. On its southern side, and to the right on entering the +bay, is the port of Cavite, two leagues from Manila. They took +the shorter route, which was safer for their small boats, and came +somewhat late within half a league of Manila without being seen; +for the slight breeze stirring from the east prevented them from +making the assault at daybreak. Manila is on a point or isthmus +running southeast and northwest; and the river encompasses it from +the east to the northwest. They did not enter by the river, in order +not to be seen by the fishermen who are constantly going and coming; +and also for the reason that the bay is very wide at this point, +and they would have to force an entrance, which they did not dare +attempt in their small boats. The pirates therefore began a hurried +march along shore toward the city, dragging their lances. They +arrived at the city somewhere between nine and ten o'clock in the +morning. The first house attacked was that of the master-of-camp, +Martin de Goite; he was sick in bed at the time. Already some natives +had come to him from the shore, shouting at the tops of their voices +that enemies were near, and that the king of Borney was coming down +upon the Castilians. Now as Martin de Goite knew that this was the +season of the brisas, and that it was impossible to come from Borney, +which lies to the southwest, because the wind was dead ahead, and not +believing in the possibility of other enemies, he laughed at the men, +telling them that they were drunken. Meanwhile, the advance-guard of +the squadron was near the house, when he arose, put on a suit of mail, +and took a sword with which to defend himself. It is believed that +the Chinese were passing straight ahead toward the governor's house +and the artillery, guided by the spy whom they brought with them, for +they were stealing along the shore forward. This would have meant the +total destruction of this city and camp; for your Majesty's houses, +being at the extreme end of the point of land made by the sea and the +river, were without any defense. The inhabitants of the city were each +in his own house, and the artillery was lying on the ground dismounted, +the pieces scattered here and there throughout the camp. The point of +the island once occupied, the Spaniards had no place wherein to gather +and fortify themselves, so that they could have a safe position back +of them. God provided this, for it is said that, when the enemies came +marching in line along the seacoast, the wife of Martin de Goite, +the master-of-camp, was looking out of a window which faced the +seacoast. She had a child's helmet on her head, and she called and +beckoned to them, telling them in Castilian that they were dogs, and +that they would all be killed. The Chinese observed this, and learned +from the guide that this was the house of the master-of-camp. They +regarded this as a very important piece of news, and, going to that +house, hurled many fire-bombs, with which they burned it in a very +short time; for it was made, like all the houses there, of wood and +straw. They killed some men who had gathered there; they also killed +the master-of-camp, who had been injured by the fire and wounded by +an arquebuse-shot in one arm, and who threw himself from a window, +on account of the cruel flames. A soldier, although the enemy struck +at him repeatedly with cutlasses and battle-axes, escaped with but +a slight wound. It is believed that if the master-of-camp had left +the house early, he would have escaped; but that he tried to defend +himself in his house, which he was unable to do, on account of his +severe illness. Several other persons were killed there with him. His +wife, who had shouted to them, they stripped, and tore off a ring +which she was slow in drawing from her finger, and a necklace; and +then they stabbed her severely in the neck. She rushed from the house +and hid in the tall grass, thus escaping with her life; and she is now +alive. Another woman and three or four men were killed. In burning that +house, and in the resistance offered there, they were detained some +time; therefore news of this affair reached the city and the house of +the governor, Guido de Lavezares. The first intimation that they had +of the approach of the enemy was the sight of the burning house of the +master-of-camp, which thus revealed it. When the affair at the house +was over, the pirates attempted to proceed once more to the beach. + +The delay at the house was important, for in the meanwhile Captains +Velasquez and Chacon, with what soldiers there were, went to the +seacoast; and from the shelter of the houses facing the beach fired +well-aimed volleys from their arquebuses, whereat a number of the +advance guard fell. Thus was God pleased that with the death of +thirteen or fourteen Spaniards and more than eighty Chinese, the +latter had enough, retreated to their boats, and went away. The +Spaniards did not molest them while they were retreating, on this +day, on account of their own small number of fighting men, and for +fear that such a course might incite those fleeing to return. The +corsairs did not utter a word, nor did they complain, even when they +fell with wounds. Those in command endeavored to induce their men +to press forward, but did not succeed. Most of the Spaniards who +were killed were arquebusiers, who had drawn near in order to take +good aim. Although they did this, so many battle-axes were directed +against them that they were overthrown. Now had there been better +order in keeping the soldiers from making a sally unless commanded, +it is thought that, since there was a body of lancers who could have +met the enemy face to face, none would have been killed except those +in the house of the master-of-camp, where more damage was done them +by fire than by weapons. The corsairs went to the port of Cavite, +where they found their chief with all his fleet; for on seeing the +fire in the city, and hearing the roar of the artillery, he knew that +his men were accomplishing their purpose, and entered the bay, going +straight to the port of Cavite. Those of his men who had gone to the +city in the boats told him that they were unable to finish the affair +or to accomplish more, for the Castilians were a very brave people. + +8. After the flight of the Chinese, a Chinese merchant who was in +the city, Sinsay by name, called upon the governor. He told him the +corsair's name, who he was, and his power. He also stated that he was +a pirate, and not sent by order of his king; and that without doubt +he would return in three days. He advised the Spaniards to fortify +themselves, and to remove the straw from the roofs of your Majesty's +houses, so that they could not be fired--advice which was acted upon. + +9. The corsair Limahon rebuked his captains, and publicly manifested +his disgust at their defeat. Then he summoned his soldiers, paid them +all, and made them great promises. They agreed to rest one day and +to return on the morning of the third day, when he would accompany +them personally--which he did, with his entire fleet. + +10. It seems that Guido Lavezares, on that day, ordered that two +of the principal Moros be arrested and imprisoned, saying that, by +means of them, the Moros would supply him with food. Thereupon the +Moros rebelled, and the prisoners were placed, bareheaded, in the +stocks. This was the occasion of a suit brought against one Osorio, +the constable, in whose house was the prison. He claims that he was +not guilty of the offense, saying that one Sancho Ortiz de Agurto, +sergeant of Captain Velasquez, killed them, or ordered certain slaves +to kill them. The suit was decided accordingly. + +11. The first attack was made on the day of St. Andrew the Apostle. On +Tuesday, the last of September [2] of the year seventy-four, the +captains began the fortifications, making with boards, stakes, +and boxes and barrels filled with sand, a palisade from the river +to the sea. Although it was the best they could build, it was weak +enough. The next day, Wednesday, at noon the three soldiers came to +warn the people, as I have previously mentioned. At nightfall of this +day arrived Juan de Saucedo. As before stated, he had been stationed +in Ylocos with fifty soldiers. He came almost within sight of the +Chinese fleet, and upon entering the bay, took the left-hand side, +leaving the right side of the port to the Chinese. The people were +overjoyed to see him and his soldiers, and that night they assisted +in the work of the fortifications. Very early upon the next day +(Thursday) the Chinese advanced in martial array, as if determined +upon revenge. At four o'clock the whole fleet appeared in front of the +city, in the form of a great crescent, so that they might be there +before daybreak; and three salutes were fired from all the guns of +the whole fleet. Then at dawn they lowered the small boats, finally +disembarking near the house of the master-of-camp, which they had +burned. The chief landed, but it is reported that he did not fight, +or leave, that place, where he remained seated in a chair. He divided +his soldiers there--numbering, it is said, about one thousand men--into +two bodies. Part of them he sent through the principal street of the +city, and the others along the beach. The latter took the same route +as those who arrived on the first day. Besides these two squadrons, +other men were sent along the river-bank. + +12. They were allowed to land, which has been considered a great +mistake; for all along the shore the land is covered with grass high +enough to form a fine ambuscade, where the arquebusiers could easily +have been placed under cover. The corsair might haye been easily +killed with one shot, when he landed in his chair to take command. + +13. This day the pirates, as if previously determined, did not burn +any houses that seemed to be of good quality. They went straight to +the fort, and assailed it vigorously on two sides. They encountered +a strong resistance from the river side and in front, and some of +them were killed. On the side next the sea, the guard of the fort was +entrusted to a sergeant, named Sancho Hortiz de Agurto. He went down +to the shore, leaving the post, where he was stationed to find but +from what quarter the Chinese were coming. They were already so near +that, upon one of the Chinese meeting him, the lance of the latter +must have proved the longer weapon; for he wounded the soldier, who +was armed only with a halberd, in the neck. Either this wound or some +other obliged him to retire; and, upon his doing so, the Chinese shot +him in the back with an arquebuse, which caused his death. They assert +that this must have occurred as narrated, for he was seen to measure +his halbert against the lance of the Chinese. They found him wounded +with a lance-thrust, and the larger hole caused by the bullet was +in his breast, a proof that the bullet left his body there. But his +friends tried to say that while he was fighting with the Sangley, +they shot him in the back--which might have been so; for as the +enemy were forcing their way into the fort, they naturally met with +resistance from those defending that position. Thus according to his +friends, the mistake in leaving the palisade caused the harm. On this +account it happened that, when they forced that position, they found +there the least resistance. About eighty Chinese entered the fort +at that point, and all of them might have done so had they all been +of equal courage. Our soldiers attacked them immediately, with lance +and arquebuse, killing them all, according to report. This result was +aided by the resistance experienced by the assaulters in other parts +of the fort, which forced the Chinese to commence a retreat. Now when +the main division of those who had entered the fort saw the others +retreat, they too retreated and did not enter, abandoning the eighty, +all of whom the Spaniards killed whether they sought flight by land +or sea. On this day they burned the Augustinian church, the church +of the city, and a galley that was grounded near the river; and they +also destroyed an old ship. This galley was about to sail to Mindanao, +as previously stated. Three Spaniards were killed and several wounded +on this day, and mare than two hundred Chinese. The greatest damage +was caused by the fire; for a great fire-bomb fell upon some powder, +which exploded causing the death of two or three other men. + +14. It is said that the corsair Limahon tried to force his men to +remain, but was unsuccessful, so he retired, embarked in his boats, +and set sail with his vessels for the port of Cavite. + +15. It is thought that allowing the Chinese to embark on their retreat +without hindrance was a mistake. Some of the Spaniards did attempt +to prevent them, but the corsair, fearing that this might happen, +sent some boats by sea to the river, so that the Spaniards should +continue their guard, and not hinder the embarkation; and so that they +might believe that those in the boats were reinforcements sent to +take them in the rear. Thus it was believed, regarding it casually, +that if the corsair had had much force and had taken thought in the +beginning to attack in so many different places, he would have done +it; but that either he did not understand this, or did not dare to do +it. Therefore he collected his men, without any damage being inflicted +on him in his retreat. + +16. As the natives of this place, who are Moros, saw what took +place the first day, thinking that the Chinese were victorious, +they all rebelled on the second day. In that short space of time +there gathered around the city of Manila more than ten thousand +Moros, in their little boats, ready to obey the commands of the +corsair. They say, too, that messengers were sent to Cavite, and +the news spread broadcast. Wherever friars were stationed, the Moros +captured and insulted them, threatened them with death, and robbed +them of everything. They defiled the churches, killing goats there; +and slew all the Spaniards possible, and their slaves. It is for this +reason, the soldiers say, that they did not leave the fort, in order +to prevent the departure of the corsairs, for the Moros surrounded +them on all sides. When the Moros knew that the Sangleyes had gone, +and that the Spaniards had been victorious, they set the friars free; +and, little by little, they again became submissive--apologizing for +their revolt because of the chiefs who had been slain in prison. + +17. The artillery was badly mounted, and there was no gunner who knew +how to fire it. If the Spaniards had had sufficient artillery, that +would have proved very effectual; and, as the vessels neared the city, +some of them might have been sent to the bottom. No damage, however, +was done to any vessel, although they were fired upon; so that all +the resistance which they made was with lances and arquebuses. + +18. The corsair went to the port of Cavite with his fleet, and did not +appear again; and not one ship could be found at the dawn of day. He +departed to Ylocos, whence he came. He determined to establish himself +in this island, settling in the province of Pangasinan, in the vicinity +of Ylocos. There he founded a settlement, consisting of a great fort, +in which dwelt all those who had accompanied him; and a counter-fort +in the middle with an excellent and well-constructed house for himself, +where he was recuperating, forty leagues from this city of Manila. + +19. The wall of the fort was very high and built of palm-logs, and the +counter-fort was built of palm-wood planks. When the corsair arrived +there, he seized by treachery several chiefs of that land, through whom +he obtained supplies. He robbed them of all their substance, and, in +general treated them badly. As he had their chiefs, the common people +could not flee; and because the corsair did not kill them, as he had +done with others, they supported and served him. On this account he was +very well supplied with provisions, wood, and other necessary things. + +20. The Spanish people who were not in the city during that attack +were scattered throughout the province of Camarines, one hundred +leagues from here. There were almost a hundred men with a captain in +the island of Çubu, and seventy more in Ylocos under Juan de Saucedo, +who had gone thither to form a settlement, since these men were the +encomenderos of that province. When the corsair went away, a ship +was sent to find out where he had halted; and, upon discovering this, +all the Spanish people were summoned, who came to Manila as quickly as +possible. In the meantime Guido de Lavezares appointed Juan de Saucedo +master-of-camp, and all began preparations to meet the enemy. During +the time of preparation for the expedition, in order to leave the +city in security, they constructed a fort; it is now finished, and +was made by the natives, the wood being paid for at the expense of +your Majesty. Your Majesty's carpenters here also assisted, so that +the work was completed. The master-of-camp, Juan de Saucedo, and all +the Spaniards who had gathered, and were available for the expedition, +were summoned. They numbered about two hundred and fifty-six, together +with two thousand five hundred friendly Indians; and they set out +in fifty-nine native vessels, commanded by Captains Chacon, Chaves, +Rribera, and Rramirez. These officers were instructed to consult +together in regard to whatever the said master-of-camp should freely +and voluntarily communicate to them, as it was he who was conducting +the present undertaking. + +21. They say that the corsair had, in all, about three thousand men +and as many women, whom he had forcibly taken from China and Japan. The +best people that he had were natives of those countries. + +22. The Spaniards left Manila on the twenty-third of March of 75, and +arrived at the river of Pangasinan on Holy Wednesday, the thirtieth +of March. They entered by the bar of the river, two hours before +daybreak; and, without being seen, landed the soldiers and four pieces +of artillery. They selected the spot where the river was narrowest, to +see whether they could obstruct the passage of the Chinese ships. They +sent out spies, who returned with the information that the Chinese +were off their guard, and were careless. Upon this the master-of-camp +sent Captains Chaves and Chacon in haste, with nine vessels, in each +of which were about eight men, with orders to approach the Chinese +boats and to try to capture one or more of them--especially the big +ones, so that he might be able with them to obstruct the bar of the +river. He also sent Captain Ribera with twenty-eight men and some +Indians by land, so that, at the same time when the captains were +examining the river in their ships the former could assault the fort, +in order to divert the people in it, and to enable those on the river +to seize the said vessels. The plan for the enterprise failed, but +success came in an unexpected manner; for it pleased God that, when +the Spanish ships discovered the Chinese, thirty-five Chinese vessels +were setting out to look for supplies for the corsair. As they were +sailing along quite free from care, they caught sight of the Spaniards, +and turned about and fled. It happened that, as the Spaniards pursued +them, firing their arquebuses, the Chinese ships almost ran aground; +whereupon all the men jumped overboard and fled to the fort, abandoning +their ships. The same thing occurred to the sailors of the other fleet, +so that in a moment the entire fleet was captured, together with all +it contained; but it was thoughtlessly fired, and was entirely burned. + +23. By this time, about ten o'clock in the morning, they began fighting +in the fort under Captain Grabiel de Ribera, and had already forced +an entrance. When Captain Chaves heard them from the ships, he went +to their assistance, where he was joined immediately by Captain +Chacon. They succeeded in reaching the first fort, capturing more +than one hundred women and children after killing many of the men. At +this time they set fire to the fort, claiming afterward that it was +done by the Indians. This was a great mistake, for the wind blew the +flames in the faces of the Spaniards, hurting them very much. Some +of the soldiers remained to rob the fort. The master-of-camp did not +go to their assistance with reënforcements--although the captains +say that they notified him that, as they were doing so little on +account of the fire, the Chinese were commencing to make repairs. As +night was approaching, it was necessary for the captains to retire, +leaving the fort which they had gained. If reënforcements of those who +had remained in camp with the master-of-camp had come up then, they +would have captured all the enemy. It is said that the Chinese were +hurrying from the other side of the fort, on their way to the hills. + +24. When Captains Chaves and Chacon left the ships, all were burning; +for either the soldiers or the Indians, it is not known why, set fire +to them, so that, in a moment, they were all ablaze. + +25. On account of the great rejoicing over the unexpected victory, +they overlooked the matter of keeping some of the ships both to +bar up the river, and because they were large and well-equipped, +particularly the flagship of the corsair. The success requisite in +this affair failed through a lack of system in such an occurrence, +as might be expected in fighting with barbarous people. _Item_, the +master-of-camp was lacking in quickness in coming to the rescue upon +hearing the firing on shore, so that at least Captain Ribera's force, +so small, might not be swept away. _Item_, sentinels were lacking, +as well as detachments of men to serve as reënforcements for the sake +of security, and to furnish aid on occasions like the above. + +26. Some of the soldiers went to the master-of-camp, accompanied +by slaves carrying some of the pieces from the fort. They reported +a victory, saying that the fort had surrendered, and that all was +finished. These men went without orders from their captains, but were +not punished; nor was any new action taken, notwithstanding that +the captains assert that they sent reports of the condition of the +war. The captains, upon seeing that the Chinese were losing all fear, +and had wounded some of the men, returned to the camp about sunset, +overcome with fatigue. Had those in camp given aid then, the rampart +would not have been abandoned; but they could have stayed in or behind +it, and victory was certain. The captains say that the soldiers were +very eager, and, as could be seen, fought from ten in the morning; +but that the country is hot, that their weapons were heavy, that the +smoke beat in their faces, and that they saw night approaching without +reënforcements or any food. They even say they would have perished had +they not found a well whence the Chinese drew water for their work; +and this water, although bad, they drank from their helmets, being +refreshed thereby. On account of these conditions they were compelled +to retire to the camp. Upon their arrival at camp, they declare that +they were met by the master-of-camp, Juan de Saucedo, who told them +that, if he were a soldier and not the master-of-camp, he would die +with them, for he was also a soldier to fight with the Chinese. The +said captains and the people generally felt that the master-of-camp +was very much troubled about what had happened--he complaining that +they, despite his order to the contrary, had burned the fleet, and +spent their time with the enemy in the fort; they responding that +he was requiting them very poorly, and that, after they had gained +the day and attained the victory at so great peril to themselves, +he spoke such words through envy, that he proved his treachery, and +refused to aid them in their necessity. From this arose many slanders, +hate, and differences of opinion among the soldiers, that God alone +can dispel. It is certain that there was a lack of persons who could +direct such a battle, and the day was certainly the luckiest, as well +as the least systematic, that could be imagined. A few of the men +were wounded and five were killed on account of their lack of order, +and because they waited until the enemy were recuperated. + +27. A council was held, the following night, by the master-of-camp and +the captains. Some of the latter thought it expedient to make an attack +the next morning, before the corsair should regain his courage. As this +was the prevailing opinion, the master-of-camp went with all his men +to make an assault. On nearing the fort, they heard rumors and opinions +that the place was already being fortified. The master-of-camp retired +his forces, saying that it was not convenient to make the assault, +or to expose the few Spaniards that your Majesty had here to so much +danger. Now at this time there arose a great difference of opinion, +caused by private interposition. It certainly was a mistake not to make +the assault on that day, for the day before counted for but little; +and a captain offered to reconnoiter the weakest part, and to lead +in the assault. + +28. After this retreat, they encamped near the enemy, on the islet +formed by the river, which runs north and south. The enemy were on +the northern side and the Spaniards on the southern. It was a good +thing to have located so near the enemy, if they had immediately made +a defense for the artillery, which could have been done with stakes +and earth. That should have been done before it was established there; +but they took up their position before they had made the bulwark. + +29. By this time the corsair had regained his courage, and ordered +certain of his guns fired at the camp. The "Vigilantib," which had +been captured from the galley, as abovesaid, shattered the leg of a +standard-bearer of the master-of-camp, striking him in the middle of +the shin-bone. This man was healed, and is now living. This catastrophe +caused such an impression, that they resolved to move the camp from +the island to the mainland, so that the river might intervene between +them and the spot occupied by the corsair. It was a great mistake +followed by still greater ones. The affair became a long siege, +and they amused themselves in gambling freely, in levying tribute, +and in other like things. + +30. The corsair was not expecting an assault by the Spaniards, so his +fort was not completed, lacking the terreplein; and his artillery was +unmounted, and no sentinels were placed. He had made no preparations +for war, beyond what a colonist might do. But now he hurried to make +preparations and to defend his cause. He sent out squadrons from time +to time with lances and arquebuses to fight--although he himself did +not leave the fort for the battle, but from within gave his signals +of retreat or attack. + +31. The master-of-camp only made some ambuscades, prolonging the +siege. It is certain that the Spaniards never fought the Chinese with +all their men, force to force. Although the Chinese leader sent out +five hundred or six hundred men, who pretended to show fight, they +generally fled when fifty of the Spaniards came out. It is certain +that, force to force, the Chinese would not wait to fight; and if +by the help of God they remained they would be routed, although they +had three times as many men, for they are not a warlike race. It is +also certain, and all acknowledge it to be true, that the Spaniards +desired to fight hand to hand, and to make the assault. They always +did their duty, fighting like valiant men, although there were some +cowardly ones, as all bodies have their weak side. + +32. On account of the space given to the corsair, the latter was able +to delay things and to do some damage. For instance some soldiers were +imprudently sent to form some small ambuscades; but the Chinese were +warned of them, and made a counter ambuscade. Of the seven soldiers +who left the camp, the Chinese killed and captured five, and the +other two fled. It was exceedingly foolhardy to send so few men out +in a case like this, and caused great harm, for it made the Chinese +more daring. The master-of-camp left camp with about twenty men to +form another ambuscade, contrary to the advice of the captains. This +also proved unsuccessful, although, as help came, the Chinese retired +without doing any damage. + +33. As the corsair had no ships, he sent men out to cut wood, and +as all his soldiers were good workmen, they soon constructed thirty +ships within the fort. With these he set sail at noon on the fourth +of August, having been besieged within the fortifications for over +four months. He directed his ships toward his own country, but, as he +left, he committed some damage with the "Vigilantib." At this time +the Spaniards feared that, when the ships were leaving, they were +about to attack them; and that some column was about to take them in +the rear. For this reason they fortified their rear-guard strongly +when the corsair left. It was ludicrous to expect that the Chinese +were coming to attack them, when with all their squadrons they never +dared once to measure their strength with ours. + +34. Before this the Spaniards had filled the river with stakes, +to retard the progress of the corsair, but the latter removed +them. He compelled some of his men to enter the water; and ropes +being tied to the shoulders of these men, they removed, although with +considerable difficulty, a sufficient number of the stakes to clear +the vessels. While he was removing the stakes, the Spaniards stationed +arquebusiers and as large a force as they were able; but in this there +was negligence in not opposing the enemy with better arquebusiers. + +35. They say that the corsair sent offers of friendship to the +Spaniards, saying that he would introduce us to the kingdom of China +and assist us in conquering the same. In regard to this there was +no further discussion; because he asked as a condition that the +siege should be raised, and that the Spaniards should go to Manila, +where he would return, in order to adjust the matter. Then, too, +Omocon, a captain of the king of China, was in that city, who had +come to locate the corsair, besides Sinsay, and others, which made +the Spaniards suspicious of admitting these discussions. + +36. It seems that in the kingdom of China this corsair, Limahon, had +done much damage; and the king was at a great expense and trouble in +maintaining garrisons along the frontier where he was wont to commit +his frequent depredations. The governors of the province of Hoquian +sent two ships in charge of a Chinese captain, named Omocon, sent by +the governor of Chinchiu, who bears the title there of _Yncuanton_, +to spy upon Limahon, in order to send a fleet against him. This +same Omocon also brought letters containing a pardon from the king, +in case he should fall into the hands of Limahon. He brought letters +also to the principal married men with Limahon, promising them many +things, if they would kill the corsair and return to the service of +their king. This Omocon arrived at Pangasinan after the burning of +the enemy's fleet, and after the attack made on the fort the first +day. He spoke with the master-of-camp asserting that their enemy +was a pirate; and that if the Spaniards would take him prisoner or +kill him, the king of China would recompense them by entering into +friendly and brotherly relations with them. He also said that monuments +would be set up in the king's city, and in other public places, with +inscriptions describing the heroic feats of the Castilians, who would +not come to terms with Limahon, but on the contrary had killed him +in order to do the king of China a favor. This Omocon, when he saw +that the corsair was defeated and without any hope of getting ships, +and ascertained that Limahon could not engage in a pitched battle, +and concluding that the consummation had come, said that he would go +to notify the Yncuanton of Chinchiu. Then he offered to take some of +the religious with him, saying that he would take as many as wished +to go. Accordingly the master-of-camp sent him to Manila, and Guido +de Lavezares gave him a certain present to take to China. Fathers +Fray Martin de Errada, a native of Navarra, and Fray Gerónimo Martin, +a native of Mexico, went with him. A soldier named Miguel de Loarca, +and another called Pedro Sarmiento, also accompanied them. They reached +Pangasinan where they took two other soldiers with them, Nicolas de +Cuenca and Juan de Triana. They took also as interpreter a Chinese, +named Hernando, who understood Spanish. The above-mentioned Sinsay +also went with them. A large vessel belonging to Omocon was left in +Pangasinan with thirty or forty Chinese; Omocon said that he did so, +in order that they might be of service to the camp. The fathers and +soldiers went to China with Omocon, and what they saw there they have +since related. [3] + +37. It is believed that it was a mistake to let Omocon go, because +with the two ships that he took, and the one that remained there, it +might have been possible to close up the passage of the river. However +at the time of the departure of the corsair minor matters should not +be classed with errors. + +38. When the friars reached China, they carried letters with +them. They were there four or five months, and might have remained +there, but the governors did not agree to that. Because of their +eagerness to see Limahon, the governors despatched a fleet of ten +ships, and with it the fathers and Spaniards, on the pretext that, +if it were necessary for the Chinese to assist in the war, the latter +would lend their aid. They appointed Sinsay captain, and Omocon a +captain of higher rank. On the way, these men falsified the letters +given them by Guido de Laveçares, writing others that said that they +were at the front, and fought valiantly, encouraging the Castilians +when the latter burned the fleet and demolished the fort; as a reward +for which they gave in money, to each one, besides the captaincy, +four hundred silver taes, each tae of the value of twelve Castilian +reals. These captains had with them as captain-general another +Chinese, named Siaogo, an insignificant, mean-looking, little +old man. It is said that he had been a corsair when young. When +these people came to this island and learned that Limahon had gone, +they cried for very rage and bitterness--especially Omocon, who had +solemnly averred that the corsair could not escape. They brought a +slight present with them, of a few pieces of silk and cotton shawls, +and also letters. A part of the present was for the governor, another +for the master-of-camp, another for the captains, and the rest for +the soldiers. Their portion was given to the captains by the Chinese +and friars. That which was destined for the governor I received, +and am sending it by this same packet to your Majesty, so that you +may see their way of doing things. I am sending also some cloth, such +as they wear, five bonnets, a belt that indicates that the wearer is +a captain, and the original letters that came from China translated +into Spanish--one of them having the equivalent Spanish words under +the Chinese and the letter telling about the present. From these it +will be seen that their writing does not consist of letters, but of +syllables or symbols. They brought with them thirteen horses as a +present or as purchases. These beasts are full of bad habits, like +those of Galicia. One horse was given there and here to the governor, +and was delivered to the officials of your Majesty's royal estate, +that they may sell it, and place the proceeds in the box with the three +keys. The rest of the horses were sent to their respective owners. + +39. These ten ships brought some merchandise to sell, although but +little, which they sold at very high rates. They are a mean, impudent +people, as well as very importunate. They remained in this port more +than six months, and demanded a present to carry back with them--saying +that the good will of their commanders would thus be gained; and that, +if this present were made to them, it would stand the Spaniards in good +stead in their land. Inasmuch as it was reported that Limahon had fled, +and as these people are as cowardly as Indians, they begged me to write +to China that Limahon was dead. For this purpose, they tried to procure +many human heads, which many natives of this land are wont to keep as +treasures, in order to declare that they had that of Limahon. They +made a false seal, claiming that it had belonged to Limahon, from +whom they had taken it. They endeavored to have me write to China +from here after this manner, but I always told them, whenever they +broached the subject, that the Castilians did not know how to lie, +and that we could not discuss such trivial matters. I consulted the +captains and religious concerning the present, and we agreed that it +was not convenient to send one, but that we would furnish them with +provisions. Therefore we supplied them generously, and they left this +port on the fourth of May of the year seventy-six. They took with them +two fathers, Fray Martin de Errada and Fray Augustin de Alburquerque, +and my letters, a copy of which I am sending, as well as an order +for the fathers to remain there to preach. The Chinese did not take +any Spaniards with them; however, they begged for some of our people, +later, thinking that the latter would take something to give them or +which they could seize. During their stay here I treated them very +well, but there is no way of softening their hearts, except by means +of gifts--although, to my way of thinking, weapons would avail more. + +40. The kingdom of China is very large. It is a two days' journey +from the head of this island thither for Spanish ships. Sailing from +this port one day until one loses sight of land, on the next day China +is seen. They themselves call their country "the kingdom of Taibiu;" +those of the Yndias, and other peoples, call it China. This means "a +very remote land," just as in Castilla they called Nueva España and +Peru "Las Antillas." Thoughout these islands they call the Chinese +"Sangleyes," meaning "a people who come and go," on account of their +habit of coming annually to these islands to trade--or, as they say +there, "the regular post." Here they style the Portuguese, "Parangue," +taking the name from _margaritas_ [pearls]. They were given this name, +because they were the first who sold pearls. The captains describe +the kingdom of Taibiu in the following manner: + +It has fifteen provinces, with viceroys, while the people out-number +those of Germany. The king is now a child of thirteen. He has a mother +and tutors, and it is about three years since his father died. The +people are light complexioned, well-built, and robust. There are some +who resemble mulattoes, who are badly treated. + +41. The men and women both wear long garments, like the one that I +am sending so that your Majesty may see it. All wear wide trousers +[Sp. _çaragueles_], black or white felt hose, and shoes. The country +is cold like España, but there are some warm regions. It has a great +many people. + +42. They are heathens, and do absurd things. They do not use the +rosary, and have no religious observances or ornate temples. If some +temples do exist, only mechanical rites are performed in them. They +are a vile people, and are sodomites, as is affirmed by Spaniards who +have seen young boys present themselves before the justice to ask +the amount of the fine for the crime of violation, and frankly pay +it. They are all tyrants, especially those in authority, who oppress +the poor heavily. + +43. They are a cowardly people--so much so, that none ride on +horseback, although there are many horses there, because they do not +dare to mount them. They do not carry weapons, nor do they use spurs +on the horses. They use the whip and bridle, which do not have much +effect on the horse. + +44. There are a great many robbers or highway-men, robbing along the +highways or off them. They are very lazy; they do not cultivate the +ground unless some one forces them to it, and they do not collect the +harvest. They sell their children, in case of poverty, for a small +sum of money with which to buy food. + +45. All the land belongs to the king, and no one in all the kingdom +owns a handful of earth; accordingly each man must pay, in proportion +to the amount of land that he uses, tribute to the king. + +46. They know nothing, unless it be to read and write; and those who +can do this well are made great captains by the king. + +47. They talk slowly, very explosively, and arrogantly. Our manner +of writing astonishes these people, as well as our way of living, +which they think better than their own. + +48. When they effect a cure by blood-letting, they scrape the skin +until the blood comes, and with lighted wicks cauterize the wounds; +they also give the patient certain potions about which they have +learned by experience. + +49. They always drink hot water. They heat this on the fire, and +water their wine, which they drink hot. They pretend to a knowledge +of chiromancy, but know nothing about it. + +50. They are very superstitious in casting lots. When they crossed the +bar of this port, this superstition affected the flagship in which +the fathers had embarked, and the captain had to have the lot taken +by divination, and had the friars, whom he was carrying, changed to +another ship. However, the truth is that the change was made so that +they would have more freedom to pursue their customary vices. + +51. They are very submissive to authority, and patiently suffer the +punishments inflicted. For a very slight offense an ear will be cut +off, or a hundred lashes of the whip given. The land is fertile. The +horses are small and the cows are like those of Berberia. It is +reported that farther inland are horses capable of bearing armed men. + +52. No sheep are found along the coast, but there are said to be some +inland. On my asking them what Castilian products were lacking in their +country, they replied, "None whatever, unless it be velvet;" and they +say that they do not have this, because they do not know how to make +it, but that if they could see that manufacture, they would learn it. + +53. They say that inland there are vines from which they make wine, +and olives. At the rear, this kingdom joins Tartaria; and a great +many years ago, they do not know how many, the natives established +the king of Tartaria in Taybiu, and he and his descendants ruled it +for one hundred and seventy years, until, after four generations, +they were expelled. Now one of the descendants of the native kings +of Taybiu reigns, and wages constant war with the Tartars, of whom +they say they are not afraid. They can reckon time only by the years +of their king, and therefore lose count easily; for, as soon as one +king dies, no further mention is made of him, and they reckon time by +the first or second year of the reign of the new king, and no other +memory of the preceding king endures. In another manner they reckon +the months by moons, and have eleven months to the year. It is quite +usual for that land to change masters; but it has always had a king, +either of their own nation or a foreigner. They count as their New +Year's the first of February. + +54. The king and the chief priest dress in yellow, as a mark of +distinction, no one else being allowed to use this color. + +55. The smallest province has more inhabitants than Nueva España +and Piru together. The cities are large, but contain mean little +houses. The people are generally poor. There are no gold or silver +coins, but everything is sold by weight. There are some copper and +bronze coins for small change. There is gold and a great deal of +silver. One peso [weight] of gold is worth four pesos of silver, +according to their calculation. For so many pesos of silver so many +of silk are obtained, and so with other things. + +56. Everything is sold by weight, even wood and chickens, and all +other things; they are sold very cheaply, for land is very cheap. + +57. Wheat and rice are raised abundantly. There are mines of gold, +silver, quicksilver, copper, lead, tin, and all the metals. + +58. It takes a week, generally, to make the voyage from Manila to +Chiunchiu [the modern Chwan-Chow-Foo], a distance of about one hundred +and forty leagues. It is said that the journey has been made in fair +weather in six days, and has never required more than ten. + +59. These people never travel by water except during the months of +the bonanças, which I have explained. Their ships cannot stand the +wind astern, because both bow and stern have the same form and are +flat, like a square table; they are so made in order that either end +can be used. They navigate always, in either direction, by means of +side-winds. These vessels rock to and fro, like cradles with oars. + +60. The sails of their ships are made of bamboo, like matting. They +do not use a yard on the mast, but raise the mainsail on the mast +fastened to a pole as an infantry flag is placed on a pike; and the +sheets hang down from the other side with which the sail is turned to +this or that side, according to the direction of the wind. The sail is +half the width of the ship, and the mast is large and high. The sail +is raised by means of a windlass, which contrivance is used also for a +capstan. The rigging is made of reeds and grass, which grow wild. The +mast is stepped about two-thirds of the length of the ship nearer the +prow, in order that the ship may pitch forward. The foremast is not +stationary, being moved to port or starboard, according to the weather +or other requirements. The sheets are worked in the same way. The +compass is divided for fewer directions than ours. They also use +stern-masts as mizzen-masts, which, like that at the bow, are changed +from one side to the other, so that they do not need quadrants. They +go from one side to the other with the wind which helps them. They +use two oars at the bow to turn the ship, and two others at the stern +that assist the sailing. The compass consists of a small earthenware +jar, on which the directions are marked. This jar is filled with +water and the magnetized needle placed in it. Sometimes before they +happen to strike it right, they could go to the bottom twenty times, +thus, although it is marvelous, considering that they are a barbarous +people, that they should understand the art of navigation, it is very +surprising to see how barbarous are their methods. + +61. All their arms, for both sea and land, are fire-bombs. They have +quantities of gunpowder, in the shape of loaves. Their artillery, +although not large, is poor. They have also, and quite commonly +poor, culverins and arquebuses, so that they depend mainly on their +lances. I am informed that they do not fear the arquebuses very much, +because they themselves are so poor shots with them, and are amazed +at seeing a hen or a pigeon killed with an arquebuse-shot. They fear +lances more than other weapons. + +62. The chief captains and the king never cut their finger-nails, +and allow one to grow as long as the finger, and longer. These go to +war seated in chairs, carried on the shoulders of other men. They +frequently become intoxicated, and are very libidinous. They +guard their women very carefully. The women also do not cut their +finger-nails. When daughters are born to people of rank, they compress +the child's feet by the toes, so that they cannot grow; and the girl +cannot stand on them, but is always carried about seated. For this +reason, these women never leave the house. + +63. The men have as many wives as they can support. They wear their +hair long, gathered up on top of the head, as women dress their hair. + +64. None but a few principal people ever see the face of the king, +and those only who are near him. His face is always covered when he +goes out, and he is accompanied by a numerous guard. + +65. The king resides in the province of Paquian, in a city called +Quincay, mentioned by Marco Polo, the Venetian, [4] in his second +book, and sixty-fourth chapter. According to the account given by +these, people, their country must have been ruled by the Tartars +before Marco Polo made that voyage, because in his history he refers +to the master of this city, and of others in the kingdom, as "the +great Khan." I believe that the strange people and language must have +changed the names of many of the provinces in his time. Although he +writes briefly, and in such a way that it seems but nonsense, still it +is true that this city does exist; and, according to the statements +of the Chinese, the name means in their language "City of Heaven," +as says Marco Polo. This city of Quincay, as nearly as we can learn, +seems to be somewhat less than five hundred leagues from Manila, +which is to those living here as Cales and the mainland of España, +and if more of our people could go in one virey, everything would be +changed. These people do not extol Quincay less than Marco Polo does. + +66. Marco Polo says that there are in that city Nestorian +Christians. The people here cannot pronounce the name, but claim that +there are people in it from all over the world in great numbers. The +people there are very vicious, as are those in these islands, which +are really an archipelago of China, and their inhabitants are one +people with the Chinese--as are those of Candia and of Constantinople, +who are all Greeks. + +67. There are walls in the city formed of smooth, dry stone, well +placed on the outside. The food consists mainly of fish, for which they +go out into the sea to a distance of twenty leagues. Whoever should +prove master of the sea might do with them as he wished--especially +along their coast, which extends north and south for more than five +hundred leagues, where one may work daily havoc. Their garrisons of +soldiers along the coast are worthless, for they are treated only +as the servants of the commanders, and are overburdened; the result +is that the lowest and most abused people among the Chinese are +the soldiers. + +68. The people generally have no weapons, nor do they use any. A +corsair with two hundred men could rob a large town of thirty thousand +inhabitants. They are very poor marksmen, and their arquebuses are +worthless. + +69. The trade with China is very disadvantageous to the Spaniards, +as well as to the inhabitants of these islands; for the only useful +thing that they bring is iron, and nothing else. Their silks are of +poor quality; and they take away our gold and silver. Just so long +as their intercourse with us endures without war, just so much the +more skilful will they become; and all the less fear will they have +of those with whom they have traded. + +70. Some Indians, Japanese, and Chinese told me here that the +Portuguese have taken weapons to China, especially arquebuses such as +we use; and a Chinese sold me a Portuguese broadsword. The Portuguese +could teach them the use of large artillery, how to manage the horse, +and other things equally injurious to us. As they are merchants, +it would not be surprising that they should do so. Does not your +Majesty think that it would be well to hasten this expedition, and +to do so at once? For, in truth, it is the most important thing that +could happen for the service of God and of your Majesty. We are told +that there are millions of men, and that their tribute to their king +is thirty millions or more. + +71. The equipments necessary for this expedition are four or six +thousand men, armed with lances and arquebuses, and the ships, +artillery, and necessary munitions. + +72. With two or three thousand men one can take whatever province he +pleases, and through its ports and fleet render himself the most +powerful on the sea. This will be very easy. In conquering one +province, the conquest of all is made. + +73. The people would revolt immediately, for they are very badly +treated. They are infidels, and poor; and, finally, the kind treatment, +the evidences of power, and the religion which we shall show to them +will hold them firmly to us. + +74. There is enough wood in these islands, and enough men to make a +great fleet of galleys. In all the islands a great many corsairs live, +from whom also we could obtain help for this expedition, as also from +the Japanese, who are the mortal enemies of the Chinese. All would +gladly take part in it. Some native corsairs would also join us, +and introduce us into the country. + +75. The war with this nation is most just, for it gives freedom to +poor, wretched people who are killed, whose children are ravished by +strangers, and whom judges, rulers, and king treat with unheard-of +tyranny. Each speaks ill of his neighbor; and almost all of them +are pirates, when any occasion arises, so that none are faithful to +their king. Moreover, a war could be waged against them because they +prohibit people from entering their country. Besides, I do not know, +nor have I heard of, any wickedness that they do not practice; for +they are idolators, sodomites, robbers, and pirates, both by land +and sea. And in fact the sea, which ought to be free according to +the law of nations, is not so, as far as the Chinese are concerned; +for whosoever navigates within their reach is killed and robbed, +if they can do it. One day I called Captain Omocon, telling him in +confidence that I wished to send a ship to trade with China, and he +told me in friendship and all sincerity not to send that galley until +I had ten more well equipped to accompany it; for the Chinese were +so evilly inclined that, they would under some pretext try to attack +and capture it, in order to rob it of its goods, and make slaves of +the crew. It is safe to say that, no matter what good we might do +them, they will always give us daily a thousand causes for a just +war. Now my opinion is, may it please your Majesty, that it would +be an advantage to have a sufficient force of soldiers, so that, +under any circumstance whatsoever, they may find us ready. + +76. Moreover, we live so near them that in five days they can +come hither in their ships, while we in two days can sail in ours +from one coast to the other; and, as we have seen, they are wont to +commit depredations (as was the case in this city). Therefore, this +course of action will quite prevent the execution of their plans, +which I know--namely, that if they are able they will kill me, and +are seeking occasion for it. + +77. I offer myself to serve your Majesty in this expedition, which +I desire so much that I cannot overrate it. If for this reason +your Majesty is inclined to put less trust in me as a loyal vassal +and servant, let some one else to your liking take charge of this +expedition, even if I do not go on it, provided it is undertaken +at your Majesty's command. Since I shall have been your Majesty's +impelling motive, I shall remain satisfied; and it will be a sufficient +reward for my poor services to have recommended it so earnestly in this +manner. If it had pleased God to endow me with great wealth, I would +not hesitate to spend on this expedition my entire patrimony whenever +your Majesty should so command. In beginning a battle, the business +would be finished, for there is not a man in that whole kingdom +who has an income of one hundred ducats or a palm's length of land; +nor is there one who considers it a disgrace to be given two hundred +lashes. They are a mercenary horde, accustomed to serve foreigners. + +78. The kingdom inland, from what I have learned from men who know, +is not so large, nor does it extend so far as they say--namely, +that it requires a journey of seven months to reach the place where +the king lives. There are about five hundred leagues of seacoast +running north and south. It is wonderful to see the number of +people and the eagerness that they display in their duties and +occupations. Besides the ordinary tribute, they say that the king +has a million paid soldiers to oppose the Tartars, at the wall [5] +made by both nations. With this I send a Chinese map, from which one +can learn something, although the Chinese are so barbarous, as will +be seen from their papers. + +79. In a letter from China, from the Ynçuanton (as they are barbarians, +and the real information that they possess of us is that our numbers +are but two hundred men), he states (I know not what the words are, +but they mean "tribute"), that a present taken by the Chinese the past +year, before my arrival, was placed in the king's treasury. As Omocon +falsified the letters that he took from here, as the friars told me on +their return, and as he even stole a large part of that present--he +must have said, that it was through his efforts that the fleet of +the corsair Limahon was burned, when he joined the Castilians; and +that the latter would send the corsair to their king. Afterward they +tried to induce us to write from here in accordance with their desires, +as I have said before. I treated them kindly, but the council decided +that the Chinese should take no present, since it might happen that +they would steal it; but that two priests should go to that land, +who should carry letters and instructions from me, and should send +back an answer, to ensure better success. + +80. It is said that every three years the king changes the viceroys +in China, because of his knowledge that they have robbed the whole +country; also that those in command there resist the king's authority, +as soon as they end their terms of office, and persuade others to do +the same. In short, as no one can or does speak to the king or his +viceroys except through a third party, they never tell the truth, +and thus the whole country is in a state of infidelity and barbarism. + +81. Concerning the demarcations, it is perfectly clear that the Malucos +and all the rest extending from Malaca toward this direction, including +Burney, the whole coast of China, Lequios, the Japanese islands, and +Nueva Guinea are in the demarcation of your Majesty. The Portuguese +pass the limits of their demarcation by more than five hundred leagues, +and are busied in fortifying themselves. However, it is not necessary +to take any notice of their fortifications; for, if ordered to do so, +we can go to Maluco very easily. We are only awaiting the will of your +Majesty. The Chinese bring here quantities of pepper which, as well +as cloves, they sell for four reals a libra--and one hundred nutmegs +for the same amount. This year, they told us, there are no Portuguese +in China; for they all gathered at Malaca, because of the war waged +against them by the king of Achen. Others who have come here, have told +us that they were not in Malaca either; but I did not believe it. I +believe only that the Chinese like our trade better because of the +silver from Mexico and the gold from these regions; and that business +with the Portuguese is business transacted with corsairs. Among other +reasons why your Majesty should, without hesitation, despatch troops +as soon as possible to this land, is that the king of Achen--who is a +wretched, little, naked, barefooted Moro--is treating the Portuguese +very badly. This ill-treatment arises from the fact that five or +six hundred Turkish arquebusiers have come to him from Mec[c]a, +and with their help he is conquering all the region thereabout. This +territory is about the same distance from Malaca as Berbería is from +Andalucía. Malaca is on the coast of China itself, which at that point +turns toward the north. In that region we find two more petty kings, +one of Çian [Siam] and the other of Patan [Pahang?], both Moros. They +are about three hundred leagues from us here, while about one hundred +and fifty leagues from us is the king of Borney--who is also a Moro, +and in constant communication with the first named kings; and the whole +archipelago would very willingly render obedience and pay tribute to +him, if we were not here. These Moros of Borney preach the doctrine of +Mahoma, converting all the Moros of these islands. I have investigated +the matter so that, whenever God pleases, if we have forts and troops +in this land, we might aid the Portuguese, in order that the petty +king of Achen might be subdued--who persistently continues to send +out his Mahometan preachers. As I before remarked, he has Turks in +his service; accordingly, by depriving them of that vantage-point, +the passage would be closed, and neither Turks nor Moros could travel +from Malaca to this place. These are the most dangerous people, and +know the use of all manner of arms, and of horses. Waiting for the +Portuguese to do something is a weariness to the flesh, for they are +a poor people at best. Nearly all the inhabitants here were born in +Yndia, and are children of Indians. + + + +_Condition of the Country_ + + +82. These Philipinas islands are numerous and very extensive. The +climate is hot and damp. There is no protection from the sun, as +the houses are built of stakes and bamboo and the roofs are made +of palm leaves. Notwithstanding all this the country is healthy. At +night there is an agreeable temperature, and during the day are the +flood-tides of the sea. There is water in abundance. The evening dew +is not harmful. If there were the same protection from the sun that +exists in Sevilla, this country would be as healthy--and some places +more so, if one lives temperately (especially as regards continence), +and does not imbibe too freely; for the penalty for immoderate living +is death. The food here is rice, which is the bread of this country. It +is cultivated in the following manner. They put a basketful of it into +the river to soak. After a few days they take it from the water; what +is bad and has not sprouted is thrown away. The rest is put on a bamboo +mat and covered with earth, and placed where it is kept moist by the +water. After the sprouting grains have germinated sufficiently, they +are transplanted one by one, as lettuce is cultivated in España. In +this way they have abundance of rice in a short time. There is another +crop of rice, which grows of itself, but it is not so abundant. Wine +is made from the cocoa-palm, from rice, and from millet, and they +have _ajonjolí_ [6]--but of all these only a little, because the +people are Indians. There is plenty of fish, but it is not so good +as that of España. The same fowl are found here as in Castilla, but +they are much better than those of Castilla. There are many swine, +deer, and buffalo, but he who wishes them must kill them himself, +because no native will kill or hunt them. Meat spoils very quickly +here on account of the heat. + +83. The soil is very fertile--better than that of Nueva España; and +the rains come at about the same season. There is no such thing as +a bad year, unless some hurricane works damage. + +84. The people here are naked, and barefoot. They wrap a cotton cloth +around their loins. Those who possess such a thing wear a little cotton +or China silk shirt. They are people capable of much toil. Some are +Moros, and they obtain much gold, which they worship as a god. All +their possessions are gold and a few slaves, the latter being worth +among them five or six pesos each. They do not let their hair hang +but wind a small turban about the head. They believe that paradise +and successful enterprises are reserved for those who submit to the +religion of the Moros of Borney, of which they make much account. They +do not eat pork, and believe many foolish notions that tend toward +superstition. These are a richer people, because they are merchants, +and, with their slaves, cultivate the land. There are other natives who +tattoo themselves, and wear long hair, as the Chinese do. They are a +poorer and fiercer race. All carry weapons, such as daggers and lances, +and possess some artillery. No reliance can ever be placed on either +of these races. They all settle on the shores of rivers, on account +of the convenience for their fields, and because they can communicate +with one another, and go in their little boats to steal. They hardly +ever travel by land. Inland in the islands, and away from the rivers, +dwells another race who resemble the Chichimecos [7] of Nueva España, +very savage and cruel, among whom are some negroes. All use bows and +arrows, and consider it very meritorious to kill men, in order to keep +the heads of the slain as ornaments for their houses. They are the most +despised people in these islands, and are called _Tinguianes_ [8] or +"mountaineers;" for _tingue_ means "mountain." They have quantities +of honey and wax, and trade these commodities with the lowlanders. As +these islands are so fertile, there are large groves which are called +_arcabucos_ ["thickets"]. Thus there are no open roads, for which +reason the Spaniards experience difficulty in moving rapidly on land, +while the natives can easily flee from one end to the other. + +85. Most of the Indians are heathens, but have no intelligent belief, +or any ceremonies. They believe in their ancestors, and when about to +embark upon some enterprise commend themselves to these, asking them +for aid. They are greatly addicted to licentiousness and drunkenness, +and are accustomed to plunder and cheat one another. They are +all usurers, lending money for interest and go even to the point +of making slaves of their debtors, which is the usual method of +obtaining slaves. Another way is through their wars, whether just or +unjust. Those who are driven on their coast by storms are made slaves +by the inhabitants of that land. They are so mercenary that they +even make slaves of their own brothers, through usury. They do not +understand any kind of work, unless it be to do something actually +necessary--such as to build their houses, which are made of stakes +after their fashion; to fish, according to their method; to row, +and perform the duties of sailors; and to cultivate the land. The +mountaineers make iron lance-points, daggers, and certain small +tools used in transplanting rice. They are very anxious to possess +artillery, of which they cast a little, although but poorly. They +are all a miserable race. Although the Pintados behave better to +the Spaniards, yet, whenever they find one alone, they kill him, +and the Moros do the same whenever they can. + +86. When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to these islands, he settled +in the island of Çubu, which is very barren and small. When he went +thence, he went to Panae, on account of the war waged against him by +the Portuguese, and the famine there, which was very severe. With +but little acuteness, he established a settlement in Çubu, with +about fifty inhabitants; and built a little fort of stakes, which +soon tumbled down. Although the country is healthful, it is so +barren that no one cares to live there; neither is it an important +place. I have established this place and rebuilt the ruined fortress; +and I have placed there an alcalde mayor and about fifty soldiers +who have pacified those natives. The latter had risen in rebellion, +at the opportunity afforded by the tyrant Limahon. That islet is next +another called Mindanao, a large and rich island--where, God willing, +we must make an expedition soon. This settlement is of no advantage, +and causes expense and no gain, beyond saying that it is near Maluco; +nor does it possess other good qualities than that it claims to have +a good climate and port. + +87. The Malucos are nearer to Nueva España than this city is, by two +hundred leagues; so that it would be easier and shorter to reach +them from Nueva España. On returning, the season could be chosen +better, as there are no channels or islands to go through, as we +have here. Among these islands there are certain currents which flow +more rapidly than those of any river. One cannot believe this unless +one actually sees it. And as the archipelago is so extensive, at the +doubling of each promontory it is needful to choose a different time +for sailing. For this reason we need vessels with oars. Meanwhile, +unless your Majesty orders it, we shall not go to Maluco. If we had +to go there, it would be better to locate in that village in Mindanao, +which is well supplied with provisions and where there are people. It +is more than one hundred leagues nearer than Maluco. + +88. When your Majesty was pleased to give Miguel Lopez de Legaspi +permission to divide the land into encomiendas, he did so in accordance +with the wishes of the few men whom he had, assigning two or three +thousand natives as an encomienda to four or eight men. These natives +were not pacified, conquered, or even seen, so that the people asked +and still ask for soldiers to visit and pacify them, in regard to +which there is much trouble here. It was agreed that eight thousand +tributarios should be given as an encomienda to the master-of-camp, +four thousand to the captains, three thousand to men of rank, and so +on to the different classes, according to their position. This caused +trouble immediately because the generality of people and soldiers are +not willing to acknowledge so many people superior to themselves. It +is impossible to pursue the procedure adopted. Again, complaints are +heard that fewer Indians are given to one than to another, and that +those taken from their encomienda, as is commonly asserted, swell +the encomiendas of other persons. All these were things not well +understood at that time. They were not discussed in the residencia, +[9] in order not to arouse dissension. I tell all this to your Majesty +so that you may know the condition of affairs here. If I could, +I would reform matters so that good sense should conquer. + +89. He [Legazpi] was also wont to maintain a number of gentlemen, who +had nothing more to do than to act as sentinels for him alone. They +were considered as of higher rank, as above said, and even more; +and they ate with him at his table. They were ordinarily young men +recommended to him by others from Mexico. They were thus set above +their fellows, which occasioned considerable trouble--even resulting +once in the garrotting of one from Cadiz. These men always accompanied +the governor in his walks, for he went afoot, because there were no +horses; and they were supported from your Majesty's treasury. It +has seemed to me a gracious act toward the people to entrust my +person to them all; and that those appointed by the sergeant-major +in turn, from the different companies, should perform sentinel +duty at my house--in order to relieve your Majesty's royal estate +of this traffic and expense; and to obviate this envy and the too +great equality caused by seating common people at the table. Then, +too, I ride on horseback whenever I go out; and no one would wish to +attend me except my servants. Therefore this guard, as was necessary, +ceases to exist. I rely on the fidelity of the sentinels, and will +rely on any person who refrains from possessions and honor not his own, +and sets a good example. + +90. For the reason above stated--that repartimientos were made by +Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, and afterward by Guido de Lavesares, of places +never pacified or even seen--there are many encomenderos who have no +food, and who, whenever any district is pacified of late, demand that +it be given to them by virtue of that encomienda, to the prejudice of +those who go to pacify and cultivate it. Consequently, notwithstanding +that I have not yet seen the river of Vindanao, as above stated, I must +send men there. They have divided it into encomiendas, and assessed +the tax according to the men; just as in districts which are not so +large as that one, they come to beg for men, in order to go to collect +their tributes and commit various excesses. In accordance with your +Majesty's order and commission, I shall grant no encomienda that is +not pacified and faithful. I think that this will settle the matter, +and that the people will come to understand it. I enclose with this +a list of the encomiendas of the country; but all that is a matter +of little importance except for the passage from the mainland of China. + +91. As I have previously observed, and since all the cost of the +exploration and occupancy of these islands, has been at your Majesty's +expense, those in charge of the government have but ill attended to +apportioning Indians to the royal crown; and those allotments were +made by way of compliment, and are the worst ones. They relied only +on what had to be sent them annually from Nueva España, and on what +has come from there; for this land is as sterile as one who lives on +charity. Accompanying this is a list of the income that your Majesty +has here. As far as I understand it, there is no account of the number +of Indians who are apportioned to the royal crown, and whether or not +they wander through the hills, for no one has seen them. To discuss +this matter in the residencia would be to excite the people to anger. I +thought that it would be all right to do it quietly, and therefore I +have apportioned as many as possible to the royal crown. However in +regard to this there was trouble enough, for once an office-holder +stated in public that, at this rate, all the Indians would belong to +the royal crown, and it became necessary to use dissimulation. + +92. When Guido de Lavesares was governor he placed to his own credit +as many Indians as he saw fit; but I revoked all this, and allotted +them to the royal crown. I am sending the records to you; and with +whatever it may please your Majesty to give your servants we shall +be well satisfied. + +93. There is in these islands an abundance of wood and of men, so that +a large fleet of boats and galleys may be built. There is a quantity +of cheap iron from China, worked by the natives here, who can make +what is necessary from it--which they cannot do with Castilian iron, +for it is exceedingly hard. We have no pitch, tallow, or rigging +worth mention, because what there is is so scarce and poor that +it amounts to nothing. There is no oakum for calking. Large anchors +cannot be made; but the rest of the tackle can be obtained here in good +condition. There is good timber also; to my way of thinking, therefore, +the ship that would cost ten thousand ducats in Guatimala, and in +Nueva España thirty [thousand], can be made here for two or three +[thousand], should strenuous efforts be employed. When I came here +I found the city burned and razed to the ground. I erected shipyards +in two places, separating the workmen, so that they might accomplish +more if they entered into competition. The one in Manila has turned +out a galliot of sixteen or seventeen benches; and has repaired the +ship that brought me here, and also one that was made in Acapulco, +which I believe cost more than fifteen thousand ducats. They were +about to burn the latter ship for the iron that they could thus obtain; +but through promises and diligence on my part the keel and stern-post, +which were rotten were removed, as well as half the hull of the ship; +and, God willing, she will sail from here one month after this ship +departs. Almost one braza was cut off near the bow, on account of +its unsatisfactory shape; and more than two brazas will be added to +the original length. This will make a vessel capable of carrying two +hundred soldiers--which, as this ship had been condemned, means that we +have, from nothing, made twenty thousand ducats. I found that the ship +which had been repaired was destroyed during Limahon's attack. Rigging, +masts, sails, and everything else necessary have been placed in it, +and the ship is called "Sant Felipe." On finishing this, they will +begin to work on another galley; and, besides, will repair another +vessel that is rotten, and whose keel, although of a better pattern, +will require as much labor as the other. However, God willing, +it will be completed by January, so that there will be two galleys +here. In Oton, on the island of Panae I have finished another galley, +thirty-four varas long, with twenty benches. Still another will be +ready by September and I shall continue with the work. + +94. I would not dare to employ rowers for this country, since I have so +few men now on the Spanish galliots; for it would be possible for them +to take flight some day, and to do mischief. All these islands are full +of robbers. Having these four galleys I shall, with God's help, man +them with friends, and seek equipment for them. It is my plan to build +a hundred galleys, and to support them in your Majesty's service from +our enemies, if your Majesty would care to provide what is necessary. + +95. There is no artilleryman here who knows how to fire or cast +artillery, nor is there any artillery. I am writing to the viceroy +our needs in this matter. Having learned that the Moros of this +country had artillery, I told them that they had nothing to fear now, +since we Spaniards are here, who will defend them; and that therefore +they should give me their artillery. By very affable address, I have +obtained possession of as much as possible, without any harshness, +and without seizing any man. I have therefore in the fort, in your +Majesty's magazine, four hundred quintals of bronze that seems to +be good. It was all taken within the radius of eight leagues. For +this reason, and because often some of the pieces burst, we need +here at this camp master-workmen to cast artillery. They ought to be +sent from España for this purpose so that we should not be deceived +about them in Mexico, as we have been in regard to the gunners--who +have simply passed by the gunners' barracks, and have never served +in the capacity of gunner. Such men we have here, to our great risk +and harm. It will be necessary to send fifty gunners. Those who are +here must be discharged, or be sent as substitutes for sailors. + +96. And because, although I might act as overseer, these things +do not form part of my duty, two master-engineers are necessary, +who understand how to fortify a town, and everything pertaining +thereto. We also need experienced troops, for we are here among +enemies and nothing is possessed unless it is held. With regard to +the artillery and master-engineers, I implore that your Majesty may +be pleased to command that this business be attended to at once; +for we are lost here without artillery, which alone can defend the +dominions of your Majesty. + +97. It is necessary that two masters to build ships and galleys should +be sent from Nueva España--so that, if it were necessary, those here, +who are becoming lazy, might be changed. It is necessary to change them +and to keep them in two shipyards, as I have done, so that the expense +at Acapulco, in Nueva España, might cease. All the work done there is +thrown away; for the vessels from Nueva España alone detain the workmen +here in repairing them, and prevent them from building new ones. We +need commanders of galleys who know how to manage the lateen sail. + +98. We have no lead here, but it abounds in Nueva España; it will be +necessary to order that more than five hundred quintals be brought +from that country, for this is our sustenance--besides three hundred +quintals of gunpowder, for present use. We need some weapons and +armor--some corselets, such as are used in Nueva España, and five +hundred lances, which should be brought from Nueva España. Those that +we had here were used up, through carelessness and in the encounter +with the corsair. Until now it was not understood that pikes were +necessary, because the natives are wont to flee. But now it has been +seen that the Chinese attack other men with these weapons, for fear +of their commander. Now as there are so few of us, and the country +breathes nothing but war, we have not ventured into the forests to see +if there is good wood for these lances. For the lack of these lances +here, we have no lance-practice, nor is there a squadron to train +the soldiers; although, because of the great need, I have contrived +to make some lances from poles and bamboo, with iron and steel from +China. I have made one hundred iron points. I do not dare to issue +orders for target-practice (which the young soldiers need especially), +not even for a day, in order not to use up my miserably small quantity +of powder and lead. + +99. Because of the many hardships in this country, the soldier +must be ready at any moment to execute the commands of those in +authority. For this reason, we find the consignments of married men a +great inconvenience; for they are not of much use here, as they are +generally very poor and old. It seems to me that, for the present, +we do not require the services of married men, unless there might be +some one of the nobility, whose family would set a good example. + +100. As the soldiers suffer so many hardships, they become sick; and +although many even die, they are all so poor that they cannot leave +anything. They have no medicines, and are always ready to beg them, as +they have no other resource. When I came, I had a hospital built; but +the corsair burned it. This served as a lodging-place for poor people; +and, for this purpose, I brought a man from Nueva España to attend +the sick. We who are here consider this an excellent institution, +and, because without an endowment there would be no hospital when a +soldier was dying, I apportioned about one thousand Indians to the +hospital, whom it now enjoys because of this need. For the future, +will your Majesty please order that a sum sufficient for its needs +be paid from the treasury, and that those Indians be apportioned to +the royal crown. We need also another house for convalescents where +they may be compelled to follow a certain diet, such as a bit of +fowl. When I find a little leisure from so many toils, I will build +such a house, and establish suitable rules regarding the food. Thus, +besides the service of God, many can be supplied with food, by means +of the person who conducts the house. + +101. It is necessary to maintain suitable order for the conservation +of the fort and artillery; and, as an inducement for those soldiers +who perform sentinel duty there, and the gunners who serve there, to +live within the fort, it is necessary to maintain them at the separate +expense of the fort. It is necessary also that, for the same purpose, +the governor of the fort should keep it in repair; and these expenses +should not be confused with those of your Majesty's treasury of the +three keys. I have discovered by experience that each account divided +by itself is much more satisfactory. + +102. I have set about fortifying this city; but this work is not yet +completed, as the site is large, and I would not leave the friars +outside, from whom we all receive our instruction; moreover, we have +had so much work and hardship, and the Indians help us but little, +and I do not wish them to neglect their fields. It will, however, soon +be completed. It will be a palisade joined with keys, all along the +shore and across the river; and a cavalier [10] for defense--where +some artillery is to be mounted when the Indians have gathered in +their harvest--will be completed very soon. Likewise twenty thousand +fanégas of rice for the support of your Majesty's camp and fleet will +be stored away. + +103. The province which, in all this island of Luçon, produces most +grain is that called Pampanga. It has two rivers, one called Bitis +[Betis] and the other Lubao, along whose banks dwell three thousand +five hundred Moros, more or less, all tillers of the soil, and taxed +to the value of eight reals each. This city and all this region is +provided with food--namely, rice, which is the bread here--by this +province; so that if the rice harvest should fail there, there would +be no place where it could be obtained. Throughout the province +there are not sufficient Indians belonging to the royal crown who +could give one thousand fanégas of income to your Majesty. These two +rivers were not included in the encomiendas made by the late Miguel +Lopez de Legaspi, governor of these islands (who apportioned a part of +that province), in order that he might request them from your Majesty +for himself. After his death, Guido de Lavasares, who succeeded him, +placed them openly to his own account, and apportioned the rest; +but I revoked the decree, and apportioned them to the royal crown +of your Majesty, where they are now; and the officials of the royal +exchequer have collected their tribute from them this year. It seems +that your Majesty has been pleased to bestow this encomienda upon +the son of the defunct adelantado, Legaspi. If this should pass to +him--as it is only reasonable to expect that it should, since such +is your Majesty's pleasure, and it is a favor to the children of him +who died in your Majesty's service--it would be most serious damage +to the condition of these islands. For not only has your Majesty no +income in grain, nor any place from which to obtain it, but these +Indians, as they are near, work very well, when told that they are +tributarios of your Majesty; and they serve in cutting wood, and do +other things which are very useful and important here. If perchance +the heir of the defunct governor should come to ask for his rights, +I believe that it would be well to ask him to do us the favor of +waiting until this point in my letter can be answered. Some plan +might be arranged, if it pleased your Majesty, so that he should be +recompensed in Nueva España. This will prove advantageous, since this +encomienda has been already allotted to the royal crown. I entreat +your Majesty to please to have the matter examined, because it is +important. For this reason I mention here the number of Indians, +and their tributes. It is a healthful and rich land. + +104. The provinces in these islands that would be profitable to +settle are those that can maintain the Spaniards and can provide +them with food. If these are not colonized by us, the Indians will +continue their old mode of life, which means attacking others. For +this reason, it would be well to grant some lands, but with discretion, +so that we shall not be separated; for each by itself would prove but +a weak community, as happened on the appearance of the corsair. For +this reason and because there have always been foreign ships here, +I have delayed effecting settlements until we have more people. I +have attempted to send leaders and men through those districts, so +that the land might be made peaceful; and for this purpose have sent +one troop to Çubu, another to Camarines, and another to Ylocos. We +are always busy. + +105. According to the accounts of the royal exchequer, your Majesty +will see that Guido de Lavesares and Legazpi have been in the habit of +allowing gratuities and other free sums from the royal treasury. I +have not continued these, but have closed the door on all this, +in order not to give them. However, as the friars insist that it be +given and spent in sermons, I have, without consulting them made a +decree to the effect that only the needy poor should receive alms, +and the gift must be for their support. I ordered a list of the poor +to be made and rice to be given them, as is given to others who are +supplied with rations from the royal treasury. Thereupon some persons +came, and have received alms. Those who begged only for gaming and +other like purposes are ashamed to take that alms, and wish nothing +but encomiendas. I have stated all this to your Majesty so that you may +be pleased to send me special instructions concerning these charities +and gratuities, so that in a just case actually seen, and in certain +necessities and calamities, attested to before notary and witnesses, +I might be empowered to furnish aid of weapons and clothing--always +prohibiting the giving of money even for once, or the income from +the chest with three keys, for this is harmful. + +106. When an encomendero dies in Nueva España, his Indians are +allotted to the royal crown of your Majesty, as being in a simple +and peaceful country, where there is no need of soldiers. In these +islands I think that this would be impossible; and I would not dare +do it until I receive an answer from your Majesty ordering me to do +so. For, as so many men die here, all the encomiendas would belong to +your Majesty in four years; and the soldiers would have an incentive +to attempt the deaths of others. I notify your Majesty concerning this +so that you may order how I am to proceed. I have planned to correct +with gentleness the harm already done in apportioning villages to +the royal crown, by taking care that they be near and convenient to +the districts where the Spaniards will reside, and where the fleets +will be stationed. Some of those situated in more remote districts I +have granted. As time passes, I understand these things better; and +whenever occasion arises I am ever watchful of your Majesty's royal +treasury. In Mexico conditions hereabout are understood so little, +that I believe none know what takes place here. Of this I am sure +because they did not tell me the truth there, nor did I understand +it. One must actually see for himself the conditions here. + +107. As there are so few people here it is impossible to administer +justice, such as execution for murder, or whipping a rogue; for in +one day we all would die. It is necessary to separate enemies and +pardon offenders; for a whipped man can be a soldier no longer. It +is important that your Majesty should know this. + +108. The ordinances sent me by your Majesty concerning pacified +districts, which propose to summon the Indians peaceably to settle +near those districts and to persuade them to become Christians by means +of the friars, are very holy and just, but it is quite evident that a +correct report of this matter has not been made. For the Indians are +generally like deer; whenever one wishes to find them, he must first +employ strategy to catch one of the Indians in order that this one +may summon the others who have taken to the hills. Moreover, while +they are going and coming it is necessary that God should perform +miracles in providing food, clothing, and shoes for the soldiers, +and also for the friars, who will go for this purpose. You must +know that being long in one place incites them against one another, +and they begin to die. Those who return come broken down and sick; +and alms must be given them, in order that they may remain alive. I +advise and assure your Majesty that they appeal to us with great +facility for clothing, weapons, and money. + +109. I have to undertake many different trades and offices here +for I must serve as workman and overseer, judge and mediator; +I must take care of the hospitals and of the dead, as well as +the property of the deceased. Not one real of said property has +been lost. I am sending today forty-five marcos of gold, credited +to the accounts of the dead. There remain here pending law-suits, +appealed to the Audiencia of Mexico, in greater amount. There is so +much administration by land and sea, and so many details, that it is +impossible to mention them. All this gives me great satisfaction, for +I am happier when many cares attend my duties. What has wearied me, +and still is unusually wearisome, is the accounts of the officials of +your Majesty's royal exchequer, on account of their extravagance and +careless administration. In this ship I am sending the accounts, even +in their present shape, from which your Majesty will see whether there +has been any trouble. I enclose also the examination of the officials +and the residencias that have been taken. In these residencias, +because it was not best to discuss it, no charges were made, since +no Indians had been apportioned to the royal crown. On this account, +the treasury has but little income at present. I shall endeavor to +improve these matters in the future, as I have said. The books of +said officials of the royal treasury have been copied according to +your Majesty's orders, as given in the clause of instruction for +taking the accounts, and are being sent. + +119. These officials of the royal treasury asked permission of your +Majesty to have Indians, as appears by a letter sent them as an answer +on the fleet by which I came, and according to what they say. In that +letter your Majesty says this is not convenient. Notwithstanding, +when Guido de Lavesares became governor, he gave them encomiendas of +Indians. It seemed to me that they neglected their duties, depending +upon other means of subsistence; and that they try to flatter and +please the governor so that he will give them another encomienda; +that the natives are angry, and that these same officials presume to +draw a salary besides. Thus it seemed best to me to apportion their +Indians to the royal crown of your Majesty. Therefore I promulgated +a decree that they should have no Indians, and that their salaries +should be paid from the royal treasury according to its contents. They +have appealed from this. Will your Majesty examine and provide what +is necessary? Where your Majesty possesses so slight an income as +is the case at present in these islands, it was a mistake to send, +at the beginning, three officials with a salary as great as those +of Mexico receive. For this very reason, their letters-patent state +that they are to be paid only from the profits of this land; yet +they have taken from the stores for barter and from your Majesty's +treasury at various times and seasons, what they could. I did not take +an itemized account of this, for at the time of settlement, either +they had nothing, or it was hidden; and they allowed themselves to be +imprisoned. Upon this question judgment has been suspended, and I refer +it to your Majesty, so that you may make such provision as is best. My +opinion is that for the present the officials of your Majesty's royal +exchequer here should not hold positions simply for ostentation, but +for actual service--since there is so much to be administered here, +and it is necessary that they should go about to make collections +and to inspect the work in the shipyards, as well as in other places +where they might be needed. It would be better to give them lower +salaries, and if they proved themselves efficient in their duties, +then they should be given an increase in the shape of an encomienda +or another office, after having closed the account; for in this land, +as all are soldiers, there are no guarantors or others to ensure the +pay of the many officials. There are people of gentle birth here, as +well as diligent and able soldiers, who could fill all the positions +satisfactorily, while the accounts would be well kept--all of which +is necessary, so far away from your Majesty. Will your Majesty please +issue the necessary orders in this? + +112. Although from the letter that I am writing to the viceroy +of Mexico one can understand something of what concerns religious +instruction and the friars in this country, still I state the matter +here as I understand it. Although, according to their rule, they +may hold property in common, they cannot do so here; for the houses +are built of wood and bamboo, while there are no other holdings +for them. To all friars, priests, and lay brethren something must +be given, so they are each granted an annual income of one hundred +pesos, and one hundred fanégas of rice. I think there is a lack of +religious instruction here; for there are only thirteen friars who +can say mass, and I am not sure that any one of these understands the +language of the natives. I am told that these islands alone require +one thousand priests. Those friars who are to come here must be +men who are missed elsewhere, since they come to lead an apostolic +life. It is very necessary for your Majesty to send friars from all +the orders--especially the Franciscans, and many of them, for they +live among the Indians, and we need not support them. Your Majesty's +only expense, so far as they are concerned, will be certain articles +for their vestments, from Nueva España. I entreat your Majesty to +provide for this most carefully, for it is necessary. + +113. When I arrived, there were two ecclesiastics, one of whom died +of disease, and one only is left. Many are needed. The ecclesiastics +complain of the friars sent them. During my term all will be peace. + +114. There is a decree of concession in these islands, issued +by your Majesty, to the effect that for ten years your Majesty's +fifth of the gold should be made one-tenth. [11] The city claims +that this concession is continued. As all are soldiers and are +poor, it is necessary and just that your Majesty concede this in +this instance. Likewise there is exemption for thirty years from +customs. This amounts to a mere pittance here, and what is brought +hither or carried away belongs to the soldiers, who support themselves +with this help; for they are given nothing, except a few encomiendas to +some, and rations to others who are poor and sick; and these customs +duties should be allowed to all, to prevent them from begging. + +115. Up to the present time there have been no duties on exports +or imports, or any other duties. And as I came during so hard +times, and the people were so poor and few I did not dare to impose +them. It seems to me too soon to talk of duties until it can be made +profitable. This amounts to but a small sum, and whatever is brought +from China by the vessels is but a small matter; and if we did not +treat them well, they would not return. Deprived of what they bring, +we would suffer. Therefore I mean to defer this until we have some +galleys fitted up, and possess a firmer grip in this country, + +116. In this island the natives have a quantity of gold, in the form +of jewelry, with which they trade. There are many reports of gold +mines. Because it is reported that the best mines are those in the +province of Ylocos, I sent thither the sergeant-major from this camp +with forty arquebusiers. He reached those mines, and reports that they +are located in a very rough country, twenty leagues inland; that the +way thither is obstructed by great forests; and that the country is +very cold, and has great pine forests. He brought some metal, all of +which I am sending to the viceroy of Mexico; this appears to be worth +something. As it is necessary to march afoot and to carry their food, +and the country is hostile, and the soldiers poor, it seems a pity to +send them to lose what they have, in a district where they can obtain +no profit; for the operation of the mines requires tranquillity among +the people, the service of many men, and abundant supplies. I shall +endeavor to have the troops return, when food can be taken there, +and will inform your Majesty thereof. + +117. When the sergeant-major was returning from the mines, +he discovered on an islet the two friars who were going with the +captains in May. They say that the captains attempted to rob them; +but, upon seeing that they had neither gold nor silver, because all +the alms that had been given them had been deposited, by my advice, +in a place of safety, the captains said that they would not take them +to China since they were not taking thither anything for presents. A +Chinese who was going with them as interpreter was also robbed of what +I had given him. They beheaded two other Chinese who had been with +Limahon, and were presented to the friars, so that they could not, on +returning to their own country, relate what had occurred. It is said +that the captains had determined to circulate there in China the story +that Limahon and the master-of-camp had both been killed in the fight, +whereupon the Castilians being without a leader, returned to Manila and +allowed the corsairs opportunity to escape. But the latter remained, +in order to verify the axiom that they have in China, that they may +not flee. This is so evil a race that if today the whole world were +given them, tomorrow they would commit a thousand treasons to steal +one single real. We shall live here always on our guard, and shall +do our duty, God helping. + +118. As I have informed your Majesty, the master-of-camp, Martin +de Goite, died; and after his death, Guido de Lavesares appointed +Captain Juan de Saucedo as master-of-camp. This captain assisted +in the expedition against the corsair, and it was under his charge +in Pangasinan. At my arrival I did not discuss with him and the +captains the matter of residencia, for they were artful enough, and +at variance with one another. Moreover it was rather the moment for +burying troubles and proceeding to business. Therefore neither in his +office nor in that of the captains appointed (in greater number than +was necessary) by Guido de Lavesares, did I make, nor have I made, +any innovation; for there are so few people here. Juan de Saucedo, +master-of-camp, went to Ylocos to collect tribute from some Indians of +an encomienda that he had there. There he had an attack of illness, +from which he died in a short time. This is the sickness that kills +old and young. Upon this occasion of the death of the master-of-camp +the Chinese fabricated their lie, and complained that we did not +give them anything; while in reality we spent a considerable sum +from your Majesty's royal exchequer to supply them with provisions, +ship's stores, and other articles, in order that they might take the +fathers to China. I believe that God wills it thus, and that it is +well that they owe something, so that they may pay it at once. It is +not safe to go unarmed or carelessly in that country, or in this; +nor must one begin an attack without having a fort to receive the +return blow, and be able to sustain it. I refer to what I have said +above, and I beseech your Majesty once more to have this expedition +undertaken. As I before remarked, two merchant-ships remained here, and +we treated them kindly and with justice. When they were leaving, they +asked me what message I had for their country. I told them to convey +my compliments to the said captains, and to say that I had very kind +feelings for all the people of China; and that this was my message. + +119. Since this letter was written, we have received word that the +ship sent by the viceroy this year with the usual help was lost. It +was the pilot's fault, or at least they say that it was. May God find +a remedy for this loss, for I dare not speak of it. + +120. With this I enclose a copy of the letter that I have written to +the viceroy. With it I send a list of all that is needed here. This +ship sets sail at a favorable season, the beginning of June of 76; +and, please God, another will leave in about a month, as it lacks +but a little carpenter-work. We have been working at it five months. + +121. In the investigation and accounts, the officials excused +themselves, saying that they had no instructions; so I made a few +ordinances adapted to the life here. I am sending these with the +present letter. + +122. I am sending also the investigations that were made in regard +to no ship leaving last year; and about not compelling any one to +assay gold that is mined and traded with here. + +123. I am sending the originals, and translations of the letters +from China, together with the residencias; and other papers, +consisting of a Chinese map and another small map that I had made +here, some stories of China, and those that they call "Flowers of +Silver"--all in a box directed to the viceroy of Nueva España, so +that it may be sent to your Majesty. It may be, as I believe, that, +in the accounts of the officials of your Majesty's royal treasury, +I also have not fulfilled well the duty of accountant, as is done at +court. I humbly beg your Majesty that these faults may be pardoned, +and that I may be advised of them, so that in the future my work +may be more correct. When these ships are despatched, I shall begin +to examine the accounts of last year, and shall send them by the +first ship. I shall set down fully in these your Majesty's actual +income here. I do not venture to send it with the other papers but +will send it by itself. The only data accompanying this letter are +in a statement of the money paid into the treasury last year, 1575; +and I hope, God helping, that this amount will soon increase. + +124. Because, as I have said, this year's ship from Nueva España was +lost, will your Majesty please order new copies of all the papers +sent in it. + +125. Your Majesty sent me twelve magistracy titles for the regidores of +this city, with a decree. I gave them to those magistrates whom I found +living here, who numbered five, seven having died before my arrival, +counting one who had become a friar. Therefore I guided myself by the +precedent that there should be twelve. In addition to these five, there +are the three officials of this royal exchequer, which makes the number +eight; a high-constable of the city, who was already provided, and him +I have left undisturbed; one Antonio Alvarez, one Franciso Bañon, and +one Marcos de Herrera who are among the earliest settlers. The truth of +the matter is that we would better not discuss these magistracies now, +for everything is in turmoil. Your Majesty also had a decree sent, so +that the city might have the boundaries that I should assign to it; +but I have not yet determined this, as I had some doubts and wished +to investigate the matter thoroughly; for, if once they are assigned, +the natives are bound. I shall advise your Majesty of my decision. + +126. We have shipped in this vessel ninety bundles of cinnamon +belonging to your Majesty; and as many more, which remained here, +will be shipped in the next vessel, which will sail next month. I +have gathered articles of barter, in order to send a commander of +troops to Mindanao for next year's barter; then I will advise you of +what is in that island. + +127. A book will also be found in the box which is a narration of the +country, rents, and tributarios of China, which is in substance what +is contained on the Chinese map. There is also another small book +resembling a collection of sea-charts, and some papers upon which +are depicted their officials of justice, which are sold in the shops +of that land. Because I am writing to the viceroy in Mexico and am +sending your Majesty a copy of the letter, where what I do not write +here is written, I close, beseeching your Majesty to be so kind as +to order that this country be provided for, since it is so easy; and +to grant favors to all of us who are serving you here. May our Lord +preserve the Royal Catholic person of your Majesty, and bestow upon +you greater kingdoms and seigniories, as is the wish of your servants +and vassals. Manila, in the island of Luçon, in the Filipinas, June 7, +1576. Royal Catholic Majesty, your Majesty's loyal vassal and servant, +who kisses your royal hands. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[In the same legajo, there is a letter from the city of Manila, +dated June 2, 1576, which also contains an account of the affair of +the pirate Limahon. It is endorsed thus: "Let it be abstracted in a +report. Done." The abstract of the letter follows, and is doubtless +the work of one of the royal clerks or secretaries. Certain +instructions and remarks of the king or council appear in the +margin of the abstract. Opposite that for clauses 71-81, which +discuss the proposed conquest of China, are the following remarks: +"Reply as to the receipt of this; and that, in what relates to the +conquest of China, it is not fitting at the present time to discuss +that matter. On the contrary, he must strive for the maintenance of +friendship with the Chinese, and must not make any alliance with the +pirates hostile to the Chinese, nor give that nation any just cause +for indignation against us. He must advise us of everything, and if, +when the whole question is understood better, it shall be suitable to +make any innovation later, then he will be given the order and plan +that he must follow therein. Meanwhile he shall strive to manage what +is in his charge, so that God and his Majesty will be served; and he +shall and must adhere strictly to his instructions as to conquests and +new explorations. We shall see to it carefully that he is reënforced +annually from this land with men, weapons, ammunition, and everything +needed for aid. The viceroy of Nueva España will be informed of this, +and ordered to attend to it carefully. Religious will be sent also, +to give instruction; and all supplies that are possible at the present +time will be sent. The governor must be very zealous, and encourage +the people there, and give them to understand the care that is and +will be taken for them here, in protecting, aiding, and favoring them; +and he must govern in all matters as is expected from his good sense +and prudence. Write to the viceroy to send lead, for he [Sande] asks +for it." Opposite clauses 82-85, treating of the characteristics of +the Philippines and of their inhabitants: "Tell him that the report +of that land has been read, and has occasioned gladness, and that he +should continue to advise us thus of what is necessary; also that he +show much honor and favor to the captains and soldiers." Opposite +clause 86, treating of the reëstablishment of Cebú: "Write that +this is well done; and that he shall strive to have people gathered +in the principal _presidio_ [military post]." Opposite clause 89, +treating of Maluco: "Let there be no innovation in what pertains to +the Malucos." Opposite clause 90, treating of the encomiendas made +by Legazpi: "In what has been allotted, let there be no innovation; +and let that which is granted hereafter be allotted in accordance with +the deserts and services of each one." Opposite clause 91: "None of the +documents that he mentions as being enclosed with this letter appear to +have come. He said in his letter that they were all coming in one box +directed to the viceroy, and this has not arrived." "Have this relation +brought." "It has not arrived, as said above." Opposite clause 92: +"Bring these decrees." "They have not arrived." Opposite clauses 93 +and 94: "As for what he says concerning the four galleys, let them +be used to defend that port and country." Opposite clause 95: "The +viceroy should be advised to send as many of those people [gunners, +etc.] as possible. Write to him to that effect." Opposite clauses +96, 97, and 98: "_Yden_" ["the same"] Opposite clause 100: "Tell +him to manage this as seems best to him;" and opposite clause 101, +"_Yden_." Opposite clause 102, treating of Legazpi's and Lavezares's +grants in Bitis and Lubao: "He is to observe what is ordered about +this in another letter." Opposite clause 105, treating of gratuities, +etc.: "Have the instructions taken by Legazpi brought. Bring the +book containing the ordinances made here, after the arrival at and +occupation of the islands is brought; the instructions given before +that time were given by the viceroy." Opposite clause 106, treating +of vacant encomiendas: "Write that, when necessity requires, and the +matter can be remedied in no other way, he remedy it as well as he can, +especially considering the necessities of the land, taking special +care of his Majesty's estate. In the above-named book is the method to +be followed in regard to encomiendas. Let him adhere to that method, +and let all the encomiendas falling vacant be allotted, until there +be given a contrary order." Opposite clause 108: "These ordinances are +brought, and a decree is being despatched that, since we have learned +that these ordinances are not observed, he is ordered to enforce +them." Opposite clause 109: "Let them be despatched." Opposite clause +110, treating of the encomiendas in possession of royal officials: +"This can be passed by and overlooked, because the land is new, until +other provision be made. In accordance with this, let those Indians +be returned." Opposite clause 111, treating of salaries of royal +officials: "Let the officials be allowed to collect their salaries from +the products of the country which are put into the treasury, as the +property of his Majesty, until other provision be made--both of money +placed therein hitherto and to be put therein in the future." Opposite +clause 112, treating of religious: "Write that they are already sent, +and that we shall see to it that more are sent continually, as well as +ecclesiastics." Opposite clause 114: "Let it be done thus, and a decree +will be sent to this effect by his Majesty." Opposite clause 116: +"Let it be done thus." Opposite clause 121: "Let them be given to a +reporter, and let him bring them immediately." Opposite clause 122: +"_Yden_. He has been informed already that the box containing all +these documents has not been sent by the viceroy." Opposite clause 123: +"Answer that these papers have not arrived. When they come they will be +examined, and he will be advised of our pleasure." Opposite clause 124: +"It shall be sent, and so advise him." On the outside is the following +endorsement: "Answered inside. Let all that is requested be brought." + +These marginal remarks and provisions offer a good example of the +Spanish method of treating the communications received from royal +officials. They show a distinct business-like method, that sought to +dispose of such communications in the briefest time.] + + + + + +Relation and Description of the Phelipinas Islands + +[This document (which, in the archives at Sevilla, is separated +from the preceding one) is, although dated on June 8, 1577, partly +a duplicate of Sande's first report, dated June 7, 1576, which +immediately precedes this one in the present volume. We therefore omit +such part of it as repeats matter contained therein, and present all +that gives additional or new information.] + +The natives are all very idle. If they would but apply themselves to +work a little of the time, they could have all they wanted; but as it +is a hot country and they are barbarians, they go naked. Nevertheless, +all know how to raise cotton and silk, and everywhere they know how to +spin and weave for clothing. There is no need for anyone to spend any +gold; for they catch the fish which they eat; the wine is made from +the palms, which are very abundant; and from these same trees they +obtain also oil and vinegar. In the mountains there are wild boars, +deer, and buffalo, which they can kill in any desired number. Rice, +which is the bread of the country, grows in abundance. Therefore +they are afflicted by no poverty, and only seek to kill one another, +considering it a great triumph to cut off one another's heads and +take captives. + +In this island there is much gold, in sheets, among the natives; and, +although they trade but little, they understand the value of the gold, +and know how to adulterate it by mixing it with silver, tin, copper, +brass, and other metals brought from China. They have established +the value and qualities of gold as follows: + +There is a very base gold that has no name, with which they deceive; +and a second grade, called _malubai_, which is worth two pesos. Another +quality, called _bielu_, is worth three pesos; and another, called +_linguingui_, is worth four. The quality called _oregeras,_ for which +the Chinese name is _panica_, is worth five pesos; and this is the best +gold in which they trade. It is of sixteen or even eighteen carats, +and of this are made all their trinkets and jewelry. The best gold +obtained is another grade called _guinogulan_ [12] which means "the +lord of golds;" it weighs about twenty-two carats. From this is made +the jewelry which they inherit from their ancestors, with which they +never part; and even should they wish to sell these ornaments, there is +no one who would give for them more than five pesos in silver. Neither +will they give more, even for good gold; and they do not take it in +exchange for supplies, or for the goods which they sell. Consequently +this is the reason that gold is so valued in this country. It may +be illustrated in this way. Should a Spaniard buy food or anything +else from a native, the Moro immediately takes out the touchstone +which he carries with him; and, even if the value be not over two +reals, he takes great pains to see if the gold be conformable to the +aforesaid standard. Although it may be stamped and assayed, the Indian +will trust to no reckoning but his own. Neither is there any rule by +which to pay, beyond the weight and value of the gold; this applies +likewise to the orejeras or panica, for all the gold which is used +in trade is mixed with other substances, to make the other grades of +base gold. Although I have intended and tried to remedy this, it is +impossible, as the majority of them are silversmiths for this very +purpose; and if any restrictions were made, they would think that they +were about to be ruined. It has seemed to me that the country is very +new for establishing any other currency than gold, which here is like +the king's fifth of silver in Nueva España. I have written to this +effect to the viceroy, a copy of which letter accompanies this, and +a report concerning this matter; also an account of the gold paid to +the royal treasury, and the trade effected by all the Spaniards. The +Chinese will not take the panica at more than four pesos of texuela +to the tae[l] which, they say, is of that value in their country and +they lose one llealla by so doing. This is the weight called _tae_, +and comes from China. It weighs more than one onza, two adármes; so +that three taes and thirteen maes are worth two Castilian marcos, or +one livra. [13] When I came here the viceroy of Mexico sent an assayer, +saying that one had been requested from here. After his arrival no +one brought him anything to assay, as he was young and inexperienced +in treating gold. Losses suffered at the beginning by those who +tried to have gold assayed caused us to abandon the attempt. The +Moros understand the laws of gold better than we do. I have given +notice of [original illegible]. It may be of service to the royal +estate. I have given information thereof which will accompany this, +and I think that it is impossible to exercise more diligence. I have +ordered that, when the gold enters into possession of the officials +of the royal estate, they shall value it before a notary, so that it +shall be issued in the same way that it entered. This is done because +there seems to be no other remedy, as the Moros, with their standards, +buy up all the money of current gold, and necessarily at the prices +which they themselves give to it in their debts and traffic. + +As provisions were wont to be sent from Nueva España every year, +there were also sent reals until I came. Since then, none have been +sent; nor has any money been given to me. On the other hand, I have +announced to the public that it is outrageous that we do not serve +your Majesty by sending some gold from here; and that even to think of +their sending money from there would be to argue that we do not know +how to look for it as well as they do in Nueva España. It has been +a thankless task to make this ruined land profitable, for he who has +Indians, or some wealth, keeps it for himself; everyone else comes, +with loud complaints, to ask the governor to give them enough to +eat from the royal estate. Accordingly, when I came here the royal +treasury had no possibility of income, as his Majesty will see from +the accounts and from a memorandum which I am sending. Although but +a short time has passed, the condition of things has improved, and +the affairs of the royal estate have been put into as good order as +in Mexico, considering their extent. + +I have succeeded in obtaining for the royal crown all the Indians +possible, especially those who are useful, and whose tributes are +increasing. They are conveniently near Spaniards, so that the latter +can more easily make collections, and also profit by the supplies. Thus +I will always do, although I have had, and still have, considerable +trouble in it. + +These natives have not been able to pay their tributes, on account +of living scattered and far away; and their country has been at +war until now. They have not been taxed, as the number of people +is not known. They are so skilful in hiding themselves, that +private soldiers have to be sent from here for the collection of +the money. These latter collect what they wish, and say that they +have collected so much, and not a penny more, and that the entire +village is composed of honest men. Whoever goes brings back the same +account of these peoples. Therefore little is paid, and the returns +to the royal treasury are few I have made investigations, however, +and have imprisoned some of the soldiers, and prevented others from +collecting the tributes; but it is only vain endeavor. On account of +the few people in this country justice cannot be executed for this +or any of the offenses common here. + +No one here is willing to accompany a man who goes on horseback, or +serve him in any way. Therefore, I am served only by my servants; but, +nevertheless, I have in my house all who wish to come there to live and +to eat; and I help them to the extent of my ability. They are served by +my slaves and servants in due order. There are many of them, but in my +house permission is not given to live with the liberty that is desired +by young men. In due season, or when your Majesty may be pleased to +provide more troops, the present customs may be suitably changed--my +intention being only to establish a reform in this direction. + +_Item_: The voyages to this country are all by sea, and in ships which +are often wrecked, many soldiers being thus lost. Those who have +the good fortune to escape with their lives lose their arquebuses, +coats-of-mail, swords, and daggers, which constitute their military +equipment. Since I have been here, I have often helped many of those +thus left destitute, who had no other means of succor, although not +at so moderate cost to the royal estate as for the poor. In this +case I have not spent from the royal estate until after reviewing +all other expenses of like nature, and consulting your Majesty. This +expense seems to be as necessary as the first provision of weapons +and clothing to the soldiers. Nevertheless, it is wise to warn them +to be more careful in navigation, and more resolute in guarding +their belongings. In my opinion it will be convenient for your +Majesty to have the goodness to send instructions on this point, +stating especially whether it is possible to give aid, in weapons and +clothing, in a moderate quantity, from the royal treasury. It should +be always forbidden to give money from the royal treasury even once, +although it may thus happen that some soldiers, nobles, and cavaliers +may suffer want, for lack of money with which to clothe themselves. It +is not convenient to grant encomiendas to all; and although they +may ask for food at the houses of their friends, they are in need +of clothing. The only means of income here is the payment of the +tributes to the encomenderos, whom I have tried to convince that +all the soldiers be maintained thereby, as it is a very convenient +method; but people of much caprice cannot be persuaded to this, +nor can they clear their heads from vapors. On account of the small +number of troops here, as I have already stated, I have induced the +people to do sentinel-duty and undertake expeditions under leaders--of +whom there are not a few, beginning with a brother of mine. Although +I do my best, it is impossible to avoid giving them some aid. Last +Christmas I aided several with tributes paid by some unapportioned +Indians, declaring that, if they had belonged to the royal crown, +I could not have done so. I allotted the Indians to a captain by the +name of Chacon, and the income arising from them was divided among +several persons. I preferred to have the transaction take place under +authority of the officials, and to have it attested by the government +notary. Therefore this has been recorded, and together with the decree +forwarded to your Majesty. I trust that his Majesty will examine it, +and send me information of what he may be pleased to provide. + +In Nueva España, when an encomendero dies without an heir, the +Indians under his charge revert to the royal crown. When Guido de +Lavazares was here, he arranged that in such case the Indians should +be re-allotted; and thus it was done, being a law of the land when I +came here. As the country is so new, and but ill pacified, and there +is so great need for people, and this concerns the community, I have +followed the same custom since my arrival--although I have assigned +to the royal crown the majority of Indians who are left ownerless, +thus combining both methods. I have told the people that it is meet +for his Majesty to receive income in order to support the friars and +his servants here, as well as for the alms and assistance which have +been described. Nevertheless, it has seemed to me necessary that +his Majesty be informed of the reassignments, and that he have the +goodness to issue commands therefor which shall be duly obeyed. I +state no reasons for or against this arrangement, since the royal +council may judge better than I. If it be considered convenient to +grant the grace which these persons desire, as a favor proceeding +from the royal person and his royal council, let it not be imagined +that this and similar actions emanate from the governor. I am of +the opinion that his Majesty is the one to grant the favor; and, +if he does so, he will send advices thereof, either secret or public. + +The Indians of this country are not simple or foolish, nor are they +frightened by anything whatever. They can be dealt with only by the +arquebuse, or by gifts of gold or silver. If they were like those of +Nueva España, Peru, Tierra Templada, Tierra Firme, and in the other +explored places where the ships of Castilla may enter, sound reasoning +might have some effect. [14] But these Indians first inquire if they +must be Christians, pay money, forsake their wives, and other similar +things. They kill the Spaniards so boldly, that without arquebuses we +could do nothing. This was the reason that Magallanes, the discoverer +of these islands, was killed; and that Villalobos and Sayavedra, +and those who came afterward from Nueva España were maltreated. All +those who have been killed since the coming of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi +received their death through lack of arquebuses. The Indians have +thousands of lances, daggers, shields, and other pieces of armor, with +which they fight very well. They have no leaders to whom they look +up. The havoc caused by the arquebuse, and their own lack of honor, +make them seek refuge in flight, and give obedience to our orders. + +After imprisoning a soldier, it is necessary to give him food while +he is in jail, and also to care for him in sickness. In order to +avoid the expense, he is finally set at liberty. I have exercised all +possible diligence to deal with them so that they will be afraid, and +mend their ways. I have sent the delinquents to work apart, separated +from one another; and have also reprimanded them, and informed them +that they must do right. Thus, by the aid of God, this commonwealth +is entirely reformed. They do not follow the pernicious practice of +gambling, because they are occupied, and because they know that he who +is engaged in these practices cannot be my friend. Among other men, +gambling might be more endurable; but here they attack one another with +knives, blaspheme, and steal, and do great harm to one another. There +is also almost complete reformation from the swearing, drinking, +and like vices which had caused great corruption and the disgrace of +many men. There is also improvement in regard to concubinage among +them. It is desirable that the soldiers should always lead honest +lifes, but as they are young, and the women in this country are so +many and so bad, it is more difficult to correct this evil. + + * * * * * + +By a decree of your Majesty, I was asked [to fix] the boundaries of the +city. I assigned five leagues around this place where we live, although +as yet these limits are of no use, as in this island there have not +been, nor are there now, any customs duties or other imposts. I came +at a time full of labors, and the people are few and poor. Considering +the losses of the ships of the past year, it seems to me that it is +too soon to obtain any duties from the Chinese ships. I have advised +your Majesty thereof, and exemption from the customs and other duties +has been granted to these islands for thirty years. Consequently, +nothing is demanded from the Spaniards; and, as they are all soldiers, +and should have some profit from what is sent hence to Nueva España, +it would be well to increase the customs duties somewhat. It is also +decreed that for the term of ten years there shall be paid the tenth +instead of the fifth of all the gold found here. The city already +demands, at the end of these ten years, that your Majesty renew his +favors. I think that, as a result of this decree, some gold is sent +to Nueva España; but, if the entire fifth were taken, the gold would +be traded with the Chinese, and thus so great a quantity would not +be sent to Nueva España. May your Majesty be pleased to grant this, +and advise me as to this point. + +When I came to this city there were here two ecclesiastics, and besides +them no more in all the islands. One died of illness, and the other +is now alone here, under command of the friars. When at one time +he read a letter of excommunication he was appointed vicar by the +provincial of the order of St. Augustine; and now he complains that +he is commanded by friars. There is great need that ecclesiastics be +sent here, so that the sacraments can be administered and confessions +be heard, as in other colonies. + +Although I write to the viceroy of Mexico concerning the religious +instruction in this country (a copy of which letter accompanies this), +I wish to explain more fully to your Majesty that there is a great lack +thereof. Some of the friars sent from Mexico are those who cannot stay +there, and must be sent away. Those who come here to lead the apostolic +life must be orderly persons, and such as are missed in the place from +which they come. But it is of secondary importance to discuss persons, +and it is necessary to refer to important matters which require +remedies. Your Majesty must understand that there is great lack of +religious teachers here, and that the friars labor very diligently, +although they do not usually apply themselves to learn the language, +or to attract the natives. If I am not mistaken, the surest remedy is +for friars and ecclesiastics of all orders to come here, especially +those who cannot possess property; for, as this land is so new and +there are no inheritances, the friars can have no income in common, +except the alms given from the royal treasury. As the Indians are so +avaricious, and adore the gold--which they actually kiss, and consider +of the highest importance--it is exceedingly necessary that the priest +accept no gold, nor should he seek or trouble them for it. He must +only desire food, according to the necessities of nature; and as the +land is well provided therein, at the lowest prices in the world, +he may be well content who wishes nothing more. + + * * * * * + +As soon as I arrived in this city, I began proceedings in the +residencia, and the examination of accounts, according to your +Majesty's commands. Duplicates of the report were sent in the ship +"Santiago" and also in the ship "San Phelipe," which were unfortunately +lost. In the ship "San Juan" will now be despatched the duplicates, +as your Majesty will note in the letter to the viceroy. There is also +sent an account of everything else which has been done in regard +to the officials. I made all possible endeavor in Mexico to obtain +instructions and papers regarding their, and I brought only those which +I send with the accounts. They said that there were no others, and the +officers of the royal estate declare that they brought no instructions, +and never had any. As your Majesty will see by the accounts there +were no books of the treasurer or factor, and consequently none can +be despatched with the accounts. When these officials were asked, +they said that they kept no books. Only the accountant kept a book; +but Aldave, who served Guido de Lavazares, had a memorandum-book, which +I remit with the accounts. I have issued orders for every official +to keep a book, and to have a common book of the treasury, which +is now done. Moreover, as they said that they had no instructions, +I gave them some orders, according to what I believe is necessary, +copies of which I send to the royal council. The officials rendered +their accounts, although I have not passed upon some things--such as +accounts which are not certified, the tribute collected, and their +salaries. If they hold some funds which I have not found, I cannot +execute what I am commanded to do; although what I have found has +been attended to. For this reason, affairs have been delayed; and +in the meantime investigations have been made, and thus many affairs +are now sent for the consideration of the royal council. Some of my +instructions, however, cannot be carried out, for lack of funds. + +On the occasion of the last investigations, it appears that they +reported that they had spent more than they had received; and that +the loans and deposits thus due should be placed to the account +of the royal treasury. As their loans were drawn out as salaries, +I have not permitted this. + +The officials of the royal estate have each furnished bondsmen, who +are their securities for two thousand ducats; and they gave them, +little [original illegible] because they came from Nueva España +without furnishing bonds, and, as they say, without instructions; +so I have commanded them to find bondsmen for these amounts. Their +sureties are all captains and soldiers, from whom their clothes and +weapons cannot be taken away, nor their means of support; there are, +moreover, no realty holdings here. They regard their accounts, however, +as adjusted, and have almost obliged me to wait for your Majesty +to examine their pleas, so that their misdeeds may be excused. On +this account I am advancing but slowly; and, as our resources for +correcting this evil are so inadequate, may your Majesty be pleased +to declare his pleasure as soon as possible. + +The sureties have not fulfilled their agreements; and, although I have +commanded them to give bonds, they do not nor can they do so, as all +are soldiers in this country. The best remedy is for his Majesty to +command that accounts be audited every year. Thus I have ordered, +and they have been audited to the year seventy-six, and accompany +this present report. For this reason most of all should the officials +give bonds, that they are in charge of various small matters and +transactions for which I am not sufficient security. Accordingly, +although they have not yet furnished bonds, I have refrained from +enforcing this order, until his Majesty shall decide what he wishes +done. Guido de Lavazares had appointed Salvador de Aldave as treasurer; +and he still holds the position until your Majesty shall make provision +therefor. Guido de Lavazares does not wish the office; nor do I think +that he is capable of filling an office which requires the keeping +of documents. + +In investigating the accounts of the officials, execution was +levied on their goods, some of which have been entered in the royal +treasury. I have commanded half of their salaries to be issued them +for their support, and no more, until your Majesty shall provide +accordingly. Some slaves, clothing, and bedding were left to them, the +same being considered as deposits in the name of the royal estate. His +property was left to Guido de Lavazares, but no salary, since that +is drawn by another man, who holds his office. I offered to give him +an encomienda for his support; but he did not wish it, and asked me +for permission to leave this country. I showed to him a clause of the +instructions regarding the accounts, which said that close watch must +be kept over those who were under surveillance; that, if it were not +for that clause, I would permit him to go; and that I would immediately +inform your Majesty thereof. I also give information regarding the +tributes from the provinces of Bites and Lubao, and elsewhere, which +Guido de Lavazares collected for himself. His property was confiscated, +to which act his wife was opposed, and also the properties of persons +deceased of which there were many. Some of these were placed in +the royal treasury, together with another portion, sent from the +payments from the valley of Purao. All is set down in the accounts, +as is everything concerning this matter, with the proceedings therein. + +On continuing the investigation, it was found that property had +been delivered to the person serving in the office of captain of +artillery. When an account was demanded from him, it was many months +before he was obliged to give it, as may be seen by his petitions +accompanying the record of his trial. After waiting six or seven months +(I shall not mention here all the words spoken), and on seeing that +he was so reluctant to present his account and explanation, I took +advantage of a petition which he had made--in which he resigned his +office, and begged that I give it to some one else. This I did, giving +the position to him who was sergeant-major of the camp. After these +changes, I had his property seized. This compelled him to attend to +the account, and he began to be willing to hand it in, as appears very +clearly in the report of his trial, which accompanies this. It might +be well that I should not habitually show similar lenity; but in this +case there could be naught but compassion felt, as he had no judgment +whatever. [15] I was therefore moved; and, by his Majesty's favor, +this captain of artillery has an encomienda of more than a thousand +men, near this city. This I have had set aside for him, and have +commanded that he support himself from half the tributes thereof; +likewise his clothes, and weapons, and his servants, were left to +him. He asked permission to go to España, saying that he was married, +and that he had not seen his wife for twenty years. His Majesty will +command what shall be provided in this case. + +In the investigation of the former captain of artillery (appointed +by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, at Puerto de la Navidad), inasmuch as no +bonds were taken from this soldier, I have attached the property of +Miguel Lopez, and that of the officials, for not having attended to +their duty in this regard. After seeing the account and investigation +of this matter made by the officials of the royal estate, I decided +to transfer the blame to the account of Miguel Lopez, and to seize +his goods for the same reason. + +At my arrival here, Guido de Lavazares had allotted Indians to the +officials of the royal estate. When I entered upon my office, they sent +to ask his Majesty for permission to hold them. They were answered by +a decree, which was shown to me when I came, which declared that this +could not be allowed. For this reason I placed all their salaries to +the account of the royal crown, to which they still belong. Salvador +de Aldave presented a petition, saying that he is not a proprietary +official, but merely holds the office of treasurer until another shall +be provided in his place. This was done in order that his Indians +should not be taken away; and on this account I have allowed him to +keep them. They have all appealed, asking that your Majesty declare +his pleasure. I wish that the officials of the royal estate would +apply themselves more to their duties, and the exercise of diligence +therein, as is very needful where there is so much to be administered; +and that they should be free from other obligations and have no other +means of earning a support. + +As his Majesty will have already understood, I have declared that +neither the officers nor other persons here can give bonds. The +labors here are and have been those of which your Majesty will have +knowledge. One and all have served your Majesty for many years, and +as soldiers and among soldiers. If there should be any fault in the +papers, I beg your Majesty to extend his mercy to all, and to deign +to forget these errors. May your Majesty be pleased to pardon me this +boldness, and to command that the accounts be examined. May replies +be sent by the first ship and any faults of mine which may be found +therein be pardoned, and all necessary instructions be furnished to me. + +Moreover, in regard to the inquiry which discusses the exchange of +different grades of gold, the people here are of such sort that no +one makes a payment without declaring that he is giving gold of a +good quality; but, on the other hand, the one who collects declares +to the contrary. By the accounts for the year seventy-six, which +are now finished, and by the entire expense account, which I have +examined personally, it seems to me that good faith in the past year +may be deduced. In this country, the heat of the sun is very great; +and for even one week's work, or when a ship is going to be launched, +it is necessary to erect a shelter for the workmen. This is made in +a short time, with poles, bamboo, and palm-leaves. In the shipyards +there is much waste; and, as the wood rots from dampness here, the +soldiers take it at night to use in their houses, and relieve their +misery. This cannot be called a theft, as it is done by menials who +came hither at your Majesty's expense and are engaged in his service. + +When I came here I found the country swept by fire, everything in +ruins, and the Indians in rebellion, having taken advantage of the +coming of the pirate [Limahon]. Since then I have not ceased in my +endeavors to promote all possible peace here. I have surrounded the +city with a palisade and rampart, building therein two cavaliers, +which are further strengthened by ramparts--one toward the southeast, +where the pirate landed; and the other toward the northwest. It +seemed to me very important to guard the point formed by the river +and the sea. People declare that after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came +here the water wore away the land for the distance of two gunshots. I +have all the river staked in, as also the point by the sea; and have +had the latter filled in with earth until it is all level. I think +that it will, therefore, be always stable, if it is repaired from +time to time. I have had the fort of this city repaired, building +ramparts where they were lacking, so that one may walk around it on +the rampart. I have covered two cavaliers, although communication +may be had between them at a pike's length, which could not be done +before. The floors have been covered with wood, so that the pieces of +artillery may be dragged about more easily. I have also constructed +many chests, both for the interior of the fort and for the galleys, +and have mounted all the guns here. + +As I advised by the ship "Santiago," I sent to the island of Panay for +galleys to be made. Two built there were launched in this city, and I +have another of sixteen [toneladas?] finished, and one of twenty-five +is in course of construction. It would have been completed four months +ago had it not been for the overhauling of this ship "San Juan," which +carries this letter. Nevertheless, it will be finished inside of two +months, because all the boarding, planking, and sheathing has been +done, and there is nothing more to hinder the workmen on the ship. I +have also had oars brought for all four galleys, and the majority +of them are made. Also the provisions for them and some casks have +been supplied. The oars are not yet ready for use, as there are not +eight quintals of lead in this country. I am expecting supplies from +Nueva España, with some men to command the galleys. Besides these +occupations, all the workmen were engaged during the past year, from +Christmas until July, in overhauling the ships "Santiago" and "San +Phelipe." They have been busy since October in overhauling this ship +"San Juan" until its sailing today, to repair damages caused by its +wreck. It is now put in very good condition, with pine masts, which I +took from that of the [original illegible] which are said to be better +than those here; for the wood of this land is very heavy. After the +completion of the galleys which were built here, I have commanded them +to build there a large ship of four hundred toneladas. After completing +the galley, another will be made here of the same style, God willing; +we have bought much iron and everything necessary, as I have written +to the viceroy in his letter. God permitting, we shall build ships +here which would be worth in Nueva España one hundred thousand ducats, +and which cost here less than fifteen [thousand]. Consequently the +situation here may be improved thereby. Moreover, some light sail-boats +have been made; we have succeeded in subduing all the natives; search +has been made for mines, and everything possible has been done, as +your Majesty may see by the letter to the viceroy. There has also been +built a hospital in this city, to which I have granted an encomienda, +as I have already advised your Majesty. I have built the church of +San Agustin, the expenses of justice have been paid, and a house +has been built for the friars. As the corsair had burned everything, +they were given three hundred pesos from the royal treasury for this +purpose. As the city was without a public church, I have had as large +a one as possible built of wood. There could not be a better or larger +one in this country; and the work has been going on for five months, +but even yet it is not finished. + +He who is governor here must exercise constant vigilance in affairs. He +must know what is being accomplished in the different works, and +when the persons who draw salaries journey to and from different +points. He must be watchful of the provisions and supplies, and in +truth, the governor must be an overseer of all the offices. It is +especially difficult to prevent things from happening behind one's +back. I have also had a house built where the governor lives, as +there was none here before. In truth, I may say that when your Majesty +was pleased to order me to come here, the path was not discovered by +which they brought me on the sea, and the land was neither subdued nor +peopled. I say this without prejudice to the services of my neighbors, +and I humbly beg that your Majesty be pleased to grant me grace and +remember me. In Manila, June the eighth, 1577. + +[_Endorsed on front_: "Relation of the condition in which were found +the Filipinas Islands. Their location is described in detail, and the +fertility of the soil for food products, pasturage, the sugar industry, +and that of indigo. The year 1577."] + + + +Bull for Erection of the Diocese and Cathedral Church of Manila + + +Gregory, Bishop, servant of the servants of God: In perpetual +remembrance of the affair. + +Trusting in the safeguard of Him who moves the hinges of the earth, +toward whom are bent the minds of men--through whose providence, +moreover, all things derive their government--we willingly do our share +of the duty entrusted to us from above, to the end that they who now +are in darkness may be enabled to enjoy the true light which is Christ +Jesus, and that the rays of His light may beam upon them. Wherefore, +in accordance with the preëminence of this apostolic see in the regions +of the earth, all and singular, as required by necessity and other +reasonable motives, we plant new episcopal sees and churches, that +by new plantations may be increased the new adhesion of peoples to +the church militant; that everywhere may arise, spread, and flourish +the profession of the Christian religion and the Catholic faith; that +even insignificant places may thereby be enlightened, and that their +inhabitants and the dwellers thereof, girded around with new sees in +charge of prelates of rank, may the more easily win the rewards of +everlasting happiness. In truth, since the soldiers of our very dear +son in Christ, Philip, Catholic Sovereign of the Spains, voyaging +many years ago to the sea known as Mar del Sur ["Southern Sea"], +discovered there very many islands known as the Philippines, near the +continent of China, in some of which (chiefly in Luzon and Zebu) they +made settlements; while the same King Philip sent to the aforesaid +islands not only temporal governors for the purpose of establishing +and maintaining justice therein, but ecclesiastical persons, both +regulars and seculars, that they might administer the sacraments of +the church and confirm converts in the Catholic faith--the result was +that, through the mercy of God, many natives of the said islands were +converted to the said faith. However (albeit matters in the spiritual +realm have thus far been managed in this fashion), with the increase +of Spaniards in those islands the same King Philip, in order that +they might become more peaceful and populous, with this intent sent +thither Spaniards--two hundred men with their wives and children, +and four hundred unmarried men. Daily very many of the said natives, +embracing the aforesaid faith, receive the regeneration of sacred +baptism, although the islands aforesaid are more than two thousand +leagues distant from the province of the Christians known as New +Spain, subject to the rule of the said King Philip, whence supplies +are brought to those islands. It therefore was proper and necessary, +for the welfare of the souls of these natives and other like persons, +as well as for the peace of conscience of the said King Philip, that +in those islands should be some one in charge of spiritual affairs, +with the care of the said souls. Neither should there be wanting the +proper and necessary spiritual and ecclesiastical government in those +regions, to the end that Almighty God may be served more faithfully, +and the gospel law and the said faith be spread and exalted the more, +on this account. After mature deliberation with our brethren on these +points, with their advice, arid at the humble solicitation of the +aforesaid King Philip, by our apostolic authority, by perpetual tenor +of these presents, to the praise and glory of the same Almighty God, +as well as to the honor of His most glorious Mother and ever Virgin +Mary and of all the heavenly court, and to the exaltation of the +aforesaid faith, we separate, exempt, and wholly release the church +of the city known as Manila, in the said island of Luzon, as well +as the city itself, and, in the islands belonging to it and their +districts, territories, and villages, all the inhabitants of either +sex, all the clergy, people, secular and regular persons, monasteries, +hospitals, and pious places, as well as ecclesiastical and secular +benefices, of whatsoever orders of regulars, from our venerable +brother the archbishop of Mexico, and from any other ecclesiastical +and diocesan prelates, under whose jurisdiction they previously may +have been--as well as from all jurisdiction, superiorship, cognizance, +visit, dominion, and power of any one whomsoever. Moreover, by the +aforesaid authority and tenor, we erect and establish forever the +town of Manila into a city, and its church into a cathedral, under +the title of "the Conception of the same Blessed Mary Virgin," to +be held by one bishop as its head, who shall see to the enlargement +of its buildings and their restoration in the style of a cathedral +church. Besides this, in it and the city and diocese he shall have +the word of God preached, the heathen natives of those islands +brought and converted to the worship of the orthodox faith, and +converts instructed and confirmed in the same faith; moreover, he +shall cause to be imparted to them the grace of baptism, with the +administration of the other sacraments of the church. In the church, +city, and diocese of Manila, he shall exercise episcopal jurisdiction, +authority, and power freely. Moreover, in both the aforesaid city +and diocese he shall now, as well as on occasion, erect and establish +dignities, canonries, prebends, and other ecclesiastical benefices, +both with and without parochial charge, with whatever else besides may +be expedient for the increase of divine worship and the health of soul +of those natives. He shall be subject to the said archbishop of Mexico, +and to his successors for the time being, as metropolitan. Moreover, +he shall enjoy all rights as on occasion shall be declared, excepting +as regards gold and silver metals, gems, and precious stones, which +are the right of the said Philip and of the Catholic Sovereigns of +the Spains for the time being. For this reason we ordain that tithes +and offerings of first-fruits [_primitias_], as required by law, +need not be paid. Moreover he shall enjoy all other episcopal rights, +the same as are enjoyed, by law or custom, by other bishops of +the kingdoms of the Spains together with the exaction of the +same as see, table [_mensa_], and other episcopal insignia, and +jurisdictions. Besides, for the future he may freely and lawfully +use, hold, and enjoy the privileges, immunities, and graces which +other cathedral churches and their prelates in the said kingdoms +use, hold, and enjoy, in any manner, through law or custom. Again, +to the same church of Manila we assign the aforesaid people for city, +the said island of Luzon and all the other islands for diocese, and +the natives and inhabitants thereof for clergy and people. Moreover +we grant to the same King Philip power to assign, increase, extend, +lessen, and otherwise change the bounds therein. For his episcopal +table [_mensa_], we apply and appropriate as dowry the yearly +revenue of two hundred ducats, to be paid by King Philip from the +yearly revenues coming to him from the said island of Luzon, until +the fruit of the table itself shall reach the value of two hundred +similar ducats. Moreover we reserve, grant, and assign forever to the +king the right of patronage over the church of Manila; and should +any vacancy occur therein (this the first occasion only excepted), +to present, within one year, to the Roman Pontiff for the time being, +persons fit for that office as bishop and pastor of the same church of +Manila. We also grant the same right of presentation for dignities, +canonries, prebends, and other benefices, from their first erection, +and thereafter as vacancies shall occur, these being similarly given +to the bishop of Manila for the time being, who shall present the same +to Philip, or the king for the time being--who, by reason of the dowry +and the new foundation, is to be consulted in the establishment of +these dignities, canonries, and prebends, the apostolic constitutions, +and ordinances, and other things, to the contrary notwithstanding. + +Let no one therefore infringe this page of our separation, +exemption, release, decree of erection, establishment, application, +appropriation, reservation, grant, and assignments, or rashly dare +to contravene. Should anyone, however, presume to attempt it, let him +recognize that he has thereby incurred the wrath of Almighty God, and +of his Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, +on the sixth day of February in the year of the incarnation of our +Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, and the seventh +year of our pontificate. + + + +Letter from Francisco de Sande to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +I have informed your Majesty in other letters concerning the condition +of these your Filipinas islands, and refer you to what I have written +to your Majesty's Royal Council of the Indies, which letters have +probably arrived ere now. Likewise I have informed your Majesty how, +obeying your Majesty's orders, and those of the Royal Council of the +Indies, to obtain the friendship of the king of Borney and Vindanao, +and to render an account of what was done in this matter, I left this +city of Manila with the fleet of galleys and galliots. This I did for +your Majesty on the third day of March, and I proceeded to the island +of Borney with forty sail, counting ships of this country, and with +peaceful intentions, as my actions demonstrated. But the Moro king +of those districts, not wishing peace, came out with his fleet to +fight me on the sea, three or four leagues from the city. I sent him +a written message of peace; but he killed one of the ambassadors (who +were chiefs), and despoiled them of their possessions, as well as the +Moro rowers whom they took with them from this island of Luçon. But +although three of these have returned, the others have not. Finally +he opened hostilities, discharging his artillery. After we had fired +a number of volleys, it was God's pleasure that the Moros should be +conquered and take to flight. Thereupon I employed myself in collecting +the galleys and ships taken from them--in all twenty-seven. Likewise +I secured the artillery, dragging much of the same out of the water, +where they had thrown it--in all one hundred and seventy pieces, +both large and small. In my other letter, however, I did not inform +your Majesty exactly concerning this number, and stated that I had +remained in Borney to settle and populate it, as in fact I did. + +After this, when I had subdued four or five thousand Moros who were +settled there--among them an uncle of the king, and a cousin who +served the latter there as captain-general in that war, the king of +Borney persisting in hiding in the mountains and swamps in which that +island abounds--and when I set about collecting and summoning the +people, it was God's will that all my soldiers should fall ill. It +became necessary for me to set sail in order to save my men, as +your Majesty will perceive by the relation which I am sending to the +Royal Council of the Indies. However, I first made an agreement with +those chiefs, who promised to give full obedience to your Majesty; +and that king assured me that he would receive Spaniards. Therefore, +at the first occasion the Spaniards will effect a settlement, a place +will be chosen for them, which is understood to be most healthful; +and your Majesty will be informed thereof. + +From Borney I sent seven of the galleys captured there, with artillery, +and two others of your Majesty's ships, for the pacification of the +island of Vindanao. That fleet arrived there after a quiet voyage, +and I shall have news of it this coming September. + +In Borney I obtained precise information concerning the entire +archipelago and the mainland, as I found there people from China, +Cauchi, [16] Camboja, Sian, Patane, Pahan, Jabas, Samatra, Achen, +Manancabo, Batachina, Maluco, Vindanao, Limboton, and other islands +thereabout. Concerning these I inform you only that as far as Sian +there dwell Moros; and thence toward the north are idolaters. Moreover, +they are within your Majesty's demarcation and are not included in +the compact [of Zaragoza]; and by employing the proper methods they +can be brought to the service of God and of your Majesty, without +violating the laws of God or nature, or the instructions which your +Majesty has most inviolably charged upon me. + +With the artillery which I have taken and still hold, and the galleys +as well, the propagation of the faith and of your Majesty's service +can be carried forward. I take part in these expeditions necessarily, +because of the communications which it is necessary to make, and +to secure the observance of instructions and the obedience of the +soldiers. In this I continue to serve your Majesty with much joy, +and I see to it that all my men shall do the same. + +On account of my small force (some of my men being also inexperienced +and ill-armed), and because of a lack of equipment, and my +determination to settle in this island, where there are gold-mines +in two localities, I do not inform your Majesty concerning what +expedition I shall make this coming year; since, whatever it may be, +it is necessary to commence it with the beginning of the year, and +cease before St. John's day. With the first reënforcements which +I received, up to the present time, I made this expedition; and I +found the second reënforcement in this city of Manila, with which I +shall do all things possible in the service of your Majesty and will +inform you thereof by the first vessel. + +With this reënforcement I obtained letters and news concerning your +Majesty's health, and that of other royal personages. I derived +therefrom the greatest satisfaction, and I continually beseech our +Lord to grant you, and to preserve, health for many years, as your +Majesty's vassals and servants desire and need. + +I am writing more at length to the royal Council, to which I am sending +a relation of what I request herein--which I hope your Majesty will +be pleased to examine, for it will be a great favor. + +In other letters I have begged your Majesty to be pleased to grant me +a reward; and I referred the matter, in order that he might urge the +same, to a brother whom I had in España. God has taken this brother, +as well as my father also; another brother is serving your Majesty +in the Flemish war. For this reason, I believe, I have not received +it--whence I am in anxiety, since I know what your Majesty ordinarily +does for those who serve him. I entreat your Majesty to have the +goodness to favor me, and to console me in my losses of family, +since only God and your Majesty are left me in this life. + +The favor which I beg your Majesty is that you bestow upon me the +robe, with a commandery, of one of the three orders. [17] I entreat +your Majesty to vouchsafe this in my behalf, for it is a thing that +your Majesty is accustomed to bestow upon any worthy soldier, even +when he has not an office like that in which I serve. Likewise I +entreat that Don Joan de Sande, my brother, who, as I have already +stated, has been serving your Majesty in Flanders twelve years, +be given the robe, if he be still alive; and if not, I entreat +the same for Don Bernardino de Sande, my brother, who has served +your Majesty in this country as a soldier, and is now serving you +as a captain of infantry. These brothers, as well as myself, will +serve you better according as we are more highly honored. It is of +great importance that your Majesty do not forget me, who am serving +you in this capacity of governer and captain-general. And also, +because I now have but little recompense, I beg your Majesty to have +the goodness to order it increased, and to allow me some gratuity: +for in the last expedition I spent three thousand ducats of my own, +and every day there arise similar necessities. And, regarding other +favors which I also entreat from the royal Council, may it please +your Majesty to examine the letters, graciously to take cognizance +of them, and to bestow upon me the reward due for the years that I +have spent in your Majesty's service, continuing the service, both in +peace and war, rendered to your Majesty by my ancestors and kinsmen +of a most ancient lineage. And, since God so ordains it, I am alone; +and now I entreat your Majesty to have the goodness to reply to me, +granting me the reward, which I am quite confident of receiving, +and by which I am comforted. + +Since in the letter to the Council I am writing more at length, in +this present letter I do otherwise, because of the many and important +matters that take up the time of your Majesty's royal person. + +The Portuguese have constructed six fortifications in Maluco, in each +of which they have mounted eight Lombardy guns. The real defense is +for your Majesty to order that no innovation be brought forward in what +pertains to the compact; for I see this with great pain and anxiety for +your royal crown. As for the rest, it would be quite an easy matter. + +I brought from Borney twenty-seven ships, among them being twenty-one +galleys and galliots, together with a hundred and seventy pieces of +artillery, as above said, and other war material of which I am sending +an account to the royal Council. These supplies could not be furnished +to this country for a thousand ducats; and with them the condition +of these islands will be greatly improved. May it please our Lord +so to ordain that all men shall recognize your Majesty as their king +and sovereign, as you deserve. May our Lord guard the royal Catholic +person of your Majesty many long years, augmenting your dominion and +kingdoms, as we your vassals desire. At Manila, in the island of Luçon +in the Philipinas, July 29, 1578. Royal Catholic Majesty, I am your +Majesty's loyal vassal and servant; who kisses your royal hands, + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[_Endorsed_: "September 12, 1579. To the president of the Indias. Let +it be filed with the other letter, and put away."] + + + +Grant of a Plenary Indulgence to All the Faithful Who Visit Churches +of the Friars Minors + + +To all the faithful of Christ who view these present letters, health +and apostolic blessing: + +With solicitude, as is the duty of our pastoral office, for the +health of the Lord's flock entrusted by divine arrangement to our +unworthy care, we willingly invite the faithful of that flock, all +and singular, to visit churches and perform pious and meritorious +works, in order that with the aid of divine grace, through spiritual +largesses, indulgences (namely), and the pardoning of sins, they may +the more easily reach the joys of everlasting happiness. For in the +Indias, China, and the Philippine Islands, we desire that the churches +already founded, or to be founded within the next ten years, and each +one thereof belonging to the monasteries or houses of the discalced +brethren known as the Order of Minors of St. Francis [18] of Observance +be held in due veneration by the faithful of Christ themselves--that, +frequenting them with befitting reverence, and flocking thither +to those churches with greater readiness for the sake of devotion, +they thereby may find themselves more fruitfully refreshed through +the bestowal of heavenly grace. Therefore, relying on the mercy of +Almighty God and the authority of his blessed apostles Peter and Paul, +we mercifully in the Lord grant and bestow a plenary indulgence and +remission of all their sins, on all the faithful of Christ of either +sex, who, truly penitent and confessed each year, visit devoutly the +aforesaid churches, or any of them, on the first and second day of +the month of August, as well as the feasts of St. Francis, St. Anthony +of Padua, St. Clare, St. Louis, and St. Bernardine; and these during +their visit shall, from the first vespers to sunset of those days and +feasts, pour forth pious prayers to God for the exaltation of Holy +Mother Church, the uprooting of heresies, and the conversion of the +peoples of those regions to the Catholic faith. These presents are +to hold for all times. But, as it would be difficult to have these +present letters carried to all and singular the places where needed, +we desire, and by our apostolic authority decree, that to copies of +them bearing the seal of any person in ecclesiastical rank, the same +respect shall be paid as would be given to the originals themselves, +were they shown. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the seal of +the Fisherman, on the fifteenth day of November, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight, the seventh year of our pontificate. + + + + + +Documents of 1579-82 + + + Decree regulating the foundation of monasteries. Felipe II; + Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; May 30, 1579. + + Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao. Francisco de Sande, + and others; April 19, 1578 to June 10, 1579. + + Appointments to vacancies in Manila cathedral. Felipe II; + [promulgated from?] Guadalupe, March 26, 1580. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonçillo Ronquillo de Peñalosa; July 17, + 1581. + + Ordinance restricting departure from the islands. Gonçalo + Ronquillo de Peñalosa; March 2, 1582. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa; June 15, + 1582. + +_Sources_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +de Indias, Sevilla, except the royal decrees; these are taken from +the original MS. documents in the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo +Historico Nacional, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The first and fourth documents are translated by +Alfonso de Salvio; the second and third, by James A. Robertson; +the last three, by José M. Asensio. + + + +Royal Decree Regulating the Foundation of Monasteries + + +The King. + +To our governor of the Filipinas islands: + +Fray Domingo de Salazar, of the Dominican order, and bishop of +the said islands, has reported to us that he is going to reside +in these islands; and that he will take with him religious of his +order to found monasteries, and to take charge of the conversion and +instruction of the natives. He has petitioned us to issue commands +that whatever is done for the above order, as for those of St. Francis +and St. Augustine, be done at our expense and that of the Spaniards +and Indians (as has been done in other parts of our Indias), or as +suits our pleasure, and as it receives the approval of our Council +of the Indies. + +Inasmuch as we have provided that monasteries be founded in Nueva +España wherever it is necessary, and have ordered that, if the chosen +places be villages belonging to the royal crown, the monasteries are to +be founded at our expense--the Indians of such villages contributing +their labor in the work and erection of the buildings; and that, when +the villages are in charge of encomenderos, the monasteries are to be +founded at our expense and that of the encomenderos, as well as with +the help of the Indians of such villages apportioned as encomiendas: +therefore it is our desire that the same orders be carried out in the +founding of monasteries in those islands. I order you immediately to +ascertain in what districts and places of those islands monasteries +are needed; after which you will take the necessary measures toward +their erection, being careful that the houses be modest, and that +they be not superfluously furnished. If the villages where they are +to be founded belong to our royal crown, you will give orders that +they be erected at our expense, and that the Indians of such villages +contribute their labor towards the work and building of them. And if +the villages are in the charge of private persons, the monasteries are +to be built at our expense and that of the encomenderos; with the aid +of the Indians of such villages apportioned as encomiendas, as above +mentioned. If in the villages live Spaniards holding no encomiendas of +Indians, you will assess them also according to their condition and +property, for they are in like manner under obligation to contribute +toward the building of churches. The sum paid by the said Spaniards +will be subtracted from the share demanded from the said Indians +and encomenderos; for since this is a good work, beneficial to all, +it is only right that all help toward its completion. Being thus a +matter of such importance, you will devote to it all the care that +it requires, remembering that no new monastery of a different order +is to be founded in the same village or its vicinity. + +You will be careful always to inform us of what is being done in this +respect, and of the result of the labors of the religious. + +_I, The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: + +_Antonio de Heraso_ + +Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + + +Letter from Francisco de Sande to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +Last year, seventy-eight, in July, I wrote to your Majesty and advised +you of my expedition to the island of Borney, and its outcome. This +year I sent thither a fleet, which brought news that the city had been +rebuilt. The Moro king there detained the captain until he had placed +his clothing and wives in safety. The captain, in accordance with his +instructions, returned without doing them any damage. I am quite sure +that that king will quietly submit, if we effect a settlement there. + +The king of Jolo rendered obedience to your Majesty and surrendered +his artillery. This year he gave as tribute a piece weighing fourteen +quintals that must have been hidden away. + +This year of seventy-nine, I sent an expedition to pacify the river +of Mindanao. The king ruling there fled; but, as our people carried +orders not to do any harm there also, peace was made, and some of +the natives returned. If we plant a colony there, that king also +will submit--which cannot be effected in any other way, because of +our distance from there. + +In August of seventy-eight a galleon and a large galley with five +hundred men, and other necessary supplies for Maluco, passed Borney. It +is said that one hundred were Portuguese and Spaniards, and the rest +_mestizos_ [19] and people from Yndia. According to a Cafre [heathen], +their hulks were in very poor condition. He says they were going to +Maluco to collect the tribute which was lost three years ago. I am +sending the investigations and accounts of this and of everything to +your Majesty's royal Council, and am writing more in detail. I beg your +Majesty to be so good as to favor this other world by examining this +letter. Because of your Majesty's stringent orders not to go to Maluco, +we have not gone thither. However, the compact, as I have advised your +Majesty is not well considered; and Maluco is not comprehended in it, +and is in your Majesty's demarcation. [20] Thirty vessels leaving and +returning to Sevilla could load cargoes of spices--pepper, camphor, +and other drugs and spices. In these vessels, people could be brought +from España, and a few fleets would populate this land, and clearly +we could take possession of all of China; for by way of Nueva España +the despatch of vessels will always be a trifling matter, and by way +of the strait of Magallanes I do not believe that we can hope for so +good a result. I am writing in detail regarding this to your Majesty's +royal Council. I am writing also of the method which I think we should +employ--namely, to settle in greater Java, whence we should despatch +a vessel to Sevilla to give information of the route, although I +believe that that made by the ship "Victoria" is not forgotten. + +I have built a vessel here of six hundred toneladas, which can +make the said voyage, if your Majesty will so order; and I am now +building another. There is an excellent fleet of galleys; and with +what was captured from the Borneans, and in Jolo and Vindanao, and +with that taken from the Portuguese galley which I said was lost, +we have more than two hundred pieces of artillery. From the useless +pieces I am casting others. Certain Indians in this land have founded +for me one piece weighing ninety quintals; and there is not in the +castle of Milan a piece so well made. Another mold has been made, +and the Indian says that he will make as many as are ordered. From +Nueva España no favorable message, in regard to this or other things, +is sent. Therefore if your Majesty wishes that China be yours in +your days-please God, may they be many, as we your Majesty's servants +need--it is necessary for the execution thereof that ships be sent here +from Nueva España, since now we have some knowledge of this region, +and the vessels have here a good port, and we know how to proceed. + +This archipelago is secure from enemies, blessed be God. We have begun +settlements--one in the province called Cagayan, in the northern part +of this island, and sixty leagues from China. + +In other letters I have begged your Majesty to be so kind as to favor +me. Once more I bring this to your memory. I beg your Majesty to +grant me a habit and an encomienda for myself, and another for one of +my brothers. All of my brothers are serving your Majesty in the war, +and I am sure that they deserve the most that I beg and entreat. I am +writing to the royal council. I beg your Majesty to order that my case +be examined, and to honor this office in which I serve you, and bestow +favor upon one who has served you for so many years as I. May our Lord +preserve your Majesty's Catholic and royal person, and increase you +for many years as we, your servants and vassals, desire. Manila, in the +island of Luçon, in Philipinas, May 30, 1579. Royal Catholic Majesty, +your Majesty's loyal vassal and servant, who kisses your royal hands, + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Doctor Francisco de Sande. June four, 1581. He requests +a habit and an encomienda. To the Council of the Indies." "Seen, +and no answer is required."] + + + + +Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao + + +In the galley named "Santiago," on the nineteenth of the month +of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +for his Majesty of the Western Islands declared: that, inasmuch as +his Lordship is going with a fleet of galleys to the island of Borney, +both to teach the natives there the Christian law, and to reduce them +to the dominion of his Majesty--as well as to ascertain and inform +himself about the customs, past and present, of the said natives, +what law and ceremonies they observe, and the mode of life among +the natives thereabout and in other parts, who are vassals of his +Majesty--in order to attain this he ordered to be conducted, and did +conduct, the following inquiries and procedures: + +For the investigation of the above-named matters, the aforesaid +governor summoned to his presence an Indian who, through the medium +and speech of Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, an interpreter, declared his name to +be Magad-china, and himself an inhabitant of Balayan. Without taking +the oath, he promised to tell the truth; and, being interrogated +according to the tenor of this declaration, said that he knows that +the king of Borney is wont to detain many Indians who resort to +Borney for trade and intercourse, and that he does not permit them +to leave the country, especially those Indians whom he knows to be +rich. The witness knows that the king forces them to marry in that +country, so that at their death he may obtain their possessions. In +this way he has seen detained against their will, Indians of Çubu, +the island of Lucon, Balayan, Bonbon, and other districts of +these islands--all rich and influential men. In especial was he +acquainted with an Indian of Manila, a messenger of Raxa Soliman, +by name Simalinquidlan; another named Siparan, a native of Manila; +and a chief named Siganbal, a native of Balayan, whom he (the present +witness) knows to have been detained by the king of Borney, in his +country, and he does not allow them to leave it. The said chief of +Balayan has been detained six years, and some eighty or ninety tacs +of gold were taken from him, besides slaves, and all these were kept +by the king. At the end of the said six years, the said chief fled +returning to Balayan, his native village. In like manner, the present +witness knows that the king of Borney is detaining many Indian chiefs +and _timaguas_ [freemen], and that he will not allow them to leave +his country. Likewise this witness, upon going to Borney to trade, +was detained in the island against his will for eight or nine years, +until the said king of Borney sent him to Balayan to sell a trifle +of _camanguian_ and other articles--whereupon he remained in the +said town, and would not return to Borney. He has seen this done and +practiced by the king of Borney against many persons, both chiefs and +timaguas, of the region about Manila, who are vassals of his Majesty. + +Being asked where he learned the worship of Mahoma, and who declared +it to him, he said that the ancestors of the Borneans were natives +of Meca, as he, the present witness, had heard; for the natives +of Balayan, Manila, Mindoro, Bonbon, and that region did not have +knowledge of the said worship until the Borneans had explained it +to them; they have done so with the natives of these islands, and +therefore all these are Moros now, because their ancestors learned +it from the said Moros of Borney. [21] Their language, both spoken +and written, is derived from Meca; and the said Borneans and natives +of Sian and Patan possess and observe their Alcorans--the law and +worship of Mahoma. He said that in the book of the Alcoran, which the +present witness has seen and has heard preached, they say and assert +that they are the enemies of the Christians. Likewise in other books +they say that the Borneans have always desired to make Moros of the +Christians--a thing that he has also heard declared by the _catip_ +[caliph?] whom the said Borneans regard as a priest, and who preaches +the said doctrine of Mahoma. This said catip, and others, with like +expressions preach the said doctrine of Mahoma, so that the said +natives observe it. They declare and publish that the law of the +Christians is evil; and their own, good. The witness knows that, +in the former year, seventy-four, the king of Borney undertook to +attack Manila, and to plunder and kill the Spaniards, launching for +the purpose a fleet of one hundred galleys and one hundred small +vessels. In each large vessel were about fifty, and in the smaller +about thirty men--all together, in the judgment of this witness, +making about seven or eight thousand men. All were of one mind, to +kill the Spaniards at Manila. The said fleet left the river of Borney +to begin the said expedition, but, after sailing about twenty leagues, +immediately returned, because the son of the king of Borney was taking +part in the said expedition; and, in order that the Spaniards might +not land at Borney in another part, and kill his father, he did not +continue the said expedition, but returned with the whole fleet, +without his enterprise having any effect. The witness has heard +that the king of Borney wrote letters to Raxa Soliman and Lacandora, +chiefs of Manila, so that they might revolt against the Spaniards, +and saying that all would be protected. Likewise he has heard his +relatives and other Moros tell how in former times the king of Borney +has sent preachers of the sect of Mahoma to Cebu, Oton, Manila, +and other districts, so that the people there might be instructed +in it as were those of Borney. And this witness, in his own time, +has heard the said doctrine preached in Balayan, by a Moro regarded +among them as a priest, by name Siat Saen. Also it is well known that +the said Borneans are wont to plunder the Calamianes, and enslave the +people and take them to Borney. They do the same in other districts +thereabout. The witness has heard that the said king of Borney holds +captive a Spaniard, named Diego Felipe, and two Christian Visayans, +whose names he does not know. This is what he knows, or is currently +reported, and what he has seen. He certified as to its truth, ratified +it, and signed it, in his own language, as did the said interpreter. He +was about thirty-one years old. + +_Joan Ochoa Ttabudo_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Following this are depositions taken from four other men, two of them +natives of Borneo. The testimonies of all are very similar to the +foregoing, and show the policy of the king of Borneo. One testimony +declares that the king was wont to make the rich and influential +men who might land at his island captains, in order to retain their +wealth. The document continues:] + +[_Letter to the king of Borneo_.] + +I, Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his +Majesty in these islands and districts of the West, by order of his +Majesty, the king of Castilla and Leon, my sovereign, Don Ffelipe, +the greatest king and most powerful sovereign in the world, send +this letter by these messengers to you, Outardo Soltan Lixar, king +of Borney, so that you may know my will, and what I require. + +You know already how I, with the other captains and soldiers of the +Castilians live, by order of the king, our sovereign, in Manila, in +the island of Luçon, in Çubu, and in other districts. There in Manila, +Çubu, and other districts it has been rumored that you have tried and +are trying to do us harm, and to make war upon us; that you have tried +to induce and have solicited the natives of Luçon and other districts +to rebel and revolt against us; that you have sent spies to Çubu and +other districts; that you have left your residence for this purpose +of warring against us with a fleet of ships. All these things are +without any reason, and I know not what is the cause therefor; for my +will is good and I desire to show naught but good to all, and ill to +none. Since I am proceeding to confer with you openly and publicly, I +notify you that I am not coming to plunder or to harm you, but to prove +of use to you; for the king, my sovereign, orders thus, and accordingly +I gladly notify you that I am going to you. My sovereign, the king of +Castilla, spends his money through us, the Castilians, and sends us +into all parts of the world, in order that we might proclaim the law +of the true God. For this purpose I came hither; and now I am going +to confer with you, chiefly that you may know your God and Creator, +and to teach you the true law. I wish to do you no ill, nor to seize +your possessions; on the contrary, if you are our friend, I will aid +and defend you, according to the orders of the king, my sovereign. To +this end I offer you peace and friendship on our part, in such wise, +that there may be mutual security, on both sides, to go and to come, +to see one another, to trade and traffic, as is usual among friends. + +What you are to do is to admit preachers of the holy gospel, who may +preach the law of the Christians in your lands in all security; and +likewise that any person whatever of your country may have entire +liberty and permission to attend the preaching of the law of the +Christians, and that he who wishes to become a Christian may do so +without any ill befalling him. + +Further, I desire that you shall send no preachers of the +sect of Mahoma to any part of these islands, nor to the heathen +among the Tingues [hill-people], nor into other parts of your own +island--inasmuch as the doctrine of Mahoma is a false and evil law, +and the religion of the Christians alone is true, holy, and good. + +Further, I desire that you send me a Christian Spaniard, called +Diego Felipe, whom I am told you have there, as well as others if +you have them; and two Visayans, natives of Çubu, Christians whom +we know that you have, and who were captured from their own country; +likewise whomever else you have in your power. You must give to the +heirs of Raxa Soliman and Lacandora, natives of Luçon--vassals of the +king, my sovereign, and his subjects, in his royal name the slaves and +property that you have retained there belonging to them; and whatever +belongs to any other vassals of the king, my sovereign. This I would +do myself, if I had anything of yours or of your people, and would pay +and return it, and would do justice to them in that regard very openly. + +_Item_: You must allow those persons whom you have detained, because +they are rich, to go about freely, and give them leave to return to +their own lands, since they are natives of these islands of the king, +my sovereign. They went to trade with you, and you have no right to +constrain them; but you must allow them to go freely with their wives, +children, and possessions. + +Likewise, you must forbid your people from asking tribute in these +islands, inasmuch as I collect tribute in them, as it is the right of +our king, my sovereign. I write this letter that you may be advised +of my wishes. You must answer it immediately, and not detain the +messengers, even if they should say that they wish to remain in Borney +with you; for if they are detained, I shall understand that there is +some mischief and deceit on your part against our people. As we are +coming by way of the sea, and have need of food, you must send food +to us, in accordance with what is asked by my messengers, in return +for our money. This shall be paid you, as you wish; and for the same, +we are bringing silver and gold. I shall be glad to receive your +reply and to talk with you. Advise me with all haste. May God grant +you the true light and health. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +(On the thirteenth day of April of the above year, I delivered two +copies of this letter, one in the Bornean language, and the other +in that of Manila, to chiefs Magat and Magachina, so that they might +give them to the king of Borney. + +I hereby certify to the same: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) [22] + +(On this day, the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor +and captain-general for his Majesty in these islands, showed this +letter to father Fray Martin de Rada, religious of the order of +St. Augustine, whom he is taking with him in the said expedition, +so that he might examine it, as a matter resolved on by both. He, +having read it, pronounced it good and said that it could be sent to +the said king of Borney. + +I herewith certify to the same: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the chief galley, named "Santiago," while at sea near the island +of Borney, one of the Filipinas islands belonging to his Majesty, on +Sunday, the thirteenth day of the month of April, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight, the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de +Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty, declared that, +as is well known, his Lordship going with the galleys and ships of +the fleet here amid these islands at this present time--and sailing +with every mark of peace to the port of Borney, and as a token of the +same, with a white flag at the bow of the flagship, in which the said +governor is sailing--it was discovered by the said galley, and by +the _fragata_ [23] sailing in advance of the fleet as a scout-boat, +that the mouth of the river-harbor called Borney was occupied and +blockaded with a great number of vessels. And because it was learned +from other Indians of the said river of Borney that they desired war +instead of peace; and as he did not desire to war upon them, or do +them any damage--to the offense of God, our Lord, or in disobedience +to his Majesty's orders--the said governor ordered the said flagship, +and all the said fleet, to cast anchor, and sent a message by two +Moros of Balayan, his Majesty's vassals in the island of Luçon. These +men were ordered to tell the Borneans, in order that they might know, +that his intentions were peaceful; that, as a token thereof, he was +flying the white flag; and that they should not trouble themselves to +fire any of their artillery upon the Spaniards, for, if the Borneans +did any damage, they would be punished. The said ambassadors took also +two letters, one in the Bornean language, and the other in the Moro +tongue, which they understand. In these letters was affirmed security +of peace, and other matters. And--inasmuch as military affairs cannot +maintain the moderation that may be desired, because of the emergencies +that usually arise--in order that the above might be evident, and +also in anticipation of whatever might happen, the governor ordered +this set down in writing, making therein the present declaration; +that I, the said notary, might certify thereto _in toto_, and file +with these records the original of the said letter, which he ordered +to be written to the said Indians, so that all may be kept together +and serve as evidence of the above matters. Thus Doctor Francisco de +Sande ordered, and he signed it in my presence. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +On the said day, month, and year, aforesaid, in obedience to the +order of the said governor, the oath was taken and received before +God and the Blessed Mary, and on a sign of the cross, in due form +of law, from Pedro Lucas, a soldier; under which obligation, when +questioned, he declared what he knows, and that present occurrences +are as follows. On this day, Sunday, about four in the afternoon or so, +when the flagship named "Santiago" (wherein were the said governor and +other soldiers and troops) and also the other galleys and war vessels +of his Majesty were sailing toward the port of the said island of +Borney, this witness saw that the said flagship flew a white flag of +peace on the bow of the said flagship. And at the mouth of the said +port he saw a number of ships--in his opinion, some twenty-five or +thirty in all. When the said governor saw the said fleet, and that +war was about to ensue, in order not to have war with them, but that +all might be peace, he ordered the said flagship and also the other +ships and vessels of the said fleet to anchor. They anchored at a +good distance from the said port, in order to give the natives of the +said island to understand that the governor desired not war with them, +but all peace and friendship. This witness saw that the governor gave +two letters to two Moro chiefs of Balayan, vassals of his Majesty, +of the island of Luçon--one letter in the Moro tongue, and the other +in that of Borney. In them he informed the Borneans of his reasons +for coming, and that he desired not war with them, but all peace and +friendship. This witness saw the two Indians leave the said flagship +and embark on a fragata of the said fleet with the said two letters, +in order to deliver them to the Indians in the said war-vessels. The +governor ordered them to return with all haste, with a reply to his +Lordship. This is the extent of his knowledge and what he has seen +this said day. He affirms its truth, by the oath that he took, and +has signed the same. He says that he is thirty years old. Upon this +being read to him, he affirmed and ratified the same. + +_Pedro Lucas_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Testimony is received also from three others, Juan Manuel Pimentel, +Juan Ochoa, and Gaspar Perez. That of the first is similar to the +above. That of the last contains the information that the two Moros +sent with the letters "as yet have not returned nor sent a reply, +except that we see that the said fleet of the Borneans still holds +the mouth of the said port, and his Majesty's fleet is anchored in +the open sea and in great peril; and this witness has heard some +heavy shots fired by the Borneans at his Majesty's fleet. It is +well known, and this witness has heard the Borneans say, that the +king of Borneo and his people are about to war upon the Spaniards, +both by sea and by land." A portion of the interpreter Juan Ochoa's +testimony is as follows. "This witness saw at the mouth of the said +port a number of Bornean warships, in his judgment numbering some +twenty or twenty-five. When these were seen by the said governor and +by the fragata of the said fleet, the said governor ordered the said +flagship and all the other galleys and ships to anchor, which they did, +anchoring in the open sea, without any shelter. This witness saw that +the flagship was flying a white flag of peace, so that the natives +of the island might understand that the Spaniards desired not war, +but all peace. And on this same day, this witness heard from Bornean +Moros captured in a small boat on that day while on their way from the +said river of Borney to their villages, that the said king of Borney +had heard that the said fleet of his Majesty was going to Borney; +and in order to defend himself and fight with them, he had gathered as +large a fleet as possible, and for the purpose of war had come to the +island of Mohala (distant about one league from the port of Borney), +where his Majesty's fleet was about to anchor and take in water. The +said Bornean Moros told this witness, as being the interpreter, +that they had been captured on the said day, in the said boat."] + + +Testimony Regarding the Naval Battle when the Port was Captured + +After the above events, on Monday, the fourteenth of the said month +of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, about noon, the +said governor having seen that the said Borneans had returned no answer +to his letters, nor had they sent back the two above-mentioned chiefs +and six Moros from Balayan (his Majesty's vassals, who accompanied +the chiefs), and because his Majesty's fleet was in great danger, +as it had not made port; that a number of vessels belonging to the +said Borneans were on the point of beginning hostilities, and that +the Borneans showed by certain tokens that they were anxious for +war and not peace--for this reason commencing to fire and discharge +many pieces of artillery at his Majesty's said fleet and soldiers: +therefore he ordered that the said fleet, disposed in good order, +enter the said port, placing at the bow of the said flagship a white +flag of peace, that, if the said Borneans wished peace, he might make +it with them. And at the coming of the said fleet of his Majesty, thus +arranged, the Borneans in the said port--to the number of fifty ships, +large and small, rather more than less--began to resist the entrance +into the port of the said fleet, firing many pieces of artillery at +the said fleet of his Majesty and the Spaniards in it, until, after +some time, the fleet of his Majesty entered the said port, when the +said Borneans retired and fled toward the said river of Borney with +many ships in pursuit of them. Thus did the said fleet anchor in the +said port against the will of the said Borneans. Of all the above, +I, the said notary, testify herewith. These things took place before +me, as a person aboard the said fleet; and I herewith testify to +the same--Andres de Villanueva, the ensign Francisco Banon, Hernan +Ramirez Plata, Juan de Argumedo, and others, being witnesses. + +I testify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +After the above events, on Wednesday, the sixteenth day of the month of +April, of the said year one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, +the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general for his Majesty in the Western Islands, being in +the river of Borney, where there was a great settlement of houses; +and going into a large house, said to belong to the old king of the +said river, found there the said Simagat, a chief of Balayan, and a +vassal of his Majesty, who was one of the messengers sent to the said +king of Borney with two peace-letters. When questioned through the +interpreter, Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, he told what happened in regard to +the letters given them for the said king of Borney, to whom he gave +them; what answer they made to him concerning them; what insults and +ill-treatment they inflicted on him; and what befell Simagachina, +chief of Balayan, who accompanied him. He declared that what happened +is as follows. On Sunday night, the thirteenth of this present month +of April, this witness and the said Simagachina left the flagship, +embarking in one of his Majesty's fragatas, together with six Moros, +five of whom were from Balayan and one from Tondo. They took two +letters from his Lordship for the king of Borney, one written in the +Bornean tongue and the other in that of Manila. When this witness, +and the others abovesaid, had landed in the port of the said river of +Borney where a number of war vessels had gathered to prevent the fleet +of his Majesty from making the said port; and when he had come to a +large galley under command of a Bornean named Salalila--the latter, +on seeing them, ordered them placed in the said galley, and took from +this witness a gold _calenbiga_ that he wore, which weighed about +seven taes of gold. Another Indian, unknown to him, took another from +the said arm, and several other ornaments were seized from him. They +took from him a gold box, two small chains, and another smaller one, +all together weighing eleven taes. On taking away his garment, they +discovered the letters given him by his Lordship. As soon as the +said Salalila and the other Borneans with him saw the said letters, +they laid hands upon them, exclaiming: "What knavery is this that +you have here? It is some sorcery to fight with us." This witness +replied that they were only some letters for the king of Borney from +the Spaniards. Thereupon the said Salalila read the letter that was +written in the Manila tongue, and, after reading it, said jestingly, +"This letter is from Portuguese," and tore it into pieces. The other +letter, written in the Bornean tongue, the said Salalila sent, +together with this witness, in a small boat with certain Bornean +Moros to the king of Borney. The said Magachina and the other Moros +remained in the said fleet with the said Salalila. About three o'clock +next morning they reached the house where the said old king of Borney +lived. The said Borneans gave him the said letter in the presence of +this witness. A Bornean Moro read it; and, when he came to the end, +the said king remarked: "So this is the way that your people write to +me, who am king; while the Castilians are _capie_"--that is to say, +in the Bornean language "men"--"who have no souls, who are consumed +by fire when they die, and that, too, because they eat pork;" and +after certain other words, the said king asked him what he would do, +and if he wished to return to the Castilians. This witness answered, +"No, I do not wish to go now, so that I shall not be killed on the +way." Thereupon the said king of Borney said to him: "Remain here; +and, after the Spaniards are conquered, stay here, and marry. I will +give you a galley to command." This witness, for fear that he would +be killed, answered, "Yes, I will do as you wish." Thereupon the king +asked him as to the ships and people of the Castilians, and this +witness told him that there were eight galleys, thirty-two vireys, +and seven hundred Spaniards under the supreme command of Captain +Bassar. Then the king asked how many pieces of artillery were in each +ship, and their size, and how large a ball each one carried. This +witness answered that each galley carried in its bow three large +pieces; and that four galleys threw balls as large as his head, and +the others balls about one-half that size. He asked further if they +carried broadside pieces, or if they carried any that one man might +take alone; and this witness answered that they did not. Likewise he +asked him what weapons the Spaniards carried, and whether the governor +were young or old. This witness answered that each Spaniard had one +coat-of-mail, two arquebuses (one large and one small), a buckler, +sword and dagger, and a lance; and that the said governor was not +old. He asked him the governor's name, and whether he was recently +come from España. This witness answered that he did not know his +name, but that all called him Captain Basar, and that he had come +two years ago to Manila. Then he asked him for the master-of-camp, +Juan de Salcedo, and for many Castilians of Manila. This witness told +him that the said Juan de Salcedo was dead. He also asked him what +Spaniards remained in Manila, about their fort and artillery, whether +ships came annually from España, and what soldiers they brought. This +witness said that many Spaniards remained in Manila, for ships came +from Castilla every year bringing many people, all of whom remained; +and that they had built a very large fort containing forty pieces of +artillery. Many other things which he could not remember were asked +him, after which the said king dismissed him; whereupon this witness +went to the house of a relative of his, on the other side of the +river. As he was finishing his breakfast, for it was early morning, +about nine or ten Moros entered, bound him, and took him to the said +house of the king, who asked him anew many questions concerning the +Spaniards, which he does not remember, except that they threatened him +that, if he did not tell the truth, they would kill him, and whether +the said letter was witchcraft. Upon this witness asserting that he had +told the truth, they took him to the prison and thrust both his feet +in the stocks, put a chain about his neck, bound his hands, and set +a Moro named Tumanpate to guard him. While in this condition, a Moro +named Haguandatan entered the said prison, drew a Moro dagger three +palms long, and said to him: "Have no fear. I killed Magachina thus, +and gave him a dagger-thrust near the neck, from which he died." He +was a slave of the king and turned to go, saying that he was going +back to the sea and the fleet to fight with the Castilians. Then many +other Moros came in to kill him, but the jailer forbade it and would +not allow them to kill him. Afterward, about nightfall, he heard many +shouts and outcries from the said river; and, upon his asking the +said jailer what it meant, the latter told him that the Bornean fleet +was fleeing from the Spaniards. Thereupon this witness asked that he +be not killed, and said that he would give him money. Accordingly, +at night the jailer took him from the said prison to a house of his +up the river and told him that the king of Borney and many Indians +had fled up the river; and that he should write a note, so that his +relative should pay his ransom. While here, his relative aforesaid, +named Siandi, came and gave him a culverin [24] of three quintals +weight, with other Spaniards--he alone remaining, for the other man, +his relative, turned back, leaving this witness in the power of the +Spaniards. Likewise this witness declared that when they took him +to the river of Borney, he met on the way a son of the said king of +Borney who was going to fight with the said fleet. This man told him +where he was going, and how the said letters had come to his father; +and thus let him go. And this is the extent of his knowledge, and of +those events. It is the truth. Having read it to him and given him to +understand it, he affirmed and ratified it. He is about thirty years +old. He did not sign it, but the said interpreter did. He said it is +known that the Borneans killed his companion, the said Simagachina. + +_Juan Ochoa Ttabudo_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +And after the above events, on the same day, month, and year, +above-mentioned, the said governor in the said flagship and with the +other galleys and small ships in his convoy, entered the bar of the +said river of Borney and came to the village, where it was reported +that the said king of Borney resided; where also were the fragatas of +his Majesty and other vessels that had entered the port, in pursuit of +the said Borneans. And having arrived at the said village with certain +soldiers and troops, the governor entered its chamber, and it remained +for him to give two taes of gold and four slaves. Then the prisoner +was released. Upon this witness going down the river with another +relative of his, named Sicollao, they met a Spaniard named Diego +Martin, and joined a large house which was there, and below the said +river, said to be the house of a son of the said king of Borney. This +house contained a large and well-finished piece of artillery, and a +number of culverins, _frecones_, and other offensive arms. Advancing +toward the houses where it was reported that the old king of Borney +lived, near the said house, they saw a large galley with more than +twenty-four benches on each side. It contained a large swivel-gun and +another smaller piece, both loaded, and having on them some _quinas,_ +[25] which appeared to be the arms of the king of Portugal, and each +one furnished with two handles. The said galley contained also four +other culverins mounted in the place where the cargo is stored; and +the galley carried a quantity of ammunition for the said pieces. Some +four or five galleots of sixteen or eighteen benches each were found +also, with many falcons, and culverins, and one of them with a half +_sacre._ [26] After disembarking, the said governor entered a house +reported to be that of the old king of Borney. There he found a large +gourd filled with papers, among which were three letters--two written +in the characters and language of Borney, one bearing a signature, +namely, "Don Leonis Pereyra Martin Ferreyras;" the third was written in +Portuguese, beginning, "Noble and honored king of Borneo." It was dated +at Ebora, March seven, one thousand five hundred and seventy-three, +and bore a signature, namely, "El Rey" ["The King"]. By order of his +Lordship, I, the said notary, took possession of the said letters. The +said governor went also by land to a house, wherein was kept the +gunpowder. He found there eighteen Bornean jars filled with powder, +twenty-four filled with saltpeter, and many loaves of sulphur; more +than five hundred lances and _conpites_, with which the said natives +shoot; many shields, pikes with iron heads, a great quantity of small +and large iron balls of many kinds, and many arrows; and two or three +jars of poisonous herbs. Also at the door of the said arsenal was a +piece of artillery, a broken swivel-gun (also bearing the arms of the +king of Portugal), with its large handles; four other _fresones_, large +and long, with four chambers; two cannon-cases for artillery, one very +large and without any piece; and a stone ball, slightly thicker than +a man's body. Another large house, said to belong to Indian chiefs +and captains, was entered. A number of culverins and some gunpowder +were found there. Then the said governor went to the mosque located +in the said town, where he found a large chair, upon which, they say, +sat the preacher who expounded the doctrine of Mahoma to the said +Borneans. Near this chair was a block of marble containing painted +and gilded pictures of idols. This and the said chair the governor +ordered taken from the said mosque, as well as a trough which the +Borneans said contained water wherein whoever bathed went straight +to heaven at his death. This trough was removed by order of the said +governor, along with other articles, and the idols contained in the +mosque. There were collected also throughout the said town a great +number of projectiles, falcons, and culverins. This ammunition and +artillery was ordered to be collected and kept by the said governor, +so that the said Borneans could not use it. All that happened on this +said day passed before me and many others. I certify thereto--the +treasurer Salvador de Aldave, the ensign Juan de Gamboa, Luis de +Garnica, Francisco Chacon, and many others being witnesses. + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +And after the above events, in the settlement on the said river +of Borney, on Sunday, the twentieth day of the month of April of +the said year one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +for his Majesty in the islands of the West, with all his soldiers and +troops in line of battle, entered certain houses said to belong to the +said king of Borney, and went through several of them from one part +to another, and said that he was taking, and did take, possession of +them, in the name of his Majesty, King Don Felipe, our sovereign. From +here, marching in battle-array, he disembarked, and went hither and +thither in various parts, had many branches cut from trees there, +and entered the mosque of the said town, and a large house which was +among others in the settlement; here he ordered his lodging to be +prepared and at present is lodged there. All this he declared that he +did in sign of possession, and for the possession which he was taking +and did take of the said settlement and of all the island of Borney +with intention to hold and defend it in the name of his Majesty from +whomsoever might try to oppose him. For defense of the troops in the +said settlement, he ordered a stockade to be built, like a fort, where +his Lordship and all the other Spaniards are lodged. He ordered me, +the said notary, to testify to this; and I, the said notary, certify +to all the abovesaid, for these events took place before me, as one +coming upon the said conquest-witnesses thereto being Pero Lucas, +Luis de Garnica, Francisco Chacon, and many others. + +_Alonso Beltran_, notary of his Majesty + +And after the above events, in the said village on the river of Borney, +on the twenty-fourth day of the month of April of the above year, +the said governor summoned an Indian before him who, through the +interpreter Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, declared himself to be one Sinagua, +a native of the town of Balayan, one of the six Moros who left +the flagship at his Lordship's order with Simagat and Simagachina, +with two letters for the king of Borney. He was advised (but without +administering the oath, because he was a Moro) to tell truly what he +knew and had seen, and the injuries and ill-treatment inflicted upon +him and the others. He said that what he knows and what occurred is +the following. As before declared, this witness is one of the six Moros +whom the said Simagat and Simagachina took with them when they carried +the letters to the king of Borney at the order of his Lordship. When +they reached the fleet of the king of Borney, stationed in the port +of an islet to forbid the entrance there of the Spaniards, and when +the said Borneans saw them, these envoys were seized and each one +placed in a separate galley--except this witness and one other Moro, +one Sungayan, who were imprisoned together and put in fetters under +the deck. This witness does not know what was done with the others. The +next morning they took this witness and his above-mentioned companion +and led them before a captain, whose name he does not know. This +captain ordered them to be freed and food to be given them. Then he +ordered them to be placed in the said galley without this witness +seeing any of the others who had gone with them. Because he was below +in the said galley, this witness did not see the fight between the +said Moros and Spaniards, except that the vessels of the said Borneans +took flight, and that the galley in which this witness was fled up +the river of Borney, until its captain and crew landed. Taking this +witness and his companion with them, they marched inland one and +one-half days, without this witness knowing whither they were taking +them. Finally, for fear of the said Borneans, they hid themselves; +for the said Borneans were fleeing across country. This witness and +his said companion fled and returned, until they found a small boat +in which they embarked to look for the Spaniards (keeping hidden +in order not to meet any Borneans), until they met certain Spanish +vessels, which they accompanied to the village, where the governor +and Spaniards now are. Here they found alive the said Simagat, who +told them how he had been ill-treated, his gold taken from him, and +himself threatened with death; and that the said Borneans had killed +the said Simagachina. This witness is convinced of his death, for he +has never appeared nor have they had any news of him. As he does not +understand the language of Borney, he cannot tell what passed among +the said Borneans, when he was captured; he knows this and naught else. + +And he declares it true, and affirms and ratifies the same. He is +about twenty-five years of age. He did not sign the above, but the +interpreter Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, did so. + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltrán_, his Majesty's notary + +[The deposition of the above native's companion follows. It is of +similar tenor to the above.] + +And after the above events in the said settlement and river of +Borney, on the said day, month, and year above mentioned, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +of the islands of the West for his Majesty, said that, because there +was no fort where he could store and place the artillery, ammunition, +and other material here at present, and in order that all might be +kept safe and securely, he had ordered a fort to be constructed for +the defense of his Majesty's camp, and of the Spaniards stationed +in this settlement and river of Borney with his Lordship, where the +said Spaniards might gather. He ordered a house to be built within +it where the powder and ammunition now here may be kept; likewise a +hospital, where the sick may be cured, and a house in which to store +the provisions for the said camp. In order that his Majesty and the +members of the royal Council might know of all this, he ordered me, +the said notary, to testify thereto. I, the said Alonso Beltran, his +Majesty's notary, certify by order of the said governor that after +he took possession in the name of his Majesty, of the settlement on +the said river of Borney, where at present he is lodged, he ordered +the said fort and other buildings above mentioned to be constructed, +and it has been finished with great despatch, with the assistance, +in all the work, of the men of his camp. In order that all this may +be evident, he ordered me, the said notary, to make one copy, or +two or three, or as many more as are required, of the said records, +in which all and singular he interposed, and he did interpose, his +authority and judicial decree, in order that they should be valid and +lawful in court and out of court; and he signed the same with his name. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +The following is an exact and faithful copy of a letter missive written +on paper in Portuguese, dated at Evora, March seven, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-three, and bearing a signature, namely "El Rey" +["The King"], which was found among certain papers in the house of +the old king of Borney. The tenor of this letter is as follows. + +_Letter from the king of Portugal_ + +Noble and honored king of Borneo: I, Don Sebastian, by the grace of God +King of Portugal and of the Argarves, on this side and on the other +side of the sea in Africa, seignior of Guinea, and of the conquest, +navigation, and commerce of Etiopil [Ethiopia], Arabia, Persia, +and India, inform you that Juao Guago de Andrado wrote me that, +while passing your kingdom on his way to Maluco, as captain of his +galleon, you sent to confer with him about certain things touching my +service. Upon his entering, you communicated to him what I am very +glad to know and for which I give you many thanks and express my +appreciation. I beg that you will do, in regard to the matters that +you discussed with the said Juao Guago, and in regard to other things, +whatever offers itself for my service, and that you send to petition +in my name my governor of Malaca and the southern district, whatever +you may be able to request; and he shall give it to you without delay +and protect your affairs, as is fitting. Given at Evora, March seven, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-three. + +_The King_ + +(This copy was made and copied from the said letter of the said king, +which was found on the river of Borney on the twenty-fourth of the +month of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight. Witnesses, +who saw it compared and collated, were Francisco Pacheco and Alonso +Falcon. + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) + +That which you, Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa shall observe +on the expedition which you are about to make, God our Lord helping, +is as follows: + +From this city and island of Borney, God willing, you shall go to the +islands of Xolo, where you shall endeavor to reduce that chief and +his people to the obedience of his Majesty. You shall bargain with +them as to what tribute they shall pay, which shall be in pearls, as +they are wont to give to the king of Borney. You shall exercise great +care and, if possible, much mildness; for it is of importance that +those islands should not become depopulated; therefore, in case they +receive you peaceably, you shall treat them well. And, in addition to +the above, you must order that, besides the tribute that they are to +pay in pearls, they shall obtain as many of them as possible, so that +we, the Spaniards or Castilians, may buy them; that they must trade +with us from now on; that every year Castilians will go to their lands +with cloths and merchandise from China, of whatever they shall declare +that they may need. You shall inform yourself of their needs; and if +they wish to come to our settlements you shall give them permission +to go freely to Manila and to come to Borney, although not to steal. + +_Item_: You shall find out from them the whereabouts of the artillery +and anchors of a ship lost there some three years ago; and you shall +seek it and see that it be brought you with all haste. You shall +keep close watch over the artillery, ammunition, vessels, sails, +and other like things pertaining to the armed fleet; and you shall +deprive them of those supplies, for it is notorious that those people +are common marauders. + +And because of my information that the chief who calls himself lord +of Xolo is a Bornean, and owns houses in this city of Borney; that +he fought against us in the naval battle, and that he fled to Xolo, +where he is now; and since I am told that he took two galleys and +three small vessels, artillery, and ammunition--you shall exercise +the utmost despatch to obtain the said galleys, vessels, artillery, +and ammunition. If he acquiesce, you shall give him a passport. You +shall see whether he has any children; and, if so, you shall take one, +and tell him that he must come to see me in Borney in February. + +And, as I have said, this must be done if possible gently, in order +that no people may be killed. You shall tell them that it will be +to their advantage to be vassals of his Majesty, and our allies. If +they do not act respectfully, and it shall be necessary to punish +them in another manner, you shall do so. And inasmuch as the Joloans, +as is well known, are open pirates, whose only ambition is to steal, +and to assault men in order to sell them elsewhere--especially as +they go annually for plunder among all the Pintados Islands, which +are under his Majesty's dominion--you shall try to ascertain the +Pintados slaves among them, in order to return such to their homes, +especially those who are Christians. And, as I have said, you shall +deprive them of such vessels as seem to be used for raids, leaving +them their fishing-vessels, so that if the said lord of Jolo so desire, +he can come to confer reasonably with me. Thus you shall ascertain who +has vessels, and who can inflict injuries; and you shall command them +expressly to settle down in their land, to cultivate, sow, and harvest, +develop the pearl industry, and cease to be pirates. You shall order +them to raise fowls and cattle. You shall try to ascertain their +number, and bring it to me in writing, in order that I may see it, +together with the distance from these islands to the Jolo Islands, +information regarding the food, water, and healthfulness of that land, +and other things that may occur to you. And you shall tell the people, +in my name, that they shall tame for me a couple of elephants; and +that I shall send for those animals and pay for them. + +After having finished affairs in Xolo, if time permits you shall, +God willing, go to the island of Mindanao. There you shall try, +by the most convenient methods and with friendliness, to reduce the +chief of the river of Bindinao, and the other chiefs of that island, +and of those near by, to the obedience of his Majesty--giving him to +understand what they will gain in becoming his Majesty's vassals and +our allies, and in having trade with us. + +And, in order that the tribute may not prevent them from making +peace with us, you shall not ask them for any tribute; but you shall +take what they give freely, and nothing more, and in such form as +they are willing to give. Thus you shall suit their convenience +in everything pertaining to them, and cause them to understand the +great expenses of his Majesty in this land. You shall also tell them +that the gain therefrom affects them chiefly, since we come to teach +them our civilization, and most of all the service of God, our Lord, +who created and redeemed them, and of whom they are ignorant; and how +to live in accord with natural law, as is their obligation. For this +purpose you shall tell them that you are going to their land for two +principal reasons. + +The first is that they should cease to be pirates, who rob and harry +the weak, and enslave wherever and whomsoever they can--selling +their captives outside of their own island, and separating them from +their wives and children; and that they must cease to commit other +like cruelties and thefts, and must become good and virtuous men, +who shall grow to merit the second and principal reason for going to +their lands. You shall give them to understand that they are ignorant +of God, our Lord, who created and redeemed them, so that when they know +him they may serve him and become good. It is quite evident that they +will gain very much in these things, and therefore it is right that +they aid us and give us something. This shall be at their own will, +as above said. + +_Item_: You shall order them not to admit any more preachers of +the doctrine of Mahoma, since it is evil and false, and that of the +Christians alone is good. And because we have been in these regions so +short a time, the lord of Bindanao has been deceived by the preachers +of Borney, and the people have become Moros. You shall tell him that +our object is that he be converted to Christianity; and that he must +allow us freely to preach the law of the Christians, and the natives +must be allowed to go to hear the preaching and to be converted, +without receiving any harm from the chiefs. + +And you shall try to ascertain who are the preachers of the sect of +Mahoma, and shall seize and bring them before me. And you shall burn +or destroy the house where that accursed doctrine has been preached, +and you shall order that it be not rebuilt. + +_Item_: You shall order that the Indians shall not go outside of +their island to trade; and you shall seize those vessels used for +plundering excursions, leaving them those which, in your judgment, +are used for trade and fishing. You shall take also what artillery +and ammunition they have. + +You shall ascertain the harvest, seasons, and products of the land; +the gold mines, and the places where they wash gold; the number +of inhabitants, and their settlements; and their customs. You +must especially secure information regarding cinnamon, in order to +ascertain if it is found along the river, or if one must go to Cabite +for it, and why it is not as good as that which the Portuguese take to +Castilla. You shall ascertain how they cut and strip it from the tree, +and if it be of importance that it dry on the tree, or in what other +manner it should be treated; for I have been told that that obtained +from these districts in the past has not been good, and has not a +good sale in España. + +And, since it might happen that the people will not make peace, and +may offer fight, and show disrespect, then you shall punish them as +you deem best, taking special care not to trust them for it is evident +that before all else they will, if possible, commit some treachery. You +must not await such an occasion, for we know already their treachery +against his Majesty's fleet commanded by Villalobos, certain of whose +men they killed under assurances of safety; and they seized a boat. In +that treachery all the inhabitants of the islands were participants; +for four or five thousand of the said natives attacked one small +boat, which contained four or five Spaniards. Likewise many people +took part in the killing of the said Villalobos's master-of-camp, +and other soldiers, in that same year. You shall remind them of these +things, and warn them; for, from now on, we shall destroy them and +their generation. + +And since it might happen that, without any occasion of war or peace, +the said natives flee to the mountains, you shall order that certain +of the said natives summon them; and, when they have come, you shall +discuss the matter with them. If they refuse to come, you shall, +in conformity with your orders, remain there a given time. And if +they continue to refuse to come down, you shall leave them, and +shall return, without permitting their houses to be burned or their +palm-trees to be cut down. Neither shall anything be stolen from them; +but you shall take only what is absolutely necessary for food, and +the food and other things necessary to provision your vessels for +the return trip. + +You shall try to secure information of the island of Linboton, +as well as of Batachina and Celebes, so as to advise me thereof; +and you shall do this in accord with the time-limit I have set for +you to make this exploration, and you shall observe the same rule as +in that of Mindanao. + +In order that we may allot in encomiendas whatever people are found +in these districts, you shall bring me a signed notarial writ. Thus, +as those lands have no other owner, the natives thereof may be reduced +to the obedience of his Majesty, according to his will--and by war, +if the natives begin it, so that war on our part may be just, and that +the same justice may continue, so that we can compel them to obey, +and impose tributes upon them. You shall exercise much diligence +in this and see to it that these orders be carried out carefully +and intelligently. + +God willing, I shall be in Borney by the end of the month of January +next--or, at the latest, by the eighth of February--with the fleet and +all the necessaries that must be brought from Manila, and that which +is here. And at that time your Grace shall come to Borney with the +fleet that you have, and with all the people that you have or shall +have in the Pintados, so that we may do here whatever is proper for +the service of his Majesty, to which we are bound. These instructions +must not be disregarded in any point, unless I advise you to the +contrary by letter. And to this end you shall see that all who live +and dwell there be commissioned for the above, in addition to their +other duties. Given at Borney, May twenty-three, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight. + +If the natives of Mindanao or of any other place shall give tribute +according to the above, you shall act according to the usual custom +in these islands--namely, you shall take one-half and place it to +the account of his Majesty, while the other half shall be distributed +among the soldiers. Given _ut supra_. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +(I delivered a copy of these instructions to Captain Esteban Rodriguez +de Figueroa, so that he should observe and keep the orders therein +set forth. I certify thereto at this time. Father Fray Martin de Rada, +to whom his Lordship communicated it, said that it was well arranged. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) + +In the city of Manila, on the fifth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said governor, +in order to verify the above, summoned to his presence an Indian, +who through the interpreter Juan Vicente declared himself to be one +Matelin Magat Buxa Amat, a native of Bayan. Without taking the oath, +he promised to tell the truth as far as he knew it, and in what was +asked him. Being asked that he tell and declare who killed Martin, +an Indian who was taking some letters to the king of Borney the past +year, seventy-eight, and the reason therefor, he made the following +declaration and deposition. This witness has resided in the said +island of Borney from childhood, more than forty years. When the said +governor was near the port of the bay of Borney with a fleet, this +witness and many other Moros went, at command of the king of Borney, +to fight with the Spaniards. He noticed that the battle was waged +for some time, for this witness was one of those taken as captain +of a vessel, until he and the other Moros fled. But this witness +did not see the said Martin, who was carrying the said letters, +killed. He knows, however, that a Moro named Sidata killed him with a +dagger-thrust in the neck by order of the said king of Borney. The wife +of this witness buried the said Martin, for he was a relative of this +witness. She buried him in front of the house of this witness where +their relatives are buried. When this witness returned to Borney, +he learned of the said Martin's death, and that he was buried, and +who had killed him. Also this witness found in the prison of the king +of Borney, in the middle of the said river, the other Indian, Magat, +the companion of the said Martin, who had been entrusted with the +said letters. He was a prisoner in the said prison, and had a chain +about his neck, and his hands bound with reeds; and they had taken +from him the gold chains that he wore on his neck. This witness knows +that this said gold was taken by Panguilan Salalila, and afterward the +king took it. The said Panguilan Salalila is the uncle of the king of +Borney. The said Salalila and many other Moros fought in the fleet of +the said king of Borney, in defense of the said port--for instance, +Tumango, the said king's brother, Bandahala, the said king's nephew, +and each man in his own vessel. Being asked what was done to eight +[_sic_] Indians who accompanied the said Indians entrusted with +the said letters, this witness said that he did not know, for he +was always in the fleet, fighting with the Spaniards. Afterward, +inasmuch as the said Magat, who was imprisoned, was his relative, +he went to the said prison to free him, and gave his jailer, by name +Patimuhaurat, a large culverin weighing fifteen arrobas, and pledged +himself to give him four slaves and two taes of gold. Thereupon the +said jailer released the said Magat, and this witness accompanied +him to a Spanish vessel. The said jailer and the other Bornean Moros +fled. Afterward the said jailer returned to Borney, where this witness +saw him deliver the said culverin to the flagship of his Majesty, +by order of his Lordship. After a certain period this witness saw +that the said governor with his fleet went to Manila, whereupon, in +fear lest the said Moros should kill him, he came to this city. This +is what he knows, and his deposition, and contains true answers to +what he has been asked. He knows naught else, and has affirmed and +ratified the above. He appears to be some fifty or so years old. He +did not sign his name. + +_Juan Vicente_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Likewise the deposition of one Amiguicon, a native of Luzon, was +taken. Its essential parts are as follows:] + +Being asked how long he had lived in Borney and what he was doing +there, he said, as above, that he is a native of this island of +Lucon and that about fourteen years ago he went to trade in Borney +with property and merchandise. The king of Borney would not let him +come to this city, and refused him permission therefor. Thus he made +cloth for him and served him in war and did whatever offered until +his Lordship came to Borney. + +Asked what he was doing in Borney when the said governor went there, +this witness said that, when the said governor arrived at the bay +of Borney, he went out by command of the king of Borney in a galley +with artillery, to fight with his Lordship's vessels. Other galleys +and many soldiers went also. In the galley in charge of this witness +were fifty-four fighting men, and more than thirty rowers. There were +six pieces of artillery, two large ones at the bow and four culverins +at the sides. In the vessel commanded by the son of the old king who +reigns in Borney, by name Soltan Lijar, were twenty pieces, three +large ones in the bow, and the others at the sides. All the said +galleys and other vessels were about fifty in number, and all went +out to fight with the fleet of the said governor. These fifty-four +vessels consisted of galleys and large ships, besides many other +small boats that sailed--sail-boats, _bancas_, and _barangayes_ +[27]--all of which fleet was seen by this witness as he set out +for the port where the battle was fought. The said king of Borney +remained in his galley at the mouth of the river, anchored at an islet +called Polocharami. After the Borneans were conquered, they all fled, +as did this witness. After two or three days, this witness and other +Bornean Moros came to the said governor, and begged him to pardon them; +accordingly the said governor granted them pardon. + +When this witness was asked whether he had seen an Indian, named +Martin, and another, Magat, a chief of this island, and some six +or seven other Indians who served them as oarsmen, whom the said +governor was sending to the said king of Borney with letters of peace, +and what the said king did, he responded that he did not see the +said messengers, but that he knew that they had gone with letters +from the said governor for the king. This witness knew one of them, +namely, Magat. Because this witness was with the said fleet at the +entrance of the said port, he did not see what passed with the king, +but it is well known that the said king had the said Martin killed, +and the said Magat imprisoned, as well as the other Indians who served +as oarsmen. They brought one of the said Indians, who served as oarsman +(who were from the port of this city [Manila]) to this witness, to be +cured of a wound in the arm that had been inflicted upon him. This +Indian is a slave of Don Agustín, chief of Tondo. The slayer of the +said chief Martin was a Bornean Moro, named Siparardal. The said +Magat was imprisoned, and his gold taken from him, and they wished +to kill him. This witness knows that the said Borneans commenced +the fight first with the Spaniards, firing many artillery-shots at +them. They refused any alliance with the Spaniards; on the contrary, +he saw that they mocked the Spaniards, and told them that they would +all be killed and their fleet seized. Thus this witness saw that they +set about the execution of this; for he was ordered by the said king +of Borney to go out in the said galley to fight with the Spaniards. As +soon as the said Moros were defeated they broke and fled. + +_Instructions as to what Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil is to +observe in this present expedition to the island and city of Borney, +which belongs to his Majesty_: + +The route and navigation, both going and coming, are known, and you +have a pilot. Therefore I shall say nothing more than to warn you not +to disembark on any of the islands, unless forced to by necessity, and +then with a force of men, so that the natives may commit no treason. + +When you reach the island of Borney in the district of [illegible +words in MS.]--the place to which Captain Esteban Rodriguez went +for _contrayerva,_ [28] and the people engaged in trade and gave +information as to the condition of Borney--where, they tell me, is +the _panguilan_ [29] Maraxa de Raxa, you shall halt at that coast to +see if he is there, which you will ascertain from such Moro vessels +as you will meet before reaching that place. And finding him there, +you will give him my letter. You will ascertain from him the condition +of affairs in Borney; the whereabouts of Soltan Lijar, and what he +intends to do; whether Portuguese have gone thither, and if they are +still there; and other things which may seem proper to you. + +You are already aware that I left as commander in Borney the +panguilan Maraxa de Raxa, and that I gave him a letter of assurance +and friendship, and another to the panguilan Salalila; you must +observe all friendship toward them. + +As soon as you have arrived, you must confer with the panguinals +[_sc._ panguilans]; you shall ascertain from some Indians whether +the king of Borney has returned, and his condition, and that of the +settlement. If these panguilans tell your Grace that you should not +go to [the port of] Borney, but should remain where you are, and +that they are going to talk to the king--or whatever other reasons +they may adduce, your Grace will tell them that you are ordered to +anchor at the island of Mohala, where the battle occurred, and that +your Grace will await them there for conference; and your Grace will +tell them that they should read my letters to the king. And, if it +seems advisable to your Grace, you shall write to the king, briefly, +telling him of the firm friendship that he will receive from me, and +the great advantage that will undoubtedly accrue to him in becoming +a vassal of his Majesty, the king, our sovereign. + +If the said panguilans do not appear, then your Grace will continue +your voyage and anchor at the above-named place. You shall send +my letters to Borney, with the following order. If either one of +the panguilans is dead or absent, the letters shall be given to the +other. If neither is found there, the letters shall be given to the +king; if he is not there, then to the most influential man; and your +Grace shall write him that he advise you speedily, and assign him +a certain limit of time for the answer. Should you be informed that +Raxayro, king of Xolo, is there, you shall write him also, observing +the same order as the above. + +You shall request from the king of Borney that he render obedience +to his Majesty, King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla +and Leon; that he promise to observe it faithfully, as his vassal, +and that he serve him in peace and in war in this land wherever his +Majesty commands. If he does this, then I shall pardon him for his want +of respect and his crime of last year, when he killed my ambassador, +and commenced to wage war upon us, although we offered him good terms +of peace. + +_Item_: In acknowledgment of this subjection, he shall pay tribute +to his Majesty, to consist of camphor, galleys, or other products +of that land, and in the quantity not agreed upon with him, but +to his pleasure--until his Majesty and I, in his royal name, order +the contrary. + +He shall promise not to receive pirates in that land, and that he will +not despatch plundering expeditions anywhere, nor permit any slaves to +be taken from among the natives to China, or to the Portuguese, or to +any other place, telling him that that island is depopulated thereby. + +_Item_: That each year the king of Borney and his successors send +one or two vessels to this city to bring the tribute and to trade. + +_Item_: That when I agree to settle in that island, he shall go to +the place selected, with his people, or send there, and build houses +and whatever else is necessary for the settlement, those who work at +this to receive pay. In exchange for this, you will tell him the great +advantages that will accrue to him from our alliance: that his Majesty +will show him favor; and that, if he has any enemy who undertakes to +war upon him, I shall defend him, and shall send thither the fleet +of his Majesty, if he advise me of such need. + +_Item_. If the said king declares that he will flee to the mountains, +and refuses to come to confer with you, and shall not render obedience, +then you shall try to remove his fear. If he shall persist in this, +then you shall leave him without doing him any harm, telling him to +send to me here, with letters, a Moro chief for conference with me. + +If the king do not appear, and the city is inhabited, you shall treat +concerning these matters with the most influential person there, +in accordance with the above. + +In order to send this message, you are taking Bornean Moros, to +despatch them two by two. Everything that passes must be in writing +and attested by a notary. You likewise have a letter from the daughter +of the panguilan Salalila, telling the Borneans what good treatment +I have accorded to the captives here, and how happy she is. + +After having despatched what pertains to the above, you shall +investigate the river of Tamaran. Without doing them any hurt, you +shall summon that people, and examine the location of their land, and +ascertain whether we can settle there; also the depth of the river, +and the number of inhabitants. You shall decide with them about the +tribute they are to pay; and, even if they do not pay any, or pay but +little, you shall do them no harm. After examining the river of Baran, +you shall return to this city as soon as possible. + +If there are any Portuguese in Borney, or any should come while your +Grace is there, your Grace shall give them a hospitable reception. You +shall ascertain from them both the condition of their affairs and as +much else as you are able. If they commence to show any disrespect +or hostility, then your Grace will try with the utmost diligence to +secure the victory. In no other circumstances shall you wage war with +them. And should you come to hostilities with them, your Grace shall +bring what they have to this city. + +Even if the king of Borney should be fortified and have repaired +his forts in Polocharami and Panigaran, your Grace will take +no notice of that, but transact your business in accordance with +your orders. Therefore your Grace shall in no wise fight, unless he +commences it, as upon the other occasion. Then your Grace shall take +what steps are necessary, since the thing is forced on you. + +Your Grace shall see to it that your fleet of vessels remain together; +and if any of them become separated in crossing the wide expanses of +water in your course, you shall give orders where it shall meet you, +so that all may be kept in order. In case you have to fight, you shall +put the ship from Castilla in the front, and the others shall aid it, +and, being lighter, can be used better for pursuit. + +You shall exercise great care in regard to the musketeers, and put +them in charge of an experienced man, and let opportunity be given +them to advance. + +_Item_: You shall exercise care, so that, if the Bornean galleys take +the lead, they shall not separate from the Castilian galley and the +Neapolitan fragata; likewise that the latter does not separate from +the Castilian galley. + +_Item_: You shall see to it that the Spaniards do not kill or steal +any cow (for there are but few), so that the king of Borney make +no complaint. + +There are cows in Borney and in Mohala, in the island of +Bencoraco. Notice shall be given among your people, so that these +beasts may be preserved; in the river of Tabaron, where I have said +that you must go, the men may kill swine and deer, if necessity arise, +for there are many of these animals there. + +_Item_: You shall not allow any slave, male or female, to be taken. You +shall exercise great care in this, imposing the penalty of death +on whomsoever shall steal them; and even should the natives wish +to sell slaves [30] the Spaniards shall not buy them, if they are +natives of the same island. Given at Manila, February twenty-eight, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the flagship "Espíritu Santo," on the fourth day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil said that, inasmuch as he is not +taking a notary of his Majesty or a notary-public for the negotiations +and legal proceedings that may arise in this voyage in the said galley +and the other vessels of the said fleet despatched this year to the +kingdom of Borney, before whom the said proceedings and negotiations +may be executed, in order that they may attest what happens; and +inasmuch as it is necessary for his Majesty's service to appoint a +skilful person to the said office: therefore, with entire confidence in +the character and capability of Manuel de Caceres, and feeling certain +that he will therefore fill the said office faithfully, in that manner +and form most suitable to the requirements of the law, he appointed, +and he did appoint, as notary of this said fleet the said Manuel de +Caceres before whom shall pass the legal proceedings, suits, and other +negotiations that shall occur, and he shall attest them as notary. I, +the said Manuel de Caceres, being present, accept it, and swear before +God, our Lord, and on the sign of the cross--which I do with my right +hand--to exercise precisely, faithfully, and legally, the said office +of notary in the negotiations and proceedings which shall take place +before me, and to keep secret whatever is necessary, under penalty +of falling into the lowest infamy and perjury, and of being punished +according to law. Witnesses are Andres de la Tubilla, Juan de Yepes, +Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, and Don Juan Arce. Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary-elect + +In the galley "Espiritu Santo," belonging to his Majesty, while it +was anchored at the port of Mohala, in the island and kingdom of +Borney, on the twentieth of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, in the presence of me, the notary, and the undersigned +witnesses, the illustrious captain Juan de Arce Sadornil declared that, +inasmuch as his Grace came by order of the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty in +these Western Islands, to this said river, to see whether the said +natives of the said river and city of Borney were settled, as they +were when subdued by force of arms by the said governor, and when he +left them for the city of Manila; and to see whether Soltan Lixar, +king of Borneo, had returned to his former village, and what was +become of him, and what persons might be present in his stead; and +that by all good methods he [Sadornil] should calm and pacify them, +and give them the governor's letters; and do other things set down +clearly and ordered by the instructions given by his Lordship; and, +inasmuch as the said captain had come to this said port of Mohala, but +has been unable to have any intercourse in regard to the above matters, +as the said governor orders, although he has tried and done his utmost, +and in the manner which his Lordship orders by his instruction; +and inasmuch as, having arrived at this said port on this said day, +and having seen many vessels leave the said port of Borney--which, +although he awaited them and cast anchor for this purpose, never came +to him so that he could hold communication with them, in order that the +said Bornean Moros might become quiet and learn his Majesty's purpose, +and that of his Lordship and of his captain in his royal name--to wit, +that I am not to do them harm or annoy them, but on the contrary to +protect and defend them; and that they might know the true God and the +true pathway of salvation: therefore the said captain summoned to his +presence Sipopat and Esin, Bornean Moros, whom his Lordship took to +Manila last year. The said captain has brought them for this purpose, +and given them to understand the above through the said Francisco +Magat; and he delivered to them two letters from the said governor, +written in our language and translated into the Bornean language, and +signed with his name--one for the panguilan Marraxa de Raxa, and the +other for the panguilan Salalila. He also gave them two other letters +in the Bornean tongue for the said Salalila, which were written by +his daughter and son-in-law in the city of Manila. The said Sipopat +and Esin went to the said captain to take the said letters and to +hear the message imparted to them by the said captain. They were +to return with the answer that would be given them in the river of +Borney. All of which, I, the said notary, attest, together with the +witnesses present, to wit, Father Baltasar de Miranda, ecclesiastical +presbyter, Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, +Luis Briceño, Bartolome de Tapia. And the said captain signed it. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +In the port of Mohala, in the kingdom of Borney, on the twenty-first +day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +the illustrious Don Juan de Arce summoned to his presence the captain +and pilot of a Chinese ship, which was anchored in the said port, each +one of them alone; and before me, the said notary, through the Moro +Simagat, an interpreter of the Sangley [_i.e._, Chinese] and Spanish +tongues, questioned them on the condition of affairs in the land, and +whether the king Soltan Lixar had returned to his former settlement; +and in regard to the panguilans Maraxa de Raxa and Salalila, and other +matters pertaining to the service of his Majesty. They answered that +they had entered the said port three days ago; that upon this said +day the king and his people had received news of the coming of the +Spaniards; and that the king of Borney had ordered them to enter the +said river with another Chinese vessel there. But they refused because +they did not know what would happen to them. From that time, when night +came they began to annoy them with their small boats and conpites. They +said that the king Soltan Lijar was in Borney, and that the panguilan +Salalila had died by some disease. They had heard, from the fishermen +who came to their boat to sell fish, that the king had a fort up the +river where he had placed the women and the food-supplies of the city +when he heard of our coming. The said fishermen told them that the +king had ordered a quantity of poison to be thrown into the water, +in order to kill the people. They had heard even that the death of the +said Salalila happened thus. They knew naught else, for they were come +hither but recently. This is the truth, and they know naught else. I, +the present notary, attest the same; and the said interpreter Simagat, +as well as the said captain, signed it. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +And after the above events, on the twenty-second day of the month +of March, of the said year, in the presence of me, the said notary, +and the witnesses who here signed, appeared the said Moros Sipopat +and Esin, whom his Grace had sent to the said city of Borney. They +brought a paper written in Bornean, which they said was given them +by the king, Soltan Lijar. They declared that the said king had +received the letters addressed to the said panguilans Maraxa de Raxa +and Salalila, as the said Salalila was dead, and Maraxa de Raxa had +gone to the river of Saragua. The king said that he wished alliance +with the said captain, and therefore sent that written letter, +in which he says the same thing. He wrote it so that the Spaniards +might believe it. Likewise he had sent two caracoas, which came in +care of the above-named envoys. And I, the said notary, and many +others saw these boats. They came flying white flags, and anchored +near our fleet. From there they sent the said Moros, our messengers, +in a _baroto_. [31] All of the above was interpreted by Simaguat, Moro +interpreter of the said language. The said captain having seen this, +and because he had no one who could read the letter, gave a verbal +response to the said Moros, through Simagat, ordering them to tell +the king that he had no one who knew how to read and write the said +Bornean language, and for this reason he did not write to him. He said +that the wish of the said governor, and his own through the former's +order, was that the king should become our ally, and recognize as +seignior the king of Castilla, our sovereign; and that he should come +to treat with the said captain, or send one of his chiefs, so that the +latter might discuss the matter, since this was so desirable for his +tranquillity and his honor. Thereupon he ordered the messengers to be +despatched. The witnesses present were Luis Briseño, Alonso Locano, +Bartolome de Tapia, and many other persons. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +I attest the above: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Thereupon on this said day, month, and year abovementioned, a Moro +whom the said captain said he knew last year as a slave of the +panguilan Salalila, appeared then before the said captain Don Juan +de Arce. The said Moro said that he was the abovementioned person, +and that he had come into the possession of the king through the +death of his master. The king treated him badly; and, as soon as +he knew that the Spaniards were in this port, he came to them. Then +the said captain, through the said Simagat, ordered the said Moro to +be questioned about the death of the said Salalila, his master; the +whereabouts of the panguilan Maraja de Raxa; whether the king, Soltan +Lijar, was in Borney; where he had hidden when the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, the governor, was here last year; whether +the said king was fortified; what artillery and provisions he had; +and what he was now doing. This witness replied that his name was +Sisian, and that he was a native of Sian. He came to this kingdom of +Borney with his mother, and had always been the slave of the panguilan +Maraxa de Raxa, and served the said Salalila likewise when occasion +offered. After the said governor went to Manila, this Indian served +the said Salalila the entire time. He saw that, some days after the +said Maraxa de Raxa had despatched advice that the Spaniards had gone, +King Soltan Lijar came to his settlement of Borney with about fifty +vessels, large and small--among them being a galley of Manrijar in +which was the body of the old king, his father, who had died at Baran, +a few days before, from a disease. They buried him with solemnity in +the river of Borney. With the said Soltan Lijar came the _vandaran_, +who serves as steward and treasurer, and the _tumangan_, or chief +justice, the panguilan Salam, and others. As soon as he entered the +river, the other persons and panguilans who were fugitives outside +the city began to return. The king began to collect all his artillery, +and has collected by this time about two hundred pieces. He summoned +all his Bisayan and Moro allies in order to build a fort, which he +has built up the river, from palm-trees four brazas high. He placed +there all his artillery, wives, food, and provisions, as soon as he +heard of our coming. Only the men stayed on the river, keeping close +watch. As to the death of his master, as soon as the king had come, +he asked Salalila why he had married his daughter to Don Agustin, +chief of Tondo in the city of Manila, who had come to this said river +with the said governor. He said that Salalila replied that he had +done it for fear, and to please the Spaniards. Thereupon the king +dissimulated until, after a month, there came a large galleon and a +galley of Portuguese, who negotiated by letters and in person with +the king, and went up to the city and traded about a hundred slaves, +wax, and other goods. At the end of ten days the Portuguese left for +Maluco; and three days after Salalila was dead, from a sickness that +lasted less than half a day. It was a sudden looseness of the bowels, +which proved so severe that, on getting up to ease himself, he fell +dead. It was rumored among the people that the king had ordered him +to be poisoned; but so great was the fear of the said king that no +one dared to discuss it. It is now five months since the said Maraxa +de Raxa left the city of Borney with two caracoas. This witness has +heard it said that the king sent him to Tolobaran, and to all the +other rivers as far as Saragua, in order to look for a good location in +which to settle with all his people in a strong and well-provisioned +place; and he has not returned. He knows nothing more of this. After +the death of the said Salalila, the king took all his property and +slaves, among the latter this witness. Because he was very tired and +worn out in making the fort which he has mentioned, and in cutting +wood for another fort, which the king intended to build on the site +where the said governor had settled near the mosque, this witness +resolved to flee to the Spaniards, in order to go to the city of +Manila to the daughter of the panguilan Salalila, his master. When +asked how many Portuguese vessels came, and if this witness saw them, +and if he went to them, he answered that he had gone to them many times +with his master; that they were in a ship of deep draught and a large +Castilian galley; that the galley was much larger than this flagship; +that it carried ninety men and three large pieces at the bow, and +falcons at the stern. The large ship carried one hundred Portuguese, +eight large pieces, and many culverins. The crew of the galley, +or rowers, were chained, and the galley was in poor condition from +storms that it had suffered. In this port a mast and other equipment +were made. And in regard to what he knows touching the hiding-place +of the king during his Lordship's stay in this river, he says that +it was well-known that he was in a river of Bisayas in the province +of Malanao, near to Saragua. This is all that he can tell and no +more. This his deposition being read, he declared it true. By his +appearance his age must be about forty years. The said captain signed +the above in the presence of many witnesses. + +_Don Juan Arce_ Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +After the above events, in the said port, this said day, month, and +year aforesaid, the illustrious Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil +ordered certain soldiers, before me, the present notary, and the +witnesses here signed, to go in the Neapolitan frigate in pursuit of +a Bornean sail which passed near the flagship, flying a white flag +of peace, to take the Indians who were in the said vessel, and bring +them before his Grace, in order that they might talk with them, and +learn what had happened in the city of Borney, so that he might take +action more intelligently. In obedience to the said captain's order, +the said soldiers went and executed the above-mentioned command, and +captured a tapaque, with seven Indians. These men, when asked of what +place they were native, and whether they were _amaguas_ and slaves, +and whence they were coming, answered through the said Simagat that +they were natives of Borney and slaves of King Soltan Lijar, and that +they were coming from the river of Baran to buy food. Questioned +about the panguilans Salalila and Maraxa de Raxa, and the others, +they said that the said Salalila had died from his illness, and +that the said Maraxa de Raxa had gone to the said river of Saragua, +they knew not why. Questioned as to where the king was, what he was +doing, and where he was living, and if he had a fortress, and where +they said that at the river above Borney he had built a fort of tall +palm-trees; that he was trying to build another in the city, near the +mosque; that he was in the city, and was living in the houses there, +which are usually of straw. They had heard that the said king had +collected two hundred pieces of artillery, counting large and small +pieces, but that he lacked ammunition. He had repaired a vessel--the +one brought by the said captain from Saragua last year--to send it +to the kingdom of Sian for artillery. Not long after the departure +hence of the governor, they had seen a deep-draught vessel and a +large galley at the said city and river of Borney, with people and +artillery. They had learned from others that they were Portuguese, and +that they conferred with the king of Borney, and then went away. They +knew nothing else. When questioned whether any among them knew how +to write, they answered that two of them knew how. Each one of them +singly interpreted the paper sent by the said King Soltan to the +said captain. Translated into our language through the interpreters, +the said Simagat and Sitales, this letter was as follows. + +_Letter of King Soltan_ + +I, Soltan Lijar, King of Borney, received the letters from Captain +Don Juan to Maraxa de Raxa and the panguilan Salalila, because of the +absence of the panguilan Maraxa de Raxa, and the death of Salalila, +who died from illness. If Captain Don Juan wishes my friendship, +I will be his friend, for I am willing to be such. + +Then the said captain wrote a letter, which through the agency of +Alonso Buytrago and the said interpreters was translated into the +Bornean language and characters. After treating the said Indians +hospitably, he ordered them to give the letter to the said king, and +despatched them. I, the said notary, attest all the above. Witnesses +are Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, +Bartolome de Tapia, and others. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +On this said day, he immediately sent this letter to the said king, by +means of the said Indians, in the presence of me, the notary, and the +witnesses herein signed. The tenor of this letter is as follows, and +was translated, as above said, into their language, by the aforesaid. + +Noble and honorable king of Borney: + +I, Captain Juan, received a letter from your Majesty, by which I was +informed that the letters which I had sent to the panguilan Salalila +and Maraxa de Raxa had been received by your Majesty, because of +the death of Salalila, and the absence of the other. I was very glad +thereat, and to learn, as I did, that your Majesty was in this kingdom, +rebuilding your so ancient and noble city, which is a token that you +wish to live in tranquillity and honor, as now is shown. Your Majesty +wished to take up arms last year, and, like a man without common sense, +to make war on one who did not make war. The governor, Don Francisco +de Sande, captain-general of our people, and of all these islands, +on the contrary, had only a desire for the friendship of your Majesty +and your people. It was God's will, therefore, that you be conquered; +and, contrary to our intention, your town was destroyed. This was very +little damage compared to the advantage that you would derive from +becoming vassals of his Majesty, the king of Castilla, our sovereign, +and the ally of the Castilians in this land; and from your people +trading in peace throughout all this land, both with Spaniards and +with the Moros of Manila, Balayan, Bonbon, Mindoro, Çubu, and any +other district, so that the Borneans will become very rich and make +great profits. If your Majesty makes an alliance with us, it is quite +certain that you will find good friends in us--and so much so, that +if any other king should molest you and you should have need of aid, +the said governor will send his galleys and fleet to protect your +Majesty, as if he were offering aid to our own Spaniards. If your +Majesty refuses our alliance, then will ensue much harm, for you +will never sleep secure in your bed. Neither will your vassals live +in ease. The Spaniards are so brave and so daring that they regard +fighting and dangers as a repast. Instead of thus offending them, +I request you urgently that you should take good counsel as to what +you should do, and quickly; so that, if you wish to make peace with +me here, we may confer any time tomorrow. Or you may appoint a chief +who will bear your letter of credit and authorization to treat, in +your name, concerning what is necessary. If not, then I shall not be +able to prevent certain damage that my people will commit, although my +governor orders me not to commit any damage; and, to obey his order, +I anchored in this port of Mohala. I shall stay here until I receive +word as to your intentions, until the said time expires. And now, +because I am told that your Majesty is a sensible man, and will study +my reasons carefully, as is fitting, I shall say no more. May God give +you much health, and grace that you may know Him. Written at Mohala, +in his Majesty's flagship. + +(This said letter was translated, and sent in the form and manner +abovesaid, witnesses being Luis Briceño, Alonso Locano, Bartolome +Tapia, and other persons. I, the above-named notary, attest the same, +which is drawn in the said galley in the said port, on the twenty-third +day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +I attest it: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +In the said port, on the said day, the twenty-third of March, of +the said year, the Indians Sipopot and Esin returned before the +said captain and in their keeping were the said two caracoas. They +anchored near by, and stated, through the said interpreters, that the +said king declared that he would come next day to confer with the said +captain. He would not come to his fleet, however, but on the coast of +this said island, where each one would land with five or ten men, an +equal number of Borneans and of Spaniards. They would treat for peace +and of whatever else was fitting. The said Spaniards should not come +in coats-of-mail, since they were to treat of peace. The said captain +answered that he would be very glad to meet him as he proposed, and +that he should come next morning. And if he did not come that day, +then he would know that his reasons were only pretense, and that he +was putting him off with words. Thereupon he sent the said Indians +together with those who took the letter above set forth; and I, +the said notary, testified thereto. Witnesses were Pablo Granado, +Andres de la Tubilla, Alonso Lozano, and many others. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +And after all the above events in the said port of Mohala, in the said +galley "Espíritu Santo," on the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain +Don Juan Arce summoned to his presence Ensign Francisco Rodriguez, +Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Ensign Pedro de Salasar, and Sergeants +Bartolomé de Tapia, Cristoval de Arqueta, Antonio Canedo, Francisco +de Ribera, Melchior de Villanueva, Alonso Loçano, Juan de Chavarria, +Luis Briceño, Cristoval Xuares, Baltasar de Bustamente, Juan de la +Feria, Juan de Yepes, and Antonio Sanchez, for this purpose having +ordered the rally sounded by trumpet. When these had come and with +them the other persons and soldiers whom he wished to be present, +the said captain took the instructions for this expedition given +him by the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general for his Majesty in these Western Islands, and auditor +of his royal Audiencia of Mexico, and ordered it to be read publicly +in the presence of the above-named persons. When it had been read +and heard publicly by all, the said captain told them his reason for +summoning them together to hear the said instructions--namely, that +they might know that King Soltan had broken his word given two or +three days previously. He said that he would come to treat with the +said captain; and he had not sent messengers to excuse his inability +to come, nor had he done anything else. Therefore it was proved that +he had entertained them with promises, in order that he might collect +and place in his fort the rest of his property. Especially was this +proved more conclusively, for on this said day no fishermen had come, +as was their usual custom, to the fleet to trade their fish. However +they had come near to get their nets and a sort of weir with which they +are wont to catch fish. And although the captain wished to enter the +city and river of Borney, he did not dare to do so, in order not to +violate the order of the said governor; for he had heard that they +would not neglect to station some scout-boats in Borney with some +culverins and artillery, and that they would fire at us, and then take +flight to the fort which was reported to have been built. Not being +able to pursue them or attack them, because of having no commission +for it, meant that he would suffer in estimation and lose reputation +among them. This did not appear desirable to him, so he resolved to +send some soldiers in a light vessel next day, with orders only to +see whether they had the said fort, or had commenced to build it, +in the islets of Polocelemin [32] and Pangaran, in order to advise +his Lordship concerning it. He resolved to wait several days, in order +to make other inquiries, as he should consider best. The captain told +all those present that they should examine this resolve to see whether +it was proper. If any other thing could be done or ought to be done, +more befitting his Majesty's service and that of the said governor in +his royal name, he requested them to tell him; for if their advice was +good he would accept and act upon it willingly. All of the above-named +answered--not excepting any point--that nothing better could be done; +that it was very well considered and ordained; that he should carry +out his plan for the examination of the said islets in order to +give his Lordship an account of them; and that, with this and the +inquiries made by his Grace, he would have done everything to which +his commission obliged him. And it was not at all fitting to give the +Moros any opportunity to say that we came back to make war upon them, +especially without the orders of his Lordship. I, the present notary, +attest all the above, which occurred as set down above, witnesses +being Father Baltasar de Miranda, Juan de Santiago, Pedro Granado, +the above-named. The said captain and the other witnesses signed the +same with their names. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ +_Pedro Granado de Aguero_ + +Witness, +_Baltasar de Miranda_ +_Juan de Santiago_ + +Before me, and I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +I, Manuel de Caceres, notary, appointed by the illustrious Captain +Juan de Arce Sadornil in this expedition made this present year to +the kingdom of Borney, hereby attest to all that see this present, +that from certain enclosures with nets, that are wont to be set near +this fleet, certain Moros with their boats were wont to come hither +to trade their fish. As we paid them and gave them good treatment, +they returned, and thus they were wont to do. On this day more boats +coming to the said enclosures, they drew up their nets, went away +and did not bring us any fish, nor did they appear, nor do we know +why they do not come. This argues the suspicion that their king or +some one else has summoned them. At the request of the said captain, +I give this present, so that what is done in the galley "Espiritu +Santo," in the said port of Mohala, on the twenty-fifth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, may +be evident. Witnesses of the above are Anton Sanchez, Baltasar de +Bustamente, Juan de Santiago, and other persons. + +I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + + +In the port of Mohala, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said captain, in +observance of the above decision, in the presence of me, the notary, +and the witnesses hereunto signed, ordered Ensign Salvador de Sequera, +accompanied by the men assigned to him, to embark in the Neapolitan +fragata belonging to this fleet, in order to go to the islets of +Polocelemin and Paingaran, in order to see whether the natives had +constructed any fort, after the departure of the said governor to +the city of Manila. When this was done, he should return without +going elsewhere; and if he met Moro bancas and vessels, he should +fly white flags in token of peace. He was ordered to try to open +conversation with them; and, even if the said vessels were to fire +some artillery, the said ensign and his companions were not to answer +them. On the contrary, they were to fly the said white flag of peace, +and to return to this fleet. Father Baltasar de Miranda and Alonso +Cornejo were witnesses to the above, and the said captain signed it. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +After the above events, in the said month and year abovesaid, in the +said galley, the said captain having ordered three soldiers in a light +boat, one hour before dawn, to try to talk with some Indians, and, +if possible, obtain information regarding the king, of the condition +of his affairs, and other necessary things; and having brought the +Bornean Indians prisoners, the said captain summoned each of them +to his presence. Through the agency of the interpreter Sitahel, they +were asked where the king and his people were, and what was decided +upon. The first said his name was Usman, and that he was a native of +this island of Mohala. The second day after the arrival of our fleet +at this port, some of the king's slaves came in bancas, with orders +that all the people should assemble up the river. This witness asked +a slave of the said king where the latter was, to which the slave +answered that on that day he was going to retire to the fort, where +already were the women, artillery, provisions, and other things. He +was to leave the tumangan and bandara in the city, so that these men +might have ordinarily two or three scout-boats with artillery at the +bar; if the Spaniards resolved upon going up the river or to enter it, +they should flee to the fort. This witness went also the next day to +the settlement of Borney, and found that the king had gone to the +said fort, and that the said tumangan and the bandara were in the +city. When asked why he did not go to the fort as did the others, he +replied that, because he did not find his mantelin who is a person +holding the office of captain and sergeant, with forty men under +him--in Borney, and learned that he was outside of the bar, he was +coming in search of him. When asked how many Portuguese vessels had +passed there during the last vendabals, and what forts King Soltan has +built or intends to build, he said that two vessels had passed--one +of deep draught and a galley--and that they had traded as usual with +the Borneans. The Portuguese went to the settlement, and the Borneans +went to the vessels. In regard to the forts, the king had built one +up the river where the people are gathered. It is named Talin, and +is made of palm-trees three or four estados high. They are now busy +constructing a mosque. This witness had heard that as soon as the said +mosque was completed, galleys would be begun in the ship-yard. There +was no fort at Paingaran. There is nothing else; and, the same being +read, he declared it true. He appeared to be about thirty-three or +thirty-four years of age. The said captain signed the above. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +[The deposition of another Moro follows, being in substance the same +as the above, with a slight addition in regard to the panguilans +Maraxa de Raxa and Salalila, which is similar to other testimonies +concerning them.] + +Then immediately, upon this said day, month, and year aforesaid, the +said ensign, Salvador de Sequera, the ensign, Francisco Rodriguez, +and the others who went in the said fragata as above said, to the said +islets of Polocelemin and Paingaran, returned to the said captain. They +said that, as they went upon this errand in accordance with his Grace's +orders, they met nine ships and some caracoas. As soon as these saw +these vessels, they flew their white flag as a token of friendship, +in order that the others should come to talk with them. But these +ships refused to come, and fired some artillery at them. The said +ensigns having witnessed this, the said Salvador de Sequera requested +me, the present notary, to attest it, so that if might appear in the +records. In response to his request I gave the present signed with my +name. Then the said ensigns returned, without doing anything else than +to make the said signs of peace. The natives refusing, as above said, +to come, but on the contrary persisting in discharging their artillery, +they returned, and declared this before the said captain and myself, +the present notary. They signed the above with their names, as did +also the said captain. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +_Francisco de Rodríguez_ + +_Salvador de Sequera_ + +Before me, and I certify thereto: +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Then in the said galley on this said day, month, and year above +stated, the said captain, before me, the undersigned notary, summoned +before his Grace, the said Usman, Amat, and two other youths, all +Borneans. Through the mouth of the above-mentioned Sitahel, they +were instructed that they should tell King Soltan, the tumangan, the +vandara, and the other chiefs, that the said captain did not intend +to enter the river, nor begin hostilities against him--although he +had not kept his word and had tried to injure his men--because the +said governor did not wish any harm to be done them, nor that they +and their town should be destroyed, but desired his friendship. For +this reason he ordered that he [Sadornil] should not attack them, +or enter his settlement, or do them any injury, under pain of being +beheaded. Although the men brought by the said captain had seen +his rudeness, and were desirous to retaliate, he had not consented +thereto; nor had his Grace desired such a thing, that he might not +exceed the orders of the said governor. Likewise they were to tell +the said king and the others that, since peace with the said governor +was so advisable, they should send a ship to confer and a person to +treat concerning the said peace. If they would come, the said captain +would wait two more days for them. Then returning to these men their +weapons and vanca, and presenting them gifts and food, and showing +them other good treatment, he let them go freely. They left, and I, +the present notary, certify thereto--Juan de Santiago, Pedro Granado, +and Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, being witnesses. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +In the said galley, "Espiritu Santo," on the twenty-eighth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said +captain--having seen that the last Borneans sent as messengers by his +Grace, on the twenty-third of this present month, did not return, +but that, on the contrary, the above affair of Ensign Sequera had +happened, who went to reconnoiter the island of Polocelemin; and that +also no answer had been returned by the Indians despatched on the +twenty-fifth of the same month; and that the said Borneans, yesterday, +the twenty-seventh of this said month, came with ten or eleven vessels +very near this fleet, and when Ensign Francisco Rodriguez met them with +a white flag and without arms, the said Borneans without any shame came +leisurely to him, beckoning him with the hand, and then forced him +to retreat. He gave an account of this to the said captain--when his +Grace saw this, and that he could not make war upon the said Borneans, +because of his Lordship's orders to the contrary and because their fort +had been built up the river, where no galley or galleot could sail; +and seeing that some of the reputation until then enjoyed by the +Spaniards might be lost, and that no advantage was accruing to the +service of his Majesty from his stay in this said island of Mohala; +and that the people ran risk of becoming sick, not only from the waters +of that land, but from the rains, the heat of the sun, poor food, +want of exercise, and others difficulties: he ordered sail to be set +in order to return to the city of Manila, and to give an account of +the expedition to his Lordship, the governor. Thus he decreed, and +ordered, and signed it with his name. Witnesses were Father Baltasar +de Miranda, Luis Briceño, Alonso Locano, and many others. + +_Don Juan de Arce Sadornil_ + +Before me: +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Most illustrious sire: + +In a clause of the instructions given me by your Lordship, you order +me on my return from the river and settlement of Borney, to visit the +river of Taguaran. But because I was informed that the said river +is not navigable by galleys unless at extremely high tide, and to +anchor near the shore meant some risk--for at the present season occur +nightly heavy showers brought by the vendaval--and because the king +is not peaceably inclined, and considering that all the land would +revolt, I concluded that it would be useless for me to go thither, +since the said river of Taguaran is on the way to Borney, so that +any one may very easily ascertain what he wishes. In my opinion, +if we effect a colony in Borney, the Spaniards must live where the +king and the Moros are, in order to keep them under control. In any +other way they will be always unmanageable. Whenever your Lordship +wishes, I shall tell you some reasons that should induce us to make a +settlement in no other place but where the Moros live. Given in this +galley "Espíritu Santo," belonging to his Majesty, on the twenty-ninth +of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Darce_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +The order which we must regard and observe in the voyage and navigation +from here to Borney is as follows. + +The galleys shall follow the flagship, without preceding it, and at +night they shall be vigilant, both in following the lantern, and +in watching for certain shoals such as are wont to be in the sea, +and for strange ships, as well as all else advisable. + +When any galley encounters any danger, and needs help, it shall +discharge a cannon as sign of distress; and all the other ships shall +go to its assistance, to see what has happened. + +The Neapolitan vessel shall go as much as possible in advance of the +flagship; and, in case it should come upon any shoal or promontory +that juts out too far, if it be daytime it shall return to give +advice thereof; but if at night, besides turning to give advice, +it shall fire a small piece of its artillery so that we may stop and +take the necessary steps. + +If perchance any galley should lose the route through either bad +weather or any other cause not malicious, it shall continue its +voyage to the island of Malaca, where the one arriving first will +await the other. + +Should any enemy attack us at sea, with intent to annoy us, the two +Bornean galleys shall go to the flagship--that in charge of Ensign +Francisco Rodriguez on the right, and that in charge of Antonio +Cañedo on the left. The Neapolitan ship shall take up a position at +the stern of the flagship, in order to assist in what is ordered. + +The vessels shall take care always to anchor near the flagship, +keeping watch over their oars. They shall be alert. From Malaca each +afternoon they shall ask for a watchword, so that, if they meet any +hostile ship, it may be known. A copy of these instructions shall be +given to the other galleys, so that they may keep them. Given on the +seventh of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +The order to be observed at present by the soldiers in this fleet, +while anchored in the port of Mohala, or wherever else, is as follows. + +First, although the natives of the river of Borney are peaceful, +they shall buy no slaves who are natives of the island of Borney, +even if the natives wish to sell them. If they wish to buy any slaves +not natives of the said island, they shall not do so, except in my +presence, in order that I may find out his native place, and whether +or no he can be bought. + +_Item_: No soldier shall dare to kill any cattle here or in any other +part where they have them, so that the king of Borney and the other +natives may see that we do not come to harass them, but that we wish +their friendship. + +_Item_: No soldier shall disembark or go from his ship to take water +or any other thing, except when the flagship takes in water, and +he is summoned. Then the landing shall be effected with great care, +and the commanders of the galleys shall signify what soldiers are to +disembark. They shall be advised not to take any water that is not in a +newly-made well, so that the water may not be poisoned by the natives. + +_Item_: All the galleys shall keep close sentinel guard at night, and +shall keep their arms ready. Each night they shall assign a watchword, +and the galleys shall not fire any shot unless compelled by necessity. + +_Item_: No one shall dare go to the Sangley ship anchored at this +port, in order to avoid the insults and damage that the soldiers are +wont to inflict on the said Sangleyes. If they need anything, they +shall send their slaves to buy it. They shall in no point infringe +the above regulation, under penalty of punishment to him who shall +act contrary to this, with all the severity allowed by law. In order +that this paper may be manifest to everyone, it shall be read and +proclaimed in all the ships of the fleet, in the presence of the +commanders. Given on the galley "Espíritu Santo," on the twenty-first +of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Arce de Sadornil_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Manuel de Caceres_ + +(Thereupon, on the said day, month, and year above stated, I, the said +notary, read and proclaimed the decree above set forth, by order of +the captain, to the soldiers of the said galleys, in the presence of +the commanders. They said that they heard and would obey it. Witnesses +were Francisco de la Mesquita, Juan de Santiago, and Pedro Granado. + +I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary) + +I, Gonzalo de Santiago, notary elect, certify to all who may see +this present, that, on the fourteenth day of the month of June, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, Rahayro, panguilan of +Borney, who calls himself king of Xolo, surrendered himself as a +vassal to his Majesty, King Don Phelipe, king of Castilla and Leon, +for himself and his descendants. In token of recognition and vassalage, +he gave twelve pearls and thirty-five taes of gold for himself and +his vassals, which are the islands of Xolo, Treguima, Camboanga, +Cavite, and Tavitavi, his subjects and vassals. The said Rahayro +bound himself and his descendants from this day to recognize King Don +Felipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla and Leon, and to be subject +to the crown of Castilla and Leon; and as such, he, the above-named, +will give the yearly recognition and tribute which shall be assigned +to him. This said vassalage was made by the said Rahayro, in virtue +of an act of war. The illustrious Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa, +captain of infantry for his Majesty, justified the war on his part. He +had two engagements with the above king, one in the town of Xolo, +and the other at the foot of a large rock in the open field. Having +conquered them, just as he was about to enter their fort the said king +of Xolo came out peacefully and rendered obedience to his Majesty, +as above stated. Therefore I gave the present, so that the above +declaration may stand in the records. Witnesses were Ensign Alonso +Osorio, Sergeant Mateo Sanchez, Alvaro de Ángulo, Rodrigo Sanchez, +Luis de Santacruz, Juan Lorenço, Juan Lope de Leon, and many other +soldiers. Therefore I affix here my signature and accustomed flourish, +in testimony of truth. The said captain signed it with his name. + +_Esteban Rodríguez_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Gonzalo de Santiago_, notary by appointment + +In the city of Manila, on the nineteenth day of the month of April, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty +in these Western Islands, and his auditor in the royal Audiencia of +Mexico in Nueva España, declared that he has heard that a war-galley +of the king of Portugal was lost on the coast of Mindanao, and in +order to ascertain where it was going, and whose it was, he ordered +to be made, and did make, the following inquiries. + +In verification of the abovesaid, the said governor summoned to his +presence a man, who declared his name to be Bartolome Fernandez, +a native of the city of Goa in Yndia. He said that he was there +a freeman, serving as page a Portuguese named Luis Fragoso; and +that he is a baptized Christian. The oath was taken and received +from him before God and the blessed Mary, and on the sign of the +cross, in the form prescribed by law; under which obligation, +being questioned, this witness said that he left the city of Goa, +in Yndia, about a year or so ago, in a galleon called "San Jhosef," +under Captain Martin Lopez de Sossa, a nobleman. With the said ship +was a merchant ship from Cochin. The said ship "San Jhosef," had +one hundred old Portuguese soldiers, and one hundred others, young +mestizos of that land. It was equipped with twelve large pieces and +certain culverins. The soldiers were armd with arquebuses and other +weapons. This said vessel was despatched to Maluco, by order of the +governor of Yndia, Don Diego de Meneses, and the said Martin Lopez +de Sossa was captain. In Malaca, more of the mestizos of Yndia, +sons of Portuguese, were shipped, to the number of three hundred +men. These with the mestizos brought from Yndia, made somewhere +about five hundred men in the said galleon. A galley of twenty-four +benches accompanied it, each oar being manned with three men. They +carried lead. The galley was old and was given to them in Malaca by +the captain of Malaca, named Arias de Saldeva, who is captain of the +fortress. The captain of the sea is Matias de Alburquerque. Because +of the said Martin Lopez de Sossa falling sick, he remained in Malaca, +very sick; and one of his brothers, Pedro Lopez de Sossa, came in his +place as captain of the said galleon. Another nobleman, Tome de Sossa, +a former page of the said Matias de Alburquerque, captain of the sea, +was made captain of the said galley. This witness was aboard this +galley, in the service of the said Tome de Sossa, who brought this +witness from Yndia to Malaca. Thus the said galleon and galley, with +the people above mentioned (of whom some fifty soldiers were aboard +the galley and the rest aboard the galleon), set sail for Maluco in +the month of August of last year seventy-eight. After sailing for +a week, they anchored at Borney, near the island of Mohala. When +they were there together, a banca with certain Bornean fishermen +came to talk with the people of the ship and the galley. They asked +who they were, and were answered that they were Portuguese. Then the +said Bornean Moros said "We thought that you were Castilians, for we +are expecting them daily to come for tribute." Thereupon they told +them that a fleet of Castilians with many vessels and a multitude of +people had gone there, and fought with them, and had plundered them. + +It was current talk among the Portuguese, that they marveled that +the Spaniards would have plundered the Borneans, for they considered +that people as valiant, since they are accustomed to go to Malaca, +Pegu, and other places for the sake of plunder, and Borney was very +strong. Therefore they were surprised that the Castilians had taken +them. They began a song sung by the rowers, which runs: "Borney, peak +above peak in salt water; there you go to eat buyo." [33] This song +they sang because they formerly regarded the Moros as valiant men, +and in jest. The said captain-in-chief sent this witness in this said +fishing-boat, to talk with the king of Borney, because he knew the +Bornean language. With this witness went an inhabitant of Malaca, +one Quenana, a native of Malavar. They took a present to the said +king of Borney; this was a carpet from Conbaya [Camboja]; which was +given to this witness to give to the king of Borney. He found him in +a large house which belonged to the old king. This witness knew this, +for he formerly knew the said old king of that land. The old king is +dead and the said king is his son. He is a tall, fat man, and quite +black. He was seated with many of his relatives, called panguilans, +and his children and brothers. This witness saw and knew the tumango +and mandahala, the panguilan Salalila, and many others. The said +king of Borney was playing chess, seated in a hall with the said +panguilans. This witness bowed low and made the usual obeisance, +gave him the said carpet, and sat down. One of the king's sons said +to this witness, in his own language, that he talked excellently, and +asked him his nationality. This witness told him, and the said king's +son gave him some buyo to chew. He remained with them some time. The +king asked him what the Portuguese wished. This witness replied that +they were on their way to Maluco, and were looking for some slaves +for their galley, and for food. Thereupon the said king of Borney +ordered the vandahala to go to talk with the captain-in-chief in the +galleon. The vandahala went in a small boat with thirty rowers and +two culverins. When he left the king's house for the said vessel, the +said people showed this witness some vireys, saying that they had taken +them in battle from the Spaniards. They said that they had hanged one +Spaniard, and threatened them. They said that the Spaniards had come +in large vessels and with a numerous fleet, whereat they had fled to +the mountains. They did not tell that the Spaniards had seized any +galleys and artillery. The said bandahala went to the said galleon +to talk with the said captain, Pedro Lopez de Sossa. He asked him, +in the name of the king of Borney, to help him fight the Castilians, +who were about to return there for the tribute; and desired them to +remain in the island. If he would winter there, the king of Borney +would pay him as much as he would gain in Maluco. The said Captain +Pedro Lopez answered him that he was about to make investigations in +Maluco, which was in bad condition, and could not remain in Borney. It +was likewise impossible for him to fight with the Castilians, for they +were brothers. If he wished to ask for help, he must send to request +it from the captain of Malaca. Likewise this witness saw two ships +that they were about to send to Malaca. The said bandahala, thereupon, +went to talk with the king. That night a Cafre blacksmith, a Christian, +one Luis, fled from Borney to the Portuguese. He told the said captain, +Pedro Lopez, that the king of Borney had ordered that the Portuguese +who were in Borney at the arrival of the Castilian fleet should be +killed; that the king had robbed them of their possessions, and that +some sailors had fled with the vessel. When the said captain Pedro +Lopez heard this, he was angry at the Borneans, and sent the small +boats to bring men from the galleon (for he was in the galley), saying +that he intended to enter the river to fight the said Borneans. The +next morning the said bandahala tua, that is to say, "old man," came +in a ship. The Borneans brought fowls, sugar, fruits, _tampo_, and +other things, to sell. They brought no presents. The said captain, +Pedro Lopez, seized the said vandahala and about thirty rowers with +him, and put them in the said galley, with the intention of keeping +them prisoners. The said vandahala asserted that they had not killed +the Portuguese, nor robbed them at all. The said captain, Pedro Lopez, +sent the said trader Quenenia to talk to the king, and to ask him why +they had killed those Portuguese. The said king replied that he knew +of no such thing, and that the tanguilans of the mountain had killed +them. Afterward the said captain, Pedro Lopez, said, "Who is deceiving +me in these things among these Moros?" He then set free the Moros, +and left the said trader Quenena, in Borney with a pack containing +seven or eight hundred pieces of cloth, so that he might trade it for +camphor, wax, and tortoise-shell, and then go to Malaca with it in one +of the two ships that I said were about to sail to Malaca. The said +captain bought eight Javanese slaves, and the king presented to him two +more, making a total of ten. Each slave cost ten pieces of _caniquí_ +[34] which we valued at three _vardagos_, each _vardago_ being worth +one _patagon_, which this witness thinks is about equivalent to two +Manila tostones. Then weighing anchor they proceeded on their way +to Maluco. The galley anchored at the river of Tabaran to look for +food. They bought there swine and fowls, receiving five fowls for +one piece of _caniquí_. From there they sailed near a large island, +called by them island of Xordan. There a storm with a vendabal +struck them and destroyed the said galley, which was old. It sprang +a leak under the keel, and was driven upon some rocks near Cabite, +at an island near Canboanga. There the said galley was lost with all +its food, artillery, and ammunition. Five Portuguese were drowned, +and two others were killed by the Moros of that land. All the Cafres +and slaves who were chained were drowned. About forty Portuguese +and twelve Cafres escaped. They scattered into different parties, +so that the natives should not kill them. This witness fell into the +power of some natives of Camboanga, who made him prisoner. A Spaniard +brought this witness and others recently, when they came with his +Majesty's spice. However, this witness did not see what became of the +said Spaniards, nor what became of the galleon, except that he heard +that the galleon collected the men in its small boats and finished +its voyage, by taking another tack, as he heard from the natives of +Camboanga. Therefore this witness never saw the said galleon again. He +heard also that the said galleon had broken its mainmast. This is +what he knows, and his deposition. It is the truth, on the oath that +he took. He affirmed and ratified it. When this witness was asked if +he had been in Maluco, and requested to tell what he knew of matters +there, and why so many Portuguese should go there, he declared that +he had heard it stated publicly and openly in Yndia and in Malaca, +and that he heard Diego de Sanbucho, a noble inhabitant of Malaca, +now there, say that the fortress of Maluco, which the Portuguese held +in Terrenate, was lost to them three years ago. For after the death of +Gonzalo Pereyra, who had gone with the Portuguese to fight at Cubu, +and who had died at Maluco after his return there, the noble above +named, Diego de Sanbucho, was captain of Maluco. He found that certain +of the married men had gone to live at Anbon and others to Malaca, +and that they had taken all their cattle and artillery with them in +two galliots, which they now have at Anbon. The cause of the loss of +the said Maluco was the revolt of the said natives and a war because +a Portuguese had killed their king. Immediately the people revolted, +and besieged the Portuguese. They died from hunger, until the survivors +abandoned the fort, going to Anbon, as I have said; only two Dominican +fathers remained. The said inhabitants of Maluco refused to give +cloves to the Portuguese, and sold them to the Javanese, who in turn +sold them at Malaca. The only cloves brought were those of Anbon, +and only one ship-load at that. The Portuguese go to Anbon by way of +Jaba, across from Borney, since Maluco was lost; the present fleet +came by way of Borney. On account of these troubles, it is sailing +straight for Maluco, in order to construct a fort to fight with the +natives. Another galleon, the "San Juan," under Captain Martin Alfonso, +a noble, is in Malaca, and is about to go to Anbon; and it must go +by way of Jaba, opposite the coast of Borney. With the few men whom +it can take, and those whom it can secure at Anbon, it must go with +them all to Maluco to aid the said captain Pedro Lopez to oppose the +inhabitants of Maluco. This witness knows, too, that the Portuguese +captured a son of the king of Maluco, named Don Francisco, whom they +took to Yndia. This witness saw him lately at Malaca. He has heard +that the people of Maluco begged that he be given up, as he is their +king, and that if he is restored they will make peace and surrender +the fortress. With the said Don Francisco are three of his relatives, +one Don Enrique, one Pablo Desa, and the third Jordan de Fletes. Don +Enrique is undahala at Malaca, which is the office of judge among +the natives. The vessel which is going by way of the coast of Jaba to +Anbon must lay in a good supply of food from Xaba. This witness knows +further that a queen of Xaba is at war with the Portuguese; she is +the queen of Xapara. Consequently the Javanese refuse to take food +to Malaca, which is furnished by the king of Pegu. This witness has +heard that the king of Pegu has made dependents of the kings of Sian +and Patan. The Portuguese have war likewise with the king of Bintan, +for the latter married a daughter of the king of Achen who is hostile +to the Portuguese. This witness has been twice in Maluco, and has seen +what he has described. At the entrance to the port is a rampart, and, +farther in, the fort where the said Portuguese live. They have a vault +there in the middle of the court; and, even if the fort be burned, +the court inside is not burned. + +When asked what became of the artillery of the galley which was lost +on the coast, he said that the king of Mindanao, who is an old man, +heard of the loss of the said galley there, and went there with forty +vessels, and that the people of Samboanga seized the said artillery, +which they had taken from the galley and took it ashore at the river of +Mindanao. He said that the people of Samboanga burst one piece; and the +Spaniards took it, along with two grappling hooks, and brought it to +this city. All the above is the truth. This witness said also that the +said galley that was lost carried nine pieces of artillery--amidships +a large round swivel-gun; at the bow and along the sides, two large +chambered falcons; at the stern two more; and at the sides four +culverins, two on each side. The chief of Taguima took two culverins, +and the king of Mindanao took all the rest. This is the truth, on the +oath that he has taken; and he affirmed and ratified the same, but +did not sign it. He is about thirty years old, a little more or less. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + + +_Captain Ribera's Instructions_ + +The instructions that Captain Grabiel de Rivera must observe in the +expedition that he is about to make, at my command, to the island +and river of Mindanao, are as follows. + +First, you shall go to the port of Çubu, where are the artillery and +ships of his Majesty brought from Borney by Captain Esteban Rodriguez, +and the other supplies left there by him. You shall take all of these +supplies that you may need for your expedition as well as the necessary +soldiers and food. The soldiers shall be taken from the inhabitants +of the said city, and from the soldiers taken for the said expedition +by Captain Juan Lopez de Aguirre. This latter shall deliver his men +to the magistrate there. You shall choose from them such men as you +desire, since you have the affair in hand. You shall try to take +some men belonging to the captain and chief named Quilantan, as, +they tell me, he is acquainted in the river of Bindanao. + +As you know, Captain Esteban Rodriguez went last year by my orders +to pacify the river of Mindanao. Because of the lack of provisions, +the current of the river, and other causes, he did not carry out my +wishes--namely, to explore that river and all its environs personally, +and to wait there some little time to try to get them to make peace. I +ordered him to represent to the natives how advantageous it would be +for them to become his Majesty's vassals and our allies. He was ordered +to treat them well, and to use kind methods and persuasion with them; +and not to use force, or plunder them, burn their houses, or do any +other damage to them. And that they might become friends, he was not to +ask tribute from them, and should exercise no force in this regard. He +was merely to tell them of his Majesty's heavy expenses in this land, +and the many hardships endured by the Spaniards in going to civilize +them, and to teach them how to live in accordance with the law of +nature, so that they might understand the chief requirements--namely, +to become Christians and recognize the true God, who created and +redeemed them; and in order that they might cease to do evil to their +neighbors, and to commit other cruelties and robberies. And it is just +that, since so much is spent by his Majesty, and by the Christians who +go there, that the natives should on their side aid somewhat, since +they benefit thereby. But the said captain was ordered that whatever +they gave should be decided by the natives themselves. In observance +of this the said Esteban Rodriguez did them no injury whatever; +but they fled. And because, when the Spaniards went to attempt to +pacify them, as I have heard, the natives killed those who went as +ambassadors to them (among whom was a vassal of his Majesty from +the island of Jolo), you will investigate this matter in the city +of Nombre de Jesus among the soldiers who went on that expedition, +in order that you may have the necessary foreknowledge. And if they +really killed those who went on an embassy to them--a barbarous and +cruel act--and if they are wont to display such treachery, then you +shall punish them as you deem best. I leave this to your own judgment +advising you that in his Majesty's fleet, commanded by Villalobos, +they killed certain men, under promise of security, and seized one of +his boats. In this treachery they all shared, for one boat containing +three or four men was attacked by three or four thousand natives. They +killed also the master-of-camp of the said fleet. This will warn you +not to put any trust in them, or to allow them time or opportunity +to enable them to commit any treachery. You will keep strict watch +over your ships and men. + +Although you have the said information and you understand clearly +that they are evilly inclined and have committed the said crimes, +you must begin by trying to make them peaceable by kind methods, +as above stated. If they are unruly and it becomes necessary to +punish them, you shall do it. And if they give no occasion for +either peace or war but flee to the mountains, then you shall wait +for them with all the prudence possible, and such as I expect from +you. You shall endeavor always to see that the soldiers and troops +commit no depredations. If the said Indians come peaceably and with +friendliness, you shall receive from them what they offer, as above +stated. And you shall give testimony, before a notary appointed by +yourself as to the way in which the natives of those regions place +themselves under the obedience of his Majesty--by their own wish, +or by act of war, if they commence it; so that, as far as you are +concerned, you may have permanent and just authority to compel them +to obey and pay tribute. In this matter you must exercise care and +diligence, for it is an affair which needs accuracy, so that the land +may be allotted according to the instructions of his Majesty. And in +such case you shall agree with the natives upon the season when the +Spaniards shall return thither next year; and tell them that they shall +come here freely, if they wish, for intercourse and trade with us. + +You shall bring in writing a memorandum of the times of harvest and +the products of the land; the gold-mines and places where gold is +washed; the number of inhabitants, their settlements and customs; +whether that river yields cinnamon, and how it should be treated in +order to make it good. + +_Item:_ You shall obtain information regarding the islands of Limboton +[35] and Celebes, the course thither, their products, and bring me +a clear statement thereof. + +_Item_: You shall order that no Indian be sold outside the island, +representing to them how cruel it is to sell the men of their own land, +and that by such an act they offend God and depopulate the land. + +_Item_: You shall order that they cease to rob, within or without +the island, warning them that such is an offense to God, our Lord. + +And because I have heard that one of the ships of Villalobos was lost +for want of a small boat, and in it two large anchors and one half +sacre (weighing fourteen quintals, and named "San Marcos"), twelve +culverins, and certain pieces of iron ordnance, you shall try to get +hold of them all, employing therein much diligence. + +You shall try to ascertain where their artillery is, and to secure it, +for it is very material that they remain at peace. + +And inasmuch as the chief of Mindanao has been deceived for some +time by preachers from Borney who preach the doctrine of Mahoma, +and it is said that there are preachers there endeavoring to convert +them all into Moros; and since our main intention is to convert +them to Christianity: you shall order them to admit no more such +preachers of the sect of Mahoma. And if you can ascertain who they +are, you shall try, to the best of your ability, to bring them here; +and shall burn the edifice wherein the accursed doctrine was read +and taught, and shall order that none other like it be built. You +shall tell the said natives that I will send Christian fathers there, +who will instruct them; that already the mosque at Borney is burned, +and that there are now no more Bornean preachers. You shall also tell +them what occurred in Borney last year. + +You shall examine the entrance and port in the river and the ships +of the natives; for it will be allowable to take from them those used +for piracy, leaving them their fishing and trading vessels. + +If the said natives pay tribute, it shall be disposed of in accordance +with the custom of that land--namely, one half shall be reserved for +his Majesty, and the other half shall be divided among the soldiers, +as an aid in their necessity. + +And since all the importance of this expedition lies in patience and +comfort (because the Indians, having seen that they would soon have to +yield, refuse to come down from the mountains), you shall try to make +yourself as comfortable as possible, paying special attention to the +health and welfare of your troops. And you shall carefully study the +country in general, and its water and food-products, so that you may +inform yourself better, in order if possible, to preserve health, +which is the principal desideratum. In order to guard the health +of your men, I charge you specially that you take good care of your +sick. You shall put a soldier of good temper in charge of them who +shall minister to them. From whatever gold or other property of +his Majesty's you may have, the sick shall be provided with fowls +or whatever is necessary. You shall especially forbid the soldiers +to eat bananas or sugar-cane, or other harmful things, and see that +they live decently. + +You shall find out from the Indians of that land whether they sail +or go to Maluco. You shall ask them whether there are any Christians +there; and if there is any Cafre or Christian in Bindanao, you shall +secure him. + +Having completed matters at Bindanao, you shall return to the port +of Cavite. [36] Thence, with what men you deem advisable and with +interpreters from Taguima, you shall go to the island of Jolo, +where Captain Esteban made an agreement with the king of that place +to pay tribute to his Majesty. You shall tell that king that I left +Borney for certain reasons, and that I send this other fleet there +for the purpose of telling him that he should abide by his obedience, +in order not to receive more harm. + +You shall ask tribute from the lord of Jolo, but this shall be paid at +his pleasure and be very light, inasmuch as he has rendered obedience +to his Majesty but recently, and because of the good will he has +shown in his Majesty's service, in sending a letter and returning +eight slaves that he had there who were taken from the island of Çubu, +who were vassals of his Majesty. However, in return for that, Pedro +de Oseguera wrote me that two men from Jolo, who had been captured +by the men of Çubu, had been given up. If there are any more Joloans +there, you may take them, first seeing whether they are Christians +and whether they go of their own free will. The priest at Çubu shall +declare what it will be right to do in this. You shall tell the said +lord of Xolo also that, if he wishes to ask anything else of me, +he shall despatch ships hither. They shall be secure from injury, +for I have ordered that none molest them; and you shall give him my +letter that you have with you. You shall give him a written permit, +so that his people may pass freely through our territory, if they +show the said letter to the people of this land. + +Captain Esteban Rodriguez told me that the lord of Xolo had told him +that he would have two or three tame elephants for his Majesty's +tribute. You shall ask for them, and if he gives them, you shall +bring them here with the utmost care. For that purpose you shall take, +wherever you find it, such ship as is most suitable. If he has no tame +ones to give you, you shall tell him to have them, at all hazards, +next time the Castilians go thither. You shall ascertain the time +and manner in which they can be brought here. + +You shall likewise show yourself very affable to the lord of Xolo. You +shall urge him to persevere in the pearl industry. Both from him and +from the inhabitants of Mindanao, you shall ascertain what things +they need from China, so that other methods failing, those articles +may be taken to them from here. + +Inasmuch as Captain Esteban Rodriguez brought certain anchors and +pieces of artillery from that island, and did not sound the place where +a ship was lost in a storm from the north, if you have opportunity, +you shall be careful to do so, taking care to return before the season +for sailing is past. On your return you shall see whether Captain +Juan Lopez de Aguirre left any cinnamon because unable to bring it +in the vessels of his fleet. + +_Item_: When you return by way of Çubu, you shall bring back all his +Majesty's vessels there, as well as all the artillery left there by +Esteban Rodriguez. You shall bring also a relation of present and +past occurrences there. + +You shall try to ascertain whether there is any cinnamon in the +river of Mindanao. If so, you shall try to bring some of it. You +shall try to find out how to treat it, so that it may be of as good +quality as that in Castilla; for his Majesty has had us notified +that that sent from these districts has not been good. On your way +to Çubu, you shall send some one to pacify the tingues [hill-people] +of Butuan and to examine the towns reported by Juan Gutierres Cortes, +in order to discover the people and ascertain their number and their +location. You shall send a cautious man for this, who shall investigate +such matters as are necessary. When you leave Çubu, you shall order +Pedro Navarro to send to this city all his Majesty's ships in that +place, and the artillery taken there by Captain Esteban Rodriguez, +as well as whatever else he has there in his keeping, in charge, of a +careful man. This must be accomplished by the bonancas of April, for +the artillery can be brought more securely then. If any soldier or any +one else should die, you shall make an inventory of his possessions, +and keep the same. You shall note his name and his birthplace, so +that there may be a good account and relation of everything. + +Given at Manila, January fifteen, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, in the Filipinas islands of +the West, on the eighteenth day of the month of February, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Rivera--a person who by order and authorization of the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's council, auditor of his +royal Audiencia established in the City of Mexico, and his governor +and captain-general in these islands, is about to go to pacify and +explore the river and island of Mindanao--said that, inasmuch as it is +necessary to appoint a notary for the said expedition, in order that +he may handle and despatch the business that will arise during it; +and inasmuch as Diego Lopez Carreño is a skilful man and qualified +to take charge of this: therefore he appointed, and he did appoint, +him as notary of the fleet and expedition. He authorized him fully, +in so far as he himself is authorized by his Lordship, to enjoy and +exercise this power. He ordered him to take the oath and execute the +formalities required by law, for the exercise of this power. Then the +said Diego Lopez Carreño, who was present, accepted it, according to +the order of the said captain. He took the oath before God and the +blessed Mary, and on a sign of the cross, upon which he placed his +right hand, to exercise the office well and faithfully to the best of +his knowledge and understanding, and to commit no fraud, equivocation, +or deceit; and, if he did thus, may God so reward him; but if not, +then may he be proceeded against. + +He affixed his name thereto. Witnesses were Tome de la Ysla, Pedro +Navarro, Grabiel de Ribera. + +_Diego Lopez Carreño_, notary + +Off the coast of the river of Mindanao, when sailing toward the said +river, on the thirteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain, Grabiel de +Ribera, met off the coast of the said river, a small boat. His Grace +ordered it brought to the side of the flagship, in order to find +out whence it was coming and whither bound. When it was brought, it +appeared that certain Indians were aboard; through the interpreter, +Miguel Godines, who understands the language of the said Indians, +they said that they were slaves of Limansacay, king of the said river +of Mindanao. The said captain feasted them, gave them some articles +that he had brought in his galley, and ordered the said interpreter to +inform them that he had come by order and authorization of the very +illustrious governor of these islands; that he came in his Majesty's +name to pacify the said land, to pacify and quiet the said natives, +and to make them friends, vassals, and servants of his Majesty, as +are the natives of the other islands. As vassals of King Don Ffelipe, +our sovereign, they would be greatly profited, would be protected and +aided by the said governor, and his Grace would now protect them in +whatever arose and in what they most desired. The reason why he wished +to have peace with him, and with the other chiefs of the said river, +was because his Majesty wished them to understand the great error +and delusion that they labored under, and to recognize their Creator +and Lord, who is the only true God. And because they were Indians who +could not write and slaves of limited understanding, the captain did +not discuss with them more fully his Grace's reason for coming. He +asked them to tell the said Limansacay all the above things, and told +them that they should have no fear or suspicion of any thing, for +his Grace had no authorization to injure or molest them in any way, +but only to entertain and protect the said Limansacay and the other +chiefs of the said river, as had been done in many other districts, +and as is done with all the natives of all the islands. Thereupon the +said Indians went away, without any harm or insult being offered them; +on the contrary they were feasted. + +To all of the above I attest, for it occurred in my presence. Witnesses +are Pedro de Oseguerre, Tome de la Ysla, Ensign Melchor de Torres. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary-elect + +Off the coast of the river of Mindanao, four leagues from the said +river, on the fourteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Ribera, sailing toward the said river met a small boat, and in +order to take in water and ascertain their position, ordered it +brought to the flagship. When it was brought, it appeared that it +contained a Boholan Indian, named Umapas, married in the said island +of Mindanao. Two of his brothers-in-law, natives of the said river, +accompanied him. Through the interpreter, Miguel Godines, they were +asked whence they came and whither they were bound. Through the said +interpreter they answered that they were bound for the city of Manila, +at the order of Limansacay, king of Mindanao; and that they were +taking to his Lordship, the governor, two gold-emblazoned daggers, +and two great loaves of wax. Furthermore, the said king ordered them +to collect five taes of gold owed him by some Indians. All this, they +said, was to be given to the said governor in token of recognition and +peace, which they were going, in the name of the said king Limansacay, +to ask from the said governor. Upon hearing this, the said captain +informed the above-named persons that his Grace was going in the name +of his Majesty and by order of his Lordship, in his royal name, to +pacify all that region, and to make peace with all the natives thereof. + +Therefore his Grace took them with him to the very mouth of the said +river, and from there despatched the two brothers-in-law of the said +Umapas, who are natives of the said river, in order that they might +advise the said Limansacay, king of the said river, that his Grace +was commissioned by the said governor to treat with him for peace +and alliance, which his father Asututan, now defunct, had requested +from King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign. In consideration of Umapas's +fear and premonition that the king would behead him if he returned, +his Grace despatched the two said brothers-in-law. He ordered them +to tell Limasancay, king of the said river, when they reached his +presence, of the good resolution that his father had taken, and his +great zeal in making peace with his Majesty, and with the governor +in his royal name; that his Grace was ready and prepared to receive +them as vassals of his Majesty, in whose royal name he was come; +and that the king would take them under his royal crown and give +them his royal aid. They would be protected and aided on every +occasion that might arise, and whenever they needed it. In order to +ascertain what were King Limasancay's purposes, and what he intended +to do, his Grace would await a reply to it all, for one natural day +[_i.e.,_ twenty-four hours], anchored at the mouth of the said river +of Mindanao. He ordered all the above to be set down in writing, +that it might stand in the records, and affixed thereto his signature. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godines_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On the coast of Mindanao, two leagues, more or less, from the said +river, on the fourteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Ribera ordered that the following instructions be imparted to all +those in charge of the warships taken by the said captain for the +conquest and pacification of the said river and island of Mindanao, +and that they should keep it in its entirety. + +First, the fragata acting as flagship shall enter first, having on its +right the other fragata under command of Sergeant Lope de Catalaraga, +and on the left, the two vireys--in order that they may be at hand, +if it is necessary that any message be despatched. + +Immediately shall enter successively the two Bornean galleys, in +charge, of Tome de la Ysla and Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, so that, +should it be necessary to fire their artillery, they may do it when the +fragatas discharge theirs, for which I shall have the trumpet sounded. + +The two virocos shall form a rear-guard, preceding the other viroco, +which has a lack of men. All of them shall sail as closely together +as possible, and those which sail faster shall await the others, +so that we may all keep in order. + +No arquebuse shall be fired unless it is necessary, and no one shall +disembark without my permission and order. + +I order you to observe great care in all the above, and even more +in looking after the provisions in your vessels; for we do not know +how long we shall stay in the said river, nor do we know whether we +can procure provisions there, and because of the long distance from +this said river to the town of Santísimo Nombre de Jesus, where we +could find the articles necessary for the support of the said fleet. I +order you to observe and obey all the above, and not to violate these +provisions, under penalty of punishment. I order that all the above +instructions be read to each commander of the said vessels, so that +he may know it. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +(On the said day, month, and year aforesaid, I, Diego Lopez Carreño, +notary of the fleet, certify that I read the entire instructions +of the other part of this present to all those commanding the +ships of the said fleet, to each one separately. They all answered +that they were ready to observe and obey the contents of the said +instructions. Witnesses are Tome de la Ysla and Sergeant Catalinaga, +who were present the entire time. + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river of Mindanao, at the mouth of the said river, on the +fifteenth of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de Ribera, after having +waited at the mouth of the said river, during the time which he had set +with the two messengers whom he sent to Limansancay, king of the said +river of Mindanao; and seeing that the above-mentioned persons did not +bring any reply to the message that his Grace had sent to the said king +(as is set forth in more detail in a certain writing in regard to this +matter executed before me the present notary, and to which I refer): +notifying and arranging all his fleet, he entered the said river. After +having ascended it for about a league or so, and reached the first +port in the said river which is settled, a chief called Dato Bandel, +accompanied by many Indians, came, bearing a white flag in his hand. He +told the said captain that he wished to make peace and alliance with +his Majesty, and with him in his royal name. That was his intention, +but he was hostile to Limancansay, king of Mindanao, who was settled up +the river. Therefore his Grace took with him the said chief, and after +arriving at the said village--where, he declared, the said Limasancay +lived--he found there certain Indians. He had them summoned, and when +they readied the flagship he embraced and regaled them, and made them +sit down near him. One of them was a chief, who said through Miguel +Godines, interpreter of their language, that his name was Sicuyrey, +and that he was a cousin to the said king Limasancay. His Grace set +this man next himself, and gave him ornaments and presents from among +his store, as well as to the others. His Grace told and informed them +that he was come in the name of King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, and +by order of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his +Majesty's council, and his governor and captain-general throughout +these islands, to make terms with Limasancay, king of this river of +Mindanao, for peace and alliance, and that they might become vassals +of his Majesty. He informed them of the great good that would accrue +to them all and to the said Limasancay in particular, if he made the +said peace and alliance with his Majesty, and with the said governor +in his royal name, at whose order his Grace, was come--principally that +they might recognize Jesus Christ, the Creator of the whole world, our +only salvation. This is his Majesty's principal purpose, and he will +entertain and protect them in all things, as is his custom among all +the other natives of these islands who are under his royal crown. In +order to impart this, and many other things, of advantage to the said +Limasancay and to all the natives of this river, it was necessary that +Limasancay come to his Grace. If he feared anything, the captain was +ready to give him whatever security he wished; for he had not come +to molest, but to favor him, according to the orders of the said +governor. Sicuyrey, having been informed of all the above matters by +the interpreter, answered that the said king, Limasancay, was not at +present in that town, but in another, two leagues distant. He said he +would go to him and confer with him in regard to everything that the +said captain had told him; and that he would bring him back with him, +in order that the captain might discuss all those matters. Then they +left, and the said captain said that he would await the answer given +to the, said Sicuyrey by the said Limasancay; and Sicuyrey went away, +together with the others who had come with him. Four hours later, +he returned to the said captain with the news that he had talked to +his cousin Limasancay, and had told him all his Grace's words. He +sent as answer that upon the following day he would come to talk with +him, and that he should await him. Upon receiving this reply the said +captain said he would wait until the following day. He ordered that no +soldier should go ashore or do any damage in the said port to any one, +until the plan and purpose of the said king Limasancay was evident, +and what he would do in regard to the said alliance and peace that +his Grace wished to make with him in accordance with his Majesty's +orders. In order that all the above, and the said captain's great +zeal and resolution in everything concerning these natives might be +properly recorded, he requested me, the present notary, to set it down +in writing, so that everything might stand in the records. I certify +thereto, for it occurred before me, in the presence of the witnesses, +Ensign Melchor de Torres and Pablo de Asequera. + +_Graviel de Ribera_ + +It took place before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +After the above events, on this said day, month, and year above stated, +after all the above had happened in regard to the said chief, the +said captain, considering that the said Dato Bahande had come of his +own accord to make peace, inasmuch as he came with the said flag, his +Grace declared, in the name of his Majesty, and that of the governor +in his royal name, that he received him as his vassal, with all his +subjects--declaring that hereafter they will molest no Spaniard, +will not make war on the Spaniards, and will render assistance in +whatever the governor, or whosoever is authorized by him, shall +order. He said that he was ready to obey. I certify thereto, in the +presence of witnesses Sergeant Catalinaya and Ensign Artiaga. + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +While anchored in the river of Mindanao at the port reported to +belong to Limansancay, king of the said river, on the fifteenth of +the said month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +at about four o'clock in the afternoon, or a trifle later, certain +Indians of the small boats carried by the ships of the said fleet +went ashore at the said port, to look for wood with which to cook +their food. It appears that an Indian (from the fragata commanded by +Juan Rodriguez de Norvega) who was a native of the town of Cayut, of +Tome de la Ysla's encomienda, received five wounds from other natives +of the said river of Mindanao who were at the said town--one in the +abdomen, which caused his intestines to protrude, and the rest in his +arms and thighs. The natives of the said river and village inflicted +these wounds on the said Indian treacherously, giving him some buyo, +and while he was reaching for it, wounding him. He died as a result and +was buried in the said village. Although this injury was inflicted on +us, the captain, because he was awaiting the said Limasancay, for the +said peace, ordered all the soldiers and the other Indians of the fleet +not to harm the natives of the said village, until it was seen what +the said Limasancay would do regarding the agreement which he had made +with the said captain. In order that this, as well as the death of the +said Indian and the wounds he had received, might be evident, the said +captain requested me to give him the present writing as certification +and attestation in the manner above stated. Witnesses, Ensign Melchor +de Torres, Pedro de Esequera, and Diego de Artiaga Gamboa. + +_Graviel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river and village called Mindanao, on the sixteenth of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the fleet +being anchored at the entrance of the said village, wherein it is said +Limasancay, petty king of the said river, usually lives and resides, +at about three o'clock or so in the afternoon, in the presence of me, +the notary, and the witnesses hereunto subscribed--the illustrious +captain, Grabiel de Ribera, being in his flagship--it appears that +Sicurey summoned him from the other side of the river. The said +captain had sent him, one or two days previously, to summon the +said Limasancay. To ascertain the reply of the above king and what +the said Sicurey asked from him, his Grace, accompanied by me, the +present notary and the witnesses, went to an uninhabited house in +the said village and ascended to its top, in order to be able to see +and talk with the said Sicurey--who as above stated was on the other +side of the river with certain Indians who came with him. Through +the interpreter whom his Grace carried he ordered the said Sicurey +to be interrogated concerning the reply that he brought to what the +said captain had sent him to tell his cousin Limasancay; and the said +captain told Sicurey that he should come from the other side of the +river in order that he might talk with him, and ascertain what message +the said Limasancay sent, what was the latter's intention and purpose, +and whether he desired to make the said peace that he had requested +in his Majesty's name. To all of this the said Sicurey answered, +without coming to his Grace, that he had talked to his cousin, the said +Limasancay, who was three days' journey up the river from where the +said captain was stationed; that the said village is called Busayen, +and that he had told the king everything that he had been ordered to +tell. But the king had answered that he was afraid that he would be +seized, and for that reason he would not come to see his Grace; but +he told Sicurey that he should return thanks to the said captain for +the presents which his Grace had given to him and to the others. He +would return to talk again with the said Limasancay, and would again +ask him to come. The said captain told him that, since he was willing +to do him that pleasure, and return again, he should tell the said +Limasancay that his Grace did not come to seize or annoy him; for, +had he wished to annoy him, he would not have asked as he had that the +king come to make peace. The intent of his Majesty, and that of the +very illustrious governor, by whose commission and mandate he comes, +is only to inform the people in that so great river where they are +and live, that they should become vassals of his Majesty, and of the +said governor in his royal name, as the natives of other islands have +done. If he and the other chiefs give obedience to his Majesty, to whom +all render obedience, and are willing to be his vassals and desire to +be protected under his royal crown and favor, his Grace would regale +them and would not molest or annoy them. They could remain in their +own lands and settlement. If they would, of their own volition and +without being forced, give some tribute, his Grace would receive it +in his Majesty's name, and only in token of obedience and so that it +might be understood that they wished peace and were obedient under his +royal crown; that they themselves should decide whatever they wished +to give for this purpose. If the said Limasancay feared, as he said, +that his Grace would seize him, he was prepared to give him any and +all security that he might desire, so that he might come to treat with +the said captain and that he might understand that the latter has no +intention of illtreating him; for if his intention were to molest the +king, his Grace had had occasion therefor already, and could have +seized the said Sicurey and other chiefs who came to discuss peace +with his Grace, as well as a chief called Dato Bahandie. This last +has come peacefully and has rendered obedience to his Majesty; and +in return therefor the said captain has regaled him and will protect +him on every occasion. If the said Limasancay purposes to attempt +treachery and deceit toward the said captain, and in short not to +come peacefully, he shall send word immediately as to his intention; +for, if he do not come peacefully, then his Grace will employ all +the correctives and artifices possible, until he leaves this land +pacified and its inhabitants as vassals of his Majesty. His Grace +has been informed, by natives and chiefs of the said river, that +the said Limasancay is preventing and hindering many chiefs from +surrendering themselves as vassals of his Majesty, by saying that, +if they did, he would persecute and destroy them. Since he prevents +this, and refuses to make friendship, as has been required of him, +and prevents others from doing so, his Grace, as above stated, will +proceed against the said Limasancay by all possible ways and methods, +as against a man who prevents the chiefs of the said river from making +peace and rendering obedience to his Majesty as they wish: his Grace +will also proceed against all his paniaguados, and against all those +who refuse peace and obedience to his Majesty. The said Sicurey having +heard all the above declaration, and other words to the same effect, +replied that he would repeat it all to the said Limasancay, and would +return within three days. Because the said village of Mindanao did +not contain food for the soldiers, the captain told the said Sicurey +that he would await him and his reply in Tampaca, six leagues up the +river above the said village of Mindanao. In order that this might +appear in the records, I attest and certify the same, which took +place before me. Witnesses, Pedro de Eseguera and Ensign Arteaga. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +At the river and village of Mindanao, on the seventeenth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, after +the illustrious captain, Grabiel Ribera, had waited three days at his +anchorage for Limasancay to come, to make peace as he had requested +of him; and seeing that he did not come and that food was becoming +scarce, and, the said village being depopulated, he could find no food +there; and because his Grace had been told by natives of the said +river that the said Limasancay was retiring up river to one of his +villages, to make a fort there for his defense; and seeing that the +king was dealing treacherously, in order to gain time to build the +said fort: in order to avoid the possible great danger in allowing +the said Limasancay to fortify himself, and likewise because he had +heard that the village of Tapaca, about four leagues up the river, +contained food, from which the fleet (some vessels of which were in +want) might be reprovisioned; to look for and collect certain pieces +of artillery which were said to be in the said village, and which +were reported to have belonged to the lost Portuguese galley--his +Grace on this said day, ascended the river to the said village, for +the causes and reasons above stated. I attest the same. Witnesses, +Pedro de Eseguera, Ensign Melchor de Torres, and Ensign Arteaga. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, on the nineteenth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, in fulfilment of the order +given by the illustrious captain Grabiel de Ribera, after having +voyaged for three days up stream to the village of Tapaca, whither +his Grace shaped his course, it appears that, at the entrance of the +port, the said captain despatched a small barangay with certain Indians +and three soldiers. He ordered these to go ahead to notify the chiefs +of the said town that his Grace was coming, by order of his Majesty, +to pacify the said town and its vicinity; and that the said natives +should come peaceably. It appears that, at the entrance of the said +village, before talking to any of the natives, according to his Grace's +orders, certain culverins and many arrows were discharged at the said +barangay. As soon as the said captain learned of this, he ordered +immediately all the soldiers and men in the ships of his fleet, to set +in order for instant action the cannons, muskets, and other firearms, +so that if necessity demanded, they might be fired. When everything +was in order, he entered the said village. At the said entrance many +culverins and arrows were fired at the said fleet. Consequently his +Grace ordered all the soldiers to keep together and not to separate +at all. Thus the said captain went up the river to the said village, +where he disembarked. Accompanied by me, the present notary, certain +soldiers, a chief whom he took as interpreter, named Quilantan, and +other chiefs and interpreters, the said captain advanced, carrying a +white peace-flag; and he ordered the said chiefs to call out and summon +the Indians who were on the other side of the river. Thereupon these +latter summoned them, and some of those on the other side came, upon +which the said captain ordered his interpreters to ask the said natives +why they had fled and deserted the town, and why they had discharged +those arrows and culverins, inasmuch as his Grace had given them no +cause therefor. He informed them all that he did not come to harm or +offend them; he came to this river solely at the command of the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's Council, and +his governor for all these islands--who had sent his Grace to inform +them of the great error and delusion under which they live and labor, +and to make them vassals of his Majesty, and of the said governor in +his royal name. Being vassals, great gain and advantage would accrue +to them, and they would dwell in quiet and peace in their lands and +settlements, as at present. They would not be ousted or dispossessed +of them, and no person should annoy or molest them. On the contrary, +they would be protected, defended, and aided by his Majesty and +the very illustrious governor in his royal name. By his Grace also, +protection would be given, in whatever required it at present, as +he had promised to Dato Bahandie, a native of this village, who, +because he came peacefully and rendered obedience to his Majesty, +had been received under his royal protection. He and others of his +opinion would be protected in all necessities, and on all occasions, +as vassals of his Majesty. They should understand that the captain has +not come to plunder them or to seize, their possessions, but only for +the purpose above stated. If they had any food, his Grace had need of +it, and would pay them in full for it. They should return to their +houses and land and should not abandon their village. He did not +wish them to pay him tribute or other things. While summoning them +and notifying them of these and other things which his Grace tried +to make them understand, they sent a volley of arrows toward his +Grace, and by good luck missed killing one of the said interpreters +and chiefs there. And as soon as the said Indians on the other side +heard the said summons, they declared that the Castilians were rogues +and had come to deceive them. Thereupon the said captain returned +to the rest of his men. To all of the above, I, the present notary, +certify. Witnesses, Francisco Gomez, Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, +and Juan Rodriguez de Norvega. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca on the twentieth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, Captain Grabiel de Rivera, +seeing that he had had no intercourse with the natives nor was able to +secure it since his arrival in the said village, ordered that three +ambuscades be made inland. Thereupon a certain number of soldiers +and some friendly Indian rowers whom he had, penetrated inland about +one and one-half leagues. It appears that in four hours the said +soldiers returned with the report that it was utterly impossible to +advance farther, because of the numerous swamps and marshes, where +the water reached their knees and higher. Consequently, and because +the captain saw how the food was failing, and because he had been +informed by certain friendly Indians who had come in peace and by +Dato Bahandie, that the petty king Limasancay must be in the village +above Tampaca, he authorized Pedro Brizeño de Eseguera, a citizen +of the town of Santísimo Nombre de Jesus, a discreet and capable man +and one experienced in that land, to ascend the river in two vireys +and one small barangay, with twenty-six soldiers; for these vessels +were light and the current of the river strong and his Grace could +not ascend the said river with the other ships of the fleet. Indeed, +coming from the village of Mindanao to this village of Tapaca, it +had taken four days to make four leagues (the distance between the +two towns), and he had arrived after great effort, and being towed +by the Indians. He gave, for this reason, the said commission to the +said Pedro de Oseguera, and ordered him to obey and observe in every +particular, and not to exceed the tenor and order of what was commanded +him in the said commission given him by the captain. Thus he ordered +and affixed thereto his signature. Witnesses, Sergeant Catalinaga, +Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +I, Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry for his Majesty in the +Filipinas islands of the West, who by order of the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general of these +islands, come to pacify and explore the river of Mindanao, by virtue +of the commission and instructions given me by his Lordship to make +the said expedition: inasmuch as I have reached the village of Tapaca +in prosecution of my voyage, and after remaining here certain days, +summoning and notifying the natives--in the presence of a notary, +who attested the same--to come to make peace; and having informed +them that I came in his Majesty's name to pacify the said river, +and to make the natives and residents of that region vassals of his +Majesty--which was proclaimed through interpreters who understand +their language; and inasmuch as the natives of the said village, +although all the above information was proclaimed, have fled and +abandoned their houses and lands, and the fleet is suffering from +lack of provisions, for the food is all gone; and because it would +be extremely difficult for it to ascend the river farther, and would +require much time, because of the great strength of the current all +along the river, it having taken three days to tow the galleys and +fragatas by means of small oared vireys from the village of Mindanao +to this of Tapaca (a distance of four leagues), because of the said +current: therefore in the name of his Majesty, and for the proper +provision and despatch of the said fleet and men, and so that the +instructions of his Lordship may be observed and obeyed, he said +that he delegated, and he did delegate, all his power, as far as +he possesses it for the said purpose, to Pedro Brizeño de Oseguera, +a citizen of the town of Santísimo Nombre de Jesus--a deserving and +capable man, and experienced in that land--so that with two vireys and +one barangay, all oared boats, and accompanied by twenty-six soldiers, +he may ascend the said river. + +When he has reached certain settlements on the river, and in especial +that of the village of Ybatel (where it is said the petty king +Limasancay is), he shall notify him and the chiefs of the said village, +and those of the village of Buayen, through the interpreters that +he shall take with him, that the said Pedro Brizeño de Oseguera goes +by my orders to the said villages, to inform them that I have come by +order of the said governor to execute and fulfil the above purpose; and +that I am awaiting, in this village of Tapaca, the said Limasancay and +the other chiefs to come to make peace and to acknowledge themselves +vassals of his Majesty, as Dato Bahandie, chief of this river, has +done. Likewise he shall inform them that his Majesty's purpose in +sending me to this said river is to pacify it and make it peaceful, +and to make them understand the great delusion in which all the natives +thereof live; that they shall become vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign (whom may God preserve), as are all the natives of the island +of Panay, the Pintados islands, and those of the island of Luçon; and +that they may be instructed in the matters which pertain to our holy +Catholic faith. If they become vassals of his Majesty they will be +protected and guarded, whenever they have need and whenever occasion +requires. They shall return to their houses and towns as formerly, +for I have given them no occasion to abandon these. I do not come +to plunder their possessions or to harm them, or to require them +to give tribute, beyond what they give now of their own volition, +in token of recognition and obedience, so that it may be understood +that they desire peace and alliance. Furthermore he shall try to +ascertain and discover with all solicitude and care the whereabouts +of Limasancay, for I have heard that he is in the village of Buyayen +with his father-in-law, the chief of the said town, by name Seproa. He +shall try to confer and treat with Limasancay; and, that failing, +he shall send another person to tell him to come to this village of +Tapacan, where I am at present, and that he shall have no fear, or +be alarmed at anything; and that, if he comes, we shall treat for the +peace and friendship that I come to make with him and the other chiefs +of the said river in his Majesty's name. I am thoroughly aware that +the reason for the hostility of the natives of this entire river and +their abandonment of their houses and native places is his instigation +and command. If he does not intend to come to treat with me, he shall +not hinder or prevent the said chiefs who, as I have been informed, +desire to do so, from coming to make peace. For this reason he shall +not do it. Likewise he [Oseguera] shall inform the said Limasancay +and the said chiefs that, if they become his Majesty's vassals and +render him obedience, they shall be protected and aided, and live +quietly and peaceably in their lands and native places. No one shall +molest or annoy them in any way. If they do not do this, then there +will result many wanderings and anxieties, and many other troubles +and losses will come upon them. For all the above and for whatever +happens in the said summons, he shall appoint a notary before whom +declarations shall be made. I give him power and authority, in all +the fulness delegated to me by his Lordship for the said purpose. He +shall exercise great diligence and care therein. He shall not allow +the soldiers who take with them Indian rowers to molest or trouble +the natives of the said village, or their houses and possessions. He +shall take as many days as he deems necessary for this purpose, but +no more. Given at the said village of Tapacan, on the twentieth day +of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapacan, on the river of Mindanao, on the +twenty-third day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, before the illustrious Grabiel de Ribera, captain of +infantry for his Majesty in these islands, and before me, Diego Lopez +Carreño, notary of the fleet, appeared Pedro Brizeño de Oseguera. He +said that, in fulfilment of the commission and instructions given him +by the said captain, to ascend the river with the two vireys and one +barangay, accompanied by others, as declared in the said instructions, +he went, in prosecution of his voyage, and arrived at the village +of Buayen, about four leagues from this village of Tapacan, passing +some small uninhabited villages on the way. When he reached the said +village of Buayen carrying a white flag in token of peace, many shouts +were raised by his Indians, who called in their own language Siproa, +chief of the said town and father-in-law of Limasancay. Although they +shouted, as said, and tried to find some natives in order to confer +with them, they could see nothing of them. On this account they could +not inform the natives of the said village of their object. Therefore +he went on to the village of Ybalet, about three leagues from the +said town of Buayen. Carrying his said white flag, he looked for +Indians in the said village, and found certain Indians. He ordered +the interpreters with him to summon these Indians to him, declaring +that he would not harm them, for he came only to request their peace +and alliance, and that they become vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign, as is Dato Bahandie, chief and native of this river. When +they were asked where the said Limasancay and other chiefs were, they +answered that they had left them behind in the village of Buayen and +that they had no chief in their village, for he too was hidden with +the said Limasancay. The said Pedro Brizeño de Oseguera also sought +provisions in both the villages of Buayen and Ybalet, for the support +of the said fleet, but found nothing in either one, for the natives +were all hostile, and all their houses had been abandoned. When the +said Indians were asked the above questions, and he saw how scanty was +the information derived from them, he [Oseguera] tried to lay certain +ambuscades, in order to capture some Indian to have speech with him +concerning the said river. Therefore the two ambuscades were laid, +but an Indian could be taken in neither one; for none appeared to be +captured, as all had fled, and were so afraid of the soldiers that +upon seeing Spaniards in their land they took to the mountains. Thus +retired the Indians who talked with the said Pedro de Oseguera, +refusing to come to him. Since he saw that these two villages--the most +important, so far as he knew, on all this river--contained no peaceful +Indian with whom to treat and from whom he could ascertain what was +happening; and that he could find no food, he decided to return to +the said captain to advise him of what he said had occurred. This +relation is true, and witnesses present were Ensign Melchor de Torres, +Francisco Rodriguez de Salamanca, and San Juan de Cavala. He affixed +his signature, jointly with Captain Grabiel de Ribera. + +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, located on the river above the village of +Mindanao, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain Grabiel de +Ribera, after remaining seven days at the said village of Tapaca, +anchored there with his fleet and soldiers; and, having seen that the +natives of the said village and all its vicinity refused to come to +make peace--as is stated above more in detail and as appears by the +records made in regard to this matter, to which I refer--in order to +fulfil and observe the orders contained in the instructions given him +by the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, in consideration +of the fact that the location and settlement of the said village of +Tapaca is very unhealthful, and that some of his soldiers and many +Indian rowers had fallen ill, in order to avoid the danger that might +again occur for the above reason, ordered all the commanders of ships +to make ready to come to this village of Mindanao, where his Grace had +formerly been with the said fleet, without committing any depredations +in the said village; for the said village of Mindanao is a healthful +village and settlement, and its climate is excellent. Accordingly, +he left the said village of Tapaca on this said day to return to +this of Mindanao, where he arrived on the same day at five o'clock +in the afternoon. I attest the same. Witnesses, Pedro de Oseguera, +Tome de la Ysla, and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Captain Grabiel de Ribera, upon finding that he had been unable to +seize any Indians in the ambuscades which his Grace had ordered to +be made in the said village, in order to talk with them regarding +affairs of the said river, left, when about to depart, two ambuscades +of soldiers in the said village of Tapaca. Two Indians were taken +in this way by the soldiers, who were led before the said captain, +then anchored with the rest Of his men and boats in the village +of Lusa, one-half a league from Tanpaca. They were brought before +me, the present notary, and the interpreter Laquian--an Indian, +who understands the language of the natives of this river; and the +following questions were asked them. + +One of them on being asked his name and whose slave he was, responded +that his name was Sidurman and that he was the slave of Batala, a +chief of the said village of Tapaca, and brother-in-law to Limasancay, +petty king of the said river. + +Being interrogated by the said interpreter why he and his companion +came to the said village of Tanpaca, where the said captain was, since +the natives of the said village had hidden themselves and abandoned +the said village, he declared that the said Batala sent them both to +the said village in order to find out what the Castilians were doing +there. This was their reason for coming. + +Being asked to tell where the said Batala was when he sent him and +his companion on the above-mentioned errand, he said that he was in +a village called Bulon, situated on the said river. The said captain +asked him what he [Sidurman] was doing in the said village, and why +Batala and all the other chiefs had abandoned their own village. He +said and answered that they had fled from fear and terror of the +Castilians, for Limasancay had sent word by a slave to his said +master to do this, and that he was doing the same to the village of +Buyen. Therefore the said Batala and the other chiefs went to the +said village, as above stated. + +He was asked if there was a road by which his Grace might go to the +said village, where the said Batala was, in order to treat with him +for peace. If there is, his Grace said, he would loose them and give +them their liberty. This witness said that the creek by which he +came is navigable only with barotos, and he and his companion came +in one. It is quite impassable in one part and swampy in the other, +with water up to the breast, and higher. When the said Batala and +all his wives and the rest of the people went thither, they used very +small barotos, and then with difficulty. Therefore the Spaniards do +not dare go thither by way of the said swamps. + +This witness being asked where his master Batala keeps his artillery, +said that he knew that he had two falcons that were brought from the +town of Zamboanga, when Batala was with Limasancay. These were taken +from the lost Portuguese galley. When he went away, he took these +pieces with him in a baroto, and has them, as well as other small +culverins, in his possession. + +Being asked where the said Limasancay and the other people are, since +Limasancay sent word to his said master, Batala, to flee and abandon +his village, he said that he knows only what he has heard--namely, +that he is in the village of Buayen with his father-in-law, Siproa, +and that they are hidden in a marsh. Sidurman was also asked, as he +is a native of this river, if he knows where Limasancay keeps his +artillery, and that which he brought from Samboanga. He said that he +does not know. This he deposed through the said interpreter before +the said captain and in the presence of me, the said notary. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On this said day, month, and year aforesaid, the said captain +summoned to his presence the Indian Laman, the companion of the said +Sidurman. The same questions and articles put to the said Sidurman were +asked of Laman through the interpreter. His answers were similar to +those declared by the same Sidurman in his deposition. I, the present +notary, attest the same. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river of Mindanao, on the twenty-seventh day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, while the fleet was +anchored at the village of Limasancay, petty king of the said river, +the captain, considering that in the villages of Tapaca, Buayen, and +Balete (the most important villages of the said river), and in many +other villages of the river, he had endeavored to induce Limasancay +and the other chiefs to come to make peace (as is contained in the +reports, to which I refer), said that, in order that the natives of +the said river might understand that his Grace would not return, +or leave the said river until he left it pacified and tranquil, +under the protection of King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign (whom may +God preserve), be ordered for this purpose a fort to be commenced +in the said village of Mindanao, on a point made by two arms of the +river, near where the fleet is anchored. [37] He ordered palm-trees +and other wood needed for it to be cut. Therefore, on this said day, +and in presence of me, the said notary, certain palm-trees were cut, +and the said fort begun. I certify thereto. Witnesses, Sergeant +Catalinaga, Tome de la Ysla, and Pedro Brizeño de Eseguera. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on this said day, month, and year +aforesaid, the said captain ordered Aquilantan, a chief of Tanae, +who accompanied his Grace, to go to the town of Silanga, situated on +the said river, to summon its chief, Dato Bahandil, the one with whom +his Grace had made peace when he ascended the river. He was to tell +him to come immediately to his Grace, who wished to discuss certain +matters with him. The said Quilantan summoned the said Bahandil, and +he came on the same day. When he and the other chiefs who accompanied +him from the same village were brought before the captain, they +were informed through Laquian, the interpreter, that his Grace had +ascended the river to the town of Balete, displaying a white flag +all along the said river, as a peace token. He had summoned the +natives of the river to make peace, as he did not come to plunder +or harm them. Although he did his utmost to make peace with them, +he could not effect it. His Grace has understood that Limasancay is +responsible for this condition of affairs. Through his cunning and +by his order, all the people have been hostile to the Spaniards, and +have abandoned their villages. He requested Dato Bahandil, since he +is the vassal and ally of his Majesty, to go or send to the village +of Buayen, where the said Limasancay is, and tell him that the said +captain did not come to rob or harm him, but only to make alliance +and peace, and that he should place himself under the dominion of +King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign (whom may God preserve), From this +much advantage would accrue to him, and he and all the other chiefs +would be dispossessed of the error in which they all are, and would +recognize their Creator, who is the only true God. Although his Grace +had many excuses for putting him to death--inasmuch as they killed +one of his Grace's Indians in the said village of Mindanao and had +discharged many arrows at the Spaniards all along the river, both +by day and night--yet he had no desire to harm them, notwithstanding +his opportunities therefor; for he could have burned their villages, +cut down their palm-trees, and seized and killed many people, and +that whenever he wished. Consequently they should understand that he +bore express command from the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de +Sande, governor of all these islands, not to harm them in any way, +and hitherto he has not done so. Should the said Limasancay refuse to +come to make peace, he should not prevent the other chiefs and natives +of this river from coming to render obedience to his Majesty. His +Grace has heard that, because Limasancay will not consent to come, +no one else dares to come to make peace. The said Dato Bahandil +having heard and understood all of the foregoing, answered that, +having had war with Limasancay and having made peace but recently, +he did not dare to go to talk with him or any other of his village; +for, if he had any trouble with him, the latter would immediately +order him to be killed. Therefore he declined to go. The said captain +asked him, since he would not go, to find some one in his village +who would go to tell the said Limasancay all the above, saying that +he would pay this man. Likewise Limasancay should be told that his +Grace was building a fort in his said village, and that he did not +intend to leave until the king should make peace. Dato Bahandil went, +saying that he would return with the answer within two days and that +he would try to despatch the said Indian to the said Limasancay. The +payment for this man was given to the said Dato Bahandil. I certify +to all the above. Witnesses, Pedro Brizeño de Eseguera, Melchor de +Torres, and Pedro de Brito. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On this said day, month, and year aforesaid, while the said captain, +in the said village of Mindanao, was holding a conference there with +the said Dato Bahandil and other chiefs of the said village--wherein +he discussed all the matters above stated, and declared--before the +said captain and in the presence of me, the said notary, and of the +greater part of the people of his fleet, a volley of poisoned arrows +was discharged from the other side of the river and fell near the said +captain and among the others. By great good fortune none of those with +the said captain were wounded. Thereupon the said chiefs, seeing this +shameless conduct of the Indians, begged and persuaded the said captain +to send men and soldiers to kill the said Indians. Persuaded by them, +he ordered some soldiers to fire a few arquebuses in the direction of +the firing of the said arrows, in order to stop further volleys. Yet +they refused to desist, and sent another volley of arrows. And +because of the excitement among the Indians engaged on the fort, +the captain ordered six soldiers and a few of his Indians to go to +the other side to try to capture an Indian, in order to ascertain +who they were and who sent them there. The said soldiers went to +execute this order, and the Indians who had fired the said arrows +began to defend themselves. Therefore the friendly Indians killed +three of them and took one prisoner. He was taken to the captain, +who ordered him to be imprisoned. I certify thereto. Witnesses, +Sergeant Catalinaga and Tome de la Ysla. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +After the above events, in the said village of Mindanao, on the +twenty-eighth of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +Atangata, an Indian slave of Limasancay, was summoned before the +illustrious captain Graviel de Ribera, and in the presence of me, +Diego Lopez Carreño, notary, that I might take down his confession +and deposition. Upon his appearance he was interrogated thus. + +He was asked who were the people with him when he was captured, who +were shooting at the Spaniards, and at whose commission and command +they came to shoot those arrows. He said that they were fourteen +Indians who came to discharge those arrows; that some of them were +timaguas, and others slaves belonging to Limasancay, at whose order +they had come; and that they had left the town of Buayen, where the +said Limasancay is, two days ago, coming hither in barotos. + +Being asked whether the said arrows that were shot were poisoned, +in order thereby to kill the Spaniards who were in the said village, +and who gave the poison, he said that they brought it from the said +town of Buayen, and that some arrows were poisoned when they came, +and others they themselves poisoned when they were ready to use +them. The herb used was poisonous, and if any Castilian should be +wounded, he would die therefrom. + +Being asked, since he is a slave of the said Limasancay, where his +said master keeps the artillery that he brought from the village of +Samboanga (from that lost in the Portuguese galley), and that which +the said Limasancay has of his own, he declared that he knows that +he threw a large piece into the river in front and near to his house +(one brought from Samboanga), as well as another and smaller piece. The +rest of the artillery being small, he took it all with him when he +went away. These pieces consist of three very small culverins. As the +rest were large, he threw them into the river in front of his house. + +Being asked where Limasancay was hiding and why he had fled, he said +that Limasancay had gone away, through fear of the Spaniards, to the +village of Buayen, where he is with his father-in-law. Beyond that +he does not know where he is hidden. This witness was not with him, +for they took the barotos in which they came hither from the village +of Ertala, where he lived. This is what he knows of the matter, +and nothing else. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +On the twenty-eighth of the said month of March, of the year above +stated, considering that, by his confession above given, Atagayta, +the slave of Limasancay, deposed that the said artillery was in +the river in front of the house where Limasancay lived and resided, +he ordered all his Indian rowers, and those of the other vessels, +that they should look for it in the river at low tide, at that point +where the said Indian signified that they were. His Grace ordered +them to look for it, saying that he who should find it would be +given and paid one-half tae of gold. Accordingly they began to look +for the said artillery, and found, in the said river in front of the +houses where the said Limasancay generally lives, one large piece, +from the artillery found in Samboanga; one small culverin, one small +grappling-iron, and three googings of the anchor, two of these broken +and one whole. His Grace ordered all these to be brought ashore, +giving the Indian who discovered them the one-half tae of gold. I, +the present notary, testify thereto. Witnesses, Ensign de Arteaga +and Pedro de Oseguera. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On the twenty-ninth of the said month of March, the said captain +ordered the said Indians to search the said river for the other +pieces; and, as on the preceding day, his Grace said that he who +found any piece would be paid and rewarded. Accordingly many of the +Indian rowers searched throughout the whole river, but found no other +pieces, nor anything beyond what was found the previous day. I testify +thereto. Witnesses, Tome de la Ysla and Pedro de Brito. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the thirtieth of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain +Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry for his Majesty and of the +fleet and troops who came to pacify this river and the villages of +this island and the island of Jolo, by order of the very illustrious +governor and captain-general of these islands, declared that, inasmuch +as his Grace has arrested Diego Lopez Carreño, notary, hitherto of +this fleet for necessary reasons, and as it is necessary to appoint +another person to exercise the said office and to act as notary of the +said fleet: in consideration of the ability and capacity of Benito +de Mediola, a soldier of this fleet, and as he has confidence that +he will perform his duty thoroughly and faithfully, said that he +appointed, and he did appoint him, as notary of the said fleet. He +ordered him to accept it with the formality and oath required by +law. I, the said Benito de Mendiola, being present, placed my hand +on a sign of the cross which the captain made with his right hand, +and swore before God and on the said cross, and promised to exercise +the said office of notary faithfully, legally, and diligently, under +pain of incurring the penalties incurred by those who do not exercise +their duties legally, and to keep secrets. I affix my signature, +together with the captain--who, when he saw my oath and formality, +said that he gave me complete power in form of law to exercise the said +office, and said that he would confirm by his authority and judicial +decree the acts that were executed before me, so that they should be +valid in court or out of it. Witnesses, Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, +Juan de Avila, and Don Sebastian de Baeça, soldiers. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirtieth day of the month of +March of the said year, Dato Bahandil, chief of the said village of +Silanga, appeared before the said captain, and said that, in obedience +to his Grace's orders in regard to the messenger that should be sent +to the said Limasancay, he sent yesterday, the twenty-ninth day of +this present month, an Indian timagua from his village accompanied +by four Indians, in a baroto. He gave these men the payment that +his Grace had given him for this purpose. He told and charged them +all that his Grace had ordered to be told to the said Limasancay and +other chiefs. He expects a reply within three days. + +Being asked by the said Laquidan, interpreter, how it is that, being +hostile to the said Limasancay, as he says, he does not know where +he is and where he is living, Dato Bahandil answered that the said +Limasancay is fleeing with one virey and ten vancas. From fear of the +Spaniards he never remains in one town permanently but is in one swamp +today and another tomorrow. This he declared before the witnesses, +Sergeant Catalinaga and Juan Davila. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the said +month of March, Sihauil, a friendly Indian of Dato Bahandil's town, +appeared before the said captain and in the presence of me, the present +notary. Through the said interpreter, Laquian, he told the said captain +that, if he would pay him, he would tell him where was the other +large piece of artillery brought by Limasancay from the said village +of Samboanga. He asked them not to tell Limasancay who had told them, +lest he order him to be killed. The captain bargained with the said +Indian in my presence to pay him three taes of ingot [_linguague_] +gold, which was proved with the touchstone, according to the said +law; and they were weighed out and given to him immediately. Then +many of the Indians and soldiers went to look for the said piece, +and dragged a small marsh, which is covered by the river at high tide, +quite near the fort built by order of the said captain. They found a +bronze piece of artillery bearing the arms of the king of Portugal, +apparently some seven or eight quintals in weight. The said captain +ordered it placed on one of the fragatas--that commanded by Lope de +Catalinaga. And although many people looked for other pieces throughout +that entire swamp, no more were found. I certify thereto. Witnesses, +Pedro Brizeño de Eseguera, Diego Nuñez, and Ensign Melchor de Torres. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, the thirty-first +of March of the said year, the said captain, considering that, by +reason of the long voyage and bad weather, and the great lack of all +kinds of food in the fleet, because of his long stay; and seeing how +much was needed if he accomplish the purpose for which the governor +despatched him on this expedition, and the said hunger and want; and +that he could not by any method secure provisions in all this river: +therefore he ordered that certain of those captured Indians, natives +of this country, be set to making _landan_, [38] a food eaten in that +river. For this purpose he ordered a great quantity of palm-trees, +of the sort that produces the said landan, to be cut; and they began +to work it and to make the said landan, and it is being made for the +above-named purpose. He ordered me, the present notary, also to set +down the above in the proceedings; and he affixed his signature. I, +the present notary, attest the same. Witnesses, Lope de Catalinaga, +Pedro de Eseguera, and many other soldiers. Likewise I certify that +it takes four days to make the said landan. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the month +of March of the said year, Sibandao, a chief of this village, said to +be a cousin of the petty king Limasancay, with Sinago, Siligan, a chief +of this said village, and many other timagua Indians, appeared before +the said captain and in the presence of me, the present notary, and of +witnesses. They told the said captain through the interpreter Laquian, +that they wished to become allies of the Castilians. They were received +by the captain with great display of affection. He regaled them, +embraced them, and showed them in every way kind treatment. Through +the said interpreter he told them of the advantage that would accrue +to them from becoming allies and vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign, and how they would be protected and favored. He told +and informed them that they were deceived by their idols and that +they should believe in one all-powerful God, who created heaven and +earth--three persons but one sole and true God--in whom we all believe; +and they were very attentive to this. He told them that, as allies, +the governor of these islands would send them priests to instruct them +in the Catholic faith. He told them also, through the said interpreter, +that he was sorry that the said Limasancay had fled and was absent; +for his Grace came, not to rob or injure them, but to secure their +alliance and peace and to teach them the said Catholic faith. Such +were the orders of the said governor. He requested them urgently to +go to tell this to the king. They replied that they did not dare, +for the said Limasancay was evilly inclined; but if his father were +alive they would go. They were unable to pay any tribute in gold or +wax now, as their Indians had fled; but they would give some food +from their stores, equivalent to forty tributes. Then the above-named +chiefs departed, promising to bring this food within three days. + +Witnesses, Pedro Brizeño de Eseguera, Tome de la Ysla, and Ensign +Melchor de Torres. + +_Gabriel de Rivera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of +April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Gabriel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and people who +came to pacify this river and that of Jolo by order of the governor +of these islands, said that, whereas the majority of the Spaniards of +this fleet have told him that many Spaniards and Indian rowers of this +fleet are daily becoming sick, and that he should provide the necessary +remedy therefor, in order to avoid the danger that might ensue, +as his Grace knows the nature of the land and its unhealthfulness: +therefore he ordered Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, accompanied by the +present notary, to go to see and visit the said sick both Spaniards and +Indians. He ordered us to give him full information regarding it and to +make attestation regarding the sick, so that it might be evident that +his Grace has had and has exercised the requisite care and diligence +in everything. This he ordered and affixed his signature thereto. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon the said sergeant, Lope de Catalinaga, and I, the present +notary, went to the fragata of the said captain, where we visited, and +saw, in two beds, Francisco Gomez and Bartolome Ruiz, both soldiers, +and in another Ensign Diego de Arteaga. They complained of fever, +and their appearance bore out this statement. We found also in the +flagship, six Indian Moros, rowers, who were sick; and their appearance +showed it. As witnesses to all the above were Melchor de Medrano and +Juanes de Yraçabal. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon the said sergeant Lope de Catalinaga and I, the +present notary, went to the vessel commanded by Juan Rodriguez de +Norvega. There we saw in one bed the said Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, +and in another Pedro de Brito. Both of them complained of sickness--the +said Juan Rodriguez of a very bad abscess in the leg, and the said +Pedro de Brito of a violent fever; and their appearance confirmed +their complaints. We saw also in the said vessel Juan de Leon, +a soldier and Anton Martin, a sailor sick with chills and fever, +as was evident from their appearance. Further in this same vessel, +Diego de Anaya, a soldier, is sick with fever, as is evident. In the +same vessel are nine sick Indians, from among the rowers. Witnesses +of this were Juan de Avila and Goncalo Ruiz, a soldier. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then the said sergeant Lope de Catalinaga and I, the present notary, +went to the ship commanded by Francisco Velasquez. There were the +said Francisco Velazquez and Miguel Nuñez in one bed. They complained +of sickness, and their appearance proved it. Ten Indian rowers were +sick in this vessel, as their appearance proved. Witnesses to this +were Juan Lopez, Melchor de Medrano. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the virey commanded by San Juan de +Çavala. We found there sick the said San Juan de Çavala and Gonzalo +de Villanueva, as their appearance proved. Eight Indian rowers are +sick in this vessel. Witnesses, Bernabe Cortes and Miguel Godines. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went to the virey commanded by Francisco Rodriguez de +Salamanca. We found sick there the said Francisco Rodriguez +de Salamanca and Miguel Romero, as was very evident from +their appearance. There are three Indian rowers sick on this +vessel. Witnesses, Bernabe Cortes and Miguel Godines. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the viroco commanded by Alonso +Pimentel. There the said Pimentel, Juan Ortuño de Oñate, and +Diego Carrion appeared to be sick, and such was evident from their +appearance. Eleven Indian rowers are sick in this vessel. To this +were witnesses, Diego Nuñez and Tomas Dato. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the vessel in command of Tome de la +Ysla. There were ten Indian rowers sick there, and their appearance +proved it. In this vessel Miguel Rodriguez has been sick more than +one week. Witnesses, Marcos Quenta [?] and Pedro de Arana. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the vessel used to carry provisions from +the flagship. There are four Indian rowers sick in it, besides Pedro +Lopez, a Spaniard, and their appearance proved it. Witnesses, Domingo +de Santurcio and Francisco Quenta [?]. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the fragata commanded by the said sergeant, +Lope de Catalinaga. In it appeared to be sick eight Indian rowers, +and their aspect proved it. Witnesses, Domingo de Santurcio and +Francisco Quenta [?]. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of April, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said captain, in the +presence of me, the present notary, and of witnesses, asked Dato +Bahandil, chief of the village of Silangan, how many people there +are in all this river, and in the lake and coast of this island; +and the names of the villages, and the number of inhabitants in each +one. The above Bahandil, through the said interpreters Laquian and +Miguel Godines, made the following declaration. + +In his own village, Silangan, there are about two hundred Indians, +counting slaves and timaguas; in the village of Sinurey, two hundred; +in the village of Caracan, one hundred; in Catituan, one hundred +and fifty; Vindanao, seven hundred; Vitala, one hundred and thirty; +Vinuruan, four hundred; Luçon, one hundred and sixty; Tanpacan, +one thousand; Atalayan, seventy; Burruan, two hundred; Balabaca, +seventy; Caburundan, one hundred; Macapan, eighty; Corocoan, one +hundred and forty; Buayen, eight hundred; Tuoca, one hundred; Balete, +one thousand; Batunan, one hundred; Baluaquen, one hundred; Ybalen, +one hundred and eighty; Tolendin, six hundred; Salunbun, one hundred; +Quibaca, two hundred; Cacaren, two hundred and fifty; Matinguaguanen, +four hundred; Cabacan, one hundred and eighty; Bagaygaran, one hundred +and forty. Total, seven thousand nine hundred and fifty. + +The said Dato Bahandil declared that all the above villages were on +the said river, swamps, and lake of this province of Mindanao. He said +that a river called Ytilurey flowed into this lake, [39] which comes +from the mountains of Butuan and Caragan, and it has places where +gold is washed. When he was asked how much gold each person could +wash daily, he said that he had not seen it, but he had heard that +they got sometimes one-half a tae, and from that down to six, four, +or two maes. This river contains six thousand men, and near by is +another branch of the river called Dumanen with about seven hundred +Indians. From the said river of Esirey is another branch called Sula +with about one thousand Indians living at its confluence with the large +river which flows into the lake. There is a settlement called Megatan, +under a chief Cacopi, with two thousand men. It is near the junction +of the three branches, which form a cross. This lake is about one-half +league wide. In summer it dries up and is then full of sedges. In the +rainy season it is quite full of water. From this river of Mindanao +to the tingues [mountains], whence flows the said river of Tirurey, +it is a twenty days' journey up the lake. + +He was asked how many people the coast of this said river of Mindanao +contained. He said that a day's journey along the shore of this river +by which we came is a province called Tabungao. It has about three +thousand Indians, who harvest a great quantity of rice. They live +inland a distance of four leagues. Farther on and adjacent to this +province is another settlement, called the province of Picon. It has +one thousand five hundred Indians, who are well supplied with food. + +Along the coast two days' journey eastward, is a settlement called +Bilan. It is a river with gold mines. He says that along the entire +river dwell ten thousand Ytingues [mountaineers] Indians who are not +settled, and that they are at peace with a village at the mouth of the +river, called Canipaan. With all others they are at war. The people +are very rich. All the rest of the coast is settled by Lutaos. [40] + +The chief food of the river of Mindanao is landan, which is made from +certain palm-trees very abundant in that land, called buri. After +soaking this substance they make from it a sort of flour which is their +food. For this reason they do not sow much rice although they have +rice-fields. The rice harvest is in October and November. They have +exceedingly large palm-groves and abundance of cocoanuts both green +and dry; also many swine, which are as large as those in Castilla. The +bar is covered with three to four brazas of water, or four at full +tide. Upon entering there is a good depth of water all the way to +the lake, a distance of eighteen leagues. This is the deposition of +the said Dato Bahandil, and what he has seen hitherto. The captain +signed it; and Francisco Gomez, Lope de Catalinaga, and many other +soldiers were witnesses. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said river of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of April +of the said year, an Indian said to be a native of the village of Dato +Bahandil of this river, appeared before the said captain Gabriel de +Ribera, and before me, the present notary, and witnesses. Through +the interpreter Laquian, he said that his name was Simangary and +that he was one of the messengers despatched in accordance with the +captain's orders by the said Dato Bahandil, with the reward given him, +in order to confer and treat with Limasancay and his people, as is +contained in the above record. In regard to this, he deposed that +he went in a baroto with four Indians to the village of Tanpacan, +where he found Dato Sibatala, to whom he related the object of his +journey. The said Dato Sibatala told him that he did not care to +be the ally of the Castilians, even should they burn the natives' +houses and cut down their palm-trees. He told him also not to go +farther for the purpose of talking with the said Limasancay; for, +if he knew that Simangary was coming from the lord of the Castilians, +he would behead him. Upon this he returned to notify the captain. The +latter ordered it set down in the records and signed it. Witnesses, +Joan Lopez, Francisco Velazquez, and many other soldiers. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, month, and year, the +said Siligan, a chief, appeared before the said captain, and brought +as tribute, to apply on what he was to give, five tributes of rice, +two bundles of tortoise-shell; three dishes, and two _medriñaque_ +robes, one green and the other white. + +This same day Dato Bahandil brought to apply on the tributes +to be given by him, sixty _chicubetillos_ of landan, five hogs, +and six fowls. The captain took it all, and ordered the food to be +apportioned among the fleet. Witnesses, Alonso Pimentel, Francisco +Gomez, Francisco Velazquez. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, the second of +April, of the said year, the said captain, after receiving the answer +brought by the man who went to talk with Limasancay, ordered Pedro +Brizeño de Oseguera, in the presence of many Indians of this river +who have made peace, to embark in the virey commanded by Francisco +Rodriguez de Salamanca in order to go to the channel to look for food +for the fleet. To exchange therefor, he was given dishes, gold, and +_tacley_. He was to inform the said Indians through the interpreters +that his Grace was sending the above vessel and the Spaniards who +accompanied him to the town of Çubu for men to settle in this village, +and for food. He ordered it to be set down in the records. Witnesses, +Lope de Catalinaga, Juan Lopez de Queto, and others. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the second day of the said +month of April of the said year, Simagao, an Indian chief of this +settlement of Mindanao, who claimed to be a relative of the petty +king Limasancay, together with many other timaguas and native Indians, +appeared before the said captain and in the presence of me, the notary, +and of witnesses. Through the said interpreter, Laquian, he said that +he wished to become the ally of the Castilians. The captain regaled +him and treated him hospitably. He told them what, advantage they +would derive in becoming vassals of his Majesty, informing him, as he +had hitherto told all the others, that he would be very glad to see +the said Limasancay. He told them that if the said Limasancay would +come, he would not be required to pay tribute for this year. He asked +Simagao what they would give as a token of recognition. They answered +that they had no gold, but would give provisions, such as they had, +to the value of fourteen tributes. Thereupon the said captain showed +them all hospitality and affection. Witnesses were Alonso Pimentel, +Tome de la Ysla, and other soldiers. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said second day of April of +this year, the said Simagao, chief of this river, appeared before the +said captain, and before me, the notary, and witnesses. The captain, +asked him why--since he was an ally of the Spaniards and was a chief, +and saw that so kind treatment was accorded to all who made peace and +placed themselves under the protection of his Majesty, as had been +done to himself and the others--he did not talk to the other chiefs +who had not come to do the same. The said Simagao answered, through +the said interpreter Silaquian, that he had talked to another chief +named Silitula, who had answered that he did not care for peace, as +he had no gold for tribute. He had told him that we desired gold. The +said captain told him, through the said interpreter, that he did not +come to levy tribute beyond what the chief himself should choose to +give as a token of putting himself under the protection of King Don +Ffelipe, our sovereign. This he did to all his allies. Thereupon the +said chief went away. Witnesses, Ensign Melchor de Torres, Juan Lopez, +and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the fourth day of the said month of +April, of the said year, Taganchina, a chief, who claimed to be from +Catituan, a town of this river, came, and appeared before the said +captain and me, the present notary, and witnesses. Through Miguel +Godines, the interpreter, he said that he wished to become the ally +of the Castilians and to enroll himself under the protection of his +Majesty--himself and his Indians, both timaguas and slaves. Many +Indians from his village came with him. The said captain received him +very kindly and informed him of the great gain that would accrue to him +in becoming his Majesty's vassal, telling him among other things of the +[Catholic] faith, of which he had told the others. He listened with +attention and said that he would assemble his people and give what he +could in recognition and tribute. The said captain told him to give +what he pleased. He tried to induce him to confer with Limasancay to +persuade the latter to make peace, discussing in detail all that he +had told the other chiefs. These Indians went away, promising to return +tomorrow. Witnesses, Juan Lopez de Queto, Tome de la Ysla, and others. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godinez_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the sixth day of the month of April +of the said year, Sibahandil, chief of the village of Silangay; +Simangao, of this village of Mindanao; Simaganchina, of Catiman; and +Sibandao, chief of this village, appeared before the captain and me, +the notary, and witnesses, The said Bahandil gave an account of the +tribute he had promised--two hundred _yrcuvitillos_ of landan, each +of them about one ganta; [41] and ten swine, large and small. The said +Sibandao brought two hogs, and twenty tributes in rice, and medriñaque +cloth, and two dishes from China, as tribute; for he gave nothing +else. The said Sibangao gave four tributes in rice, each tribute of +one _chicuvite_. The said Mahanchina gave twelve tributes in dishes as +above mentioned. They said, through the said interpreter, that their +reason for not coming before and not bringing tribute more fully was +because of the great poverty that they were undergoing--since all the +natives were in revolt and were suffering severely from famine, as +they were all unwilling to come for peace. They asked pardon for their +inability to do more. If they were at their own homes, they would pay +more. The captain ordered it put down thus in the records. Witnesses, +Francisco Velazquez, Ensign Melchor de Torres, Juan Lopez de Queto. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the sixth day of the month of April, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Gabriel +de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and men sent to +pacify this island and that of Jolo by the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general of these islands +for his Majesty, made the following declaration. Inasmuch as his +Grace has remained twenty-four days in this river and has done all +that is declared in the records above, during all of which time he +has striven to make peace and alliance with the petty king Limasancay +and his chiefs, exercising for this purpose the utmost possible care, +committing no injury--although indeed he has had much excuse therefor; +and has contrived to have messengers sent to the said Limasancay, +in order to confer with him, but the latter refused to talk, nor does +anyone care to take a message to him, for they assert that they would +be beheaded; and, besides, since Limasancay prevents his chiefs from +coming to make peace; and although some chiefs have come to make peace +and enroll themselves under his Majesty's protection (as, for instance, +the chiefs of Silangay of this village of Mindanao and of Catituan), +they do not pay us the tribute promised; and some of those who come +bring two or three tributes of articles of little value, or of no +importance, which is an ill way of amusing us, and of no advantage; +and having seen the great need and lack of food suffered by the entire +fleet, because of the long voyage and severe storms that they have +experienced; and because of the many sick--each day both Spaniards and +Indian rowers falling ill, because of the unhealthful climate of the +land, and the lack of all food, except rice--and very little of that, +on many days having only one ration a day, to all the people, both +Bisayans and Moros; and considering the long voyage ahead of them, +and the amount of work that must still be done in order to obey his +Lordship's commands; and having no certain assurance of provisions--as +this island is so short of them; and although his Grace sent Pedro +de Oseguera with gold and articles of barter six days ago to search +for food, still he is not sure that he has found it: therefore he +said that he ordered, and he did order, all the vessels of this +fleet to prepare to cross the bar, in order to make the voyage. His +Grace ordered that a copy of a letter written in the Moro tongue, +to the said Limasancay be placed in these records, so that it might +be manifest. He signed the above. Witnesses, Francisco Velazquez, +Tome de la Ysla, and Lope de Catalinaga + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In fulfilment of the above order of the said captain, I, the present +notary, caused to be made and did make, a copy of the letter written by +order of the said captain to Limasancay, which was first written in a +rough draft, so that the essentials of the said letter might therein +be set down. It was written in the Moro language by the interpreter +Laquian, an Indian Moro, who can write in the said tongue. In order +that the said Laquian might write the said letter, it was explained +to him by Miguel Godines, Spanish interpreter. Its tenor is as follows: + +To Limasancay, the panguilan who is lord over this river and the +environs of Mindanao: I came to this river by order of the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +of the islands of Luçon, the Pintados, and the other islands, which he +governs and rules for King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla +(whom may God preserve during many years). He ordered me to come to +treat with you for the alliance that your father Sulatan so earnestly +desired with the Castilians; to enroll you under the protection of the +said king, our sovereign; and to warn you of the great error under +which you and all the natives of this island are living because you +do not know your Creator--who is three persons yet the one and only +true God who created all men, the heavens, and the earth--so that, +believing on Him, you might merit the enjoyment of the heaven that He +created for those who believe and serve Him. At the entrance of this +river I met Umapas, a slave of yours, who told me that he was going +with a letter and message from you to the said governor, wherein +you say that you wish to be his ally. In acknowledgment, you were +sending two daggers and two cakes of wax. I ordered him to return to +you, in order to tell you that I was coming for the purposes above; +and that you should not flee or have any fear, for I was not coming, +nor had I commission, to molest you in any way. But the said Umapas +answered that he did not dare go upon this embassy for you would behead +him. Likewise I sent to you one day prior to this two of your slaves +(whom I seized on the sea in a ship), that they might advise you of +my coming and that you should have no fear. You refused however to +observe this; and not only have you fled and revolted, but you have +caused the entire district and its chiefs to revolt. They desire to +have peace with the Castilians and to be under the protection of +the said king, our sovereign. But you have counseled them evilly; +for, like a stripling, you do not know the blessings and advantages +which you are losing, and which would be yours if you became the +ally of the Castilians and placed yourself under the control of +the said governor, both for your own and your land's tranquillity, +and for your soul's salvation. Now this is the twenty-fourth day of +this my stay in this river, without having injured you in any way, +although I had good warrant therefor, and during which time I ascended +the river of Balete in search of you, and then returned to this your +village. Thence I sent messengers to tell you the above, none of whom +have returned with a reply from you or have dared to talk with you. Now +I am going to the island of Jolo to confer with its chief. I request +you urgently to consider well what I have said for it concerns you +much. I shall await your reply at Cavite and shall be able to receive +it within twelve days. May God give you grace to come to His knowledge. + +Your friend, _Gabriel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +This said letter in the above form written in the Moro speech and +signed by the said captain before me, the said notary and before +witnesses, was given and delivered on this day, the sixth of April of +this year, to Sibandao, an Indian chief of this town, so that he might +give it to the said Limasancay. Sibandao, through the said interpreter, +offered to take it and deliver it to Limasancay. In order that it might +appear in the records, this copy was inserted. The said captain and +the said interpreter signed it. Witnesses were Francisco Velazquez, +Lope de Catalina, and Juan Lopez de Queto. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godines_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +This is a well and faithfully executed copy of a commission given to +Lope de Catalinaga by the illustrious captain, Gabriel de Ribera, +who comes to pacify these islands of Mindanao and Jolo, by order +of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's +council and governor and captain-general of these islands. Its tenor +is as follows: + +I, Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and people +who come to pacify the islands of Jolo and Bindanao, at the order +of the very illustrious governor and captain-general for his Majesty +of these islands: Inasmuch as the instructions of the said governor +ordered me to send some one from the town of Santísimo Nombre de Jesus +to pacify the river and tingues [mountains] of Butuan; and considering +how much we may shorten the long voyage by going from this district +of Cavite instead of from the said town, and that we have here ships +and rowers suitable for this undertaking--therefore in the name of his +Majesty I entrust the said expedition to Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga. I +order him to go as leader for the said pacification with fifteen +soldiers besides himself. I order him to go with the said soldiers +to the said river and tingues of Butuan to pacify the said people in +the tingues. He shall try to render them obedient to his Majesty, +making the best possible terms of peace by means of interpreters +whom he is taking. From the natives of the said tingues, when they +are pacified, he shall have power to collect such tribute as in all +fairness can be collected from them. As he has the matter in hand, +he shall do what is most convenient in this. Having collected the +tribute, he shall keep one-half of it very carefully, as it belongs +to his Majesty. The other half, according to his Lordship's orders, +shall be divided among his soldiers, according to custom. Everything +that shall be done upon this expedition shall be attested by notary; +and I authorize him to appoint one, before whom shall be transacted +all the proceedings necessary, so that an account may be rendered of +everything. I order all his soldiers to regard, consider, and obey +him as their leader, and observe his orders, under such penalties +as he may inflict. Given in Cavite on the fourteenth of April, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Collated with the original: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port of Cavite, on the fourteenth of April, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, after his arrival at this port, the +illustrious Gabriel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet +and people who came to pacify the islands of Mindanao and Jolo, +by order of the very illustrious governor of these islands, saw in +this port three vessels manned with Joloans. These vessels contained +about fifty persons from the said island of Jolo. The said captain +summoned them to his presence, and through the said interpreters, +Laquian and Miguel Godines, asked them who they were. They replied +that, when the captain was going to the river of Mindanao, he had sent +a Boholan Indian to notify them to collect the tribute, as the said +captain would come for it on his return. Therefore they, as soon as +they heard this, went thither to confer with the said captain. The +said captain asked them why they had left their village, and [had +not] collected their tribute, since he had sent to tell them that +they should have it ready; whereupon they all answered with one +voice that the chief named Rasea had gone to Borney, four months +ago, with a galliot and four vireys full of people, to the number of +about three hundred. These had gone with the said chief to settle in +Borney. Those left were about two hundred men, who were all reduced +to despair through the great famine which they are suffering and have +suffered since Esteban Rodriguez was in their village, and because +of the damage inflicted upon them by the said Esteban Rodriguez. The +said Esteban Rodriguez had told them that they would not be assessed +tribute for two years. For this reason the people had gone to look for +food in other islands. They had collected fifty-seven tributes, which +they brought, with the request that his Grace would not go to the said +village of Jolo because of the severe famine there; if he did, they +must all abandon it. The said captain asked them if they had caught +the elephants as the said captain Esteban Rodriguez had ordered and +which they had promised to his Lordship. They said they knew nothing +of this and that if elephants had been promised, it was by Raja Yloi; +but he had gone to Borney and it was impossible for them to catch any +alive. The said captain went outside secretly, and informed himself, +through the said interpreters, from the Boholan who had been sent, +and from the people of this port of Cavite, regarding the famine from +which the said Indians asserted they were suffering. These declared +that it was very well known and true, and was current talk on this +coast, that the said Raja Ylo had gone to Borney with the people above +mentioned; and that, in the opinion of the people who came from the +island of Jolo, there will be much famine in the future. They are a +poor people and in need of food. All of them begged among the ships +of the fleet, and in the Spanish tongue, that, for the love of God, +_humay_ be given them for they are hungry. It was seen that they gave +their weapons and clothes in exchange for rice. Thereupon the captain +ordered the tributes brought by them, as they said, to be placed +before him. They brought some robes, daggers, dishes, and articles +of slight value and price, and cloth of their land, but no gold or +silver. When the said captain saw how slight was the tribute and that +it was in almost worthless articles, and as he had heard that there +was a large field-piece in the village of Jolo, taken from the lost +galley, he said that, since they did not have the tribute collected +and were so pressed by dire need, he would have pity and not take +the tribute, on condition that they would give the said piece. They +said they would all assemble and discuss this, and they asked the +said captain to await them there until they returned to Jolo. His +Grace told them that this would trouble him considerably because of +his great lack of food; but that he would send Pedro de Oseguera in +a fragata to bring back the said piece, and to ascertain whether they +had told him the truth. Thereupon that very night he ordered the said +Pedro de Oseguera to get ready and embark with ten soldiers in the +said fragata. He was to go to the said island of Jolo and examine +the people and their settlement and ascertain their need of food. He +was to take note of everything, charging his men to act cautiously, +and was not to land or molest the natives. The said Pedro de Oseguera +left that night to execute this commission, in order to take back +the tributes that the said natives had brought, and took them. + +Witnesses, Francisco Velazquez, Juan Davila, Melchor de Torres, +and many other soldiers. + +Before me: + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port of Cavite, on the nineteenth day of the month of April of +the said year, Pagalugan and other chiefs and timaguas of the island +of Taguima [Basilan] appeared before the said captain in the presence +of me, the notary, and of witnesses. They said that they brought to +his Grace, in recognition of tribute (for they knew the fleet needed +food), twenty fowls, twenty pieces of colored medriñaque, three hogs, +and one _chivanta_ of wax in four pieces. They said that they had paid +their tribute to Juan Lopez de Aguirre in civet-cats, fowls, swine, +goats, and cloth. They came also to find out to whom they must pay the +tribute hereafter, and how much they must pay. The captain asked how +many people they were and how they could pay their tribute. Through +the said interpreters they replied that they could pay their tribute in +wax, civet-cats, tortoise-shell, and colored cloth. With the tinguianes +[mountaineers] they number about one thousand men more or less. Upon +this day the captain, seeing the fleet's need of food and the slight +prospects for getting any, ordered all the said vessels of this fleet +to return to the town of Santísimo Nombre de Jesus. + +Witnesses, Melchor de Torres, Francisco Gomes, +and others. + +Before me: + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port called Dapitan, on the twenty-third day of the month of +April of the said year, Pedro de Osegura, whom his Grace had sent +to the island of Jolo, as above recorded, and who arrived at this +port today with the men and fragata that he had taken, appeared +before the said captain, and in the presence of me, the notary, +and of witnesses. He said that, in fulfilment of his Grace's orders, +he had gone to the said island of Jolo. He anchored at the mouth of +the river there, for four days. As soon as he arrived he summoned the +chiefs. They came, and through the said interpreter Laquian he learned +from them that Raja Ylo, with the Indians of the island--three hundred +men, and their women-with his wives, children, slaves, and all his +possessions, had gone to settle in Borney. He [Oseguera] tried also +to learn who had remained, whether they had a famine, as reported. He +was told that not more than one hundred and forty Indians remained +and that, they were suffering a most severe famine. He ordered them +to bring the piece that was said to be inland. In three hours they +brought one to him, and he brought it hither in his fragata. It +seems to be of about twelve or thirteen quintals' weight. Thinking +that they were lying in regard to the people and their poverty, +he insisted upon asking them for the tribute, telling them that +everyone who becomes his Majesty's vassal, pays that recognition, +as a return for his Majesty's expenses in his fleets. They showed +so great poverty, and were so little able to give anything, that, +although he had the chiefs on his vessel and sent them to notify all +the Indians of the land that they must bring tribute in three days, +not forty Indians came with tribute--and that was in dishes, cloth, +and articles of but little worth. The chiefs told him to go ashore +and see for himself that there were no more people. Consequently he +bargained with an Indian, a timagua of the said island (the one who +had owned the said cannon), as he learned that the Indian had traded +for it with others; and gave back to them the fifty-seven tributes +given them by the captain. Then he returned to the fleet. This was +his declaration, and he affixed his signature thereto. Witnesses, +Juan Davila and Francisco Gomez. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon, upon this said day, Pedro de Oseguera declared before +the said captain that the said Indians of Jolo had given, in token +of tribute, forty-three tributes, consisting of two tacs of gold, +nineteen pieces of colored medriñaque, and eight tributes in dishes, +a total of forty-three--besides the fifty-seven that were taken on +account for the piece. The full total is one hundred, and he delivered +them to the the captain. Witnesses, the above-named persons. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the town of Santísimo Nombre de Jesus, on the eighth day of +the month of May, of the said year, the said captain said that, +inasmuch as his Lordship, the governor of these islands, ordered in +the instructions given him for the said expedition that one-half +of the tributes be given to his Grace's soldiers and the other +half to his Majesty; and having seen the small amount collected +and its little value, and the great lack in this town of food for +this fleet: therefore he ordered that all the tributes of cloth and +gold be delivered over and divided among the four ships commanded +by Francisco Velazquez, Tome de la Ysla, Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, +and Alonso Pimentel, respectively. He ordered that it be inspected in +order to make a note thereof. There were forty-four pieces of colored +medriñaque and forty maes of gold. Therefore each ship received +eleven pieces of cloth and ten maes of gold, which was delivered to +the above officers, and they gave receipts for it. Witnesses were +[Juan Lopez de] Queto, Francisco del Castillo [MS. illegible]. The +captain affixed his signature. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the city of Manila on the tenth day of the month of June, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty in +these islands of the West, after examining these records, ordered that +I, the said notary, make two copies of them all, signed and attested, +so that they may have authority. I was ordered to give and deliver +them to him, to be sent wherever was most fitting for his Majesty's +service. In each one of them he said that he would sanction them, and +he did thus sanction by his authority and judicial decree, so that +they may be valid and have credibility in court or out of court. He +affixed thereto his signature. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +And I, Alonso Beltran, notary of his royal Majesty and of the +government of the Filipinas islands of the West, was present at the +above proceeding. I had him affix his signature and affixed my own +in testimony of truth. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +_[Endorsed at beginning_: "Testimony and proceedings in regard to +the expeditions to Burney, Jolo, and Mindanao which were made during +the past year (seventy-eight) and this one (seventy-nine) by command +of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general of the Philipinas Islands of the West. These papers +are forwarded for his Majesty and his royal Council of the Indies."] + + + +Appointments to Vacancies in Manila Cathedral + +The king. [42] To our governor of the Filipinas islands. When we +heard that there were not sufficient tithes for the support of four +prebendaries in the cathedral church which is to be erected in those +islands, we ordered you in our decree of the thirteenth day of July +of the past year 1579, to give them from our treasury a competent +stipend, which was to be in proportion to the amount yielded by the +said tithes. Now the said bishop has reported that, in case the said +prebends or other benefices which were to be established in the said +church become vacant, it would be necessary to defer the appointment of +other persons thereto until orders could be despatched from here; and +thus the said church would remain without the divine service. In view +of this inconvenience, he petitions us to give orders that, whenever +dignities, canonries, and other benefices of the said church become +vacant, they shall immediately be filled by other worthy persons, +with the same stipends as those received by their predecessors; +or to order what else is our pleasure. With the approval of our +Council of the Indies, we favor this; and therefore order you that, +whenever the said dignities, canonries, and other benefices of the +cathedral church in those islands shall become vacant, you fill them +with competent persons of the required rank, who shall serve in the +place of those through whom the vacancy occurs, at the same stipend +as that received by their predecessors, until we make our appointments. + +_I, The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: + +_Antonio de Eraso_ + + + +Letter from Ronquillo de Penalosa to Felipe II + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +This city has begged me to inform your Majesty about three things +solicited by the citizens. May your Majesty command accordingly by +a royal decree addressed to me, in order that I may inform them if +these things are fitting for the service of your Majesty. + +First, that your Majesty may have me informed whether it is convenient +that this city be the capital of this government. At present it is the +largest city, has the largest population, and is the best governed in +this kingdom. It is well situated, so that from it the governor may +easily reach the settlements in these islands. Although the place is +unhealthful, it would nevertheless for the present be convenient that +this city be the capital of this government and the headquarters of +the governor. + +As to whether the repartimientos of the Indians should be made +permanent, I will say that at present such a course would be by no +means beneficial to your royal service, as it would cause the soldiers +to lose the hope of being rewarded for their services. Those who are +now here would not serve and no others would come to this land. + +Touching the granting of estates to this city, there is exceeding need +of them, as this city has none belonging to it by which any necessary +works may be carried out. Nevertheless I do not know whence the land +can be taken without causing much damage. The vacant repartimientos +are very necessary to reward the many persons who have served, and +who complain with reason that the royal estate is always increasing, +and yet it has many debts. May your Majesty provide for everything +according to your pleasure. May our Lord guard your royal Catholic +Majesty, and increase your Majesty's kingdoms, as we your servants +desire. Manila, July seventeenth, of the year 1581. Catholic Royal +Majesty, your Majesty's most humble servant, who kisses the royal +hands and feet, + +_Don Goncillo Rronquillo de Penalosa_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Seen. An answer is unnecessary."] + + + +Ordinance Restricting Departure from the Islands + +At the city of Manila, in the Filipinas, islands of the West, on the +second day of the month of March of the year one thousand five hundred +and eighty-two, the most illustrious Don Goncalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa, +governor and captain-general for his Majesty of these said islands, +said that, inasmuch as he had been informed that about three years ago +Fray Pedro de Alfaro, custodian of the descalced religious of the order +of St. Francis, had left these islands secretly, taking with him other +religious, and that he went without order or license therefor from his +Majesty or the governor, to the kingdom of China, where he now is; [43] +and inasmuch as Fray Pablo de Jesus, a custodian, and other religious +did the same thing a few days ago, causing thereby much scandal and +talk in this commonwealth: in order to correct the aforesaid as is +very necessary and to inform your Majesty thereof, he declared that +he was ordering (and he did so order) that it be publicly proclaimed +in this city that no person of any quality or condition whatsoever +should dare to leave this said city or any other places where said +religious may be, accompanied by any persons whatsoever, by land or +sea, or in any other manner whatsoever, except with express permission +from the governor and captain-general of these islands. This shall +be under penalty of incurring confiscation of all property by the +exchequer of his Majesty, and proclamation as a traitor and rebel +against the royal crown. Moreover, proceedings will be instituted +against such person with all due severity. Thus he provided; and, +under the said penalties, no one shall dare to give such, persons +ships or conveyance by which they may leave, without said permission. + +Given _ut supra_: + +_Don Goncalo Ronquillo de Penalosa_ + +By command of his Lordship: + +_Alonso Beltran_ + + + + +Letter from Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa to Felipe II + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +In another letter of greater length, I have informed your Majesty +regarding the affairs of this land, and have requested some things +desirable therefor. What is now presented is as follows: + +On the twenty-fourth of the past month, there came to this port a +ship of about one hundred and twenty toneladas. It was sent by your +viceroy of Nueva España, but it contained no reënforcements, nor +has he yet despatched them. This country cannot make progress if a +year passes without reënforcements, since it depends upon colonists +for its settlement and growth. Moreover, the commerce cannot be +increased by sending, from year to year, a ship so small that after +the departure of two ships (and one of them more than four hundred +toneladas) this year, half of the goods remain in this city for lack +of a ship. Moreover, this settlement is not provided with a doctor +or apothecary, who are greatly needed on account of the insalubrious +nature of this country. There was a scarcity of everything except +provisions; this fact the royal Audiencia [of Mexico] sent against +me, with only false accounts and petty information obtained from +the followers of Doctor Francisco de Sande, my predecessor--whose +residencia I had taken, and, as a result thereof, had deprived him of +all royal office. Nevertheless, he was received in that royal Audiencia +as auditor; and, as a consequence, persons with grievances may well +lose hope of obtaining justice. It is just that complaints against +me as subjecting him to indignities, be heard, and that justice be +done in that tribunal; but I also believe that your Majesty will +be pleased to guard the dignity of an office as important as mine, +and the servant in whom your Majesty has placed so much confidence. I +say this because from Mexico they meddle with my government--giving me +orders as to the corregidors whom I am to keep, and addressing private +individuals in regard to the supplies, directing them to keep watch +over that matter. This gives much occasion for those who are here +to lose respect for me. The most serious thing is, that no matter +how small the affair may be, they do not listen to me, or to my side +of the story. They impose grave penalties upon me and threaten that +I will be obliged to defray the expenses of the judge. I send some +copies of the commands to your Majesty so that the royal council may +consider and provide what is most fitting for your royal service. + +Moreover, I have heard news in regard to Captain Graviel de Ribera, +who was the attorney of this city; he was one of Doctor Sande's chief +enemies, and most accused him in his residencia, as will appear by +his own deposition therein. On the way from here to Mexico, he became +an ally and confederate of the said Doctor Sande; and together, with +false reports and some witnesses who were tools of the said doctor, +they preferred many charges against me in that royal Audiencia. With +these charges the said Grabiel de Ribera went to España, without a +hearing having been accorded to me or to anyone in my behalf. It is +just to believe that in that supreme tribunal, in the presence of your +Majesty, injustice will be done to no one--least of all to me, who +have served and am now serving your Majesty with so great integrity +and solicitude, and who have had so long an experience. I am sure +that your Majesty will first give me a hearing, and afterwards command +that amends be made for my wrongs, by punishing those who have tried +to stain my honor and my good reputation in life and character. This +I beseech your Majesty to do, in consideration of my services. + +I have great need of an educated assistant, as there is much to be +done here in the business of war and government, as well as a great +amount of work that must be done in affairs of justice, both civil +and criminal. The trouble here is that the people are of such a nature +that, at the same time when justice is done to one, an enemy is made +of another person. I beseech your Majesty to command such provision +to be made as shall be fitting for the royal service. + +The sub-lieutenant Francisco de Dueñas, who, as I have explained in +another letter, was sent as envoy to Maluco, came to this city on the +twenty-second current. He brought very good returns, which have given +us all great satisfaction, as your Majesty will see by the letters of +the chief captain and other private persons, which I am sending through +your viceroy of Nueva España. There is also remitted an account of +the voyage and its events. That fortified place is now open for your +Majesty's advantage; [44] and although its chief captain sent me no +request for aid, I know that it is necessary to send the same, as well +as to pacify the king of Terrenate. It is very important to understand +how desirable it is for that stronghold to prosper, as it is of the +greatest advantage for all Nueva España. Consequently, I have been +exceedingly troubled by the non-arrival of reënforcements from Nueva +España during the past two years. A large number of troops I have +assigned to several settlements, as I have already written at greater +length. In the shortest time possible I will send aid to Maluco; +and from time to time I shall advise what is done in this respect. + +Your Majesty has already been informed how the English pirate [45] set +out for Maluco and the Xabas [Java]. In Maluco he formed a friendship +with the king of Terrenate, to whom he promised to return in a short +time with more forces. Consequently, I have considered how much more +reason there is to believe that they cannot return by the strait of +Magallanes--since I know that that strait is well guarded, and because, +since they have gone through it, both Piru and Nueva España are warned; +they could gain nothing in the expedition, and it would certainly +be lost. No one but the pirate himself knows the route which he took +and the channel which he followed to Maluco; and therefore no efforts +were made to check him. If Maluco should be considered in England as +of great value, and as a stronghold which can be taken and held with a +few men, then they would feel bound to place a large force in it. Your +Majesty should do much for its defense. These considerations impress me +so strongly that, if I were supplied with more troops and artillery, I +could by no means imagine a more necessary task. I will do what I can, +however, in your royal service, although it is not under my charge. + +In my opinion, the spices should be sent from Maluco to Panama, +a voyage very safe and not too long. In this way the ships which +conduct it to Panama may touch at Nueva España and leave there the +amount necessary for that kingdom, and in Panama, what is needed for +Piru, the kingdom of Tierra Firme and the new kingdom of Granada. From +the port of Panama, where the ships coming from Maluco anchor, it is +but five or six leagues' journey by land to the river of Chagre. From +there to España is nothing but water, and consequently the said spices +can be conveyed thereby very easily and at little cost. This I think +is the shortest, safest, and least expensive method. Your Majesty +will order what is most fitting for your service. + +The artillery, which your Majesty orders me to send to the viceroy +of Peru, I am preparing with promptness. Nevertheless, that which +your Majesty has here at present is necessary for this stronghold, +and for the other islands, where I have distributed a number of cannon +for their greater security and prosperity. + +I send the relation of the islands and their villages, and of their +inhabitants and industries, which was forwarded to me to send you. I +would send a longer account if more time had elapsed since the receipt +of your Majesty's royal decree, which arrived the twenty-fifth of +the past month. + +No papers whatever of Fray Martin de Rada [46] were left in this +country; nor have I been able to discover any, although most diligent +search has been made. + +Among the other orders brought by this ship was one directing that +a considerable sum of money be paid to Doctor Francisco de Sande. He +says that this is due to him as salary; and for the payment of this +is designated the greater part of the villages which belong to the +royal crown of your Majesty. The fleets are maintained thereby, as +well as other expenses of your Majesty here. This order is received +with regret and sorrow, and the royal officials have sent a petition +to this effect; and I too beseech your Majesty to declare if it be +your royal pleasure that this man support himself at the expense of +the royal service. May it be provided that we be not constrained thus +in similar things. + +In the ship that just arrived from Nueva España, there came eighteen +descalced friars, a class of people who do much good in this land, +on account of their mode of life and their poverty. Nevertheless, +they come so eager to pass on to China that it would not be right to +keep them here. Accordingly, in order to console them, I am now giving +permission to the commissary who accompanied them, and to four other +religious, both to go to Macau [Macao] to visit the house which they +have there, and to pass to the bordering kingdom of Cochinchin. News +is had that the king of the latter country asks for ministers to +teach him our holy faith. I hope to God that benefit may be derived +therefrom, for the salvation of those souls. I have also improved +the opportunity of the commissary's departure to send by him to the +Portuguese of Macau the news of the certainty of the late coronation +of your Majesty. [47] Therefore I expect that that stronghold will +be as peaceful as that of Maluco. + +Through your viceroy of Nueva España I am sending a copy of the +residencia of the doctor Sande, as that sent a year ago was lost with +the ship to which it was entrusted. + +Much pleasure was caused in the land by the arrival of the bishop, [48] +and I received him as well as I could. On account of the austerity +of his disposition and his wish to dominate, people do not like +him; and he has caused much discontent among both ecclesiastics and +laymen. His Christianity and zeal is worthy, and he will undoubtedly +prove to be true. As your Majesty is better informed, you may provide +accordingly. May our Lord guard your royal Catholic Majesty and +increase your kingdoms, as we your Majesty's vassals desire. Manila, +June 15, in the year 1582. + +Royal Catholic Majesty, the most humble servant of your Majesty, +who kisses the royal feet and hands. + +_Don Gonzalo Rronquillo de Penalosa_ + + + + + +Bibliographical Data + +Most of the documents in this volume are obtained from the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. The original MSS. (from copies of which +our translations are made) are there preserved in two patronatos, +as follows: + +(a) "Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes +del gobernador de Filipinas, vistos en el consejo; años 1567 á 1599; +est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6." To this belong Sande's report of 1576, +his letters of July 29, 1578 and May 30, 1579, Peñalosa's letter, +and the two documents of 1582. + +(b) "Simancas-Filipinas; descubrimientos, descripciones y +poblaciones de las Yslas Filipinas; años 1566 á 1586; est. 1, caj. 1, +leg. 2|24." From this patronato we obtain Sande's report of 1577 (in +ramo 40), and the record of his expedition to Borneo (no. 48). The +former lacks a signature, and may be a duplicate copy, sent (as already +explained) by another vessel to ensure the arrival of at least one copy +in Spain, the signature being perhaps forgotten through some clerical +oversight; but its date and composition show it to be Sande's report. + +The bull erecting the diocese of Manila is taken from +_Doc. inéd. Amér. y Oceanía_, xxxiv, pp. 72-79. The grant of +indulgences is obtained from Fray Francisco de Santa Inés's _Crónica +de la provincia de San Gregorio Magno_ (Manila, 1892), pp. 215, 216. + +The two royal decrees are translated from copies of the originals, +which are found in the "Cedulario Indico" in the Archivo Histórico +Nacional at Madrid; their pressmarks are: for the decree of 1879, +"Tomo 31, F° 132b, n° 135;" for that of 1580, "Tomo 31, F° 193b, n° +184." The "Cedulario" contains forty MSS. volumes of these decrees, +with a calendar index of twenty-four volumes. + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] The Spanish phrase here is _armas enastadas_, literally, "weapons +fastened to handles." See cuts of Chinese battle-axes (from specimens +in Musée d' Artillerie, Paris) in Auguste Demmin's _Arms and Armor_ +(London, 1877), p. 442. + +[2] The day of St. Andrew falls on November 30, according to the +church calendars. + +[3] This narrative is given in Juan Gonzales de Mendoza's +_Hist. China,_ part ii, book i, ch. ix-xxix. + +[4] Marco Polo, the noted Venetian traveler, was born about 1256, +and died in his native city in 1323. His father and uncle were also +travelers; they went to Tartary in 1255, returning to Europe in +1269, as envoys from the noted Kublai Khan. Two years later, they +returned to the court of that ruler, accompanied by the young Marco; +and they remained in the service of the Mongol emperor until 1292, +when they returned to Venice. Marco's account of his travels and +observations was written as early as 1307. A Latin version of it +was published in Antwerp, about 1485; and one in Italian at Venice, +in 1496. Many other editions and translations of it have since been +issued--perhaps the most notable being that by G. Pauthier (Paris, +1865). See this editor's account of Polo and of his work, in Hoefer's +_Nouvelle biographie générale_, t. xxxix, art. Polo; Pauthier shows +that this work must have been originally written in French. Kublai +Khan at that time had his capital at Pekín, not at Kingszé. + +[5] The Great Wall of China was constructed during the reign of +Hoangti, the second emperor of the Tsin dynasty (about 244 to 210 +B.C.); it was built to protect the Chinese land from the invasions +of the Tartar hordes on the west and north, among whom were those +later known as Huns. + +[6] The oil extracted from sesame (_Sesamum indicum_); it is used by +the natives for the hair, and in medicine. + +[7] Chichimecos (meaning "braves") was a term applied to all the wild +tribes of Mexico; it was also used specially to designate the hunting +and pastoral tribes in the northern provinces of the present country +of Mexico--who, according to Humboldt (_New Spain_, Black's trans., +London, 1811, i, p. 133), came to that country about 1170. See also +G.P. Winship's _Coronado Expedition_ (Washington, 1896), p. 524. + +[8] A Malayan tribe, living in the provinces of Abra and Ilocos, +in Luzón. See Sawyer's account of them, in his _Inhabitants of +Philippines_ (N.Y., 1900), pp. 275-280. + +[9] The residencia is a Spanish institution, dating as far back as +the fourteenth century, although its beginnings may be traced to +the Visigothic codes. It required a judge or a governor, at the +end of a term of office, to reside for a certain time (usually +thirty or fifty days) at the chief place where he had exercised +his functions. During that time, complaints of his conduct might be +made by any person aggrieved, before an official appointed for that +purpose. The residencia was a prominent feature of Spanish colonial +administration. See Helps's _Spanish Conquest in America_, iii, +ch. iii, for an account of this institution. + +[10] "In fortification, a work of extraordinary height, overlooking the +surrounding parts as a horseman overlooks foot-soldiers." (Webster's +_Dictionary_.) + +[11] This decree may be found in _Recopilación de leyes Indias_, +lib. iv, tit. iii, ley xix. It seems to have been a general regulation, +applied to any colonial possession as need might arise. + +[12] Crawfurd says, in his _Dictionary of the Indian Islands_ (London, +1856), p. 144: "In the language of the Bugis, whose country produces +gold, we find a native word, _ulawang_, and this is again the case +in the languages of the Tagalas of the Philippines, where we have +the indigenous name _balituk_; while in the language of the volcanic +Bisaya Islands we find the word _bulawang_, most probably a corruption +of the Bugis word." + +[13] There is some mistake in this calculation; for the Chinese tael is +equivalent to 1.1334 ounces, and the Spanish onza to 1.0161 ounces, in +English or U.S. avoirdupois. The mace is one-tenth of the tael. 8 onzas += 1 marco; 2 marcos = 1 libra = 1.016097 U.S. pounds. The equivalent +of one libra, then, would be nearly 12 taels and 2 mace. By _texuela_ +is apparently meant the sheet gold previously mentioned. + +[14] In New Spain, the hot and fertile regions along the coast, +having an elevation of seldom more than 1,000 feet, are called +_Tierras calientes_ ("regions of heat"). On the declivity of the +Cordilleras, at an elevation of 4,000 to 5,000 feet, there reigns +perpetually a soft spring temperature, which never varies more than 10° +Fahr. The natives give to this region the name of _Tierras templadas_ +("temperate country"), in which the mean heat of the whole year +is about 70° Fahr. The plains elevated more than 7,000 feet above +the sea level are called _Tierras frías_ ("cold regions"), where +the mean temperature is under 62° Fahr. See Humboldt's _New Spain_ +(Black's trans.), i, pp. 64-67. + +The name Tierra Firme was applied not only to the northern part of +the South American continent, but to a definite region which extended +from the middle of the Gulf of Darien to Cape Gracias á Dios. It was +at first called Darien, and Castilla del Oro. + +[15] Span., _de no aver pies ni cabeza_, "as he had neither feet +nor head." + +[16] Cauchi is a phonetic form of Kuchi, the Malay appellation of the +region known in recent years as Cochin-China, now a part of French +Indo-China. Camboja is a better form of the name usually written +Cambodia, also a part of French Indo-China; Sian is but a variant of +Siam. Patani and Pahang are Malayan states on the eastern side of the +Malay Peninsula. Jabas is a corruption of Jawa (now commonly written +Java), the name of the principal nation inhabiting the island--the +most civilized and moral of the Malayan peoples. Samatra is only a +variant of Sumatra--the largest island, next to Borneo, of the Malayan +archipelago. Achin (or Achen) and Mânangkabo (Manancabo) are states +in the island of Sumatra; and Batachina evidently means "land of the +Bataks," a tribe of cannibals dwelling near Achin. See Crawfurd's +_Dictionary_ for valuable information regarding all these regions. + +[17] The three great military orders then vested in the crown of +Spain--those of Santiago, Alcántara, and Calatrava. + +[18] The order of Friars Minors (_Fratres Minores_), better known as +Franciscans, was founded (1208) by St. Francis of Assisi. + +[19] _Mestizo_: the offspring of a white man and an Indian woman, +or of an Indian man and a white woman--of course, almost entirely +the former. See interesting notes on this subject by Retana, in his +_Zúñiga_, ii, pp. 525*, 526*. + +[20] Herrera says (_Descripción de las Indias_, cap. 26), that: +"The West Indies [_Indias del Poniente_] comprise all the islands and +mainland [_Tierra firme_] beyond the line of demarcation of Castilla +and Leon, as far as the western bounds of that said demarcation, the +line whereof passes around the other side of the world, through the +city of Malacca." This is conformable with the law of February 22, +1632 (_Recop. leyes Indias_, lib. i, tit. xiv, ley xxxiii), which +locates Japan and the Philippine Islands in the West Indies; it also +corresponds with the Constitution (_Onerosa_) of Clement VIII, issued +December 12, 1600, to be found in section 4, wherein the Philippines +are located, it seems, in the West Indies, or what are considered +as such. However, what really is the dividing line has not yet been +decided.--_Rev. T.C. Middleton_, O.S.A. + +[21] The missionaries who effected the conversion [of the Malaysian +tribes] were not, for the most part, genuine Arabs, but the mixed +descendants of Arab and Persian traders from the Persian and Arabian +gulfs--parties who, by their intimate acquaintance with the manners and +languages of the islanders, were far more effectual instruments. The +earliest recorded conversion was that of the people of Achin in +Sumatra (A.D. 1206). The Malays of Malacca adopted Mahometanism in +1276; the Javanese, in 1478; the inhabitants of the Moluccas, about +the middle of the fifteenth century. This doctrine has been received +by all the more civilized peoples of the Indian archipelago. See +Crawfurd's _Dictionary_, pp. 236, 237, 284. + +[22] Throughout this document, the attestations and other legal +procedures of notaries are enclosed within parentheses. + +[23] The name _fragata_ (from which is derived the English word +"frigate") is here used to designate merely a light sailing-vessel +which could navigate among the islands. + +[24] Evidently one of the so-called "hand cannon," which were often +used at this period, both by cavalry and by infantry--portable +fire-arms, loaded sometimes at the breech and sometimes by a movable +chamber. See illustrations and descriptions of these weapons in +Demmin's _Arms and Armor_ (Black's trans.), pp. 59-74, 485, 511-517. + +[25] The arms of Portugal, consisting of five scutcheons, in memory +of the five wounds of Christ. + +[26] One of the numerous appellations of small cannon. + +[27] The _banca_ was a sort of canoe made from a hollowed tree-trunk +(like the American "dug-out"), sometimes provided with outriggers, +to prevent it from upsetting, and sometimes with a roof of bamboo. The +_barangay_ is the most primitive and most characteristic boat in the +Philippines; it is described as a sharp and slender craft, pointed +at both ends, and put together with wooden nails and pegs. It is +this boat which has given name to the primitive groups of the social +organization; see Bourne's mention of these, _Vol_. I of this series, +p. 56.--_Editors_.] + +"The people were divided or grouped into families, known as +_barangayes_ (the name of a small ship or vessel), thus preserving +the remembrance of the conveyance by which their forefathers reached +the islands. As the various families came hither, each in its own +barangay--all, during the voyage, being under the command of a _cabeza_ +(a head captain, or pilot)--the land was partitioned among them, so +much for each family; while all continued, on the land, subject to the +cabezas who had directed them on the sea. These in time were known as +_datós_, or _maguinoos_. See the _Crónica_ of Francisco de Santa Inés +(Manila, 1892), i, p. 57; Noceda and Sanlucar's _Vocabulario Tagala_ +(3rd ed., Manila, 1860); Diego Bergaño's _Vocabulario Pampanga_ +(Manila, 1860); and Andres Carro's _Vocabulario Iloco-Español_ +(Manila, 1888)."--_Rev. T. C. Middleton_, O.S.A. + +[28] Meaning some plant used as an antidote for poison. + +[29] Apparently a phonetic variant of _pangeran_ (a Javanese word +adopted in Borneo), meaning "prince." + +[30] In this connection may be cited Rajah James Brooke's statement, +as given by Captain Henry Keppel in his _Expedition to Borneo_ +(American edition, New York, 1846), p. 305: "The most detestable +part of this traffic is Seriff Houseman ["a half-bred Arab" pirate in +Borneo] selling, in cold blood, such of these slaves as are Borneans, +to Pangeran Usop, of Bruni, for 100 rupees for each slave, and Pangeran +Usop re-selling each for 200 rupees to their relations in Bruni." + +[31] Apparently a sort of "dug-out," used mainly as a lighter, for +unloading larger vessels. + +[32] _Pulo_ (incorrectly made _polo_ in the text) is a term used +throughout the Malayan archipelago referring to a small island or +islet; this name means, then, "the small island Celemin." + +[33] The habit of chewing _buyo_ is common through the Malaysian +archipelago. It is prepared by wrapping a leaf of the betel (_Piper +betel_) around a piece of the bonga-nut (the product of a palm, _Areca +catechu_) and a small piece of lime. It is thought to stimulate the +nerves, especially in the digestion of food; and is a notable feature +on ceremonious and social occasions. + +[34] Fine East Indian muslin. + +[35] Probably referring to the island now known as Boeton or Butung, +lying southeast of Celebes. + +[36] Evidently the old port in Mindanao so called. + +[37] Probably referring to the island now known as Boeton or Buntung, +lying S.E. of Celebes. + +[38] Reference is here made to the starchy food procured from the +sago-palm, called by the natives _burí (Corypha umbraculifera)_. This +tree gives name to the island of Burias, where it grows abundantly. By +tapping the tree, as is done with the American maple, the sweet +sap (called by the natives _tuba_ or "water-honey") is obtained, +from which are made a syrup and a dark sugar; also the natives +manufacture from it wine and brandy. The young shoots or buds are +edible, as is the entire inner part or pith of the tree. This pith +is placed in troughs, wherein it is soaked in water, which washes +out certain bitter substances; it is then pounded, which causes +the starchy grains to separate from the tissues of the pith. These +grains are collected and dried, and made into a flour called sago +(or sagú), which furnishes a nutritious and healthful food; in the +islands where this tree abounds, the sago takes the place of rice. The +leaves of the sago-palm are used as a covering for houses, sails for +vessels, and many other purposes. See Delgado's _Hist. de Filipinas_ +(Manila, 1892--but written in 1753-54), pp. 660-662, for a long and +detailed description of this tree and its uses; also Blanco's _Flora +de Filipinas_, p. 160, and _U.S. Philippine Gazetteer,_ p. 74. + +[39] The lagoon of Liguasan, the waters of which are discharged into +those of the Pulangui River at its "great bend," thus forming the +Rio Grande. The Pulangui rises in the northern part of the island, +about half-way between the present towns of Cagayan and Butúan. The +Tirurey or Ytilurey River of our text apparently indicates a southern +tributary of the Rio Grande, flowing from Mt. Tiruray. + +[40] A tribe inhabiting the western part of Mindanao, but mainly +located on other islands--Basilan, Sulu, Piragua, and others; they +were Mahometan Malays. + +[41] The ganta contains 3 litros, a little more than 1/3 of a peck +(U.S.). + +[42] At the top of the sheet is written, on the original MS., +"Guadalupe, March 26, 1580," which apparently indicates that the +decree was sent to New Spain, and promulgated by the viceroy there. + +[43] "A fleet on which were some Franciscan missionaries being at +Sevilla in 1576, ready to sail for the Solomon Islands, Felipe II +obtained permission from Pope Gregory XIII that they should be sent +to evangelize the Philippine Islands--where they arrived on June 24, +1577. They were received in Manila with enthusiastic demonstrations +of joy, and soon founded a religious province, which they named San +Gregorio Magno ["St. Gregory the Great"--named in honor of Pope Gregory +I (A.D. 590-604)]. The marshal, Don Gabriel de Rivera, built for +them the convent of San Francisco in that same year, 1577."--_Algue_ +(_Archipiélago filipino_, i, p. 250). + +On June 24, 1577, fifteen religious of St. Francis arrived at Manila, +under the orders of Fray Pedro de Alfaro, the father custodian of the +province. On June 15, 1579, Alfaro left Luzon (secretly, as our text +declares, because Sande refused to permit him to go), to establish +a mission in China; he was accompanied by the friars Juan Bautista, +Sebastian de San Francisco, and Agustin de Tordesillas. The last-named +wrote a detailed account of their journey and their experiences in +China up to November 15 of that year; this relation is published in +Mendoca's _Hist. China,_ part ii, book ii. + +[44] Maluco, the Portuguese post on Ternate, was taken over by Spain +with other colonial possessions of Portugal, when Felipe II seized +the government of the latter country (September, 1580), after the +death of its king, the cardinal Henrique. This union lasted during +sixty years. The possession of the Moluccas of course gave to Spain +the control of the spice trade. + +[45] Apparently a reference to the visit of Sir Francis Drake to +Ternate, in November, 1578. A full account of this visit, the friendly +reception of the English by the Malay ruler, and the expulsion of +the Portuguese from the island, may be found in Francis Fletcher's +_World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake_ (Hakluyt Soc. pubs. no. xvii, +London, 1854), pp. 137-148. + +[46] Rada had died at sea, in June, 1578. + +[47] Felipe II was crowned at Lisbon in April, 1581. + +[48] The first bishop of Manila, and of the Philippines, Domingo de +Salazar (a Dominican) arrived at Manila in March, 1581. With him came +Fray Christoval de Salvatierra, of his own order; twenty Augustinians, +and eight Franciscans; and two Jesuit priests, Antonio Sedeño and +Alonso Sánchez, with the lay brother Nicolas Gallardo. See Juan de +la Concepcion's _Hist. Phil_., ii, pp. 44, 45. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands 1493-1898, Vol. +4 of 55, by Edited by E. H. Blair and J. A. 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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 1493-1898, Vol. 4 of 55 + 1576-1582 + +Author: Edited by E. H. Blair and J. A. Robertson + +Release Date: June 16, 2004 [EBook #12635] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + + + + + + + + + +Prepared by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed Proofreaders Team. + + + + + The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + + 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 IV, 1576-1582 + + + E. H. Blair & J. A. Robertson + + + +Contents of Volume IV + +Preface + +Documents of 1576-78: + + Relation of the Filipinas Islands. Francisco de Sande; Manila, + June 7, 1576. + + Relation and Description of the Phelipinas Islands. [Francisco + de Sande]; Manila, June 8, 1577. + + Bull for erection of the diocese and cathedral church of + Manila. Gregory XIII; Rome, February 6, 1578. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; Manila, July 29, 1578. + + Grant of a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who visit + churches of the Friars Minors. Gregory XIII; Rome, November 15, + 1578. + +Documents of 1579-82: + + Royal decree regulating the foundation of monasteries. Felipe II; + Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; Manila, May 30, 1579. + + Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao. Francisco de Sande + and others; Manila, April 19, 1578, to June 10, 1579. + + Appointments to vacancies in Manila cathedral. Felipe II; + [promulgated from?] Guadalupe, March 26, 1580. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonillo Ronquillo de Pealosa; Manila, + July 17, 1581. + + Ordinance restricting departure from the islands. Gonzalo + Ronquillo de Pealosa; Manila, March 2, 1582. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Pealosa; Manila, + June 15, 1582. + +Bibliographical Data + + + +Illustrations + + +View of Mallaca, in _Eylffte Schiffahrt_, by Levinus Hulsius +(Franckfurt am Mayn, 1612), p. 64; enlarged photographic facsimile, +from copy in Harvard University Library. + +"Indiae orientalis, insularumque adiacientium typus" (original +in colors), map in _Theatrum orbis terrarum_, by Abraham Ortelius +(Antverpiae, M. D. LXX), fol. 48; reduced photographic facsimile, +from copy in Boston Public Library. + +"Incola ex Insulis Moluco" (picture of a Moluccan warrior; original +in colors), engraving in _Voyage ofte Schipvaert_, Jan Huygen van +Linschoten (Amstelredam, M. D. XCVI), p. 64; photographic facsimile, +from copy in Boston Public Library. + + + + + +Preface + + +The first official report sent by Governor Francisco de Sande to +the home government is dated June 7, 1576. It is introduced by a +description of the winds prevalent in the Indian Archipelago. Arriving +at Manila (August 25, 1575), he finds that much of the city has +been destroyed by a Chinese pirate named Limahon; and he relates, +in a graphic manner, the circumstances of this affair. In the first +attack (September, 1574), fourteen Spaniards and more than eighty +Chinese are slain. The enemy renew the attack a few days later, +but are repulsed with much loss. The Moros of the vicinity rebel, +insulting and robbing the friars and defiling the churches. The +Chinese proceed to Pangasinan, where they erect a fort, determining +to establish themselves there. All the Spanish forces are assembled, +and an expedition is sent (March 23, 1575), under Juan de Salcedo, +to attack the marauders. In the first encounter the Spanish are +victorious; but through mismanagement they fail to follow up their +success, and finally the Chinese depart from Luzn. A Chinese officer +named Omocon comes to search for the pirate Limahon; on his return, +he carries some Augustinian friars to China, but they return in +a few months. The Chinese bring certain presents to the governor, +which he turns over to the king. He does not like that people, saying +that they are mean, impudent, importunate, and deceitful. He relates +many interesting particulars regarding the country and people of +China--derived from the various reports which have come to him from +traders, missionaries, and the Filipino natives. + +Sande has a poor opinion of the trade with China; the only useful +article which the Chinese bring to the Philippines is iron. He urges +here, as in the letter preceding this report, that the king should +at once send an expedition for the conquest of China, for which four +thousand to six thousand men would be needed. He argues that this +enterprise would be an act of justice, for several curious reasons: +it would free the wretched Chinese from the oppressive tyranny and +cruelty of their rulers; it is right to punish them for their many +crimes and vices; and they ought to be compelled to admit foreigners +to their country. The governor is not troubled by any scruples of +conscience respecting the Line of Demarcation; for he affirms that +all the region from the Moluccas to the islands of Japan, inclusive, +with Borneo and all the coast of China, is "within the demarcation +of Spain." He is ready to drive the Portuguese out of the Moluccas, +if the king will consent thereto. + +Sande gives further details as to the Philippines and their people. The +climate is healthful, for those who live temperately. The culture +of rice is described, and the fertility of the soil praised. Much +interesting information is given regarding the characteristics, +habits, and customs of the people; he regards most of them as drunken, +licentious, and idle, and avaricious and murderous. The governor has +rebuilt the ruined fort at Cebu; but he thinks that a settlement +there is useless and expensive. He asks for oared vessels, with +which to navigate among the islands; and he is anxious to seize +the Moluccas for Spain. He complains of the reckless manner in +which repartimientos had been assigned by Legazpi and Lavezaris, +an abuse which he is trying to reform. He has revoked many of these +allotments, and placed them under the control of the crown. He has +established two shipyards, which have done good work in building and +repairing vessels. He needs artillery, or else skilled workmen to +make it; also fifty good gunners, two master-engineers, and more +troops. Sande has founded a hospital at Manila, mainly for the +soldiers--apparently the first in the islands; and is planning to +build a house in which convalescents may be properly cared for. He +has begun to fortify Manila, and is making other preparations for its +defense. The province of Pampanga, almost the only source of supply +of food for the Spaniards, has been appropriated by Sande for the +crown; he asks the king to confirm this action. He is endeavoring +to stop various leaks in the royal treasury, and is providing for +the worthy poor. He mentions the royal order that all the Indians +should be induced to settle near the districts already pacified, in +order to render them sedentary and to convert them to the Christian +faith--a plan which he considers quite impracticable. The governor +is greatly annoyed by the careless and extravagant administration +of the royal funds by the officials at Manila; he makes various +recommendations for securing better and more economical conduct of +the public service. He reports the religious status of the land, and +calls for more priests, especially recommending the Franciscans, "since +they live among the natives, and we need not support them." Certain +concessions and exemptions should be continued, as the people are so +poor; and for that reason customs duties ought not to be levied until +the people can afford to pay them. The two friars whom the Chinese +captain Omocon had consented to convey a second time to his country, +not having means to satisfy with gifts his avaricious nature, had +been therefore abandoned on a lonely island, where they are rescued +by a passing troop of Spaniards. Sande enumerates various documents, +maps, etc., which he is sending to the king; and he again appeals for +consent to his proposal for the conquest of China. A paper containing +memoranda for reply to this letter indicates that the king declines +to entertain this scheme, and advises Sande to expend his energies +upon the preservation and development of the lands already conquered. + +In another report, dated June 8, 1577, Sande furnishes some information +additional to that in the preceding document. The Moros of Luzon +are very shrewd traders, and are skilful in alloying the gold which +they obtain in that island. This practice causes the governor much +perplexity regarding the currency question. He has succeeded, during +the past two years, in putting "the affairs of the royal estate into as +good order as in Mexico;" and has reformed various abuses, small and +great. He explains the manner in which he has aided needy soldiers +and other persons in want, and reassigned encomiendas of persons +deceased. As for the natives, Sande says that they are not simple, +foolish, or timorous; "they can be dealt with only by the arquebuse, +or by gifts of gold or silver." He has maintained good discipline +among the soldiers, and reformed them from the vicious habits which +had been prevalent among them. He asks that the concessions made +regarding the customs duties and the royal fifths be continued, +on account of the poverty of the colony. He renews his request for +more religious teachers, and asks not only for secular priests, +but more friars--especially those who cannot own property, as the +Indians will have more regard for such. He explains in detail his +difficulties regarding the proper disposal of the crown funds by the +royal officials, and the heroic treatment made necessary by their +inefficiency and mismanagement. The property of Guido de Lavezaris +is confiscated, and the goods of other wrong-doers are seized. The +city is now surrounded by a palisade and rampart; and the river-bank +has been protected against the action of the waves. He has built, +or has now in the shipyards, vessels worth in New Spain one hundred +thousand ducats, which have cost him less than fifteen thousand. The +resources of the land are being developed; the rebellious natives +have been pacified; churches, and a house for the friars, have been +erected; and a residence for the governor has been built. In all +these undertakings, he finds it necessary to watch everything, and +superintend the workmen; this care and oversight has enabled him to +secure good returns from the expenditure of the public funds. + +A papal bull dated February 6, 1578, erects the diocese of Manila, +and constitutes its church a cathedral; the duties and privileges +of the bishop thereof are enumerated. He shall be subordinate to +the archbishop of Mexico; and the usual tithes and other dues are +remitted. Sande writes to the king (July 29, 1578) a brief report +of his expedition to Borneo in the months of March to May preceding; +and requests rewards and promotion for himself and his brothers. By +a decree dated November 15, 1578, Pope Gregory XIII grants "plenary +indulgence to all the faithful who visit churches" of the Franciscans +in these Oriental regions. On May 13, 1579, King Felipe issues a +decree regarding the foundation of monasteries in the Philippines. Fray +Domingo de Salazar (a Dominican) has been appointed bishop of Manila, +and will soon go thither with friars. The governor is ordered to +ascertain where monasteries are needed, and there to erect buildings +for this purpose. + +Sande informs the king (May 30, 1579) of the result of his efforts +to subdue other and neighboring islands. The city in Borneo which +he attacked in the preceding year has been rebuilt, and the king of +that land is ready to submit. The king of Jolo (Sulu) has become a +vassal of Spain, and peace has been made with the people dwelling on +the Rio Grande of Mindanao. Sande is still eager to set out for the +conquest of the Moluccas and of China, and is doing all that he can +to accumulate shipping and artillery for that purpose. + +This letter is accompanied by a bulky document containing the official +notarial record of the expedition which Sande mentions. The governor +learns from Filipino natives of Luzon that the king of Borneo oppresses +and plunders their countrymen who visit his land--thus wronging vassals +of Spain; and that the Borneans, being Mahometans, are spreading their +heresy among the peoples of the archipelago. Sande writes a letter +to this ruler, announcing his desire to confer with him, and to make +a compact of peace and friendship. He demands from the king not only +free opportunity for Christian preachers to evangelize the Borneans, +but also the cessation of any further Mahometan propaganda by Borneans +among the Filipinos. The king must also surrender any persons whom he +has forcibly detained, with all their possessions; and must provide +the Spaniards with food--for which, however, he will receive pay. No +answer being made by the Borneans, and Sande's envoys not returning to +the fleet, he enters the port, despite the resistance of the native +vessels therein. The people thereupon flee inland, and the Spaniards +enter the town, seizing there various possessions of the king--among +them letters from the Portuguese, one of which is signed "El Rey" ("the +King"). Sande takes possession of all Borneo for Spain. He then sends +(May 23, 1578) one of his officers, Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, +to subdue the Sulu Islands. He is instructed to reduce, as gently +as he can, the pirates of that group to peaceful agriculturists, +and secure from them the payment of tribute. Next, he is to go +on a similar errand to Mindanao; and, as many of its inhabitants +are Mahometans, he must strive to uproot "that accursed doctrine" +there. Sande returns to Manila, whence in the following year (February +28, 1579) he despatches Juan Arce de Sadornil with a fleet to Borneo, +giving him detailed instructions for his conduct on this expedition. He +is to ascertain the condition of affairs there, and gently endeavor +to gain the submission of the king as a vassal of Spain. Sadornil +goes to Borneo, and conducts various negotiations with the king, but +cannot induce the latter to confer with him in person. Finally, seeing +that he can accomplish nothing, and that his men are suffering from +confinement and illness, he decides to return to Manila; and he advises +Sande that a settlement of Spaniards in Borneo must, to be successful, +be made in the town where the Moro court resides. In June, 1578, the +king of Sulu submits to the Spanish power. From the Moluccas comes the +news that the people of Ternate have revolted against the Portuguese, +who have been compelled to abandon their fortress there and retreat +to Amboina. Their trade in spices is therefore greatly injured, for +the time; and other Malayan peoples are also hostile to the Portuguese. + +Sande again sends (January, 1579) an expedition to Mindanao and +Sulu, under Captain de Ribera, to secure their submission to Spanish +authority. His instructions lay special stress on proper care for the +health of the troops. The tribute desired from Sulu consists of "two or +three tame elephants." Ribera goes to the Rio Grande of Mindanao, but +can accomplish nothing; for the natives, in terror of the Spaniards, +have abandoned their villages, fleeing to the mountains. Ribera erects +a fort at the delta of the river, and receives the submission of a few +neighboring chiefs; but, as his men are being prostrated by sickness, +he obtains from a friendly _dato_ (chief) a list of the Indian villages +and their population, with such information as he can gather, and +departs--sending a small detachment of troops to pacify the district +of Butuan. Going to Cavite, Ribera finds there a deputation from Sulu, +who bring a little tribute saying that their people have been harassed +by famine ever since Figueroa came, a year before, to demand tribute +from them. Finding upon investigation that this story is true, he +gives back their tributes, receiving instead a cannon which they had +taken from a wrecked Portuguese galley. Ribera then returns to Cebu. + +A royal decree of March 26, 1580, provides for appointments to +fill vacant benefices in the cathedral at Manila The new governor, +Ronquillo de Pealosa, writes to the king (July 17, 1581), asking +whether Manila is to be regarded as his capital and head-quarters, +and giving advice in various matters. Like many such documents, +this is endorsed: "Seen; an answer is unnecessary." + +As some of the Franciscan friars who have come to the Philippines +have preferred to labor in China, Pealosa orders (March 2, 1582) +that no person shall leave the islands without his permission. In a +letter dated June is of that year, he complains to the king that he +has not received the expected renforcements of men from New Spain; +that the Audiencia of that country (in which is now Sande, superseded +by Pealosa as governor of the Philippines) meddles with his government +and threatens to make trouble for him; and that he needs a competent +assistant in his office. Ternate is now under Spanish control, +and Spain monopolizes the rich spice-trade; Panama is the best +route therefor. An "English pirate," presumably Sir Francis Drake, +has been intriguing with the Malays at Ternate, and the post there +should be more heavily fortified. The newly-appointed bishop, Salazar, +has arrived; on account of his austerity and his wish to dominate, +he is not a favorite with the people. + +_The Editors_ + +April, 1903. + + + +Documents of 1576-78 + + Relation of the Filipinas Islands. Francisco de Sande; June 7, + 1576. + + Relation and description of the Phelipinas Islands. [Francisco + de Sande]; June 8, 1577. + + Bull for erection of the diocese of Manila. Gregory XIII; + February 6, 1578. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; July 29, 1578. + + Indulgence to those who visit Franciscan churches; + Gregory XIII; November 15, 1578. + + +_Sources_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo de +Indias, Sevilla, excepting the papal decrees; the first of these is +from _Doc. ind., Amr. y Oceana_, xxxiv, pp. 72-79, the second from +the _Crnica de la provincia de San Gregorio_ of Fray Francisco de +Santa Ins (Manila, 1892), i, pp. 215, 216. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Rachel +King; the second, by Jos M. Ascensio; the third and fifth, by +Rev. T.C. Middleton, O.S.A.; the fourth, by G.A. England. + + + +Relation of the Filipinas Islands + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +I sailed from the port of Acapulco, Nueva Espaa, on the sixth of +April of the year seventy-five, as I had previously informed your +Majesty from that port. On account of setting sail during the calms, +we were delayed, so that it took us seventy-two days to reach the +Ladrones. There we filled our water-butts, and I took on board a large +anchor that I found there that had belonged formerly to the flagship +lost there by Ffelipe de Sauzedo; in the other ship we placed four +small boat-loads of ballast. All this detained us only a day and a +half. On nearing the cape of Spiritu Santo in Tandaya, one of the +Philipinas, our progress was impeded by the vendaval, and our pilots +also gave us considerable trouble, so that I arrived at Manilla on +the twenty-fifth of August of the year seventy-five. On that day I +took possession of the office of governor and captain-general. + +2. Although your Majesty may know better than I the matters I am +about to relate, still, like a country-man, I wish to speak, and +to tell what I myself have experienced. I am informed here that +throughout the entire sea in these latitudes there are two general +seasons. During one, the dry season, the _brisas_, as they are called, +blow from the southeast to the north, finally blowing directly from +the north; while in the other, or wet season, the _vendavales_ blow +from northwest to south-southeast. Thus, during these two seasons, the +winds blow from every point of the compass. For this reason it will be +seen that coming from Nueva Espaa, from the east toward this western +region, the brisas would help; while the vendavales, especially the +usual one, which is a south-westerly wind in the channels of these +islands, would impede the progress of the ship. These two general +seasons begin in some years somewhat earlier than in others, and in +some places before they do in others. However, it is quite clear and +evident that by the end of May and the middle of June, the vendaval +begins here from the west (and I believe that this is true of all the +southern sea), and blows strongly night and day. Now if for any reason +it should cease for a moment it would only be to burst forth again with +renewed vigor. Such a period of quietness is called here _calladas_ +["silence"]. The brisa begins in November, and lasts until the end +of May. Between these two general seasons two others exist, called +_bonanas_ ["gentle winds"] which last from the middle of March to the +end of May, and comprise also part of September and October. During +that time the bonana of April and May is the most prevalent wind, +although other winds are blowing constantly. Should the usually mild +winds prove severe, then the opposite season would develop, so that +in April a vendaval often presents itself, and in September a violent +brisa may blow. These seasons, I think, correspond to those of the +northern sea, as you may be already aware--although I do not know +whether they are at all regular, for the fleets of merchant ships +leave Nueva Spaa the middle of April and somewhat later, taking +thirty, forty, and sixty days to reach Havana, a distance of three +hundred leagues. Although the pilots tell us that this is a good time +to sail in a southeast direction, they cannot deny that they endure +very great hardships from the calms caused by the bonanzas. During +this journey from Nueva Espaa to Havana, many people have met their +death. Leaving in February in a few days one reaches Havana. But I, +sailing the sixth of April (that is, in the middle of the bonana +season), did not encounter bad weather, being detained twenty days in +the calms thirty leagues from Nueva Espaa. Neither did we encounter +so feeble winds that our progress might have been retarded; nor did +the vendaval of July burst forth before it was due. + +3. I learned in these islands that this city had been burned by a +pirate and that there had been a war. There they asked me for lead, and +I readily complied with their requests, until I was weary of granting +petitions. I thought that we had some lead; but on summoning my men, +and searching for it, only five or six arrobas were found; and that was +in sheets, such as are used to stop leaks in ships. Arriving at Manila, +I could get no lead; and, not being able to obtain it elsewhere, we +took from the sides of the ships somewhat less than seventy arrobas, +some of which was used. With what is left we remain, hoping for the +grace of God; for should not the ship sheathed with lead arrive, I do +not know what would become of this camp of your Majesty. Your Majesty +will understand, then, the condition of affairs here; and will please +have pity and consideration for the men who are serving your Majesty +here, so far away, and with so much hardship and so much danger. + +4. On my arrival, I found Manila in great part burned and +destroyed. Let me relate what occurs here. They say that the kingdom +of China is often invaded by corsairs, and that one named Limahon (or, +as the Chinese call him, Dim Mhon) had committed great depredations +in China, whereby he had amassed great wealth. He was pursued +by his king to the region near the upper point of this island of +Luon. Near an island about forty leagues from Luon, he captured a +Chinese merchant-ship that was en route from this city of Manila for +purposes of trade. The merchants carried with them a quantity of gold +and many reals of four Mexicans each, and other things obtained in this +island, which were highly esteemed by them. Demanding with threats, +where they had obtained this gold and silver, he robbed them of their +goods, which they said had been obtained in Luon, in trade with the +Castilians. A pilot assisted him greatly in his negotiations here, +for he said that the people were quite secure and careless, and were +scattered through many places; and that, if he would come to the +island in a short time, he would find only old people and invalids, +as a galley was about to leave in order to take a captain to Mindanao +and perhaps had already gone, so that there would be no one with whom +to fight. The above-mentioned Limahon believed him, and thereupon came +to the city. On the way, however, at dawn of day, without himself being +seen, he met one of your Majesty's galliots. On this vessel there were +twenty-two people, counting soldiers and sailors. This ship was sent +by Captain Juan de Saucedo, who was in Ylocos, to some villages of +inay [Sinay], near by, for provisions. This vessel had been taken +from this city by order of Guido de Lavezares, in order to explore +the province of Cagayan, to which I sent Don Luis de Sahajossa this +last winter. When the corsair saw the galliot, he lowered his small +boats and made an assault upon it; but, although the galliot was badly +equipped, the soldiers defended themselves bravely from the attack of +the small boats. The natives on the coast, say that a bronze falcon +weighing fourteen quintals was fired five times. This falcon was called +"Vigilantib" by the soldiers, on account of this word being used as an +inscription upon it. As the corsair saw what a brave defense they made +against the small boats, he bore down upon them with his whole fleet, +consisting of sixty-two large ships, and with their great fire-bombs +they burned the galley in a very short time. The poor fellows in it +not having confidence in their oars--as they had only four oars to a +bench, the galliot having fifteen benches--those still living threw +themselves into the water. Thus they all perished, either at the hands +of the Chinese or at those of the natives, who are wont to act in this +manner. The Chinese sacked the galley, and placed the "Vigilantib" +and other arms in their ships. This falcon was the greatest loss +sustained by the galley, which was lost because it had been poorly +equipped and had an insufficient number of men; they, as a result, +could not warn Manila and other places. Had they been supplied with +ammunition, it would have been easy to escape; and even, with the +"Vigilantib" alone, to have destroyed their fleet. + +5. With this prize captured from the galliot, the corsair proceeded +toward Manila. At this time a soldier, Sayavedra, sergeant of Juan +de Saucedo, who was in one of the neighboring villages, saw what had +happened, and that the galley had been burned; and he wrote a letter +to this effect to Juan de Saucedo, sending it overland by an Indian +to Vigan, where Saucedo was located with one hundred men. In a short +time Juan de Saucedo saw the ships of the corsair and his armament; +so he sent a virey to advise the people of Manila of what was taking +place. The ships in advance, on discovering the virey, deceived its +occupants, and stood out to sea, to round a promontory, through the bay +of which was coming the deceived virey. The _virey_ is a kind of vessel +used by the natives of these islands; it has but little steadiness, +and always navigates near the shore. While this little boat was going +around the bay, all the ships came upon it at once. The occupants of +the little boat had to run aground, in order to escape with their +lives, and to hide in the hills. Then they took out their weapons, +and paused to see what was taking place. The Chinese broke up the +ship, but did not completely destroy it, and then continued their +journey. The soldiers again took to their vessel, and slowly wended +their way to Manila, arriving there one day after St. Andrew's Day, +at noon, and after the corsair had made the first assault. They spread +the news that Juan de Saucedo was coming from Ylocos with all haste, +for he had found out who Limahon was. These soldiers landed in a +hostile region, that of a certain people called Zambales; they are +very much like the Chichimecos of Nueva Espaa, who have no ambition +higher than that of cutting off men's heads. They are accustomed to +the use of bows and arrows. Consequently three soldiers in a rough +country could not have escaped, unless God had kept their boat from +being entirely destroyed by the Sangleyes. + +6. The corsair continued his journey, and, intending to make an attack +at dawn, anchored outside the bay, and sent all his small boats ashore +in charge of some captains, in the early part of St. Andrew's Eve. They +say that the corsair remained with the ships; but that in the boats +there were seven hundred men, among whom were a few arquebusiers, and +many pikemen, besides men armed with battle-axes. [1] They were clad in +corselets which are coats lined with exceedingly thick cotton. They had +durable bamboo hats, which served as helmets; they carried cutlasses, +and several daggers in their belts; and all were barefoot. Their +manner of warfare or of fighting, was to form a squadron composed of +men with battle-axes, among whom were placed some arquebusiers, a few +of the latter going ahead as skirmishers. One of every ten men carried +a banner, fastened to his shoulders and reaching two palms above his +head. There were other and larger banners also, so that it appeared as +if some important personage was coming who served in the capacity of +master-of-camp. These, then, were the people who made the first attack. + +7. The entrance to the bay of this city of Manila is southwest of +Manila. On its southern side, and to the right on entering the +bay, is the port of Cavite, two leagues from Manila. They took +the shorter route, which was safer for their small boats, and came +somewhat late within half a league of Manila without being seen; +for the slight breeze stirring from the east prevented them from +making the assault at daybreak. Manila is on a point or isthmus +running southeast and northwest; and the river encompasses it from +the east to the northwest. They did not enter by the river, in order +not to be seen by the fishermen who are constantly going and coming; +and also for the reason that the bay is very wide at this point, +and they would have to force an entrance, which they did not dare +attempt in their small boats. The pirates therefore began a hurried +march along shore toward the city, dragging their lances. They +arrived at the city somewhere between nine and ten o'clock in the +morning. The first house attacked was that of the master-of-camp, +Martin de Goite; he was sick in bed at the time. Already some natives +had come to him from the shore, shouting at the tops of their voices +that enemies were near, and that the king of Borney was coming down +upon the Castilians. Now as Martin de Goite knew that this was the +season of the brisas, and that it was impossible to come from Borney, +which lies to the southwest, because the wind was dead ahead, and not +believing in the possibility of other enemies, he laughed at the men, +telling them that they were drunken. Meanwhile, the advance-guard of +the squadron was near the house, when he arose, put on a suit of mail, +and took a sword with which to defend himself. It is believed that +the Chinese were passing straight ahead toward the governor's house +and the artillery, guided by the spy whom they brought with them, for +they were stealing along the shore forward. This would have meant the +total destruction of this city and camp; for your Majesty's houses, +being at the extreme end of the point of land made by the sea and the +river, were without any defense. The inhabitants of the city were each +in his own house, and the artillery was lying on the ground dismounted, +the pieces scattered here and there throughout the camp. The point of +the island once occupied, the Spaniards had no place wherein to gather +and fortify themselves, so that they could have a safe position back +of them. God provided this, for it is said that, when the enemies came +marching in line along the seacoast, the wife of Martin de Goite, +the master-of-camp, was looking out of a window which faced the +seacoast. She had a child's helmet on her head, and she called and +beckoned to them, telling them in Castilian that they were dogs, and +that they would all be killed. The Chinese observed this, and learned +from the guide that this was the house of the master-of-camp. They +regarded this as a very important piece of news, and, going to that +house, hurled many fire-bombs, with which they burned it in a very +short time; for it was made, like all the houses there, of wood and +straw. They killed some men who had gathered there; they also killed +the master-of-camp, who had been injured by the fire and wounded by +an arquebuse-shot in one arm, and who threw himself from a window, +on account of the cruel flames. A soldier, although the enemy struck +at him repeatedly with cutlasses and battle-axes, escaped with but +a slight wound. It is believed that if the master-of-camp had left +the house early, he would have escaped; but that he tried to defend +himself in his house, which he was unable to do, on account of his +severe illness. Several other persons were killed there with him. His +wife, who had shouted to them, they stripped, and tore off a ring +which she was slow in drawing from her finger, and a necklace; and +then they stabbed her severely in the neck. She rushed from the house +and hid in the tall grass, thus escaping with her life; and she is now +alive. Another woman and three or four men were killed. In burning that +house, and in the resistance offered there, they were detained some +time; therefore news of this affair reached the city and the house of +the governor, Guido de Lavezares. The first intimation that they had +of the approach of the enemy was the sight of the burning house of the +master-of-camp, which thus revealed it. When the affair at the house +was over, the pirates attempted to proceed once more to the beach. + +The delay at the house was important, for in the meanwhile Captains +Velasquez and Chacon, with what soldiers there were, went to the +seacoast; and from the shelter of the houses facing the beach fired +well-aimed volleys from their arquebuses, whereat a number of the +advance guard fell. Thus was God pleased that with the death of +thirteen or fourteen Spaniards and more than eighty Chinese, the +latter had enough, retreated to their boats, and went away. The +Spaniards did not molest them while they were retreating, on this +day, on account of their own small number of fighting men, and for +fear that such a course might incite those fleeing to return. The +corsairs did not utter a word, nor did they complain, even when they +fell with wounds. Those in command endeavored to induce their men +to press forward, but did not succeed. Most of the Spaniards who +were killed were arquebusiers, who had drawn near in order to take +good aim. Although they did this, so many battle-axes were directed +against them that they were overthrown. Now had there been better +order in keeping the soldiers from making a sally unless commanded, +it is thought that, since there was a body of lancers who could have +met the enemy face to face, none would have been killed except those +in the house of the master-of-camp, where more damage was done them +by fire than by weapons. The corsairs went to the port of Cavite, +where they found their chief with all his fleet; for on seeing the +fire in the city, and hearing the roar of the artillery, he knew that +his men were accomplishing their purpose, and entered the bay, going +straight to the port of Cavite. Those of his men who had gone to the +city in the boats told him that they were unable to finish the affair +or to accomplish more, for the Castilians were a very brave people. + +8. After the flight of the Chinese, a Chinese merchant who was in +the city, Sinsay by name, called upon the governor. He told him the +corsair's name, who he was, and his power. He also stated that he was +a pirate, and not sent by order of his king; and that without doubt +he would return in three days. He advised the Spaniards to fortify +themselves, and to remove the straw from the roofs of your Majesty's +houses, so that they could not be fired--advice which was acted upon. + +9. The corsair Limahon rebuked his captains, and publicly manifested +his disgust at their defeat. Then he summoned his soldiers, paid them +all, and made them great promises. They agreed to rest one day and +to return on the morning of the third day, when he would accompany +them personally--which he did, with his entire fleet. + +10. It seems that Guido Lavezares, on that day, ordered that two +of the principal Moros be arrested and imprisoned, saying that, by +means of them, the Moros would supply him with food. Thereupon the +Moros rebelled, and the prisoners were placed, bareheaded, in the +stocks. This was the occasion of a suit brought against one Osorio, +the constable, in whose house was the prison. He claims that he was +not guilty of the offense, saying that one Sancho Ortiz de Agurto, +sergeant of Captain Velasquez, killed them, or ordered certain slaves +to kill them. The suit was decided accordingly. + +11. The first attack was made on the day of St. Andrew the Apostle. On +Tuesday, the last of September [2] of the year seventy-four, the +captains began the fortifications, making with boards, stakes, +and boxes and barrels filled with sand, a palisade from the river +to the sea. Although it was the best they could build, it was weak +enough. The next day, Wednesday, at noon the three soldiers came to +warn the people, as I have previously mentioned. At nightfall of this +day arrived Juan de Saucedo. As before stated, he had been stationed +in Ylocos with fifty soldiers. He came almost within sight of the +Chinese fleet, and upon entering the bay, took the left-hand side, +leaving the right side of the port to the Chinese. The people were +overjoyed to see him and his soldiers, and that night they assisted +in the work of the fortifications. Very early upon the next day +(Thursday) the Chinese advanced in martial array, as if determined +upon revenge. At four o'clock the whole fleet appeared in front of the +city, in the form of a great crescent, so that they might be there +before daybreak; and three salutes were fired from all the guns of +the whole fleet. Then at dawn they lowered the small boats, finally +disembarking near the house of the master-of-camp, which they had +burned. The chief landed, but it is reported that he did not fight, +or leave, that place, where he remained seated in a chair. He divided +his soldiers there--numbering, it is said, about one thousand men--into +two bodies. Part of them he sent through the principal street of the +city, and the others along the beach. The latter took the same route +as those who arrived on the first day. Besides these two squadrons, +other men were sent along the river-bank. + +12. They were allowed to land, which has been considered a great +mistake; for all along the shore the land is covered with grass high +enough to form a fine ambuscade, where the arquebusiers could easily +have been placed under cover. The corsair might haye been easily +killed with one shot, when he landed in his chair to take command. + +13. This day the pirates, as if previously determined, did not burn +any houses that seemed to be of good quality. They went straight to +the fort, and assailed it vigorously on two sides. They encountered +a strong resistance from the river side and in front, and some of +them were killed. On the side next the sea, the guard of the fort was +entrusted to a sergeant, named Sancho Hortiz de Agurto. He went down +to the shore, leaving the post, where he was stationed to find but +from what quarter the Chinese were coming. They were already so near +that, upon one of the Chinese meeting him, the lance of the latter +must have proved the longer weapon; for he wounded the soldier, who +was armed only with a halberd, in the neck. Either this wound or some +other obliged him to retire; and, upon his doing so, the Chinese shot +him in the back with an arquebuse, which caused his death. They assert +that this must have occurred as narrated, for he was seen to measure +his halbert against the lance of the Chinese. They found him wounded +with a lance-thrust, and the larger hole caused by the bullet was +in his breast, a proof that the bullet left his body there. But his +friends tried to say that while he was fighting with the Sangley, +they shot him in the back--which might have been so; for as the +enemy were forcing their way into the fort, they naturally met with +resistance from those defending that position. Thus according to his +friends, the mistake in leaving the palisade caused the harm. On this +account it happened that, when they forced that position, they found +there the least resistance. About eighty Chinese entered the fort +at that point, and all of them might have done so had they all been +of equal courage. Our soldiers attacked them immediately, with lance +and arquebuse, killing them all, according to report. This result was +aided by the resistance experienced by the assaulters in other parts +of the fort, which forced the Chinese to commence a retreat. Now when +the main division of those who had entered the fort saw the others +retreat, they too retreated and did not enter, abandoning the eighty, +all of whom the Spaniards killed whether they sought flight by land +or sea. On this day they burned the Augustinian church, the church +of the city, and a galley that was grounded near the river; and they +also destroyed an old ship. This galley was about to sail to Mindanao, +as previously stated. Three Spaniards were killed and several wounded +on this day, and mare than two hundred Chinese. The greatest damage +was caused by the fire; for a great fire-bomb fell upon some powder, +which exploded causing the death of two or three other men. + +14. It is said that the corsair Limahon tried to force his men to +remain, but was unsuccessful, so he retired, embarked in his boats, +and set sail with his vessels for the port of Cavite. + +15. It is thought that allowing the Chinese to embark on their retreat +without hindrance was a mistake. Some of the Spaniards did attempt +to prevent them, but the corsair, fearing that this might happen, +sent some boats by sea to the river, so that the Spaniards should +continue their guard, and not hinder the embarkation; and so that they +might believe that those in the boats were reinforcements sent to +take them in the rear. Thus it was believed, regarding it casually, +that if the corsair had had much force and had taken thought in the +beginning to attack in so many different places, he would have done +it; but that either he did not understand this, or did not dare to do +it. Therefore he collected his men, without any damage being inflicted +on him in his retreat. + +16. As the natives of this place, who are Moros, saw what took +place the first day, thinking that the Chinese were victorious, +they all rebelled on the second day. In that short space of time +there gathered around the city of Manila more than ten thousand +Moros, in their little boats, ready to obey the commands of the +corsair. They say, too, that messengers were sent to Cavite, and +the news spread broadcast. Wherever friars were stationed, the Moros +captured and insulted them, threatened them with death, and robbed +them of everything. They defiled the churches, killing goats there; +and slew all the Spaniards possible, and their slaves. It is for this +reason, the soldiers say, that they did not leave the fort, in order +to prevent the departure of the corsairs, for the Moros surrounded +them on all sides. When the Moros knew that the Sangleyes had gone, +and that the Spaniards had been victorious, they set the friars free; +and, little by little, they again became submissive--apologizing for +their revolt because of the chiefs who had been slain in prison. + +17. The artillery was badly mounted, and there was no gunner who knew +how to fire it. If the Spaniards had had sufficient artillery, that +would have proved very effectual; and, as the vessels neared the city, +some of them might have been sent to the bottom. No damage, however, +was done to any vessel, although they were fired upon; so that all +the resistance which they made was with lances and arquebuses. + +18. The corsair went to the port of Cavite with his fleet, and did not +appear again; and not one ship could be found at the dawn of day. He +departed to Ylocos, whence he came. He determined to establish himself +in this island, settling in the province of Pangasinan, in the vicinity +of Ylocos. There he founded a settlement, consisting of a great fort, +in which dwelt all those who had accompanied him; and a counter-fort +in the middle with an excellent and well-constructed house for himself, +where he was recuperating, forty leagues from this city of Manila. + +19. The wall of the fort was very high and built of palm-logs, and the +counter-fort was built of palm-wood planks. When the corsair arrived +there, he seized by treachery several chiefs of that land, through whom +he obtained supplies. He robbed them of all their substance, and, in +general treated them badly. As he had their chiefs, the common people +could not flee; and because the corsair did not kill them, as he had +done with others, they supported and served him. On this account he was +very well supplied with provisions, wood, and other necessary things. + +20. The Spanish people who were not in the city during that attack +were scattered throughout the province of Camarines, one hundred +leagues from here. There were almost a hundred men with a captain in +the island of ubu, and seventy more in Ylocos under Juan de Saucedo, +who had gone thither to form a settlement, since these men were the +encomenderos of that province. When the corsair went away, a ship +was sent to find out where he had halted; and, upon discovering this, +all the Spanish people were summoned, who came to Manila as quickly as +possible. In the meantime Guido de Lavezares appointed Juan de Saucedo +master-of-camp, and all began preparations to meet the enemy. During +the time of preparation for the expedition, in order to leave the +city in security, they constructed a fort; it is now finished, and +was made by the natives, the wood being paid for at the expense of +your Majesty. Your Majesty's carpenters here also assisted, so that +the work was completed. The master-of-camp, Juan de Saucedo, and all +the Spaniards who had gathered, and were available for the expedition, +were summoned. They numbered about two hundred and fifty-six, together +with two thousand five hundred friendly Indians; and they set out +in fifty-nine native vessels, commanded by Captains Chacon, Chaves, +Rribera, and Rramirez. These officers were instructed to consult +together in regard to whatever the said master-of-camp should freely +and voluntarily communicate to them, as it was he who was conducting +the present undertaking. + +21. They say that the corsair had, in all, about three thousand men +and as many women, whom he had forcibly taken from China and Japan. The +best people that he had were natives of those countries. + +22. The Spaniards left Manila on the twenty-third of March of 75, and +arrived at the river of Pangasinan on Holy Wednesday, the thirtieth +of March. They entered by the bar of the river, two hours before +daybreak; and, without being seen, landed the soldiers and four pieces +of artillery. They selected the spot where the river was narrowest, to +see whether they could obstruct the passage of the Chinese ships. They +sent out spies, who returned with the information that the Chinese +were off their guard, and were careless. Upon this the master-of-camp +sent Captains Chaves and Chacon in haste, with nine vessels, in each +of which were about eight men, with orders to approach the Chinese +boats and to try to capture one or more of them--especially the big +ones, so that he might be able with them to obstruct the bar of the +river. He also sent Captain Ribera with twenty-eight men and some +Indians by land, so that, at the same time when the captains were +examining the river in their ships the former could assault the fort, +in order to divert the people in it, and to enable those on the river +to seize the said vessels. The plan for the enterprise failed, but +success came in an unexpected manner; for it pleased God that, when +the Spanish ships discovered the Chinese, thirty-five Chinese vessels +were setting out to look for supplies for the corsair. As they were +sailing along quite free from care, they caught sight of the Spaniards, +and turned about and fled. It happened that, as the Spaniards pursued +them, firing their arquebuses, the Chinese ships almost ran aground; +whereupon all the men jumped overboard and fled to the fort, abandoning +their ships. The same thing occurred to the sailors of the other fleet, +so that in a moment the entire fleet was captured, together with all +it contained; but it was thoughtlessly fired, and was entirely burned. + +23. By this time, about ten o'clock in the morning, they began fighting +in the fort under Captain Grabiel de Ribera, and had already forced +an entrance. When Captain Chaves heard them from the ships, he went +to their assistance, where he was joined immediately by Captain +Chacon. They succeeded in reaching the first fort, capturing more +than one hundred women and children after killing many of the men. At +this time they set fire to the fort, claiming afterward that it was +done by the Indians. This was a great mistake, for the wind blew the +flames in the faces of the Spaniards, hurting them very much. Some +of the soldiers remained to rob the fort. The master-of-camp did not +go to their assistance with renforcements--although the captains +say that they notified him that, as they were doing so little on +account of the fire, the Chinese were commencing to make repairs. As +night was approaching, it was necessary for the captains to retire, +leaving the fort which they had gained. If renforcements of those who +had remained in camp with the master-of-camp had come up then, they +would have captured all the enemy. It is said that the Chinese were +hurrying from the other side of the fort, on their way to the hills. + +24. When Captains Chaves and Chacon left the ships, all were burning; +for either the soldiers or the Indians, it is not known why, set fire +to them, so that, in a moment, they were all ablaze. + +25. On account of the great rejoicing over the unexpected victory, +they overlooked the matter of keeping some of the ships both to +bar up the river, and because they were large and well-equipped, +particularly the flagship of the corsair. The success requisite in +this affair failed through a lack of system in such an occurrence, +as might be expected in fighting with barbarous people. _Item_, the +master-of-camp was lacking in quickness in coming to the rescue upon +hearing the firing on shore, so that at least Captain Ribera's force, +so small, might not be swept away. _Item_, sentinels were lacking, +as well as detachments of men to serve as renforcements for the sake +of security, and to furnish aid on occasions like the above. + +26. Some of the soldiers went to the master-of-camp, accompanied +by slaves carrying some of the pieces from the fort. They reported +a victory, saying that the fort had surrendered, and that all was +finished. These men went without orders from their captains, but were +not punished; nor was any new action taken, notwithstanding that +the captains assert that they sent reports of the condition of the +war. The captains, upon seeing that the Chinese were losing all fear, +and had wounded some of the men, returned to the camp about sunset, +overcome with fatigue. Had those in camp given aid then, the rampart +would not have been abandoned; but they could have stayed in or behind +it, and victory was certain. The captains say that the soldiers were +very eager, and, as could be seen, fought from ten in the morning; +but that the country is hot, that their weapons were heavy, that the +smoke beat in their faces, and that they saw night approaching without +renforcements or any food. They even say they would have perished had +they not found a well whence the Chinese drew water for their work; +and this water, although bad, they drank from their helmets, being +refreshed thereby. On account of these conditions they were compelled +to retire to the camp. Upon their arrival at camp, they declare that +they were met by the master-of-camp, Juan de Saucedo, who told them +that, if he were a soldier and not the master-of-camp, he would die +with them, for he was also a soldier to fight with the Chinese. The +said captains and the people generally felt that the master-of-camp +was very much troubled about what had happened--he complaining that +they, despite his order to the contrary, had burned the fleet, and +spent their time with the enemy in the fort; they responding that +he was requiting them very poorly, and that, after they had gained +the day and attained the victory at so great peril to themselves, +he spoke such words through envy, that he proved his treachery, and +refused to aid them in their necessity. From this arose many slanders, +hate, and differences of opinion among the soldiers, that God alone +can dispel. It is certain that there was a lack of persons who could +direct such a battle, and the day was certainly the luckiest, as well +as the least systematic, that could be imagined. A few of the men +were wounded and five were killed on account of their lack of order, +and because they waited until the enemy were recuperated. + +27. A council was held, the following night, by the master-of-camp and +the captains. Some of the latter thought it expedient to make an attack +the next morning, before the corsair should regain his courage. As this +was the prevailing opinion, the master-of-camp went with all his men +to make an assault. On nearing the fort, they heard rumors and opinions +that the place was already being fortified. The master-of-camp retired +his forces, saying that it was not convenient to make the assault, +or to expose the few Spaniards that your Majesty had here to so much +danger. Now at this time there arose a great difference of opinion, +caused by private interposition. It certainly was a mistake not to make +the assault on that day, for the day before counted for but little; +and a captain offered to reconnoiter the weakest part, and to lead +in the assault. + +28. After this retreat, they encamped near the enemy, on the islet +formed by the river, which runs north and south. The enemy were on +the northern side and the Spaniards on the southern. It was a good +thing to have located so near the enemy, if they had immediately made +a defense for the artillery, which could have been done with stakes +and earth. That should have been done before it was established there; +but they took up their position before they had made the bulwark. + +29. By this time the corsair had regained his courage, and ordered +certain of his guns fired at the camp. The "Vigilantib," which had +been captured from the galley, as abovesaid, shattered the leg of a +standard-bearer of the master-of-camp, striking him in the middle of +the shin-bone. This man was healed, and is now living. This catastrophe +caused such an impression, that they resolved to move the camp from +the island to the mainland, so that the river might intervene between +them and the spot occupied by the corsair. It was a great mistake +followed by still greater ones. The affair became a long siege, +and they amused themselves in gambling freely, in levying tribute, +and in other like things. + +30. The corsair was not expecting an assault by the Spaniards, so his +fort was not completed, lacking the terreplein; and his artillery was +unmounted, and no sentinels were placed. He had made no preparations +for war, beyond what a colonist might do. But now he hurried to make +preparations and to defend his cause. He sent out squadrons from time +to time with lances and arquebuses to fight--although he himself did +not leave the fort for the battle, but from within gave his signals +of retreat or attack. + +31. The master-of-camp only made some ambuscades, prolonging the +siege. It is certain that the Spaniards never fought the Chinese with +all their men, force to force. Although the Chinese leader sent out +five hundred or six hundred men, who pretended to show fight, they +generally fled when fifty of the Spaniards came out. It is certain +that, force to force, the Chinese would not wait to fight; and if +by the help of God they remained they would be routed, although they +had three times as many men, for they are not a warlike race. It is +also certain, and all acknowledge it to be true, that the Spaniards +desired to fight hand to hand, and to make the assault. They always +did their duty, fighting like valiant men, although there were some +cowardly ones, as all bodies have their weak side. + +32. On account of the space given to the corsair, the latter was able +to delay things and to do some damage. For instance some soldiers were +imprudently sent to form some small ambuscades; but the Chinese were +warned of them, and made a counter ambuscade. Of the seven soldiers +who left the camp, the Chinese killed and captured five, and the +other two fled. It was exceedingly foolhardy to send so few men out +in a case like this, and caused great harm, for it made the Chinese +more daring. The master-of-camp left camp with about twenty men to +form another ambuscade, contrary to the advice of the captains. This +also proved unsuccessful, although, as help came, the Chinese retired +without doing any damage. + +33. As the corsair had no ships, he sent men out to cut wood, and +as all his soldiers were good workmen, they soon constructed thirty +ships within the fort. With these he set sail at noon on the fourth +of August, having been besieged within the fortifications for over +four months. He directed his ships toward his own country, but, as he +left, he committed some damage with the "Vigilantib." At this time +the Spaniards feared that, when the ships were leaving, they were +about to attack them; and that some column was about to take them in +the rear. For this reason they fortified their rear-guard strongly +when the corsair left. It was ludicrous to expect that the Chinese +were coming to attack them, when with all their squadrons they never +dared once to measure their strength with ours. + +34. Before this the Spaniards had filled the river with stakes, +to retard the progress of the corsair, but the latter removed +them. He compelled some of his men to enter the water; and ropes +being tied to the shoulders of these men, they removed, although with +considerable difficulty, a sufficient number of the stakes to clear +the vessels. While he was removing the stakes, the Spaniards stationed +arquebusiers and as large a force as they were able; but in this there +was negligence in not opposing the enemy with better arquebusiers. + +35. They say that the corsair sent offers of friendship to the +Spaniards, saying that he would introduce us to the kingdom of China +and assist us in conquering the same. In regard to this there was +no further discussion; because he asked as a condition that the +siege should be raised, and that the Spaniards should go to Manila, +where he would return, in order to adjust the matter. Then, too, +Omocon, a captain of the king of China, was in that city, who had +come to locate the corsair, besides Sinsay, and others, which made +the Spaniards suspicious of admitting these discussions. + +36. It seems that in the kingdom of China this corsair, Limahon, had +done much damage; and the king was at a great expense and trouble in +maintaining garrisons along the frontier where he was wont to commit +his frequent depredations. The governors of the province of Hoquian +sent two ships in charge of a Chinese captain, named Omocon, sent by +the governor of Chinchiu, who bears the title there of _Yncuanton_, +to spy upon Limahon, in order to send a fleet against him. This +same Omocon also brought letters containing a pardon from the king, +in case he should fall into the hands of Limahon. He brought letters +also to the principal married men with Limahon, promising them many +things, if they would kill the corsair and return to the service of +their king. This Omocon arrived at Pangasinan after the burning of +the enemy's fleet, and after the attack made on the fort the first +day. He spoke with the master-of-camp asserting that their enemy +was a pirate; and that if the Spaniards would take him prisoner or +kill him, the king of China would recompense them by entering into +friendly and brotherly relations with them. He also said that monuments +would be set up in the king's city, and in other public places, with +inscriptions describing the heroic feats of the Castilians, who would +not come to terms with Limahon, but on the contrary had killed him +in order to do the king of China a favor. This Omocon, when he saw +that the corsair was defeated and without any hope of getting ships, +and ascertained that Limahon could not engage in a pitched battle, +and concluding that the consummation had come, said that he would go +to notify the Yncuanton of Chinchiu. Then he offered to take some of +the religious with him, saying that he would take as many as wished +to go. Accordingly the master-of-camp sent him to Manila, and Guido +de Lavezares gave him a certain present to take to China. Fathers +Fray Martin de Errada, a native of Navarra, and Fray Gernimo Martin, +a native of Mexico, went with him. A soldier named Miguel de Loarca, +and another called Pedro Sarmiento, also accompanied them. They reached +Pangasinan where they took two other soldiers with them, Nicolas de +Cuenca and Juan de Triana. They took also as interpreter a Chinese, +named Hernando, who understood Spanish. The above-mentioned Sinsay +also went with them. A large vessel belonging to Omocon was left in +Pangasinan with thirty or forty Chinese; Omocon said that he did so, +in order that they might be of service to the camp. The fathers and +soldiers went to China with Omocon, and what they saw there they have +since related. [3] + +37. It is believed that it was a mistake to let Omocon go, because +with the two ships that he took, and the one that remained there, it +might have been possible to close up the passage of the river. However +at the time of the departure of the corsair minor matters should not +be classed with errors. + +38. When the friars reached China, they carried letters with +them. They were there four or five months, and might have remained +there, but the governors did not agree to that. Because of their +eagerness to see Limahon, the governors despatched a fleet of ten +ships, and with it the fathers and Spaniards, on the pretext that, +if it were necessary for the Chinese to assist in the war, the latter +would lend their aid. They appointed Sinsay captain, and Omocon a +captain of higher rank. On the way, these men falsified the letters +given them by Guido de Laveares, writing others that said that they +were at the front, and fought valiantly, encouraging the Castilians +when the latter burned the fleet and demolished the fort; as a reward +for which they gave in money, to each one, besides the captaincy, +four hundred silver taes, each tae of the value of twelve Castilian +reals. These captains had with them as captain-general another +Chinese, named Siaogo, an insignificant, mean-looking, little +old man. It is said that he had been a corsair when young. When +these people came to this island and learned that Limahon had gone, +they cried for very rage and bitterness--especially Omocon, who had +solemnly averred that the corsair could not escape. They brought a +slight present with them, of a few pieces of silk and cotton shawls, +and also letters. A part of the present was for the governor, another +for the master-of-camp, another for the captains, and the rest for +the soldiers. Their portion was given to the captains by the Chinese +and friars. That which was destined for the governor I received, +and am sending it by this same packet to your Majesty, so that you +may see their way of doing things. I am sending also some cloth, such +as they wear, five bonnets, a belt that indicates that the wearer is +a captain, and the original letters that came from China translated +into Spanish--one of them having the equivalent Spanish words under +the Chinese and the letter telling about the present. From these it +will be seen that their writing does not consist of letters, but of +syllables or symbols. They brought with them thirteen horses as a +present or as purchases. These beasts are full of bad habits, like +those of Galicia. One horse was given there and here to the governor, +and was delivered to the officials of your Majesty's royal estate, +that they may sell it, and place the proceeds in the box with the three +keys. The rest of the horses were sent to their respective owners. + +39. These ten ships brought some merchandise to sell, although but +little, which they sold at very high rates. They are a mean, impudent +people, as well as very importunate. They remained in this port more +than six months, and demanded a present to carry back with them--saying +that the good will of their commanders would thus be gained; and that, +if this present were made to them, it would stand the Spaniards in good +stead in their land. Inasmuch as it was reported that Limahon had fled, +and as these people are as cowardly as Indians, they begged me to write +to China that Limahon was dead. For this purpose, they tried to procure +many human heads, which many natives of this land are wont to keep as +treasures, in order to declare that they had that of Limahon. They +made a false seal, claiming that it had belonged to Limahon, from +whom they had taken it. They endeavored to have me write to China +from here after this manner, but I always told them, whenever they +broached the subject, that the Castilians did not know how to lie, +and that we could not discuss such trivial matters. I consulted the +captains and religious concerning the present, and we agreed that it +was not convenient to send one, but that we would furnish them with +provisions. Therefore we supplied them generously, and they left this +port on the fourth of May of the year seventy-six. They took with them +two fathers, Fray Martin de Errada and Fray Augustin de Alburquerque, +and my letters, a copy of which I am sending, as well as an order +for the fathers to remain there to preach. The Chinese did not take +any Spaniards with them; however, they begged for some of our people, +later, thinking that the latter would take something to give them or +which they could seize. During their stay here I treated them very +well, but there is no way of softening their hearts, except by means +of gifts--although, to my way of thinking, weapons would avail more. + +40. The kingdom of China is very large. It is a two days' journey +from the head of this island thither for Spanish ships. Sailing from +this port one day until one loses sight of land, on the next day China +is seen. They themselves call their country "the kingdom of Taibiu;" +those of the Yndias, and other peoples, call it China. This means "a +very remote land," just as in Castilla they called Nueva Espaa and +Peru "Las Antillas." Thoughout these islands they call the Chinese +"Sangleyes," meaning "a people who come and go," on account of their +habit of coming annually to these islands to trade--or, as they say +there, "the regular post." Here they style the Portuguese, "Parangue," +taking the name from _margaritas_ [pearls]. They were given this name, +because they were the first who sold pearls. The captains describe +the kingdom of Taibiu in the following manner: + +It has fifteen provinces, with viceroys, while the people out-number +those of Germany. The king is now a child of thirteen. He has a mother +and tutors, and it is about three years since his father died. The +people are light complexioned, well-built, and robust. There are some +who resemble mulattoes, who are badly treated. + +41. The men and women both wear long garments, like the one that I +am sending so that your Majesty may see it. All wear wide trousers +[Sp. _aragueles_], black or white felt hose, and shoes. The country +is cold like Espaa, but there are some warm regions. It has a great +many people. + +42. They are heathens, and do absurd things. They do not use the +rosary, and have no religious observances or ornate temples. If some +temples do exist, only mechanical rites are performed in them. They +are a vile people, and are sodomites, as is affirmed by Spaniards who +have seen young boys present themselves before the justice to ask +the amount of the fine for the crime of violation, and frankly pay +it. They are all tyrants, especially those in authority, who oppress +the poor heavily. + +43. They are a cowardly people--so much so, that none ride on +horseback, although there are many horses there, because they do not +dare to mount them. They do not carry weapons, nor do they use spurs +on the horses. They use the whip and bridle, which do not have much +effect on the horse. + +44. There are a great many robbers or highway-men, robbing along the +highways or off them. They are very lazy; they do not cultivate the +ground unless some one forces them to it, and they do not collect the +harvest. They sell their children, in case of poverty, for a small +sum of money with which to buy food. + +45. All the land belongs to the king, and no one in all the kingdom +owns a handful of earth; accordingly each man must pay, in proportion +to the amount of land that he uses, tribute to the king. + +46. They know nothing, unless it be to read and write; and those who +can do this well are made great captains by the king. + +47. They talk slowly, very explosively, and arrogantly. Our manner +of writing astonishes these people, as well as our way of living, +which they think better than their own. + +48. When they effect a cure by blood-letting, they scrape the skin +until the blood comes, and with lighted wicks cauterize the wounds; +they also give the patient certain potions about which they have +learned by experience. + +49. They always drink hot water. They heat this on the fire, and +water their wine, which they drink hot. They pretend to a knowledge +of chiromancy, but know nothing about it. + +50. They are very superstitious in casting lots. When they crossed the +bar of this port, this superstition affected the flagship in which +the fathers had embarked, and the captain had to have the lot taken +by divination, and had the friars, whom he was carrying, changed to +another ship. However, the truth is that the change was made so that +they would have more freedom to pursue their customary vices. + +51. They are very submissive to authority, and patiently suffer the +punishments inflicted. For a very slight offense an ear will be cut +off, or a hundred lashes of the whip given. The land is fertile. The +horses are small and the cows are like those of Berberia. It is +reported that farther inland are horses capable of bearing armed men. + +52. No sheep are found along the coast, but there are said to be some +inland. On my asking them what Castilian products were lacking in their +country, they replied, "None whatever, unless it be velvet;" and they +say that they do not have this, because they do not know how to make +it, but that if they could see that manufacture, they would learn it. + +53. They say that inland there are vines from which they make wine, +and olives. At the rear, this kingdom joins Tartaria; and a great +many years ago, they do not know how many, the natives established +the king of Tartaria in Taybiu, and he and his descendants ruled it +for one hundred and seventy years, until, after four generations, +they were expelled. Now one of the descendants of the native kings +of Taybiu reigns, and wages constant war with the Tartars, of whom +they say they are not afraid. They can reckon time only by the years +of their king, and therefore lose count easily; for, as soon as one +king dies, no further mention is made of him, and they reckon time by +the first or second year of the reign of the new king, and no other +memory of the preceding king endures. In another manner they reckon +the months by moons, and have eleven months to the year. It is quite +usual for that land to change masters; but it has always had a king, +either of their own nation or a foreigner. They count as their New +Year's the first of February. + +54. The king and the chief priest dress in yellow, as a mark of +distinction, no one else being allowed to use this color. + +55. The smallest province has more inhabitants than Nueva Espaa +and Piru together. The cities are large, but contain mean little +houses. The people are generally poor. There are no gold or silver +coins, but everything is sold by weight. There are some copper and +bronze coins for small change. There is gold and a great deal of +silver. One peso [weight] of gold is worth four pesos of silver, +according to their calculation. For so many pesos of silver so many +of silk are obtained, and so with other things. + +56. Everything is sold by weight, even wood and chickens, and all +other things; they are sold very cheaply, for land is very cheap. + +57. Wheat and rice are raised abundantly. There are mines of gold, +silver, quicksilver, copper, lead, tin, and all the metals. + +58. It takes a week, generally, to make the voyage from Manila to +Chiunchiu [the modern Chwan-Chow-Foo], a distance of about one hundred +and forty leagues. It is said that the journey has been made in fair +weather in six days, and has never required more than ten. + +59. These people never travel by water except during the months of +the bonanas, which I have explained. Their ships cannot stand the +wind astern, because both bow and stern have the same form and are +flat, like a square table; they are so made in order that either end +can be used. They navigate always, in either direction, by means of +side-winds. These vessels rock to and fro, like cradles with oars. + +60. The sails of their ships are made of bamboo, like matting. They +do not use a yard on the mast, but raise the mainsail on the mast +fastened to a pole as an infantry flag is placed on a pike; and the +sheets hang down from the other side with which the sail is turned to +this or that side, according to the direction of the wind. The sail is +half the width of the ship, and the mast is large and high. The sail +is raised by means of a windlass, which contrivance is used also for a +capstan. The rigging is made of reeds and grass, which grow wild. The +mast is stepped about two-thirds of the length of the ship nearer the +prow, in order that the ship may pitch forward. The foremast is not +stationary, being moved to port or starboard, according to the weather +or other requirements. The sheets are worked in the same way. The +compass is divided for fewer directions than ours. They also use +stern-masts as mizzen-masts, which, like that at the bow, are changed +from one side to the other, so that they do not need quadrants. They +go from one side to the other with the wind which helps them. They +use two oars at the bow to turn the ship, and two others at the stern +that assist the sailing. The compass consists of a small earthenware +jar, on which the directions are marked. This jar is filled with +water and the magnetized needle placed in it. Sometimes before they +happen to strike it right, they could go to the bottom twenty times, +thus, although it is marvelous, considering that they are a barbarous +people, that they should understand the art of navigation, it is very +surprising to see how barbarous are their methods. + +61. All their arms, for both sea and land, are fire-bombs. They have +quantities of gunpowder, in the shape of loaves. Their artillery, +although not large, is poor. They have also, and quite commonly +poor, culverins and arquebuses, so that they depend mainly on their +lances. I am informed that they do not fear the arquebuses very much, +because they themselves are so poor shots with them, and are amazed +at seeing a hen or a pigeon killed with an arquebuse-shot. They fear +lances more than other weapons. + +62. The chief captains and the king never cut their finger-nails, +and allow one to grow as long as the finger, and longer. These go to +war seated in chairs, carried on the shoulders of other men. They +frequently become intoxicated, and are very libidinous. They +guard their women very carefully. The women also do not cut their +finger-nails. When daughters are born to people of rank, they compress +the child's feet by the toes, so that they cannot grow; and the girl +cannot stand on them, but is always carried about seated. For this +reason, these women never leave the house. + +63. The men have as many wives as they can support. They wear their +hair long, gathered up on top of the head, as women dress their hair. + +64. None but a few principal people ever see the face of the king, +and those only who are near him. His face is always covered when he +goes out, and he is accompanied by a numerous guard. + +65. The king resides in the province of Paquian, in a city called +Quincay, mentioned by Marco Polo, the Venetian, [4] in his second +book, and sixty-fourth chapter. According to the account given by +these, people, their country must have been ruled by the Tartars +before Marco Polo made that voyage, because in his history he refers +to the master of this city, and of others in the kingdom, as "the +great Khan." I believe that the strange people and language must have +changed the names of many of the provinces in his time. Although he +writes briefly, and in such a way that it seems but nonsense, still it +is true that this city does exist; and, according to the statements +of the Chinese, the name means in their language "City of Heaven," +as says Marco Polo. This city of Quincay, as nearly as we can learn, +seems to be somewhat less than five hundred leagues from Manila, +which is to those living here as Cales and the mainland of Espaa, +and if more of our people could go in one virey, everything would be +changed. These people do not extol Quincay less than Marco Polo does. + +66. Marco Polo says that there are in that city Nestorian +Christians. The people here cannot pronounce the name, but claim that +there are people in it from all over the world in great numbers. The +people there are very vicious, as are those in these islands, which +are really an archipelago of China, and their inhabitants are one +people with the Chinese--as are those of Candia and of Constantinople, +who are all Greeks. + +67. There are walls in the city formed of smooth, dry stone, well +placed on the outside. The food consists mainly of fish, for which they +go out into the sea to a distance of twenty leagues. Whoever should +prove master of the sea might do with them as he wished--especially +along their coast, which extends north and south for more than five +hundred leagues, where one may work daily havoc. Their garrisons of +soldiers along the coast are worthless, for they are treated only +as the servants of the commanders, and are overburdened; the result +is that the lowest and most abused people among the Chinese are +the soldiers. + +68. The people generally have no weapons, nor do they use any. A +corsair with two hundred men could rob a large town of thirty thousand +inhabitants. They are very poor marksmen, and their arquebuses are +worthless. + +69. The trade with China is very disadvantageous to the Spaniards, +as well as to the inhabitants of these islands; for the only useful +thing that they bring is iron, and nothing else. Their silks are of +poor quality; and they take away our gold and silver. Just so long +as their intercourse with us endures without war, just so much the +more skilful will they become; and all the less fear will they have +of those with whom they have traded. + +70. Some Indians, Japanese, and Chinese told me here that the +Portuguese have taken weapons to China, especially arquebuses such as +we use; and a Chinese sold me a Portuguese broadsword. The Portuguese +could teach them the use of large artillery, how to manage the horse, +and other things equally injurious to us. As they are merchants, +it would not be surprising that they should do so. Does not your +Majesty think that it would be well to hasten this expedition, and +to do so at once? For, in truth, it is the most important thing that +could happen for the service of God and of your Majesty. We are told +that there are millions of men, and that their tribute to their king +is thirty millions or more. + +71. The equipments necessary for this expedition are four or six +thousand men, armed with lances and arquebuses, and the ships, +artillery, and necessary munitions. + +72. With two or three thousand men one can take whatever province he +pleases, and through its ports and fleet render himself the most +powerful on the sea. This will be very easy. In conquering one +province, the conquest of all is made. + +73. The people would revolt immediately, for they are very badly +treated. They are infidels, and poor; and, finally, the kind treatment, +the evidences of power, and the religion which we shall show to them +will hold them firmly to us. + +74. There is enough wood in these islands, and enough men to make a +great fleet of galleys. In all the islands a great many corsairs live, +from whom also we could obtain help for this expedition, as also from +the Japanese, who are the mortal enemies of the Chinese. All would +gladly take part in it. Some native corsairs would also join us, +and introduce us into the country. + +75. The war with this nation is most just, for it gives freedom to +poor, wretched people who are killed, whose children are ravished by +strangers, and whom judges, rulers, and king treat with unheard-of +tyranny. Each speaks ill of his neighbor; and almost all of them +are pirates, when any occasion arises, so that none are faithful to +their king. Moreover, a war could be waged against them because they +prohibit people from entering their country. Besides, I do not know, +nor have I heard of, any wickedness that they do not practice; for +they are idolators, sodomites, robbers, and pirates, both by land +and sea. And in fact the sea, which ought to be free according to +the law of nations, is not so, as far as the Chinese are concerned; +for whosoever navigates within their reach is killed and robbed, +if they can do it. One day I called Captain Omocon, telling him in +confidence that I wished to send a ship to trade with China, and he +told me in friendship and all sincerity not to send that galley until +I had ten more well equipped to accompany it; for the Chinese were +so evilly inclined that, they would under some pretext try to attack +and capture it, in order to rob it of its goods, and make slaves of +the crew. It is safe to say that, no matter what good we might do +them, they will always give us daily a thousand causes for a just +war. Now my opinion is, may it please your Majesty, that it would +be an advantage to have a sufficient force of soldiers, so that, +under any circumstance whatsoever, they may find us ready. + +76. Moreover, we live so near them that in five days they can +come hither in their ships, while we in two days can sail in ours +from one coast to the other; and, as we have seen, they are wont to +commit depredations (as was the case in this city). Therefore, this +course of action will quite prevent the execution of their plans, +which I know--namely, that if they are able they will kill me, and +are seeking occasion for it. + +77. I offer myself to serve your Majesty in this expedition, which +I desire so much that I cannot overrate it. If for this reason +your Majesty is inclined to put less trust in me as a loyal vassal +and servant, let some one else to your liking take charge of this +expedition, even if I do not go on it, provided it is undertaken +at your Majesty's command. Since I shall have been your Majesty's +impelling motive, I shall remain satisfied; and it will be a sufficient +reward for my poor services to have recommended it so earnestly in this +manner. If it had pleased God to endow me with great wealth, I would +not hesitate to spend on this expedition my entire patrimony whenever +your Majesty should so command. In beginning a battle, the business +would be finished, for there is not a man in that whole kingdom +who has an income of one hundred ducats or a palm's length of land; +nor is there one who considers it a disgrace to be given two hundred +lashes. They are a mercenary horde, accustomed to serve foreigners. + +78. The kingdom inland, from what I have learned from men who know, +is not so large, nor does it extend so far as they say--namely, +that it requires a journey of seven months to reach the place where +the king lives. There are about five hundred leagues of seacoast +running north and south. It is wonderful to see the number of +people and the eagerness that they display in their duties and +occupations. Besides the ordinary tribute, they say that the king +has a million paid soldiers to oppose the Tartars, at the wall [5] +made by both nations. With this I send a Chinese map, from which one +can learn something, although the Chinese are so barbarous, as will +be seen from their papers. + +79. In a letter from China, from the Ynuanton (as they are barbarians, +and the real information that they possess of us is that our numbers +are but two hundred men), he states (I know not what the words are, +but they mean "tribute"), that a present taken by the Chinese the past +year, before my arrival, was placed in the king's treasury. As Omocon +falsified the letters that he took from here, as the friars told me on +their return, and as he even stole a large part of that present--he +must have said, that it was through his efforts that the fleet of +the corsair Limahon was burned, when he joined the Castilians; and +that the latter would send the corsair to their king. Afterward they +tried to induce us to write from here in accordance with their desires, +as I have said before. I treated them kindly, but the council decided +that the Chinese should take no present, since it might happen that +they would steal it; but that two priests should go to that land, +who should carry letters and instructions from me, and should send +back an answer, to ensure better success. + +80. It is said that every three years the king changes the viceroys +in China, because of his knowledge that they have robbed the whole +country; also that those in command there resist the king's authority, +as soon as they end their terms of office, and persuade others to do +the same. In short, as no one can or does speak to the king or his +viceroys except through a third party, they never tell the truth, +and thus the whole country is in a state of infidelity and barbarism. + +81. Concerning the demarcations, it is perfectly clear that the Malucos +and all the rest extending from Malaca toward this direction, including +Burney, the whole coast of China, Lequios, the Japanese islands, and +Nueva Guinea are in the demarcation of your Majesty. The Portuguese +pass the limits of their demarcation by more than five hundred leagues, +and are busied in fortifying themselves. However, it is not necessary +to take any notice of their fortifications; for, if ordered to do so, +we can go to Maluco very easily. We are only awaiting the will of your +Majesty. The Chinese bring here quantities of pepper which, as well +as cloves, they sell for four reals a libra--and one hundred nutmegs +for the same amount. This year, they told us, there are no Portuguese +in China; for they all gathered at Malaca, because of the war waged +against them by the king of Achen. Others who have come here, have told +us that they were not in Malaca either; but I did not believe it. I +believe only that the Chinese like our trade better because of the +silver from Mexico and the gold from these regions; and that business +with the Portuguese is business transacted with corsairs. Among other +reasons why your Majesty should, without hesitation, despatch troops +as soon as possible to this land, is that the king of Achen--who is a +wretched, little, naked, barefooted Moro--is treating the Portuguese +very badly. This ill-treatment arises from the fact that five or +six hundred Turkish arquebusiers have come to him from Mec[c]a, +and with their help he is conquering all the region thereabout. This +territory is about the same distance from Malaca as Berbera is from +Andaluca. Malaca is on the coast of China itself, which at that point +turns toward the north. In that region we find two more petty kings, +one of ian [Siam] and the other of Patan [Pahang?], both Moros. They +are about three hundred leagues from us here, while about one hundred +and fifty leagues from us is the king of Borney--who is also a Moro, +and in constant communication with the first named kings; and the whole +archipelago would very willingly render obedience and pay tribute to +him, if we were not here. These Moros of Borney preach the doctrine of +Mahoma, converting all the Moros of these islands. I have investigated +the matter so that, whenever God pleases, if we have forts and troops +in this land, we might aid the Portuguese, in order that the petty +king of Achen might be subdued--who persistently continues to send +out his Mahometan preachers. As I before remarked, he has Turks in +his service; accordingly, by depriving them of that vantage-point, +the passage would be closed, and neither Turks nor Moros could travel +from Malaca to this place. These are the most dangerous people, and +know the use of all manner of arms, and of horses. Waiting for the +Portuguese to do something is a weariness to the flesh, for they are +a poor people at best. Nearly all the inhabitants here were born in +Yndia, and are children of Indians. + + + +_Condition of the Country_ + + +82. These Philipinas islands are numerous and very extensive. The +climate is hot and damp. There is no protection from the sun, as +the houses are built of stakes and bamboo and the roofs are made +of palm leaves. Notwithstanding all this the country is healthy. At +night there is an agreeable temperature, and during the day are the +flood-tides of the sea. There is water in abundance. The evening dew +is not harmful. If there were the same protection from the sun that +exists in Sevilla, this country would be as healthy--and some places +more so, if one lives temperately (especially as regards continence), +and does not imbibe too freely; for the penalty for immoderate living +is death. The food here is rice, which is the bread of this country. It +is cultivated in the following manner. They put a basketful of it into +the river to soak. After a few days they take it from the water; what +is bad and has not sprouted is thrown away. The rest is put on a bamboo +mat and covered with earth, and placed where it is kept moist by the +water. After the sprouting grains have germinated sufficiently, they +are transplanted one by one, as lettuce is cultivated in Espaa. In +this way they have abundance of rice in a short time. There is another +crop of rice, which grows of itself, but it is not so abundant. Wine +is made from the cocoa-palm, from rice, and from millet, and they +have _ajonjol_ [6]--but of all these only a little, because the +people are Indians. There is plenty of fish, but it is not so good +as that of Espaa. The same fowl are found here as in Castilla, but +they are much better than those of Castilla. There are many swine, +deer, and buffalo, but he who wishes them must kill them himself, +because no native will kill or hunt them. Meat spoils very quickly +here on account of the heat. + +83. The soil is very fertile--better than that of Nueva Espaa; and +the rains come at about the same season. There is no such thing as +a bad year, unless some hurricane works damage. + +84. The people here are naked, and barefoot. They wrap a cotton cloth +around their loins. Those who possess such a thing wear a little cotton +or China silk shirt. They are people capable of much toil. Some are +Moros, and they obtain much gold, which they worship as a god. All +their possessions are gold and a few slaves, the latter being worth +among them five or six pesos each. They do not let their hair hang +but wind a small turban about the head. They believe that paradise +and successful enterprises are reserved for those who submit to the +religion of the Moros of Borney, of which they make much account. They +do not eat pork, and believe many foolish notions that tend toward +superstition. These are a richer people, because they are merchants, +and, with their slaves, cultivate the land. There are other natives who +tattoo themselves, and wear long hair, as the Chinese do. They are a +poorer and fiercer race. All carry weapons, such as daggers and lances, +and possess some artillery. No reliance can ever be placed on either +of these races. They all settle on the shores of rivers, on account +of the convenience for their fields, and because they can communicate +with one another, and go in their little boats to steal. They hardly +ever travel by land. Inland in the islands, and away from the rivers, +dwells another race who resemble the Chichimecos [7] of Nueva Espaa, +very savage and cruel, among whom are some negroes. All use bows and +arrows, and consider it very meritorious to kill men, in order to keep +the heads of the slain as ornaments for their houses. They are the most +despised people in these islands, and are called _Tinguianes_ [8] or +"mountaineers;" for _tingue_ means "mountain." They have quantities +of honey and wax, and trade these commodities with the lowlanders. As +these islands are so fertile, there are large groves which are called +_arcabucos_ ["thickets"]. Thus there are no open roads, for which +reason the Spaniards experience difficulty in moving rapidly on land, +while the natives can easily flee from one end to the other. + +85. Most of the Indians are heathens, but have no intelligent belief, +or any ceremonies. They believe in their ancestors, and when about to +embark upon some enterprise commend themselves to these, asking them +for aid. They are greatly addicted to licentiousness and drunkenness, +and are accustomed to plunder and cheat one another. They are +all usurers, lending money for interest and go even to the point +of making slaves of their debtors, which is the usual method of +obtaining slaves. Another way is through their wars, whether just or +unjust. Those who are driven on their coast by storms are made slaves +by the inhabitants of that land. They are so mercenary that they +even make slaves of their own brothers, through usury. They do not +understand any kind of work, unless it be to do something actually +necessary--such as to build their houses, which are made of stakes +after their fashion; to fish, according to their method; to row, +and perform the duties of sailors; and to cultivate the land. The +mountaineers make iron lance-points, daggers, and certain small +tools used in transplanting rice. They are very anxious to possess +artillery, of which they cast a little, although but poorly. They +are all a miserable race. Although the Pintados behave better to +the Spaniards, yet, whenever they find one alone, they kill him, +and the Moros do the same whenever they can. + +86. When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to these islands, he settled +in the island of ubu, which is very barren and small. When he went +thence, he went to Panae, on account of the war waged against him by +the Portuguese, and the famine there, which was very severe. With +but little acuteness, he established a settlement in ubu, with +about fifty inhabitants; and built a little fort of stakes, which +soon tumbled down. Although the country is healthful, it is so +barren that no one cares to live there; neither is it an important +place. I have established this place and rebuilt the ruined fortress; +and I have placed there an alcalde mayor and about fifty soldiers +who have pacified those natives. The latter had risen in rebellion, +at the opportunity afforded by the tyrant Limahon. That islet is next +another called Mindanao, a large and rich island--where, God willing, +we must make an expedition soon. This settlement is of no advantage, +and causes expense and no gain, beyond saying that it is near Maluco; +nor does it possess other good qualities than that it claims to have +a good climate and port. + +87. The Malucos are nearer to Nueva Espaa than this city is, by two +hundred leagues; so that it would be easier and shorter to reach +them from Nueva Espaa. On returning, the season could be chosen +better, as there are no channels or islands to go through, as we +have here. Among these islands there are certain currents which flow +more rapidly than those of any river. One cannot believe this unless +one actually sees it. And as the archipelago is so extensive, at the +doubling of each promontory it is needful to choose a different time +for sailing. For this reason we need vessels with oars. Meanwhile, +unless your Majesty orders it, we shall not go to Maluco. If we had +to go there, it would be better to locate in that village in Mindanao, +which is well supplied with provisions and where there are people. It +is more than one hundred leagues nearer than Maluco. + +88. When your Majesty was pleased to give Miguel Lopez de Legaspi +permission to divide the land into encomiendas, he did so in accordance +with the wishes of the few men whom he had, assigning two or three +thousand natives as an encomienda to four or eight men. These natives +were not pacified, conquered, or even seen, so that the people asked +and still ask for soldiers to visit and pacify them, in regard to +which there is much trouble here. It was agreed that eight thousand +tributarios should be given as an encomienda to the master-of-camp, +four thousand to the captains, three thousand to men of rank, and so +on to the different classes, according to their position. This caused +trouble immediately because the generality of people and soldiers are +not willing to acknowledge so many people superior to themselves. It +is impossible to pursue the procedure adopted. Again, complaints are +heard that fewer Indians are given to one than to another, and that +those taken from their encomienda, as is commonly asserted, swell +the encomiendas of other persons. All these were things not well +understood at that time. They were not discussed in the residencia, +[9] in order not to arouse dissension. I tell all this to your Majesty +so that you may know the condition of affairs here. If I could, +I would reform matters so that good sense should conquer. + +89. He [Legazpi] was also wont to maintain a number of gentlemen, who +had nothing more to do than to act as sentinels for him alone. They +were considered as of higher rank, as above said, and even more; +and they ate with him at his table. They were ordinarily young men +recommended to him by others from Mexico. They were thus set above +their fellows, which occasioned considerable trouble--even resulting +once in the garrotting of one from Cadiz. These men always accompanied +the governor in his walks, for he went afoot, because there were no +horses; and they were supported from your Majesty's treasury. It +has seemed to me a gracious act toward the people to entrust my +person to them all; and that those appointed by the sergeant-major +in turn, from the different companies, should perform sentinel +duty at my house--in order to relieve your Majesty's royal estate +of this traffic and expense; and to obviate this envy and the too +great equality caused by seating common people at the table. Then, +too, I ride on horseback whenever I go out; and no one would wish to +attend me except my servants. Therefore this guard, as was necessary, +ceases to exist. I rely on the fidelity of the sentinels, and will +rely on any person who refrains from possessions and honor not his own, +and sets a good example. + +90. For the reason above stated--that repartimientos were made by +Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, and afterward by Guido de Lavesares, of places +never pacified or even seen--there are many encomenderos who have no +food, and who, whenever any district is pacified of late, demand that +it be given to them by virtue of that encomienda, to the prejudice of +those who go to pacify and cultivate it. Consequently, notwithstanding +that I have not yet seen the river of Vindanao, as above stated, I must +send men there. They have divided it into encomiendas, and assessed +the tax according to the men; just as in districts which are not so +large as that one, they come to beg for men, in order to go to collect +their tributes and commit various excesses. In accordance with your +Majesty's order and commission, I shall grant no encomienda that is +not pacified and faithful. I think that this will settle the matter, +and that the people will come to understand it. I enclose with this +a list of the encomiendas of the country; but all that is a matter +of little importance except for the passage from the mainland of China. + +91. As I have previously observed, and since all the cost of the +exploration and occupancy of these islands, has been at your Majesty's +expense, those in charge of the government have but ill attended to +apportioning Indians to the royal crown; and those allotments were +made by way of compliment, and are the worst ones. They relied only +on what had to be sent them annually from Nueva Espaa, and on what +has come from there; for this land is as sterile as one who lives on +charity. Accompanying this is a list of the income that your Majesty +has here. As far as I understand it, there is no account of the number +of Indians who are apportioned to the royal crown, and whether or not +they wander through the hills, for no one has seen them. To discuss +this matter in the residencia would be to excite the people to anger. I +thought that it would be all right to do it quietly, and therefore I +have apportioned as many as possible to the royal crown. However in +regard to this there was trouble enough, for once an office-holder +stated in public that, at this rate, all the Indians would belong to +the royal crown, and it became necessary to use dissimulation. + +92. When Guido de Lavesares was governor he placed to his own credit +as many Indians as he saw fit; but I revoked all this, and allotted +them to the royal crown. I am sending the records to you; and with +whatever it may please your Majesty to give your servants we shall +be well satisfied. + +93. There is in these islands an abundance of wood and of men, so that +a large fleet of boats and galleys may be built. There is a quantity +of cheap iron from China, worked by the natives here, who can make +what is necessary from it--which they cannot do with Castilian iron, +for it is exceedingly hard. We have no pitch, tallow, or rigging +worth mention, because what there is is so scarce and poor that +it amounts to nothing. There is no oakum for calking. Large anchors +cannot be made; but the rest of the tackle can be obtained here in good +condition. There is good timber also; to my way of thinking, therefore, +the ship that would cost ten thousand ducats in Guatimala, and in +Nueva Espaa thirty [thousand], can be made here for two or three +[thousand], should strenuous efforts be employed. When I came here +I found the city burned and razed to the ground. I erected shipyards +in two places, separating the workmen, so that they might accomplish +more if they entered into competition. The one in Manila has turned +out a galliot of sixteen or seventeen benches; and has repaired the +ship that brought me here, and also one that was made in Acapulco, +which I believe cost more than fifteen thousand ducats. They were +about to burn the latter ship for the iron that they could thus obtain; +but through promises and diligence on my part the keel and stern-post, +which were rotten were removed, as well as half the hull of the ship; +and, God willing, she will sail from here one month after this ship +departs. Almost one braza was cut off near the bow, on account of +its unsatisfactory shape; and more than two brazas will be added to +the original length. This will make a vessel capable of carrying two +hundred soldiers--which, as this ship had been condemned, means that we +have, from nothing, made twenty thousand ducats. I found that the ship +which had been repaired was destroyed during Limahon's attack. Rigging, +masts, sails, and everything else necessary have been placed in it, +and the ship is called "Sant Felipe." On finishing this, they will +begin to work on another galley; and, besides, will repair another +vessel that is rotten, and whose keel, although of a better pattern, +will require as much labor as the other. However, God willing, +it will be completed by January, so that there will be two galleys +here. In Oton, on the island of Panae I have finished another galley, +thirty-four varas long, with twenty benches. Still another will be +ready by September and I shall continue with the work. + +94. I would not dare to employ rowers for this country, since I have so +few men now on the Spanish galliots; for it would be possible for them +to take flight some day, and to do mischief. All these islands are full +of robbers. Having these four galleys I shall, with God's help, man +them with friends, and seek equipment for them. It is my plan to build +a hundred galleys, and to support them in your Majesty's service from +our enemies, if your Majesty would care to provide what is necessary. + +95. There is no artilleryman here who knows how to fire or cast +artillery, nor is there any artillery. I am writing to the viceroy +our needs in this matter. Having learned that the Moros of this +country had artillery, I told them that they had nothing to fear now, +since we Spaniards are here, who will defend them; and that therefore +they should give me their artillery. By very affable address, I have +obtained possession of as much as possible, without any harshness, +and without seizing any man. I have therefore in the fort, in your +Majesty's magazine, four hundred quintals of bronze that seems to +be good. It was all taken within the radius of eight leagues. For +this reason, and because often some of the pieces burst, we need +here at this camp master-workmen to cast artillery. They ought to be +sent from Espaa for this purpose so that we should not be deceived +about them in Mexico, as we have been in regard to the gunners--who +have simply passed by the gunners' barracks, and have never served +in the capacity of gunner. Such men we have here, to our great risk +and harm. It will be necessary to send fifty gunners. Those who are +here must be discharged, or be sent as substitutes for sailors. + +96. And because, although I might act as overseer, these things +do not form part of my duty, two master-engineers are necessary, +who understand how to fortify a town, and everything pertaining +thereto. We also need experienced troops, for we are here among +enemies and nothing is possessed unless it is held. With regard to +the artillery and master-engineers, I implore that your Majesty may +be pleased to command that this business be attended to at once; +for we are lost here without artillery, which alone can defend the +dominions of your Majesty. + +97. It is necessary that two masters to build ships and galleys should +be sent from Nueva Espaa--so that, if it were necessary, those here, +who are becoming lazy, might be changed. It is necessary to change them +and to keep them in two shipyards, as I have done, so that the expense +at Acapulco, in Nueva Espaa, might cease. All the work done there is +thrown away; for the vessels from Nueva Espaa alone detain the workmen +here in repairing them, and prevent them from building new ones. We +need commanders of galleys who know how to manage the lateen sail. + +98. We have no lead here, but it abounds in Nueva Espaa; it will be +necessary to order that more than five hundred quintals be brought +from that country, for this is our sustenance--besides three hundred +quintals of gunpowder, for present use. We need some weapons and +armor--some corselets, such as are used in Nueva Espaa, and five +hundred lances, which should be brought from Nueva Espaa. Those that +we had here were used up, through carelessness and in the encounter +with the corsair. Until now it was not understood that pikes were +necessary, because the natives are wont to flee. But now it has been +seen that the Chinese attack other men with these weapons, for fear +of their commander. Now as there are so few of us, and the country +breathes nothing but war, we have not ventured into the forests to see +if there is good wood for these lances. For the lack of these lances +here, we have no lance-practice, nor is there a squadron to train +the soldiers; although, because of the great need, I have contrived +to make some lances from poles and bamboo, with iron and steel from +China. I have made one hundred iron points. I do not dare to issue +orders for target-practice (which the young soldiers need especially), +not even for a day, in order not to use up my miserably small quantity +of powder and lead. + +99. Because of the many hardships in this country, the soldier +must be ready at any moment to execute the commands of those in +authority. For this reason, we find the consignments of married men a +great inconvenience; for they are not of much use here, as they are +generally very poor and old. It seems to me that, for the present, +we do not require the services of married men, unless there might be +some one of the nobility, whose family would set a good example. + +100. As the soldiers suffer so many hardships, they become sick; and +although many even die, they are all so poor that they cannot leave +anything. They have no medicines, and are always ready to beg them, as +they have no other resource. When I came, I had a hospital built; but +the corsair burned it. This served as a lodging-place for poor people; +and, for this purpose, I brought a man from Nueva Espaa to attend +the sick. We who are here consider this an excellent institution, +and, because without an endowment there would be no hospital when a +soldier was dying, I apportioned about one thousand Indians to the +hospital, whom it now enjoys because of this need. For the future, +will your Majesty please order that a sum sufficient for its needs +be paid from the treasury, and that those Indians be apportioned to +the royal crown. We need also another house for convalescents where +they may be compelled to follow a certain diet, such as a bit of +fowl. When I find a little leisure from so many toils, I will build +such a house, and establish suitable rules regarding the food. Thus, +besides the service of God, many can be supplied with food, by means +of the person who conducts the house. + +101. It is necessary to maintain suitable order for the conservation +of the fort and artillery; and, as an inducement for those soldiers +who perform sentinel duty there, and the gunners who serve there, to +live within the fort, it is necessary to maintain them at the separate +expense of the fort. It is necessary also that, for the same purpose, +the governor of the fort should keep it in repair; and these expenses +should not be confused with those of your Majesty's treasury of the +three keys. I have discovered by experience that each account divided +by itself is much more satisfactory. + +102. I have set about fortifying this city; but this work is not yet +completed, as the site is large, and I would not leave the friars +outside, from whom we all receive our instruction; moreover, we have +had so much work and hardship, and the Indians help us but little, +and I do not wish them to neglect their fields. It will, however, soon +be completed. It will be a palisade joined with keys, all along the +shore and across the river; and a cavalier [10] for defense--where +some artillery is to be mounted when the Indians have gathered in +their harvest--will be completed very soon. Likewise twenty thousand +fangas of rice for the support of your Majesty's camp and fleet will +be stored away. + +103. The province which, in all this island of Luon, produces most +grain is that called Pampanga. It has two rivers, one called Bitis +[Betis] and the other Lubao, along whose banks dwell three thousand +five hundred Moros, more or less, all tillers of the soil, and taxed +to the value of eight reals each. This city and all this region is +provided with food--namely, rice, which is the bread here--by this +province; so that if the rice harvest should fail there, there would +be no place where it could be obtained. Throughout the province +there are not sufficient Indians belonging to the royal crown who +could give one thousand fangas of income to your Majesty. These two +rivers were not included in the encomiendas made by the late Miguel +Lopez de Legaspi, governor of these islands (who apportioned a part of +that province), in order that he might request them from your Majesty +for himself. After his death, Guido de Lavasares, who succeeded him, +placed them openly to his own account, and apportioned the rest; +but I revoked the decree, and apportioned them to the royal crown +of your Majesty, where they are now; and the officials of the royal +exchequer have collected their tribute from them this year. It seems +that your Majesty has been pleased to bestow this encomienda upon +the son of the defunct adelantado, Legaspi. If this should pass to +him--as it is only reasonable to expect that it should, since such +is your Majesty's pleasure, and it is a favor to the children of him +who died in your Majesty's service--it would be most serious damage +to the condition of these islands. For not only has your Majesty no +income in grain, nor any place from which to obtain it, but these +Indians, as they are near, work very well, when told that they are +tributarios of your Majesty; and they serve in cutting wood, and do +other things which are very useful and important here. If perchance +the heir of the defunct governor should come to ask for his rights, +I believe that it would be well to ask him to do us the favor of +waiting until this point in my letter can be answered. Some plan +might be arranged, if it pleased your Majesty, so that he should be +recompensed in Nueva Espaa. This will prove advantageous, since this +encomienda has been already allotted to the royal crown. I entreat +your Majesty to please to have the matter examined, because it is +important. For this reason I mention here the number of Indians, +and their tributes. It is a healthful and rich land. + +104. The provinces in these islands that would be profitable to +settle are those that can maintain the Spaniards and can provide +them with food. If these are not colonized by us, the Indians will +continue their old mode of life, which means attacking others. For +this reason, it would be well to grant some lands, but with discretion, +so that we shall not be separated; for each by itself would prove but +a weak community, as happened on the appearance of the corsair. For +this reason and because there have always been foreign ships here, +I have delayed effecting settlements until we have more people. I +have attempted to send leaders and men through those districts, so +that the land might be made peaceful; and for this purpose have sent +one troop to ubu, another to Camarines, and another to Ylocos. We +are always busy. + +105. According to the accounts of the royal exchequer, your Majesty +will see that Guido de Lavesares and Legazpi have been in the habit of +allowing gratuities and other free sums from the royal treasury. I +have not continued these, but have closed the door on all this, +in order not to give them. However, as the friars insist that it be +given and spent in sermons, I have, without consulting them made a +decree to the effect that only the needy poor should receive alms, +and the gift must be for their support. I ordered a list of the poor +to be made and rice to be given them, as is given to others who are +supplied with rations from the royal treasury. Thereupon some persons +came, and have received alms. Those who begged only for gaming and +other like purposes are ashamed to take that alms, and wish nothing +but encomiendas. I have stated all this to your Majesty so that you may +be pleased to send me special instructions concerning these charities +and gratuities, so that in a just case actually seen, and in certain +necessities and calamities, attested to before notary and witnesses, +I might be empowered to furnish aid of weapons and clothing--always +prohibiting the giving of money even for once, or the income from +the chest with three keys, for this is harmful. + +106. When an encomendero dies in Nueva Espaa, his Indians are +allotted to the royal crown of your Majesty, as being in a simple +and peaceful country, where there is no need of soldiers. In these +islands I think that this would be impossible; and I would not dare +do it until I receive an answer from your Majesty ordering me to do +so. For, as so many men die here, all the encomiendas would belong to +your Majesty in four years; and the soldiers would have an incentive +to attempt the deaths of others. I notify your Majesty concerning this +so that you may order how I am to proceed. I have planned to correct +with gentleness the harm already done in apportioning villages to +the royal crown, by taking care that they be near and convenient to +the districts where the Spaniards will reside, and where the fleets +will be stationed. Some of those situated in more remote districts I +have granted. As time passes, I understand these things better; and +whenever occasion arises I am ever watchful of your Majesty's royal +treasury. In Mexico conditions hereabout are understood so little, +that I believe none know what takes place here. Of this I am sure +because they did not tell me the truth there, nor did I understand +it. One must actually see for himself the conditions here. + +107. As there are so few people here it is impossible to administer +justice, such as execution for murder, or whipping a rogue; for in +one day we all would die. It is necessary to separate enemies and +pardon offenders; for a whipped man can be a soldier no longer. It +is important that your Majesty should know this. + +108. The ordinances sent me by your Majesty concerning pacified +districts, which propose to summon the Indians peaceably to settle +near those districts and to persuade them to become Christians by means +of the friars, are very holy and just, but it is quite evident that a +correct report of this matter has not been made. For the Indians are +generally like deer; whenever one wishes to find them, he must first +employ strategy to catch one of the Indians in order that this one +may summon the others who have taken to the hills. Moreover, while +they are going and coming it is necessary that God should perform +miracles in providing food, clothing, and shoes for the soldiers, +and also for the friars, who will go for this purpose. You must +know that being long in one place incites them against one another, +and they begin to die. Those who return come broken down and sick; +and alms must be given them, in order that they may remain alive. I +advise and assure your Majesty that they appeal to us with great +facility for clothing, weapons, and money. + +109. I have to undertake many different trades and offices here +for I must serve as workman and overseer, judge and mediator; +I must take care of the hospitals and of the dead, as well as +the property of the deceased. Not one real of said property has +been lost. I am sending today forty-five marcos of gold, credited +to the accounts of the dead. There remain here pending law-suits, +appealed to the Audiencia of Mexico, in greater amount. There is so +much administration by land and sea, and so many details, that it is +impossible to mention them. All this gives me great satisfaction, for +I am happier when many cares attend my duties. What has wearied me, +and still is unusually wearisome, is the accounts of the officials of +your Majesty's royal exchequer, on account of their extravagance and +careless administration. In this ship I am sending the accounts, even +in their present shape, from which your Majesty will see whether there +has been any trouble. I enclose also the examination of the officials +and the residencias that have been taken. In these residencias, +because it was not best to discuss it, no charges were made, since +no Indians had been apportioned to the royal crown. On this account, +the treasury has but little income at present. I shall endeavor to +improve these matters in the future, as I have said. The books of +said officials of the royal treasury have been copied according to +your Majesty's orders, as given in the clause of instruction for +taking the accounts, and are being sent. + +119. These officials of the royal treasury asked permission of your +Majesty to have Indians, as appears by a letter sent them as an answer +on the fleet by which I came, and according to what they say. In that +letter your Majesty says this is not convenient. Notwithstanding, +when Guido de Lavesares became governor, he gave them encomiendas of +Indians. It seemed to me that they neglected their duties, depending +upon other means of subsistence; and that they try to flatter and +please the governor so that he will give them another encomienda; +that the natives are angry, and that these same officials presume to +draw a salary besides. Thus it seemed best to me to apportion their +Indians to the royal crown of your Majesty. Therefore I promulgated +a decree that they should have no Indians, and that their salaries +should be paid from the royal treasury according to its contents. They +have appealed from this. Will your Majesty examine and provide what +is necessary? Where your Majesty possesses so slight an income as +is the case at present in these islands, it was a mistake to send, +at the beginning, three officials with a salary as great as those +of Mexico receive. For this very reason, their letters-patent state +that they are to be paid only from the profits of this land; yet +they have taken from the stores for barter and from your Majesty's +treasury at various times and seasons, what they could. I did not take +an itemized account of this, for at the time of settlement, either +they had nothing, or it was hidden; and they allowed themselves to be +imprisoned. Upon this question judgment has been suspended, and I refer +it to your Majesty, so that you may make such provision as is best. My +opinion is that for the present the officials of your Majesty's royal +exchequer here should not hold positions simply for ostentation, but +for actual service--since there is so much to be administered here, +and it is necessary that they should go about to make collections +and to inspect the work in the shipyards, as well as in other places +where they might be needed. It would be better to give them lower +salaries, and if they proved themselves efficient in their duties, +then they should be given an increase in the shape of an encomienda +or another office, after having closed the account; for in this land, +as all are soldiers, there are no guarantors or others to ensure the +pay of the many officials. There are people of gentle birth here, as +well as diligent and able soldiers, who could fill all the positions +satisfactorily, while the accounts would be well kept--all of which +is necessary, so far away from your Majesty. Will your Majesty please +issue the necessary orders in this? + +112. Although from the letter that I am writing to the viceroy +of Mexico one can understand something of what concerns religious +instruction and the friars in this country, still I state the matter +here as I understand it. Although, according to their rule, they +may hold property in common, they cannot do so here; for the houses +are built of wood and bamboo, while there are no other holdings +for them. To all friars, priests, and lay brethren something must +be given, so they are each granted an annual income of one hundred +pesos, and one hundred fangas of rice. I think there is a lack of +religious instruction here; for there are only thirteen friars who +can say mass, and I am not sure that any one of these understands the +language of the natives. I am told that these islands alone require +one thousand priests. Those friars who are to come here must be +men who are missed elsewhere, since they come to lead an apostolic +life. It is very necessary for your Majesty to send friars from all +the orders--especially the Franciscans, and many of them, for they +live among the Indians, and we need not support them. Your Majesty's +only expense, so far as they are concerned, will be certain articles +for their vestments, from Nueva Espaa. I entreat your Majesty to +provide for this most carefully, for it is necessary. + +113. When I arrived, there were two ecclesiastics, one of whom died +of disease, and one only is left. Many are needed. The ecclesiastics +complain of the friars sent them. During my term all will be peace. + +114. There is a decree of concession in these islands, issued +by your Majesty, to the effect that for ten years your Majesty's +fifth of the gold should be made one-tenth. [11] The city claims +that this concession is continued. As all are soldiers and are +poor, it is necessary and just that your Majesty concede this in +this instance. Likewise there is exemption for thirty years from +customs. This amounts to a mere pittance here, and what is brought +hither or carried away belongs to the soldiers, who support themselves +with this help; for they are given nothing, except a few encomiendas to +some, and rations to others who are poor and sick; and these customs +duties should be allowed to all, to prevent them from begging. + +115. Up to the present time there have been no duties on exports +or imports, or any other duties. And as I came during so hard +times, and the people were so poor and few I did not dare to impose +them. It seems to me too soon to talk of duties until it can be made +profitable. This amounts to but a small sum, and whatever is brought +from China by the vessels is but a small matter; and if we did not +treat them well, they would not return. Deprived of what they bring, +we would suffer. Therefore I mean to defer this until we have some +galleys fitted up, and possess a firmer grip in this country, + +116. In this island the natives have a quantity of gold, in the form +of jewelry, with which they trade. There are many reports of gold +mines. Because it is reported that the best mines are those in the +province of Ylocos, I sent thither the sergeant-major from this camp +with forty arquebusiers. He reached those mines, and reports that they +are located in a very rough country, twenty leagues inland; that the +way thither is obstructed by great forests; and that the country is +very cold, and has great pine forests. He brought some metal, all of +which I am sending to the viceroy of Mexico; this appears to be worth +something. As it is necessary to march afoot and to carry their food, +and the country is hostile, and the soldiers poor, it seems a pity to +send them to lose what they have, in a district where they can obtain +no profit; for the operation of the mines requires tranquillity among +the people, the service of many men, and abundant supplies. I shall +endeavor to have the troops return, when food can be taken there, +and will inform your Majesty thereof. + +117. When the sergeant-major was returning from the mines, +he discovered on an islet the two friars who were going with the +captains in May. They say that the captains attempted to rob them; +but, upon seeing that they had neither gold nor silver, because all +the alms that had been given them had been deposited, by my advice, +in a place of safety, the captains said that they would not take them +to China since they were not taking thither anything for presents. A +Chinese who was going with them as interpreter was also robbed of what +I had given him. They beheaded two other Chinese who had been with +Limahon, and were presented to the friars, so that they could not, on +returning to their own country, relate what had occurred. It is said +that the captains had determined to circulate there in China the story +that Limahon and the master-of-camp had both been killed in the fight, +whereupon the Castilians being without a leader, returned to Manila and +allowed the corsairs opportunity to escape. But the latter remained, +in order to verify the axiom that they have in China, that they may +not flee. This is so evil a race that if today the whole world were +given them, tomorrow they would commit a thousand treasons to steal +one single real. We shall live here always on our guard, and shall +do our duty, God helping. + +118. As I have informed your Majesty, the master-of-camp, Martin +de Goite, died; and after his death, Guido de Lavesares appointed +Captain Juan de Saucedo as master-of-camp. This captain assisted +in the expedition against the corsair, and it was under his charge +in Pangasinan. At my arrival I did not discuss with him and the +captains the matter of residencia, for they were artful enough, and +at variance with one another. Moreover it was rather the moment for +burying troubles and proceeding to business. Therefore neither in his +office nor in that of the captains appointed (in greater number than +was necessary) by Guido de Lavesares, did I make, nor have I made, +any innovation; for there are so few people here. Juan de Saucedo, +master-of-camp, went to Ylocos to collect tribute from some Indians of +an encomienda that he had there. There he had an attack of illness, +from which he died in a short time. This is the sickness that kills +old and young. Upon this occasion of the death of the master-of-camp +the Chinese fabricated their lie, and complained that we did not +give them anything; while in reality we spent a considerable sum +from your Majesty's royal exchequer to supply them with provisions, +ship's stores, and other articles, in order that they might take the +fathers to China. I believe that God wills it thus, and that it is +well that they owe something, so that they may pay it at once. It is +not safe to go unarmed or carelessly in that country, or in this; +nor must one begin an attack without having a fort to receive the +return blow, and be able to sustain it. I refer to what I have said +above, and I beseech your Majesty once more to have this expedition +undertaken. As I before remarked, two merchant-ships remained here, and +we treated them kindly and with justice. When they were leaving, they +asked me what message I had for their country. I told them to convey +my compliments to the said captains, and to say that I had very kind +feelings for all the people of China; and that this was my message. + +119. Since this letter was written, we have received word that the +ship sent by the viceroy this year with the usual help was lost. It +was the pilot's fault, or at least they say that it was. May God find +a remedy for this loss, for I dare not speak of it. + +120. With this I enclose a copy of the letter that I have written to +the viceroy. With it I send a list of all that is needed here. This +ship sets sail at a favorable season, the beginning of June of 76; +and, please God, another will leave in about a month, as it lacks +but a little carpenter-work. We have been working at it five months. + +121. In the investigation and accounts, the officials excused +themselves, saying that they had no instructions; so I made a few +ordinances adapted to the life here. I am sending these with the +present letter. + +122. I am sending also the investigations that were made in regard +to no ship leaving last year; and about not compelling any one to +assay gold that is mined and traded with here. + +123. I am sending the originals, and translations of the letters +from China, together with the residencias; and other papers, +consisting of a Chinese map and another small map that I had made +here, some stories of China, and those that they call "Flowers of +Silver"--all in a box directed to the viceroy of Nueva Espaa, so +that it may be sent to your Majesty. It may be, as I believe, that, +in the accounts of the officials of your Majesty's royal treasury, +I also have not fulfilled well the duty of accountant, as is done at +court. I humbly beg your Majesty that these faults may be pardoned, +and that I may be advised of them, so that in the future my work +may be more correct. When these ships are despatched, I shall begin +to examine the accounts of last year, and shall send them by the +first ship. I shall set down fully in these your Majesty's actual +income here. I do not venture to send it with the other papers but +will send it by itself. The only data accompanying this letter are +in a statement of the money paid into the treasury last year, 1575; +and I hope, God helping, that this amount will soon increase. + +124. Because, as I have said, this year's ship from Nueva Espaa was +lost, will your Majesty please order new copies of all the papers +sent in it. + +125. Your Majesty sent me twelve magistracy titles for the regidores of +this city, with a decree. I gave them to those magistrates whom I found +living here, who numbered five, seven having died before my arrival, +counting one who had become a friar. Therefore I guided myself by the +precedent that there should be twelve. In addition to these five, there +are the three officials of this royal exchequer, which makes the number +eight; a high-constable of the city, who was already provided, and him +I have left undisturbed; one Antonio Alvarez, one Franciso Baon, and +one Marcos de Herrera who are among the earliest settlers. The truth of +the matter is that we would better not discuss these magistracies now, +for everything is in turmoil. Your Majesty also had a decree sent, so +that the city might have the boundaries that I should assign to it; +but I have not yet determined this, as I had some doubts and wished +to investigate the matter thoroughly; for, if once they are assigned, +the natives are bound. I shall advise your Majesty of my decision. + +126. We have shipped in this vessel ninety bundles of cinnamon +belonging to your Majesty; and as many more, which remained here, +will be shipped in the next vessel, which will sail next month. I +have gathered articles of barter, in order to send a commander of +troops to Mindanao for next year's barter; then I will advise you of +what is in that island. + +127. A book will also be found in the box which is a narration of the +country, rents, and tributarios of China, which is in substance what +is contained on the Chinese map. There is also another small book +resembling a collection of sea-charts, and some papers upon which +are depicted their officials of justice, which are sold in the shops +of that land. Because I am writing to the viceroy in Mexico and am +sending your Majesty a copy of the letter, where what I do not write +here is written, I close, beseeching your Majesty to be so kind as +to order that this country be provided for, since it is so easy; and +to grant favors to all of us who are serving you here. May our Lord +preserve the Royal Catholic person of your Majesty, and bestow upon +you greater kingdoms and seigniories, as is the wish of your servants +and vassals. Manila, in the island of Luon, in the Filipinas, June 7, +1576. Royal Catholic Majesty, your Majesty's loyal vassal and servant, +who kisses your royal hands. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[In the same legajo, there is a letter from the city of Manila, +dated June 2, 1576, which also contains an account of the affair of +the pirate Limahon. It is endorsed thus: "Let it be abstracted in a +report. Done." The abstract of the letter follows, and is doubtless +the work of one of the royal clerks or secretaries. Certain +instructions and remarks of the king or council appear in the +margin of the abstract. Opposite that for clauses 71-81, which +discuss the proposed conquest of China, are the following remarks: +"Reply as to the receipt of this; and that, in what relates to the +conquest of China, it is not fitting at the present time to discuss +that matter. On the contrary, he must strive for the maintenance of +friendship with the Chinese, and must not make any alliance with the +pirates hostile to the Chinese, nor give that nation any just cause +for indignation against us. He must advise us of everything, and if, +when the whole question is understood better, it shall be suitable to +make any innovation later, then he will be given the order and plan +that he must follow therein. Meanwhile he shall strive to manage what +is in his charge, so that God and his Majesty will be served; and he +shall and must adhere strictly to his instructions as to conquests and +new explorations. We shall see to it carefully that he is renforced +annually from this land with men, weapons, ammunition, and everything +needed for aid. The viceroy of Nueva Espaa will be informed of this, +and ordered to attend to it carefully. Religious will be sent also, +to give instruction; and all supplies that are possible at the present +time will be sent. The governor must be very zealous, and encourage +the people there, and give them to understand the care that is and +will be taken for them here, in protecting, aiding, and favoring them; +and he must govern in all matters as is expected from his good sense +and prudence. Write to the viceroy to send lead, for he [Sande] asks +for it." Opposite clauses 82-85, treating of the characteristics of +the Philippines and of their inhabitants: "Tell him that the report +of that land has been read, and has occasioned gladness, and that he +should continue to advise us thus of what is necessary; also that he +show much honor and favor to the captains and soldiers." Opposite +clause 86, treating of the restablishment of Ceb: "Write that +this is well done; and that he shall strive to have people gathered +in the principal _presidio_ [military post]." Opposite clause 89, +treating of Maluco: "Let there be no innovation in what pertains to +the Malucos." Opposite clause 90, treating of the encomiendas made +by Legazpi: "In what has been allotted, let there be no innovation; +and let that which is granted hereafter be allotted in accordance with +the deserts and services of each one." Opposite clause 91: "None of the +documents that he mentions as being enclosed with this letter appear to +have come. He said in his letter that they were all coming in one box +directed to the viceroy, and this has not arrived." "Have this relation +brought." "It has not arrived, as said above." Opposite clause 92: +"Bring these decrees." "They have not arrived." Opposite clauses 93 +and 94: "As for what he says concerning the four galleys, let them +be used to defend that port and country." Opposite clause 95: "The +viceroy should be advised to send as many of those people [gunners, +etc.] as possible. Write to him to that effect." Opposite clauses +96, 97, and 98: "_Yden_" ["the same"] Opposite clause 100: "Tell +him to manage this as seems best to him;" and opposite clause 101, +"_Yden_." Opposite clause 102, treating of Legazpi's and Lavezares's +grants in Bitis and Lubao: "He is to observe what is ordered about +this in another letter." Opposite clause 105, treating of gratuities, +etc.: "Have the instructions taken by Legazpi brought. Bring the +book containing the ordinances made here, after the arrival at and +occupation of the islands is brought; the instructions given before +that time were given by the viceroy." Opposite clause 106, treating +of vacant encomiendas: "Write that, when necessity requires, and the +matter can be remedied in no other way, he remedy it as well as he can, +especially considering the necessities of the land, taking special +care of his Majesty's estate. In the above-named book is the method to +be followed in regard to encomiendas. Let him adhere to that method, +and let all the encomiendas falling vacant be allotted, until there +be given a contrary order." Opposite clause 108: "These ordinances are +brought, and a decree is being despatched that, since we have learned +that these ordinances are not observed, he is ordered to enforce +them." Opposite clause 109: "Let them be despatched." Opposite clause +110, treating of the encomiendas in possession of royal officials: +"This can be passed by and overlooked, because the land is new, until +other provision be made. In accordance with this, let those Indians +be returned." Opposite clause 111, treating of salaries of royal +officials: "Let the officials be allowed to collect their salaries from +the products of the country which are put into the treasury, as the +property of his Majesty, until other provision be made--both of money +placed therein hitherto and to be put therein in the future." Opposite +clause 112, treating of religious: "Write that they are already sent, +and that we shall see to it that more are sent continually, as well as +ecclesiastics." Opposite clause 114: "Let it be done thus, and a decree +will be sent to this effect by his Majesty." Opposite clause 116: +"Let it be done thus." Opposite clause 121: "Let them be given to a +reporter, and let him bring them immediately." Opposite clause 122: +"_Yden_. He has been informed already that the box containing all +these documents has not been sent by the viceroy." Opposite clause 123: +"Answer that these papers have not arrived. When they come they will be +examined, and he will be advised of our pleasure." Opposite clause 124: +"It shall be sent, and so advise him." On the outside is the following +endorsement: "Answered inside. Let all that is requested be brought." + +These marginal remarks and provisions offer a good example of the +Spanish method of treating the communications received from royal +officials. They show a distinct business-like method, that sought to +dispose of such communications in the briefest time.] + + + + + +Relation and Description of the Phelipinas Islands + +[This document (which, in the archives at Sevilla, is separated +from the preceding one) is, although dated on June 8, 1577, partly +a duplicate of Sande's first report, dated June 7, 1576, which +immediately precedes this one in the present volume. We therefore omit +such part of it as repeats matter contained therein, and present all +that gives additional or new information.] + +The natives are all very idle. If they would but apply themselves to +work a little of the time, they could have all they wanted; but as it +is a hot country and they are barbarians, they go naked. Nevertheless, +all know how to raise cotton and silk, and everywhere they know how to +spin and weave for clothing. There is no need for anyone to spend any +gold; for they catch the fish which they eat; the wine is made from +the palms, which are very abundant; and from these same trees they +obtain also oil and vinegar. In the mountains there are wild boars, +deer, and buffalo, which they can kill in any desired number. Rice, +which is the bread of the country, grows in abundance. Therefore +they are afflicted by no poverty, and only seek to kill one another, +considering it a great triumph to cut off one another's heads and +take captives. + +In this island there is much gold, in sheets, among the natives; and, +although they trade but little, they understand the value of the gold, +and know how to adulterate it by mixing it with silver, tin, copper, +brass, and other metals brought from China. They have established +the value and qualities of gold as follows: + +There is a very base gold that has no name, with which they deceive; +and a second grade, called _malubai_, which is worth two pesos. Another +quality, called _bielu_, is worth three pesos; and another, called +_linguingui_, is worth four. The quality called _oregeras,_ for which +the Chinese name is _panica_, is worth five pesos; and this is the best +gold in which they trade. It is of sixteen or even eighteen carats, +and of this are made all their trinkets and jewelry. The best gold +obtained is another grade called _guinogulan_ [12] which means "the +lord of golds;" it weighs about twenty-two carats. From this is made +the jewelry which they inherit from their ancestors, with which they +never part; and even should they wish to sell these ornaments, there is +no one who would give for them more than five pesos in silver. Neither +will they give more, even for good gold; and they do not take it in +exchange for supplies, or for the goods which they sell. Consequently +this is the reason that gold is so valued in this country. It may +be illustrated in this way. Should a Spaniard buy food or anything +else from a native, the Moro immediately takes out the touchstone +which he carries with him; and, even if the value be not over two +reals, he takes great pains to see if the gold be conformable to the +aforesaid standard. Although it may be stamped and assayed, the Indian +will trust to no reckoning but his own. Neither is there any rule by +which to pay, beyond the weight and value of the gold; this applies +likewise to the orejeras or panica, for all the gold which is used +in trade is mixed with other substances, to make the other grades of +base gold. Although I have intended and tried to remedy this, it is +impossible, as the majority of them are silversmiths for this very +purpose; and if any restrictions were made, they would think that they +were about to be ruined. It has seemed to me that the country is very +new for establishing any other currency than gold, which here is like +the king's fifth of silver in Nueva Espaa. I have written to this +effect to the viceroy, a copy of which letter accompanies this, and +a report concerning this matter; also an account of the gold paid to +the royal treasury, and the trade effected by all the Spaniards. The +Chinese will not take the panica at more than four pesos of texuela +to the tae[l] which, they say, is of that value in their country and +they lose one llealla by so doing. This is the weight called _tae_, +and comes from China. It weighs more than one onza, two adrmes; so +that three taes and thirteen maes are worth two Castilian marcos, or +one livra. [13] When I came here the viceroy of Mexico sent an assayer, +saying that one had been requested from here. After his arrival no +one brought him anything to assay, as he was young and inexperienced +in treating gold. Losses suffered at the beginning by those who +tried to have gold assayed caused us to abandon the attempt. The +Moros understand the laws of gold better than we do. I have given +notice of [original illegible]. It may be of service to the royal +estate. I have given information thereof which will accompany this, +and I think that it is impossible to exercise more diligence. I have +ordered that, when the gold enters into possession of the officials +of the royal estate, they shall value it before a notary, so that it +shall be issued in the same way that it entered. This is done because +there seems to be no other remedy, as the Moros, with their standards, +buy up all the money of current gold, and necessarily at the prices +which they themselves give to it in their debts and traffic. + +As provisions were wont to be sent from Nueva Espaa every year, +there were also sent reals until I came. Since then, none have been +sent; nor has any money been given to me. On the other hand, I have +announced to the public that it is outrageous that we do not serve +your Majesty by sending some gold from here; and that even to think of +their sending money from there would be to argue that we do not know +how to look for it as well as they do in Nueva Espaa. It has been +a thankless task to make this ruined land profitable, for he who has +Indians, or some wealth, keeps it for himself; everyone else comes, +with loud complaints, to ask the governor to give them enough to +eat from the royal estate. Accordingly, when I came here the royal +treasury had no possibility of income, as his Majesty will see from +the accounts and from a memorandum which I am sending. Although but +a short time has passed, the condition of things has improved, and +the affairs of the royal estate have been put into as good order as +in Mexico, considering their extent. + +I have succeeded in obtaining for the royal crown all the Indians +possible, especially those who are useful, and whose tributes are +increasing. They are conveniently near Spaniards, so that the latter +can more easily make collections, and also profit by the supplies. Thus +I will always do, although I have had, and still have, considerable +trouble in it. + +These natives have not been able to pay their tributes, on account +of living scattered and far away; and their country has been at +war until now. They have not been taxed, as the number of people +is not known. They are so skilful in hiding themselves, that +private soldiers have to be sent from here for the collection of +the money. These latter collect what they wish, and say that they +have collected so much, and not a penny more, and that the entire +village is composed of honest men. Whoever goes brings back the same +account of these peoples. Therefore little is paid, and the returns +to the royal treasury are few I have made investigations, however, +and have imprisoned some of the soldiers, and prevented others from +collecting the tributes; but it is only vain endeavor. On account of +the few people in this country justice cannot be executed for this +or any of the offenses common here. + +No one here is willing to accompany a man who goes on horseback, or +serve him in any way. Therefore, I am served only by my servants; but, +nevertheless, I have in my house all who wish to come there to live and +to eat; and I help them to the extent of my ability. They are served by +my slaves and servants in due order. There are many of them, but in my +house permission is not given to live with the liberty that is desired +by young men. In due season, or when your Majesty may be pleased to +provide more troops, the present customs may be suitably changed--my +intention being only to establish a reform in this direction. + +_Item_: The voyages to this country are all by sea, and in ships which +are often wrecked, many soldiers being thus lost. Those who have +the good fortune to escape with their lives lose their arquebuses, +coats-of-mail, swords, and daggers, which constitute their military +equipment. Since I have been here, I have often helped many of those +thus left destitute, who had no other means of succor, although not +at so moderate cost to the royal estate as for the poor. In this +case I have not spent from the royal estate until after reviewing +all other expenses of like nature, and consulting your Majesty. This +expense seems to be as necessary as the first provision of weapons +and clothing to the soldiers. Nevertheless, it is wise to warn them +to be more careful in navigation, and more resolute in guarding +their belongings. In my opinion it will be convenient for your +Majesty to have the goodness to send instructions on this point, +stating especially whether it is possible to give aid, in weapons and +clothing, in a moderate quantity, from the royal treasury. It should +be always forbidden to give money from the royal treasury even once, +although it may thus happen that some soldiers, nobles, and cavaliers +may suffer want, for lack of money with which to clothe themselves. It +is not convenient to grant encomiendas to all; and although they +may ask for food at the houses of their friends, they are in need +of clothing. The only means of income here is the payment of the +tributes to the encomenderos, whom I have tried to convince that +all the soldiers be maintained thereby, as it is a very convenient +method; but people of much caprice cannot be persuaded to this, +nor can they clear their heads from vapors. On account of the small +number of troops here, as I have already stated, I have induced the +people to do sentinel-duty and undertake expeditions under leaders--of +whom there are not a few, beginning with a brother of mine. Although +I do my best, it is impossible to avoid giving them some aid. Last +Christmas I aided several with tributes paid by some unapportioned +Indians, declaring that, if they had belonged to the royal crown, +I could not have done so. I allotted the Indians to a captain by the +name of Chacon, and the income arising from them was divided among +several persons. I preferred to have the transaction take place under +authority of the officials, and to have it attested by the government +notary. Therefore this has been recorded, and together with the decree +forwarded to your Majesty. I trust that his Majesty will examine it, +and send me information of what he may be pleased to provide. + +In Nueva Espaa, when an encomendero dies without an heir, the +Indians under his charge revert to the royal crown. When Guido de +Lavazares was here, he arranged that in such case the Indians should +be re-allotted; and thus it was done, being a law of the land when I +came here. As the country is so new, and but ill pacified, and there +is so great need for people, and this concerns the community, I have +followed the same custom since my arrival--although I have assigned +to the royal crown the majority of Indians who are left ownerless, +thus combining both methods. I have told the people that it is meet +for his Majesty to receive income in order to support the friars and +his servants here, as well as for the alms and assistance which have +been described. Nevertheless, it has seemed to me necessary that +his Majesty be informed of the reassignments, and that he have the +goodness to issue commands therefor which shall be duly obeyed. I +state no reasons for or against this arrangement, since the royal +council may judge better than I. If it be considered convenient to +grant the grace which these persons desire, as a favor proceeding +from the royal person and his royal council, let it not be imagined +that this and similar actions emanate from the governor. I am of +the opinion that his Majesty is the one to grant the favor; and, +if he does so, he will send advices thereof, either secret or public. + +The Indians of this country are not simple or foolish, nor are they +frightened by anything whatever. They can be dealt with only by the +arquebuse, or by gifts of gold or silver. If they were like those of +Nueva Espaa, Peru, Tierra Templada, Tierra Firme, and in the other +explored places where the ships of Castilla may enter, sound reasoning +might have some effect. [14] But these Indians first inquire if they +must be Christians, pay money, forsake their wives, and other similar +things. They kill the Spaniards so boldly, that without arquebuses we +could do nothing. This was the reason that Magallanes, the discoverer +of these islands, was killed; and that Villalobos and Sayavedra, +and those who came afterward from Nueva Espaa were maltreated. All +those who have been killed since the coming of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi +received their death through lack of arquebuses. The Indians have +thousands of lances, daggers, shields, and other pieces of armor, with +which they fight very well. They have no leaders to whom they look +up. The havoc caused by the arquebuse, and their own lack of honor, +make them seek refuge in flight, and give obedience to our orders. + +After imprisoning a soldier, it is necessary to give him food while +he is in jail, and also to care for him in sickness. In order to +avoid the expense, he is finally set at liberty. I have exercised all +possible diligence to deal with them so that they will be afraid, and +mend their ways. I have sent the delinquents to work apart, separated +from one another; and have also reprimanded them, and informed them +that they must do right. Thus, by the aid of God, this commonwealth +is entirely reformed. They do not follow the pernicious practice of +gambling, because they are occupied, and because they know that he who +is engaged in these practices cannot be my friend. Among other men, +gambling might be more endurable; but here they attack one another with +knives, blaspheme, and steal, and do great harm to one another. There +is also almost complete reformation from the swearing, drinking, +and like vices which had caused great corruption and the disgrace of +many men. There is also improvement in regard to concubinage among +them. It is desirable that the soldiers should always lead honest +lifes, but as they are young, and the women in this country are so +many and so bad, it is more difficult to correct this evil. + + * * * * * + +By a decree of your Majesty, I was asked [to fix] the boundaries of the +city. I assigned five leagues around this place where we live, although +as yet these limits are of no use, as in this island there have not +been, nor are there now, any customs duties or other imposts. I came +at a time full of labors, and the people are few and poor. Considering +the losses of the ships of the past year, it seems to me that it is +too soon to obtain any duties from the Chinese ships. I have advised +your Majesty thereof, and exemption from the customs and other duties +has been granted to these islands for thirty years. Consequently, +nothing is demanded from the Spaniards; and, as they are all soldiers, +and should have some profit from what is sent hence to Nueva Espaa, +it would be well to increase the customs duties somewhat. It is also +decreed that for the term of ten years there shall be paid the tenth +instead of the fifth of all the gold found here. The city already +demands, at the end of these ten years, that your Majesty renew his +favors. I think that, as a result of this decree, some gold is sent +to Nueva Espaa; but, if the entire fifth were taken, the gold would +be traded with the Chinese, and thus so great a quantity would not +be sent to Nueva Espaa. May your Majesty be pleased to grant this, +and advise me as to this point. + +When I came to this city there were here two ecclesiastics, and besides +them no more in all the islands. One died of illness, and the other +is now alone here, under command of the friars. When at one time +he read a letter of excommunication he was appointed vicar by the +provincial of the order of St. Augustine; and now he complains that +he is commanded by friars. There is great need that ecclesiastics be +sent here, so that the sacraments can be administered and confessions +be heard, as in other colonies. + +Although I write to the viceroy of Mexico concerning the religious +instruction in this country (a copy of which letter accompanies this), +I wish to explain more fully to your Majesty that there is a great lack +thereof. Some of the friars sent from Mexico are those who cannot stay +there, and must be sent away. Those who come here to lead the apostolic +life must be orderly persons, and such as are missed in the place from +which they come. But it is of secondary importance to discuss persons, +and it is necessary to refer to important matters which require +remedies. Your Majesty must understand that there is great lack of +religious teachers here, and that the friars labor very diligently, +although they do not usually apply themselves to learn the language, +or to attract the natives. If I am not mistaken, the surest remedy is +for friars and ecclesiastics of all orders to come here, especially +those who cannot possess property; for, as this land is so new and +there are no inheritances, the friars can have no income in common, +except the alms given from the royal treasury. As the Indians are so +avaricious, and adore the gold--which they actually kiss, and consider +of the highest importance--it is exceedingly necessary that the priest +accept no gold, nor should he seek or trouble them for it. He must +only desire food, according to the necessities of nature; and as the +land is well provided therein, at the lowest prices in the world, +he may be well content who wishes nothing more. + + * * * * * + +As soon as I arrived in this city, I began proceedings in the +residencia, and the examination of accounts, according to your +Majesty's commands. Duplicates of the report were sent in the ship +"Santiago" and also in the ship "San Phelipe," which were unfortunately +lost. In the ship "San Juan" will now be despatched the duplicates, +as your Majesty will note in the letter to the viceroy. There is also +sent an account of everything else which has been done in regard +to the officials. I made all possible endeavor in Mexico to obtain +instructions and papers regarding their, and I brought only those which +I send with the accounts. They said that there were no others, and the +officers of the royal estate declare that they brought no instructions, +and never had any. As your Majesty will see by the accounts there +were no books of the treasurer or factor, and consequently none can +be despatched with the accounts. When these officials were asked, +they said that they kept no books. Only the accountant kept a book; +but Aldave, who served Guido de Lavazares, had a memorandum-book, which +I remit with the accounts. I have issued orders for every official +to keep a book, and to have a common book of the treasury, which +is now done. Moreover, as they said that they had no instructions, +I gave them some orders, according to what I believe is necessary, +copies of which I send to the royal council. The officials rendered +their accounts, although I have not passed upon some things--such as +accounts which are not certified, the tribute collected, and their +salaries. If they hold some funds which I have not found, I cannot +execute what I am commanded to do; although what I have found has +been attended to. For this reason, affairs have been delayed; and +in the meantime investigations have been made, and thus many affairs +are now sent for the consideration of the royal council. Some of my +instructions, however, cannot be carried out, for lack of funds. + +On the occasion of the last investigations, it appears that they +reported that they had spent more than they had received; and that +the loans and deposits thus due should be placed to the account +of the royal treasury. As their loans were drawn out as salaries, +I have not permitted this. + +The officials of the royal estate have each furnished bondsmen, who +are their securities for two thousand ducats; and they gave them, +little [original illegible] because they came from Nueva Espaa +without furnishing bonds, and, as they say, without instructions; +so I have commanded them to find bondsmen for these amounts. Their +sureties are all captains and soldiers, from whom their clothes and +weapons cannot be taken away, nor their means of support; there are, +moreover, no realty holdings here. They regard their accounts, however, +as adjusted, and have almost obliged me to wait for your Majesty +to examine their pleas, so that their misdeeds may be excused. On +this account I am advancing but slowly; and, as our resources for +correcting this evil are so inadequate, may your Majesty be pleased +to declare his pleasure as soon as possible. + +The sureties have not fulfilled their agreements; and, although I have +commanded them to give bonds, they do not nor can they do so, as all +are soldiers in this country. The best remedy is for his Majesty to +command that accounts be audited every year. Thus I have ordered, +and they have been audited to the year seventy-six, and accompany +this present report. For this reason most of all should the officials +give bonds, that they are in charge of various small matters and +transactions for which I am not sufficient security. Accordingly, +although they have not yet furnished bonds, I have refrained from +enforcing this order, until his Majesty shall decide what he wishes +done. Guido de Lavazares had appointed Salvador de Aldave as treasurer; +and he still holds the position until your Majesty shall make provision +therefor. Guido de Lavazares does not wish the office; nor do I think +that he is capable of filling an office which requires the keeping +of documents. + +In investigating the accounts of the officials, execution was +levied on their goods, some of which have been entered in the royal +treasury. I have commanded half of their salaries to be issued them +for their support, and no more, until your Majesty shall provide +accordingly. Some slaves, clothing, and bedding were left to them, the +same being considered as deposits in the name of the royal estate. His +property was left to Guido de Lavazares, but no salary, since that +is drawn by another man, who holds his office. I offered to give him +an encomienda for his support; but he did not wish it, and asked me +for permission to leave this country. I showed to him a clause of the +instructions regarding the accounts, which said that close watch must +be kept over those who were under surveillance; that, if it were not +for that clause, I would permit him to go; and that I would immediately +inform your Majesty thereof. I also give information regarding the +tributes from the provinces of Bites and Lubao, and elsewhere, which +Guido de Lavazares collected for himself. His property was confiscated, +to which act his wife was opposed, and also the properties of persons +deceased of which there were many. Some of these were placed in +the royal treasury, together with another portion, sent from the +payments from the valley of Purao. All is set down in the accounts, +as is everything concerning this matter, with the proceedings therein. + +On continuing the investigation, it was found that property had +been delivered to the person serving in the office of captain of +artillery. When an account was demanded from him, it was many months +before he was obliged to give it, as may be seen by his petitions +accompanying the record of his trial. After waiting six or seven months +(I shall not mention here all the words spoken), and on seeing that +he was so reluctant to present his account and explanation, I took +advantage of a petition which he had made--in which he resigned his +office, and begged that I give it to some one else. This I did, giving +the position to him who was sergeant-major of the camp. After these +changes, I had his property seized. This compelled him to attend to +the account, and he began to be willing to hand it in, as appears very +clearly in the report of his trial, which accompanies this. It might +be well that I should not habitually show similar lenity; but in this +case there could be naught but compassion felt, as he had no judgment +whatever. [15] I was therefore moved; and, by his Majesty's favor, +this captain of artillery has an encomienda of more than a thousand +men, near this city. This I have had set aside for him, and have +commanded that he support himself from half the tributes thereof; +likewise his clothes, and weapons, and his servants, were left to +him. He asked permission to go to Espaa, saying that he was married, +and that he had not seen his wife for twenty years. His Majesty will +command what shall be provided in this case. + +In the investigation of the former captain of artillery (appointed +by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, at Puerto de la Navidad), inasmuch as no +bonds were taken from this soldier, I have attached the property of +Miguel Lopez, and that of the officials, for not having attended to +their duty in this regard. After seeing the account and investigation +of this matter made by the officials of the royal estate, I decided +to transfer the blame to the account of Miguel Lopez, and to seize +his goods for the same reason. + +At my arrival here, Guido de Lavazares had allotted Indians to the +officials of the royal estate. When I entered upon my office, they sent +to ask his Majesty for permission to hold them. They were answered by +a decree, which was shown to me when I came, which declared that this +could not be allowed. For this reason I placed all their salaries to +the account of the royal crown, to which they still belong. Salvador +de Aldave presented a petition, saying that he is not a proprietary +official, but merely holds the office of treasurer until another shall +be provided in his place. This was done in order that his Indians +should not be taken away; and on this account I have allowed him to +keep them. They have all appealed, asking that your Majesty declare +his pleasure. I wish that the officials of the royal estate would +apply themselves more to their duties, and the exercise of diligence +therein, as is very needful where there is so much to be administered; +and that they should be free from other obligations and have no other +means of earning a support. + +As his Majesty will have already understood, I have declared that +neither the officers nor other persons here can give bonds. The +labors here are and have been those of which your Majesty will have +knowledge. One and all have served your Majesty for many years, and +as soldiers and among soldiers. If there should be any fault in the +papers, I beg your Majesty to extend his mercy to all, and to deign +to forget these errors. May your Majesty be pleased to pardon me this +boldness, and to command that the accounts be examined. May replies +be sent by the first ship and any faults of mine which may be found +therein be pardoned, and all necessary instructions be furnished to me. + +Moreover, in regard to the inquiry which discusses the exchange of +different grades of gold, the people here are of such sort that no +one makes a payment without declaring that he is giving gold of a +good quality; but, on the other hand, the one who collects declares +to the contrary. By the accounts for the year seventy-six, which +are now finished, and by the entire expense account, which I have +examined personally, it seems to me that good faith in the past year +may be deduced. In this country, the heat of the sun is very great; +and for even one week's work, or when a ship is going to be launched, +it is necessary to erect a shelter for the workmen. This is made in +a short time, with poles, bamboo, and palm-leaves. In the shipyards +there is much waste; and, as the wood rots from dampness here, the +soldiers take it at night to use in their houses, and relieve their +misery. This cannot be called a theft, as it is done by menials who +came hither at your Majesty's expense and are engaged in his service. + +When I came here I found the country swept by fire, everything in +ruins, and the Indians in rebellion, having taken advantage of the +coming of the pirate [Limahon]. Since then I have not ceased in my +endeavors to promote all possible peace here. I have surrounded the +city with a palisade and rampart, building therein two cavaliers, +which are further strengthened by ramparts--one toward the southeast, +where the pirate landed; and the other toward the northwest. It +seemed to me very important to guard the point formed by the river +and the sea. People declare that after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came +here the water wore away the land for the distance of two gunshots. I +have all the river staked in, as also the point by the sea; and have +had the latter filled in with earth until it is all level. I think +that it will, therefore, be always stable, if it is repaired from +time to time. I have had the fort of this city repaired, building +ramparts where they were lacking, so that one may walk around it on +the rampart. I have covered two cavaliers, although communication +may be had between them at a pike's length, which could not be done +before. The floors have been covered with wood, so that the pieces of +artillery may be dragged about more easily. I have also constructed +many chests, both for the interior of the fort and for the galleys, +and have mounted all the guns here. + +As I advised by the ship "Santiago," I sent to the island of Panay for +galleys to be made. Two built there were launched in this city, and I +have another of sixteen [toneladas?] finished, and one of twenty-five +is in course of construction. It would have been completed four months +ago had it not been for the overhauling of this ship "San Juan," which +carries this letter. Nevertheless, it will be finished inside of two +months, because all the boarding, planking, and sheathing has been +done, and there is nothing more to hinder the workmen on the ship. I +have also had oars brought for all four galleys, and the majority +of them are made. Also the provisions for them and some casks have +been supplied. The oars are not yet ready for use, as there are not +eight quintals of lead in this country. I am expecting supplies from +Nueva Espaa, with some men to command the galleys. Besides these +occupations, all the workmen were engaged during the past year, from +Christmas until July, in overhauling the ships "Santiago" and "San +Phelipe." They have been busy since October in overhauling this ship +"San Juan" until its sailing today, to repair damages caused by its +wreck. It is now put in very good condition, with pine masts, which I +took from that of the [original illegible] which are said to be better +than those here; for the wood of this land is very heavy. After the +completion of the galleys which were built here, I have commanded them +to build there a large ship of four hundred toneladas. After completing +the galley, another will be made here of the same style, God willing; +we have bought much iron and everything necessary, as I have written +to the viceroy in his letter. God permitting, we shall build ships +here which would be worth in Nueva Espaa one hundred thousand ducats, +and which cost here less than fifteen [thousand]. Consequently the +situation here may be improved thereby. Moreover, some light sail-boats +have been made; we have succeeded in subduing all the natives; search +has been made for mines, and everything possible has been done, as +your Majesty may see by the letter to the viceroy. There has also been +built a hospital in this city, to which I have granted an encomienda, +as I have already advised your Majesty. I have built the church of +San Agustin, the expenses of justice have been paid, and a house +has been built for the friars. As the corsair had burned everything, +they were given three hundred pesos from the royal treasury for this +purpose. As the city was without a public church, I have had as large +a one as possible built of wood. There could not be a better or larger +one in this country; and the work has been going on for five months, +but even yet it is not finished. + +He who is governor here must exercise constant vigilance in affairs. He +must know what is being accomplished in the different works, and +when the persons who draw salaries journey to and from different +points. He must be watchful of the provisions and supplies, and in +truth, the governor must be an overseer of all the offices. It is +especially difficult to prevent things from happening behind one's +back. I have also had a house built where the governor lives, as +there was none here before. In truth, I may say that when your Majesty +was pleased to order me to come here, the path was not discovered by +which they brought me on the sea, and the land was neither subdued nor +peopled. I say this without prejudice to the services of my neighbors, +and I humbly beg that your Majesty be pleased to grant me grace and +remember me. In Manila, June the eighth, 1577. + +[_Endorsed on front_: "Relation of the condition in which were found +the Filipinas Islands. Their location is described in detail, and the +fertility of the soil for food products, pasturage, the sugar industry, +and that of indigo. The year 1577."] + + + +Bull for Erection of the Diocese and Cathedral Church of Manila + + +Gregory, Bishop, servant of the servants of God: In perpetual +remembrance of the affair. + +Trusting in the safeguard of Him who moves the hinges of the earth, +toward whom are bent the minds of men--through whose providence, +moreover, all things derive their government--we willingly do our share +of the duty entrusted to us from above, to the end that they who now +are in darkness may be enabled to enjoy the true light which is Christ +Jesus, and that the rays of His light may beam upon them. Wherefore, +in accordance with the preminence of this apostolic see in the regions +of the earth, all and singular, as required by necessity and other +reasonable motives, we plant new episcopal sees and churches, that +by new plantations may be increased the new adhesion of peoples to +the church militant; that everywhere may arise, spread, and flourish +the profession of the Christian religion and the Catholic faith; that +even insignificant places may thereby be enlightened, and that their +inhabitants and the dwellers thereof, girded around with new sees in +charge of prelates of rank, may the more easily win the rewards of +everlasting happiness. In truth, since the soldiers of our very dear +son in Christ, Philip, Catholic Sovereign of the Spains, voyaging +many years ago to the sea known as Mar del Sur ["Southern Sea"], +discovered there very many islands known as the Philippines, near the +continent of China, in some of which (chiefly in Luzon and Zebu) they +made settlements; while the same King Philip sent to the aforesaid +islands not only temporal governors for the purpose of establishing +and maintaining justice therein, but ecclesiastical persons, both +regulars and seculars, that they might administer the sacraments of +the church and confirm converts in the Catholic faith--the result was +that, through the mercy of God, many natives of the said islands were +converted to the said faith. However (albeit matters in the spiritual +realm have thus far been managed in this fashion), with the increase +of Spaniards in those islands the same King Philip, in order that +they might become more peaceful and populous, with this intent sent +thither Spaniards--two hundred men with their wives and children, +and four hundred unmarried men. Daily very many of the said natives, +embracing the aforesaid faith, receive the regeneration of sacred +baptism, although the islands aforesaid are more than two thousand +leagues distant from the province of the Christians known as New +Spain, subject to the rule of the said King Philip, whence supplies +are brought to those islands. It therefore was proper and necessary, +for the welfare of the souls of these natives and other like persons, +as well as for the peace of conscience of the said King Philip, that +in those islands should be some one in charge of spiritual affairs, +with the care of the said souls. Neither should there be wanting the +proper and necessary spiritual and ecclesiastical government in those +regions, to the end that Almighty God may be served more faithfully, +and the gospel law and the said faith be spread and exalted the more, +on this account. After mature deliberation with our brethren on these +points, with their advice, arid at the humble solicitation of the +aforesaid King Philip, by our apostolic authority, by perpetual tenor +of these presents, to the praise and glory of the same Almighty God, +as well as to the honor of His most glorious Mother and ever Virgin +Mary and of all the heavenly court, and to the exaltation of the +aforesaid faith, we separate, exempt, and wholly release the church +of the city known as Manila, in the said island of Luzon, as well +as the city itself, and, in the islands belonging to it and their +districts, territories, and villages, all the inhabitants of either +sex, all the clergy, people, secular and regular persons, monasteries, +hospitals, and pious places, as well as ecclesiastical and secular +benefices, of whatsoever orders of regulars, from our venerable +brother the archbishop of Mexico, and from any other ecclesiastical +and diocesan prelates, under whose jurisdiction they previously may +have been--as well as from all jurisdiction, superiorship, cognizance, +visit, dominion, and power of any one whomsoever. Moreover, by the +aforesaid authority and tenor, we erect and establish forever the +town of Manila into a city, and its church into a cathedral, under +the title of "the Conception of the same Blessed Mary Virgin," to +be held by one bishop as its head, who shall see to the enlargement +of its buildings and their restoration in the style of a cathedral +church. Besides this, in it and the city and diocese he shall have +the word of God preached, the heathen natives of those islands +brought and converted to the worship of the orthodox faith, and +converts instructed and confirmed in the same faith; moreover, he +shall cause to be imparted to them the grace of baptism, with the +administration of the other sacraments of the church. In the church, +city, and diocese of Manila, he shall exercise episcopal jurisdiction, +authority, and power freely. Moreover, in both the aforesaid city +and diocese he shall now, as well as on occasion, erect and establish +dignities, canonries, prebends, and other ecclesiastical benefices, +both with and without parochial charge, with whatever else besides may +be expedient for the increase of divine worship and the health of soul +of those natives. He shall be subject to the said archbishop of Mexico, +and to his successors for the time being, as metropolitan. Moreover, +he shall enjoy all rights as on occasion shall be declared, excepting +as regards gold and silver metals, gems, and precious stones, which +are the right of the said Philip and of the Catholic Sovereigns of +the Spains for the time being. For this reason we ordain that tithes +and offerings of first-fruits [_primitias_], as required by law, +need not be paid. Moreover he shall enjoy all other episcopal rights, +the same as are enjoyed, by law or custom, by other bishops of +the kingdoms of the Spains together with the exaction of the +same as see, table [_mensa_], and other episcopal insignia, and +jurisdictions. Besides, for the future he may freely and lawfully +use, hold, and enjoy the privileges, immunities, and graces which +other cathedral churches and their prelates in the said kingdoms +use, hold, and enjoy, in any manner, through law or custom. Again, +to the same church of Manila we assign the aforesaid people for city, +the said island of Luzon and all the other islands for diocese, and +the natives and inhabitants thereof for clergy and people. Moreover +we grant to the same King Philip power to assign, increase, extend, +lessen, and otherwise change the bounds therein. For his episcopal +table [_mensa_], we apply and appropriate as dowry the yearly +revenue of two hundred ducats, to be paid by King Philip from the +yearly revenues coming to him from the said island of Luzon, until +the fruit of the table itself shall reach the value of two hundred +similar ducats. Moreover we reserve, grant, and assign forever to the +king the right of patronage over the church of Manila; and should +any vacancy occur therein (this the first occasion only excepted), +to present, within one year, to the Roman Pontiff for the time being, +persons fit for that office as bishop and pastor of the same church of +Manila. We also grant the same right of presentation for dignities, +canonries, prebends, and other benefices, from their first erection, +and thereafter as vacancies shall occur, these being similarly given +to the bishop of Manila for the time being, who shall present the same +to Philip, or the king for the time being--who, by reason of the dowry +and the new foundation, is to be consulted in the establishment of +these dignities, canonries, and prebends, the apostolic constitutions, +and ordinances, and other things, to the contrary notwithstanding. + +Let no one therefore infringe this page of our separation, +exemption, release, decree of erection, establishment, application, +appropriation, reservation, grant, and assignments, or rashly dare +to contravene. Should anyone, however, presume to attempt it, let him +recognize that he has thereby incurred the wrath of Almighty God, and +of his Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, +on the sixth day of February in the year of the incarnation of our +Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, and the seventh +year of our pontificate. + + + +Letter from Francisco de Sande to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +I have informed your Majesty in other letters concerning the condition +of these your Filipinas islands, and refer you to what I have written +to your Majesty's Royal Council of the Indies, which letters have +probably arrived ere now. Likewise I have informed your Majesty how, +obeying your Majesty's orders, and those of the Royal Council of the +Indies, to obtain the friendship of the king of Borney and Vindanao, +and to render an account of what was done in this matter, I left this +city of Manila with the fleet of galleys and galliots. This I did for +your Majesty on the third day of March, and I proceeded to the island +of Borney with forty sail, counting ships of this country, and with +peaceful intentions, as my actions demonstrated. But the Moro king +of those districts, not wishing peace, came out with his fleet to +fight me on the sea, three or four leagues from the city. I sent him +a written message of peace; but he killed one of the ambassadors (who +were chiefs), and despoiled them of their possessions, as well as the +Moro rowers whom they took with them from this island of Luon. But +although three of these have returned, the others have not. Finally +he opened hostilities, discharging his artillery. After we had fired +a number of volleys, it was God's pleasure that the Moros should be +conquered and take to flight. Thereupon I employed myself in collecting +the galleys and ships taken from them--in all twenty-seven. Likewise +I secured the artillery, dragging much of the same out of the water, +where they had thrown it--in all one hundred and seventy pieces, +both large and small. In my other letter, however, I did not inform +your Majesty exactly concerning this number, and stated that I had +remained in Borney to settle and populate it, as in fact I did. + +After this, when I had subdued four or five thousand Moros who were +settled there--among them an uncle of the king, and a cousin who +served the latter there as captain-general in that war, the king of +Borney persisting in hiding in the mountains and swamps in which that +island abounds--and when I set about collecting and summoning the +people, it was God's will that all my soldiers should fall ill. It +became necessary for me to set sail in order to save my men, as +your Majesty will perceive by the relation which I am sending to the +Royal Council of the Indies. However, I first made an agreement with +those chiefs, who promised to give full obedience to your Majesty; +and that king assured me that he would receive Spaniards. Therefore, +at the first occasion the Spaniards will effect a settlement, a place +will be chosen for them, which is understood to be most healthful; +and your Majesty will be informed thereof. + +From Borney I sent seven of the galleys captured there, with artillery, +and two others of your Majesty's ships, for the pacification of the +island of Vindanao. That fleet arrived there after a quiet voyage, +and I shall have news of it this coming September. + +In Borney I obtained precise information concerning the entire +archipelago and the mainland, as I found there people from China, +Cauchi, [16] Camboja, Sian, Patane, Pahan, Jabas, Samatra, Achen, +Manancabo, Batachina, Maluco, Vindanao, Limboton, and other islands +thereabout. Concerning these I inform you only that as far as Sian +there dwell Moros; and thence toward the north are idolaters. Moreover, +they are within your Majesty's demarcation and are not included in +the compact [of Zaragoza]; and by employing the proper methods they +can be brought to the service of God and of your Majesty, without +violating the laws of God or nature, or the instructions which your +Majesty has most inviolably charged upon me. + +With the artillery which I have taken and still hold, and the galleys +as well, the propagation of the faith and of your Majesty's service +can be carried forward. I take part in these expeditions necessarily, +because of the communications which it is necessary to make, and +to secure the observance of instructions and the obedience of the +soldiers. In this I continue to serve your Majesty with much joy, +and I see to it that all my men shall do the same. + +On account of my small force (some of my men being also inexperienced +and ill-armed), and because of a lack of equipment, and my +determination to settle in this island, where there are gold-mines +in two localities, I do not inform your Majesty concerning what +expedition I shall make this coming year; since, whatever it may be, +it is necessary to commence it with the beginning of the year, and +cease before St. John's day. With the first renforcements which +I received, up to the present time, I made this expedition; and I +found the second renforcement in this city of Manila, with which I +shall do all things possible in the service of your Majesty and will +inform you thereof by the first vessel. + +With this renforcement I obtained letters and news concerning your +Majesty's health, and that of other royal personages. I derived +therefrom the greatest satisfaction, and I continually beseech our +Lord to grant you, and to preserve, health for many years, as your +Majesty's vassals and servants desire and need. + +I am writing more at length to the royal Council, to which I am sending +a relation of what I request herein--which I hope your Majesty will +be pleased to examine, for it will be a great favor. + +In other letters I have begged your Majesty to be pleased to grant me +a reward; and I referred the matter, in order that he might urge the +same, to a brother whom I had in Espaa. God has taken this brother, +as well as my father also; another brother is serving your Majesty +in the Flemish war. For this reason, I believe, I have not received +it--whence I am in anxiety, since I know what your Majesty ordinarily +does for those who serve him. I entreat your Majesty to have the +goodness to favor me, and to console me in my losses of family, +since only God and your Majesty are left me in this life. + +The favor which I beg your Majesty is that you bestow upon me the +robe, with a commandery, of one of the three orders. [17] I entreat +your Majesty to vouchsafe this in my behalf, for it is a thing that +your Majesty is accustomed to bestow upon any worthy soldier, even +when he has not an office like that in which I serve. Likewise I +entreat that Don Joan de Sande, my brother, who, as I have already +stated, has been serving your Majesty in Flanders twelve years, +be given the robe, if he be still alive; and if not, I entreat +the same for Don Bernardino de Sande, my brother, who has served +your Majesty in this country as a soldier, and is now serving you +as a captain of infantry. These brothers, as well as myself, will +serve you better according as we are more highly honored. It is of +great importance that your Majesty do not forget me, who am serving +you in this capacity of governer and captain-general. And also, +because I now have but little recompense, I beg your Majesty to have +the goodness to order it increased, and to allow me some gratuity: +for in the last expedition I spent three thousand ducats of my own, +and every day there arise similar necessities. And, regarding other +favors which I also entreat from the royal Council, may it please +your Majesty to examine the letters, graciously to take cognizance +of them, and to bestow upon me the reward due for the years that I +have spent in your Majesty's service, continuing the service, both in +peace and war, rendered to your Majesty by my ancestors and kinsmen +of a most ancient lineage. And, since God so ordains it, I am alone; +and now I entreat your Majesty to have the goodness to reply to me, +granting me the reward, which I am quite confident of receiving, +and by which I am comforted. + +Since in the letter to the Council I am writing more at length, in +this present letter I do otherwise, because of the many and important +matters that take up the time of your Majesty's royal person. + +The Portuguese have constructed six fortifications in Maluco, in each +of which they have mounted eight Lombardy guns. The real defense is +for your Majesty to order that no innovation be brought forward in what +pertains to the compact; for I see this with great pain and anxiety for +your royal crown. As for the rest, it would be quite an easy matter. + +I brought from Borney twenty-seven ships, among them being twenty-one +galleys and galliots, together with a hundred and seventy pieces of +artillery, as above said, and other war material of which I am sending +an account to the royal Council. These supplies could not be furnished +to this country for a thousand ducats; and with them the condition +of these islands will be greatly improved. May it please our Lord +so to ordain that all men shall recognize your Majesty as their king +and sovereign, as you deserve. May our Lord guard the royal Catholic +person of your Majesty many long years, augmenting your dominion and +kingdoms, as we your vassals desire. At Manila, in the island of Luon +in the Philipinas, July 29, 1578. Royal Catholic Majesty, I am your +Majesty's loyal vassal and servant; who kisses your royal hands, + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[_Endorsed_: "September 12, 1579. To the president of the Indias. Let +it be filed with the other letter, and put away."] + + + +Grant of a Plenary Indulgence to All the Faithful Who Visit Churches +of the Friars Minors + + +To all the faithful of Christ who view these present letters, health +and apostolic blessing: + +With solicitude, as is the duty of our pastoral office, for the +health of the Lord's flock entrusted by divine arrangement to our +unworthy care, we willingly invite the faithful of that flock, all +and singular, to visit churches and perform pious and meritorious +works, in order that with the aid of divine grace, through spiritual +largesses, indulgences (namely), and the pardoning of sins, they may +the more easily reach the joys of everlasting happiness. For in the +Indias, China, and the Philippine Islands, we desire that the churches +already founded, or to be founded within the next ten years, and each +one thereof belonging to the monasteries or houses of the discalced +brethren known as the Order of Minors of St. Francis [18] of Observance +be held in due veneration by the faithful of Christ themselves--that, +frequenting them with befitting reverence, and flocking thither +to those churches with greater readiness for the sake of devotion, +they thereby may find themselves more fruitfully refreshed through +the bestowal of heavenly grace. Therefore, relying on the mercy of +Almighty God and the authority of his blessed apostles Peter and Paul, +we mercifully in the Lord grant and bestow a plenary indulgence and +remission of all their sins, on all the faithful of Christ of either +sex, who, truly penitent and confessed each year, visit devoutly the +aforesaid churches, or any of them, on the first and second day of +the month of August, as well as the feasts of St. Francis, St. Anthony +of Padua, St. Clare, St. Louis, and St. Bernardine; and these during +their visit shall, from the first vespers to sunset of those days and +feasts, pour forth pious prayers to God for the exaltation of Holy +Mother Church, the uprooting of heresies, and the conversion of the +peoples of those regions to the Catholic faith. These presents are +to hold for all times. But, as it would be difficult to have these +present letters carried to all and singular the places where needed, +we desire, and by our apostolic authority decree, that to copies of +them bearing the seal of any person in ecclesiastical rank, the same +respect shall be paid as would be given to the originals themselves, +were they shown. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the seal of +the Fisherman, on the fifteenth day of November, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight, the seventh year of our pontificate. + + + + + +Documents of 1579-82 + + + Decree regulating the foundation of monasteries. Felipe II; + Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; May 30, 1579. + + Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao. Francisco de Sande, + and others; April 19, 1578 to June 10, 1579. + + Appointments to vacancies in Manila cathedral. Felipe II; + [promulgated from?] Guadalupe, March 26, 1580. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonillo Ronquillo de Pealosa; July 17, + 1581. + + Ordinance restricting departure from the islands. Gonalo + Ronquillo de Pealosa; March 2, 1582. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Pealosa; June 15, + 1582. + +_Sources_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +de Indias, Sevilla, except the royal decrees; these are taken from +the original MS. documents in the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo +Historico Nacional, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The first and fourth documents are translated by +Alfonso de Salvio; the second and third, by James A. Robertson; +the last three, by Jos M. Asensio. + + + +Royal Decree Regulating the Foundation of Monasteries + + +The King. + +To our governor of the Filipinas islands: + +Fray Domingo de Salazar, of the Dominican order, and bishop of +the said islands, has reported to us that he is going to reside +in these islands; and that he will take with him religious of his +order to found monasteries, and to take charge of the conversion and +instruction of the natives. He has petitioned us to issue commands +that whatever is done for the above order, as for those of St. Francis +and St. Augustine, be done at our expense and that of the Spaniards +and Indians (as has been done in other parts of our Indias), or as +suits our pleasure, and as it receives the approval of our Council +of the Indies. + +Inasmuch as we have provided that monasteries be founded in Nueva +Espaa wherever it is necessary, and have ordered that, if the chosen +places be villages belonging to the royal crown, the monasteries are to +be founded at our expense--the Indians of such villages contributing +their labor in the work and erection of the buildings; and that, when +the villages are in charge of encomenderos, the monasteries are to be +founded at our expense and that of the encomenderos, as well as with +the help of the Indians of such villages apportioned as encomiendas: +therefore it is our desire that the same orders be carried out in the +founding of monasteries in those islands. I order you immediately to +ascertain in what districts and places of those islands monasteries +are needed; after which you will take the necessary measures toward +their erection, being careful that the houses be modest, and that +they be not superfluously furnished. If the villages where they are +to be founded belong to our royal crown, you will give orders that +they be erected at our expense, and that the Indians of such villages +contribute their labor towards the work and building of them. And if +the villages are in the charge of private persons, the monasteries are +to be built at our expense and that of the encomenderos; with the aid +of the Indians of such villages apportioned as encomiendas, as above +mentioned. If in the villages live Spaniards holding no encomiendas of +Indians, you will assess them also according to their condition and +property, for they are in like manner under obligation to contribute +toward the building of churches. The sum paid by the said Spaniards +will be subtracted from the share demanded from the said Indians +and encomenderos; for since this is a good work, beneficial to all, +it is only right that all help toward its completion. Being thus a +matter of such importance, you will devote to it all the care that +it requires, remembering that no new monastery of a different order +is to be founded in the same village or its vicinity. + +You will be careful always to inform us of what is being done in this +respect, and of the result of the labors of the religious. + +_I, The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: + +_Antonio de Heraso_ + +Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + + +Letter from Francisco de Sande to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +Last year, seventy-eight, in July, I wrote to your Majesty and advised +you of my expedition to the island of Borney, and its outcome. This +year I sent thither a fleet, which brought news that the city had been +rebuilt. The Moro king there detained the captain until he had placed +his clothing and wives in safety. The captain, in accordance with his +instructions, returned without doing them any damage. I am quite sure +that that king will quietly submit, if we effect a settlement there. + +The king of Jolo rendered obedience to your Majesty and surrendered +his artillery. This year he gave as tribute a piece weighing fourteen +quintals that must have been hidden away. + +This year of seventy-nine, I sent an expedition to pacify the river +of Mindanao. The king ruling there fled; but, as our people carried +orders not to do any harm there also, peace was made, and some of +the natives returned. If we plant a colony there, that king also +will submit--which cannot be effected in any other way, because of +our distance from there. + +In August of seventy-eight a galleon and a large galley with five +hundred men, and other necessary supplies for Maluco, passed Borney. It +is said that one hundred were Portuguese and Spaniards, and the rest +_mestizos_ [19] and people from Yndia. According to a Cafre [heathen], +their hulks were in very poor condition. He says they were going to +Maluco to collect the tribute which was lost three years ago. I am +sending the investigations and accounts of this and of everything to +your Majesty's royal Council, and am writing more in detail. I beg your +Majesty to be so good as to favor this other world by examining this +letter. Because of your Majesty's stringent orders not to go to Maluco, +we have not gone thither. However, the compact, as I have advised your +Majesty is not well considered; and Maluco is not comprehended in it, +and is in your Majesty's demarcation. [20] Thirty vessels leaving and +returning to Sevilla could load cargoes of spices--pepper, camphor, +and other drugs and spices. In these vessels, people could be brought +from Espaa, and a few fleets would populate this land, and clearly +we could take possession of all of China; for by way of Nueva Espaa +the despatch of vessels will always be a trifling matter, and by way +of the strait of Magallanes I do not believe that we can hope for so +good a result. I am writing in detail regarding this to your Majesty's +royal Council. I am writing also of the method which I think we should +employ--namely, to settle in greater Java, whence we should despatch +a vessel to Sevilla to give information of the route, although I +believe that that made by the ship "Victoria" is not forgotten. + +I have built a vessel here of six hundred toneladas, which can +make the said voyage, if your Majesty will so order; and I am now +building another. There is an excellent fleet of galleys; and with +what was captured from the Borneans, and in Jolo and Vindanao, and +with that taken from the Portuguese galley which I said was lost, +we have more than two hundred pieces of artillery. From the useless +pieces I am casting others. Certain Indians in this land have founded +for me one piece weighing ninety quintals; and there is not in the +castle of Milan a piece so well made. Another mold has been made, +and the Indian says that he will make as many as are ordered. From +Nueva Espaa no favorable message, in regard to this or other things, +is sent. Therefore if your Majesty wishes that China be yours in +your days-please God, may they be many, as we your Majesty's servants +need--it is necessary for the execution thereof that ships be sent here +from Nueva Espaa, since now we have some knowledge of this region, +and the vessels have here a good port, and we know how to proceed. + +This archipelago is secure from enemies, blessed be God. We have begun +settlements--one in the province called Cagayan, in the northern part +of this island, and sixty leagues from China. + +In other letters I have begged your Majesty to be so kind as to favor +me. Once more I bring this to your memory. I beg your Majesty to +grant me a habit and an encomienda for myself, and another for one of +my brothers. All of my brothers are serving your Majesty in the war, +and I am sure that they deserve the most that I beg and entreat. I am +writing to the royal council. I beg your Majesty to order that my case +be examined, and to honor this office in which I serve you, and bestow +favor upon one who has served you for so many years as I. May our Lord +preserve your Majesty's Catholic and royal person, and increase you +for many years as we, your servants and vassals, desire. Manila, in the +island of Luon, in Philipinas, May 30, 1579. Royal Catholic Majesty, +your Majesty's loyal vassal and servant, who kisses your royal hands, + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Doctor Francisco de Sande. June four, 1581. He requests +a habit and an encomienda. To the Council of the Indies." "Seen, +and no answer is required."] + + + + +Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao + + +In the galley named "Santiago," on the nineteenth of the month +of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +for his Majesty of the Western Islands declared: that, inasmuch as +his Lordship is going with a fleet of galleys to the island of Borney, +both to teach the natives there the Christian law, and to reduce them +to the dominion of his Majesty--as well as to ascertain and inform +himself about the customs, past and present, of the said natives, +what law and ceremonies they observe, and the mode of life among +the natives thereabout and in other parts, who are vassals of his +Majesty--in order to attain this he ordered to be conducted, and did +conduct, the following inquiries and procedures: + +For the investigation of the above-named matters, the aforesaid +governor summoned to his presence an Indian who, through the medium +and speech of Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, an interpreter, declared his name to +be Magad-china, and himself an inhabitant of Balayan. Without taking +the oath, he promised to tell the truth; and, being interrogated +according to the tenor of this declaration, said that he knows that +the king of Borney is wont to detain many Indians who resort to +Borney for trade and intercourse, and that he does not permit them +to leave the country, especially those Indians whom he knows to be +rich. The witness knows that the king forces them to marry in that +country, so that at their death he may obtain their possessions. In +this way he has seen detained against their will, Indians of ubu, +the island of Lucon, Balayan, Bonbon, and other districts of +these islands--all rich and influential men. In especial was he +acquainted with an Indian of Manila, a messenger of Raxa Soliman, +by name Simalinquidlan; another named Siparan, a native of Manila; +and a chief named Siganbal, a native of Balayan, whom he (the present +witness) knows to have been detained by the king of Borney, in his +country, and he does not allow them to leave it. The said chief of +Balayan has been detained six years, and some eighty or ninety tacs +of gold were taken from him, besides slaves, and all these were kept +by the king. At the end of the said six years, the said chief fled +returning to Balayan, his native village. In like manner, the present +witness knows that the king of Borney is detaining many Indian chiefs +and _timaguas_ [freemen], and that he will not allow them to leave +his country. Likewise this witness, upon going to Borney to trade, +was detained in the island against his will for eight or nine years, +until the said king of Borney sent him to Balayan to sell a trifle +of _camanguian_ and other articles--whereupon he remained in the +said town, and would not return to Borney. He has seen this done and +practiced by the king of Borney against many persons, both chiefs and +timaguas, of the region about Manila, who are vassals of his Majesty. + +Being asked where he learned the worship of Mahoma, and who declared +it to him, he said that the ancestors of the Borneans were natives +of Meca, as he, the present witness, had heard; for the natives +of Balayan, Manila, Mindoro, Bonbon, and that region did not have +knowledge of the said worship until the Borneans had explained it +to them; they have done so with the natives of these islands, and +therefore all these are Moros now, because their ancestors learned +it from the said Moros of Borney. [21] Their language, both spoken +and written, is derived from Meca; and the said Borneans and natives +of Sian and Patan possess and observe their Alcorans--the law and +worship of Mahoma. He said that in the book of the Alcoran, which the +present witness has seen and has heard preached, they say and assert +that they are the enemies of the Christians. Likewise in other books +they say that the Borneans have always desired to make Moros of the +Christians--a thing that he has also heard declared by the _catip_ +[caliph?] whom the said Borneans regard as a priest, and who preaches +the said doctrine of Mahoma. This said catip, and others, with like +expressions preach the said doctrine of Mahoma, so that the said +natives observe it. They declare and publish that the law of the +Christians is evil; and their own, good. The witness knows that, +in the former year, seventy-four, the king of Borney undertook to +attack Manila, and to plunder and kill the Spaniards, launching for +the purpose a fleet of one hundred galleys and one hundred small +vessels. In each large vessel were about fifty, and in the smaller +about thirty men--all together, in the judgment of this witness, +making about seven or eight thousand men. All were of one mind, to +kill the Spaniards at Manila. The said fleet left the river of Borney +to begin the said expedition, but, after sailing about twenty leagues, +immediately returned, because the son of the king of Borney was taking +part in the said expedition; and, in order that the Spaniards might +not land at Borney in another part, and kill his father, he did not +continue the said expedition, but returned with the whole fleet, +without his enterprise having any effect. The witness has heard +that the king of Borney wrote letters to Raxa Soliman and Lacandora, +chiefs of Manila, so that they might revolt against the Spaniards, +and saying that all would be protected. Likewise he has heard his +relatives and other Moros tell how in former times the king of Borney +has sent preachers of the sect of Mahoma to Cebu, Oton, Manila, +and other districts, so that the people there might be instructed +in it as were those of Borney. And this witness, in his own time, +has heard the said doctrine preached in Balayan, by a Moro regarded +among them as a priest, by name Siat Saen. Also it is well known that +the said Borneans are wont to plunder the Calamianes, and enslave the +people and take them to Borney. They do the same in other districts +thereabout. The witness has heard that the said king of Borney holds +captive a Spaniard, named Diego Felipe, and two Christian Visayans, +whose names he does not know. This is what he knows, or is currently +reported, and what he has seen. He certified as to its truth, ratified +it, and signed it, in his own language, as did the said interpreter. He +was about thirty-one years old. + +_Joan Ochoa Ttabudo_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Following this are depositions taken from four other men, two of them +natives of Borneo. The testimonies of all are very similar to the +foregoing, and show the policy of the king of Borneo. One testimony +declares that the king was wont to make the rich and influential +men who might land at his island captains, in order to retain their +wealth. The document continues:] + +[_Letter to the king of Borneo_.] + +I, Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his +Majesty in these islands and districts of the West, by order of his +Majesty, the king of Castilla and Leon, my sovereign, Don Ffelipe, +the greatest king and most powerful sovereign in the world, send +this letter by these messengers to you, Outardo Soltan Lixar, king +of Borney, so that you may know my will, and what I require. + +You know already how I, with the other captains and soldiers of the +Castilians live, by order of the king, our sovereign, in Manila, in +the island of Luon, in ubu, and in other districts. There in Manila, +ubu, and other districts it has been rumored that you have tried and +are trying to do us harm, and to make war upon us; that you have tried +to induce and have solicited the natives of Luon and other districts +to rebel and revolt against us; that you have sent spies to ubu and +other districts; that you have left your residence for this purpose +of warring against us with a fleet of ships. All these things are +without any reason, and I know not what is the cause therefor; for my +will is good and I desire to show naught but good to all, and ill to +none. Since I am proceeding to confer with you openly and publicly, I +notify you that I am not coming to plunder or to harm you, but to prove +of use to you; for the king, my sovereign, orders thus, and accordingly +I gladly notify you that I am going to you. My sovereign, the king of +Castilla, spends his money through us, the Castilians, and sends us +into all parts of the world, in order that we might proclaim the law +of the true God. For this purpose I came hither; and now I am going +to confer with you, chiefly that you may know your God and Creator, +and to teach you the true law. I wish to do you no ill, nor to seize +your possessions; on the contrary, if you are our friend, I will aid +and defend you, according to the orders of the king, my sovereign. To +this end I offer you peace and friendship on our part, in such wise, +that there may be mutual security, on both sides, to go and to come, +to see one another, to trade and traffic, as is usual among friends. + +What you are to do is to admit preachers of the holy gospel, who may +preach the law of the Christians in your lands in all security; and +likewise that any person whatever of your country may have entire +liberty and permission to attend the preaching of the law of the +Christians, and that he who wishes to become a Christian may do so +without any ill befalling him. + +Further, I desire that you shall send no preachers of the +sect of Mahoma to any part of these islands, nor to the heathen +among the Tingues [hill-people], nor into other parts of your own +island--inasmuch as the doctrine of Mahoma is a false and evil law, +and the religion of the Christians alone is true, holy, and good. + +Further, I desire that you send me a Christian Spaniard, called +Diego Felipe, whom I am told you have there, as well as others if +you have them; and two Visayans, natives of ubu, Christians whom +we know that you have, and who were captured from their own country; +likewise whomever else you have in your power. You must give to the +heirs of Raxa Soliman and Lacandora, natives of Luon--vassals of the +king, my sovereign, and his subjects, in his royal name the slaves and +property that you have retained there belonging to them; and whatever +belongs to any other vassals of the king, my sovereign. This I would +do myself, if I had anything of yours or of your people, and would pay +and return it, and would do justice to them in that regard very openly. + +_Item_: You must allow those persons whom you have detained, because +they are rich, to go about freely, and give them leave to return to +their own lands, since they are natives of these islands of the king, +my sovereign. They went to trade with you, and you have no right to +constrain them; but you must allow them to go freely with their wives, +children, and possessions. + +Likewise, you must forbid your people from asking tribute in these +islands, inasmuch as I collect tribute in them, as it is the right of +our king, my sovereign. I write this letter that you may be advised +of my wishes. You must answer it immediately, and not detain the +messengers, even if they should say that they wish to remain in Borney +with you; for if they are detained, I shall understand that there is +some mischief and deceit on your part against our people. As we are +coming by way of the sea, and have need of food, you must send food +to us, in accordance with what is asked by my messengers, in return +for our money. This shall be paid you, as you wish; and for the same, +we are bringing silver and gold. I shall be glad to receive your +reply and to talk with you. Advise me with all haste. May God grant +you the true light and health. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +(On the thirteenth day of April of the above year, I delivered two +copies of this letter, one in the Bornean language, and the other +in that of Manila, to chiefs Magat and Magachina, so that they might +give them to the king of Borney. + +I hereby certify to the same: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) [22] + +(On this day, the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor +and captain-general for his Majesty in these islands, showed this +letter to father Fray Martin de Rada, religious of the order of +St. Augustine, whom he is taking with him in the said expedition, +so that he might examine it, as a matter resolved on by both. He, +having read it, pronounced it good and said that it could be sent to +the said king of Borney. + +I herewith certify to the same: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the chief galley, named "Santiago," while at sea near the island +of Borney, one of the Filipinas islands belonging to his Majesty, on +Sunday, the thirteenth day of the month of April, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight, the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de +Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty, declared that, +as is well known, his Lordship going with the galleys and ships of +the fleet here amid these islands at this present time--and sailing +with every mark of peace to the port of Borney, and as a token of the +same, with a white flag at the bow of the flagship, in which the said +governor is sailing--it was discovered by the said galley, and by +the _fragata_ [23] sailing in advance of the fleet as a scout-boat, +that the mouth of the river-harbor called Borney was occupied and +blockaded with a great number of vessels. And because it was learned +from other Indians of the said river of Borney that they desired war +instead of peace; and as he did not desire to war upon them, or do +them any damage--to the offense of God, our Lord, or in disobedience +to his Majesty's orders--the said governor ordered the said flagship, +and all the said fleet, to cast anchor, and sent a message by two +Moros of Balayan, his Majesty's vassals in the island of Luon. These +men were ordered to tell the Borneans, in order that they might know, +that his intentions were peaceful; that, as a token thereof, he was +flying the white flag; and that they should not trouble themselves to +fire any of their artillery upon the Spaniards, for, if the Borneans +did any damage, they would be punished. The said ambassadors took also +two letters, one in the Bornean language, and the other in the Moro +tongue, which they understand. In these letters was affirmed security +of peace, and other matters. And--inasmuch as military affairs cannot +maintain the moderation that may be desired, because of the emergencies +that usually arise--in order that the above might be evident, and +also in anticipation of whatever might happen, the governor ordered +this set down in writing, making therein the present declaration; +that I, the said notary, might certify thereto _in toto_, and file +with these records the original of the said letter, which he ordered +to be written to the said Indians, so that all may be kept together +and serve as evidence of the above matters. Thus Doctor Francisco de +Sande ordered, and he signed it in my presence. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +On the said day, month, and year, aforesaid, in obedience to the +order of the said governor, the oath was taken and received before +God and the Blessed Mary, and on a sign of the cross, in due form +of law, from Pedro Lucas, a soldier; under which obligation, when +questioned, he declared what he knows, and that present occurrences +are as follows. On this day, Sunday, about four in the afternoon or so, +when the flagship named "Santiago" (wherein were the said governor and +other soldiers and troops) and also the other galleys and war vessels +of his Majesty were sailing toward the port of the said island of +Borney, this witness saw that the said flagship flew a white flag of +peace on the bow of the said flagship. And at the mouth of the said +port he saw a number of ships--in his opinion, some twenty-five or +thirty in all. When the said governor saw the said fleet, and that +war was about to ensue, in order not to have war with them, but that +all might be peace, he ordered the said flagship and also the other +ships and vessels of the said fleet to anchor. They anchored at a +good distance from the said port, in order to give the natives of the +said island to understand that the governor desired not war with them, +but all peace and friendship. This witness saw that the governor gave +two letters to two Moro chiefs of Balayan, vassals of his Majesty, +of the island of Luon--one letter in the Moro tongue, and the other +in that of Borney. In them he informed the Borneans of his reasons +for coming, and that he desired not war with them, but all peace and +friendship. This witness saw the two Indians leave the said flagship +and embark on a fragata of the said fleet with the said two letters, +in order to deliver them to the Indians in the said war-vessels. The +governor ordered them to return with all haste, with a reply to his +Lordship. This is the extent of his knowledge and what he has seen +this said day. He affirms its truth, by the oath that he took, and +has signed the same. He says that he is thirty years old. Upon this +being read to him, he affirmed and ratified the same. + +_Pedro Lucas_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Testimony is received also from three others, Juan Manuel Pimentel, +Juan Ochoa, and Gaspar Perez. That of the first is similar to the +above. That of the last contains the information that the two Moros +sent with the letters "as yet have not returned nor sent a reply, +except that we see that the said fleet of the Borneans still holds +the mouth of the said port, and his Majesty's fleet is anchored in +the open sea and in great peril; and this witness has heard some +heavy shots fired by the Borneans at his Majesty's fleet. It is +well known, and this witness has heard the Borneans say, that the +king of Borneo and his people are about to war upon the Spaniards, +both by sea and by land." A portion of the interpreter Juan Ochoa's +testimony is as follows. "This witness saw at the mouth of the said +port a number of Bornean warships, in his judgment numbering some +twenty or twenty-five. When these were seen by the said governor and +by the fragata of the said fleet, the said governor ordered the said +flagship and all the other galleys and ships to anchor, which they did, +anchoring in the open sea, without any shelter. This witness saw that +the flagship was flying a white flag of peace, so that the natives +of the island might understand that the Spaniards desired not war, +but all peace. And on this same day, this witness heard from Bornean +Moros captured in a small boat on that day while on their way from the +said river of Borney to their villages, that the said king of Borney +had heard that the said fleet of his Majesty was going to Borney; +and in order to defend himself and fight with them, he had gathered as +large a fleet as possible, and for the purpose of war had come to the +island of Mohala (distant about one league from the port of Borney), +where his Majesty's fleet was about to anchor and take in water. The +said Bornean Moros told this witness, as being the interpreter, +that they had been captured on the said day, in the said boat."] + + +Testimony Regarding the Naval Battle when the Port was Captured + +After the above events, on Monday, the fourteenth of the said month +of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, about noon, the +said governor having seen that the said Borneans had returned no answer +to his letters, nor had they sent back the two above-mentioned chiefs +and six Moros from Balayan (his Majesty's vassals, who accompanied +the chiefs), and because his Majesty's fleet was in great danger, +as it had not made port; that a number of vessels belonging to the +said Borneans were on the point of beginning hostilities, and that +the Borneans showed by certain tokens that they were anxious for +war and not peace--for this reason commencing to fire and discharge +many pieces of artillery at his Majesty's said fleet and soldiers: +therefore he ordered that the said fleet, disposed in good order, +enter the said port, placing at the bow of the said flagship a white +flag of peace, that, if the said Borneans wished peace, he might make +it with them. And at the coming of the said fleet of his Majesty, thus +arranged, the Borneans in the said port--to the number of fifty ships, +large and small, rather more than less--began to resist the entrance +into the port of the said fleet, firing many pieces of artillery at +the said fleet of his Majesty and the Spaniards in it, until, after +some time, the fleet of his Majesty entered the said port, when the +said Borneans retired and fled toward the said river of Borney with +many ships in pursuit of them. Thus did the said fleet anchor in the +said port against the will of the said Borneans. Of all the above, +I, the said notary, testify herewith. These things took place before +me, as a person aboard the said fleet; and I herewith testify to +the same--Andres de Villanueva, the ensign Francisco Banon, Hernan +Ramirez Plata, Juan de Argumedo, and others, being witnesses. + +I testify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +After the above events, on Wednesday, the sixteenth day of the month of +April, of the said year one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, +the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general for his Majesty in the Western Islands, being in +the river of Borney, where there was a great settlement of houses; +and going into a large house, said to belong to the old king of the +said river, found there the said Simagat, a chief of Balayan, and a +vassal of his Majesty, who was one of the messengers sent to the said +king of Borney with two peace-letters. When questioned through the +interpreter, Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, he told what happened in regard to +the letters given them for the said king of Borney, to whom he gave +them; what answer they made to him concerning them; what insults and +ill-treatment they inflicted on him; and what befell Simagachina, +chief of Balayan, who accompanied him. He declared that what happened +is as follows. On Sunday night, the thirteenth of this present month +of April, this witness and the said Simagachina left the flagship, +embarking in one of his Majesty's fragatas, together with six Moros, +five of whom were from Balayan and one from Tondo. They took two +letters from his Lordship for the king of Borney, one written in the +Bornean tongue and the other in that of Manila. When this witness, +and the others abovesaid, had landed in the port of the said river of +Borney where a number of war vessels had gathered to prevent the fleet +of his Majesty from making the said port; and when he had come to a +large galley under command of a Bornean named Salalila--the latter, +on seeing them, ordered them placed in the said galley, and took from +this witness a gold _calenbiga_ that he wore, which weighed about +seven taes of gold. Another Indian, unknown to him, took another from +the said arm, and several other ornaments were seized from him. They +took from him a gold box, two small chains, and another smaller one, +all together weighing eleven taes. On taking away his garment, they +discovered the letters given him by his Lordship. As soon as the +said Salalila and the other Borneans with him saw the said letters, +they laid hands upon them, exclaiming: "What knavery is this that +you have here? It is some sorcery to fight with us." This witness +replied that they were only some letters for the king of Borney from +the Spaniards. Thereupon the said Salalila read the letter that was +written in the Manila tongue, and, after reading it, said jestingly, +"This letter is from Portuguese," and tore it into pieces. The other +letter, written in the Bornean tongue, the said Salalila sent, +together with this witness, in a small boat with certain Bornean +Moros to the king of Borney. The said Magachina and the other Moros +remained in the said fleet with the said Salalila. About three o'clock +next morning they reached the house where the said old king of Borney +lived. The said Borneans gave him the said letter in the presence of +this witness. A Bornean Moro read it; and, when he came to the end, +the said king remarked: "So this is the way that your people write to +me, who am king; while the Castilians are _capie_"--that is to say, +in the Bornean language "men"--"who have no souls, who are consumed +by fire when they die, and that, too, because they eat pork;" and +after certain other words, the said king asked him what he would do, +and if he wished to return to the Castilians. This witness answered, +"No, I do not wish to go now, so that I shall not be killed on the +way." Thereupon the said king of Borney said to him: "Remain here; +and, after the Spaniards are conquered, stay here, and marry. I will +give you a galley to command." This witness, for fear that he would +be killed, answered, "Yes, I will do as you wish." Thereupon the king +asked him as to the ships and people of the Castilians, and this +witness told him that there were eight galleys, thirty-two vireys, +and seven hundred Spaniards under the supreme command of Captain +Bassar. Then the king asked how many pieces of artillery were in each +ship, and their size, and how large a ball each one carried. This +witness answered that each galley carried in its bow three large +pieces; and that four galleys threw balls as large as his head, and +the others balls about one-half that size. He asked further if they +carried broadside pieces, or if they carried any that one man might +take alone; and this witness answered that they did not. Likewise he +asked him what weapons the Spaniards carried, and whether the governor +were young or old. This witness answered that each Spaniard had one +coat-of-mail, two arquebuses (one large and one small), a buckler, +sword and dagger, and a lance; and that the said governor was not +old. He asked him the governor's name, and whether he was recently +come from Espaa. This witness answered that he did not know his +name, but that all called him Captain Basar, and that he had come +two years ago to Manila. Then he asked him for the master-of-camp, +Juan de Salcedo, and for many Castilians of Manila. This witness told +him that the said Juan de Salcedo was dead. He also asked him what +Spaniards remained in Manila, about their fort and artillery, whether +ships came annually from Espaa, and what soldiers they brought. This +witness said that many Spaniards remained in Manila, for ships came +from Castilla every year bringing many people, all of whom remained; +and that they had built a very large fort containing forty pieces of +artillery. Many other things which he could not remember were asked +him, after which the said king dismissed him; whereupon this witness +went to the house of a relative of his, on the other side of the +river. As he was finishing his breakfast, for it was early morning, +about nine or ten Moros entered, bound him, and took him to the said +house of the king, who asked him anew many questions concerning the +Spaniards, which he does not remember, except that they threatened him +that, if he did not tell the truth, they would kill him, and whether +the said letter was witchcraft. Upon this witness asserting that he had +told the truth, they took him to the prison and thrust both his feet +in the stocks, put a chain about his neck, bound his hands, and set +a Moro named Tumanpate to guard him. While in this condition, a Moro +named Haguandatan entered the said prison, drew a Moro dagger three +palms long, and said to him: "Have no fear. I killed Magachina thus, +and gave him a dagger-thrust near the neck, from which he died." He +was a slave of the king and turned to go, saying that he was going +back to the sea and the fleet to fight with the Castilians. Then many +other Moros came in to kill him, but the jailer forbade it and would +not allow them to kill him. Afterward, about nightfall, he heard many +shouts and outcries from the said river; and, upon his asking the +said jailer what it meant, the latter told him that the Bornean fleet +was fleeing from the Spaniards. Thereupon this witness asked that he +be not killed, and said that he would give him money. Accordingly, +at night the jailer took him from the said prison to a house of his +up the river and told him that the king of Borney and many Indians +had fled up the river; and that he should write a note, so that his +relative should pay his ransom. While here, his relative aforesaid, +named Siandi, came and gave him a culverin [24] of three quintals +weight, with other Spaniards--he alone remaining, for the other man, +his relative, turned back, leaving this witness in the power of the +Spaniards. Likewise this witness declared that when they took him +to the river of Borney, he met on the way a son of the said king of +Borney who was going to fight with the said fleet. This man told him +where he was going, and how the said letters had come to his father; +and thus let him go. And this is the extent of his knowledge, and of +those events. It is the truth. Having read it to him and given him to +understand it, he affirmed and ratified it. He is about thirty years +old. He did not sign it, but the said interpreter did. He said it is +known that the Borneans killed his companion, the said Simagachina. + +_Juan Ochoa Ttabudo_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +And after the above events, on the same day, month, and year, +above-mentioned, the said governor in the said flagship and with the +other galleys and small ships in his convoy, entered the bar of the +said river of Borney and came to the village, where it was reported +that the said king of Borney resided; where also were the fragatas of +his Majesty and other vessels that had entered the port, in pursuit of +the said Borneans. And having arrived at the said village with certain +soldiers and troops, the governor entered its chamber, and it remained +for him to give two taes of gold and four slaves. Then the prisoner +was released. Upon this witness going down the river with another +relative of his, named Sicollao, they met a Spaniard named Diego +Martin, and joined a large house which was there, and below the said +river, said to be the house of a son of the said king of Borney. This +house contained a large and well-finished piece of artillery, and a +number of culverins, _frecones_, and other offensive arms. Advancing +toward the houses where it was reported that the old king of Borney +lived, near the said house, they saw a large galley with more than +twenty-four benches on each side. It contained a large swivel-gun and +another smaller piece, both loaded, and having on them some _quinas,_ +[25] which appeared to be the arms of the king of Portugal, and each +one furnished with two handles. The said galley contained also four +other culverins mounted in the place where the cargo is stored; and +the galley carried a quantity of ammunition for the said pieces. Some +four or five galleots of sixteen or eighteen benches each were found +also, with many falcons, and culverins, and one of them with a half +_sacre._ [26] After disembarking, the said governor entered a house +reported to be that of the old king of Borney. There he found a large +gourd filled with papers, among which were three letters--two written +in the characters and language of Borney, one bearing a signature, +namely, "Don Leonis Pereyra Martin Ferreyras;" the third was written in +Portuguese, beginning, "Noble and honored king of Borneo." It was dated +at Ebora, March seven, one thousand five hundred and seventy-three, +and bore a signature, namely, "El Rey" ["The King"]. By order of his +Lordship, I, the said notary, took possession of the said letters. The +said governor went also by land to a house, wherein was kept the +gunpowder. He found there eighteen Bornean jars filled with powder, +twenty-four filled with saltpeter, and many loaves of sulphur; more +than five hundred lances and _conpites_, with which the said natives +shoot; many shields, pikes with iron heads, a great quantity of small +and large iron balls of many kinds, and many arrows; and two or three +jars of poisonous herbs. Also at the door of the said arsenal was a +piece of artillery, a broken swivel-gun (also bearing the arms of the +king of Portugal), with its large handles; four other _fresones_, large +and long, with four chambers; two cannon-cases for artillery, one very +large and without any piece; and a stone ball, slightly thicker than +a man's body. Another large house, said to belong to Indian chiefs +and captains, was entered. A number of culverins and some gunpowder +were found there. Then the said governor went to the mosque located +in the said town, where he found a large chair, upon which, they say, +sat the preacher who expounded the doctrine of Mahoma to the said +Borneans. Near this chair was a block of marble containing painted +and gilded pictures of idols. This and the said chair the governor +ordered taken from the said mosque, as well as a trough which the +Borneans said contained water wherein whoever bathed went straight +to heaven at his death. This trough was removed by order of the said +governor, along with other articles, and the idols contained in the +mosque. There were collected also throughout the said town a great +number of projectiles, falcons, and culverins. This ammunition and +artillery was ordered to be collected and kept by the said governor, +so that the said Borneans could not use it. All that happened on this +said day passed before me and many others. I certify thereto--the +treasurer Salvador de Aldave, the ensign Juan de Gamboa, Luis de +Garnica, Francisco Chacon, and many others being witnesses. + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +And after the above events, in the settlement on the said river +of Borney, on Sunday, the twentieth day of the month of April of +the said year one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +for his Majesty in the islands of the West, with all his soldiers and +troops in line of battle, entered certain houses said to belong to the +said king of Borney, and went through several of them from one part +to another, and said that he was taking, and did take, possession of +them, in the name of his Majesty, King Don Felipe, our sovereign. From +here, marching in battle-array, he disembarked, and went hither and +thither in various parts, had many branches cut from trees there, +and entered the mosque of the said town, and a large house which was +among others in the settlement; here he ordered his lodging to be +prepared and at present is lodged there. All this he declared that he +did in sign of possession, and for the possession which he was taking +and did take of the said settlement and of all the island of Borney +with intention to hold and defend it in the name of his Majesty from +whomsoever might try to oppose him. For defense of the troops in the +said settlement, he ordered a stockade to be built, like a fort, where +his Lordship and all the other Spaniards are lodged. He ordered me, +the said notary, to testify to this; and I, the said notary, certify +to all the abovesaid, for these events took place before me, as one +coming upon the said conquest-witnesses thereto being Pero Lucas, +Luis de Garnica, Francisco Chacon, and many others. + +_Alonso Beltran_, notary of his Majesty + +And after the above events, in the said village on the river of Borney, +on the twenty-fourth day of the month of April of the above year, +the said governor summoned an Indian before him who, through the +interpreter Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, declared himself to be one Sinagua, +a native of the town of Balayan, one of the six Moros who left +the flagship at his Lordship's order with Simagat and Simagachina, +with two letters for the king of Borney. He was advised (but without +administering the oath, because he was a Moro) to tell truly what he +knew and had seen, and the injuries and ill-treatment inflicted upon +him and the others. He said that what he knows and what occurred is +the following. As before declared, this witness is one of the six Moros +whom the said Simagat and Simagachina took with them when they carried +the letters to the king of Borney at the order of his Lordship. When +they reached the fleet of the king of Borney, stationed in the port +of an islet to forbid the entrance there of the Spaniards, and when +the said Borneans saw them, these envoys were seized and each one +placed in a separate galley--except this witness and one other Moro, +one Sungayan, who were imprisoned together and put in fetters under +the deck. This witness does not know what was done with the others. The +next morning they took this witness and his above-mentioned companion +and led them before a captain, whose name he does not know. This +captain ordered them to be freed and food to be given them. Then he +ordered them to be placed in the said galley without this witness +seeing any of the others who had gone with them. Because he was below +in the said galley, this witness did not see the fight between the +said Moros and Spaniards, except that the vessels of the said Borneans +took flight, and that the galley in which this witness was fled up +the river of Borney, until its captain and crew landed. Taking this +witness and his companion with them, they marched inland one and +one-half days, without this witness knowing whither they were taking +them. Finally, for fear of the said Borneans, they hid themselves; +for the said Borneans were fleeing across country. This witness and +his said companion fled and returned, until they found a small boat +in which they embarked to look for the Spaniards (keeping hidden +in order not to meet any Borneans), until they met certain Spanish +vessels, which they accompanied to the village, where the governor +and Spaniards now are. Here they found alive the said Simagat, who +told them how he had been ill-treated, his gold taken from him, and +himself threatened with death; and that the said Borneans had killed +the said Simagachina. This witness is convinced of his death, for he +has never appeared nor have they had any news of him. As he does not +understand the language of Borney, he cannot tell what passed among +the said Borneans, when he was captured; he knows this and naught else. + +And he declares it true, and affirms and ratifies the same. He is +about twenty-five years of age. He did not sign the above, but the +interpreter Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, did so. + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltrn_, his Majesty's notary + +[The deposition of the above native's companion follows. It is of +similar tenor to the above.] + +And after the above events in the said settlement and river of +Borney, on the said day, month, and year above mentioned, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +of the islands of the West for his Majesty, said that, because there +was no fort where he could store and place the artillery, ammunition, +and other material here at present, and in order that all might be +kept safe and securely, he had ordered a fort to be constructed for +the defense of his Majesty's camp, and of the Spaniards stationed +in this settlement and river of Borney with his Lordship, where the +said Spaniards might gather. He ordered a house to be built within +it where the powder and ammunition now here may be kept; likewise a +hospital, where the sick may be cured, and a house in which to store +the provisions for the said camp. In order that his Majesty and the +members of the royal Council might know of all this, he ordered me, +the said notary, to testify thereto. I, the said Alonso Beltran, his +Majesty's notary, certify by order of the said governor that after +he took possession in the name of his Majesty, of the settlement on +the said river of Borney, where at present he is lodged, he ordered +the said fort and other buildings above mentioned to be constructed, +and it has been finished with great despatch, with the assistance, +in all the work, of the men of his camp. In order that all this may +be evident, he ordered me, the said notary, to make one copy, or +two or three, or as many more as are required, of the said records, +in which all and singular he interposed, and he did interpose, his +authority and judicial decree, in order that they should be valid and +lawful in court and out of court; and he signed the same with his name. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +The following is an exact and faithful copy of a letter missive written +on paper in Portuguese, dated at Evora, March seven, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-three, and bearing a signature, namely "El Rey" +["The King"], which was found among certain papers in the house of +the old king of Borney. The tenor of this letter is as follows. + +_Letter from the king of Portugal_ + +Noble and honored king of Borneo: I, Don Sebastian, by the grace of God +King of Portugal and of the Argarves, on this side and on the other +side of the sea in Africa, seignior of Guinea, and of the conquest, +navigation, and commerce of Etiopil [Ethiopia], Arabia, Persia, +and India, inform you that Juao Guago de Andrado wrote me that, +while passing your kingdom on his way to Maluco, as captain of his +galleon, you sent to confer with him about certain things touching my +service. Upon his entering, you communicated to him what I am very +glad to know and for which I give you many thanks and express my +appreciation. I beg that you will do, in regard to the matters that +you discussed with the said Juao Guago, and in regard to other things, +whatever offers itself for my service, and that you send to petition +in my name my governor of Malaca and the southern district, whatever +you may be able to request; and he shall give it to you without delay +and protect your affairs, as is fitting. Given at Evora, March seven, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-three. + +_The King_ + +(This copy was made and copied from the said letter of the said king, +which was found on the river of Borney on the twenty-fourth of the +month of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight. Witnesses, +who saw it compared and collated, were Francisco Pacheco and Alonso +Falcon. + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) + +That which you, Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa shall observe +on the expedition which you are about to make, God our Lord helping, +is as follows: + +From this city and island of Borney, God willing, you shall go to the +islands of Xolo, where you shall endeavor to reduce that chief and +his people to the obedience of his Majesty. You shall bargain with +them as to what tribute they shall pay, which shall be in pearls, as +they are wont to give to the king of Borney. You shall exercise great +care and, if possible, much mildness; for it is of importance that +those islands should not become depopulated; therefore, in case they +receive you peaceably, you shall treat them well. And, in addition to +the above, you must order that, besides the tribute that they are to +pay in pearls, they shall obtain as many of them as possible, so that +we, the Spaniards or Castilians, may buy them; that they must trade +with us from now on; that every year Castilians will go to their lands +with cloths and merchandise from China, of whatever they shall declare +that they may need. You shall inform yourself of their needs; and if +they wish to come to our settlements you shall give them permission +to go freely to Manila and to come to Borney, although not to steal. + +_Item_: You shall find out from them the whereabouts of the artillery +and anchors of a ship lost there some three years ago; and you shall +seek it and see that it be brought you with all haste. You shall +keep close watch over the artillery, ammunition, vessels, sails, +and other like things pertaining to the armed fleet; and you shall +deprive them of those supplies, for it is notorious that those people +are common marauders. + +And because of my information that the chief who calls himself lord +of Xolo is a Bornean, and owns houses in this city of Borney; that +he fought against us in the naval battle, and that he fled to Xolo, +where he is now; and since I am told that he took two galleys and +three small vessels, artillery, and ammunition--you shall exercise +the utmost despatch to obtain the said galleys, vessels, artillery, +and ammunition. If he acquiesce, you shall give him a passport. You +shall see whether he has any children; and, if so, you shall take one, +and tell him that he must come to see me in Borney in February. + +And, as I have said, this must be done if possible gently, in order +that no people may be killed. You shall tell them that it will be +to their advantage to be vassals of his Majesty, and our allies. If +they do not act respectfully, and it shall be necessary to punish +them in another manner, you shall do so. And inasmuch as the Joloans, +as is well known, are open pirates, whose only ambition is to steal, +and to assault men in order to sell them elsewhere--especially as +they go annually for plunder among all the Pintados Islands, which +are under his Majesty's dominion--you shall try to ascertain the +Pintados slaves among them, in order to return such to their homes, +especially those who are Christians. And, as I have said, you shall +deprive them of such vessels as seem to be used for raids, leaving +them their fishing-vessels, so that if the said lord of Jolo so desire, +he can come to confer reasonably with me. Thus you shall ascertain who +has vessels, and who can inflict injuries; and you shall command them +expressly to settle down in their land, to cultivate, sow, and harvest, +develop the pearl industry, and cease to be pirates. You shall order +them to raise fowls and cattle. You shall try to ascertain their +number, and bring it to me in writing, in order that I may see it, +together with the distance from these islands to the Jolo Islands, +information regarding the food, water, and healthfulness of that land, +and other things that may occur to you. And you shall tell the people, +in my name, that they shall tame for me a couple of elephants; and +that I shall send for those animals and pay for them. + +After having finished affairs in Xolo, if time permits you shall, +God willing, go to the island of Mindanao. There you shall try, +by the most convenient methods and with friendliness, to reduce the +chief of the river of Bindinao, and the other chiefs of that island, +and of those near by, to the obedience of his Majesty--giving him to +understand what they will gain in becoming his Majesty's vassals and +our allies, and in having trade with us. + +And, in order that the tribute may not prevent them from making +peace with us, you shall not ask them for any tribute; but you shall +take what they give freely, and nothing more, and in such form as +they are willing to give. Thus you shall suit their convenience +in everything pertaining to them, and cause them to understand the +great expenses of his Majesty in this land. You shall also tell them +that the gain therefrom affects them chiefly, since we come to teach +them our civilization, and most of all the service of God, our Lord, +who created and redeemed them, and of whom they are ignorant; and how +to live in accord with natural law, as is their obligation. For this +purpose you shall tell them that you are going to their land for two +principal reasons. + +The first is that they should cease to be pirates, who rob and harry +the weak, and enslave wherever and whomsoever they can--selling +their captives outside of their own island, and separating them from +their wives and children; and that they must cease to commit other +like cruelties and thefts, and must become good and virtuous men, +who shall grow to merit the second and principal reason for going to +their lands. You shall give them to understand that they are ignorant +of God, our Lord, who created and redeemed them, so that when they know +him they may serve him and become good. It is quite evident that they +will gain very much in these things, and therefore it is right that +they aid us and give us something. This shall be at their own will, +as above said. + +_Item_: You shall order them not to admit any more preachers of +the doctrine of Mahoma, since it is evil and false, and that of the +Christians alone is good. And because we have been in these regions so +short a time, the lord of Bindanao has been deceived by the preachers +of Borney, and the people have become Moros. You shall tell him that +our object is that he be converted to Christianity; and that he must +allow us freely to preach the law of the Christians, and the natives +must be allowed to go to hear the preaching and to be converted, +without receiving any harm from the chiefs. + +And you shall try to ascertain who are the preachers of the sect of +Mahoma, and shall seize and bring them before me. And you shall burn +or destroy the house where that accursed doctrine has been preached, +and you shall order that it be not rebuilt. + +_Item_: You shall order that the Indians shall not go outside of +their island to trade; and you shall seize those vessels used for +plundering excursions, leaving them those which, in your judgment, +are used for trade and fishing. You shall take also what artillery +and ammunition they have. + +You shall ascertain the harvest, seasons, and products of the land; +the gold mines, and the places where they wash gold; the number +of inhabitants, and their settlements; and their customs. You +must especially secure information regarding cinnamon, in order to +ascertain if it is found along the river, or if one must go to Cabite +for it, and why it is not as good as that which the Portuguese take to +Castilla. You shall ascertain how they cut and strip it from the tree, +and if it be of importance that it dry on the tree, or in what other +manner it should be treated; for I have been told that that obtained +from these districts in the past has not been good, and has not a +good sale in Espaa. + +And, since it might happen that the people will not make peace, and +may offer fight, and show disrespect, then you shall punish them as +you deem best, taking special care not to trust them for it is evident +that before all else they will, if possible, commit some treachery. You +must not await such an occasion, for we know already their treachery +against his Majesty's fleet commanded by Villalobos, certain of whose +men they killed under assurances of safety; and they seized a boat. In +that treachery all the inhabitants of the islands were participants; +for four or five thousand of the said natives attacked one small +boat, which contained four or five Spaniards. Likewise many people +took part in the killing of the said Villalobos's master-of-camp, +and other soldiers, in that same year. You shall remind them of these +things, and warn them; for, from now on, we shall destroy them and +their generation. + +And since it might happen that, without any occasion of war or peace, +the said natives flee to the mountains, you shall order that certain +of the said natives summon them; and, when they have come, you shall +discuss the matter with them. If they refuse to come, you shall, +in conformity with your orders, remain there a given time. And if +they continue to refuse to come down, you shall leave them, and +shall return, without permitting their houses to be burned or their +palm-trees to be cut down. Neither shall anything be stolen from them; +but you shall take only what is absolutely necessary for food, and +the food and other things necessary to provision your vessels for +the return trip. + +You shall try to secure information of the island of Linboton, +as well as of Batachina and Celebes, so as to advise me thereof; +and you shall do this in accord with the time-limit I have set for +you to make this exploration, and you shall observe the same rule as +in that of Mindanao. + +In order that we may allot in encomiendas whatever people are found +in these districts, you shall bring me a signed notarial writ. Thus, +as those lands have no other owner, the natives thereof may be reduced +to the obedience of his Majesty, according to his will--and by war, +if the natives begin it, so that war on our part may be just, and that +the same justice may continue, so that we can compel them to obey, +and impose tributes upon them. You shall exercise much diligence +in this and see to it that these orders be carried out carefully +and intelligently. + +God willing, I shall be in Borney by the end of the month of January +next--or, at the latest, by the eighth of February--with the fleet and +all the necessaries that must be brought from Manila, and that which +is here. And at that time your Grace shall come to Borney with the +fleet that you have, and with all the people that you have or shall +have in the Pintados, so that we may do here whatever is proper for +the service of his Majesty, to which we are bound. These instructions +must not be disregarded in any point, unless I advise you to the +contrary by letter. And to this end you shall see that all who live +and dwell there be commissioned for the above, in addition to their +other duties. Given at Borney, May twenty-three, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight. + +If the natives of Mindanao or of any other place shall give tribute +according to the above, you shall act according to the usual custom +in these islands--namely, you shall take one-half and place it to +the account of his Majesty, while the other half shall be distributed +among the soldiers. Given _ut supra_. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +(I delivered a copy of these instructions to Captain Esteban Rodriguez +de Figueroa, so that he should observe and keep the orders therein +set forth. I certify thereto at this time. Father Fray Martin de Rada, +to whom his Lordship communicated it, said that it was well arranged. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) + +In the city of Manila, on the fifth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said governor, +in order to verify the above, summoned to his presence an Indian, +who through the interpreter Juan Vicente declared himself to be one +Matelin Magat Buxa Amat, a native of Bayan. Without taking the oath, +he promised to tell the truth as far as he knew it, and in what was +asked him. Being asked that he tell and declare who killed Martin, +an Indian who was taking some letters to the king of Borney the past +year, seventy-eight, and the reason therefor, he made the following +declaration and deposition. This witness has resided in the said +island of Borney from childhood, more than forty years. When the said +governor was near the port of the bay of Borney with a fleet, this +witness and many other Moros went, at command of the king of Borney, +to fight with the Spaniards. He noticed that the battle was waged +for some time, for this witness was one of those taken as captain +of a vessel, until he and the other Moros fled. But this witness +did not see the said Martin, who was carrying the said letters, +killed. He knows, however, that a Moro named Sidata killed him with a +dagger-thrust in the neck by order of the said king of Borney. The wife +of this witness buried the said Martin, for he was a relative of this +witness. She buried him in front of the house of this witness where +their relatives are buried. When this witness returned to Borney, +he learned of the said Martin's death, and that he was buried, and +who had killed him. Also this witness found in the prison of the king +of Borney, in the middle of the said river, the other Indian, Magat, +the companion of the said Martin, who had been entrusted with the +said letters. He was a prisoner in the said prison, and had a chain +about his neck, and his hands bound with reeds; and they had taken +from him the gold chains that he wore on his neck. This witness knows +that this said gold was taken by Panguilan Salalila, and afterward the +king took it. The said Panguilan Salalila is the uncle of the king of +Borney. The said Salalila and many other Moros fought in the fleet of +the said king of Borney, in defense of the said port--for instance, +Tumango, the said king's brother, Bandahala, the said king's nephew, +and each man in his own vessel. Being asked what was done to eight +[_sic_] Indians who accompanied the said Indians entrusted with +the said letters, this witness said that he did not know, for he +was always in the fleet, fighting with the Spaniards. Afterward, +inasmuch as the said Magat, who was imprisoned, was his relative, +he went to the said prison to free him, and gave his jailer, by name +Patimuhaurat, a large culverin weighing fifteen arrobas, and pledged +himself to give him four slaves and two taes of gold. Thereupon the +said jailer released the said Magat, and this witness accompanied +him to a Spanish vessel. The said jailer and the other Bornean Moros +fled. Afterward the said jailer returned to Borney, where this witness +saw him deliver the said culverin to the flagship of his Majesty, +by order of his Lordship. After a certain period this witness saw +that the said governor with his fleet went to Manila, whereupon, in +fear lest the said Moros should kill him, he came to this city. This +is what he knows, and his deposition, and contains true answers to +what he has been asked. He knows naught else, and has affirmed and +ratified the above. He appears to be some fifty or so years old. He +did not sign his name. + +_Juan Vicente_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Likewise the deposition of one Amiguicon, a native of Luzon, was +taken. Its essential parts are as follows:] + +Being asked how long he had lived in Borney and what he was doing +there, he said, as above, that he is a native of this island of +Lucon and that about fourteen years ago he went to trade in Borney +with property and merchandise. The king of Borney would not let him +come to this city, and refused him permission therefor. Thus he made +cloth for him and served him in war and did whatever offered until +his Lordship came to Borney. + +Asked what he was doing in Borney when the said governor went there, +this witness said that, when the said governor arrived at the bay +of Borney, he went out by command of the king of Borney in a galley +with artillery, to fight with his Lordship's vessels. Other galleys +and many soldiers went also. In the galley in charge of this witness +were fifty-four fighting men, and more than thirty rowers. There were +six pieces of artillery, two large ones at the bow and four culverins +at the sides. In the vessel commanded by the son of the old king who +reigns in Borney, by name Soltan Lijar, were twenty pieces, three +large ones in the bow, and the others at the sides. All the said +galleys and other vessels were about fifty in number, and all went +out to fight with the fleet of the said governor. These fifty-four +vessels consisted of galleys and large ships, besides many other +small boats that sailed--sail-boats, _bancas_, and _barangayes_ +[27]--all of which fleet was seen by this witness as he set out +for the port where the battle was fought. The said king of Borney +remained in his galley at the mouth of the river, anchored at an islet +called Polocharami. After the Borneans were conquered, they all fled, +as did this witness. After two or three days, this witness and other +Bornean Moros came to the said governor, and begged him to pardon them; +accordingly the said governor granted them pardon. + +When this witness was asked whether he had seen an Indian, named +Martin, and another, Magat, a chief of this island, and some six +or seven other Indians who served them as oarsmen, whom the said +governor was sending to the said king of Borney with letters of peace, +and what the said king did, he responded that he did not see the +said messengers, but that he knew that they had gone with letters +from the said governor for the king. This witness knew one of them, +namely, Magat. Because this witness was with the said fleet at the +entrance of the said port, he did not see what passed with the king, +but it is well known that the said king had the said Martin killed, +and the said Magat imprisoned, as well as the other Indians who served +as oarsmen. They brought one of the said Indians, who served as oarsman +(who were from the port of this city [Manila]) to this witness, to be +cured of a wound in the arm that had been inflicted upon him. This +Indian is a slave of Don Agustn, chief of Tondo. The slayer of the +said chief Martin was a Bornean Moro, named Siparardal. The said +Magat was imprisoned, and his gold taken from him, and they wished +to kill him. This witness knows that the said Borneans commenced +the fight first with the Spaniards, firing many artillery-shots at +them. They refused any alliance with the Spaniards; on the contrary, +he saw that they mocked the Spaniards, and told them that they would +all be killed and their fleet seized. Thus this witness saw that they +set about the execution of this; for he was ordered by the said king +of Borney to go out in the said galley to fight with the Spaniards. As +soon as the said Moros were defeated they broke and fled. + +_Instructions as to what Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil is to +observe in this present expedition to the island and city of Borney, +which belongs to his Majesty_: + +The route and navigation, both going and coming, are known, and you +have a pilot. Therefore I shall say nothing more than to warn you not +to disembark on any of the islands, unless forced to by necessity, and +then with a force of men, so that the natives may commit no treason. + +When you reach the island of Borney in the district of [illegible +words in MS.]--the place to which Captain Esteban Rodriguez went +for _contrayerva,_ [28] and the people engaged in trade and gave +information as to the condition of Borney--where, they tell me, is +the _panguilan_ [29] Maraxa de Raxa, you shall halt at that coast to +see if he is there, which you will ascertain from such Moro vessels +as you will meet before reaching that place. And finding him there, +you will give him my letter. You will ascertain from him the condition +of affairs in Borney; the whereabouts of Soltan Lijar, and what he +intends to do; whether Portuguese have gone thither, and if they are +still there; and other things which may seem proper to you. + +You are already aware that I left as commander in Borney the +panguilan Maraxa de Raxa, and that I gave him a letter of assurance +and friendship, and another to the panguilan Salalila; you must +observe all friendship toward them. + +As soon as you have arrived, you must confer with the panguinals +[_sc._ panguilans]; you shall ascertain from some Indians whether +the king of Borney has returned, and his condition, and that of the +settlement. If these panguilans tell your Grace that you should not +go to [the port of] Borney, but should remain where you are, and +that they are going to talk to the king--or whatever other reasons +they may adduce, your Grace will tell them that you are ordered to +anchor at the island of Mohala, where the battle occurred, and that +your Grace will await them there for conference; and your Grace will +tell them that they should read my letters to the king. And, if it +seems advisable to your Grace, you shall write to the king, briefly, +telling him of the firm friendship that he will receive from me, and +the great advantage that will undoubtedly accrue to him in becoming +a vassal of his Majesty, the king, our sovereign. + +If the said panguilans do not appear, then your Grace will continue +your voyage and anchor at the above-named place. You shall send +my letters to Borney, with the following order. If either one of +the panguilans is dead or absent, the letters shall be given to the +other. If neither is found there, the letters shall be given to the +king; if he is not there, then to the most influential man; and your +Grace shall write him that he advise you speedily, and assign him +a certain limit of time for the answer. Should you be informed that +Raxayro, king of Xolo, is there, you shall write him also, observing +the same order as the above. + +You shall request from the king of Borney that he render obedience +to his Majesty, King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla +and Leon; that he promise to observe it faithfully, as his vassal, +and that he serve him in peace and in war in this land wherever his +Majesty commands. If he does this, then I shall pardon him for his want +of respect and his crime of last year, when he killed my ambassador, +and commenced to wage war upon us, although we offered him good terms +of peace. + +_Item_: In acknowledgment of this subjection, he shall pay tribute +to his Majesty, to consist of camphor, galleys, or other products +of that land, and in the quantity not agreed upon with him, but +to his pleasure--until his Majesty and I, in his royal name, order +the contrary. + +He shall promise not to receive pirates in that land, and that he will +not despatch plundering expeditions anywhere, nor permit any slaves to +be taken from among the natives to China, or to the Portuguese, or to +any other place, telling him that that island is depopulated thereby. + +_Item_: That each year the king of Borney and his successors send +one or two vessels to this city to bring the tribute and to trade. + +_Item_: That when I agree to settle in that island, he shall go to +the place selected, with his people, or send there, and build houses +and whatever else is necessary for the settlement, those who work at +this to receive pay. In exchange for this, you will tell him the great +advantages that will accrue to him from our alliance: that his Majesty +will show him favor; and that, if he has any enemy who undertakes to +war upon him, I shall defend him, and shall send thither the fleet +of his Majesty, if he advise me of such need. + +_Item_. If the said king declares that he will flee to the mountains, +and refuses to come to confer with you, and shall not render obedience, +then you shall try to remove his fear. If he shall persist in this, +then you shall leave him without doing him any harm, telling him to +send to me here, with letters, a Moro chief for conference with me. + +If the king do not appear, and the city is inhabited, you shall treat +concerning these matters with the most influential person there, +in accordance with the above. + +In order to send this message, you are taking Bornean Moros, to +despatch them two by two. Everything that passes must be in writing +and attested by a notary. You likewise have a letter from the daughter +of the panguilan Salalila, telling the Borneans what good treatment +I have accorded to the captives here, and how happy she is. + +After having despatched what pertains to the above, you shall +investigate the river of Tamaran. Without doing them any hurt, you +shall summon that people, and examine the location of their land, and +ascertain whether we can settle there; also the depth of the river, +and the number of inhabitants. You shall decide with them about the +tribute they are to pay; and, even if they do not pay any, or pay but +little, you shall do them no harm. After examining the river of Baran, +you shall return to this city as soon as possible. + +If there are any Portuguese in Borney, or any should come while your +Grace is there, your Grace shall give them a hospitable reception. You +shall ascertain from them both the condition of their affairs and as +much else as you are able. If they commence to show any disrespect +or hostility, then your Grace will try with the utmost diligence to +secure the victory. In no other circumstances shall you wage war with +them. And should you come to hostilities with them, your Grace shall +bring what they have to this city. + +Even if the king of Borney should be fortified and have repaired +his forts in Polocharami and Panigaran, your Grace will take +no notice of that, but transact your business in accordance with +your orders. Therefore your Grace shall in no wise fight, unless he +commences it, as upon the other occasion. Then your Grace shall take +what steps are necessary, since the thing is forced on you. + +Your Grace shall see to it that your fleet of vessels remain together; +and if any of them become separated in crossing the wide expanses of +water in your course, you shall give orders where it shall meet you, +so that all may be kept in order. In case you have to fight, you shall +put the ship from Castilla in the front, and the others shall aid it, +and, being lighter, can be used better for pursuit. + +You shall exercise great care in regard to the musketeers, and put +them in charge of an experienced man, and let opportunity be given +them to advance. + +_Item_: You shall exercise care, so that, if the Bornean galleys take +the lead, they shall not separate from the Castilian galley and the +Neapolitan fragata; likewise that the latter does not separate from +the Castilian galley. + +_Item_: You shall see to it that the Spaniards do not kill or steal +any cow (for there are but few), so that the king of Borney make +no complaint. + +There are cows in Borney and in Mohala, in the island of +Bencoraco. Notice shall be given among your people, so that these +beasts may be preserved; in the river of Tabaron, where I have said +that you must go, the men may kill swine and deer, if necessity arise, +for there are many of these animals there. + +_Item_: You shall not allow any slave, male or female, to be taken. You +shall exercise great care in this, imposing the penalty of death +on whomsoever shall steal them; and even should the natives wish +to sell slaves [30] the Spaniards shall not buy them, if they are +natives of the same island. Given at Manila, February twenty-eight, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the flagship "Espritu Santo," on the fourth day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil said that, inasmuch as he is not +taking a notary of his Majesty or a notary-public for the negotiations +and legal proceedings that may arise in this voyage in the said galley +and the other vessels of the said fleet despatched this year to the +kingdom of Borney, before whom the said proceedings and negotiations +may be executed, in order that they may attest what happens; and +inasmuch as it is necessary for his Majesty's service to appoint a +skilful person to the said office: therefore, with entire confidence in +the character and capability of Manuel de Caceres, and feeling certain +that he will therefore fill the said office faithfully, in that manner +and form most suitable to the requirements of the law, he appointed, +and he did appoint, as notary of this said fleet the said Manuel de +Caceres before whom shall pass the legal proceedings, suits, and other +negotiations that shall occur, and he shall attest them as notary. I, +the said Manuel de Caceres, being present, accept it, and swear before +God, our Lord, and on the sign of the cross--which I do with my right +hand--to exercise precisely, faithfully, and legally, the said office +of notary in the negotiations and proceedings which shall take place +before me, and to keep secret whatever is necessary, under penalty +of falling into the lowest infamy and perjury, and of being punished +according to law. Witnesses are Andres de la Tubilla, Juan de Yepes, +Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, and Don Juan Arce. Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary-elect + +In the galley "Espiritu Santo," belonging to his Majesty, while it +was anchored at the port of Mohala, in the island and kingdom of +Borney, on the twentieth of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, in the presence of me, the notary, and the undersigned +witnesses, the illustrious captain Juan de Arce Sadornil declared that, +inasmuch as his Grace came by order of the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty in +these Western Islands, to this said river, to see whether the said +natives of the said river and city of Borney were settled, as they +were when subdued by force of arms by the said governor, and when he +left them for the city of Manila; and to see whether Soltan Lixar, +king of Borneo, had returned to his former village, and what was +become of him, and what persons might be present in his stead; and +that by all good methods he [Sadornil] should calm and pacify them, +and give them the governor's letters; and do other things set down +clearly and ordered by the instructions given by his Lordship; and, +inasmuch as the said captain had come to this said port of Mohala, but +has been unable to have any intercourse in regard to the above matters, +as the said governor orders, although he has tried and done his utmost, +and in the manner which his Lordship orders by his instruction; +and inasmuch as, having arrived at this said port on this said day, +and having seen many vessels leave the said port of Borney--which, +although he awaited them and cast anchor for this purpose, never came +to him so that he could hold communication with them, in order that the +said Bornean Moros might become quiet and learn his Majesty's purpose, +and that of his Lordship and of his captain in his royal name--to wit, +that I am not to do them harm or annoy them, but on the contrary to +protect and defend them; and that they might know the true God and the +true pathway of salvation: therefore the said captain summoned to his +presence Sipopat and Esin, Bornean Moros, whom his Lordship took to +Manila last year. The said captain has brought them for this purpose, +and given them to understand the above through the said Francisco +Magat; and he delivered to them two letters from the said governor, +written in our language and translated into the Bornean language, and +signed with his name--one for the panguilan Marraxa de Raxa, and the +other for the panguilan Salalila. He also gave them two other letters +in the Bornean tongue for the said Salalila, which were written by +his daughter and son-in-law in the city of Manila. The said Sipopat +and Esin went to the said captain to take the said letters and to +hear the message imparted to them by the said captain. They were +to return with the answer that would be given them in the river of +Borney. All of which, I, the said notary, attest, together with the +witnesses present, to wit, Father Baltasar de Miranda, ecclesiastical +presbyter, Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, +Luis Briceo, Bartolome de Tapia. And the said captain signed it. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +In the port of Mohala, in the kingdom of Borney, on the twenty-first +day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +the illustrious Don Juan de Arce summoned to his presence the captain +and pilot of a Chinese ship, which was anchored in the said port, each +one of them alone; and before me, the said notary, through the Moro +Simagat, an interpreter of the Sangley [_i.e._, Chinese] and Spanish +tongues, questioned them on the condition of affairs in the land, and +whether the king Soltan Lixar had returned to his former settlement; +and in regard to the panguilans Maraxa de Raxa and Salalila, and other +matters pertaining to the service of his Majesty. They answered that +they had entered the said port three days ago; that upon this said +day the king and his people had received news of the coming of the +Spaniards; and that the king of Borney had ordered them to enter the +said river with another Chinese vessel there. But they refused because +they did not know what would happen to them. From that time, when night +came they began to annoy them with their small boats and conpites. They +said that the king Soltan Lijar was in Borney, and that the panguilan +Salalila had died by some disease. They had heard, from the fishermen +who came to their boat to sell fish, that the king had a fort up the +river where he had placed the women and the food-supplies of the city +when he heard of our coming. The said fishermen told them that the +king had ordered a quantity of poison to be thrown into the water, +in order to kill the people. They had heard even that the death of the +said Salalila happened thus. They knew naught else, for they were come +hither but recently. This is the truth, and they know naught else. I, +the present notary, attest the same; and the said interpreter Simagat, +as well as the said captain, signed it. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +And after the above events, on the twenty-second day of the month +of March, of the said year, in the presence of me, the said notary, +and the witnesses who here signed, appeared the said Moros Sipopat +and Esin, whom his Grace had sent to the said city of Borney. They +brought a paper written in Bornean, which they said was given them +by the king, Soltan Lijar. They declared that the said king had +received the letters addressed to the said panguilans Maraxa de Raxa +and Salalila, as the said Salalila was dead, and Maraxa de Raxa had +gone to the river of Saragua. The king said that he wished alliance +with the said captain, and therefore sent that written letter, +in which he says the same thing. He wrote it so that the Spaniards +might believe it. Likewise he had sent two caracoas, which came in +care of the above-named envoys. And I, the said notary, and many +others saw these boats. They came flying white flags, and anchored +near our fleet. From there they sent the said Moros, our messengers, +in a _baroto_. [31] All of the above was interpreted by Simaguat, Moro +interpreter of the said language. The said captain having seen this, +and because he had no one who could read the letter, gave a verbal +response to the said Moros, through Simagat, ordering them to tell +the king that he had no one who knew how to read and write the said +Bornean language, and for this reason he did not write to him. He said +that the wish of the said governor, and his own through the former's +order, was that the king should become our ally, and recognize as +seignior the king of Castilla, our sovereign; and that he should come +to treat with the said captain, or send one of his chiefs, so that the +latter might discuss the matter, since this was so desirable for his +tranquillity and his honor. Thereupon he ordered the messengers to be +despatched. The witnesses present were Luis Briseo, Alonso Locano, +Bartolome de Tapia, and many other persons. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +I attest the above: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Thereupon on this said day, month, and year abovementioned, a Moro +whom the said captain said he knew last year as a slave of the +panguilan Salalila, appeared then before the said captain Don Juan +de Arce. The said Moro said that he was the abovementioned person, +and that he had come into the possession of the king through the +death of his master. The king treated him badly; and, as soon as +he knew that the Spaniards were in this port, he came to them. Then +the said captain, through the said Simagat, ordered the said Moro to +be questioned about the death of the said Salalila, his master; the +whereabouts of the panguilan Maraja de Raxa; whether the king, Soltan +Lijar, was in Borney; where he had hidden when the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, the governor, was here last year; whether +the said king was fortified; what artillery and provisions he had; +and what he was now doing. This witness replied that his name was +Sisian, and that he was a native of Sian. He came to this kingdom of +Borney with his mother, and had always been the slave of the panguilan +Maraxa de Raxa, and served the said Salalila likewise when occasion +offered. After the said governor went to Manila, this Indian served +the said Salalila the entire time. He saw that, some days after the +said Maraxa de Raxa had despatched advice that the Spaniards had gone, +King Soltan Lijar came to his settlement of Borney with about fifty +vessels, large and small--among them being a galley of Manrijar in +which was the body of the old king, his father, who had died at Baran, +a few days before, from a disease. They buried him with solemnity in +the river of Borney. With the said Soltan Lijar came the _vandaran_, +who serves as steward and treasurer, and the _tumangan_, or chief +justice, the panguilan Salam, and others. As soon as he entered the +river, the other persons and panguilans who were fugitives outside +the city began to return. The king began to collect all his artillery, +and has collected by this time about two hundred pieces. He summoned +all his Bisayan and Moro allies in order to build a fort, which he +has built up the river, from palm-trees four brazas high. He placed +there all his artillery, wives, food, and provisions, as soon as he +heard of our coming. Only the men stayed on the river, keeping close +watch. As to the death of his master, as soon as the king had come, +he asked Salalila why he had married his daughter to Don Agustin, +chief of Tondo in the city of Manila, who had come to this said river +with the said governor. He said that Salalila replied that he had +done it for fear, and to please the Spaniards. Thereupon the king +dissimulated until, after a month, there came a large galleon and a +galley of Portuguese, who negotiated by letters and in person with +the king, and went up to the city and traded about a hundred slaves, +wax, and other goods. At the end of ten days the Portuguese left for +Maluco; and three days after Salalila was dead, from a sickness that +lasted less than half a day. It was a sudden looseness of the bowels, +which proved so severe that, on getting up to ease himself, he fell +dead. It was rumored among the people that the king had ordered him +to be poisoned; but so great was the fear of the said king that no +one dared to discuss it. It is now five months since the said Maraxa +de Raxa left the city of Borney with two caracoas. This witness has +heard it said that the king sent him to Tolobaran, and to all the +other rivers as far as Saragua, in order to look for a good location in +which to settle with all his people in a strong and well-provisioned +place; and he has not returned. He knows nothing more of this. After +the death of the said Salalila, the king took all his property and +slaves, among the latter this witness. Because he was very tired and +worn out in making the fort which he has mentioned, and in cutting +wood for another fort, which the king intended to build on the site +where the said governor had settled near the mosque, this witness +resolved to flee to the Spaniards, in order to go to the city of +Manila to the daughter of the panguilan Salalila, his master. When +asked how many Portuguese vessels came, and if this witness saw them, +and if he went to them, he answered that he had gone to them many times +with his master; that they were in a ship of deep draught and a large +Castilian galley; that the galley was much larger than this flagship; +that it carried ninety men and three large pieces at the bow, and +falcons at the stern. The large ship carried one hundred Portuguese, +eight large pieces, and many culverins. The crew of the galley, +or rowers, were chained, and the galley was in poor condition from +storms that it had suffered. In this port a mast and other equipment +were made. And in regard to what he knows touching the hiding-place +of the king during his Lordship's stay in this river, he says that +it was well-known that he was in a river of Bisayas in the province +of Malanao, near to Saragua. This is all that he can tell and no +more. This his deposition being read, he declared it true. By his +appearance his age must be about forty years. The said captain signed +the above in the presence of many witnesses. + +_Don Juan Arce_ Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +After the above events, in the said port, this said day, month, and +year aforesaid, the illustrious Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil +ordered certain soldiers, before me, the present notary, and the +witnesses here signed, to go in the Neapolitan frigate in pursuit of +a Bornean sail which passed near the flagship, flying a white flag +of peace, to take the Indians who were in the said vessel, and bring +them before his Grace, in order that they might talk with them, and +learn what had happened in the city of Borney, so that he might take +action more intelligently. In obedience to the said captain's order, +the said soldiers went and executed the above-mentioned command, and +captured a tapaque, with seven Indians. These men, when asked of what +place they were native, and whether they were _amaguas_ and slaves, +and whence they were coming, answered through the said Simagat that +they were natives of Borney and slaves of King Soltan Lijar, and that +they were coming from the river of Baran to buy food. Questioned +about the panguilans Salalila and Maraxa de Raxa, and the others, +they said that the said Salalila had died from his illness, and +that the said Maraxa de Raxa had gone to the said river of Saragua, +they knew not why. Questioned as to where the king was, what he was +doing, and where he was living, and if he had a fortress, and where +they said that at the river above Borney he had built a fort of tall +palm-trees; that he was trying to build another in the city, near the +mosque; that he was in the city, and was living in the houses there, +which are usually of straw. They had heard that the said king had +collected two hundred pieces of artillery, counting large and small +pieces, but that he lacked ammunition. He had repaired a vessel--the +one brought by the said captain from Saragua last year--to send it +to the kingdom of Sian for artillery. Not long after the departure +hence of the governor, they had seen a deep-draught vessel and a +large galley at the said city and river of Borney, with people and +artillery. They had learned from others that they were Portuguese, and +that they conferred with the king of Borney, and then went away. They +knew nothing else. When questioned whether any among them knew how +to write, they answered that two of them knew how. Each one of them +singly interpreted the paper sent by the said King Soltan to the +said captain. Translated into our language through the interpreters, +the said Simagat and Sitales, this letter was as follows. + +_Letter of King Soltan_ + +I, Soltan Lijar, King of Borney, received the letters from Captain +Don Juan to Maraxa de Raxa and the panguilan Salalila, because of the +absence of the panguilan Maraxa de Raxa, and the death of Salalila, +who died from illness. If Captain Don Juan wishes my friendship, +I will be his friend, for I am willing to be such. + +Then the said captain wrote a letter, which through the agency of +Alonso Buytrago and the said interpreters was translated into the +Bornean language and characters. After treating the said Indians +hospitably, he ordered them to give the letter to the said king, and +despatched them. I, the said notary, attest all the above. Witnesses +are Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, +Bartolome de Tapia, and others. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +On this said day, he immediately sent this letter to the said king, by +means of the said Indians, in the presence of me, the notary, and the +witnesses herein signed. The tenor of this letter is as follows, and +was translated, as above said, into their language, by the aforesaid. + +Noble and honorable king of Borney: + +I, Captain Juan, received a letter from your Majesty, by which I was +informed that the letters which I had sent to the panguilan Salalila +and Maraxa de Raxa had been received by your Majesty, because of +the death of Salalila, and the absence of the other. I was very glad +thereat, and to learn, as I did, that your Majesty was in this kingdom, +rebuilding your so ancient and noble city, which is a token that you +wish to live in tranquillity and honor, as now is shown. Your Majesty +wished to take up arms last year, and, like a man without common sense, +to make war on one who did not make war. The governor, Don Francisco +de Sande, captain-general of our people, and of all these islands, +on the contrary, had only a desire for the friendship of your Majesty +and your people. It was God's will, therefore, that you be conquered; +and, contrary to our intention, your town was destroyed. This was very +little damage compared to the advantage that you would derive from +becoming vassals of his Majesty, the king of Castilla, our sovereign, +and the ally of the Castilians in this land; and from your people +trading in peace throughout all this land, both with Spaniards and +with the Moros of Manila, Balayan, Bonbon, Mindoro, ubu, and any +other district, so that the Borneans will become very rich and make +great profits. If your Majesty makes an alliance with us, it is quite +certain that you will find good friends in us--and so much so, that +if any other king should molest you and you should have need of aid, +the said governor will send his galleys and fleet to protect your +Majesty, as if he were offering aid to our own Spaniards. If your +Majesty refuses our alliance, then will ensue much harm, for you +will never sleep secure in your bed. Neither will your vassals live +in ease. The Spaniards are so brave and so daring that they regard +fighting and dangers as a repast. Instead of thus offending them, +I request you urgently that you should take good counsel as to what +you should do, and quickly; so that, if you wish to make peace with +me here, we may confer any time tomorrow. Or you may appoint a chief +who will bear your letter of credit and authorization to treat, in +your name, concerning what is necessary. If not, then I shall not be +able to prevent certain damage that my people will commit, although my +governor orders me not to commit any damage; and, to obey his order, +I anchored in this port of Mohala. I shall stay here until I receive +word as to your intentions, until the said time expires. And now, +because I am told that your Majesty is a sensible man, and will study +my reasons carefully, as is fitting, I shall say no more. May God give +you much health, and grace that you may know Him. Written at Mohala, +in his Majesty's flagship. + +(This said letter was translated, and sent in the form and manner +abovesaid, witnesses being Luis Briceo, Alonso Locano, Bartolome +Tapia, and other persons. I, the above-named notary, attest the same, +which is drawn in the said galley in the said port, on the twenty-third +day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +I attest it: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +In the said port, on the said day, the twenty-third of March, of +the said year, the Indians Sipopot and Esin returned before the +said captain and in their keeping were the said two caracoas. They +anchored near by, and stated, through the said interpreters, that the +said king declared that he would come next day to confer with the said +captain. He would not come to his fleet, however, but on the coast of +this said island, where each one would land with five or ten men, an +equal number of Borneans and of Spaniards. They would treat for peace +and of whatever else was fitting. The said Spaniards should not come +in coats-of-mail, since they were to treat of peace. The said captain +answered that he would be very glad to meet him as he proposed, and +that he should come next morning. And if he did not come that day, +then he would know that his reasons were only pretense, and that he +was putting him off with words. Thereupon he sent the said Indians +together with those who took the letter above set forth; and I, +the said notary, testified thereto. Witnesses were Pablo Granado, +Andres de la Tubilla, Alonso Lozano, and many others. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +And after all the above events in the said port of Mohala, in the said +galley "Espritu Santo," on the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain +Don Juan Arce summoned to his presence Ensign Francisco Rodriguez, +Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Ensign Pedro de Salasar, and Sergeants +Bartolom de Tapia, Cristoval de Arqueta, Antonio Canedo, Francisco +de Ribera, Melchior de Villanueva, Alonso Loano, Juan de Chavarria, +Luis Briceo, Cristoval Xuares, Baltasar de Bustamente, Juan de la +Feria, Juan de Yepes, and Antonio Sanchez, for this purpose having +ordered the rally sounded by trumpet. When these had come and with +them the other persons and soldiers whom he wished to be present, +the said captain took the instructions for this expedition given +him by the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general for his Majesty in these Western Islands, and auditor +of his royal Audiencia of Mexico, and ordered it to be read publicly +in the presence of the above-named persons. When it had been read +and heard publicly by all, the said captain told them his reason for +summoning them together to hear the said instructions--namely, that +they might know that King Soltan had broken his word given two or +three days previously. He said that he would come to treat with the +said captain; and he had not sent messengers to excuse his inability +to come, nor had he done anything else. Therefore it was proved that +he had entertained them with promises, in order that he might collect +and place in his fort the rest of his property. Especially was this +proved more conclusively, for on this said day no fishermen had come, +as was their usual custom, to the fleet to trade their fish. However +they had come near to get their nets and a sort of weir with which they +are wont to catch fish. And although the captain wished to enter the +city and river of Borney, he did not dare to do so, in order not to +violate the order of the said governor; for he had heard that they +would not neglect to station some scout-boats in Borney with some +culverins and artillery, and that they would fire at us, and then take +flight to the fort which was reported to have been built. Not being +able to pursue them or attack them, because of having no commission +for it, meant that he would suffer in estimation and lose reputation +among them. This did not appear desirable to him, so he resolved to +send some soldiers in a light vessel next day, with orders only to +see whether they had the said fort, or had commenced to build it, +in the islets of Polocelemin [32] and Pangaran, in order to advise +his Lordship concerning it. He resolved to wait several days, in order +to make other inquiries, as he should consider best. The captain told +all those present that they should examine this resolve to see whether +it was proper. If any other thing could be done or ought to be done, +more befitting his Majesty's service and that of the said governor in +his royal name, he requested them to tell him; for if their advice was +good he would accept and act upon it willingly. All of the above-named +answered--not excepting any point--that nothing better could be done; +that it was very well considered and ordained; that he should carry +out his plan for the examination of the said islets in order to +give his Lordship an account of them; and that, with this and the +inquiries made by his Grace, he would have done everything to which +his commission obliged him. And it was not at all fitting to give the +Moros any opportunity to say that we came back to make war upon them, +especially without the orders of his Lordship. I, the present notary, +attest all the above, which occurred as set down above, witnesses +being Father Baltasar de Miranda, Juan de Santiago, Pedro Granado, +the above-named. The said captain and the other witnesses signed the +same with their names. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ +_Pedro Granado de Aguero_ + +Witness, +_Baltasar de Miranda_ +_Juan de Santiago_ + +Before me, and I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +I, Manuel de Caceres, notary, appointed by the illustrious Captain +Juan de Arce Sadornil in this expedition made this present year to +the kingdom of Borney, hereby attest to all that see this present, +that from certain enclosures with nets, that are wont to be set near +this fleet, certain Moros with their boats were wont to come hither +to trade their fish. As we paid them and gave them good treatment, +they returned, and thus they were wont to do. On this day more boats +coming to the said enclosures, they drew up their nets, went away +and did not bring us any fish, nor did they appear, nor do we know +why they do not come. This argues the suspicion that their king or +some one else has summoned them. At the request of the said captain, +I give this present, so that what is done in the galley "Espiritu +Santo," in the said port of Mohala, on the twenty-fifth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, may +be evident. Witnesses of the above are Anton Sanchez, Baltasar de +Bustamente, Juan de Santiago, and other persons. + +I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + + +In the port of Mohala, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said captain, in +observance of the above decision, in the presence of me, the notary, +and the witnesses hereunto signed, ordered Ensign Salvador de Sequera, +accompanied by the men assigned to him, to embark in the Neapolitan +fragata belonging to this fleet, in order to go to the islets of +Polocelemin and Paingaran, in order to see whether the natives had +constructed any fort, after the departure of the said governor to +the city of Manila. When this was done, he should return without +going elsewhere; and if he met Moro bancas and vessels, he should +fly white flags in token of peace. He was ordered to try to open +conversation with them; and, even if the said vessels were to fire +some artillery, the said ensign and his companions were not to answer +them. On the contrary, they were to fly the said white flag of peace, +and to return to this fleet. Father Baltasar de Miranda and Alonso +Cornejo were witnesses to the above, and the said captain signed it. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +After the above events, in the said month and year abovesaid, in the +said galley, the said captain having ordered three soldiers in a light +boat, one hour before dawn, to try to talk with some Indians, and, +if possible, obtain information regarding the king, of the condition +of his affairs, and other necessary things; and having brought the +Bornean Indians prisoners, the said captain summoned each of them +to his presence. Through the agency of the interpreter Sitahel, they +were asked where the king and his people were, and what was decided +upon. The first said his name was Usman, and that he was a native of +this island of Mohala. The second day after the arrival of our fleet +at this port, some of the king's slaves came in bancas, with orders +that all the people should assemble up the river. This witness asked +a slave of the said king where the latter was, to which the slave +answered that on that day he was going to retire to the fort, where +already were the women, artillery, provisions, and other things. He +was to leave the tumangan and bandara in the city, so that these men +might have ordinarily two or three scout-boats with artillery at the +bar; if the Spaniards resolved upon going up the river or to enter it, +they should flee to the fort. This witness went also the next day to +the settlement of Borney, and found that the king had gone to the +said fort, and that the said tumangan and the bandara were in the +city. When asked why he did not go to the fort as did the others, he +replied that, because he did not find his mantelin who is a person +holding the office of captain and sergeant, with forty men under +him--in Borney, and learned that he was outside of the bar, he was +coming in search of him. When asked how many Portuguese vessels had +passed there during the last vendabals, and what forts King Soltan has +built or intends to build, he said that two vessels had passed--one +of deep draught and a galley--and that they had traded as usual with +the Borneans. The Portuguese went to the settlement, and the Borneans +went to the vessels. In regard to the forts, the king had built one +up the river where the people are gathered. It is named Talin, and +is made of palm-trees three or four estados high. They are now busy +constructing a mosque. This witness had heard that as soon as the said +mosque was completed, galleys would be begun in the ship-yard. There +was no fort at Paingaran. There is nothing else; and, the same being +read, he declared it true. He appeared to be about thirty-three or +thirty-four years of age. The said captain signed the above. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +[The deposition of another Moro follows, being in substance the same +as the above, with a slight addition in regard to the panguilans +Maraxa de Raxa and Salalila, which is similar to other testimonies +concerning them.] + +Then immediately, upon this said day, month, and year aforesaid, the +said ensign, Salvador de Sequera, the ensign, Francisco Rodriguez, +and the others who went in the said fragata as above said, to the said +islets of Polocelemin and Paingaran, returned to the said captain. They +said that, as they went upon this errand in accordance with his Grace's +orders, they met nine ships and some caracoas. As soon as these saw +these vessels, they flew their white flag as a token of friendship, +in order that the others should come to talk with them. But these +ships refused to come, and fired some artillery at them. The said +ensigns having witnessed this, the said Salvador de Sequera requested +me, the present notary, to attest it, so that if might appear in the +records. In response to his request I gave the present signed with my +name. Then the said ensigns returned, without doing anything else than +to make the said signs of peace. The natives refusing, as above said, +to come, but on the contrary persisting in discharging their artillery, +they returned, and declared this before the said captain and myself, +the present notary. They signed the above with their names, as did +also the said captain. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +_Francisco de Rodrguez_ + +_Salvador de Sequera_ + +Before me, and I certify thereto: +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Then in the said galley on this said day, month, and year above +stated, the said captain, before me, the undersigned notary, summoned +before his Grace, the said Usman, Amat, and two other youths, all +Borneans. Through the mouth of the above-mentioned Sitahel, they +were instructed that they should tell King Soltan, the tumangan, the +vandara, and the other chiefs, that the said captain did not intend +to enter the river, nor begin hostilities against him--although he +had not kept his word and had tried to injure his men--because the +said governor did not wish any harm to be done them, nor that they +and their town should be destroyed, but desired his friendship. For +this reason he ordered that he [Sadornil] should not attack them, +or enter his settlement, or do them any injury, under pain of being +beheaded. Although the men brought by the said captain had seen +his rudeness, and were desirous to retaliate, he had not consented +thereto; nor had his Grace desired such a thing, that he might not +exceed the orders of the said governor. Likewise they were to tell +the said king and the others that, since peace with the said governor +was so advisable, they should send a ship to confer and a person to +treat concerning the said peace. If they would come, the said captain +would wait two more days for them. Then returning to these men their +weapons and vanca, and presenting them gifts and food, and showing +them other good treatment, he let them go freely. They left, and I, +the present notary, certify thereto--Juan de Santiago, Pedro Granado, +and Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, being witnesses. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +In the said galley, "Espiritu Santo," on the twenty-eighth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said +captain--having seen that the last Borneans sent as messengers by his +Grace, on the twenty-third of this present month, did not return, +but that, on the contrary, the above affair of Ensign Sequera had +happened, who went to reconnoiter the island of Polocelemin; and that +also no answer had been returned by the Indians despatched on the +twenty-fifth of the same month; and that the said Borneans, yesterday, +the twenty-seventh of this said month, came with ten or eleven vessels +very near this fleet, and when Ensign Francisco Rodriguez met them with +a white flag and without arms, the said Borneans without any shame came +leisurely to him, beckoning him with the hand, and then forced him +to retreat. He gave an account of this to the said captain--when his +Grace saw this, and that he could not make war upon the said Borneans, +because of his Lordship's orders to the contrary and because their fort +had been built up the river, where no galley or galleot could sail; +and seeing that some of the reputation until then enjoyed by the +Spaniards might be lost, and that no advantage was accruing to the +service of his Majesty from his stay in this said island of Mohala; +and that the people ran risk of becoming sick, not only from the waters +of that land, but from the rains, the heat of the sun, poor food, +want of exercise, and others difficulties: he ordered sail to be set +in order to return to the city of Manila, and to give an account of +the expedition to his Lordship, the governor. Thus he decreed, and +ordered, and signed it with his name. Witnesses were Father Baltasar +de Miranda, Luis Briceo, Alonso Locano, and many others. + +_Don Juan de Arce Sadornil_ + +Before me: +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Most illustrious sire: + +In a clause of the instructions given me by your Lordship, you order +me on my return from the river and settlement of Borney, to visit the +river of Taguaran. But because I was informed that the said river +is not navigable by galleys unless at extremely high tide, and to +anchor near the shore meant some risk--for at the present season occur +nightly heavy showers brought by the vendaval--and because the king +is not peaceably inclined, and considering that all the land would +revolt, I concluded that it would be useless for me to go thither, +since the said river of Taguaran is on the way to Borney, so that +any one may very easily ascertain what he wishes. In my opinion, +if we effect a colony in Borney, the Spaniards must live where the +king and the Moros are, in order to keep them under control. In any +other way they will be always unmanageable. Whenever your Lordship +wishes, I shall tell you some reasons that should induce us to make a +settlement in no other place but where the Moros live. Given in this +galley "Espritu Santo," belonging to his Majesty, on the twenty-ninth +of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Darce_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +The order which we must regard and observe in the voyage and navigation +from here to Borney is as follows. + +The galleys shall follow the flagship, without preceding it, and at +night they shall be vigilant, both in following the lantern, and +in watching for certain shoals such as are wont to be in the sea, +and for strange ships, as well as all else advisable. + +When any galley encounters any danger, and needs help, it shall +discharge a cannon as sign of distress; and all the other ships shall +go to its assistance, to see what has happened. + +The Neapolitan vessel shall go as much as possible in advance of the +flagship; and, in case it should come upon any shoal or promontory +that juts out too far, if it be daytime it shall return to give +advice thereof; but if at night, besides turning to give advice, +it shall fire a small piece of its artillery so that we may stop and +take the necessary steps. + +If perchance any galley should lose the route through either bad +weather or any other cause not malicious, it shall continue its +voyage to the island of Malaca, where the one arriving first will +await the other. + +Should any enemy attack us at sea, with intent to annoy us, the two +Bornean galleys shall go to the flagship--that in charge of Ensign +Francisco Rodriguez on the right, and that in charge of Antonio +Caedo on the left. The Neapolitan ship shall take up a position at +the stern of the flagship, in order to assist in what is ordered. + +The vessels shall take care always to anchor near the flagship, +keeping watch over their oars. They shall be alert. From Malaca each +afternoon they shall ask for a watchword, so that, if they meet any +hostile ship, it may be known. A copy of these instructions shall be +given to the other galleys, so that they may keep them. Given on the +seventh of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +The order to be observed at present by the soldiers in this fleet, +while anchored in the port of Mohala, or wherever else, is as follows. + +First, although the natives of the river of Borney are peaceful, +they shall buy no slaves who are natives of the island of Borney, +even if the natives wish to sell them. If they wish to buy any slaves +not natives of the said island, they shall not do so, except in my +presence, in order that I may find out his native place, and whether +or no he can be bought. + +_Item_: No soldier shall dare to kill any cattle here or in any other +part where they have them, so that the king of Borney and the other +natives may see that we do not come to harass them, but that we wish +their friendship. + +_Item_: No soldier shall disembark or go from his ship to take water +or any other thing, except when the flagship takes in water, and +he is summoned. Then the landing shall be effected with great care, +and the commanders of the galleys shall signify what soldiers are to +disembark. They shall be advised not to take any water that is not in a +newly-made well, so that the water may not be poisoned by the natives. + +_Item_: All the galleys shall keep close sentinel guard at night, and +shall keep their arms ready. Each night they shall assign a watchword, +and the galleys shall not fire any shot unless compelled by necessity. + +_Item_: No one shall dare go to the Sangley ship anchored at this +port, in order to avoid the insults and damage that the soldiers are +wont to inflict on the said Sangleyes. If they need anything, they +shall send their slaves to buy it. They shall in no point infringe +the above regulation, under penalty of punishment to him who shall +act contrary to this, with all the severity allowed by law. In order +that this paper may be manifest to everyone, it shall be read and +proclaimed in all the ships of the fleet, in the presence of the +commanders. Given on the galley "Espritu Santo," on the twenty-first +of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Arce de Sadornil_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Manuel de Caceres_ + +(Thereupon, on the said day, month, and year above stated, I, the said +notary, read and proclaimed the decree above set forth, by order of +the captain, to the soldiers of the said galleys, in the presence of +the commanders. They said that they heard and would obey it. Witnesses +were Francisco de la Mesquita, Juan de Santiago, and Pedro Granado. + +I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary) + +I, Gonzalo de Santiago, notary elect, certify to all who may see +this present, that, on the fourteenth day of the month of June, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, Rahayro, panguilan of +Borney, who calls himself king of Xolo, surrendered himself as a +vassal to his Majesty, King Don Phelipe, king of Castilla and Leon, +for himself and his descendants. In token of recognition and vassalage, +he gave twelve pearls and thirty-five taes of gold for himself and +his vassals, which are the islands of Xolo, Treguima, Camboanga, +Cavite, and Tavitavi, his subjects and vassals. The said Rahayro +bound himself and his descendants from this day to recognize King Don +Felipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla and Leon, and to be subject +to the crown of Castilla and Leon; and as such, he, the above-named, +will give the yearly recognition and tribute which shall be assigned +to him. This said vassalage was made by the said Rahayro, in virtue +of an act of war. The illustrious Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa, +captain of infantry for his Majesty, justified the war on his part. He +had two engagements with the above king, one in the town of Xolo, +and the other at the foot of a large rock in the open field. Having +conquered them, just as he was about to enter their fort the said king +of Xolo came out peacefully and rendered obedience to his Majesty, +as above stated. Therefore I gave the present, so that the above +declaration may stand in the records. Witnesses were Ensign Alonso +Osorio, Sergeant Mateo Sanchez, Alvaro de ngulo, Rodrigo Sanchez, +Luis de Santacruz, Juan Loreno, Juan Lope de Leon, and many other +soldiers. Therefore I affix here my signature and accustomed flourish, +in testimony of truth. The said captain signed it with his name. + +_Esteban Rodrguez_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Gonzalo de Santiago_, notary by appointment + +In the city of Manila, on the nineteenth day of the month of April, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty +in these Western Islands, and his auditor in the royal Audiencia of +Mexico in Nueva Espaa, declared that he has heard that a war-galley +of the king of Portugal was lost on the coast of Mindanao, and in +order to ascertain where it was going, and whose it was, he ordered +to be made, and did make, the following inquiries. + +In verification of the abovesaid, the said governor summoned to his +presence a man, who declared his name to be Bartolome Fernandez, +a native of the city of Goa in Yndia. He said that he was there +a freeman, serving as page a Portuguese named Luis Fragoso; and +that he is a baptized Christian. The oath was taken and received +from him before God and the blessed Mary, and on the sign of the +cross, in the form prescribed by law; under which obligation, +being questioned, this witness said that he left the city of Goa, +in Yndia, about a year or so ago, in a galleon called "San Jhosef," +under Captain Martin Lopez de Sossa, a nobleman. With the said ship +was a merchant ship from Cochin. The said ship "San Jhosef," had +one hundred old Portuguese soldiers, and one hundred others, young +mestizos of that land. It was equipped with twelve large pieces and +certain culverins. The soldiers were armd with arquebuses and other +weapons. This said vessel was despatched to Maluco, by order of the +governor of Yndia, Don Diego de Meneses, and the said Martin Lopez +de Sossa was captain. In Malaca, more of the mestizos of Yndia, +sons of Portuguese, were shipped, to the number of three hundred +men. These with the mestizos brought from Yndia, made somewhere +about five hundred men in the said galleon. A galley of twenty-four +benches accompanied it, each oar being manned with three men. They +carried lead. The galley was old and was given to them in Malaca by +the captain of Malaca, named Arias de Saldeva, who is captain of the +fortress. The captain of the sea is Matias de Alburquerque. Because +of the said Martin Lopez de Sossa falling sick, he remained in Malaca, +very sick; and one of his brothers, Pedro Lopez de Sossa, came in his +place as captain of the said galleon. Another nobleman, Tome de Sossa, +a former page of the said Matias de Alburquerque, captain of the sea, +was made captain of the said galley. This witness was aboard this +galley, in the service of the said Tome de Sossa, who brought this +witness from Yndia to Malaca. Thus the said galleon and galley, with +the people above mentioned (of whom some fifty soldiers were aboard +the galley and the rest aboard the galleon), set sail for Maluco in +the month of August of last year seventy-eight. After sailing for +a week, they anchored at Borney, near the island of Mohala. When +they were there together, a banca with certain Bornean fishermen +came to talk with the people of the ship and the galley. They asked +who they were, and were answered that they were Portuguese. Then the +said Bornean Moros said "We thought that you were Castilians, for we +are expecting them daily to come for tribute." Thereupon they told +them that a fleet of Castilians with many vessels and a multitude of +people had gone there, and fought with them, and had plundered them. + +It was current talk among the Portuguese, that they marveled that +the Spaniards would have plundered the Borneans, for they considered +that people as valiant, since they are accustomed to go to Malaca, +Pegu, and other places for the sake of plunder, and Borney was very +strong. Therefore they were surprised that the Castilians had taken +them. They began a song sung by the rowers, which runs: "Borney, peak +above peak in salt water; there you go to eat buyo." [33] This song +they sang because they formerly regarded the Moros as valiant men, +and in jest. The said captain-in-chief sent this witness in this said +fishing-boat, to talk with the king of Borney, because he knew the +Bornean language. With this witness went an inhabitant of Malaca, +one Quenana, a native of Malavar. They took a present to the said +king of Borney; this was a carpet from Conbaya [Camboja]; which was +given to this witness to give to the king of Borney. He found him in +a large house which belonged to the old king. This witness knew this, +for he formerly knew the said old king of that land. The old king is +dead and the said king is his son. He is a tall, fat man, and quite +black. He was seated with many of his relatives, called panguilans, +and his children and brothers. This witness saw and knew the tumango +and mandahala, the panguilan Salalila, and many others. The said +king of Borney was playing chess, seated in a hall with the said +panguilans. This witness bowed low and made the usual obeisance, +gave him the said carpet, and sat down. One of the king's sons said +to this witness, in his own language, that he talked excellently, and +asked him his nationality. This witness told him, and the said king's +son gave him some buyo to chew. He remained with them some time. The +king asked him what the Portuguese wished. This witness replied that +they were on their way to Maluco, and were looking for some slaves +for their galley, and for food. Thereupon the said king of Borney +ordered the vandahala to go to talk with the captain-in-chief in the +galleon. The vandahala went in a small boat with thirty rowers and +two culverins. When he left the king's house for the said vessel, the +said people showed this witness some vireys, saying that they had taken +them in battle from the Spaniards. They said that they had hanged one +Spaniard, and threatened them. They said that the Spaniards had come +in large vessels and with a numerous fleet, whereat they had fled to +the mountains. They did not tell that the Spaniards had seized any +galleys and artillery. The said bandahala went to the said galleon +to talk with the said captain, Pedro Lopez de Sossa. He asked him, +in the name of the king of Borney, to help him fight the Castilians, +who were about to return there for the tribute; and desired them to +remain in the island. If he would winter there, the king of Borney +would pay him as much as he would gain in Maluco. The said Captain +Pedro Lopez answered him that he was about to make investigations in +Maluco, which was in bad condition, and could not remain in Borney. It +was likewise impossible for him to fight with the Castilians, for they +were brothers. If he wished to ask for help, he must send to request +it from the captain of Malaca. Likewise this witness saw two ships +that they were about to send to Malaca. The said bandahala, thereupon, +went to talk with the king. That night a Cafre blacksmith, a Christian, +one Luis, fled from Borney to the Portuguese. He told the said captain, +Pedro Lopez, that the king of Borney had ordered that the Portuguese +who were in Borney at the arrival of the Castilian fleet should be +killed; that the king had robbed them of their possessions, and that +some sailors had fled with the vessel. When the said captain Pedro +Lopez heard this, he was angry at the Borneans, and sent the small +boats to bring men from the galleon (for he was in the galley), saying +that he intended to enter the river to fight the said Borneans. The +next morning the said bandahala tua, that is to say, "old man," came +in a ship. The Borneans brought fowls, sugar, fruits, _tampo_, and +other things, to sell. They brought no presents. The said captain, +Pedro Lopez, seized the said vandahala and about thirty rowers with +him, and put them in the said galley, with the intention of keeping +them prisoners. The said vandahala asserted that they had not killed +the Portuguese, nor robbed them at all. The said captain, Pedro Lopez, +sent the said trader Quenenia to talk to the king, and to ask him why +they had killed those Portuguese. The said king replied that he knew +of no such thing, and that the tanguilans of the mountain had killed +them. Afterward the said captain, Pedro Lopez, said, "Who is deceiving +me in these things among these Moros?" He then set free the Moros, +and left the said trader Quenena, in Borney with a pack containing +seven or eight hundred pieces of cloth, so that he might trade it for +camphor, wax, and tortoise-shell, and then go to Malaca with it in one +of the two ships that I said were about to sail to Malaca. The said +captain bought eight Javanese slaves, and the king presented to him two +more, making a total of ten. Each slave cost ten pieces of _caniqu_ +[34] which we valued at three _vardagos_, each _vardago_ being worth +one _patagon_, which this witness thinks is about equivalent to two +Manila tostones. Then weighing anchor they proceeded on their way +to Maluco. The galley anchored at the river of Tabaran to look for +food. They bought there swine and fowls, receiving five fowls for +one piece of _caniqu_. From there they sailed near a large island, +called by them island of Xordan. There a storm with a vendabal +struck them and destroyed the said galley, which was old. It sprang +a leak under the keel, and was driven upon some rocks near Cabite, +at an island near Canboanga. There the said galley was lost with all +its food, artillery, and ammunition. Five Portuguese were drowned, +and two others were killed by the Moros of that land. All the Cafres +and slaves who were chained were drowned. About forty Portuguese +and twelve Cafres escaped. They scattered into different parties, +so that the natives should not kill them. This witness fell into the +power of some natives of Camboanga, who made him prisoner. A Spaniard +brought this witness and others recently, when they came with his +Majesty's spice. However, this witness did not see what became of the +said Spaniards, nor what became of the galleon, except that he heard +that the galleon collected the men in its small boats and finished +its voyage, by taking another tack, as he heard from the natives of +Camboanga. Therefore this witness never saw the said galleon again. He +heard also that the said galleon had broken its mainmast. This is +what he knows, and his deposition. It is the truth, on the oath that +he took. He affirmed and ratified it. When this witness was asked if +he had been in Maluco, and requested to tell what he knew of matters +there, and why so many Portuguese should go there, he declared that +he had heard it stated publicly and openly in Yndia and in Malaca, +and that he heard Diego de Sanbucho, a noble inhabitant of Malaca, +now there, say that the fortress of Maluco, which the Portuguese held +in Terrenate, was lost to them three years ago. For after the death of +Gonzalo Pereyra, who had gone with the Portuguese to fight at Cubu, +and who had died at Maluco after his return there, the noble above +named, Diego de Sanbucho, was captain of Maluco. He found that certain +of the married men had gone to live at Anbon and others to Malaca, +and that they had taken all their cattle and artillery with them in +two galliots, which they now have at Anbon. The cause of the loss of +the said Maluco was the revolt of the said natives and a war because +a Portuguese had killed their king. Immediately the people revolted, +and besieged the Portuguese. They died from hunger, until the survivors +abandoned the fort, going to Anbon, as I have said; only two Dominican +fathers remained. The said inhabitants of Maluco refused to give +cloves to the Portuguese, and sold them to the Javanese, who in turn +sold them at Malaca. The only cloves brought were those of Anbon, +and only one ship-load at that. The Portuguese go to Anbon by way of +Jaba, across from Borney, since Maluco was lost; the present fleet +came by way of Borney. On account of these troubles, it is sailing +straight for Maluco, in order to construct a fort to fight with the +natives. Another galleon, the "San Juan," under Captain Martin Alfonso, +a noble, is in Malaca, and is about to go to Anbon; and it must go +by way of Jaba, opposite the coast of Borney. With the few men whom +it can take, and those whom it can secure at Anbon, it must go with +them all to Maluco to aid the said captain Pedro Lopez to oppose the +inhabitants of Maluco. This witness knows, too, that the Portuguese +captured a son of the king of Maluco, named Don Francisco, whom they +took to Yndia. This witness saw him lately at Malaca. He has heard +that the people of Maluco begged that he be given up, as he is their +king, and that if he is restored they will make peace and surrender +the fortress. With the said Don Francisco are three of his relatives, +one Don Enrique, one Pablo Desa, and the third Jordan de Fletes. Don +Enrique is undahala at Malaca, which is the office of judge among +the natives. The vessel which is going by way of the coast of Jaba to +Anbon must lay in a good supply of food from Xaba. This witness knows +further that a queen of Xaba is at war with the Portuguese; she is +the queen of Xapara. Consequently the Javanese refuse to take food +to Malaca, which is furnished by the king of Pegu. This witness has +heard that the king of Pegu has made dependents of the kings of Sian +and Patan. The Portuguese have war likewise with the king of Bintan, +for the latter married a daughter of the king of Achen who is hostile +to the Portuguese. This witness has been twice in Maluco, and has seen +what he has described. At the entrance to the port is a rampart, and, +farther in, the fort where the said Portuguese live. They have a vault +there in the middle of the court; and, even if the fort be burned, +the court inside is not burned. + +When asked what became of the artillery of the galley which was lost +on the coast, he said that the king of Mindanao, who is an old man, +heard of the loss of the said galley there, and went there with forty +vessels, and that the people of Samboanga seized the said artillery, +which they had taken from the galley and took it ashore at the river of +Mindanao. He said that the people of Samboanga burst one piece; and the +Spaniards took it, along with two grappling hooks, and brought it to +this city. All the above is the truth. This witness said also that the +said galley that was lost carried nine pieces of artillery--amidships +a large round swivel-gun; at the bow and along the sides, two large +chambered falcons; at the stern two more; and at the sides four +culverins, two on each side. The chief of Taguima took two culverins, +and the king of Mindanao took all the rest. This is the truth, on the +oath that he has taken; and he affirmed and ratified the same, but +did not sign it. He is about thirty years old, a little more or less. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + + +_Captain Ribera's Instructions_ + +The instructions that Captain Grabiel de Rivera must observe in the +expedition that he is about to make, at my command, to the island +and river of Mindanao, are as follows. + +First, you shall go to the port of ubu, where are the artillery and +ships of his Majesty brought from Borney by Captain Esteban Rodriguez, +and the other supplies left there by him. You shall take all of these +supplies that you may need for your expedition as well as the necessary +soldiers and food. The soldiers shall be taken from the inhabitants +of the said city, and from the soldiers taken for the said expedition +by Captain Juan Lopez de Aguirre. This latter shall deliver his men +to the magistrate there. You shall choose from them such men as you +desire, since you have the affair in hand. You shall try to take +some men belonging to the captain and chief named Quilantan, as, +they tell me, he is acquainted in the river of Bindanao. + +As you know, Captain Esteban Rodriguez went last year by my orders +to pacify the river of Mindanao. Because of the lack of provisions, +the current of the river, and other causes, he did not carry out my +wishes--namely, to explore that river and all its environs personally, +and to wait there some little time to try to get them to make peace. I +ordered him to represent to the natives how advantageous it would be +for them to become his Majesty's vassals and our allies. He was ordered +to treat them well, and to use kind methods and persuasion with them; +and not to use force, or plunder them, burn their houses, or do any +other damage to them. And that they might become friends, he was not to +ask tribute from them, and should exercise no force in this regard. He +was merely to tell them of his Majesty's heavy expenses in this land, +and the many hardships endured by the Spaniards in going to civilize +them, and to teach them how to live in accordance with the law of +nature, so that they might understand the chief requirements--namely, +to become Christians and recognize the true God, who created and +redeemed them; and in order that they might cease to do evil to their +neighbors, and to commit other cruelties and robberies. And it is just +that, since so much is spent by his Majesty, and by the Christians who +go there, that the natives should on their side aid somewhat, since +they benefit thereby. But the said captain was ordered that whatever +they gave should be decided by the natives themselves. In observance +of this the said Esteban Rodriguez did them no injury whatever; +but they fled. And because, when the Spaniards went to attempt to +pacify them, as I have heard, the natives killed those who went as +ambassadors to them (among whom was a vassal of his Majesty from +the island of Jolo), you will investigate this matter in the city +of Nombre de Jesus among the soldiers who went on that expedition, +in order that you may have the necessary foreknowledge. And if they +really killed those who went on an embassy to them--a barbarous and +cruel act--and if they are wont to display such treachery, then you +shall punish them as you deem best. I leave this to your own judgment +advising you that in his Majesty's fleet, commanded by Villalobos, +they killed certain men, under promise of security, and seized one of +his boats. In this treachery they all shared, for one boat containing +three or four men was attacked by three or four thousand natives. They +killed also the master-of-camp of the said fleet. This will warn you +not to put any trust in them, or to allow them time or opportunity +to enable them to commit any treachery. You will keep strict watch +over your ships and men. + +Although you have the said information and you understand clearly +that they are evilly inclined and have committed the said crimes, +you must begin by trying to make them peaceable by kind methods, +as above stated. If they are unruly and it becomes necessary to +punish them, you shall do it. And if they give no occasion for +either peace or war but flee to the mountains, then you shall wait +for them with all the prudence possible, and such as I expect from +you. You shall endeavor always to see that the soldiers and troops +commit no depredations. If the said Indians come peaceably and with +friendliness, you shall receive from them what they offer, as above +stated. And you shall give testimony, before a notary appointed by +yourself as to the way in which the natives of those regions place +themselves under the obedience of his Majesty--by their own wish, +or by act of war, if they commence it; so that, as far as you are +concerned, you may have permanent and just authority to compel them +to obey and pay tribute. In this matter you must exercise care and +diligence, for it is an affair which needs accuracy, so that the land +may be allotted according to the instructions of his Majesty. And in +such case you shall agree with the natives upon the season when the +Spaniards shall return thither next year; and tell them that they shall +come here freely, if they wish, for intercourse and trade with us. + +You shall bring in writing a memorandum of the times of harvest and +the products of the land; the gold-mines and places where gold is +washed; the number of inhabitants, their settlements and customs; +whether that river yields cinnamon, and how it should be treated in +order to make it good. + +_Item:_ You shall obtain information regarding the islands of Limboton +[35] and Celebes, the course thither, their products, and bring me +a clear statement thereof. + +_Item_: You shall order that no Indian be sold outside the island, +representing to them how cruel it is to sell the men of their own land, +and that by such an act they offend God and depopulate the land. + +_Item_: You shall order that they cease to rob, within or without +the island, warning them that such is an offense to God, our Lord. + +And because I have heard that one of the ships of Villalobos was lost +for want of a small boat, and in it two large anchors and one half +sacre (weighing fourteen quintals, and named "San Marcos"), twelve +culverins, and certain pieces of iron ordnance, you shall try to get +hold of them all, employing therein much diligence. + +You shall try to ascertain where their artillery is, and to secure it, +for it is very material that they remain at peace. + +And inasmuch as the chief of Mindanao has been deceived for some +time by preachers from Borney who preach the doctrine of Mahoma, +and it is said that there are preachers there endeavoring to convert +them all into Moros; and since our main intention is to convert +them to Christianity: you shall order them to admit no more such +preachers of the sect of Mahoma. And if you can ascertain who they +are, you shall try, to the best of your ability, to bring them here; +and shall burn the edifice wherein the accursed doctrine was read +and taught, and shall order that none other like it be built. You +shall tell the said natives that I will send Christian fathers there, +who will instruct them; that already the mosque at Borney is burned, +and that there are now no more Bornean preachers. You shall also tell +them what occurred in Borney last year. + +You shall examine the entrance and port in the river and the ships +of the natives; for it will be allowable to take from them those used +for piracy, leaving them their fishing and trading vessels. + +If the said natives pay tribute, it shall be disposed of in accordance +with the custom of that land--namely, one half shall be reserved for +his Majesty, and the other half shall be divided among the soldiers, +as an aid in their necessity. + +And since all the importance of this expedition lies in patience and +comfort (because the Indians, having seen that they would soon have to +yield, refuse to come down from the mountains), you shall try to make +yourself as comfortable as possible, paying special attention to the +health and welfare of your troops. And you shall carefully study the +country in general, and its water and food-products, so that you may +inform yourself better, in order if possible, to preserve health, +which is the principal desideratum. In order to guard the health +of your men, I charge you specially that you take good care of your +sick. You shall put a soldier of good temper in charge of them who +shall minister to them. From whatever gold or other property of +his Majesty's you may have, the sick shall be provided with fowls +or whatever is necessary. You shall especially forbid the soldiers +to eat bananas or sugar-cane, or other harmful things, and see that +they live decently. + +You shall find out from the Indians of that land whether they sail +or go to Maluco. You shall ask them whether there are any Christians +there; and if there is any Cafre or Christian in Bindanao, you shall +secure him. + +Having completed matters at Bindanao, you shall return to the port +of Cavite. [36] Thence, with what men you deem advisable and with +interpreters from Taguima, you shall go to the island of Jolo, +where Captain Esteban made an agreement with the king of that place +to pay tribute to his Majesty. You shall tell that king that I left +Borney for certain reasons, and that I send this other fleet there +for the purpose of telling him that he should abide by his obedience, +in order not to receive more harm. + +You shall ask tribute from the lord of Jolo, but this shall be paid at +his pleasure and be very light, inasmuch as he has rendered obedience +to his Majesty but recently, and because of the good will he has +shown in his Majesty's service, in sending a letter and returning +eight slaves that he had there who were taken from the island of ubu, +who were vassals of his Majesty. However, in return for that, Pedro +de Oseguera wrote me that two men from Jolo, who had been captured +by the men of ubu, had been given up. If there are any more Joloans +there, you may take them, first seeing whether they are Christians +and whether they go of their own free will. The priest at ubu shall +declare what it will be right to do in this. You shall tell the said +lord of Xolo also that, if he wishes to ask anything else of me, +he shall despatch ships hither. They shall be secure from injury, +for I have ordered that none molest them; and you shall give him my +letter that you have with you. You shall give him a written permit, +so that his people may pass freely through our territory, if they +show the said letter to the people of this land. + +Captain Esteban Rodriguez told me that the lord of Xolo had told him +that he would have two or three tame elephants for his Majesty's +tribute. You shall ask for them, and if he gives them, you shall +bring them here with the utmost care. For that purpose you shall take, +wherever you find it, such ship as is most suitable. If he has no tame +ones to give you, you shall tell him to have them, at all hazards, +next time the Castilians go thither. You shall ascertain the time +and manner in which they can be brought here. + +You shall likewise show yourself very affable to the lord of Xolo. You +shall urge him to persevere in the pearl industry. Both from him and +from the inhabitants of Mindanao, you shall ascertain what things +they need from China, so that other methods failing, those articles +may be taken to them from here. + +Inasmuch as Captain Esteban Rodriguez brought certain anchors and +pieces of artillery from that island, and did not sound the place where +a ship was lost in a storm from the north, if you have opportunity, +you shall be careful to do so, taking care to return before the season +for sailing is past. On your return you shall see whether Captain +Juan Lopez de Aguirre left any cinnamon because unable to bring it +in the vessels of his fleet. + +_Item_: When you return by way of ubu, you shall bring back all his +Majesty's vessels there, as well as all the artillery left there by +Esteban Rodriguez. You shall bring also a relation of present and +past occurrences there. + +You shall try to ascertain whether there is any cinnamon in the +river of Mindanao. If so, you shall try to bring some of it. You +shall try to find out how to treat it, so that it may be of as good +quality as that in Castilla; for his Majesty has had us notified +that that sent from these districts has not been good. On your way +to ubu, you shall send some one to pacify the tingues [hill-people] +of Butuan and to examine the towns reported by Juan Gutierres Cortes, +in order to discover the people and ascertain their number and their +location. You shall send a cautious man for this, who shall investigate +such matters as are necessary. When you leave ubu, you shall order +Pedro Navarro to send to this city all his Majesty's ships in that +place, and the artillery taken there by Captain Esteban Rodriguez, +as well as whatever else he has there in his keeping, in charge, of a +careful man. This must be accomplished by the bonancas of April, for +the artillery can be brought more securely then. If any soldier or any +one else should die, you shall make an inventory of his possessions, +and keep the same. You shall note his name and his birthplace, so +that there may be a good account and relation of everything. + +Given at Manila, January fifteen, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, in the Filipinas islands of +the West, on the eighteenth day of the month of February, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Rivera--a person who by order and authorization of the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's council, auditor of his +royal Audiencia established in the City of Mexico, and his governor +and captain-general in these islands, is about to go to pacify and +explore the river and island of Mindanao--said that, inasmuch as it is +necessary to appoint a notary for the said expedition, in order that +he may handle and despatch the business that will arise during it; +and inasmuch as Diego Lopez Carreo is a skilful man and qualified +to take charge of this: therefore he appointed, and he did appoint, +him as notary of the fleet and expedition. He authorized him fully, +in so far as he himself is authorized by his Lordship, to enjoy and +exercise this power. He ordered him to take the oath and execute the +formalities required by law, for the exercise of this power. Then the +said Diego Lopez Carreo, who was present, accepted it, according to +the order of the said captain. He took the oath before God and the +blessed Mary, and on a sign of the cross, upon which he placed his +right hand, to exercise the office well and faithfully to the best of +his knowledge and understanding, and to commit no fraud, equivocation, +or deceit; and, if he did thus, may God so reward him; but if not, +then may he be proceeded against. + +He affixed his name thereto. Witnesses were Tome de la Ysla, Pedro +Navarro, Grabiel de Ribera. + +_Diego Lopez Carreo_, notary + +Off the coast of the river of Mindanao, when sailing toward the said +river, on the thirteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain, Grabiel de +Ribera, met off the coast of the said river, a small boat. His Grace +ordered it brought to the side of the flagship, in order to find +out whence it was coming and whither bound. When it was brought, it +appeared that certain Indians were aboard; through the interpreter, +Miguel Godines, who understands the language of the said Indians, +they said that they were slaves of Limansacay, king of the said river +of Mindanao. The said captain feasted them, gave them some articles +that he had brought in his galley, and ordered the said interpreter to +inform them that he had come by order and authorization of the very +illustrious governor of these islands; that he came in his Majesty's +name to pacify the said land, to pacify and quiet the said natives, +and to make them friends, vassals, and servants of his Majesty, as +are the natives of the other islands. As vassals of King Don Ffelipe, +our sovereign, they would be greatly profited, would be protected and +aided by the said governor, and his Grace would now protect them in +whatever arose and in what they most desired. The reason why he wished +to have peace with him, and with the other chiefs of the said river, +was because his Majesty wished them to understand the great error +and delusion that they labored under, and to recognize their Creator +and Lord, who is the only true God. And because they were Indians who +could not write and slaves of limited understanding, the captain did +not discuss with them more fully his Grace's reason for coming. He +asked them to tell the said Limansacay all the above things, and told +them that they should have no fear or suspicion of any thing, for +his Grace had no authorization to injure or molest them in any way, +but only to entertain and protect the said Limansacay and the other +chiefs of the said river, as had been done in many other districts, +and as is done with all the natives of all the islands. Thereupon the +said Indians went away, without any harm or insult being offered them; +on the contrary they were feasted. + +To all of the above I attest, for it occurred in my presence. Witnesses +are Pedro de Oseguerre, Tome de la Ysla, Ensign Melchor de Torres. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary-elect + +Off the coast of the river of Mindanao, four leagues from the said +river, on the fourteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Ribera, sailing toward the said river met a small boat, and in +order to take in water and ascertain their position, ordered it +brought to the flagship. When it was brought, it appeared that it +contained a Boholan Indian, named Umapas, married in the said island +of Mindanao. Two of his brothers-in-law, natives of the said river, +accompanied him. Through the interpreter, Miguel Godines, they were +asked whence they came and whither they were bound. Through the said +interpreter they answered that they were bound for the city of Manila, +at the order of Limansacay, king of Mindanao; and that they were +taking to his Lordship, the governor, two gold-emblazoned daggers, +and two great loaves of wax. Furthermore, the said king ordered them +to collect five taes of gold owed him by some Indians. All this, they +said, was to be given to the said governor in token of recognition and +peace, which they were going, in the name of the said king Limansacay, +to ask from the said governor. Upon hearing this, the said captain +informed the above-named persons that his Grace was going in the name +of his Majesty and by order of his Lordship, in his royal name, to +pacify all that region, and to make peace with all the natives thereof. + +Therefore his Grace took them with him to the very mouth of the said +river, and from there despatched the two brothers-in-law of the said +Umapas, who are natives of the said river, in order that they might +advise the said Limansacay, king of the said river, that his Grace +was commissioned by the said governor to treat with him for peace +and alliance, which his father Asututan, now defunct, had requested +from King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign. In consideration of Umapas's +fear and premonition that the king would behead him if he returned, +his Grace despatched the two said brothers-in-law. He ordered them +to tell Limasancay, king of the said river, when they reached his +presence, of the good resolution that his father had taken, and his +great zeal in making peace with his Majesty, and with the governor +in his royal name; that his Grace was ready and prepared to receive +them as vassals of his Majesty, in whose royal name he was come; +and that the king would take them under his royal crown and give +them his royal aid. They would be protected and aided on every +occasion that might arise, and whenever they needed it. In order to +ascertain what were King Limasancay's purposes, and what he intended +to do, his Grace would await a reply to it all, for one natural day +[_i.e.,_ twenty-four hours], anchored at the mouth of the said river +of Mindanao. He ordered all the above to be set down in writing, +that it might stand in the records, and affixed thereto his signature. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godines_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On the coast of Mindanao, two leagues, more or less, from the said +river, on the fourteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Ribera ordered that the following instructions be imparted to all +those in charge of the warships taken by the said captain for the +conquest and pacification of the said river and island of Mindanao, +and that they should keep it in its entirety. + +First, the fragata acting as flagship shall enter first, having on its +right the other fragata under command of Sergeant Lope de Catalaraga, +and on the left, the two vireys--in order that they may be at hand, +if it is necessary that any message be despatched. + +Immediately shall enter successively the two Bornean galleys, in +charge, of Tome de la Ysla and Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, so that, +should it be necessary to fire their artillery, they may do it when the +fragatas discharge theirs, for which I shall have the trumpet sounded. + +The two virocos shall form a rear-guard, preceding the other viroco, +which has a lack of men. All of them shall sail as closely together +as possible, and those which sail faster shall await the others, +so that we may all keep in order. + +No arquebuse shall be fired unless it is necessary, and no one shall +disembark without my permission and order. + +I order you to observe great care in all the above, and even more +in looking after the provisions in your vessels; for we do not know +how long we shall stay in the said river, nor do we know whether we +can procure provisions there, and because of the long distance from +this said river to the town of Santsimo Nombre de Jesus, where we +could find the articles necessary for the support of the said fleet. I +order you to observe and obey all the above, and not to violate these +provisions, under penalty of punishment. I order that all the above +instructions be read to each commander of the said vessels, so that +he may know it. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +(On the said day, month, and year aforesaid, I, Diego Lopez Carreo, +notary of the fleet, certify that I read the entire instructions +of the other part of this present to all those commanding the +ships of the said fleet, to each one separately. They all answered +that they were ready to observe and obey the contents of the said +instructions. Witnesses are Tome de la Ysla and Sergeant Catalinaga, +who were present the entire time. + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river of Mindanao, at the mouth of the said river, on the +fifteenth of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de Ribera, after having +waited at the mouth of the said river, during the time which he had set +with the two messengers whom he sent to Limansancay, king of the said +river of Mindanao; and seeing that the above-mentioned persons did not +bring any reply to the message that his Grace had sent to the said king +(as is set forth in more detail in a certain writing in regard to this +matter executed before me the present notary, and to which I refer): +notifying and arranging all his fleet, he entered the said river. After +having ascended it for about a league or so, and reached the first +port in the said river which is settled, a chief called Dato Bandel, +accompanied by many Indians, came, bearing a white flag in his hand. He +told the said captain that he wished to make peace and alliance with +his Majesty, and with him in his royal name. That was his intention, +but he was hostile to Limancansay, king of Mindanao, who was settled up +the river. Therefore his Grace took with him the said chief, and after +arriving at the said village--where, he declared, the said Limasancay +lived--he found there certain Indians. He had them summoned, and when +they readied the flagship he embraced and regaled them, and made them +sit down near him. One of them was a chief, who said through Miguel +Godines, interpreter of their language, that his name was Sicuyrey, +and that he was a cousin to the said king Limasancay. His Grace set +this man next himself, and gave him ornaments and presents from among +his store, as well as to the others. His Grace told and informed them +that he was come in the name of King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, and +by order of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his +Majesty's council, and his governor and captain-general throughout +these islands, to make terms with Limasancay, king of this river of +Mindanao, for peace and alliance, and that they might become vassals +of his Majesty. He informed them of the great good that would accrue +to them all and to the said Limasancay in particular, if he made the +said peace and alliance with his Majesty, and with the said governor +in his royal name, at whose order his Grace, was come--principally that +they might recognize Jesus Christ, the Creator of the whole world, our +only salvation. This is his Majesty's principal purpose, and he will +entertain and protect them in all things, as is his custom among all +the other natives of these islands who are under his royal crown. In +order to impart this, and many other things, of advantage to the said +Limasancay and to all the natives of this river, it was necessary that +Limasancay come to his Grace. If he feared anything, the captain was +ready to give him whatever security he wished; for he had not come +to molest, but to favor him, according to the orders of the said +governor. Sicuyrey, having been informed of all the above matters by +the interpreter, answered that the said king, Limasancay, was not at +present in that town, but in another, two leagues distant. He said he +would go to him and confer with him in regard to everything that the +said captain had told him; and that he would bring him back with him, +in order that the captain might discuss all those matters. Then they +left, and the said captain said that he would await the answer given +to the, said Sicuyrey by the said Limasancay; and Sicuyrey went away, +together with the others who had come with him. Four hours later, +he returned to the said captain with the news that he had talked to +his cousin Limasancay, and had told him all his Grace's words. He +sent as answer that upon the following day he would come to talk with +him, and that he should await him. Upon receiving this reply the said +captain said he would wait until the following day. He ordered that no +soldier should go ashore or do any damage in the said port to any one, +until the plan and purpose of the said king Limasancay was evident, +and what he would do in regard to the said alliance and peace that +his Grace wished to make with him in accordance with his Majesty's +orders. In order that all the above, and the said captain's great +zeal and resolution in everything concerning these natives might be +properly recorded, he requested me, the present notary, to set it down +in writing, so that everything might stand in the records. I certify +thereto, for it occurred before me, in the presence of the witnesses, +Ensign Melchor de Torres and Pablo de Asequera. + +_Graviel de Ribera_ + +It took place before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +After the above events, on this said day, month, and year above stated, +after all the above had happened in regard to the said chief, the +said captain, considering that the said Dato Bahande had come of his +own accord to make peace, inasmuch as he came with the said flag, his +Grace declared, in the name of his Majesty, and that of the governor +in his royal name, that he received him as his vassal, with all his +subjects--declaring that hereafter they will molest no Spaniard, +will not make war on the Spaniards, and will render assistance in +whatever the governor, or whosoever is authorized by him, shall +order. He said that he was ready to obey. I certify thereto, in the +presence of witnesses Sergeant Catalinaya and Ensign Artiaga. + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +While anchored in the river of Mindanao at the port reported to +belong to Limansancay, king of the said river, on the fifteenth of +the said month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +at about four o'clock in the afternoon, or a trifle later, certain +Indians of the small boats carried by the ships of the said fleet +went ashore at the said port, to look for wood with which to cook +their food. It appears that an Indian (from the fragata commanded by +Juan Rodriguez de Norvega) who was a native of the town of Cayut, of +Tome de la Ysla's encomienda, received five wounds from other natives +of the said river of Mindanao who were at the said town--one in the +abdomen, which caused his intestines to protrude, and the rest in his +arms and thighs. The natives of the said river and village inflicted +these wounds on the said Indian treacherously, giving him some buyo, +and while he was reaching for it, wounding him. He died as a result and +was buried in the said village. Although this injury was inflicted on +us, the captain, because he was awaiting the said Limasancay, for the +said peace, ordered all the soldiers and the other Indians of the fleet +not to harm the natives of the said village, until it was seen what +the said Limasancay would do regarding the agreement which he had made +with the said captain. In order that this, as well as the death of the +said Indian and the wounds he had received, might be evident, the said +captain requested me to give him the present writing as certification +and attestation in the manner above stated. Witnesses, Ensign Melchor +de Torres, Pedro de Esequera, and Diego de Artiaga Gamboa. + +_Graviel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river and village called Mindanao, on the sixteenth of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the fleet +being anchored at the entrance of the said village, wherein it is said +Limasancay, petty king of the said river, usually lives and resides, +at about three o'clock or so in the afternoon, in the presence of me, +the notary, and the witnesses hereunto subscribed--the illustrious +captain, Grabiel de Ribera, being in his flagship--it appears that +Sicurey summoned him from the other side of the river. The said +captain had sent him, one or two days previously, to summon the +said Limasancay. To ascertain the reply of the above king and what +the said Sicurey asked from him, his Grace, accompanied by me, the +present notary and the witnesses, went to an uninhabited house in +the said village and ascended to its top, in order to be able to see +and talk with the said Sicurey--who as above stated was on the other +side of the river with certain Indians who came with him. Through +the interpreter whom his Grace carried he ordered the said Sicurey +to be interrogated concerning the reply that he brought to what the +said captain had sent him to tell his cousin Limasancay; and the said +captain told Sicurey that he should come from the other side of the +river in order that he might talk with him, and ascertain what message +the said Limasancay sent, what was the latter's intention and purpose, +and whether he desired to make the said peace that he had requested +in his Majesty's name. To all of this the said Sicurey answered, +without coming to his Grace, that he had talked to his cousin, the said +Limasancay, who was three days' journey up the river from where the +said captain was stationed; that the said village is called Busayen, +and that he had told the king everything that he had been ordered to +tell. But the king had answered that he was afraid that he would be +seized, and for that reason he would not come to see his Grace; but +he told Sicurey that he should return thanks to the said captain for +the presents which his Grace had given to him and to the others. He +would return to talk again with the said Limasancay, and would again +ask him to come. The said captain told him that, since he was willing +to do him that pleasure, and return again, he should tell the said +Limasancay that his Grace did not come to seize or annoy him; for, +had he wished to annoy him, he would not have asked as he had that the +king come to make peace. The intent of his Majesty, and that of the +very illustrious governor, by whose commission and mandate he comes, +is only to inform the people in that so great river where they are +and live, that they should become vassals of his Majesty, and of the +said governor in his royal name, as the natives of other islands have +done. If he and the other chiefs give obedience to his Majesty, to whom +all render obedience, and are willing to be his vassals and desire to +be protected under his royal crown and favor, his Grace would regale +them and would not molest or annoy them. They could remain in their +own lands and settlement. If they would, of their own volition and +without being forced, give some tribute, his Grace would receive it +in his Majesty's name, and only in token of obedience and so that it +might be understood that they wished peace and were obedient under his +royal crown; that they themselves should decide whatever they wished +to give for this purpose. If the said Limasancay feared, as he said, +that his Grace would seize him, he was prepared to give him any and +all security that he might desire, so that he might come to treat with +the said captain and that he might understand that the latter has no +intention of illtreating him; for if his intention were to molest the +king, his Grace had had occasion therefor already, and could have +seized the said Sicurey and other chiefs who came to discuss peace +with his Grace, as well as a chief called Dato Bahandie. This last +has come peacefully and has rendered obedience to his Majesty; and +in return therefor the said captain has regaled him and will protect +him on every occasion. If the said Limasancay purposes to attempt +treachery and deceit toward the said captain, and in short not to +come peacefully, he shall send word immediately as to his intention; +for, if he do not come peacefully, then his Grace will employ all +the correctives and artifices possible, until he leaves this land +pacified and its inhabitants as vassals of his Majesty. His Grace +has been informed, by natives and chiefs of the said river, that +the said Limasancay is preventing and hindering many chiefs from +surrendering themselves as vassals of his Majesty, by saying that, +if they did, he would persecute and destroy them. Since he prevents +this, and refuses to make friendship, as has been required of him, +and prevents others from doing so, his Grace, as above stated, will +proceed against the said Limasancay by all possible ways and methods, +as against a man who prevents the chiefs of the said river from making +peace and rendering obedience to his Majesty as they wish: his Grace +will also proceed against all his paniaguados, and against all those +who refuse peace and obedience to his Majesty. The said Sicurey having +heard all the above declaration, and other words to the same effect, +replied that he would repeat it all to the said Limasancay, and would +return within three days. Because the said village of Mindanao did +not contain food for the soldiers, the captain told the said Sicurey +that he would await him and his reply in Tampaca, six leagues up the +river above the said village of Mindanao. In order that this might +appear in the records, I attest and certify the same, which took +place before me. Witnesses, Pedro de Eseguera and Ensign Arteaga. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +At the river and village of Mindanao, on the seventeenth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, after +the illustrious captain, Grabiel Ribera, had waited three days at his +anchorage for Limasancay to come, to make peace as he had requested +of him; and seeing that he did not come and that food was becoming +scarce, and, the said village being depopulated, he could find no food +there; and because his Grace had been told by natives of the said +river that the said Limasancay was retiring up river to one of his +villages, to make a fort there for his defense; and seeing that the +king was dealing treacherously, in order to gain time to build the +said fort: in order to avoid the possible great danger in allowing +the said Limasancay to fortify himself, and likewise because he had +heard that the village of Tapaca, about four leagues up the river, +contained food, from which the fleet (some vessels of which were in +want) might be reprovisioned; to look for and collect certain pieces +of artillery which were said to be in the said village, and which +were reported to have belonged to the lost Portuguese galley--his +Grace on this said day, ascended the river to the said village, for +the causes and reasons above stated. I attest the same. Witnesses, +Pedro de Eseguera, Ensign Melchor de Torres, and Ensign Arteaga. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, on the nineteenth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, in fulfilment of the order +given by the illustrious captain Grabiel de Ribera, after having +voyaged for three days up stream to the village of Tapaca, whither +his Grace shaped his course, it appears that, at the entrance of the +port, the said captain despatched a small barangay with certain Indians +and three soldiers. He ordered these to go ahead to notify the chiefs +of the said town that his Grace was coming, by order of his Majesty, +to pacify the said town and its vicinity; and that the said natives +should come peaceably. It appears that, at the entrance of the said +village, before talking to any of the natives, according to his Grace's +orders, certain culverins and many arrows were discharged at the said +barangay. As soon as the said captain learned of this, he ordered +immediately all the soldiers and men in the ships of his fleet, to set +in order for instant action the cannons, muskets, and other firearms, +so that if necessity demanded, they might be fired. When everything +was in order, he entered the said village. At the said entrance many +culverins and arrows were fired at the said fleet. Consequently his +Grace ordered all the soldiers to keep together and not to separate +at all. Thus the said captain went up the river to the said village, +where he disembarked. Accompanied by me, the present notary, certain +soldiers, a chief whom he took as interpreter, named Quilantan, and +other chiefs and interpreters, the said captain advanced, carrying a +white peace-flag; and he ordered the said chiefs to call out and summon +the Indians who were on the other side of the river. Thereupon these +latter summoned them, and some of those on the other side came, upon +which the said captain ordered his interpreters to ask the said natives +why they had fled and deserted the town, and why they had discharged +those arrows and culverins, inasmuch as his Grace had given them no +cause therefor. He informed them all that he did not come to harm or +offend them; he came to this river solely at the command of the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's Council, and +his governor for all these islands--who had sent his Grace to inform +them of the great error and delusion under which they live and labor, +and to make them vassals of his Majesty, and of the said governor in +his royal name. Being vassals, great gain and advantage would accrue +to them, and they would dwell in quiet and peace in their lands and +settlements, as at present. They would not be ousted or dispossessed +of them, and no person should annoy or molest them. On the contrary, +they would be protected, defended, and aided by his Majesty and +the very illustrious governor in his royal name. By his Grace also, +protection would be given, in whatever required it at present, as +he had promised to Dato Bahandie, a native of this village, who, +because he came peacefully and rendered obedience to his Majesty, +had been received under his royal protection. He and others of his +opinion would be protected in all necessities, and on all occasions, +as vassals of his Majesty. They should understand that the captain has +not come to plunder them or to seize, their possessions, but only for +the purpose above stated. If they had any food, his Grace had need of +it, and would pay them in full for it. They should return to their +houses and land and should not abandon their village. He did not +wish them to pay him tribute or other things. While summoning them +and notifying them of these and other things which his Grace tried +to make them understand, they sent a volley of arrows toward his +Grace, and by good luck missed killing one of the said interpreters +and chiefs there. And as soon as the said Indians on the other side +heard the said summons, they declared that the Castilians were rogues +and had come to deceive them. Thereupon the said captain returned +to the rest of his men. To all of the above, I, the present notary, +certify. Witnesses, Francisco Gomez, Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, +and Juan Rodriguez de Norvega. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca on the twentieth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, Captain Grabiel de Rivera, +seeing that he had had no intercourse with the natives nor was able to +secure it since his arrival in the said village, ordered that three +ambuscades be made inland. Thereupon a certain number of soldiers +and some friendly Indian rowers whom he had, penetrated inland about +one and one-half leagues. It appears that in four hours the said +soldiers returned with the report that it was utterly impossible to +advance farther, because of the numerous swamps and marshes, where +the water reached their knees and higher. Consequently, and because +the captain saw how the food was failing, and because he had been +informed by certain friendly Indians who had come in peace and by +Dato Bahandie, that the petty king Limasancay must be in the village +above Tampaca, he authorized Pedro Brizeo de Eseguera, a citizen +of the town of Santsimo Nombre de Jesus, a discreet and capable man +and one experienced in that land, to ascend the river in two vireys +and one small barangay, with twenty-six soldiers; for these vessels +were light and the current of the river strong and his Grace could +not ascend the said river with the other ships of the fleet. Indeed, +coming from the village of Mindanao to this village of Tapaca, it +had taken four days to make four leagues (the distance between the +two towns), and he had arrived after great effort, and being towed +by the Indians. He gave, for this reason, the said commission to the +said Pedro de Oseguera, and ordered him to obey and observe in every +particular, and not to exceed the tenor and order of what was commanded +him in the said commission given him by the captain. Thus he ordered +and affixed thereto his signature. Witnesses, Sergeant Catalinaga, +Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +I, Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry for his Majesty in the +Filipinas islands of the West, who by order of the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general of these +islands, come to pacify and explore the river of Mindanao, by virtue +of the commission and instructions given me by his Lordship to make +the said expedition: inasmuch as I have reached the village of Tapaca +in prosecution of my voyage, and after remaining here certain days, +summoning and notifying the natives--in the presence of a notary, +who attested the same--to come to make peace; and having informed +them that I came in his Majesty's name to pacify the said river, +and to make the natives and residents of that region vassals of his +Majesty--which was proclaimed through interpreters who understand +their language; and inasmuch as the natives of the said village, +although all the above information was proclaimed, have fled and +abandoned their houses and lands, and the fleet is suffering from +lack of provisions, for the food is all gone; and because it would +be extremely difficult for it to ascend the river farther, and would +require much time, because of the great strength of the current all +along the river, it having taken three days to tow the galleys and +fragatas by means of small oared vireys from the village of Mindanao +to this of Tapaca (a distance of four leagues), because of the said +current: therefore in the name of his Majesty, and for the proper +provision and despatch of the said fleet and men, and so that the +instructions of his Lordship may be observed and obeyed, he said +that he delegated, and he did delegate, all his power, as far as +he possesses it for the said purpose, to Pedro Brizeo de Oseguera, +a citizen of the town of Santsimo Nombre de Jesus--a deserving and +capable man, and experienced in that land--so that with two vireys and +one barangay, all oared boats, and accompanied by twenty-six soldiers, +he may ascend the said river. + +When he has reached certain settlements on the river, and in especial +that of the village of Ybatel (where it is said the petty king +Limasancay is), he shall notify him and the chiefs of the said village, +and those of the village of Buayen, through the interpreters that +he shall take with him, that the said Pedro Brizeo de Oseguera goes +by my orders to the said villages, to inform them that I have come by +order of the said governor to execute and fulfil the above purpose; and +that I am awaiting, in this village of Tapaca, the said Limasancay and +the other chiefs to come to make peace and to acknowledge themselves +vassals of his Majesty, as Dato Bahandie, chief of this river, has +done. Likewise he shall inform them that his Majesty's purpose in +sending me to this said river is to pacify it and make it peaceful, +and to make them understand the great delusion in which all the natives +thereof live; that they shall become vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign (whom may God preserve), as are all the natives of the island +of Panay, the Pintados islands, and those of the island of Luon; and +that they may be instructed in the matters which pertain to our holy +Catholic faith. If they become vassals of his Majesty they will be +protected and guarded, whenever they have need and whenever occasion +requires. They shall return to their houses and towns as formerly, +for I have given them no occasion to abandon these. I do not come +to plunder their possessions or to harm them, or to require them +to give tribute, beyond what they give now of their own volition, +in token of recognition and obedience, so that it may be understood +that they desire peace and alliance. Furthermore he shall try to +ascertain and discover with all solicitude and care the whereabouts +of Limasancay, for I have heard that he is in the village of Buyayen +with his father-in-law, the chief of the said town, by name Seproa. He +shall try to confer and treat with Limasancay; and, that failing, +he shall send another person to tell him to come to this village of +Tapacan, where I am at present, and that he shall have no fear, or +be alarmed at anything; and that, if he comes, we shall treat for the +peace and friendship that I come to make with him and the other chiefs +of the said river in his Majesty's name. I am thoroughly aware that +the reason for the hostility of the natives of this entire river and +their abandonment of their houses and native places is his instigation +and command. If he does not intend to come to treat with me, he shall +not hinder or prevent the said chiefs who, as I have been informed, +desire to do so, from coming to make peace. For this reason he shall +not do it. Likewise he [Oseguera] shall inform the said Limasancay +and the said chiefs that, if they become his Majesty's vassals and +render him obedience, they shall be protected and aided, and live +quietly and peaceably in their lands and native places. No one shall +molest or annoy them in any way. If they do not do this, then there +will result many wanderings and anxieties, and many other troubles +and losses will come upon them. For all the above and for whatever +happens in the said summons, he shall appoint a notary before whom +declarations shall be made. I give him power and authority, in all +the fulness delegated to me by his Lordship for the said purpose. He +shall exercise great diligence and care therein. He shall not allow +the soldiers who take with them Indian rowers to molest or trouble +the natives of the said village, or their houses and possessions. He +shall take as many days as he deems necessary for this purpose, but +no more. Given at the said village of Tapacan, on the twentieth day +of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapacan, on the river of Mindanao, on the +twenty-third day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, before the illustrious Grabiel de Ribera, captain of +infantry for his Majesty in these islands, and before me, Diego Lopez +Carreo, notary of the fleet, appeared Pedro Brizeo de Oseguera. He +said that, in fulfilment of the commission and instructions given him +by the said captain, to ascend the river with the two vireys and one +barangay, accompanied by others, as declared in the said instructions, +he went, in prosecution of his voyage, and arrived at the village +of Buayen, about four leagues from this village of Tapacan, passing +some small uninhabited villages on the way. When he reached the said +village of Buayen carrying a white flag in token of peace, many shouts +were raised by his Indians, who called in their own language Siproa, +chief of the said town and father-in-law of Limasancay. Although they +shouted, as said, and tried to find some natives in order to confer +with them, they could see nothing of them. On this account they could +not inform the natives of the said village of their object. Therefore +he went on to the village of Ybalet, about three leagues from the +said town of Buayen. Carrying his said white flag, he looked for +Indians in the said village, and found certain Indians. He ordered +the interpreters with him to summon these Indians to him, declaring +that he would not harm them, for he came only to request their peace +and alliance, and that they become vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign, as is Dato Bahandie, chief and native of this river. When +they were asked where the said Limasancay and other chiefs were, they +answered that they had left them behind in the village of Buayen and +that they had no chief in their village, for he too was hidden with +the said Limasancay. The said Pedro Brizeo de Oseguera also sought +provisions in both the villages of Buayen and Ybalet, for the support +of the said fleet, but found nothing in either one, for the natives +were all hostile, and all their houses had been abandoned. When the +said Indians were asked the above questions, and he saw how scanty was +the information derived from them, he [Oseguera] tried to lay certain +ambuscades, in order to capture some Indian to have speech with him +concerning the said river. Therefore the two ambuscades were laid, +but an Indian could be taken in neither one; for none appeared to be +captured, as all had fled, and were so afraid of the soldiers that +upon seeing Spaniards in their land they took to the mountains. Thus +retired the Indians who talked with the said Pedro de Oseguera, +refusing to come to him. Since he saw that these two villages--the most +important, so far as he knew, on all this river--contained no peaceful +Indian with whom to treat and from whom he could ascertain what was +happening; and that he could find no food, he decided to return to +the said captain to advise him of what he said had occurred. This +relation is true, and witnesses present were Ensign Melchor de Torres, +Francisco Rodriguez de Salamanca, and San Juan de Cavala. He affixed +his signature, jointly with Captain Grabiel de Ribera. + +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, located on the river above the village of +Mindanao, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain Grabiel de +Ribera, after remaining seven days at the said village of Tapaca, +anchored there with his fleet and soldiers; and, having seen that the +natives of the said village and all its vicinity refused to come to +make peace--as is stated above more in detail and as appears by the +records made in regard to this matter, to which I refer--in order to +fulfil and observe the orders contained in the instructions given him +by the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, in consideration +of the fact that the location and settlement of the said village of +Tapaca is very unhealthful, and that some of his soldiers and many +Indian rowers had fallen ill, in order to avoid the danger that might +again occur for the above reason, ordered all the commanders of ships +to make ready to come to this village of Mindanao, where his Grace had +formerly been with the said fleet, without committing any depredations +in the said village; for the said village of Mindanao is a healthful +village and settlement, and its climate is excellent. Accordingly, +he left the said village of Tapaca on this said day to return to +this of Mindanao, where he arrived on the same day at five o'clock +in the afternoon. I attest the same. Witnesses, Pedro de Oseguera, +Tome de la Ysla, and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Captain Grabiel de Ribera, upon finding that he had been unable to +seize any Indians in the ambuscades which his Grace had ordered to +be made in the said village, in order to talk with them regarding +affairs of the said river, left, when about to depart, two ambuscades +of soldiers in the said village of Tapaca. Two Indians were taken +in this way by the soldiers, who were led before the said captain, +then anchored with the rest Of his men and boats in the village +of Lusa, one-half a league from Tanpaca. They were brought before +me, the present notary, and the interpreter Laquian--an Indian, +who understands the language of the natives of this river; and the +following questions were asked them. + +One of them on being asked his name and whose slave he was, responded +that his name was Sidurman and that he was the slave of Batala, a +chief of the said village of Tapaca, and brother-in-law to Limasancay, +petty king of the said river. + +Being interrogated by the said interpreter why he and his companion +came to the said village of Tanpaca, where the said captain was, since +the natives of the said village had hidden themselves and abandoned +the said village, he declared that the said Batala sent them both to +the said village in order to find out what the Castilians were doing +there. This was their reason for coming. + +Being asked to tell where the said Batala was when he sent him and +his companion on the above-mentioned errand, he said that he was in +a village called Bulon, situated on the said river. The said captain +asked him what he [Sidurman] was doing in the said village, and why +Batala and all the other chiefs had abandoned their own village. He +said and answered that they had fled from fear and terror of the +Castilians, for Limasancay had sent word by a slave to his said +master to do this, and that he was doing the same to the village of +Buyen. Therefore the said Batala and the other chiefs went to the +said village, as above stated. + +He was asked if there was a road by which his Grace might go to the +said village, where the said Batala was, in order to treat with him +for peace. If there is, his Grace said, he would loose them and give +them their liberty. This witness said that the creek by which he +came is navigable only with barotos, and he and his companion came +in one. It is quite impassable in one part and swampy in the other, +with water up to the breast, and higher. When the said Batala and +all his wives and the rest of the people went thither, they used very +small barotos, and then with difficulty. Therefore the Spaniards do +not dare go thither by way of the said swamps. + +This witness being asked where his master Batala keeps his artillery, +said that he knew that he had two falcons that were brought from the +town of Zamboanga, when Batala was with Limasancay. These were taken +from the lost Portuguese galley. When he went away, he took these +pieces with him in a baroto, and has them, as well as other small +culverins, in his possession. + +Being asked where the said Limasancay and the other people are, since +Limasancay sent word to his said master, Batala, to flee and abandon +his village, he said that he knows only what he has heard--namely, +that he is in the village of Buayen with his father-in-law, Siproa, +and that they are hidden in a marsh. Sidurman was also asked, as he +is a native of this river, if he knows where Limasancay keeps his +artillery, and that which he brought from Samboanga. He said that he +does not know. This he deposed through the said interpreter before +the said captain and in the presence of me, the said notary. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On this said day, month, and year aforesaid, the said captain +summoned to his presence the Indian Laman, the companion of the said +Sidurman. The same questions and articles put to the said Sidurman were +asked of Laman through the interpreter. His answers were similar to +those declared by the same Sidurman in his deposition. I, the present +notary, attest the same. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river of Mindanao, on the twenty-seventh day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, while the fleet was +anchored at the village of Limasancay, petty king of the said river, +the captain, considering that in the villages of Tapaca, Buayen, and +Balete (the most important villages of the said river), and in many +other villages of the river, he had endeavored to induce Limasancay +and the other chiefs to come to make peace (as is contained in the +reports, to which I refer), said that, in order that the natives of +the said river might understand that his Grace would not return, +or leave the said river until he left it pacified and tranquil, +under the protection of King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign (whom may +God preserve), be ordered for this purpose a fort to be commenced +in the said village of Mindanao, on a point made by two arms of the +river, near where the fleet is anchored. [37] He ordered palm-trees +and other wood needed for it to be cut. Therefore, on this said day, +and in presence of me, the said notary, certain palm-trees were cut, +and the said fort begun. I certify thereto. Witnesses, Sergeant +Catalinaga, Tome de la Ysla, and Pedro Brizeo de Eseguera. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on this said day, month, and year +aforesaid, the said captain ordered Aquilantan, a chief of Tanae, +who accompanied his Grace, to go to the town of Silanga, situated on +the said river, to summon its chief, Dato Bahandil, the one with whom +his Grace had made peace when he ascended the river. He was to tell +him to come immediately to his Grace, who wished to discuss certain +matters with him. The said Quilantan summoned the said Bahandil, and +he came on the same day. When he and the other chiefs who accompanied +him from the same village were brought before the captain, they +were informed through Laquian, the interpreter, that his Grace had +ascended the river to the town of Balete, displaying a white flag +all along the said river, as a peace token. He had summoned the +natives of the river to make peace, as he did not come to plunder +or harm them. Although he did his utmost to make peace with them, +he could not effect it. His Grace has understood that Limasancay is +responsible for this condition of affairs. Through his cunning and +by his order, all the people have been hostile to the Spaniards, and +have abandoned their villages. He requested Dato Bahandil, since he +is the vassal and ally of his Majesty, to go or send to the village +of Buayen, where the said Limasancay is, and tell him that the said +captain did not come to rob or harm him, but only to make alliance +and peace, and that he should place himself under the dominion of +King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign (whom may God preserve), From this +much advantage would accrue to him, and he and all the other chiefs +would be dispossessed of the error in which they all are, and would +recognize their Creator, who is the only true God. Although his Grace +had many excuses for putting him to death--inasmuch as they killed +one of his Grace's Indians in the said village of Mindanao and had +discharged many arrows at the Spaniards all along the river, both +by day and night--yet he had no desire to harm them, notwithstanding +his opportunities therefor; for he could have burned their villages, +cut down their palm-trees, and seized and killed many people, and +that whenever he wished. Consequently they should understand that he +bore express command from the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de +Sande, governor of all these islands, not to harm them in any way, +and hitherto he has not done so. Should the said Limasancay refuse to +come to make peace, he should not prevent the other chiefs and natives +of this river from coming to render obedience to his Majesty. His +Grace has heard that, because Limasancay will not consent to come, +no one else dares to come to make peace. The said Dato Bahandil +having heard and understood all of the foregoing, answered that, +having had war with Limasancay and having made peace but recently, +he did not dare to go to talk with him or any other of his village; +for, if he had any trouble with him, the latter would immediately +order him to be killed. Therefore he declined to go. The said captain +asked him, since he would not go, to find some one in his village +who would go to tell the said Limasancay all the above, saying that +he would pay this man. Likewise Limasancay should be told that his +Grace was building a fort in his said village, and that he did not +intend to leave until the king should make peace. Dato Bahandil went, +saying that he would return with the answer within two days and that +he would try to despatch the said Indian to the said Limasancay. The +payment for this man was given to the said Dato Bahandil. I certify +to all the above. Witnesses, Pedro Brizeo de Eseguera, Melchor de +Torres, and Pedro de Brito. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On this said day, month, and year aforesaid, while the said captain, +in the said village of Mindanao, was holding a conference there with +the said Dato Bahandil and other chiefs of the said village--wherein +he discussed all the matters above stated, and declared--before the +said captain and in the presence of me, the said notary, and of the +greater part of the people of his fleet, a volley of poisoned arrows +was discharged from the other side of the river and fell near the said +captain and among the others. By great good fortune none of those with +the said captain were wounded. Thereupon the said chiefs, seeing this +shameless conduct of the Indians, begged and persuaded the said captain +to send men and soldiers to kill the said Indians. Persuaded by them, +he ordered some soldiers to fire a few arquebuses in the direction of +the firing of the said arrows, in order to stop further volleys. Yet +they refused to desist, and sent another volley of arrows. And +because of the excitement among the Indians engaged on the fort, +the captain ordered six soldiers and a few of his Indians to go to +the other side to try to capture an Indian, in order to ascertain +who they were and who sent them there. The said soldiers went to +execute this order, and the Indians who had fired the said arrows +began to defend themselves. Therefore the friendly Indians killed +three of them and took one prisoner. He was taken to the captain, +who ordered him to be imprisoned. I certify thereto. Witnesses, +Sergeant Catalinaga and Tome de la Ysla. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +After the above events, in the said village of Mindanao, on the +twenty-eighth of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +Atangata, an Indian slave of Limasancay, was summoned before the +illustrious captain Graviel de Ribera, and in the presence of me, +Diego Lopez Carreo, notary, that I might take down his confession +and deposition. Upon his appearance he was interrogated thus. + +He was asked who were the people with him when he was captured, who +were shooting at the Spaniards, and at whose commission and command +they came to shoot those arrows. He said that they were fourteen +Indians who came to discharge those arrows; that some of them were +timaguas, and others slaves belonging to Limasancay, at whose order +they had come; and that they had left the town of Buayen, where the +said Limasancay is, two days ago, coming hither in barotos. + +Being asked whether the said arrows that were shot were poisoned, +in order thereby to kill the Spaniards who were in the said village, +and who gave the poison, he said that they brought it from the said +town of Buayen, and that some arrows were poisoned when they came, +and others they themselves poisoned when they were ready to use +them. The herb used was poisonous, and if any Castilian should be +wounded, he would die therefrom. + +Being asked, since he is a slave of the said Limasancay, where his +said master keeps the artillery that he brought from the village of +Samboanga (from that lost in the Portuguese galley), and that which +the said Limasancay has of his own, he declared that he knows that +he threw a large piece into the river in front and near to his house +(one brought from Samboanga), as well as another and smaller piece. The +rest of the artillery being small, he took it all with him when he +went away. These pieces consist of three very small culverins. As the +rest were large, he threw them into the river in front of his house. + +Being asked where Limasancay was hiding and why he had fled, he said +that Limasancay had gone away, through fear of the Spaniards, to the +village of Buayen, where he is with his father-in-law. Beyond that +he does not know where he is hidden. This witness was not with him, +for they took the barotos in which they came hither from the village +of Ertala, where he lived. This is what he knows of the matter, +and nothing else. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +On the twenty-eighth of the said month of March, of the year above +stated, considering that, by his confession above given, Atagayta, +the slave of Limasancay, deposed that the said artillery was in +the river in front of the house where Limasancay lived and resided, +he ordered all his Indian rowers, and those of the other vessels, +that they should look for it in the river at low tide, at that point +where the said Indian signified that they were. His Grace ordered +them to look for it, saying that he who should find it would be +given and paid one-half tae of gold. Accordingly they began to look +for the said artillery, and found, in the said river in front of the +houses where the said Limasancay generally lives, one large piece, +from the artillery found in Samboanga; one small culverin, one small +grappling-iron, and three googings of the anchor, two of these broken +and one whole. His Grace ordered all these to be brought ashore, +giving the Indian who discovered them the one-half tae of gold. I, +the present notary, testify thereto. Witnesses, Ensign de Arteaga +and Pedro de Oseguera. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On the twenty-ninth of the said month of March, the said captain +ordered the said Indians to search the said river for the other +pieces; and, as on the preceding day, his Grace said that he who +found any piece would be paid and rewarded. Accordingly many of the +Indian rowers searched throughout the whole river, but found no other +pieces, nor anything beyond what was found the previous day. I testify +thereto. Witnesses, Tome de la Ysla and Pedro de Brito. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the thirtieth of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain +Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry for his Majesty and of the +fleet and troops who came to pacify this river and the villages of +this island and the island of Jolo, by order of the very illustrious +governor and captain-general of these islands, declared that, inasmuch +as his Grace has arrested Diego Lopez Carreo, notary, hitherto of +this fleet for necessary reasons, and as it is necessary to appoint +another person to exercise the said office and to act as notary of the +said fleet: in consideration of the ability and capacity of Benito +de Mediola, a soldier of this fleet, and as he has confidence that +he will perform his duty thoroughly and faithfully, said that he +appointed, and he did appoint him, as notary of the said fleet. He +ordered him to accept it with the formality and oath required by +law. I, the said Benito de Mendiola, being present, placed my hand +on a sign of the cross which the captain made with his right hand, +and swore before God and on the said cross, and promised to exercise +the said office of notary faithfully, legally, and diligently, under +pain of incurring the penalties incurred by those who do not exercise +their duties legally, and to keep secrets. I affix my signature, +together with the captain--who, when he saw my oath and formality, +said that he gave me complete power in form of law to exercise the said +office, and said that he would confirm by his authority and judicial +decree the acts that were executed before me, so that they should be +valid in court or out of it. Witnesses, Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, +Juan de Avila, and Don Sebastian de Baea, soldiers. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirtieth day of the month of +March of the said year, Dato Bahandil, chief of the said village of +Silanga, appeared before the said captain, and said that, in obedience +to his Grace's orders in regard to the messenger that should be sent +to the said Limasancay, he sent yesterday, the twenty-ninth day of +this present month, an Indian timagua from his village accompanied +by four Indians, in a baroto. He gave these men the payment that +his Grace had given him for this purpose. He told and charged them +all that his Grace had ordered to be told to the said Limasancay and +other chiefs. He expects a reply within three days. + +Being asked by the said Laquidan, interpreter, how it is that, being +hostile to the said Limasancay, as he says, he does not know where +he is and where he is living, Dato Bahandil answered that the said +Limasancay is fleeing with one virey and ten vancas. From fear of the +Spaniards he never remains in one town permanently but is in one swamp +today and another tomorrow. This he declared before the witnesses, +Sergeant Catalinaga and Juan Davila. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the said +month of March, Sihauil, a friendly Indian of Dato Bahandil's town, +appeared before the said captain and in the presence of me, the present +notary. Through the said interpreter, Laquian, he told the said captain +that, if he would pay him, he would tell him where was the other +large piece of artillery brought by Limasancay from the said village +of Samboanga. He asked them not to tell Limasancay who had told them, +lest he order him to be killed. The captain bargained with the said +Indian in my presence to pay him three taes of ingot [_linguague_] +gold, which was proved with the touchstone, according to the said +law; and they were weighed out and given to him immediately. Then +many of the Indians and soldiers went to look for the said piece, +and dragged a small marsh, which is covered by the river at high tide, +quite near the fort built by order of the said captain. They found a +bronze piece of artillery bearing the arms of the king of Portugal, +apparently some seven or eight quintals in weight. The said captain +ordered it placed on one of the fragatas--that commanded by Lope de +Catalinaga. And although many people looked for other pieces throughout +that entire swamp, no more were found. I certify thereto. Witnesses, +Pedro Brizeo de Eseguera, Diego Nuez, and Ensign Melchor de Torres. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, the thirty-first +of March of the said year, the said captain, considering that, by +reason of the long voyage and bad weather, and the great lack of all +kinds of food in the fleet, because of his long stay; and seeing how +much was needed if he accomplish the purpose for which the governor +despatched him on this expedition, and the said hunger and want; and +that he could not by any method secure provisions in all this river: +therefore he ordered that certain of those captured Indians, natives +of this country, be set to making _landan_, [38] a food eaten in that +river. For this purpose he ordered a great quantity of palm-trees, +of the sort that produces the said landan, to be cut; and they began +to work it and to make the said landan, and it is being made for the +above-named purpose. He ordered me, the present notary, also to set +down the above in the proceedings; and he affixed his signature. I, +the present notary, attest the same. Witnesses, Lope de Catalinaga, +Pedro de Eseguera, and many other soldiers. Likewise I certify that +it takes four days to make the said landan. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the month +of March of the said year, Sibandao, a chief of this village, said to +be a cousin of the petty king Limasancay, with Sinago, Siligan, a chief +of this said village, and many other timagua Indians, appeared before +the said captain and in the presence of me, the present notary, and of +witnesses. They told the said captain through the interpreter Laquian, +that they wished to become allies of the Castilians. They were received +by the captain with great display of affection. He regaled them, +embraced them, and showed them in every way kind treatment. Through +the said interpreter he told them of the advantage that would accrue +to them from becoming allies and vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign, and how they would be protected and favored. He told +and informed them that they were deceived by their idols and that +they should believe in one all-powerful God, who created heaven and +earth--three persons but one sole and true God--in whom we all believe; +and they were very attentive to this. He told them that, as allies, +the governor of these islands would send them priests to instruct them +in the Catholic faith. He told them also, through the said interpreter, +that he was sorry that the said Limasancay had fled and was absent; +for his Grace came, not to rob or injure them, but to secure their +alliance and peace and to teach them the said Catholic faith. Such +were the orders of the said governor. He requested them urgently to +go to tell this to the king. They replied that they did not dare, +for the said Limasancay was evilly inclined; but if his father were +alive they would go. They were unable to pay any tribute in gold or +wax now, as their Indians had fled; but they would give some food +from their stores, equivalent to forty tributes. Then the above-named +chiefs departed, promising to bring this food within three days. + +Witnesses, Pedro Brizeo de Eseguera, Tome de la Ysla, and Ensign +Melchor de Torres. + +_Gabriel de Rivera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of +April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Gabriel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and people who +came to pacify this river and that of Jolo by order of the governor +of these islands, said that, whereas the majority of the Spaniards of +this fleet have told him that many Spaniards and Indian rowers of this +fleet are daily becoming sick, and that he should provide the necessary +remedy therefor, in order to avoid the danger that might ensue, +as his Grace knows the nature of the land and its unhealthfulness: +therefore he ordered Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, accompanied by the +present notary, to go to see and visit the said sick both Spaniards and +Indians. He ordered us to give him full information regarding it and to +make attestation regarding the sick, so that it might be evident that +his Grace has had and has exercised the requisite care and diligence +in everything. This he ordered and affixed his signature thereto. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon the said sergeant, Lope de Catalinaga, and I, the present +notary, went to the fragata of the said captain, where we visited, and +saw, in two beds, Francisco Gomez and Bartolome Ruiz, both soldiers, +and in another Ensign Diego de Arteaga. They complained of fever, +and their appearance bore out this statement. We found also in the +flagship, six Indian Moros, rowers, who were sick; and their appearance +showed it. As witnesses to all the above were Melchor de Medrano and +Juanes de Yraabal. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon the said sergeant Lope de Catalinaga and I, the +present notary, went to the vessel commanded by Juan Rodriguez de +Norvega. There we saw in one bed the said Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, +and in another Pedro de Brito. Both of them complained of sickness--the +said Juan Rodriguez of a very bad abscess in the leg, and the said +Pedro de Brito of a violent fever; and their appearance confirmed +their complaints. We saw also in the said vessel Juan de Leon, +a soldier and Anton Martin, a sailor sick with chills and fever, +as was evident from their appearance. Further in this same vessel, +Diego de Anaya, a soldier, is sick with fever, as is evident. In the +same vessel are nine sick Indians, from among the rowers. Witnesses +of this were Juan de Avila and Goncalo Ruiz, a soldier. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then the said sergeant Lope de Catalinaga and I, the present notary, +went to the ship commanded by Francisco Velasquez. There were the +said Francisco Velazquez and Miguel Nuez in one bed. They complained +of sickness, and their appearance proved it. Ten Indian rowers were +sick in this vessel, as their appearance proved. Witnesses to this +were Juan Lopez, Melchor de Medrano. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the virey commanded by San Juan de +avala. We found there sick the said San Juan de avala and Gonzalo +de Villanueva, as their appearance proved. Eight Indian rowers are +sick in this vessel. Witnesses, Bernabe Cortes and Miguel Godines. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went to the virey commanded by Francisco Rodriguez de +Salamanca. We found sick there the said Francisco Rodriguez +de Salamanca and Miguel Romero, as was very evident from +their appearance. There are three Indian rowers sick on this +vessel. Witnesses, Bernabe Cortes and Miguel Godines. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the viroco commanded by Alonso +Pimentel. There the said Pimentel, Juan Ortuo de Oate, and +Diego Carrion appeared to be sick, and such was evident from their +appearance. Eleven Indian rowers are sick in this vessel. To this +were witnesses, Diego Nuez and Tomas Dato. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the vessel in command of Tome de la +Ysla. There were ten Indian rowers sick there, and their appearance +proved it. In this vessel Miguel Rodriguez has been sick more than +one week. Witnesses, Marcos Quenta [?] and Pedro de Arana. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the vessel used to carry provisions from +the flagship. There are four Indian rowers sick in it, besides Pedro +Lopez, a Spaniard, and their appearance proved it. Witnesses, Domingo +de Santurcio and Francisco Quenta [?]. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the fragata commanded by the said sergeant, +Lope de Catalinaga. In it appeared to be sick eight Indian rowers, +and their aspect proved it. Witnesses, Domingo de Santurcio and +Francisco Quenta [?]. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of April, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said captain, in the +presence of me, the present notary, and of witnesses, asked Dato +Bahandil, chief of the village of Silangan, how many people there +are in all this river, and in the lake and coast of this island; +and the names of the villages, and the number of inhabitants in each +one. The above Bahandil, through the said interpreters Laquian and +Miguel Godines, made the following declaration. + +In his own village, Silangan, there are about two hundred Indians, +counting slaves and timaguas; in the village of Sinurey, two hundred; +in the village of Caracan, one hundred; in Catituan, one hundred +and fifty; Vindanao, seven hundred; Vitala, one hundred and thirty; +Vinuruan, four hundred; Luon, one hundred and sixty; Tanpacan, +one thousand; Atalayan, seventy; Burruan, two hundred; Balabaca, +seventy; Caburundan, one hundred; Macapan, eighty; Corocoan, one +hundred and forty; Buayen, eight hundred; Tuoca, one hundred; Balete, +one thousand; Batunan, one hundred; Baluaquen, one hundred; Ybalen, +one hundred and eighty; Tolendin, six hundred; Salunbun, one hundred; +Quibaca, two hundred; Cacaren, two hundred and fifty; Matinguaguanen, +four hundred; Cabacan, one hundred and eighty; Bagaygaran, one hundred +and forty. Total, seven thousand nine hundred and fifty. + +The said Dato Bahandil declared that all the above villages were on +the said river, swamps, and lake of this province of Mindanao. He said +that a river called Ytilurey flowed into this lake, [39] which comes +from the mountains of Butuan and Caragan, and it has places where +gold is washed. When he was asked how much gold each person could +wash daily, he said that he had not seen it, but he had heard that +they got sometimes one-half a tae, and from that down to six, four, +or two maes. This river contains six thousand men, and near by is +another branch of the river called Dumanen with about seven hundred +Indians. From the said river of Esirey is another branch called Sula +with about one thousand Indians living at its confluence with the large +river which flows into the lake. There is a settlement called Megatan, +under a chief Cacopi, with two thousand men. It is near the junction +of the three branches, which form a cross. This lake is about one-half +league wide. In summer it dries up and is then full of sedges. In the +rainy season it is quite full of water. From this river of Mindanao +to the tingues [mountains], whence flows the said river of Tirurey, +it is a twenty days' journey up the lake. + +He was asked how many people the coast of this said river of Mindanao +contained. He said that a day's journey along the shore of this river +by which we came is a province called Tabungao. It has about three +thousand Indians, who harvest a great quantity of rice. They live +inland a distance of four leagues. Farther on and adjacent to this +province is another settlement, called the province of Picon. It has +one thousand five hundred Indians, who are well supplied with food. + +Along the coast two days' journey eastward, is a settlement called +Bilan. It is a river with gold mines. He says that along the entire +river dwell ten thousand Ytingues [mountaineers] Indians who are not +settled, and that they are at peace with a village at the mouth of the +river, called Canipaan. With all others they are at war. The people +are very rich. All the rest of the coast is settled by Lutaos. [40] + +The chief food of the river of Mindanao is landan, which is made from +certain palm-trees very abundant in that land, called buri. After +soaking this substance they make from it a sort of flour which is their +food. For this reason they do not sow much rice although they have +rice-fields. The rice harvest is in October and November. They have +exceedingly large palm-groves and abundance of cocoanuts both green +and dry; also many swine, which are as large as those in Castilla. The +bar is covered with three to four brazas of water, or four at full +tide. Upon entering there is a good depth of water all the way to +the lake, a distance of eighteen leagues. This is the deposition of +the said Dato Bahandil, and what he has seen hitherto. The captain +signed it; and Francisco Gomez, Lope de Catalinaga, and many other +soldiers were witnesses. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said river of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of April +of the said year, an Indian said to be a native of the village of Dato +Bahandil of this river, appeared before the said captain Gabriel de +Ribera, and before me, the present notary, and witnesses. Through +the interpreter Laquian, he said that his name was Simangary and +that he was one of the messengers despatched in accordance with the +captain's orders by the said Dato Bahandil, with the reward given him, +in order to confer and treat with Limasancay and his people, as is +contained in the above record. In regard to this, he deposed that +he went in a baroto with four Indians to the village of Tanpacan, +where he found Dato Sibatala, to whom he related the object of his +journey. The said Dato Sibatala told him that he did not care to +be the ally of the Castilians, even should they burn the natives' +houses and cut down their palm-trees. He told him also not to go +farther for the purpose of talking with the said Limasancay; for, +if he knew that Simangary was coming from the lord of the Castilians, +he would behead him. Upon this he returned to notify the captain. The +latter ordered it set down in the records and signed it. Witnesses, +Joan Lopez, Francisco Velazquez, and many other soldiers. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, month, and year, the +said Siligan, a chief, appeared before the said captain, and brought +as tribute, to apply on what he was to give, five tributes of rice, +two bundles of tortoise-shell; three dishes, and two _medriaque_ +robes, one green and the other white. + +This same day Dato Bahandil brought to apply on the tributes +to be given by him, sixty _chicubetillos_ of landan, five hogs, +and six fowls. The captain took it all, and ordered the food to be +apportioned among the fleet. Witnesses, Alonso Pimentel, Francisco +Gomez, Francisco Velazquez. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, the second of +April, of the said year, the said captain, after receiving the answer +brought by the man who went to talk with Limasancay, ordered Pedro +Brizeo de Oseguera, in the presence of many Indians of this river +who have made peace, to embark in the virey commanded by Francisco +Rodriguez de Salamanca in order to go to the channel to look for food +for the fleet. To exchange therefor, he was given dishes, gold, and +_tacley_. He was to inform the said Indians through the interpreters +that his Grace was sending the above vessel and the Spaniards who +accompanied him to the town of ubu for men to settle in this village, +and for food. He ordered it to be set down in the records. Witnesses, +Lope de Catalinaga, Juan Lopez de Queto, and others. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the second day of the said +month of April of the said year, Simagao, an Indian chief of this +settlement of Mindanao, who claimed to be a relative of the petty +king Limasancay, together with many other timaguas and native Indians, +appeared before the said captain and in the presence of me, the notary, +and of witnesses. Through the said interpreter, Laquian, he said that +he wished to become the ally of the Castilians. The captain regaled +him and treated him hospitably. He told them what, advantage they +would derive in becoming vassals of his Majesty, informing him, as he +had hitherto told all the others, that he would be very glad to see +the said Limasancay. He told them that if the said Limasancay would +come, he would not be required to pay tribute for this year. He asked +Simagao what they would give as a token of recognition. They answered +that they had no gold, but would give provisions, such as they had, +to the value of fourteen tributes. Thereupon the said captain showed +them all hospitality and affection. Witnesses were Alonso Pimentel, +Tome de la Ysla, and other soldiers. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said second day of April of +this year, the said Simagao, chief of this river, appeared before the +said captain, and before me, the notary, and witnesses. The captain, +asked him why--since he was an ally of the Spaniards and was a chief, +and saw that so kind treatment was accorded to all who made peace and +placed themselves under the protection of his Majesty, as had been +done to himself and the others--he did not talk to the other chiefs +who had not come to do the same. The said Simagao answered, through +the said interpreter Silaquian, that he had talked to another chief +named Silitula, who had answered that he did not care for peace, as +he had no gold for tribute. He had told him that we desired gold. The +said captain told him, through the said interpreter, that he did not +come to levy tribute beyond what the chief himself should choose to +give as a token of putting himself under the protection of King Don +Ffelipe, our sovereign. This he did to all his allies. Thereupon the +said chief went away. Witnesses, Ensign Melchor de Torres, Juan Lopez, +and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the fourth day of the said month of +April, of the said year, Taganchina, a chief, who claimed to be from +Catituan, a town of this river, came, and appeared before the said +captain and me, the present notary, and witnesses. Through Miguel +Godines, the interpreter, he said that he wished to become the ally +of the Castilians and to enroll himself under the protection of his +Majesty--himself and his Indians, both timaguas and slaves. Many +Indians from his village came with him. The said captain received him +very kindly and informed him of the great gain that would accrue to him +in becoming his Majesty's vassal, telling him among other things of the +[Catholic] faith, of which he had told the others. He listened with +attention and said that he would assemble his people and give what he +could in recognition and tribute. The said captain told him to give +what he pleased. He tried to induce him to confer with Limasancay to +persuade the latter to make peace, discussing in detail all that he +had told the other chiefs. These Indians went away, promising to return +tomorrow. Witnesses, Juan Lopez de Queto, Tome de la Ysla, and others. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godinez_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the sixth day of the month of April +of the said year, Sibahandil, chief of the village of Silangay; +Simangao, of this village of Mindanao; Simaganchina, of Catiman; and +Sibandao, chief of this village, appeared before the captain and me, +the notary, and witnesses, The said Bahandil gave an account of the +tribute he had promised--two hundred _yrcuvitillos_ of landan, each +of them about one ganta; [41] and ten swine, large and small. The said +Sibandao brought two hogs, and twenty tributes in rice, and medriaque +cloth, and two dishes from China, as tribute; for he gave nothing +else. The said Sibangao gave four tributes in rice, each tribute of +one _chicuvite_. The said Mahanchina gave twelve tributes in dishes as +above mentioned. They said, through the said interpreter, that their +reason for not coming before and not bringing tribute more fully was +because of the great poverty that they were undergoing--since all the +natives were in revolt and were suffering severely from famine, as +they were all unwilling to come for peace. They asked pardon for their +inability to do more. If they were at their own homes, they would pay +more. The captain ordered it put down thus in the records. Witnesses, +Francisco Velazquez, Ensign Melchor de Torres, Juan Lopez de Queto. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the sixth day of the month of April, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Gabriel +de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and men sent to +pacify this island and that of Jolo by the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general of these islands +for his Majesty, made the following declaration. Inasmuch as his +Grace has remained twenty-four days in this river and has done all +that is declared in the records above, during all of which time he +has striven to make peace and alliance with the petty king Limasancay +and his chiefs, exercising for this purpose the utmost possible care, +committing no injury--although indeed he has had much excuse therefor; +and has contrived to have messengers sent to the said Limasancay, +in order to confer with him, but the latter refused to talk, nor does +anyone care to take a message to him, for they assert that they would +be beheaded; and, besides, since Limasancay prevents his chiefs from +coming to make peace; and although some chiefs have come to make peace +and enroll themselves under his Majesty's protection (as, for instance, +the chiefs of Silangay of this village of Mindanao and of Catituan), +they do not pay us the tribute promised; and some of those who come +bring two or three tributes of articles of little value, or of no +importance, which is an ill way of amusing us, and of no advantage; +and having seen the great need and lack of food suffered by the entire +fleet, because of the long voyage and severe storms that they have +experienced; and because of the many sick--each day both Spaniards and +Indian rowers falling ill, because of the unhealthful climate of the +land, and the lack of all food, except rice--and very little of that, +on many days having only one ration a day, to all the people, both +Bisayans and Moros; and considering the long voyage ahead of them, +and the amount of work that must still be done in order to obey his +Lordship's commands; and having no certain assurance of provisions--as +this island is so short of them; and although his Grace sent Pedro +de Oseguera with gold and articles of barter six days ago to search +for food, still he is not sure that he has found it: therefore he +said that he ordered, and he did order, all the vessels of this +fleet to prepare to cross the bar, in order to make the voyage. His +Grace ordered that a copy of a letter written in the Moro tongue, +to the said Limasancay be placed in these records, so that it might +be manifest. He signed the above. Witnesses, Francisco Velazquez, +Tome de la Ysla, and Lope de Catalinaga + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In fulfilment of the above order of the said captain, I, the present +notary, caused to be made and did make, a copy of the letter written by +order of the said captain to Limasancay, which was first written in a +rough draft, so that the essentials of the said letter might therein +be set down. It was written in the Moro language by the interpreter +Laquian, an Indian Moro, who can write in the said tongue. In order +that the said Laquian might write the said letter, it was explained +to him by Miguel Godines, Spanish interpreter. Its tenor is as follows: + +To Limasancay, the panguilan who is lord over this river and the +environs of Mindanao: I came to this river by order of the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +of the islands of Luon, the Pintados, and the other islands, which he +governs and rules for King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla +(whom may God preserve during many years). He ordered me to come to +treat with you for the alliance that your father Sulatan so earnestly +desired with the Castilians; to enroll you under the protection of the +said king, our sovereign; and to warn you of the great error under +which you and all the natives of this island are living because you +do not know your Creator--who is three persons yet the one and only +true God who created all men, the heavens, and the earth--so that, +believing on Him, you might merit the enjoyment of the heaven that He +created for those who believe and serve Him. At the entrance of this +river I met Umapas, a slave of yours, who told me that he was going +with a letter and message from you to the said governor, wherein +you say that you wish to be his ally. In acknowledgment, you were +sending two daggers and two cakes of wax. I ordered him to return to +you, in order to tell you that I was coming for the purposes above; +and that you should not flee or have any fear, for I was not coming, +nor had I commission, to molest you in any way. But the said Umapas +answered that he did not dare go upon this embassy for you would behead +him. Likewise I sent to you one day prior to this two of your slaves +(whom I seized on the sea in a ship), that they might advise you of +my coming and that you should have no fear. You refused however to +observe this; and not only have you fled and revolted, but you have +caused the entire district and its chiefs to revolt. They desire to +have peace with the Castilians and to be under the protection of +the said king, our sovereign. But you have counseled them evilly; +for, like a stripling, you do not know the blessings and advantages +which you are losing, and which would be yours if you became the +ally of the Castilians and placed yourself under the control of +the said governor, both for your own and your land's tranquillity, +and for your soul's salvation. Now this is the twenty-fourth day of +this my stay in this river, without having injured you in any way, +although I had good warrant therefor, and during which time I ascended +the river of Balete in search of you, and then returned to this your +village. Thence I sent messengers to tell you the above, none of whom +have returned with a reply from you or have dared to talk with you. Now +I am going to the island of Jolo to confer with its chief. I request +you urgently to consider well what I have said for it concerns you +much. I shall await your reply at Cavite and shall be able to receive +it within twelve days. May God give you grace to come to His knowledge. + +Your friend, _Gabriel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +This said letter in the above form written in the Moro speech and +signed by the said captain before me, the said notary and before +witnesses, was given and delivered on this day, the sixth of April of +this year, to Sibandao, an Indian chief of this town, so that he might +give it to the said Limasancay. Sibandao, through the said interpreter, +offered to take it and deliver it to Limasancay. In order that it might +appear in the records, this copy was inserted. The said captain and +the said interpreter signed it. Witnesses were Francisco Velazquez, +Lope de Catalina, and Juan Lopez de Queto. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godines_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +This is a well and faithfully executed copy of a commission given to +Lope de Catalinaga by the illustrious captain, Gabriel de Ribera, +who comes to pacify these islands of Mindanao and Jolo, by order +of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's +council and governor and captain-general of these islands. Its tenor +is as follows: + +I, Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and people +who come to pacify the islands of Jolo and Bindanao, at the order +of the very illustrious governor and captain-general for his Majesty +of these islands: Inasmuch as the instructions of the said governor +ordered me to send some one from the town of Santsimo Nombre de Jesus +to pacify the river and tingues [mountains] of Butuan; and considering +how much we may shorten the long voyage by going from this district +of Cavite instead of from the said town, and that we have here ships +and rowers suitable for this undertaking--therefore in the name of his +Majesty I entrust the said expedition to Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga. I +order him to go as leader for the said pacification with fifteen +soldiers besides himself. I order him to go with the said soldiers +to the said river and tingues of Butuan to pacify the said people in +the tingues. He shall try to render them obedient to his Majesty, +making the best possible terms of peace by means of interpreters +whom he is taking. From the natives of the said tingues, when they +are pacified, he shall have power to collect such tribute as in all +fairness can be collected from them. As he has the matter in hand, +he shall do what is most convenient in this. Having collected the +tribute, he shall keep one-half of it very carefully, as it belongs +to his Majesty. The other half, according to his Lordship's orders, +shall be divided among his soldiers, according to custom. Everything +that shall be done upon this expedition shall be attested by notary; +and I authorize him to appoint one, before whom shall be transacted +all the proceedings necessary, so that an account may be rendered of +everything. I order all his soldiers to regard, consider, and obey +him as their leader, and observe his orders, under such penalties +as he may inflict. Given in Cavite on the fourteenth of April, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Collated with the original: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port of Cavite, on the fourteenth of April, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, after his arrival at this port, the +illustrious Gabriel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet +and people who came to pacify the islands of Mindanao and Jolo, +by order of the very illustrious governor of these islands, saw in +this port three vessels manned with Joloans. These vessels contained +about fifty persons from the said island of Jolo. The said captain +summoned them to his presence, and through the said interpreters, +Laquian and Miguel Godines, asked them who they were. They replied +that, when the captain was going to the river of Mindanao, he had sent +a Boholan Indian to notify them to collect the tribute, as the said +captain would come for it on his return. Therefore they, as soon as +they heard this, went thither to confer with the said captain. The +said captain asked them why they had left their village, and [had +not] collected their tribute, since he had sent to tell them that +they should have it ready; whereupon they all answered with one +voice that the chief named Rasea had gone to Borney, four months +ago, with a galliot and four vireys full of people, to the number of +about three hundred. These had gone with the said chief to settle in +Borney. Those left were about two hundred men, who were all reduced +to despair through the great famine which they are suffering and have +suffered since Esteban Rodriguez was in their village, and because +of the damage inflicted upon them by the said Esteban Rodriguez. The +said Esteban Rodriguez had told them that they would not be assessed +tribute for two years. For this reason the people had gone to look for +food in other islands. They had collected fifty-seven tributes, which +they brought, with the request that his Grace would not go to the said +village of Jolo because of the severe famine there; if he did, they +must all abandon it. The said captain asked them if they had caught +the elephants as the said captain Esteban Rodriguez had ordered and +which they had promised to his Lordship. They said they knew nothing +of this and that if elephants had been promised, it was by Raja Yloi; +but he had gone to Borney and it was impossible for them to catch any +alive. The said captain went outside secretly, and informed himself, +through the said interpreters, from the Boholan who had been sent, +and from the people of this port of Cavite, regarding the famine from +which the said Indians asserted they were suffering. These declared +that it was very well known and true, and was current talk on this +coast, that the said Raja Ylo had gone to Borney with the people above +mentioned; and that, in the opinion of the people who came from the +island of Jolo, there will be much famine in the future. They are a +poor people and in need of food. All of them begged among the ships +of the fleet, and in the Spanish tongue, that, for the love of God, +_humay_ be given them for they are hungry. It was seen that they gave +their weapons and clothes in exchange for rice. Thereupon the captain +ordered the tributes brought by them, as they said, to be placed +before him. They brought some robes, daggers, dishes, and articles +of slight value and price, and cloth of their land, but no gold or +silver. When the said captain saw how slight was the tribute and that +it was in almost worthless articles, and as he had heard that there +was a large field-piece in the village of Jolo, taken from the lost +galley, he said that, since they did not have the tribute collected +and were so pressed by dire need, he would have pity and not take +the tribute, on condition that they would give the said piece. They +said they would all assemble and discuss this, and they asked the +said captain to await them there until they returned to Jolo. His +Grace told them that this would trouble him considerably because of +his great lack of food; but that he would send Pedro de Oseguera in +a fragata to bring back the said piece, and to ascertain whether they +had told him the truth. Thereupon that very night he ordered the said +Pedro de Oseguera to get ready and embark with ten soldiers in the +said fragata. He was to go to the said island of Jolo and examine +the people and their settlement and ascertain their need of food. He +was to take note of everything, charging his men to act cautiously, +and was not to land or molest the natives. The said Pedro de Oseguera +left that night to execute this commission, in order to take back +the tributes that the said natives had brought, and took them. + +Witnesses, Francisco Velazquez, Juan Davila, Melchor de Torres, +and many other soldiers. + +Before me: + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port of Cavite, on the nineteenth day of the month of April of +the said year, Pagalugan and other chiefs and timaguas of the island +of Taguima [Basilan] appeared before the said captain in the presence +of me, the notary, and of witnesses. They said that they brought to +his Grace, in recognition of tribute (for they knew the fleet needed +food), twenty fowls, twenty pieces of colored medriaque, three hogs, +and one _chivanta_ of wax in four pieces. They said that they had paid +their tribute to Juan Lopez de Aguirre in civet-cats, fowls, swine, +goats, and cloth. They came also to find out to whom they must pay the +tribute hereafter, and how much they must pay. The captain asked how +many people they were and how they could pay their tribute. Through +the said interpreters they replied that they could pay their tribute in +wax, civet-cats, tortoise-shell, and colored cloth. With the tinguianes +[mountaineers] they number about one thousand men more or less. Upon +this day the captain, seeing the fleet's need of food and the slight +prospects for getting any, ordered all the said vessels of this fleet +to return to the town of Santsimo Nombre de Jesus. + +Witnesses, Melchor de Torres, Francisco Gomes, +and others. + +Before me: + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port called Dapitan, on the twenty-third day of the month of +April of the said year, Pedro de Osegura, whom his Grace had sent +to the island of Jolo, as above recorded, and who arrived at this +port today with the men and fragata that he had taken, appeared +before the said captain, and in the presence of me, the notary, +and of witnesses. He said that, in fulfilment of his Grace's orders, +he had gone to the said island of Jolo. He anchored at the mouth of +the river there, for four days. As soon as he arrived he summoned the +chiefs. They came, and through the said interpreter Laquian he learned +from them that Raja Ylo, with the Indians of the island--three hundred +men, and their women-with his wives, children, slaves, and all his +possessions, had gone to settle in Borney. He [Oseguera] tried also +to learn who had remained, whether they had a famine, as reported. He +was told that not more than one hundred and forty Indians remained +and that, they were suffering a most severe famine. He ordered them +to bring the piece that was said to be inland. In three hours they +brought one to him, and he brought it hither in his fragata. It +seems to be of about twelve or thirteen quintals' weight. Thinking +that they were lying in regard to the people and their poverty, +he insisted upon asking them for the tribute, telling them that +everyone who becomes his Majesty's vassal, pays that recognition, +as a return for his Majesty's expenses in his fleets. They showed +so great poverty, and were so little able to give anything, that, +although he had the chiefs on his vessel and sent them to notify all +the Indians of the land that they must bring tribute in three days, +not forty Indians came with tribute--and that was in dishes, cloth, +and articles of but little worth. The chiefs told him to go ashore +and see for himself that there were no more people. Consequently he +bargained with an Indian, a timagua of the said island (the one who +had owned the said cannon), as he learned that the Indian had traded +for it with others; and gave back to them the fifty-seven tributes +given them by the captain. Then he returned to the fleet. This was +his declaration, and he affixed his signature thereto. Witnesses, +Juan Davila and Francisco Gomez. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon, upon this said day, Pedro de Oseguera declared before +the said captain that the said Indians of Jolo had given, in token +of tribute, forty-three tributes, consisting of two tacs of gold, +nineteen pieces of colored medriaque, and eight tributes in dishes, +a total of forty-three--besides the fifty-seven that were taken on +account for the piece. The full total is one hundred, and he delivered +them to the the captain. Witnesses, the above-named persons. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the town of Santsimo Nombre de Jesus, on the eighth day of +the month of May, of the said year, the said captain said that, +inasmuch as his Lordship, the governor of these islands, ordered in +the instructions given him for the said expedition that one-half +of the tributes be given to his Grace's soldiers and the other +half to his Majesty; and having seen the small amount collected +and its little value, and the great lack in this town of food for +this fleet: therefore he ordered that all the tributes of cloth and +gold be delivered over and divided among the four ships commanded +by Francisco Velazquez, Tome de la Ysla, Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, +and Alonso Pimentel, respectively. He ordered that it be inspected in +order to make a note thereof. There were forty-four pieces of colored +medriaque and forty maes of gold. Therefore each ship received +eleven pieces of cloth and ten maes of gold, which was delivered to +the above officers, and they gave receipts for it. Witnesses were +[Juan Lopez de] Queto, Francisco del Castillo [MS. illegible]. The +captain affixed his signature. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the city of Manila on the tenth day of the month of June, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty in +these islands of the West, after examining these records, ordered that +I, the said notary, make two copies of them all, signed and attested, +so that they may have authority. I was ordered to give and deliver +them to him, to be sent wherever was most fitting for his Majesty's +service. In each one of them he said that he would sanction them, and +he did thus sanction by his authority and judicial decree, so that +they may be valid and have credibility in court or out of court. He +affixed thereto his signature. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +And I, Alonso Beltran, notary of his royal Majesty and of the +government of the Filipinas islands of the West, was present at the +above proceeding. I had him affix his signature and affixed my own +in testimony of truth. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +_[Endorsed at beginning_: "Testimony and proceedings in regard to +the expeditions to Burney, Jolo, and Mindanao which were made during +the past year (seventy-eight) and this one (seventy-nine) by command +of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general of the Philipinas Islands of the West. These papers +are forwarded for his Majesty and his royal Council of the Indies."] + + + +Appointments to Vacancies in Manila Cathedral + +The king. [42] To our governor of the Filipinas islands. When we +heard that there were not sufficient tithes for the support of four +prebendaries in the cathedral church which is to be erected in those +islands, we ordered you in our decree of the thirteenth day of July +of the past year 1579, to give them from our treasury a competent +stipend, which was to be in proportion to the amount yielded by the +said tithes. Now the said bishop has reported that, in case the said +prebends or other benefices which were to be established in the said +church become vacant, it would be necessary to defer the appointment of +other persons thereto until orders could be despatched from here; and +thus the said church would remain without the divine service. In view +of this inconvenience, he petitions us to give orders that, whenever +dignities, canonries, and other benefices of the said church become +vacant, they shall immediately be filled by other worthy persons, +with the same stipends as those received by their predecessors; +or to order what else is our pleasure. With the approval of our +Council of the Indies, we favor this; and therefore order you that, +whenever the said dignities, canonries, and other benefices of the +cathedral church in those islands shall become vacant, you fill them +with competent persons of the required rank, who shall serve in the +place of those through whom the vacancy occurs, at the same stipend +as that received by their predecessors, until we make our appointments. + +_I, The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: + +_Antonio de Eraso_ + + + +Letter from Ronquillo de Penalosa to Felipe II + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +This city has begged me to inform your Majesty about three things +solicited by the citizens. May your Majesty command accordingly by +a royal decree addressed to me, in order that I may inform them if +these things are fitting for the service of your Majesty. + +First, that your Majesty may have me informed whether it is convenient +that this city be the capital of this government. At present it is the +largest city, has the largest population, and is the best governed in +this kingdom. It is well situated, so that from it the governor may +easily reach the settlements in these islands. Although the place is +unhealthful, it would nevertheless for the present be convenient that +this city be the capital of this government and the headquarters of +the governor. + +As to whether the repartimientos of the Indians should be made +permanent, I will say that at present such a course would be by no +means beneficial to your royal service, as it would cause the soldiers +to lose the hope of being rewarded for their services. Those who are +now here would not serve and no others would come to this land. + +Touching the granting of estates to this city, there is exceeding need +of them, as this city has none belonging to it by which any necessary +works may be carried out. Nevertheless I do not know whence the land +can be taken without causing much damage. The vacant repartimientos +are very necessary to reward the many persons who have served, and +who complain with reason that the royal estate is always increasing, +and yet it has many debts. May your Majesty provide for everything +according to your pleasure. May our Lord guard your royal Catholic +Majesty, and increase your Majesty's kingdoms, as we your servants +desire. Manila, July seventeenth, of the year 1581. Catholic Royal +Majesty, your Majesty's most humble servant, who kisses the royal +hands and feet, + +_Don Goncillo Rronquillo de Penalosa_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Seen. An answer is unnecessary."] + + + +Ordinance Restricting Departure from the Islands + +At the city of Manila, in the Filipinas, islands of the West, on the +second day of the month of March of the year one thousand five hundred +and eighty-two, the most illustrious Don Goncalo Ronquillo de Pealosa, +governor and captain-general for his Majesty of these said islands, +said that, inasmuch as he had been informed that about three years ago +Fray Pedro de Alfaro, custodian of the descalced religious of the order +of St. Francis, had left these islands secretly, taking with him other +religious, and that he went without order or license therefor from his +Majesty or the governor, to the kingdom of China, where he now is; [43] +and inasmuch as Fray Pablo de Jesus, a custodian, and other religious +did the same thing a few days ago, causing thereby much scandal and +talk in this commonwealth: in order to correct the aforesaid as is +very necessary and to inform your Majesty thereof, he declared that +he was ordering (and he did so order) that it be publicly proclaimed +in this city that no person of any quality or condition whatsoever +should dare to leave this said city or any other places where said +religious may be, accompanied by any persons whatsoever, by land or +sea, or in any other manner whatsoever, except with express permission +from the governor and captain-general of these islands. This shall +be under penalty of incurring confiscation of all property by the +exchequer of his Majesty, and proclamation as a traitor and rebel +against the royal crown. Moreover, proceedings will be instituted +against such person with all due severity. Thus he provided; and, +under the said penalties, no one shall dare to give such, persons +ships or conveyance by which they may leave, without said permission. + +Given _ut supra_: + +_Don Goncalo Ronquillo de Penalosa_ + +By command of his Lordship: + +_Alonso Beltran_ + + + + +Letter from Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa to Felipe II + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +In another letter of greater length, I have informed your Majesty +regarding the affairs of this land, and have requested some things +desirable therefor. What is now presented is as follows: + +On the twenty-fourth of the past month, there came to this port a +ship of about one hundred and twenty toneladas. It was sent by your +viceroy of Nueva Espaa, but it contained no renforcements, nor +has he yet despatched them. This country cannot make progress if a +year passes without renforcements, since it depends upon colonists +for its settlement and growth. Moreover, the commerce cannot be +increased by sending, from year to year, a ship so small that after +the departure of two ships (and one of them more than four hundred +toneladas) this year, half of the goods remain in this city for lack +of a ship. Moreover, this settlement is not provided with a doctor +or apothecary, who are greatly needed on account of the insalubrious +nature of this country. There was a scarcity of everything except +provisions; this fact the royal Audiencia [of Mexico] sent against +me, with only false accounts and petty information obtained from +the followers of Doctor Francisco de Sande, my predecessor--whose +residencia I had taken, and, as a result thereof, had deprived him of +all royal office. Nevertheless, he was received in that royal Audiencia +as auditor; and, as a consequence, persons with grievances may well +lose hope of obtaining justice. It is just that complaints against +me as subjecting him to indignities, be heard, and that justice be +done in that tribunal; but I also believe that your Majesty will +be pleased to guard the dignity of an office as important as mine, +and the servant in whom your Majesty has placed so much confidence. I +say this because from Mexico they meddle with my government--giving me +orders as to the corregidors whom I am to keep, and addressing private +individuals in regard to the supplies, directing them to keep watch +over that matter. This gives much occasion for those who are here +to lose respect for me. The most serious thing is, that no matter +how small the affair may be, they do not listen to me, or to my side +of the story. They impose grave penalties upon me and threaten that +I will be obliged to defray the expenses of the judge. I send some +copies of the commands to your Majesty so that the royal council may +consider and provide what is most fitting for your royal service. + +Moreover, I have heard news in regard to Captain Graviel de Ribera, +who was the attorney of this city; he was one of Doctor Sande's chief +enemies, and most accused him in his residencia, as will appear by +his own deposition therein. On the way from here to Mexico, he became +an ally and confederate of the said Doctor Sande; and together, with +false reports and some witnesses who were tools of the said doctor, +they preferred many charges against me in that royal Audiencia. With +these charges the said Grabiel de Ribera went to Espaa, without a +hearing having been accorded to me or to anyone in my behalf. It is +just to believe that in that supreme tribunal, in the presence of your +Majesty, injustice will be done to no one--least of all to me, who +have served and am now serving your Majesty with so great integrity +and solicitude, and who have had so long an experience. I am sure +that your Majesty will first give me a hearing, and afterwards command +that amends be made for my wrongs, by punishing those who have tried +to stain my honor and my good reputation in life and character. This +I beseech your Majesty to do, in consideration of my services. + +I have great need of an educated assistant, as there is much to be +done here in the business of war and government, as well as a great +amount of work that must be done in affairs of justice, both civil +and criminal. The trouble here is that the people are of such a nature +that, at the same time when justice is done to one, an enemy is made +of another person. I beseech your Majesty to command such provision +to be made as shall be fitting for the royal service. + +The sub-lieutenant Francisco de Dueas, who, as I have explained in +another letter, was sent as envoy to Maluco, came to this city on the +twenty-second current. He brought very good returns, which have given +us all great satisfaction, as your Majesty will see by the letters of +the chief captain and other private persons, which I am sending through +your viceroy of Nueva Espaa. There is also remitted an account of +the voyage and its events. That fortified place is now open for your +Majesty's advantage; [44] and although its chief captain sent me no +request for aid, I know that it is necessary to send the same, as well +as to pacify the king of Terrenate. It is very important to understand +how desirable it is for that stronghold to prosper, as it is of the +greatest advantage for all Nueva Espaa. Consequently, I have been +exceedingly troubled by the non-arrival of renforcements from Nueva +Espaa during the past two years. A large number of troops I have +assigned to several settlements, as I have already written at greater +length. In the shortest time possible I will send aid to Maluco; +and from time to time I shall advise what is done in this respect. + +Your Majesty has already been informed how the English pirate [45] set +out for Maluco and the Xabas [Java]. In Maluco he formed a friendship +with the king of Terrenate, to whom he promised to return in a short +time with more forces. Consequently, I have considered how much more +reason there is to believe that they cannot return by the strait of +Magallanes--since I know that that strait is well guarded, and because, +since they have gone through it, both Piru and Nueva Espaa are warned; +they could gain nothing in the expedition, and it would certainly +be lost. No one but the pirate himself knows the route which he took +and the channel which he followed to Maluco; and therefore no efforts +were made to check him. If Maluco should be considered in England as +of great value, and as a stronghold which can be taken and held with a +few men, then they would feel bound to place a large force in it. Your +Majesty should do much for its defense. These considerations impress me +so strongly that, if I were supplied with more troops and artillery, I +could by no means imagine a more necessary task. I will do what I can, +however, in your royal service, although it is not under my charge. + +In my opinion, the spices should be sent from Maluco to Panama, +a voyage very safe and not too long. In this way the ships which +conduct it to Panama may touch at Nueva Espaa and leave there the +amount necessary for that kingdom, and in Panama, what is needed for +Piru, the kingdom of Tierra Firme and the new kingdom of Granada. From +the port of Panama, where the ships coming from Maluco anchor, it is +but five or six leagues' journey by land to the river of Chagre. From +there to Espaa is nothing but water, and consequently the said spices +can be conveyed thereby very easily and at little cost. This I think +is the shortest, safest, and least expensive method. Your Majesty +will order what is most fitting for your service. + +The artillery, which your Majesty orders me to send to the viceroy +of Peru, I am preparing with promptness. Nevertheless, that which +your Majesty has here at present is necessary for this stronghold, +and for the other islands, where I have distributed a number of cannon +for their greater security and prosperity. + +I send the relation of the islands and their villages, and of their +inhabitants and industries, which was forwarded to me to send you. I +would send a longer account if more time had elapsed since the receipt +of your Majesty's royal decree, which arrived the twenty-fifth of +the past month. + +No papers whatever of Fray Martin de Rada [46] were left in this +country; nor have I been able to discover any, although most diligent +search has been made. + +Among the other orders brought by this ship was one directing that +a considerable sum of money be paid to Doctor Francisco de Sande. He +says that this is due to him as salary; and for the payment of this +is designated the greater part of the villages which belong to the +royal crown of your Majesty. The fleets are maintained thereby, as +well as other expenses of your Majesty here. This order is received +with regret and sorrow, and the royal officials have sent a petition +to this effect; and I too beseech your Majesty to declare if it be +your royal pleasure that this man support himself at the expense of +the royal service. May it be provided that we be not constrained thus +in similar things. + +In the ship that just arrived from Nueva Espaa, there came eighteen +descalced friars, a class of people who do much good in this land, +on account of their mode of life and their poverty. Nevertheless, +they come so eager to pass on to China that it would not be right to +keep them here. Accordingly, in order to console them, I am now giving +permission to the commissary who accompanied them, and to four other +religious, both to go to Macau [Macao] to visit the house which they +have there, and to pass to the bordering kingdom of Cochinchin. News +is had that the king of the latter country asks for ministers to +teach him our holy faith. I hope to God that benefit may be derived +therefrom, for the salvation of those souls. I have also improved +the opportunity of the commissary's departure to send by him to the +Portuguese of Macau the news of the certainty of the late coronation +of your Majesty. [47] Therefore I expect that that stronghold will +be as peaceful as that of Maluco. + +Through your viceroy of Nueva Espaa I am sending a copy of the +residencia of the doctor Sande, as that sent a year ago was lost with +the ship to which it was entrusted. + +Much pleasure was caused in the land by the arrival of the bishop, [48] +and I received him as well as I could. On account of the austerity +of his disposition and his wish to dominate, people do not like +him; and he has caused much discontent among both ecclesiastics and +laymen. His Christianity and zeal is worthy, and he will undoubtedly +prove to be true. As your Majesty is better informed, you may provide +accordingly. May our Lord guard your royal Catholic Majesty and +increase your kingdoms, as we your Majesty's vassals desire. Manila, +June 15, in the year 1582. + +Royal Catholic Majesty, the most humble servant of your Majesty, +who kisses the royal feet and hands. + +_Don Gonzalo Rronquillo de Penalosa_ + + + + + +Bibliographical Data + +Most of the documents in this volume are obtained from the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. The original MSS. (from copies of which +our translations are made) are there preserved in two patronatos, +as follows: + +(a) "Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes +del gobernador de Filipinas, vistos en el consejo; aos 1567 1599; +est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6." To this belong Sande's report of 1576, +his letters of July 29, 1578 and May 30, 1579, Pealosa's letter, +and the two documents of 1582. + +(b) "Simancas-Filipinas; descubrimientos, descripciones y +poblaciones de las Yslas Filipinas; aos 1566 1586; est. 1, caj. 1, +leg. 2|24." From this patronato we obtain Sande's report of 1577 (in +ramo 40), and the record of his expedition to Borneo (no. 48). The +former lacks a signature, and may be a duplicate copy, sent (as already +explained) by another vessel to ensure the arrival of at least one copy +in Spain, the signature being perhaps forgotten through some clerical +oversight; but its date and composition show it to be Sande's report. + +The bull erecting the diocese of Manila is taken from +_Doc. ind. Amr. y Oceana_, xxxiv, pp. 72-79. The grant of +indulgences is obtained from Fray Francisco de Santa Ins's _Crnica +de la provincia de San Gregorio Magno_ (Manila, 1892), pp. 215, 216. + +The two royal decrees are translated from copies of the originals, +which are found in the "Cedulario Indico" in the Archivo Histrico +Nacional at Madrid; their pressmarks are: for the decree of 1879, +"Tomo 31, F 132b, n 135;" for that of 1580, "Tomo 31, F 193b, n +184." The "Cedulario" contains forty MSS. volumes of these decrees, +with a calendar index of twenty-four volumes. + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] The Spanish phrase here is _armas enastadas_, literally, "weapons +fastened to handles." See cuts of Chinese battle-axes (from specimens +in Muse d' Artillerie, Paris) in Auguste Demmin's _Arms and Armor_ +(London, 1877), p. 442. + +[2] The day of St. Andrew falls on November 30, according to the +church calendars. + +[3] This narrative is given in Juan Gonzales de Mendoza's +_Hist. China,_ part ii, book i, ch. ix-xxix. + +[4] Marco Polo, the noted Venetian traveler, was born about 1256, +and died in his native city in 1323. His father and uncle were also +travelers; they went to Tartary in 1255, returning to Europe in +1269, as envoys from the noted Kublai Khan. Two years later, they +returned to the court of that ruler, accompanied by the young Marco; +and they remained in the service of the Mongol emperor until 1292, +when they returned to Venice. Marco's account of his travels and +observations was written as early as 1307. A Latin version of it +was published in Antwerp, about 1485; and one in Italian at Venice, +in 1496. Many other editions and translations of it have since been +issued--perhaps the most notable being that by G. Pauthier (Paris, +1865). See this editor's account of Polo and of his work, in Hoefer's +_Nouvelle biographie gnrale_, t. xxxix, art. Polo; Pauthier shows +that this work must have been originally written in French. Kublai +Khan at that time had his capital at Pekn, not at Kingsz. + +[5] The Great Wall of China was constructed during the reign of +Hoangti, the second emperor of the Tsin dynasty (about 244 to 210 +B.C.); it was built to protect the Chinese land from the invasions +of the Tartar hordes on the west and north, among whom were those +later known as Huns. + +[6] The oil extracted from sesame (_Sesamum indicum_); it is used by +the natives for the hair, and in medicine. + +[7] Chichimecos (meaning "braves") was a term applied to all the wild +tribes of Mexico; it was also used specially to designate the hunting +and pastoral tribes in the northern provinces of the present country +of Mexico--who, according to Humboldt (_New Spain_, Black's trans., +London, 1811, i, p. 133), came to that country about 1170. See also +G.P. Winship's _Coronado Expedition_ (Washington, 1896), p. 524. + +[8] A Malayan tribe, living in the provinces of Abra and Ilocos, +in Luzn. See Sawyer's account of them, in his _Inhabitants of +Philippines_ (N.Y., 1900), pp. 275-280. + +[9] The residencia is a Spanish institution, dating as far back as +the fourteenth century, although its beginnings may be traced to +the Visigothic codes. It required a judge or a governor, at the +end of a term of office, to reside for a certain time (usually +thirty or fifty days) at the chief place where he had exercised +his functions. During that time, complaints of his conduct might be +made by any person aggrieved, before an official appointed for that +purpose. The residencia was a prominent feature of Spanish colonial +administration. See Helps's _Spanish Conquest in America_, iii, +ch. iii, for an account of this institution. + +[10] "In fortification, a work of extraordinary height, overlooking the +surrounding parts as a horseman overlooks foot-soldiers." (Webster's +_Dictionary_.) + +[11] This decree may be found in _Recopilacin de leyes Indias_, +lib. iv, tit. iii, ley xix. It seems to have been a general regulation, +applied to any colonial possession as need might arise. + +[12] Crawfurd says, in his _Dictionary of the Indian Islands_ (London, +1856), p. 144: "In the language of the Bugis, whose country produces +gold, we find a native word, _ulawang_, and this is again the case +in the languages of the Tagalas of the Philippines, where we have +the indigenous name _balituk_; while in the language of the volcanic +Bisaya Islands we find the word _bulawang_, most probably a corruption +of the Bugis word." + +[13] There is some mistake in this calculation; for the Chinese tael is +equivalent to 1.1334 ounces, and the Spanish onza to 1.0161 ounces, in +English or U.S. avoirdupois. The mace is one-tenth of the tael. 8 onzas += 1 marco; 2 marcos = 1 libra = 1.016097 U.S. pounds. The equivalent +of one libra, then, would be nearly 12 taels and 2 mace. By _texuela_ +is apparently meant the sheet gold previously mentioned. + +[14] In New Spain, the hot and fertile regions along the coast, +having an elevation of seldom more than 1,000 feet, are called +_Tierras calientes_ ("regions of heat"). On the declivity of the +Cordilleras, at an elevation of 4,000 to 5,000 feet, there reigns +perpetually a soft spring temperature, which never varies more than 10 +Fahr. The natives give to this region the name of _Tierras templadas_ +("temperate country"), in which the mean heat of the whole year +is about 70 Fahr. The plains elevated more than 7,000 feet above +the sea level are called _Tierras fras_ ("cold regions"), where +the mean temperature is under 62 Fahr. See Humboldt's _New Spain_ +(Black's trans.), i, pp. 64-67. + +The name Tierra Firme was applied not only to the northern part of +the South American continent, but to a definite region which extended +from the middle of the Gulf of Darien to Cape Gracias Dios. It was +at first called Darien, and Castilla del Oro. + +[15] Span., _de no aver pies ni cabeza_, "as he had neither feet +nor head." + +[16] Cauchi is a phonetic form of Kuchi, the Malay appellation of the +region known in recent years as Cochin-China, now a part of French +Indo-China. Camboja is a better form of the name usually written +Cambodia, also a part of French Indo-China; Sian is but a variant of +Siam. Patani and Pahang are Malayan states on the eastern side of the +Malay Peninsula. Jabas is a corruption of Jawa (now commonly written +Java), the name of the principal nation inhabiting the island--the +most civilized and moral of the Malayan peoples. Samatra is only a +variant of Sumatra--the largest island, next to Borneo, of the Malayan +archipelago. Achin (or Achen) and Mnangkabo (Manancabo) are states +in the island of Sumatra; and Batachina evidently means "land of the +Bataks," a tribe of cannibals dwelling near Achin. See Crawfurd's +_Dictionary_ for valuable information regarding all these regions. + +[17] The three great military orders then vested in the crown of +Spain--those of Santiago, Alcntara, and Calatrava. + +[18] The order of Friars Minors (_Fratres Minores_), better known as +Franciscans, was founded (1208) by St. Francis of Assisi. + +[19] _Mestizo_: the offspring of a white man and an Indian woman, +or of an Indian man and a white woman--of course, almost entirely +the former. See interesting notes on this subject by Retana, in his +_Ziga_, ii, pp. 525*, 526*. + +[20] Herrera says (_Descripcin de las Indias_, cap. 26), that: +"The West Indies [_Indias del Poniente_] comprise all the islands and +mainland [_Tierra firme_] beyond the line of demarcation of Castilla +and Leon, as far as the western bounds of that said demarcation, the +line whereof passes around the other side of the world, through the +city of Malacca." This is conformable with the law of February 22, +1632 (_Recop. leyes Indias_, lib. i, tit. xiv, ley xxxiii), which +locates Japan and the Philippine Islands in the West Indies; it also +corresponds with the Constitution (_Onerosa_) of Clement VIII, issued +December 12, 1600, to be found in section 4, wherein the Philippines +are located, it seems, in the West Indies, or what are considered +as such. However, what really is the dividing line has not yet been +decided.--_Rev. T.C. Middleton_, O.S.A. + +[21] The missionaries who effected the conversion [of the Malaysian +tribes] were not, for the most part, genuine Arabs, but the mixed +descendants of Arab and Persian traders from the Persian and Arabian +gulfs--parties who, by their intimate acquaintance with the manners and +languages of the islanders, were far more effectual instruments. The +earliest recorded conversion was that of the people of Achin in +Sumatra (A.D. 1206). The Malays of Malacca adopted Mahometanism in +1276; the Javanese, in 1478; the inhabitants of the Moluccas, about +the middle of the fifteenth century. This doctrine has been received +by all the more civilized peoples of the Indian archipelago. See +Crawfurd's _Dictionary_, pp. 236, 237, 284. + +[22] Throughout this document, the attestations and other legal +procedures of notaries are enclosed within parentheses. + +[23] The name _fragata_ (from which is derived the English word +"frigate") is here used to designate merely a light sailing-vessel +which could navigate among the islands. + +[24] Evidently one of the so-called "hand cannon," which were often +used at this period, both by cavalry and by infantry--portable +fire-arms, loaded sometimes at the breech and sometimes by a movable +chamber. See illustrations and descriptions of these weapons in +Demmin's _Arms and Armor_ (Black's trans.), pp. 59-74, 485, 511-517. + +[25] The arms of Portugal, consisting of five scutcheons, in memory +of the five wounds of Christ. + +[26] One of the numerous appellations of small cannon. + +[27] The _banca_ was a sort of canoe made from a hollowed tree-trunk +(like the American "dug-out"), sometimes provided with outriggers, +to prevent it from upsetting, and sometimes with a roof of bamboo. The +_barangay_ is the most primitive and most characteristic boat in the +Philippines; it is described as a sharp and slender craft, pointed +at both ends, and put together with wooden nails and pegs. It is +this boat which has given name to the primitive groups of the social +organization; see Bourne's mention of these, _Vol_. I of this series, +p. 56.--_Editors_.] + +"The people were divided or grouped into families, known as +_barangayes_ (the name of a small ship or vessel), thus preserving +the remembrance of the conveyance by which their forefathers reached +the islands. As the various families came hither, each in its own +barangay--all, during the voyage, being under the command of a _cabeza_ +(a head captain, or pilot)--the land was partitioned among them, so +much for each family; while all continued, on the land, subject to the +cabezas who had directed them on the sea. These in time were known as +_dats_, or _maguinoos_. See the _Crnica_ of Francisco de Santa Ins +(Manila, 1892), i, p. 57; Noceda and Sanlucar's _Vocabulario Tagala_ +(3rd ed., Manila, 1860); Diego Bergao's _Vocabulario Pampanga_ +(Manila, 1860); and Andres Carro's _Vocabulario Iloco-Espaol_ +(Manila, 1888)."--_Rev. T. C. Middleton_, O.S.A. + +[28] Meaning some plant used as an antidote for poison. + +[29] Apparently a phonetic variant of _pangeran_ (a Javanese word +adopted in Borneo), meaning "prince." + +[30] In this connection may be cited Rajah James Brooke's statement, +as given by Captain Henry Keppel in his _Expedition to Borneo_ +(American edition, New York, 1846), p. 305: "The most detestable +part of this traffic is Seriff Houseman ["a half-bred Arab" pirate in +Borneo] selling, in cold blood, such of these slaves as are Borneans, +to Pangeran Usop, of Bruni, for 100 rupees for each slave, and Pangeran +Usop re-selling each for 200 rupees to their relations in Bruni." + +[31] Apparently a sort of "dug-out," used mainly as a lighter, for +unloading larger vessels. + +[32] _Pulo_ (incorrectly made _polo_ in the text) is a term used +throughout the Malayan archipelago referring to a small island or +islet; this name means, then, "the small island Celemin." + +[33] The habit of chewing _buyo_ is common through the Malaysian +archipelago. It is prepared by wrapping a leaf of the betel (_Piper +betel_) around a piece of the bonga-nut (the product of a palm, _Areca +catechu_) and a small piece of lime. It is thought to stimulate the +nerves, especially in the digestion of food; and is a notable feature +on ceremonious and social occasions. + +[34] Fine East Indian muslin. + +[35] Probably referring to the island now known as Boeton or Butung, +lying southeast of Celebes. + +[36] Evidently the old port in Mindanao so called. + +[37] Probably referring to the island now known as Boeton or Buntung, +lying S.E. of Celebes. + +[38] Reference is here made to the starchy food procured from the +sago-palm, called by the natives _bur (Corypha umbraculifera)_. This +tree gives name to the island of Burias, where it grows abundantly. By +tapping the tree, as is done with the American maple, the sweet +sap (called by the natives _tuba_ or "water-honey") is obtained, +from which are made a syrup and a dark sugar; also the natives +manufacture from it wine and brandy. The young shoots or buds are +edible, as is the entire inner part or pith of the tree. This pith +is placed in troughs, wherein it is soaked in water, which washes +out certain bitter substances; it is then pounded, which causes +the starchy grains to separate from the tissues of the pith. These +grains are collected and dried, and made into a flour called sago +(or sag), which furnishes a nutritious and healthful food; in the +islands where this tree abounds, the sago takes the place of rice. The +leaves of the sago-palm are used as a covering for houses, sails for +vessels, and many other purposes. See Delgado's _Hist. de Filipinas_ +(Manila, 1892--but written in 1753-54), pp. 660-662, for a long and +detailed description of this tree and its uses; also Blanco's _Flora +de Filipinas_, p. 160, and _U.S. Philippine Gazetteer,_ p. 74. + +[39] The lagoon of Liguasan, the waters of which are discharged into +those of the Pulangui River at its "great bend," thus forming the +Rio Grande. The Pulangui rises in the northern part of the island, +about half-way between the present towns of Cagayan and Butan. The +Tirurey or Ytilurey River of our text apparently indicates a southern +tributary of the Rio Grande, flowing from Mt. Tiruray. + +[40] A tribe inhabiting the western part of Mindanao, but mainly +located on other islands--Basilan, Sulu, Piragua, and others; they +were Mahometan Malays. + +[41] The ganta contains 3 litros, a little more than 1/3 of a peck +(U.S.). + +[42] At the top of the sheet is written, on the original MS., +"Guadalupe, March 26, 1580," which apparently indicates that the +decree was sent to New Spain, and promulgated by the viceroy there. + +[43] "A fleet on which were some Franciscan missionaries being at +Sevilla in 1576, ready to sail for the Solomon Islands, Felipe II +obtained permission from Pope Gregory XIII that they should be sent +to evangelize the Philippine Islands--where they arrived on June 24, +1577. They were received in Manila with enthusiastic demonstrations +of joy, and soon founded a religious province, which they named San +Gregorio Magno ["St. Gregory the Great"--named in honor of Pope Gregory +I (A.D. 590-604)]. The marshal, Don Gabriel de Rivera, built for +them the convent of San Francisco in that same year, 1577."--_Algue_ +(_Archipilago filipino_, i, p. 250). + +On June 24, 1577, fifteen religious of St. Francis arrived at Manila, +under the orders of Fray Pedro de Alfaro, the father custodian of the +province. On June 15, 1579, Alfaro left Luzon (secretly, as our text +declares, because Sande refused to permit him to go), to establish +a mission in China; he was accompanied by the friars Juan Bautista, +Sebastian de San Francisco, and Agustin de Tordesillas. The last-named +wrote a detailed account of their journey and their experiences in +China up to November 15 of that year; this relation is published in +Mendoca's _Hist. China,_ part ii, book ii. + +[44] Maluco, the Portuguese post on Ternate, was taken over by Spain +with other colonial possessions of Portugal, when Felipe II seized +the government of the latter country (September, 1580), after the +death of its king, the cardinal Henrique. This union lasted during +sixty years. The possession of the Moluccas of course gave to Spain +the control of the spice trade. + +[45] Apparently a reference to the visit of Sir Francis Drake to +Ternate, in November, 1578. A full account of this visit, the friendly +reception of the English by the Malay ruler, and the expulsion of +the Portuguese from the island, may be found in Francis Fletcher's +_World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake_ (Hakluyt Soc. pubs. no. xvii, +London, 1854), pp. 137-148. + +[46] Rada had died at sea, in June, 1578. + +[47] Felipe II was crowned at Lisbon in April, 1581. + +[48] The first bishop of Manila, and of the Philippines, Domingo de +Salazar (a Dominican) arrived at Manila in March, 1581. With him came +Fray Christoval de Salvatierra, of his own order; twenty Augustinians, +and eight Franciscans; and two Jesuit priests, Antonio Sedeo and +Alonso Snchez, with the lay brother Nicolas Gallardo. See Juan de +la Concepcion's _Hist. Phil_., ii, pp. 44, 45. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands 1493-1898, Vol. +4 of 55, by Edited by E. H. Blair and J. A. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/12635-8.zip b/old/12635-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9070948 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12635-8.zip diff --git a/old/12635.txt b/old/12635.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d2e2ad2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12635.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8802 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands 1493-1898, +Vol. 4 of 55, by Edited by E. H. Blair and J. A. Robertson + +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 1493-1898, Vol. 4 of 55 + 1576-1582 + +Author: Edited by E. H. Blair and J. A. Robertson + +Release Date: June 16, 2004 [EBook #12635] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + + + + + + + + + +Prepared by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed Proofreaders Team. + + + + + The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + + 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 IV, 1576-1582 + + + E. H. Blair & J. A. Robertson + + + +Contents of Volume IV + +Preface + +Documents of 1576-78: + + Relation of the Filipinas Islands. Francisco de Sande; Manila, + June 7, 1576. + + Relation and Description of the Phelipinas Islands. [Francisco + de Sande]; Manila, June 8, 1577. + + Bull for erection of the diocese and cathedral church of + Manila. Gregory XIII; Rome, February 6, 1578. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; Manila, July 29, 1578. + + Grant of a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who visit + churches of the Friars Minors. Gregory XIII; Rome, November 15, + 1578. + +Documents of 1579-82: + + Royal decree regulating the foundation of monasteries. Felipe II; + Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; Manila, May 30, 1579. + + Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao. Francisco de Sande + and others; Manila, April 19, 1578, to June 10, 1579. + + Appointments to vacancies in Manila cathedral. Felipe II; + [promulgated from?] Guadalupe, March 26, 1580. + + Letter to Felipe II. Goncillo Ronquillo de Penalosa; Manila, + July 17, 1581. + + Ordinance restricting departure from the islands. Gonzalo + Ronquillo de Penalosa; Manila, March 2, 1582. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa; Manila, + June 15, 1582. + +Bibliographical Data + + + +Illustrations + + +View of Mallaca, in _Eylffte Schiffahrt_, by Levinus Hulsius +(Franckfurt am Mayn, 1612), p. 64; enlarged photographic facsimile, +from copy in Harvard University Library. + +"Indiae orientalis, insularumque adiacientium typus" (original +in colors), map in _Theatrum orbis terrarum_, by Abraham Ortelius +(Antverpiae, M. D. LXX), fol. 48; reduced photographic facsimile, +from copy in Boston Public Library. + +"Incola ex Insulis Moluco" (picture of a Moluccan warrior; original +in colors), engraving in _Voyage ofte Schipvaert_, Jan Huygen van +Linschoten (Amstelredam, M. D. XCVI), p. 64; photographic facsimile, +from copy in Boston Public Library. + + + + + +Preface + + +The first official report sent by Governor Francisco de Sande to +the home government is dated June 7, 1576. It is introduced by a +description of the winds prevalent in the Indian Archipelago. Arriving +at Manila (August 25, 1575), he finds that much of the city has +been destroyed by a Chinese pirate named Limahon; and he relates, +in a graphic manner, the circumstances of this affair. In the first +attack (September, 1574), fourteen Spaniards and more than eighty +Chinese are slain. The enemy renew the attack a few days later, +but are repulsed with much loss. The Moros of the vicinity rebel, +insulting and robbing the friars and defiling the churches. The +Chinese proceed to Pangasinan, where they erect a fort, determining +to establish themselves there. All the Spanish forces are assembled, +and an expedition is sent (March 23, 1575), under Juan de Salcedo, +to attack the marauders. In the first encounter the Spanish are +victorious; but through mismanagement they fail to follow up their +success, and finally the Chinese depart from Luzon. A Chinese officer +named Omocon comes to search for the pirate Limahon; on his return, +he carries some Augustinian friars to China, but they return in +a few months. The Chinese bring certain presents to the governor, +which he turns over to the king. He does not like that people, saying +that they are mean, impudent, importunate, and deceitful. He relates +many interesting particulars regarding the country and people of +China--derived from the various reports which have come to him from +traders, missionaries, and the Filipino natives. + +Sande has a poor opinion of the trade with China; the only useful +article which the Chinese bring to the Philippines is iron. He urges +here, as in the letter preceding this report, that the king should +at once send an expedition for the conquest of China, for which four +thousand to six thousand men would be needed. He argues that this +enterprise would be an act of justice, for several curious reasons: +it would free the wretched Chinese from the oppressive tyranny and +cruelty of their rulers; it is right to punish them for their many +crimes and vices; and they ought to be compelled to admit foreigners +to their country. The governor is not troubled by any scruples of +conscience respecting the Line of Demarcation; for he affirms that +all the region from the Moluccas to the islands of Japan, inclusive, +with Borneo and all the coast of China, is "within the demarcation +of Spain." He is ready to drive the Portuguese out of the Moluccas, +if the king will consent thereto. + +Sande gives further details as to the Philippines and their people. The +climate is healthful, for those who live temperately. The culture +of rice is described, and the fertility of the soil praised. Much +interesting information is given regarding the characteristics, +habits, and customs of the people; he regards most of them as drunken, +licentious, and idle, and avaricious and murderous. The governor has +rebuilt the ruined fort at Cebu; but he thinks that a settlement +there is useless and expensive. He asks for oared vessels, with +which to navigate among the islands; and he is anxious to seize +the Moluccas for Spain. He complains of the reckless manner in +which repartimientos had been assigned by Legazpi and Lavezaris, +an abuse which he is trying to reform. He has revoked many of these +allotments, and placed them under the control of the crown. He has +established two shipyards, which have done good work in building and +repairing vessels. He needs artillery, or else skilled workmen to +make it; also fifty good gunners, two master-engineers, and more +troops. Sande has founded a hospital at Manila, mainly for the +soldiers--apparently the first in the islands; and is planning to +build a house in which convalescents may be properly cared for. He +has begun to fortify Manila, and is making other preparations for its +defense. The province of Pampanga, almost the only source of supply +of food for the Spaniards, has been appropriated by Sande for the +crown; he asks the king to confirm this action. He is endeavoring +to stop various leaks in the royal treasury, and is providing for +the worthy poor. He mentions the royal order that all the Indians +should be induced to settle near the districts already pacified, in +order to render them sedentary and to convert them to the Christian +faith--a plan which he considers quite impracticable. The governor +is greatly annoyed by the careless and extravagant administration +of the royal funds by the officials at Manila; he makes various +recommendations for securing better and more economical conduct of +the public service. He reports the religious status of the land, and +calls for more priests, especially recommending the Franciscans, "since +they live among the natives, and we need not support them." Certain +concessions and exemptions should be continued, as the people are so +poor; and for that reason customs duties ought not to be levied until +the people can afford to pay them. The two friars whom the Chinese +captain Omocon had consented to convey a second time to his country, +not having means to satisfy with gifts his avaricious nature, had +been therefore abandoned on a lonely island, where they are rescued +by a passing troop of Spaniards. Sande enumerates various documents, +maps, etc., which he is sending to the king; and he again appeals for +consent to his proposal for the conquest of China. A paper containing +memoranda for reply to this letter indicates that the king declines +to entertain this scheme, and advises Sande to expend his energies +upon the preservation and development of the lands already conquered. + +In another report, dated June 8, 1577, Sande furnishes some information +additional to that in the preceding document. The Moros of Luzon +are very shrewd traders, and are skilful in alloying the gold which +they obtain in that island. This practice causes the governor much +perplexity regarding the currency question. He has succeeded, during +the past two years, in putting "the affairs of the royal estate into as +good order as in Mexico;" and has reformed various abuses, small and +great. He explains the manner in which he has aided needy soldiers +and other persons in want, and reassigned encomiendas of persons +deceased. As for the natives, Sande says that they are not simple, +foolish, or timorous; "they can be dealt with only by the arquebuse, +or by gifts of gold or silver." He has maintained good discipline +among the soldiers, and reformed them from the vicious habits which +had been prevalent among them. He asks that the concessions made +regarding the customs duties and the royal fifths be continued, +on account of the poverty of the colony. He renews his request for +more religious teachers, and asks not only for secular priests, +but more friars--especially those who cannot own property, as the +Indians will have more regard for such. He explains in detail his +difficulties regarding the proper disposal of the crown funds by the +royal officials, and the heroic treatment made necessary by their +inefficiency and mismanagement. The property of Guido de Lavezaris +is confiscated, and the goods of other wrong-doers are seized. The +city is now surrounded by a palisade and rampart; and the river-bank +has been protected against the action of the waves. He has built, +or has now in the shipyards, vessels worth in New Spain one hundred +thousand ducats, which have cost him less than fifteen thousand. The +resources of the land are being developed; the rebellious natives +have been pacified; churches, and a house for the friars, have been +erected; and a residence for the governor has been built. In all +these undertakings, he finds it necessary to watch everything, and +superintend the workmen; this care and oversight has enabled him to +secure good returns from the expenditure of the public funds. + +A papal bull dated February 6, 1578, erects the diocese of Manila, +and constitutes its church a cathedral; the duties and privileges +of the bishop thereof are enumerated. He shall be subordinate to +the archbishop of Mexico; and the usual tithes and other dues are +remitted. Sande writes to the king (July 29, 1578) a brief report +of his expedition to Borneo in the months of March to May preceding; +and requests rewards and promotion for himself and his brothers. By +a decree dated November 15, 1578, Pope Gregory XIII grants "plenary +indulgence to all the faithful who visit churches" of the Franciscans +in these Oriental regions. On May 13, 1579, King Felipe issues a +decree regarding the foundation of monasteries in the Philippines. Fray +Domingo de Salazar (a Dominican) has been appointed bishop of Manila, +and will soon go thither with friars. The governor is ordered to +ascertain where monasteries are needed, and there to erect buildings +for this purpose. + +Sande informs the king (May 30, 1579) of the result of his efforts +to subdue other and neighboring islands. The city in Borneo which +he attacked in the preceding year has been rebuilt, and the king of +that land is ready to submit. The king of Jolo (Sulu) has become a +vassal of Spain, and peace has been made with the people dwelling on +the Rio Grande of Mindanao. Sande is still eager to set out for the +conquest of the Moluccas and of China, and is doing all that he can +to accumulate shipping and artillery for that purpose. + +This letter is accompanied by a bulky document containing the official +notarial record of the expedition which Sande mentions. The governor +learns from Filipino natives of Luzon that the king of Borneo oppresses +and plunders their countrymen who visit his land--thus wronging vassals +of Spain; and that the Borneans, being Mahometans, are spreading their +heresy among the peoples of the archipelago. Sande writes a letter +to this ruler, announcing his desire to confer with him, and to make +a compact of peace and friendship. He demands from the king not only +free opportunity for Christian preachers to evangelize the Borneans, +but also the cessation of any further Mahometan propaganda by Borneans +among the Filipinos. The king must also surrender any persons whom he +has forcibly detained, with all their possessions; and must provide +the Spaniards with food--for which, however, he will receive pay. No +answer being made by the Borneans, and Sande's envoys not returning to +the fleet, he enters the port, despite the resistance of the native +vessels therein. The people thereupon flee inland, and the Spaniards +enter the town, seizing there various possessions of the king--among +them letters from the Portuguese, one of which is signed "El Rey" ("the +King"). Sande takes possession of all Borneo for Spain. He then sends +(May 23, 1578) one of his officers, Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, +to subdue the Sulu Islands. He is instructed to reduce, as gently +as he can, the pirates of that group to peaceful agriculturists, +and secure from them the payment of tribute. Next, he is to go +on a similar errand to Mindanao; and, as many of its inhabitants +are Mahometans, he must strive to uproot "that accursed doctrine" +there. Sande returns to Manila, whence in the following year (February +28, 1579) he despatches Juan Arce de Sadornil with a fleet to Borneo, +giving him detailed instructions for his conduct on this expedition. He +is to ascertain the condition of affairs there, and gently endeavor +to gain the submission of the king as a vassal of Spain. Sadornil +goes to Borneo, and conducts various negotiations with the king, but +cannot induce the latter to confer with him in person. Finally, seeing +that he can accomplish nothing, and that his men are suffering from +confinement and illness, he decides to return to Manila; and he advises +Sande that a settlement of Spaniards in Borneo must, to be successful, +be made in the town where the Moro court resides. In June, 1578, the +king of Sulu submits to the Spanish power. From the Moluccas comes the +news that the people of Ternate have revolted against the Portuguese, +who have been compelled to abandon their fortress there and retreat +to Amboina. Their trade in spices is therefore greatly injured, for +the time; and other Malayan peoples are also hostile to the Portuguese. + +Sande again sends (January, 1579) an expedition to Mindanao and +Sulu, under Captain de Ribera, to secure their submission to Spanish +authority. His instructions lay special stress on proper care for the +health of the troops. The tribute desired from Sulu consists of "two or +three tame elephants." Ribera goes to the Rio Grande of Mindanao, but +can accomplish nothing; for the natives, in terror of the Spaniards, +have abandoned their villages, fleeing to the mountains. Ribera erects +a fort at the delta of the river, and receives the submission of a few +neighboring chiefs; but, as his men are being prostrated by sickness, +he obtains from a friendly _dato_ (chief) a list of the Indian villages +and their population, with such information as he can gather, and +departs--sending a small detachment of troops to pacify the district +of Butuan. Going to Cavite, Ribera finds there a deputation from Sulu, +who bring a little tribute saying that their people have been harassed +by famine ever since Figueroa came, a year before, to demand tribute +from them. Finding upon investigation that this story is true, he +gives back their tributes, receiving instead a cannon which they had +taken from a wrecked Portuguese galley. Ribera then returns to Cebu. + +A royal decree of March 26, 1580, provides for appointments to +fill vacant benefices in the cathedral at Manila The new governor, +Ronquillo de Penalosa, writes to the king (July 17, 1581), asking +whether Manila is to be regarded as his capital and head-quarters, +and giving advice in various matters. Like many such documents, +this is endorsed: "Seen; an answer is unnecessary." + +As some of the Franciscan friars who have come to the Philippines +have preferred to labor in China, Penalosa orders (March 2, 1582) +that no person shall leave the islands without his permission. In a +letter dated June is of that year, he complains to the king that he +has not received the expected reenforcements of men from New Spain; +that the Audiencia of that country (in which is now Sande, superseded +by Penalosa as governor of the Philippines) meddles with his government +and threatens to make trouble for him; and that he needs a competent +assistant in his office. Ternate is now under Spanish control, +and Spain monopolizes the rich spice-trade; Panama is the best +route therefor. An "English pirate," presumably Sir Francis Drake, +has been intriguing with the Malays at Ternate, and the post there +should be more heavily fortified. The newly-appointed bishop, Salazar, +has arrived; on account of his austerity and his wish to dominate, +he is not a favorite with the people. + +_The Editors_ + +April, 1903. + + + +Documents of 1576-78 + + Relation of the Filipinas Islands. Francisco de Sande; June 7, + 1576. + + Relation and description of the Phelipinas Islands. [Francisco + de Sande]; June 8, 1577. + + Bull for erection of the diocese of Manila. Gregory XIII; + February 6, 1578. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; July 29, 1578. + + Indulgence to those who visit Franciscan churches; + Gregory XIII; November 15, 1578. + + +_Sources_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo de +Indias, Sevilla, excepting the papal decrees; the first of these is +from _Doc. ined., Amer. y Oceania_, xxxiv, pp. 72-79, the second from +the _Cronica de la provincia de San Gregorio_ of Fray Francisco de +Santa Ines (Manila, 1892), i, pp. 215, 216. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Rachel +King; the second, by Jose M. Ascensio; the third and fifth, by +Rev. T.C. Middleton, O.S.A.; the fourth, by G.A. England. + + + +Relation of the Filipinas Islands + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +I sailed from the port of Acapulco, Nueva Espana, on the sixth of +April of the year seventy-five, as I had previously informed your +Majesty from that port. On account of setting sail during the calms, +we were delayed, so that it took us seventy-two days to reach the +Ladrones. There we filled our water-butts, and I took on board a large +anchor that I found there that had belonged formerly to the flagship +lost there by Ffelipe de Sauzedo; in the other ship we placed four +small boat-loads of ballast. All this detained us only a day and a +half. On nearing the cape of Spiritu Santo in Tandaya, one of the +Philipinas, our progress was impeded by the vendaval, and our pilots +also gave us considerable trouble, so that I arrived at Manilla on +the twenty-fifth of August of the year seventy-five. On that day I +took possession of the office of governor and captain-general. + +2. Although your Majesty may know better than I the matters I am +about to relate, still, like a country-man, I wish to speak, and +to tell what I myself have experienced. I am informed here that +throughout the entire sea in these latitudes there are two general +seasons. During one, the dry season, the _brisas_, as they are called, +blow from the southeast to the north, finally blowing directly from +the north; while in the other, or wet season, the _vendavales_ blow +from northwest to south-southeast. Thus, during these two seasons, the +winds blow from every point of the compass. For this reason it will be +seen that coming from Nueva Espana, from the east toward this western +region, the brisas would help; while the vendavales, especially the +usual one, which is a south-westerly wind in the channels of these +islands, would impede the progress of the ship. These two general +seasons begin in some years somewhat earlier than in others, and in +some places before they do in others. However, it is quite clear and +evident that by the end of May and the middle of June, the vendaval +begins here from the west (and I believe that this is true of all the +southern sea), and blows strongly night and day. Now if for any reason +it should cease for a moment it would only be to burst forth again with +renewed vigor. Such a period of quietness is called here _calladas_ +["silence"]. The brisa begins in November, and lasts until the end +of May. Between these two general seasons two others exist, called +_bonancas_ ["gentle winds"] which last from the middle of March to the +end of May, and comprise also part of September and October. During +that time the bonanca of April and May is the most prevalent wind, +although other winds are blowing constantly. Should the usually mild +winds prove severe, then the opposite season would develop, so that +in April a vendaval often presents itself, and in September a violent +brisa may blow. These seasons, I think, correspond to those of the +northern sea, as you may be already aware--although I do not know +whether they are at all regular, for the fleets of merchant ships +leave Nueva Spana the middle of April and somewhat later, taking +thirty, forty, and sixty days to reach Havana, a distance of three +hundred leagues. Although the pilots tell us that this is a good time +to sail in a southeast direction, they cannot deny that they endure +very great hardships from the calms caused by the bonanzas. During +this journey from Nueva Espana to Havana, many people have met their +death. Leaving in February in a few days one reaches Havana. But I, +sailing the sixth of April (that is, in the middle of the bonanca +season), did not encounter bad weather, being detained twenty days in +the calms thirty leagues from Nueva Espana. Neither did we encounter +so feeble winds that our progress might have been retarded; nor did +the vendaval of July burst forth before it was due. + +3. I learned in these islands that this city had been burned by a +pirate and that there had been a war. There they asked me for lead, and +I readily complied with their requests, until I was weary of granting +petitions. I thought that we had some lead; but on summoning my men, +and searching for it, only five or six arrobas were found; and that was +in sheets, such as are used to stop leaks in ships. Arriving at Manila, +I could get no lead; and, not being able to obtain it elsewhere, we +took from the sides of the ships somewhat less than seventy arrobas, +some of which was used. With what is left we remain, hoping for the +grace of God; for should not the ship sheathed with lead arrive, I do +not know what would become of this camp of your Majesty. Your Majesty +will understand, then, the condition of affairs here; and will please +have pity and consideration for the men who are serving your Majesty +here, so far away, and with so much hardship and so much danger. + +4. On my arrival, I found Manila in great part burned and +destroyed. Let me relate what occurs here. They say that the kingdom +of China is often invaded by corsairs, and that one named Limahon (or, +as the Chinese call him, Dim Mhon) had committed great depredations +in China, whereby he had amassed great wealth. He was pursued +by his king to the region near the upper point of this island of +Lucon. Near an island about forty leagues from Lucon, he captured a +Chinese merchant-ship that was en route from this city of Manila for +purposes of trade. The merchants carried with them a quantity of gold +and many reals of four Mexicans each, and other things obtained in this +island, which were highly esteemed by them. Demanding with threats, +where they had obtained this gold and silver, he robbed them of their +goods, which they said had been obtained in Lucon, in trade with the +Castilians. A pilot assisted him greatly in his negotiations here, +for he said that the people were quite secure and careless, and were +scattered through many places; and that, if he would come to the +island in a short time, he would find only old people and invalids, +as a galley was about to leave in order to take a captain to Mindanao +and perhaps had already gone, so that there would be no one with whom +to fight. The above-mentioned Limahon believed him, and thereupon came +to the city. On the way, however, at dawn of day, without himself being +seen, he met one of your Majesty's galliots. On this vessel there were +twenty-two people, counting soldiers and sailors. This ship was sent +by Captain Juan de Saucedo, who was in Ylocos, to some villages of +Cinay [Sinay], near by, for provisions. This vessel had been taken +from this city by order of Guido de Lavezares, in order to explore +the province of Cagayan, to which I sent Don Luis de Sahajossa this +last winter. When the corsair saw the galliot, he lowered his small +boats and made an assault upon it; but, although the galliot was badly +equipped, the soldiers defended themselves bravely from the attack of +the small boats. The natives on the coast, say that a bronze falcon +weighing fourteen quintals was fired five times. This falcon was called +"Vigilantib" by the soldiers, on account of this word being used as an +inscription upon it. As the corsair saw what a brave defense they made +against the small boats, he bore down upon them with his whole fleet, +consisting of sixty-two large ships, and with their great fire-bombs +they burned the galley in a very short time. The poor fellows in it +not having confidence in their oars--as they had only four oars to a +bench, the galliot having fifteen benches--those still living threw +themselves into the water. Thus they all perished, either at the hands +of the Chinese or at those of the natives, who are wont to act in this +manner. The Chinese sacked the galley, and placed the "Vigilantib" +and other arms in their ships. This falcon was the greatest loss +sustained by the galley, which was lost because it had been poorly +equipped and had an insufficient number of men; they, as a result, +could not warn Manila and other places. Had they been supplied with +ammunition, it would have been easy to escape; and even, with the +"Vigilantib" alone, to have destroyed their fleet. + +5. With this prize captured from the galliot, the corsair proceeded +toward Manila. At this time a soldier, Sayavedra, sergeant of Juan +de Saucedo, who was in one of the neighboring villages, saw what had +happened, and that the galley had been burned; and he wrote a letter +to this effect to Juan de Saucedo, sending it overland by an Indian +to Vigan, where Saucedo was located with one hundred men. In a short +time Juan de Saucedo saw the ships of the corsair and his armament; +so he sent a virey to advise the people of Manila of what was taking +place. The ships in advance, on discovering the virey, deceived its +occupants, and stood out to sea, to round a promontory, through the bay +of which was coming the deceived virey. The _virey_ is a kind of vessel +used by the natives of these islands; it has but little steadiness, +and always navigates near the shore. While this little boat was going +around the bay, all the ships came upon it at once. The occupants of +the little boat had to run aground, in order to escape with their +lives, and to hide in the hills. Then they took out their weapons, +and paused to see what was taking place. The Chinese broke up the +ship, but did not completely destroy it, and then continued their +journey. The soldiers again took to their vessel, and slowly wended +their way to Manila, arriving there one day after St. Andrew's Day, +at noon, and after the corsair had made the first assault. They spread +the news that Juan de Saucedo was coming from Ylocos with all haste, +for he had found out who Limahon was. These soldiers landed in a +hostile region, that of a certain people called Zambales; they are +very much like the Chichimecos of Nueva Espana, who have no ambition +higher than that of cutting off men's heads. They are accustomed to +the use of bows and arrows. Consequently three soldiers in a rough +country could not have escaped, unless God had kept their boat from +being entirely destroyed by the Sangleyes. + +6. The corsair continued his journey, and, intending to make an attack +at dawn, anchored outside the bay, and sent all his small boats ashore +in charge of some captains, in the early part of St. Andrew's Eve. They +say that the corsair remained with the ships; but that in the boats +there were seven hundred men, among whom were a few arquebusiers, and +many pikemen, besides men armed with battle-axes. [1] They were clad in +corselets which are coats lined with exceedingly thick cotton. They had +durable bamboo hats, which served as helmets; they carried cutlasses, +and several daggers in their belts; and all were barefoot. Their +manner of warfare or of fighting, was to form a squadron composed of +men with battle-axes, among whom were placed some arquebusiers, a few +of the latter going ahead as skirmishers. One of every ten men carried +a banner, fastened to his shoulders and reaching two palms above his +head. There were other and larger banners also, so that it appeared as +if some important personage was coming who served in the capacity of +master-of-camp. These, then, were the people who made the first attack. + +7. The entrance to the bay of this city of Manila is southwest of +Manila. On its southern side, and to the right on entering the +bay, is the port of Cavite, two leagues from Manila. They took +the shorter route, which was safer for their small boats, and came +somewhat late within half a league of Manila without being seen; +for the slight breeze stirring from the east prevented them from +making the assault at daybreak. Manila is on a point or isthmus +running southeast and northwest; and the river encompasses it from +the east to the northwest. They did not enter by the river, in order +not to be seen by the fishermen who are constantly going and coming; +and also for the reason that the bay is very wide at this point, +and they would have to force an entrance, which they did not dare +attempt in their small boats. The pirates therefore began a hurried +march along shore toward the city, dragging their lances. They +arrived at the city somewhere between nine and ten o'clock in the +morning. The first house attacked was that of the master-of-camp, +Martin de Goite; he was sick in bed at the time. Already some natives +had come to him from the shore, shouting at the tops of their voices +that enemies were near, and that the king of Borney was coming down +upon the Castilians. Now as Martin de Goite knew that this was the +season of the brisas, and that it was impossible to come from Borney, +which lies to the southwest, because the wind was dead ahead, and not +believing in the possibility of other enemies, he laughed at the men, +telling them that they were drunken. Meanwhile, the advance-guard of +the squadron was near the house, when he arose, put on a suit of mail, +and took a sword with which to defend himself. It is believed that +the Chinese were passing straight ahead toward the governor's house +and the artillery, guided by the spy whom they brought with them, for +they were stealing along the shore forward. This would have meant the +total destruction of this city and camp; for your Majesty's houses, +being at the extreme end of the point of land made by the sea and the +river, were without any defense. The inhabitants of the city were each +in his own house, and the artillery was lying on the ground dismounted, +the pieces scattered here and there throughout the camp. The point of +the island once occupied, the Spaniards had no place wherein to gather +and fortify themselves, so that they could have a safe position back +of them. God provided this, for it is said that, when the enemies came +marching in line along the seacoast, the wife of Martin de Goite, +the master-of-camp, was looking out of a window which faced the +seacoast. She had a child's helmet on her head, and she called and +beckoned to them, telling them in Castilian that they were dogs, and +that they would all be killed. The Chinese observed this, and learned +from the guide that this was the house of the master-of-camp. They +regarded this as a very important piece of news, and, going to that +house, hurled many fire-bombs, with which they burned it in a very +short time; for it was made, like all the houses there, of wood and +straw. They killed some men who had gathered there; they also killed +the master-of-camp, who had been injured by the fire and wounded by +an arquebuse-shot in one arm, and who threw himself from a window, +on account of the cruel flames. A soldier, although the enemy struck +at him repeatedly with cutlasses and battle-axes, escaped with but +a slight wound. It is believed that if the master-of-camp had left +the house early, he would have escaped; but that he tried to defend +himself in his house, which he was unable to do, on account of his +severe illness. Several other persons were killed there with him. His +wife, who had shouted to them, they stripped, and tore off a ring +which she was slow in drawing from her finger, and a necklace; and +then they stabbed her severely in the neck. She rushed from the house +and hid in the tall grass, thus escaping with her life; and she is now +alive. Another woman and three or four men were killed. In burning that +house, and in the resistance offered there, they were detained some +time; therefore news of this affair reached the city and the house of +the governor, Guido de Lavezares. The first intimation that they had +of the approach of the enemy was the sight of the burning house of the +master-of-camp, which thus revealed it. When the affair at the house +was over, the pirates attempted to proceed once more to the beach. + +The delay at the house was important, for in the meanwhile Captains +Velasquez and Chacon, with what soldiers there were, went to the +seacoast; and from the shelter of the houses facing the beach fired +well-aimed volleys from their arquebuses, whereat a number of the +advance guard fell. Thus was God pleased that with the death of +thirteen or fourteen Spaniards and more than eighty Chinese, the +latter had enough, retreated to their boats, and went away. The +Spaniards did not molest them while they were retreating, on this +day, on account of their own small number of fighting men, and for +fear that such a course might incite those fleeing to return. The +corsairs did not utter a word, nor did they complain, even when they +fell with wounds. Those in command endeavored to induce their men +to press forward, but did not succeed. Most of the Spaniards who +were killed were arquebusiers, who had drawn near in order to take +good aim. Although they did this, so many battle-axes were directed +against them that they were overthrown. Now had there been better +order in keeping the soldiers from making a sally unless commanded, +it is thought that, since there was a body of lancers who could have +met the enemy face to face, none would have been killed except those +in the house of the master-of-camp, where more damage was done them +by fire than by weapons. The corsairs went to the port of Cavite, +where they found their chief with all his fleet; for on seeing the +fire in the city, and hearing the roar of the artillery, he knew that +his men were accomplishing their purpose, and entered the bay, going +straight to the port of Cavite. Those of his men who had gone to the +city in the boats told him that they were unable to finish the affair +or to accomplish more, for the Castilians were a very brave people. + +8. After the flight of the Chinese, a Chinese merchant who was in +the city, Sinsay by name, called upon the governor. He told him the +corsair's name, who he was, and his power. He also stated that he was +a pirate, and not sent by order of his king; and that without doubt +he would return in three days. He advised the Spaniards to fortify +themselves, and to remove the straw from the roofs of your Majesty's +houses, so that they could not be fired--advice which was acted upon. + +9. The corsair Limahon rebuked his captains, and publicly manifested +his disgust at their defeat. Then he summoned his soldiers, paid them +all, and made them great promises. They agreed to rest one day and +to return on the morning of the third day, when he would accompany +them personally--which he did, with his entire fleet. + +10. It seems that Guido Lavezares, on that day, ordered that two +of the principal Moros be arrested and imprisoned, saying that, by +means of them, the Moros would supply him with food. Thereupon the +Moros rebelled, and the prisoners were placed, bareheaded, in the +stocks. This was the occasion of a suit brought against one Osorio, +the constable, in whose house was the prison. He claims that he was +not guilty of the offense, saying that one Sancho Ortiz de Agurto, +sergeant of Captain Velasquez, killed them, or ordered certain slaves +to kill them. The suit was decided accordingly. + +11. The first attack was made on the day of St. Andrew the Apostle. On +Tuesday, the last of September [2] of the year seventy-four, the +captains began the fortifications, making with boards, stakes, +and boxes and barrels filled with sand, a palisade from the river +to the sea. Although it was the best they could build, it was weak +enough. The next day, Wednesday, at noon the three soldiers came to +warn the people, as I have previously mentioned. At nightfall of this +day arrived Juan de Saucedo. As before stated, he had been stationed +in Ylocos with fifty soldiers. He came almost within sight of the +Chinese fleet, and upon entering the bay, took the left-hand side, +leaving the right side of the port to the Chinese. The people were +overjoyed to see him and his soldiers, and that night they assisted +in the work of the fortifications. Very early upon the next day +(Thursday) the Chinese advanced in martial array, as if determined +upon revenge. At four o'clock the whole fleet appeared in front of the +city, in the form of a great crescent, so that they might be there +before daybreak; and three salutes were fired from all the guns of +the whole fleet. Then at dawn they lowered the small boats, finally +disembarking near the house of the master-of-camp, which they had +burned. The chief landed, but it is reported that he did not fight, +or leave, that place, where he remained seated in a chair. He divided +his soldiers there--numbering, it is said, about one thousand men--into +two bodies. Part of them he sent through the principal street of the +city, and the others along the beach. The latter took the same route +as those who arrived on the first day. Besides these two squadrons, +other men were sent along the river-bank. + +12. They were allowed to land, which has been considered a great +mistake; for all along the shore the land is covered with grass high +enough to form a fine ambuscade, where the arquebusiers could easily +have been placed under cover. The corsair might haye been easily +killed with one shot, when he landed in his chair to take command. + +13. This day the pirates, as if previously determined, did not burn +any houses that seemed to be of good quality. They went straight to +the fort, and assailed it vigorously on two sides. They encountered +a strong resistance from the river side and in front, and some of +them were killed. On the side next the sea, the guard of the fort was +entrusted to a sergeant, named Sancho Hortiz de Agurto. He went down +to the shore, leaving the post, where he was stationed to find but +from what quarter the Chinese were coming. They were already so near +that, upon one of the Chinese meeting him, the lance of the latter +must have proved the longer weapon; for he wounded the soldier, who +was armed only with a halberd, in the neck. Either this wound or some +other obliged him to retire; and, upon his doing so, the Chinese shot +him in the back with an arquebuse, which caused his death. They assert +that this must have occurred as narrated, for he was seen to measure +his halbert against the lance of the Chinese. They found him wounded +with a lance-thrust, and the larger hole caused by the bullet was +in his breast, a proof that the bullet left his body there. But his +friends tried to say that while he was fighting with the Sangley, +they shot him in the back--which might have been so; for as the +enemy were forcing their way into the fort, they naturally met with +resistance from those defending that position. Thus according to his +friends, the mistake in leaving the palisade caused the harm. On this +account it happened that, when they forced that position, they found +there the least resistance. About eighty Chinese entered the fort +at that point, and all of them might have done so had they all been +of equal courage. Our soldiers attacked them immediately, with lance +and arquebuse, killing them all, according to report. This result was +aided by the resistance experienced by the assaulters in other parts +of the fort, which forced the Chinese to commence a retreat. Now when +the main division of those who had entered the fort saw the others +retreat, they too retreated and did not enter, abandoning the eighty, +all of whom the Spaniards killed whether they sought flight by land +or sea. On this day they burned the Augustinian church, the church +of the city, and a galley that was grounded near the river; and they +also destroyed an old ship. This galley was about to sail to Mindanao, +as previously stated. Three Spaniards were killed and several wounded +on this day, and mare than two hundred Chinese. The greatest damage +was caused by the fire; for a great fire-bomb fell upon some powder, +which exploded causing the death of two or three other men. + +14. It is said that the corsair Limahon tried to force his men to +remain, but was unsuccessful, so he retired, embarked in his boats, +and set sail with his vessels for the port of Cavite. + +15. It is thought that allowing the Chinese to embark on their retreat +without hindrance was a mistake. Some of the Spaniards did attempt +to prevent them, but the corsair, fearing that this might happen, +sent some boats by sea to the river, so that the Spaniards should +continue their guard, and not hinder the embarkation; and so that they +might believe that those in the boats were reinforcements sent to +take them in the rear. Thus it was believed, regarding it casually, +that if the corsair had had much force and had taken thought in the +beginning to attack in so many different places, he would have done +it; but that either he did not understand this, or did not dare to do +it. Therefore he collected his men, without any damage being inflicted +on him in his retreat. + +16. As the natives of this place, who are Moros, saw what took +place the first day, thinking that the Chinese were victorious, +they all rebelled on the second day. In that short space of time +there gathered around the city of Manila more than ten thousand +Moros, in their little boats, ready to obey the commands of the +corsair. They say, too, that messengers were sent to Cavite, and +the news spread broadcast. Wherever friars were stationed, the Moros +captured and insulted them, threatened them with death, and robbed +them of everything. They defiled the churches, killing goats there; +and slew all the Spaniards possible, and their slaves. It is for this +reason, the soldiers say, that they did not leave the fort, in order +to prevent the departure of the corsairs, for the Moros surrounded +them on all sides. When the Moros knew that the Sangleyes had gone, +and that the Spaniards had been victorious, they set the friars free; +and, little by little, they again became submissive--apologizing for +their revolt because of the chiefs who had been slain in prison. + +17. The artillery was badly mounted, and there was no gunner who knew +how to fire it. If the Spaniards had had sufficient artillery, that +would have proved very effectual; and, as the vessels neared the city, +some of them might have been sent to the bottom. No damage, however, +was done to any vessel, although they were fired upon; so that all +the resistance which they made was with lances and arquebuses. + +18. The corsair went to the port of Cavite with his fleet, and did not +appear again; and not one ship could be found at the dawn of day. He +departed to Ylocos, whence he came. He determined to establish himself +in this island, settling in the province of Pangasinan, in the vicinity +of Ylocos. There he founded a settlement, consisting of a great fort, +in which dwelt all those who had accompanied him; and a counter-fort +in the middle with an excellent and well-constructed house for himself, +where he was recuperating, forty leagues from this city of Manila. + +19. The wall of the fort was very high and built of palm-logs, and the +counter-fort was built of palm-wood planks. When the corsair arrived +there, he seized by treachery several chiefs of that land, through whom +he obtained supplies. He robbed them of all their substance, and, in +general treated them badly. As he had their chiefs, the common people +could not flee; and because the corsair did not kill them, as he had +done with others, they supported and served him. On this account he was +very well supplied with provisions, wood, and other necessary things. + +20. The Spanish people who were not in the city during that attack +were scattered throughout the province of Camarines, one hundred +leagues from here. There were almost a hundred men with a captain in +the island of Cubu, and seventy more in Ylocos under Juan de Saucedo, +who had gone thither to form a settlement, since these men were the +encomenderos of that province. When the corsair went away, a ship +was sent to find out where he had halted; and, upon discovering this, +all the Spanish people were summoned, who came to Manila as quickly as +possible. In the meantime Guido de Lavezares appointed Juan de Saucedo +master-of-camp, and all began preparations to meet the enemy. During +the time of preparation for the expedition, in order to leave the +city in security, they constructed a fort; it is now finished, and +was made by the natives, the wood being paid for at the expense of +your Majesty. Your Majesty's carpenters here also assisted, so that +the work was completed. The master-of-camp, Juan de Saucedo, and all +the Spaniards who had gathered, and were available for the expedition, +were summoned. They numbered about two hundred and fifty-six, together +with two thousand five hundred friendly Indians; and they set out +in fifty-nine native vessels, commanded by Captains Chacon, Chaves, +Rribera, and Rramirez. These officers were instructed to consult +together in regard to whatever the said master-of-camp should freely +and voluntarily communicate to them, as it was he who was conducting +the present undertaking. + +21. They say that the corsair had, in all, about three thousand men +and as many women, whom he had forcibly taken from China and Japan. The +best people that he had were natives of those countries. + +22. The Spaniards left Manila on the twenty-third of March of 75, and +arrived at the river of Pangasinan on Holy Wednesday, the thirtieth +of March. They entered by the bar of the river, two hours before +daybreak; and, without being seen, landed the soldiers and four pieces +of artillery. They selected the spot where the river was narrowest, to +see whether they could obstruct the passage of the Chinese ships. They +sent out spies, who returned with the information that the Chinese +were off their guard, and were careless. Upon this the master-of-camp +sent Captains Chaves and Chacon in haste, with nine vessels, in each +of which were about eight men, with orders to approach the Chinese +boats and to try to capture one or more of them--especially the big +ones, so that he might be able with them to obstruct the bar of the +river. He also sent Captain Ribera with twenty-eight men and some +Indians by land, so that, at the same time when the captains were +examining the river in their ships the former could assault the fort, +in order to divert the people in it, and to enable those on the river +to seize the said vessels. The plan for the enterprise failed, but +success came in an unexpected manner; for it pleased God that, when +the Spanish ships discovered the Chinese, thirty-five Chinese vessels +were setting out to look for supplies for the corsair. As they were +sailing along quite free from care, they caught sight of the Spaniards, +and turned about and fled. It happened that, as the Spaniards pursued +them, firing their arquebuses, the Chinese ships almost ran aground; +whereupon all the men jumped overboard and fled to the fort, abandoning +their ships. The same thing occurred to the sailors of the other fleet, +so that in a moment the entire fleet was captured, together with all +it contained; but it was thoughtlessly fired, and was entirely burned. + +23. By this time, about ten o'clock in the morning, they began fighting +in the fort under Captain Grabiel de Ribera, and had already forced +an entrance. When Captain Chaves heard them from the ships, he went +to their assistance, where he was joined immediately by Captain +Chacon. They succeeded in reaching the first fort, capturing more +than one hundred women and children after killing many of the men. At +this time they set fire to the fort, claiming afterward that it was +done by the Indians. This was a great mistake, for the wind blew the +flames in the faces of the Spaniards, hurting them very much. Some +of the soldiers remained to rob the fort. The master-of-camp did not +go to their assistance with reenforcements--although the captains +say that they notified him that, as they were doing so little on +account of the fire, the Chinese were commencing to make repairs. As +night was approaching, it was necessary for the captains to retire, +leaving the fort which they had gained. If reenforcements of those who +had remained in camp with the master-of-camp had come up then, they +would have captured all the enemy. It is said that the Chinese were +hurrying from the other side of the fort, on their way to the hills. + +24. When Captains Chaves and Chacon left the ships, all were burning; +for either the soldiers or the Indians, it is not known why, set fire +to them, so that, in a moment, they were all ablaze. + +25. On account of the great rejoicing over the unexpected victory, +they overlooked the matter of keeping some of the ships both to +bar up the river, and because they were large and well-equipped, +particularly the flagship of the corsair. The success requisite in +this affair failed through a lack of system in such an occurrence, +as might be expected in fighting with barbarous people. _Item_, the +master-of-camp was lacking in quickness in coming to the rescue upon +hearing the firing on shore, so that at least Captain Ribera's force, +so small, might not be swept away. _Item_, sentinels were lacking, +as well as detachments of men to serve as reenforcements for the sake +of security, and to furnish aid on occasions like the above. + +26. Some of the soldiers went to the master-of-camp, accompanied +by slaves carrying some of the pieces from the fort. They reported +a victory, saying that the fort had surrendered, and that all was +finished. These men went without orders from their captains, but were +not punished; nor was any new action taken, notwithstanding that +the captains assert that they sent reports of the condition of the +war. The captains, upon seeing that the Chinese were losing all fear, +and had wounded some of the men, returned to the camp about sunset, +overcome with fatigue. Had those in camp given aid then, the rampart +would not have been abandoned; but they could have stayed in or behind +it, and victory was certain. The captains say that the soldiers were +very eager, and, as could be seen, fought from ten in the morning; +but that the country is hot, that their weapons were heavy, that the +smoke beat in their faces, and that they saw night approaching without +reenforcements or any food. They even say they would have perished had +they not found a well whence the Chinese drew water for their work; +and this water, although bad, they drank from their helmets, being +refreshed thereby. On account of these conditions they were compelled +to retire to the camp. Upon their arrival at camp, they declare that +they were met by the master-of-camp, Juan de Saucedo, who told them +that, if he were a soldier and not the master-of-camp, he would die +with them, for he was also a soldier to fight with the Chinese. The +said captains and the people generally felt that the master-of-camp +was very much troubled about what had happened--he complaining that +they, despite his order to the contrary, had burned the fleet, and +spent their time with the enemy in the fort; they responding that +he was requiting them very poorly, and that, after they had gained +the day and attained the victory at so great peril to themselves, +he spoke such words through envy, that he proved his treachery, and +refused to aid them in their necessity. From this arose many slanders, +hate, and differences of opinion among the soldiers, that God alone +can dispel. It is certain that there was a lack of persons who could +direct such a battle, and the day was certainly the luckiest, as well +as the least systematic, that could be imagined. A few of the men +were wounded and five were killed on account of their lack of order, +and because they waited until the enemy were recuperated. + +27. A council was held, the following night, by the master-of-camp and +the captains. Some of the latter thought it expedient to make an attack +the next morning, before the corsair should regain his courage. As this +was the prevailing opinion, the master-of-camp went with all his men +to make an assault. On nearing the fort, they heard rumors and opinions +that the place was already being fortified. The master-of-camp retired +his forces, saying that it was not convenient to make the assault, +or to expose the few Spaniards that your Majesty had here to so much +danger. Now at this time there arose a great difference of opinion, +caused by private interposition. It certainly was a mistake not to make +the assault on that day, for the day before counted for but little; +and a captain offered to reconnoiter the weakest part, and to lead +in the assault. + +28. After this retreat, they encamped near the enemy, on the islet +formed by the river, which runs north and south. The enemy were on +the northern side and the Spaniards on the southern. It was a good +thing to have located so near the enemy, if they had immediately made +a defense for the artillery, which could have been done with stakes +and earth. That should have been done before it was established there; +but they took up their position before they had made the bulwark. + +29. By this time the corsair had regained his courage, and ordered +certain of his guns fired at the camp. The "Vigilantib," which had +been captured from the galley, as abovesaid, shattered the leg of a +standard-bearer of the master-of-camp, striking him in the middle of +the shin-bone. This man was healed, and is now living. This catastrophe +caused such an impression, that they resolved to move the camp from +the island to the mainland, so that the river might intervene between +them and the spot occupied by the corsair. It was a great mistake +followed by still greater ones. The affair became a long siege, +and they amused themselves in gambling freely, in levying tribute, +and in other like things. + +30. The corsair was not expecting an assault by the Spaniards, so his +fort was not completed, lacking the terreplein; and his artillery was +unmounted, and no sentinels were placed. He had made no preparations +for war, beyond what a colonist might do. But now he hurried to make +preparations and to defend his cause. He sent out squadrons from time +to time with lances and arquebuses to fight--although he himself did +not leave the fort for the battle, but from within gave his signals +of retreat or attack. + +31. The master-of-camp only made some ambuscades, prolonging the +siege. It is certain that the Spaniards never fought the Chinese with +all their men, force to force. Although the Chinese leader sent out +five hundred or six hundred men, who pretended to show fight, they +generally fled when fifty of the Spaniards came out. It is certain +that, force to force, the Chinese would not wait to fight; and if +by the help of God they remained they would be routed, although they +had three times as many men, for they are not a warlike race. It is +also certain, and all acknowledge it to be true, that the Spaniards +desired to fight hand to hand, and to make the assault. They always +did their duty, fighting like valiant men, although there were some +cowardly ones, as all bodies have their weak side. + +32. On account of the space given to the corsair, the latter was able +to delay things and to do some damage. For instance some soldiers were +imprudently sent to form some small ambuscades; but the Chinese were +warned of them, and made a counter ambuscade. Of the seven soldiers +who left the camp, the Chinese killed and captured five, and the +other two fled. It was exceedingly foolhardy to send so few men out +in a case like this, and caused great harm, for it made the Chinese +more daring. The master-of-camp left camp with about twenty men to +form another ambuscade, contrary to the advice of the captains. This +also proved unsuccessful, although, as help came, the Chinese retired +without doing any damage. + +33. As the corsair had no ships, he sent men out to cut wood, and +as all his soldiers were good workmen, they soon constructed thirty +ships within the fort. With these he set sail at noon on the fourth +of August, having been besieged within the fortifications for over +four months. He directed his ships toward his own country, but, as he +left, he committed some damage with the "Vigilantib." At this time +the Spaniards feared that, when the ships were leaving, they were +about to attack them; and that some column was about to take them in +the rear. For this reason they fortified their rear-guard strongly +when the corsair left. It was ludicrous to expect that the Chinese +were coming to attack them, when with all their squadrons they never +dared once to measure their strength with ours. + +34. Before this the Spaniards had filled the river with stakes, +to retard the progress of the corsair, but the latter removed +them. He compelled some of his men to enter the water; and ropes +being tied to the shoulders of these men, they removed, although with +considerable difficulty, a sufficient number of the stakes to clear +the vessels. While he was removing the stakes, the Spaniards stationed +arquebusiers and as large a force as they were able; but in this there +was negligence in not opposing the enemy with better arquebusiers. + +35. They say that the corsair sent offers of friendship to the +Spaniards, saying that he would introduce us to the kingdom of China +and assist us in conquering the same. In regard to this there was +no further discussion; because he asked as a condition that the +siege should be raised, and that the Spaniards should go to Manila, +where he would return, in order to adjust the matter. Then, too, +Omocon, a captain of the king of China, was in that city, who had +come to locate the corsair, besides Sinsay, and others, which made +the Spaniards suspicious of admitting these discussions. + +36. It seems that in the kingdom of China this corsair, Limahon, had +done much damage; and the king was at a great expense and trouble in +maintaining garrisons along the frontier where he was wont to commit +his frequent depredations. The governors of the province of Hoquian +sent two ships in charge of a Chinese captain, named Omocon, sent by +the governor of Chinchiu, who bears the title there of _Yncuanton_, +to spy upon Limahon, in order to send a fleet against him. This +same Omocon also brought letters containing a pardon from the king, +in case he should fall into the hands of Limahon. He brought letters +also to the principal married men with Limahon, promising them many +things, if they would kill the corsair and return to the service of +their king. This Omocon arrived at Pangasinan after the burning of +the enemy's fleet, and after the attack made on the fort the first +day. He spoke with the master-of-camp asserting that their enemy +was a pirate; and that if the Spaniards would take him prisoner or +kill him, the king of China would recompense them by entering into +friendly and brotherly relations with them. He also said that monuments +would be set up in the king's city, and in other public places, with +inscriptions describing the heroic feats of the Castilians, who would +not come to terms with Limahon, but on the contrary had killed him +in order to do the king of China a favor. This Omocon, when he saw +that the corsair was defeated and without any hope of getting ships, +and ascertained that Limahon could not engage in a pitched battle, +and concluding that the consummation had come, said that he would go +to notify the Yncuanton of Chinchiu. Then he offered to take some of +the religious with him, saying that he would take as many as wished +to go. Accordingly the master-of-camp sent him to Manila, and Guido +de Lavezares gave him a certain present to take to China. Fathers +Fray Martin de Errada, a native of Navarra, and Fray Geronimo Martin, +a native of Mexico, went with him. A soldier named Miguel de Loarca, +and another called Pedro Sarmiento, also accompanied them. They reached +Pangasinan where they took two other soldiers with them, Nicolas de +Cuenca and Juan de Triana. They took also as interpreter a Chinese, +named Hernando, who understood Spanish. The above-mentioned Sinsay +also went with them. A large vessel belonging to Omocon was left in +Pangasinan with thirty or forty Chinese; Omocon said that he did so, +in order that they might be of service to the camp. The fathers and +soldiers went to China with Omocon, and what they saw there they have +since related. [3] + +37. It is believed that it was a mistake to let Omocon go, because +with the two ships that he took, and the one that remained there, it +might have been possible to close up the passage of the river. However +at the time of the departure of the corsair minor matters should not +be classed with errors. + +38. When the friars reached China, they carried letters with +them. They were there four or five months, and might have remained +there, but the governors did not agree to that. Because of their +eagerness to see Limahon, the governors despatched a fleet of ten +ships, and with it the fathers and Spaniards, on the pretext that, +if it were necessary for the Chinese to assist in the war, the latter +would lend their aid. They appointed Sinsay captain, and Omocon a +captain of higher rank. On the way, these men falsified the letters +given them by Guido de Lavecares, writing others that said that they +were at the front, and fought valiantly, encouraging the Castilians +when the latter burned the fleet and demolished the fort; as a reward +for which they gave in money, to each one, besides the captaincy, +four hundred silver taes, each tae of the value of twelve Castilian +reals. These captains had with them as captain-general another +Chinese, named Siaogo, an insignificant, mean-looking, little +old man. It is said that he had been a corsair when young. When +these people came to this island and learned that Limahon had gone, +they cried for very rage and bitterness--especially Omocon, who had +solemnly averred that the corsair could not escape. They brought a +slight present with them, of a few pieces of silk and cotton shawls, +and also letters. A part of the present was for the governor, another +for the master-of-camp, another for the captains, and the rest for +the soldiers. Their portion was given to the captains by the Chinese +and friars. That which was destined for the governor I received, +and am sending it by this same packet to your Majesty, so that you +may see their way of doing things. I am sending also some cloth, such +as they wear, five bonnets, a belt that indicates that the wearer is +a captain, and the original letters that came from China translated +into Spanish--one of them having the equivalent Spanish words under +the Chinese and the letter telling about the present. From these it +will be seen that their writing does not consist of letters, but of +syllables or symbols. They brought with them thirteen horses as a +present or as purchases. These beasts are full of bad habits, like +those of Galicia. One horse was given there and here to the governor, +and was delivered to the officials of your Majesty's royal estate, +that they may sell it, and place the proceeds in the box with the three +keys. The rest of the horses were sent to their respective owners. + +39. These ten ships brought some merchandise to sell, although but +little, which they sold at very high rates. They are a mean, impudent +people, as well as very importunate. They remained in this port more +than six months, and demanded a present to carry back with them--saying +that the good will of their commanders would thus be gained; and that, +if this present were made to them, it would stand the Spaniards in good +stead in their land. Inasmuch as it was reported that Limahon had fled, +and as these people are as cowardly as Indians, they begged me to write +to China that Limahon was dead. For this purpose, they tried to procure +many human heads, which many natives of this land are wont to keep as +treasures, in order to declare that they had that of Limahon. They +made a false seal, claiming that it had belonged to Limahon, from +whom they had taken it. They endeavored to have me write to China +from here after this manner, but I always told them, whenever they +broached the subject, that the Castilians did not know how to lie, +and that we could not discuss such trivial matters. I consulted the +captains and religious concerning the present, and we agreed that it +was not convenient to send one, but that we would furnish them with +provisions. Therefore we supplied them generously, and they left this +port on the fourth of May of the year seventy-six. They took with them +two fathers, Fray Martin de Errada and Fray Augustin de Alburquerque, +and my letters, a copy of which I am sending, as well as an order +for the fathers to remain there to preach. The Chinese did not take +any Spaniards with them; however, they begged for some of our people, +later, thinking that the latter would take something to give them or +which they could seize. During their stay here I treated them very +well, but there is no way of softening their hearts, except by means +of gifts--although, to my way of thinking, weapons would avail more. + +40. The kingdom of China is very large. It is a two days' journey +from the head of this island thither for Spanish ships. Sailing from +this port one day until one loses sight of land, on the next day China +is seen. They themselves call their country "the kingdom of Taibiu;" +those of the Yndias, and other peoples, call it China. This means "a +very remote land," just as in Castilla they called Nueva Espana and +Peru "Las Antillas." Thoughout these islands they call the Chinese +"Sangleyes," meaning "a people who come and go," on account of their +habit of coming annually to these islands to trade--or, as they say +there, "the regular post." Here they style the Portuguese, "Parangue," +taking the name from _margaritas_ [pearls]. They were given this name, +because they were the first who sold pearls. The captains describe +the kingdom of Taibiu in the following manner: + +It has fifteen provinces, with viceroys, while the people out-number +those of Germany. The king is now a child of thirteen. He has a mother +and tutors, and it is about three years since his father died. The +people are light complexioned, well-built, and robust. There are some +who resemble mulattoes, who are badly treated. + +41. The men and women both wear long garments, like the one that I +am sending so that your Majesty may see it. All wear wide trousers +[Sp. _caragueles_], black or white felt hose, and shoes. The country +is cold like Espana, but there are some warm regions. It has a great +many people. + +42. They are heathens, and do absurd things. They do not use the +rosary, and have no religious observances or ornate temples. If some +temples do exist, only mechanical rites are performed in them. They +are a vile people, and are sodomites, as is affirmed by Spaniards who +have seen young boys present themselves before the justice to ask +the amount of the fine for the crime of violation, and frankly pay +it. They are all tyrants, especially those in authority, who oppress +the poor heavily. + +43. They are a cowardly people--so much so, that none ride on +horseback, although there are many horses there, because they do not +dare to mount them. They do not carry weapons, nor do they use spurs +on the horses. They use the whip and bridle, which do not have much +effect on the horse. + +44. There are a great many robbers or highway-men, robbing along the +highways or off them. They are very lazy; they do not cultivate the +ground unless some one forces them to it, and they do not collect the +harvest. They sell their children, in case of poverty, for a small +sum of money with which to buy food. + +45. All the land belongs to the king, and no one in all the kingdom +owns a handful of earth; accordingly each man must pay, in proportion +to the amount of land that he uses, tribute to the king. + +46. They know nothing, unless it be to read and write; and those who +can do this well are made great captains by the king. + +47. They talk slowly, very explosively, and arrogantly. Our manner +of writing astonishes these people, as well as our way of living, +which they think better than their own. + +48. When they effect a cure by blood-letting, they scrape the skin +until the blood comes, and with lighted wicks cauterize the wounds; +they also give the patient certain potions about which they have +learned by experience. + +49. They always drink hot water. They heat this on the fire, and +water their wine, which they drink hot. They pretend to a knowledge +of chiromancy, but know nothing about it. + +50. They are very superstitious in casting lots. When they crossed the +bar of this port, this superstition affected the flagship in which +the fathers had embarked, and the captain had to have the lot taken +by divination, and had the friars, whom he was carrying, changed to +another ship. However, the truth is that the change was made so that +they would have more freedom to pursue their customary vices. + +51. They are very submissive to authority, and patiently suffer the +punishments inflicted. For a very slight offense an ear will be cut +off, or a hundred lashes of the whip given. The land is fertile. The +horses are small and the cows are like those of Berberia. It is +reported that farther inland are horses capable of bearing armed men. + +52. No sheep are found along the coast, but there are said to be some +inland. On my asking them what Castilian products were lacking in their +country, they replied, "None whatever, unless it be velvet;" and they +say that they do not have this, because they do not know how to make +it, but that if they could see that manufacture, they would learn it. + +53. They say that inland there are vines from which they make wine, +and olives. At the rear, this kingdom joins Tartaria; and a great +many years ago, they do not know how many, the natives established +the king of Tartaria in Taybiu, and he and his descendants ruled it +for one hundred and seventy years, until, after four generations, +they were expelled. Now one of the descendants of the native kings +of Taybiu reigns, and wages constant war with the Tartars, of whom +they say they are not afraid. They can reckon time only by the years +of their king, and therefore lose count easily; for, as soon as one +king dies, no further mention is made of him, and they reckon time by +the first or second year of the reign of the new king, and no other +memory of the preceding king endures. In another manner they reckon +the months by moons, and have eleven months to the year. It is quite +usual for that land to change masters; but it has always had a king, +either of their own nation or a foreigner. They count as their New +Year's the first of February. + +54. The king and the chief priest dress in yellow, as a mark of +distinction, no one else being allowed to use this color. + +55. The smallest province has more inhabitants than Nueva Espana +and Piru together. The cities are large, but contain mean little +houses. The people are generally poor. There are no gold or silver +coins, but everything is sold by weight. There are some copper and +bronze coins for small change. There is gold and a great deal of +silver. One peso [weight] of gold is worth four pesos of silver, +according to their calculation. For so many pesos of silver so many +of silk are obtained, and so with other things. + +56. Everything is sold by weight, even wood and chickens, and all +other things; they are sold very cheaply, for land is very cheap. + +57. Wheat and rice are raised abundantly. There are mines of gold, +silver, quicksilver, copper, lead, tin, and all the metals. + +58. It takes a week, generally, to make the voyage from Manila to +Chiunchiu [the modern Chwan-Chow-Foo], a distance of about one hundred +and forty leagues. It is said that the journey has been made in fair +weather in six days, and has never required more than ten. + +59. These people never travel by water except during the months of +the bonancas, which I have explained. Their ships cannot stand the +wind astern, because both bow and stern have the same form and are +flat, like a square table; they are so made in order that either end +can be used. They navigate always, in either direction, by means of +side-winds. These vessels rock to and fro, like cradles with oars. + +60. The sails of their ships are made of bamboo, like matting. They +do not use a yard on the mast, but raise the mainsail on the mast +fastened to a pole as an infantry flag is placed on a pike; and the +sheets hang down from the other side with which the sail is turned to +this or that side, according to the direction of the wind. The sail is +half the width of the ship, and the mast is large and high. The sail +is raised by means of a windlass, which contrivance is used also for a +capstan. The rigging is made of reeds and grass, which grow wild. The +mast is stepped about two-thirds of the length of the ship nearer the +prow, in order that the ship may pitch forward. The foremast is not +stationary, being moved to port or starboard, according to the weather +or other requirements. The sheets are worked in the same way. The +compass is divided for fewer directions than ours. They also use +stern-masts as mizzen-masts, which, like that at the bow, are changed +from one side to the other, so that they do not need quadrants. They +go from one side to the other with the wind which helps them. They +use two oars at the bow to turn the ship, and two others at the stern +that assist the sailing. The compass consists of a small earthenware +jar, on which the directions are marked. This jar is filled with +water and the magnetized needle placed in it. Sometimes before they +happen to strike it right, they could go to the bottom twenty times, +thus, although it is marvelous, considering that they are a barbarous +people, that they should understand the art of navigation, it is very +surprising to see how barbarous are their methods. + +61. All their arms, for both sea and land, are fire-bombs. They have +quantities of gunpowder, in the shape of loaves. Their artillery, +although not large, is poor. They have also, and quite commonly +poor, culverins and arquebuses, so that they depend mainly on their +lances. I am informed that they do not fear the arquebuses very much, +because they themselves are so poor shots with them, and are amazed +at seeing a hen or a pigeon killed with an arquebuse-shot. They fear +lances more than other weapons. + +62. The chief captains and the king never cut their finger-nails, +and allow one to grow as long as the finger, and longer. These go to +war seated in chairs, carried on the shoulders of other men. They +frequently become intoxicated, and are very libidinous. They +guard their women very carefully. The women also do not cut their +finger-nails. When daughters are born to people of rank, they compress +the child's feet by the toes, so that they cannot grow; and the girl +cannot stand on them, but is always carried about seated. For this +reason, these women never leave the house. + +63. The men have as many wives as they can support. They wear their +hair long, gathered up on top of the head, as women dress their hair. + +64. None but a few principal people ever see the face of the king, +and those only who are near him. His face is always covered when he +goes out, and he is accompanied by a numerous guard. + +65. The king resides in the province of Paquian, in a city called +Quincay, mentioned by Marco Polo, the Venetian, [4] in his second +book, and sixty-fourth chapter. According to the account given by +these, people, their country must have been ruled by the Tartars +before Marco Polo made that voyage, because in his history he refers +to the master of this city, and of others in the kingdom, as "the +great Khan." I believe that the strange people and language must have +changed the names of many of the provinces in his time. Although he +writes briefly, and in such a way that it seems but nonsense, still it +is true that this city does exist; and, according to the statements +of the Chinese, the name means in their language "City of Heaven," +as says Marco Polo. This city of Quincay, as nearly as we can learn, +seems to be somewhat less than five hundred leagues from Manila, +which is to those living here as Cales and the mainland of Espana, +and if more of our people could go in one virey, everything would be +changed. These people do not extol Quincay less than Marco Polo does. + +66. Marco Polo says that there are in that city Nestorian +Christians. The people here cannot pronounce the name, but claim that +there are people in it from all over the world in great numbers. The +people there are very vicious, as are those in these islands, which +are really an archipelago of China, and their inhabitants are one +people with the Chinese--as are those of Candia and of Constantinople, +who are all Greeks. + +67. There are walls in the city formed of smooth, dry stone, well +placed on the outside. The food consists mainly of fish, for which they +go out into the sea to a distance of twenty leagues. Whoever should +prove master of the sea might do with them as he wished--especially +along their coast, which extends north and south for more than five +hundred leagues, where one may work daily havoc. Their garrisons of +soldiers along the coast are worthless, for they are treated only +as the servants of the commanders, and are overburdened; the result +is that the lowest and most abused people among the Chinese are +the soldiers. + +68. The people generally have no weapons, nor do they use any. A +corsair with two hundred men could rob a large town of thirty thousand +inhabitants. They are very poor marksmen, and their arquebuses are +worthless. + +69. The trade with China is very disadvantageous to the Spaniards, +as well as to the inhabitants of these islands; for the only useful +thing that they bring is iron, and nothing else. Their silks are of +poor quality; and they take away our gold and silver. Just so long +as their intercourse with us endures without war, just so much the +more skilful will they become; and all the less fear will they have +of those with whom they have traded. + +70. Some Indians, Japanese, and Chinese told me here that the +Portuguese have taken weapons to China, especially arquebuses such as +we use; and a Chinese sold me a Portuguese broadsword. The Portuguese +could teach them the use of large artillery, how to manage the horse, +and other things equally injurious to us. As they are merchants, +it would not be surprising that they should do so. Does not your +Majesty think that it would be well to hasten this expedition, and +to do so at once? For, in truth, it is the most important thing that +could happen for the service of God and of your Majesty. We are told +that there are millions of men, and that their tribute to their king +is thirty millions or more. + +71. The equipments necessary for this expedition are four or six +thousand men, armed with lances and arquebuses, and the ships, +artillery, and necessary munitions. + +72. With two or three thousand men one can take whatever province he +pleases, and through its ports and fleet render himself the most +powerful on the sea. This will be very easy. In conquering one +province, the conquest of all is made. + +73. The people would revolt immediately, for they are very badly +treated. They are infidels, and poor; and, finally, the kind treatment, +the evidences of power, and the religion which we shall show to them +will hold them firmly to us. + +74. There is enough wood in these islands, and enough men to make a +great fleet of galleys. In all the islands a great many corsairs live, +from whom also we could obtain help for this expedition, as also from +the Japanese, who are the mortal enemies of the Chinese. All would +gladly take part in it. Some native corsairs would also join us, +and introduce us into the country. + +75. The war with this nation is most just, for it gives freedom to +poor, wretched people who are killed, whose children are ravished by +strangers, and whom judges, rulers, and king treat with unheard-of +tyranny. Each speaks ill of his neighbor; and almost all of them +are pirates, when any occasion arises, so that none are faithful to +their king. Moreover, a war could be waged against them because they +prohibit people from entering their country. Besides, I do not know, +nor have I heard of, any wickedness that they do not practice; for +they are idolators, sodomites, robbers, and pirates, both by land +and sea. And in fact the sea, which ought to be free according to +the law of nations, is not so, as far as the Chinese are concerned; +for whosoever navigates within their reach is killed and robbed, +if they can do it. One day I called Captain Omocon, telling him in +confidence that I wished to send a ship to trade with China, and he +told me in friendship and all sincerity not to send that galley until +I had ten more well equipped to accompany it; for the Chinese were +so evilly inclined that, they would under some pretext try to attack +and capture it, in order to rob it of its goods, and make slaves of +the crew. It is safe to say that, no matter what good we might do +them, they will always give us daily a thousand causes for a just +war. Now my opinion is, may it please your Majesty, that it would +be an advantage to have a sufficient force of soldiers, so that, +under any circumstance whatsoever, they may find us ready. + +76. Moreover, we live so near them that in five days they can +come hither in their ships, while we in two days can sail in ours +from one coast to the other; and, as we have seen, they are wont to +commit depredations (as was the case in this city). Therefore, this +course of action will quite prevent the execution of their plans, +which I know--namely, that if they are able they will kill me, and +are seeking occasion for it. + +77. I offer myself to serve your Majesty in this expedition, which +I desire so much that I cannot overrate it. If for this reason +your Majesty is inclined to put less trust in me as a loyal vassal +and servant, let some one else to your liking take charge of this +expedition, even if I do not go on it, provided it is undertaken +at your Majesty's command. Since I shall have been your Majesty's +impelling motive, I shall remain satisfied; and it will be a sufficient +reward for my poor services to have recommended it so earnestly in this +manner. If it had pleased God to endow me with great wealth, I would +not hesitate to spend on this expedition my entire patrimony whenever +your Majesty should so command. In beginning a battle, the business +would be finished, for there is not a man in that whole kingdom +who has an income of one hundred ducats or a palm's length of land; +nor is there one who considers it a disgrace to be given two hundred +lashes. They are a mercenary horde, accustomed to serve foreigners. + +78. The kingdom inland, from what I have learned from men who know, +is not so large, nor does it extend so far as they say--namely, +that it requires a journey of seven months to reach the place where +the king lives. There are about five hundred leagues of seacoast +running north and south. It is wonderful to see the number of +people and the eagerness that they display in their duties and +occupations. Besides the ordinary tribute, they say that the king +has a million paid soldiers to oppose the Tartars, at the wall [5] +made by both nations. With this I send a Chinese map, from which one +can learn something, although the Chinese are so barbarous, as will +be seen from their papers. + +79. In a letter from China, from the Yncuanton (as they are barbarians, +and the real information that they possess of us is that our numbers +are but two hundred men), he states (I know not what the words are, +but they mean "tribute"), that a present taken by the Chinese the past +year, before my arrival, was placed in the king's treasury. As Omocon +falsified the letters that he took from here, as the friars told me on +their return, and as he even stole a large part of that present--he +must have said, that it was through his efforts that the fleet of +the corsair Limahon was burned, when he joined the Castilians; and +that the latter would send the corsair to their king. Afterward they +tried to induce us to write from here in accordance with their desires, +as I have said before. I treated them kindly, but the council decided +that the Chinese should take no present, since it might happen that +they would steal it; but that two priests should go to that land, +who should carry letters and instructions from me, and should send +back an answer, to ensure better success. + +80. It is said that every three years the king changes the viceroys +in China, because of his knowledge that they have robbed the whole +country; also that those in command there resist the king's authority, +as soon as they end their terms of office, and persuade others to do +the same. In short, as no one can or does speak to the king or his +viceroys except through a third party, they never tell the truth, +and thus the whole country is in a state of infidelity and barbarism. + +81. Concerning the demarcations, it is perfectly clear that the Malucos +and all the rest extending from Malaca toward this direction, including +Burney, the whole coast of China, Lequios, the Japanese islands, and +Nueva Guinea are in the demarcation of your Majesty. The Portuguese +pass the limits of their demarcation by more than five hundred leagues, +and are busied in fortifying themselves. However, it is not necessary +to take any notice of their fortifications; for, if ordered to do so, +we can go to Maluco very easily. We are only awaiting the will of your +Majesty. The Chinese bring here quantities of pepper which, as well +as cloves, they sell for four reals a libra--and one hundred nutmegs +for the same amount. This year, they told us, there are no Portuguese +in China; for they all gathered at Malaca, because of the war waged +against them by the king of Achen. Others who have come here, have told +us that they were not in Malaca either; but I did not believe it. I +believe only that the Chinese like our trade better because of the +silver from Mexico and the gold from these regions; and that business +with the Portuguese is business transacted with corsairs. Among other +reasons why your Majesty should, without hesitation, despatch troops +as soon as possible to this land, is that the king of Achen--who is a +wretched, little, naked, barefooted Moro--is treating the Portuguese +very badly. This ill-treatment arises from the fact that five or +six hundred Turkish arquebusiers have come to him from Mec[c]a, +and with their help he is conquering all the region thereabout. This +territory is about the same distance from Malaca as Berberia is from +Andalucia. Malaca is on the coast of China itself, which at that point +turns toward the north. In that region we find two more petty kings, +one of Cian [Siam] and the other of Patan [Pahang?], both Moros. They +are about three hundred leagues from us here, while about one hundred +and fifty leagues from us is the king of Borney--who is also a Moro, +and in constant communication with the first named kings; and the whole +archipelago would very willingly render obedience and pay tribute to +him, if we were not here. These Moros of Borney preach the doctrine of +Mahoma, converting all the Moros of these islands. I have investigated +the matter so that, whenever God pleases, if we have forts and troops +in this land, we might aid the Portuguese, in order that the petty +king of Achen might be subdued--who persistently continues to send +out his Mahometan preachers. As I before remarked, he has Turks in +his service; accordingly, by depriving them of that vantage-point, +the passage would be closed, and neither Turks nor Moros could travel +from Malaca to this place. These are the most dangerous people, and +know the use of all manner of arms, and of horses. Waiting for the +Portuguese to do something is a weariness to the flesh, for they are +a poor people at best. Nearly all the inhabitants here were born in +Yndia, and are children of Indians. + + + +_Condition of the Country_ + + +82. These Philipinas islands are numerous and very extensive. The +climate is hot and damp. There is no protection from the sun, as +the houses are built of stakes and bamboo and the roofs are made +of palm leaves. Notwithstanding all this the country is healthy. At +night there is an agreeable temperature, and during the day are the +flood-tides of the sea. There is water in abundance. The evening dew +is not harmful. If there were the same protection from the sun that +exists in Sevilla, this country would be as healthy--and some places +more so, if one lives temperately (especially as regards continence), +and does not imbibe too freely; for the penalty for immoderate living +is death. The food here is rice, which is the bread of this country. It +is cultivated in the following manner. They put a basketful of it into +the river to soak. After a few days they take it from the water; what +is bad and has not sprouted is thrown away. The rest is put on a bamboo +mat and covered with earth, and placed where it is kept moist by the +water. After the sprouting grains have germinated sufficiently, they +are transplanted one by one, as lettuce is cultivated in Espana. In +this way they have abundance of rice in a short time. There is another +crop of rice, which grows of itself, but it is not so abundant. Wine +is made from the cocoa-palm, from rice, and from millet, and they +have _ajonjoli_ [6]--but of all these only a little, because the +people are Indians. There is plenty of fish, but it is not so good +as that of Espana. The same fowl are found here as in Castilla, but +they are much better than those of Castilla. There are many swine, +deer, and buffalo, but he who wishes them must kill them himself, +because no native will kill or hunt them. Meat spoils very quickly +here on account of the heat. + +83. The soil is very fertile--better than that of Nueva Espana; and +the rains come at about the same season. There is no such thing as +a bad year, unless some hurricane works damage. + +84. The people here are naked, and barefoot. They wrap a cotton cloth +around their loins. Those who possess such a thing wear a little cotton +or China silk shirt. They are people capable of much toil. Some are +Moros, and they obtain much gold, which they worship as a god. All +their possessions are gold and a few slaves, the latter being worth +among them five or six pesos each. They do not let their hair hang +but wind a small turban about the head. They believe that paradise +and successful enterprises are reserved for those who submit to the +religion of the Moros of Borney, of which they make much account. They +do not eat pork, and believe many foolish notions that tend toward +superstition. These are a richer people, because they are merchants, +and, with their slaves, cultivate the land. There are other natives who +tattoo themselves, and wear long hair, as the Chinese do. They are a +poorer and fiercer race. All carry weapons, such as daggers and lances, +and possess some artillery. No reliance can ever be placed on either +of these races. They all settle on the shores of rivers, on account +of the convenience for their fields, and because they can communicate +with one another, and go in their little boats to steal. They hardly +ever travel by land. Inland in the islands, and away from the rivers, +dwells another race who resemble the Chichimecos [7] of Nueva Espana, +very savage and cruel, among whom are some negroes. All use bows and +arrows, and consider it very meritorious to kill men, in order to keep +the heads of the slain as ornaments for their houses. They are the most +despised people in these islands, and are called _Tinguianes_ [8] or +"mountaineers;" for _tingue_ means "mountain." They have quantities +of honey and wax, and trade these commodities with the lowlanders. As +these islands are so fertile, there are large groves which are called +_arcabucos_ ["thickets"]. Thus there are no open roads, for which +reason the Spaniards experience difficulty in moving rapidly on land, +while the natives can easily flee from one end to the other. + +85. Most of the Indians are heathens, but have no intelligent belief, +or any ceremonies. They believe in their ancestors, and when about to +embark upon some enterprise commend themselves to these, asking them +for aid. They are greatly addicted to licentiousness and drunkenness, +and are accustomed to plunder and cheat one another. They are +all usurers, lending money for interest and go even to the point +of making slaves of their debtors, which is the usual method of +obtaining slaves. Another way is through their wars, whether just or +unjust. Those who are driven on their coast by storms are made slaves +by the inhabitants of that land. They are so mercenary that they +even make slaves of their own brothers, through usury. They do not +understand any kind of work, unless it be to do something actually +necessary--such as to build their houses, which are made of stakes +after their fashion; to fish, according to their method; to row, +and perform the duties of sailors; and to cultivate the land. The +mountaineers make iron lance-points, daggers, and certain small +tools used in transplanting rice. They are very anxious to possess +artillery, of which they cast a little, although but poorly. They +are all a miserable race. Although the Pintados behave better to +the Spaniards, yet, whenever they find one alone, they kill him, +and the Moros do the same whenever they can. + +86. When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to these islands, he settled +in the island of Cubu, which is very barren and small. When he went +thence, he went to Panae, on account of the war waged against him by +the Portuguese, and the famine there, which was very severe. With +but little acuteness, he established a settlement in Cubu, with +about fifty inhabitants; and built a little fort of stakes, which +soon tumbled down. Although the country is healthful, it is so +barren that no one cares to live there; neither is it an important +place. I have established this place and rebuilt the ruined fortress; +and I have placed there an alcalde mayor and about fifty soldiers +who have pacified those natives. The latter had risen in rebellion, +at the opportunity afforded by the tyrant Limahon. That islet is next +another called Mindanao, a large and rich island--where, God willing, +we must make an expedition soon. This settlement is of no advantage, +and causes expense and no gain, beyond saying that it is near Maluco; +nor does it possess other good qualities than that it claims to have +a good climate and port. + +87. The Malucos are nearer to Nueva Espana than this city is, by two +hundred leagues; so that it would be easier and shorter to reach +them from Nueva Espana. On returning, the season could be chosen +better, as there are no channels or islands to go through, as we +have here. Among these islands there are certain currents which flow +more rapidly than those of any river. One cannot believe this unless +one actually sees it. And as the archipelago is so extensive, at the +doubling of each promontory it is needful to choose a different time +for sailing. For this reason we need vessels with oars. Meanwhile, +unless your Majesty orders it, we shall not go to Maluco. If we had +to go there, it would be better to locate in that village in Mindanao, +which is well supplied with provisions and where there are people. It +is more than one hundred leagues nearer than Maluco. + +88. When your Majesty was pleased to give Miguel Lopez de Legaspi +permission to divide the land into encomiendas, he did so in accordance +with the wishes of the few men whom he had, assigning two or three +thousand natives as an encomienda to four or eight men. These natives +were not pacified, conquered, or even seen, so that the people asked +and still ask for soldiers to visit and pacify them, in regard to +which there is much trouble here. It was agreed that eight thousand +tributarios should be given as an encomienda to the master-of-camp, +four thousand to the captains, three thousand to men of rank, and so +on to the different classes, according to their position. This caused +trouble immediately because the generality of people and soldiers are +not willing to acknowledge so many people superior to themselves. It +is impossible to pursue the procedure adopted. Again, complaints are +heard that fewer Indians are given to one than to another, and that +those taken from their encomienda, as is commonly asserted, swell +the encomiendas of other persons. All these were things not well +understood at that time. They were not discussed in the residencia, +[9] in order not to arouse dissension. I tell all this to your Majesty +so that you may know the condition of affairs here. If I could, +I would reform matters so that good sense should conquer. + +89. He [Legazpi] was also wont to maintain a number of gentlemen, who +had nothing more to do than to act as sentinels for him alone. They +were considered as of higher rank, as above said, and even more; +and they ate with him at his table. They were ordinarily young men +recommended to him by others from Mexico. They were thus set above +their fellows, which occasioned considerable trouble--even resulting +once in the garrotting of one from Cadiz. These men always accompanied +the governor in his walks, for he went afoot, because there were no +horses; and they were supported from your Majesty's treasury. It +has seemed to me a gracious act toward the people to entrust my +person to them all; and that those appointed by the sergeant-major +in turn, from the different companies, should perform sentinel +duty at my house--in order to relieve your Majesty's royal estate +of this traffic and expense; and to obviate this envy and the too +great equality caused by seating common people at the table. Then, +too, I ride on horseback whenever I go out; and no one would wish to +attend me except my servants. Therefore this guard, as was necessary, +ceases to exist. I rely on the fidelity of the sentinels, and will +rely on any person who refrains from possessions and honor not his own, +and sets a good example. + +90. For the reason above stated--that repartimientos were made by +Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, and afterward by Guido de Lavesares, of places +never pacified or even seen--there are many encomenderos who have no +food, and who, whenever any district is pacified of late, demand that +it be given to them by virtue of that encomienda, to the prejudice of +those who go to pacify and cultivate it. Consequently, notwithstanding +that I have not yet seen the river of Vindanao, as above stated, I must +send men there. They have divided it into encomiendas, and assessed +the tax according to the men; just as in districts which are not so +large as that one, they come to beg for men, in order to go to collect +their tributes and commit various excesses. In accordance with your +Majesty's order and commission, I shall grant no encomienda that is +not pacified and faithful. I think that this will settle the matter, +and that the people will come to understand it. I enclose with this +a list of the encomiendas of the country; but all that is a matter +of little importance except for the passage from the mainland of China. + +91. As I have previously observed, and since all the cost of the +exploration and occupancy of these islands, has been at your Majesty's +expense, those in charge of the government have but ill attended to +apportioning Indians to the royal crown; and those allotments were +made by way of compliment, and are the worst ones. They relied only +on what had to be sent them annually from Nueva Espana, and on what +has come from there; for this land is as sterile as one who lives on +charity. Accompanying this is a list of the income that your Majesty +has here. As far as I understand it, there is no account of the number +of Indians who are apportioned to the royal crown, and whether or not +they wander through the hills, for no one has seen them. To discuss +this matter in the residencia would be to excite the people to anger. I +thought that it would be all right to do it quietly, and therefore I +have apportioned as many as possible to the royal crown. However in +regard to this there was trouble enough, for once an office-holder +stated in public that, at this rate, all the Indians would belong to +the royal crown, and it became necessary to use dissimulation. + +92. When Guido de Lavesares was governor he placed to his own credit +as many Indians as he saw fit; but I revoked all this, and allotted +them to the royal crown. I am sending the records to you; and with +whatever it may please your Majesty to give your servants we shall +be well satisfied. + +93. There is in these islands an abundance of wood and of men, so that +a large fleet of boats and galleys may be built. There is a quantity +of cheap iron from China, worked by the natives here, who can make +what is necessary from it--which they cannot do with Castilian iron, +for it is exceedingly hard. We have no pitch, tallow, or rigging +worth mention, because what there is is so scarce and poor that +it amounts to nothing. There is no oakum for calking. Large anchors +cannot be made; but the rest of the tackle can be obtained here in good +condition. There is good timber also; to my way of thinking, therefore, +the ship that would cost ten thousand ducats in Guatimala, and in +Nueva Espana thirty [thousand], can be made here for two or three +[thousand], should strenuous efforts be employed. When I came here +I found the city burned and razed to the ground. I erected shipyards +in two places, separating the workmen, so that they might accomplish +more if they entered into competition. The one in Manila has turned +out a galliot of sixteen or seventeen benches; and has repaired the +ship that brought me here, and also one that was made in Acapulco, +which I believe cost more than fifteen thousand ducats. They were +about to burn the latter ship for the iron that they could thus obtain; +but through promises and diligence on my part the keel and stern-post, +which were rotten were removed, as well as half the hull of the ship; +and, God willing, she will sail from here one month after this ship +departs. Almost one braza was cut off near the bow, on account of +its unsatisfactory shape; and more than two brazas will be added to +the original length. This will make a vessel capable of carrying two +hundred soldiers--which, as this ship had been condemned, means that we +have, from nothing, made twenty thousand ducats. I found that the ship +which had been repaired was destroyed during Limahon's attack. Rigging, +masts, sails, and everything else necessary have been placed in it, +and the ship is called "Sant Felipe." On finishing this, they will +begin to work on another galley; and, besides, will repair another +vessel that is rotten, and whose keel, although of a better pattern, +will require as much labor as the other. However, God willing, +it will be completed by January, so that there will be two galleys +here. In Oton, on the island of Panae I have finished another galley, +thirty-four varas long, with twenty benches. Still another will be +ready by September and I shall continue with the work. + +94. I would not dare to employ rowers for this country, since I have so +few men now on the Spanish galliots; for it would be possible for them +to take flight some day, and to do mischief. All these islands are full +of robbers. Having these four galleys I shall, with God's help, man +them with friends, and seek equipment for them. It is my plan to build +a hundred galleys, and to support them in your Majesty's service from +our enemies, if your Majesty would care to provide what is necessary. + +95. There is no artilleryman here who knows how to fire or cast +artillery, nor is there any artillery. I am writing to the viceroy +our needs in this matter. Having learned that the Moros of this +country had artillery, I told them that they had nothing to fear now, +since we Spaniards are here, who will defend them; and that therefore +they should give me their artillery. By very affable address, I have +obtained possession of as much as possible, without any harshness, +and without seizing any man. I have therefore in the fort, in your +Majesty's magazine, four hundred quintals of bronze that seems to +be good. It was all taken within the radius of eight leagues. For +this reason, and because often some of the pieces burst, we need +here at this camp master-workmen to cast artillery. They ought to be +sent from Espana for this purpose so that we should not be deceived +about them in Mexico, as we have been in regard to the gunners--who +have simply passed by the gunners' barracks, and have never served +in the capacity of gunner. Such men we have here, to our great risk +and harm. It will be necessary to send fifty gunners. Those who are +here must be discharged, or be sent as substitutes for sailors. + +96. And because, although I might act as overseer, these things +do not form part of my duty, two master-engineers are necessary, +who understand how to fortify a town, and everything pertaining +thereto. We also need experienced troops, for we are here among +enemies and nothing is possessed unless it is held. With regard to +the artillery and master-engineers, I implore that your Majesty may +be pleased to command that this business be attended to at once; +for we are lost here without artillery, which alone can defend the +dominions of your Majesty. + +97. It is necessary that two masters to build ships and galleys should +be sent from Nueva Espana--so that, if it were necessary, those here, +who are becoming lazy, might be changed. It is necessary to change them +and to keep them in two shipyards, as I have done, so that the expense +at Acapulco, in Nueva Espana, might cease. All the work done there is +thrown away; for the vessels from Nueva Espana alone detain the workmen +here in repairing them, and prevent them from building new ones. We +need commanders of galleys who know how to manage the lateen sail. + +98. We have no lead here, but it abounds in Nueva Espana; it will be +necessary to order that more than five hundred quintals be brought +from that country, for this is our sustenance--besides three hundred +quintals of gunpowder, for present use. We need some weapons and +armor--some corselets, such as are used in Nueva Espana, and five +hundred lances, which should be brought from Nueva Espana. Those that +we had here were used up, through carelessness and in the encounter +with the corsair. Until now it was not understood that pikes were +necessary, because the natives are wont to flee. But now it has been +seen that the Chinese attack other men with these weapons, for fear +of their commander. Now as there are so few of us, and the country +breathes nothing but war, we have not ventured into the forests to see +if there is good wood for these lances. For the lack of these lances +here, we have no lance-practice, nor is there a squadron to train +the soldiers; although, because of the great need, I have contrived +to make some lances from poles and bamboo, with iron and steel from +China. I have made one hundred iron points. I do not dare to issue +orders for target-practice (which the young soldiers need especially), +not even for a day, in order not to use up my miserably small quantity +of powder and lead. + +99. Because of the many hardships in this country, the soldier +must be ready at any moment to execute the commands of those in +authority. For this reason, we find the consignments of married men a +great inconvenience; for they are not of much use here, as they are +generally very poor and old. It seems to me that, for the present, +we do not require the services of married men, unless there might be +some one of the nobility, whose family would set a good example. + +100. As the soldiers suffer so many hardships, they become sick; and +although many even die, they are all so poor that they cannot leave +anything. They have no medicines, and are always ready to beg them, as +they have no other resource. When I came, I had a hospital built; but +the corsair burned it. This served as a lodging-place for poor people; +and, for this purpose, I brought a man from Nueva Espana to attend +the sick. We who are here consider this an excellent institution, +and, because without an endowment there would be no hospital when a +soldier was dying, I apportioned about one thousand Indians to the +hospital, whom it now enjoys because of this need. For the future, +will your Majesty please order that a sum sufficient for its needs +be paid from the treasury, and that those Indians be apportioned to +the royal crown. We need also another house for convalescents where +they may be compelled to follow a certain diet, such as a bit of +fowl. When I find a little leisure from so many toils, I will build +such a house, and establish suitable rules regarding the food. Thus, +besides the service of God, many can be supplied with food, by means +of the person who conducts the house. + +101. It is necessary to maintain suitable order for the conservation +of the fort and artillery; and, as an inducement for those soldiers +who perform sentinel duty there, and the gunners who serve there, to +live within the fort, it is necessary to maintain them at the separate +expense of the fort. It is necessary also that, for the same purpose, +the governor of the fort should keep it in repair; and these expenses +should not be confused with those of your Majesty's treasury of the +three keys. I have discovered by experience that each account divided +by itself is much more satisfactory. + +102. I have set about fortifying this city; but this work is not yet +completed, as the site is large, and I would not leave the friars +outside, from whom we all receive our instruction; moreover, we have +had so much work and hardship, and the Indians help us but little, +and I do not wish them to neglect their fields. It will, however, soon +be completed. It will be a palisade joined with keys, all along the +shore and across the river; and a cavalier [10] for defense--where +some artillery is to be mounted when the Indians have gathered in +their harvest--will be completed very soon. Likewise twenty thousand +fanegas of rice for the support of your Majesty's camp and fleet will +be stored away. + +103. The province which, in all this island of Lucon, produces most +grain is that called Pampanga. It has two rivers, one called Bitis +[Betis] and the other Lubao, along whose banks dwell three thousand +five hundred Moros, more or less, all tillers of the soil, and taxed +to the value of eight reals each. This city and all this region is +provided with food--namely, rice, which is the bread here--by this +province; so that if the rice harvest should fail there, there would +be no place where it could be obtained. Throughout the province +there are not sufficient Indians belonging to the royal crown who +could give one thousand fanegas of income to your Majesty. These two +rivers were not included in the encomiendas made by the late Miguel +Lopez de Legaspi, governor of these islands (who apportioned a part of +that province), in order that he might request them from your Majesty +for himself. After his death, Guido de Lavasares, who succeeded him, +placed them openly to his own account, and apportioned the rest; +but I revoked the decree, and apportioned them to the royal crown +of your Majesty, where they are now; and the officials of the royal +exchequer have collected their tribute from them this year. It seems +that your Majesty has been pleased to bestow this encomienda upon +the son of the defunct adelantado, Legaspi. If this should pass to +him--as it is only reasonable to expect that it should, since such +is your Majesty's pleasure, and it is a favor to the children of him +who died in your Majesty's service--it would be most serious damage +to the condition of these islands. For not only has your Majesty no +income in grain, nor any place from which to obtain it, but these +Indians, as they are near, work very well, when told that they are +tributarios of your Majesty; and they serve in cutting wood, and do +other things which are very useful and important here. If perchance +the heir of the defunct governor should come to ask for his rights, +I believe that it would be well to ask him to do us the favor of +waiting until this point in my letter can be answered. Some plan +might be arranged, if it pleased your Majesty, so that he should be +recompensed in Nueva Espana. This will prove advantageous, since this +encomienda has been already allotted to the royal crown. I entreat +your Majesty to please to have the matter examined, because it is +important. For this reason I mention here the number of Indians, +and their tributes. It is a healthful and rich land. + +104. The provinces in these islands that would be profitable to +settle are those that can maintain the Spaniards and can provide +them with food. If these are not colonized by us, the Indians will +continue their old mode of life, which means attacking others. For +this reason, it would be well to grant some lands, but with discretion, +so that we shall not be separated; for each by itself would prove but +a weak community, as happened on the appearance of the corsair. For +this reason and because there have always been foreign ships here, +I have delayed effecting settlements until we have more people. I +have attempted to send leaders and men through those districts, so +that the land might be made peaceful; and for this purpose have sent +one troop to Cubu, another to Camarines, and another to Ylocos. We +are always busy. + +105. According to the accounts of the royal exchequer, your Majesty +will see that Guido de Lavesares and Legazpi have been in the habit of +allowing gratuities and other free sums from the royal treasury. I +have not continued these, but have closed the door on all this, +in order not to give them. However, as the friars insist that it be +given and spent in sermons, I have, without consulting them made a +decree to the effect that only the needy poor should receive alms, +and the gift must be for their support. I ordered a list of the poor +to be made and rice to be given them, as is given to others who are +supplied with rations from the royal treasury. Thereupon some persons +came, and have received alms. Those who begged only for gaming and +other like purposes are ashamed to take that alms, and wish nothing +but encomiendas. I have stated all this to your Majesty so that you may +be pleased to send me special instructions concerning these charities +and gratuities, so that in a just case actually seen, and in certain +necessities and calamities, attested to before notary and witnesses, +I might be empowered to furnish aid of weapons and clothing--always +prohibiting the giving of money even for once, or the income from +the chest with three keys, for this is harmful. + +106. When an encomendero dies in Nueva Espana, his Indians are +allotted to the royal crown of your Majesty, as being in a simple +and peaceful country, where there is no need of soldiers. In these +islands I think that this would be impossible; and I would not dare +do it until I receive an answer from your Majesty ordering me to do +so. For, as so many men die here, all the encomiendas would belong to +your Majesty in four years; and the soldiers would have an incentive +to attempt the deaths of others. I notify your Majesty concerning this +so that you may order how I am to proceed. I have planned to correct +with gentleness the harm already done in apportioning villages to +the royal crown, by taking care that they be near and convenient to +the districts where the Spaniards will reside, and where the fleets +will be stationed. Some of those situated in more remote districts I +have granted. As time passes, I understand these things better; and +whenever occasion arises I am ever watchful of your Majesty's royal +treasury. In Mexico conditions hereabout are understood so little, +that I believe none know what takes place here. Of this I am sure +because they did not tell me the truth there, nor did I understand +it. One must actually see for himself the conditions here. + +107. As there are so few people here it is impossible to administer +justice, such as execution for murder, or whipping a rogue; for in +one day we all would die. It is necessary to separate enemies and +pardon offenders; for a whipped man can be a soldier no longer. It +is important that your Majesty should know this. + +108. The ordinances sent me by your Majesty concerning pacified +districts, which propose to summon the Indians peaceably to settle +near those districts and to persuade them to become Christians by means +of the friars, are very holy and just, but it is quite evident that a +correct report of this matter has not been made. For the Indians are +generally like deer; whenever one wishes to find them, he must first +employ strategy to catch one of the Indians in order that this one +may summon the others who have taken to the hills. Moreover, while +they are going and coming it is necessary that God should perform +miracles in providing food, clothing, and shoes for the soldiers, +and also for the friars, who will go for this purpose. You must +know that being long in one place incites them against one another, +and they begin to die. Those who return come broken down and sick; +and alms must be given them, in order that they may remain alive. I +advise and assure your Majesty that they appeal to us with great +facility for clothing, weapons, and money. + +109. I have to undertake many different trades and offices here +for I must serve as workman and overseer, judge and mediator; +I must take care of the hospitals and of the dead, as well as +the property of the deceased. Not one real of said property has +been lost. I am sending today forty-five marcos of gold, credited +to the accounts of the dead. There remain here pending law-suits, +appealed to the Audiencia of Mexico, in greater amount. There is so +much administration by land and sea, and so many details, that it is +impossible to mention them. All this gives me great satisfaction, for +I am happier when many cares attend my duties. What has wearied me, +and still is unusually wearisome, is the accounts of the officials of +your Majesty's royal exchequer, on account of their extravagance and +careless administration. In this ship I am sending the accounts, even +in their present shape, from which your Majesty will see whether there +has been any trouble. I enclose also the examination of the officials +and the residencias that have been taken. In these residencias, +because it was not best to discuss it, no charges were made, since +no Indians had been apportioned to the royal crown. On this account, +the treasury has but little income at present. I shall endeavor to +improve these matters in the future, as I have said. The books of +said officials of the royal treasury have been copied according to +your Majesty's orders, as given in the clause of instruction for +taking the accounts, and are being sent. + +119. These officials of the royal treasury asked permission of your +Majesty to have Indians, as appears by a letter sent them as an answer +on the fleet by which I came, and according to what they say. In that +letter your Majesty says this is not convenient. Notwithstanding, +when Guido de Lavesares became governor, he gave them encomiendas of +Indians. It seemed to me that they neglected their duties, depending +upon other means of subsistence; and that they try to flatter and +please the governor so that he will give them another encomienda; +that the natives are angry, and that these same officials presume to +draw a salary besides. Thus it seemed best to me to apportion their +Indians to the royal crown of your Majesty. Therefore I promulgated +a decree that they should have no Indians, and that their salaries +should be paid from the royal treasury according to its contents. They +have appealed from this. Will your Majesty examine and provide what +is necessary? Where your Majesty possesses so slight an income as +is the case at present in these islands, it was a mistake to send, +at the beginning, three officials with a salary as great as those +of Mexico receive. For this very reason, their letters-patent state +that they are to be paid only from the profits of this land; yet +they have taken from the stores for barter and from your Majesty's +treasury at various times and seasons, what they could. I did not take +an itemized account of this, for at the time of settlement, either +they had nothing, or it was hidden; and they allowed themselves to be +imprisoned. Upon this question judgment has been suspended, and I refer +it to your Majesty, so that you may make such provision as is best. My +opinion is that for the present the officials of your Majesty's royal +exchequer here should not hold positions simply for ostentation, but +for actual service--since there is so much to be administered here, +and it is necessary that they should go about to make collections +and to inspect the work in the shipyards, as well as in other places +where they might be needed. It would be better to give them lower +salaries, and if they proved themselves efficient in their duties, +then they should be given an increase in the shape of an encomienda +or another office, after having closed the account; for in this land, +as all are soldiers, there are no guarantors or others to ensure the +pay of the many officials. There are people of gentle birth here, as +well as diligent and able soldiers, who could fill all the positions +satisfactorily, while the accounts would be well kept--all of which +is necessary, so far away from your Majesty. Will your Majesty please +issue the necessary orders in this? + +112. Although from the letter that I am writing to the viceroy +of Mexico one can understand something of what concerns religious +instruction and the friars in this country, still I state the matter +here as I understand it. Although, according to their rule, they +may hold property in common, they cannot do so here; for the houses +are built of wood and bamboo, while there are no other holdings +for them. To all friars, priests, and lay brethren something must +be given, so they are each granted an annual income of one hundred +pesos, and one hundred fanegas of rice. I think there is a lack of +religious instruction here; for there are only thirteen friars who +can say mass, and I am not sure that any one of these understands the +language of the natives. I am told that these islands alone require +one thousand priests. Those friars who are to come here must be +men who are missed elsewhere, since they come to lead an apostolic +life. It is very necessary for your Majesty to send friars from all +the orders--especially the Franciscans, and many of them, for they +live among the Indians, and we need not support them. Your Majesty's +only expense, so far as they are concerned, will be certain articles +for their vestments, from Nueva Espana. I entreat your Majesty to +provide for this most carefully, for it is necessary. + +113. When I arrived, there were two ecclesiastics, one of whom died +of disease, and one only is left. Many are needed. The ecclesiastics +complain of the friars sent them. During my term all will be peace. + +114. There is a decree of concession in these islands, issued +by your Majesty, to the effect that for ten years your Majesty's +fifth of the gold should be made one-tenth. [11] The city claims +that this concession is continued. As all are soldiers and are +poor, it is necessary and just that your Majesty concede this in +this instance. Likewise there is exemption for thirty years from +customs. This amounts to a mere pittance here, and what is brought +hither or carried away belongs to the soldiers, who support themselves +with this help; for they are given nothing, except a few encomiendas to +some, and rations to others who are poor and sick; and these customs +duties should be allowed to all, to prevent them from begging. + +115. Up to the present time there have been no duties on exports +or imports, or any other duties. And as I came during so hard +times, and the people were so poor and few I did not dare to impose +them. It seems to me too soon to talk of duties until it can be made +profitable. This amounts to but a small sum, and whatever is brought +from China by the vessels is but a small matter; and if we did not +treat them well, they would not return. Deprived of what they bring, +we would suffer. Therefore I mean to defer this until we have some +galleys fitted up, and possess a firmer grip in this country, + +116. In this island the natives have a quantity of gold, in the form +of jewelry, with which they trade. There are many reports of gold +mines. Because it is reported that the best mines are those in the +province of Ylocos, I sent thither the sergeant-major from this camp +with forty arquebusiers. He reached those mines, and reports that they +are located in a very rough country, twenty leagues inland; that the +way thither is obstructed by great forests; and that the country is +very cold, and has great pine forests. He brought some metal, all of +which I am sending to the viceroy of Mexico; this appears to be worth +something. As it is necessary to march afoot and to carry their food, +and the country is hostile, and the soldiers poor, it seems a pity to +send them to lose what they have, in a district where they can obtain +no profit; for the operation of the mines requires tranquillity among +the people, the service of many men, and abundant supplies. I shall +endeavor to have the troops return, when food can be taken there, +and will inform your Majesty thereof. + +117. When the sergeant-major was returning from the mines, +he discovered on an islet the two friars who were going with the +captains in May. They say that the captains attempted to rob them; +but, upon seeing that they had neither gold nor silver, because all +the alms that had been given them had been deposited, by my advice, +in a place of safety, the captains said that they would not take them +to China since they were not taking thither anything for presents. A +Chinese who was going with them as interpreter was also robbed of what +I had given him. They beheaded two other Chinese who had been with +Limahon, and were presented to the friars, so that they could not, on +returning to their own country, relate what had occurred. It is said +that the captains had determined to circulate there in China the story +that Limahon and the master-of-camp had both been killed in the fight, +whereupon the Castilians being without a leader, returned to Manila and +allowed the corsairs opportunity to escape. But the latter remained, +in order to verify the axiom that they have in China, that they may +not flee. This is so evil a race that if today the whole world were +given them, tomorrow they would commit a thousand treasons to steal +one single real. We shall live here always on our guard, and shall +do our duty, God helping. + +118. As I have informed your Majesty, the master-of-camp, Martin +de Goite, died; and after his death, Guido de Lavesares appointed +Captain Juan de Saucedo as master-of-camp. This captain assisted +in the expedition against the corsair, and it was under his charge +in Pangasinan. At my arrival I did not discuss with him and the +captains the matter of residencia, for they were artful enough, and +at variance with one another. Moreover it was rather the moment for +burying troubles and proceeding to business. Therefore neither in his +office nor in that of the captains appointed (in greater number than +was necessary) by Guido de Lavesares, did I make, nor have I made, +any innovation; for there are so few people here. Juan de Saucedo, +master-of-camp, went to Ylocos to collect tribute from some Indians of +an encomienda that he had there. There he had an attack of illness, +from which he died in a short time. This is the sickness that kills +old and young. Upon this occasion of the death of the master-of-camp +the Chinese fabricated their lie, and complained that we did not +give them anything; while in reality we spent a considerable sum +from your Majesty's royal exchequer to supply them with provisions, +ship's stores, and other articles, in order that they might take the +fathers to China. I believe that God wills it thus, and that it is +well that they owe something, so that they may pay it at once. It is +not safe to go unarmed or carelessly in that country, or in this; +nor must one begin an attack without having a fort to receive the +return blow, and be able to sustain it. I refer to what I have said +above, and I beseech your Majesty once more to have this expedition +undertaken. As I before remarked, two merchant-ships remained here, and +we treated them kindly and with justice. When they were leaving, they +asked me what message I had for their country. I told them to convey +my compliments to the said captains, and to say that I had very kind +feelings for all the people of China; and that this was my message. + +119. Since this letter was written, we have received word that the +ship sent by the viceroy this year with the usual help was lost. It +was the pilot's fault, or at least they say that it was. May God find +a remedy for this loss, for I dare not speak of it. + +120. With this I enclose a copy of the letter that I have written to +the viceroy. With it I send a list of all that is needed here. This +ship sets sail at a favorable season, the beginning of June of 76; +and, please God, another will leave in about a month, as it lacks +but a little carpenter-work. We have been working at it five months. + +121. In the investigation and accounts, the officials excused +themselves, saying that they had no instructions; so I made a few +ordinances adapted to the life here. I am sending these with the +present letter. + +122. I am sending also the investigations that were made in regard +to no ship leaving last year; and about not compelling any one to +assay gold that is mined and traded with here. + +123. I am sending the originals, and translations of the letters +from China, together with the residencias; and other papers, +consisting of a Chinese map and another small map that I had made +here, some stories of China, and those that they call "Flowers of +Silver"--all in a box directed to the viceroy of Nueva Espana, so +that it may be sent to your Majesty. It may be, as I believe, that, +in the accounts of the officials of your Majesty's royal treasury, +I also have not fulfilled well the duty of accountant, as is done at +court. I humbly beg your Majesty that these faults may be pardoned, +and that I may be advised of them, so that in the future my work +may be more correct. When these ships are despatched, I shall begin +to examine the accounts of last year, and shall send them by the +first ship. I shall set down fully in these your Majesty's actual +income here. I do not venture to send it with the other papers but +will send it by itself. The only data accompanying this letter are +in a statement of the money paid into the treasury last year, 1575; +and I hope, God helping, that this amount will soon increase. + +124. Because, as I have said, this year's ship from Nueva Espana was +lost, will your Majesty please order new copies of all the papers +sent in it. + +125. Your Majesty sent me twelve magistracy titles for the regidores of +this city, with a decree. I gave them to those magistrates whom I found +living here, who numbered five, seven having died before my arrival, +counting one who had become a friar. Therefore I guided myself by the +precedent that there should be twelve. In addition to these five, there +are the three officials of this royal exchequer, which makes the number +eight; a high-constable of the city, who was already provided, and him +I have left undisturbed; one Antonio Alvarez, one Franciso Banon, and +one Marcos de Herrera who are among the earliest settlers. The truth of +the matter is that we would better not discuss these magistracies now, +for everything is in turmoil. Your Majesty also had a decree sent, so +that the city might have the boundaries that I should assign to it; +but I have not yet determined this, as I had some doubts and wished +to investigate the matter thoroughly; for, if once they are assigned, +the natives are bound. I shall advise your Majesty of my decision. + +126. We have shipped in this vessel ninety bundles of cinnamon +belonging to your Majesty; and as many more, which remained here, +will be shipped in the next vessel, which will sail next month. I +have gathered articles of barter, in order to send a commander of +troops to Mindanao for next year's barter; then I will advise you of +what is in that island. + +127. A book will also be found in the box which is a narration of the +country, rents, and tributarios of China, which is in substance what +is contained on the Chinese map. There is also another small book +resembling a collection of sea-charts, and some papers upon which +are depicted their officials of justice, which are sold in the shops +of that land. Because I am writing to the viceroy in Mexico and am +sending your Majesty a copy of the letter, where what I do not write +here is written, I close, beseeching your Majesty to be so kind as +to order that this country be provided for, since it is so easy; and +to grant favors to all of us who are serving you here. May our Lord +preserve the Royal Catholic person of your Majesty, and bestow upon +you greater kingdoms and seigniories, as is the wish of your servants +and vassals. Manila, in the island of Lucon, in the Filipinas, June 7, +1576. Royal Catholic Majesty, your Majesty's loyal vassal and servant, +who kisses your royal hands. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[In the same legajo, there is a letter from the city of Manila, +dated June 2, 1576, which also contains an account of the affair of +the pirate Limahon. It is endorsed thus: "Let it be abstracted in a +report. Done." The abstract of the letter follows, and is doubtless +the work of one of the royal clerks or secretaries. Certain +instructions and remarks of the king or council appear in the +margin of the abstract. Opposite that for clauses 71-81, which +discuss the proposed conquest of China, are the following remarks: +"Reply as to the receipt of this; and that, in what relates to the +conquest of China, it is not fitting at the present time to discuss +that matter. On the contrary, he must strive for the maintenance of +friendship with the Chinese, and must not make any alliance with the +pirates hostile to the Chinese, nor give that nation any just cause +for indignation against us. He must advise us of everything, and if, +when the whole question is understood better, it shall be suitable to +make any innovation later, then he will be given the order and plan +that he must follow therein. Meanwhile he shall strive to manage what +is in his charge, so that God and his Majesty will be served; and he +shall and must adhere strictly to his instructions as to conquests and +new explorations. We shall see to it carefully that he is reenforced +annually from this land with men, weapons, ammunition, and everything +needed for aid. The viceroy of Nueva Espana will be informed of this, +and ordered to attend to it carefully. Religious will be sent also, +to give instruction; and all supplies that are possible at the present +time will be sent. The governor must be very zealous, and encourage +the people there, and give them to understand the care that is and +will be taken for them here, in protecting, aiding, and favoring them; +and he must govern in all matters as is expected from his good sense +and prudence. Write to the viceroy to send lead, for he [Sande] asks +for it." Opposite clauses 82-85, treating of the characteristics of +the Philippines and of their inhabitants: "Tell him that the report +of that land has been read, and has occasioned gladness, and that he +should continue to advise us thus of what is necessary; also that he +show much honor and favor to the captains and soldiers." Opposite +clause 86, treating of the reestablishment of Cebu: "Write that +this is well done; and that he shall strive to have people gathered +in the principal _presidio_ [military post]." Opposite clause 89, +treating of Maluco: "Let there be no innovation in what pertains to +the Malucos." Opposite clause 90, treating of the encomiendas made +by Legazpi: "In what has been allotted, let there be no innovation; +and let that which is granted hereafter be allotted in accordance with +the deserts and services of each one." Opposite clause 91: "None of the +documents that he mentions as being enclosed with this letter appear to +have come. He said in his letter that they were all coming in one box +directed to the viceroy, and this has not arrived." "Have this relation +brought." "It has not arrived, as said above." Opposite clause 92: +"Bring these decrees." "They have not arrived." Opposite clauses 93 +and 94: "As for what he says concerning the four galleys, let them +be used to defend that port and country." Opposite clause 95: "The +viceroy should be advised to send as many of those people [gunners, +etc.] as possible. Write to him to that effect." Opposite clauses +96, 97, and 98: "_Yden_" ["the same"] Opposite clause 100: "Tell +him to manage this as seems best to him;" and opposite clause 101, +"_Yden_." Opposite clause 102, treating of Legazpi's and Lavezares's +grants in Bitis and Lubao: "He is to observe what is ordered about +this in another letter." Opposite clause 105, treating of gratuities, +etc.: "Have the instructions taken by Legazpi brought. Bring the +book containing the ordinances made here, after the arrival at and +occupation of the islands is brought; the instructions given before +that time were given by the viceroy." Opposite clause 106, treating +of vacant encomiendas: "Write that, when necessity requires, and the +matter can be remedied in no other way, he remedy it as well as he can, +especially considering the necessities of the land, taking special +care of his Majesty's estate. In the above-named book is the method to +be followed in regard to encomiendas. Let him adhere to that method, +and let all the encomiendas falling vacant be allotted, until there +be given a contrary order." Opposite clause 108: "These ordinances are +brought, and a decree is being despatched that, since we have learned +that these ordinances are not observed, he is ordered to enforce +them." Opposite clause 109: "Let them be despatched." Opposite clause +110, treating of the encomiendas in possession of royal officials: +"This can be passed by and overlooked, because the land is new, until +other provision be made. In accordance with this, let those Indians +be returned." Opposite clause 111, treating of salaries of royal +officials: "Let the officials be allowed to collect their salaries from +the products of the country which are put into the treasury, as the +property of his Majesty, until other provision be made--both of money +placed therein hitherto and to be put therein in the future." Opposite +clause 112, treating of religious: "Write that they are already sent, +and that we shall see to it that more are sent continually, as well as +ecclesiastics." Opposite clause 114: "Let it be done thus, and a decree +will be sent to this effect by his Majesty." Opposite clause 116: +"Let it be done thus." Opposite clause 121: "Let them be given to a +reporter, and let him bring them immediately." Opposite clause 122: +"_Yden_. He has been informed already that the box containing all +these documents has not been sent by the viceroy." Opposite clause 123: +"Answer that these papers have not arrived. When they come they will be +examined, and he will be advised of our pleasure." Opposite clause 124: +"It shall be sent, and so advise him." On the outside is the following +endorsement: "Answered inside. Let all that is requested be brought." + +These marginal remarks and provisions offer a good example of the +Spanish method of treating the communications received from royal +officials. They show a distinct business-like method, that sought to +dispose of such communications in the briefest time.] + + + + + +Relation and Description of the Phelipinas Islands + +[This document (which, in the archives at Sevilla, is separated +from the preceding one) is, although dated on June 8, 1577, partly +a duplicate of Sande's first report, dated June 7, 1576, which +immediately precedes this one in the present volume. We therefore omit +such part of it as repeats matter contained therein, and present all +that gives additional or new information.] + +The natives are all very idle. If they would but apply themselves to +work a little of the time, they could have all they wanted; but as it +is a hot country and they are barbarians, they go naked. Nevertheless, +all know how to raise cotton and silk, and everywhere they know how to +spin and weave for clothing. There is no need for anyone to spend any +gold; for they catch the fish which they eat; the wine is made from +the palms, which are very abundant; and from these same trees they +obtain also oil and vinegar. In the mountains there are wild boars, +deer, and buffalo, which they can kill in any desired number. Rice, +which is the bread of the country, grows in abundance. Therefore +they are afflicted by no poverty, and only seek to kill one another, +considering it a great triumph to cut off one another's heads and +take captives. + +In this island there is much gold, in sheets, among the natives; and, +although they trade but little, they understand the value of the gold, +and know how to adulterate it by mixing it with silver, tin, copper, +brass, and other metals brought from China. They have established +the value and qualities of gold as follows: + +There is a very base gold that has no name, with which they deceive; +and a second grade, called _malubai_, which is worth two pesos. Another +quality, called _bielu_, is worth three pesos; and another, called +_linguingui_, is worth four. The quality called _oregeras,_ for which +the Chinese name is _panica_, is worth five pesos; and this is the best +gold in which they trade. It is of sixteen or even eighteen carats, +and of this are made all their trinkets and jewelry. The best gold +obtained is another grade called _guinogulan_ [12] which means "the +lord of golds;" it weighs about twenty-two carats. From this is made +the jewelry which they inherit from their ancestors, with which they +never part; and even should they wish to sell these ornaments, there is +no one who would give for them more than five pesos in silver. Neither +will they give more, even for good gold; and they do not take it in +exchange for supplies, or for the goods which they sell. Consequently +this is the reason that gold is so valued in this country. It may +be illustrated in this way. Should a Spaniard buy food or anything +else from a native, the Moro immediately takes out the touchstone +which he carries with him; and, even if the value be not over two +reals, he takes great pains to see if the gold be conformable to the +aforesaid standard. Although it may be stamped and assayed, the Indian +will trust to no reckoning but his own. Neither is there any rule by +which to pay, beyond the weight and value of the gold; this applies +likewise to the orejeras or panica, for all the gold which is used +in trade is mixed with other substances, to make the other grades of +base gold. Although I have intended and tried to remedy this, it is +impossible, as the majority of them are silversmiths for this very +purpose; and if any restrictions were made, they would think that they +were about to be ruined. It has seemed to me that the country is very +new for establishing any other currency than gold, which here is like +the king's fifth of silver in Nueva Espana. I have written to this +effect to the viceroy, a copy of which letter accompanies this, and +a report concerning this matter; also an account of the gold paid to +the royal treasury, and the trade effected by all the Spaniards. The +Chinese will not take the panica at more than four pesos of texuela +to the tae[l] which, they say, is of that value in their country and +they lose one llealla by so doing. This is the weight called _tae_, +and comes from China. It weighs more than one onza, two adarmes; so +that three taes and thirteen maes are worth two Castilian marcos, or +one livra. [13] When I came here the viceroy of Mexico sent an assayer, +saying that one had been requested from here. After his arrival no +one brought him anything to assay, as he was young and inexperienced +in treating gold. Losses suffered at the beginning by those who +tried to have gold assayed caused us to abandon the attempt. The +Moros understand the laws of gold better than we do. I have given +notice of [original illegible]. It may be of service to the royal +estate. I have given information thereof which will accompany this, +and I think that it is impossible to exercise more diligence. I have +ordered that, when the gold enters into possession of the officials +of the royal estate, they shall value it before a notary, so that it +shall be issued in the same way that it entered. This is done because +there seems to be no other remedy, as the Moros, with their standards, +buy up all the money of current gold, and necessarily at the prices +which they themselves give to it in their debts and traffic. + +As provisions were wont to be sent from Nueva Espana every year, +there were also sent reals until I came. Since then, none have been +sent; nor has any money been given to me. On the other hand, I have +announced to the public that it is outrageous that we do not serve +your Majesty by sending some gold from here; and that even to think of +their sending money from there would be to argue that we do not know +how to look for it as well as they do in Nueva Espana. It has been +a thankless task to make this ruined land profitable, for he who has +Indians, or some wealth, keeps it for himself; everyone else comes, +with loud complaints, to ask the governor to give them enough to +eat from the royal estate. Accordingly, when I came here the royal +treasury had no possibility of income, as his Majesty will see from +the accounts and from a memorandum which I am sending. Although but +a short time has passed, the condition of things has improved, and +the affairs of the royal estate have been put into as good order as +in Mexico, considering their extent. + +I have succeeded in obtaining for the royal crown all the Indians +possible, especially those who are useful, and whose tributes are +increasing. They are conveniently near Spaniards, so that the latter +can more easily make collections, and also profit by the supplies. Thus +I will always do, although I have had, and still have, considerable +trouble in it. + +These natives have not been able to pay their tributes, on account +of living scattered and far away; and their country has been at +war until now. They have not been taxed, as the number of people +is not known. They are so skilful in hiding themselves, that +private soldiers have to be sent from here for the collection of +the money. These latter collect what they wish, and say that they +have collected so much, and not a penny more, and that the entire +village is composed of honest men. Whoever goes brings back the same +account of these peoples. Therefore little is paid, and the returns +to the royal treasury are few I have made investigations, however, +and have imprisoned some of the soldiers, and prevented others from +collecting the tributes; but it is only vain endeavor. On account of +the few people in this country justice cannot be executed for this +or any of the offenses common here. + +No one here is willing to accompany a man who goes on horseback, or +serve him in any way. Therefore, I am served only by my servants; but, +nevertheless, I have in my house all who wish to come there to live and +to eat; and I help them to the extent of my ability. They are served by +my slaves and servants in due order. There are many of them, but in my +house permission is not given to live with the liberty that is desired +by young men. In due season, or when your Majesty may be pleased to +provide more troops, the present customs may be suitably changed--my +intention being only to establish a reform in this direction. + +_Item_: The voyages to this country are all by sea, and in ships which +are often wrecked, many soldiers being thus lost. Those who have +the good fortune to escape with their lives lose their arquebuses, +coats-of-mail, swords, and daggers, which constitute their military +equipment. Since I have been here, I have often helped many of those +thus left destitute, who had no other means of succor, although not +at so moderate cost to the royal estate as for the poor. In this +case I have not spent from the royal estate until after reviewing +all other expenses of like nature, and consulting your Majesty. This +expense seems to be as necessary as the first provision of weapons +and clothing to the soldiers. Nevertheless, it is wise to warn them +to be more careful in navigation, and more resolute in guarding +their belongings. In my opinion it will be convenient for your +Majesty to have the goodness to send instructions on this point, +stating especially whether it is possible to give aid, in weapons and +clothing, in a moderate quantity, from the royal treasury. It should +be always forbidden to give money from the royal treasury even once, +although it may thus happen that some soldiers, nobles, and cavaliers +may suffer want, for lack of money with which to clothe themselves. It +is not convenient to grant encomiendas to all; and although they +may ask for food at the houses of their friends, they are in need +of clothing. The only means of income here is the payment of the +tributes to the encomenderos, whom I have tried to convince that +all the soldiers be maintained thereby, as it is a very convenient +method; but people of much caprice cannot be persuaded to this, +nor can they clear their heads from vapors. On account of the small +number of troops here, as I have already stated, I have induced the +people to do sentinel-duty and undertake expeditions under leaders--of +whom there are not a few, beginning with a brother of mine. Although +I do my best, it is impossible to avoid giving them some aid. Last +Christmas I aided several with tributes paid by some unapportioned +Indians, declaring that, if they had belonged to the royal crown, +I could not have done so. I allotted the Indians to a captain by the +name of Chacon, and the income arising from them was divided among +several persons. I preferred to have the transaction take place under +authority of the officials, and to have it attested by the government +notary. Therefore this has been recorded, and together with the decree +forwarded to your Majesty. I trust that his Majesty will examine it, +and send me information of what he may be pleased to provide. + +In Nueva Espana, when an encomendero dies without an heir, the +Indians under his charge revert to the royal crown. When Guido de +Lavazares was here, he arranged that in such case the Indians should +be re-allotted; and thus it was done, being a law of the land when I +came here. As the country is so new, and but ill pacified, and there +is so great need for people, and this concerns the community, I have +followed the same custom since my arrival--although I have assigned +to the royal crown the majority of Indians who are left ownerless, +thus combining both methods. I have told the people that it is meet +for his Majesty to receive income in order to support the friars and +his servants here, as well as for the alms and assistance which have +been described. Nevertheless, it has seemed to me necessary that +his Majesty be informed of the reassignments, and that he have the +goodness to issue commands therefor which shall be duly obeyed. I +state no reasons for or against this arrangement, since the royal +council may judge better than I. If it be considered convenient to +grant the grace which these persons desire, as a favor proceeding +from the royal person and his royal council, let it not be imagined +that this and similar actions emanate from the governor. I am of +the opinion that his Majesty is the one to grant the favor; and, +if he does so, he will send advices thereof, either secret or public. + +The Indians of this country are not simple or foolish, nor are they +frightened by anything whatever. They can be dealt with only by the +arquebuse, or by gifts of gold or silver. If they were like those of +Nueva Espana, Peru, Tierra Templada, Tierra Firme, and in the other +explored places where the ships of Castilla may enter, sound reasoning +might have some effect. [14] But these Indians first inquire if they +must be Christians, pay money, forsake their wives, and other similar +things. They kill the Spaniards so boldly, that without arquebuses we +could do nothing. This was the reason that Magallanes, the discoverer +of these islands, was killed; and that Villalobos and Sayavedra, +and those who came afterward from Nueva Espana were maltreated. All +those who have been killed since the coming of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi +received their death through lack of arquebuses. The Indians have +thousands of lances, daggers, shields, and other pieces of armor, with +which they fight very well. They have no leaders to whom they look +up. The havoc caused by the arquebuse, and their own lack of honor, +make them seek refuge in flight, and give obedience to our orders. + +After imprisoning a soldier, it is necessary to give him food while +he is in jail, and also to care for him in sickness. In order to +avoid the expense, he is finally set at liberty. I have exercised all +possible diligence to deal with them so that they will be afraid, and +mend their ways. I have sent the delinquents to work apart, separated +from one another; and have also reprimanded them, and informed them +that they must do right. Thus, by the aid of God, this commonwealth +is entirely reformed. They do not follow the pernicious practice of +gambling, because they are occupied, and because they know that he who +is engaged in these practices cannot be my friend. Among other men, +gambling might be more endurable; but here they attack one another with +knives, blaspheme, and steal, and do great harm to one another. There +is also almost complete reformation from the swearing, drinking, +and like vices which had caused great corruption and the disgrace of +many men. There is also improvement in regard to concubinage among +them. It is desirable that the soldiers should always lead honest +lifes, but as they are young, and the women in this country are so +many and so bad, it is more difficult to correct this evil. + + * * * * * + +By a decree of your Majesty, I was asked [to fix] the boundaries of the +city. I assigned five leagues around this place where we live, although +as yet these limits are of no use, as in this island there have not +been, nor are there now, any customs duties or other imposts. I came +at a time full of labors, and the people are few and poor. Considering +the losses of the ships of the past year, it seems to me that it is +too soon to obtain any duties from the Chinese ships. I have advised +your Majesty thereof, and exemption from the customs and other duties +has been granted to these islands for thirty years. Consequently, +nothing is demanded from the Spaniards; and, as they are all soldiers, +and should have some profit from what is sent hence to Nueva Espana, +it would be well to increase the customs duties somewhat. It is also +decreed that for the term of ten years there shall be paid the tenth +instead of the fifth of all the gold found here. The city already +demands, at the end of these ten years, that your Majesty renew his +favors. I think that, as a result of this decree, some gold is sent +to Nueva Espana; but, if the entire fifth were taken, the gold would +be traded with the Chinese, and thus so great a quantity would not +be sent to Nueva Espana. May your Majesty be pleased to grant this, +and advise me as to this point. + +When I came to this city there were here two ecclesiastics, and besides +them no more in all the islands. One died of illness, and the other +is now alone here, under command of the friars. When at one time +he read a letter of excommunication he was appointed vicar by the +provincial of the order of St. Augustine; and now he complains that +he is commanded by friars. There is great need that ecclesiastics be +sent here, so that the sacraments can be administered and confessions +be heard, as in other colonies. + +Although I write to the viceroy of Mexico concerning the religious +instruction in this country (a copy of which letter accompanies this), +I wish to explain more fully to your Majesty that there is a great lack +thereof. Some of the friars sent from Mexico are those who cannot stay +there, and must be sent away. Those who come here to lead the apostolic +life must be orderly persons, and such as are missed in the place from +which they come. But it is of secondary importance to discuss persons, +and it is necessary to refer to important matters which require +remedies. Your Majesty must understand that there is great lack of +religious teachers here, and that the friars labor very diligently, +although they do not usually apply themselves to learn the language, +or to attract the natives. If I am not mistaken, the surest remedy is +for friars and ecclesiastics of all orders to come here, especially +those who cannot possess property; for, as this land is so new and +there are no inheritances, the friars can have no income in common, +except the alms given from the royal treasury. As the Indians are so +avaricious, and adore the gold--which they actually kiss, and consider +of the highest importance--it is exceedingly necessary that the priest +accept no gold, nor should he seek or trouble them for it. He must +only desire food, according to the necessities of nature; and as the +land is well provided therein, at the lowest prices in the world, +he may be well content who wishes nothing more. + + * * * * * + +As soon as I arrived in this city, I began proceedings in the +residencia, and the examination of accounts, according to your +Majesty's commands. Duplicates of the report were sent in the ship +"Santiago" and also in the ship "San Phelipe," which were unfortunately +lost. In the ship "San Juan" will now be despatched the duplicates, +as your Majesty will note in the letter to the viceroy. There is also +sent an account of everything else which has been done in regard +to the officials. I made all possible endeavor in Mexico to obtain +instructions and papers regarding their, and I brought only those which +I send with the accounts. They said that there were no others, and the +officers of the royal estate declare that they brought no instructions, +and never had any. As your Majesty will see by the accounts there +were no books of the treasurer or factor, and consequently none can +be despatched with the accounts. When these officials were asked, +they said that they kept no books. Only the accountant kept a book; +but Aldave, who served Guido de Lavazares, had a memorandum-book, which +I remit with the accounts. I have issued orders for every official +to keep a book, and to have a common book of the treasury, which +is now done. Moreover, as they said that they had no instructions, +I gave them some orders, according to what I believe is necessary, +copies of which I send to the royal council. The officials rendered +their accounts, although I have not passed upon some things--such as +accounts which are not certified, the tribute collected, and their +salaries. If they hold some funds which I have not found, I cannot +execute what I am commanded to do; although what I have found has +been attended to. For this reason, affairs have been delayed; and +in the meantime investigations have been made, and thus many affairs +are now sent for the consideration of the royal council. Some of my +instructions, however, cannot be carried out, for lack of funds. + +On the occasion of the last investigations, it appears that they +reported that they had spent more than they had received; and that +the loans and deposits thus due should be placed to the account +of the royal treasury. As their loans were drawn out as salaries, +I have not permitted this. + +The officials of the royal estate have each furnished bondsmen, who +are their securities for two thousand ducats; and they gave them, +little [original illegible] because they came from Nueva Espana +without furnishing bonds, and, as they say, without instructions; +so I have commanded them to find bondsmen for these amounts. Their +sureties are all captains and soldiers, from whom their clothes and +weapons cannot be taken away, nor their means of support; there are, +moreover, no realty holdings here. They regard their accounts, however, +as adjusted, and have almost obliged me to wait for your Majesty +to examine their pleas, so that their misdeeds may be excused. On +this account I am advancing but slowly; and, as our resources for +correcting this evil are so inadequate, may your Majesty be pleased +to declare his pleasure as soon as possible. + +The sureties have not fulfilled their agreements; and, although I have +commanded them to give bonds, they do not nor can they do so, as all +are soldiers in this country. The best remedy is for his Majesty to +command that accounts be audited every year. Thus I have ordered, +and they have been audited to the year seventy-six, and accompany +this present report. For this reason most of all should the officials +give bonds, that they are in charge of various small matters and +transactions for which I am not sufficient security. Accordingly, +although they have not yet furnished bonds, I have refrained from +enforcing this order, until his Majesty shall decide what he wishes +done. Guido de Lavazares had appointed Salvador de Aldave as treasurer; +and he still holds the position until your Majesty shall make provision +therefor. Guido de Lavazares does not wish the office; nor do I think +that he is capable of filling an office which requires the keeping +of documents. + +In investigating the accounts of the officials, execution was +levied on their goods, some of which have been entered in the royal +treasury. I have commanded half of their salaries to be issued them +for their support, and no more, until your Majesty shall provide +accordingly. Some slaves, clothing, and bedding were left to them, the +same being considered as deposits in the name of the royal estate. His +property was left to Guido de Lavazares, but no salary, since that +is drawn by another man, who holds his office. I offered to give him +an encomienda for his support; but he did not wish it, and asked me +for permission to leave this country. I showed to him a clause of the +instructions regarding the accounts, which said that close watch must +be kept over those who were under surveillance; that, if it were not +for that clause, I would permit him to go; and that I would immediately +inform your Majesty thereof. I also give information regarding the +tributes from the provinces of Bites and Lubao, and elsewhere, which +Guido de Lavazares collected for himself. His property was confiscated, +to which act his wife was opposed, and also the properties of persons +deceased of which there were many. Some of these were placed in +the royal treasury, together with another portion, sent from the +payments from the valley of Purao. All is set down in the accounts, +as is everything concerning this matter, with the proceedings therein. + +On continuing the investigation, it was found that property had +been delivered to the person serving in the office of captain of +artillery. When an account was demanded from him, it was many months +before he was obliged to give it, as may be seen by his petitions +accompanying the record of his trial. After waiting six or seven months +(I shall not mention here all the words spoken), and on seeing that +he was so reluctant to present his account and explanation, I took +advantage of a petition which he had made--in which he resigned his +office, and begged that I give it to some one else. This I did, giving +the position to him who was sergeant-major of the camp. After these +changes, I had his property seized. This compelled him to attend to +the account, and he began to be willing to hand it in, as appears very +clearly in the report of his trial, which accompanies this. It might +be well that I should not habitually show similar lenity; but in this +case there could be naught but compassion felt, as he had no judgment +whatever. [15] I was therefore moved; and, by his Majesty's favor, +this captain of artillery has an encomienda of more than a thousand +men, near this city. This I have had set aside for him, and have +commanded that he support himself from half the tributes thereof; +likewise his clothes, and weapons, and his servants, were left to +him. He asked permission to go to Espana, saying that he was married, +and that he had not seen his wife for twenty years. His Majesty will +command what shall be provided in this case. + +In the investigation of the former captain of artillery (appointed +by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, at Puerto de la Navidad), inasmuch as no +bonds were taken from this soldier, I have attached the property of +Miguel Lopez, and that of the officials, for not having attended to +their duty in this regard. After seeing the account and investigation +of this matter made by the officials of the royal estate, I decided +to transfer the blame to the account of Miguel Lopez, and to seize +his goods for the same reason. + +At my arrival here, Guido de Lavazares had allotted Indians to the +officials of the royal estate. When I entered upon my office, they sent +to ask his Majesty for permission to hold them. They were answered by +a decree, which was shown to me when I came, which declared that this +could not be allowed. For this reason I placed all their salaries to +the account of the royal crown, to which they still belong. Salvador +de Aldave presented a petition, saying that he is not a proprietary +official, but merely holds the office of treasurer until another shall +be provided in his place. This was done in order that his Indians +should not be taken away; and on this account I have allowed him to +keep them. They have all appealed, asking that your Majesty declare +his pleasure. I wish that the officials of the royal estate would +apply themselves more to their duties, and the exercise of diligence +therein, as is very needful where there is so much to be administered; +and that they should be free from other obligations and have no other +means of earning a support. + +As his Majesty will have already understood, I have declared that +neither the officers nor other persons here can give bonds. The +labors here are and have been those of which your Majesty will have +knowledge. One and all have served your Majesty for many years, and +as soldiers and among soldiers. If there should be any fault in the +papers, I beg your Majesty to extend his mercy to all, and to deign +to forget these errors. May your Majesty be pleased to pardon me this +boldness, and to command that the accounts be examined. May replies +be sent by the first ship and any faults of mine which may be found +therein be pardoned, and all necessary instructions be furnished to me. + +Moreover, in regard to the inquiry which discusses the exchange of +different grades of gold, the people here are of such sort that no +one makes a payment without declaring that he is giving gold of a +good quality; but, on the other hand, the one who collects declares +to the contrary. By the accounts for the year seventy-six, which +are now finished, and by the entire expense account, which I have +examined personally, it seems to me that good faith in the past year +may be deduced. In this country, the heat of the sun is very great; +and for even one week's work, or when a ship is going to be launched, +it is necessary to erect a shelter for the workmen. This is made in +a short time, with poles, bamboo, and palm-leaves. In the shipyards +there is much waste; and, as the wood rots from dampness here, the +soldiers take it at night to use in their houses, and relieve their +misery. This cannot be called a theft, as it is done by menials who +came hither at your Majesty's expense and are engaged in his service. + +When I came here I found the country swept by fire, everything in +ruins, and the Indians in rebellion, having taken advantage of the +coming of the pirate [Limahon]. Since then I have not ceased in my +endeavors to promote all possible peace here. I have surrounded the +city with a palisade and rampart, building therein two cavaliers, +which are further strengthened by ramparts--one toward the southeast, +where the pirate landed; and the other toward the northwest. It +seemed to me very important to guard the point formed by the river +and the sea. People declare that after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came +here the water wore away the land for the distance of two gunshots. I +have all the river staked in, as also the point by the sea; and have +had the latter filled in with earth until it is all level. I think +that it will, therefore, be always stable, if it is repaired from +time to time. I have had the fort of this city repaired, building +ramparts where they were lacking, so that one may walk around it on +the rampart. I have covered two cavaliers, although communication +may be had between them at a pike's length, which could not be done +before. The floors have been covered with wood, so that the pieces of +artillery may be dragged about more easily. I have also constructed +many chests, both for the interior of the fort and for the galleys, +and have mounted all the guns here. + +As I advised by the ship "Santiago," I sent to the island of Panay for +galleys to be made. Two built there were launched in this city, and I +have another of sixteen [toneladas?] finished, and one of twenty-five +is in course of construction. It would have been completed four months +ago had it not been for the overhauling of this ship "San Juan," which +carries this letter. Nevertheless, it will be finished inside of two +months, because all the boarding, planking, and sheathing has been +done, and there is nothing more to hinder the workmen on the ship. I +have also had oars brought for all four galleys, and the majority +of them are made. Also the provisions for them and some casks have +been supplied. The oars are not yet ready for use, as there are not +eight quintals of lead in this country. I am expecting supplies from +Nueva Espana, with some men to command the galleys. Besides these +occupations, all the workmen were engaged during the past year, from +Christmas until July, in overhauling the ships "Santiago" and "San +Phelipe." They have been busy since October in overhauling this ship +"San Juan" until its sailing today, to repair damages caused by its +wreck. It is now put in very good condition, with pine masts, which I +took from that of the [original illegible] which are said to be better +than those here; for the wood of this land is very heavy. After the +completion of the galleys which were built here, I have commanded them +to build there a large ship of four hundred toneladas. After completing +the galley, another will be made here of the same style, God willing; +we have bought much iron and everything necessary, as I have written +to the viceroy in his letter. God permitting, we shall build ships +here which would be worth in Nueva Espana one hundred thousand ducats, +and which cost here less than fifteen [thousand]. Consequently the +situation here may be improved thereby. Moreover, some light sail-boats +have been made; we have succeeded in subduing all the natives; search +has been made for mines, and everything possible has been done, as +your Majesty may see by the letter to the viceroy. There has also been +built a hospital in this city, to which I have granted an encomienda, +as I have already advised your Majesty. I have built the church of +San Agustin, the expenses of justice have been paid, and a house +has been built for the friars. As the corsair had burned everything, +they were given three hundred pesos from the royal treasury for this +purpose. As the city was without a public church, I have had as large +a one as possible built of wood. There could not be a better or larger +one in this country; and the work has been going on for five months, +but even yet it is not finished. + +He who is governor here must exercise constant vigilance in affairs. He +must know what is being accomplished in the different works, and +when the persons who draw salaries journey to and from different +points. He must be watchful of the provisions and supplies, and in +truth, the governor must be an overseer of all the offices. It is +especially difficult to prevent things from happening behind one's +back. I have also had a house built where the governor lives, as +there was none here before. In truth, I may say that when your Majesty +was pleased to order me to come here, the path was not discovered by +which they brought me on the sea, and the land was neither subdued nor +peopled. I say this without prejudice to the services of my neighbors, +and I humbly beg that your Majesty be pleased to grant me grace and +remember me. In Manila, June the eighth, 1577. + +[_Endorsed on front_: "Relation of the condition in which were found +the Filipinas Islands. Their location is described in detail, and the +fertility of the soil for food products, pasturage, the sugar industry, +and that of indigo. The year 1577."] + + + +Bull for Erection of the Diocese and Cathedral Church of Manila + + +Gregory, Bishop, servant of the servants of God: In perpetual +remembrance of the affair. + +Trusting in the safeguard of Him who moves the hinges of the earth, +toward whom are bent the minds of men--through whose providence, +moreover, all things derive their government--we willingly do our share +of the duty entrusted to us from above, to the end that they who now +are in darkness may be enabled to enjoy the true light which is Christ +Jesus, and that the rays of His light may beam upon them. Wherefore, +in accordance with the preeminence of this apostolic see in the regions +of the earth, all and singular, as required by necessity and other +reasonable motives, we plant new episcopal sees and churches, that +by new plantations may be increased the new adhesion of peoples to +the church militant; that everywhere may arise, spread, and flourish +the profession of the Christian religion and the Catholic faith; that +even insignificant places may thereby be enlightened, and that their +inhabitants and the dwellers thereof, girded around with new sees in +charge of prelates of rank, may the more easily win the rewards of +everlasting happiness. In truth, since the soldiers of our very dear +son in Christ, Philip, Catholic Sovereign of the Spains, voyaging +many years ago to the sea known as Mar del Sur ["Southern Sea"], +discovered there very many islands known as the Philippines, near the +continent of China, in some of which (chiefly in Luzon and Zebu) they +made settlements; while the same King Philip sent to the aforesaid +islands not only temporal governors for the purpose of establishing +and maintaining justice therein, but ecclesiastical persons, both +regulars and seculars, that they might administer the sacraments of +the church and confirm converts in the Catholic faith--the result was +that, through the mercy of God, many natives of the said islands were +converted to the said faith. However (albeit matters in the spiritual +realm have thus far been managed in this fashion), with the increase +of Spaniards in those islands the same King Philip, in order that +they might become more peaceful and populous, with this intent sent +thither Spaniards--two hundred men with their wives and children, +and four hundred unmarried men. Daily very many of the said natives, +embracing the aforesaid faith, receive the regeneration of sacred +baptism, although the islands aforesaid are more than two thousand +leagues distant from the province of the Christians known as New +Spain, subject to the rule of the said King Philip, whence supplies +are brought to those islands. It therefore was proper and necessary, +for the welfare of the souls of these natives and other like persons, +as well as for the peace of conscience of the said King Philip, that +in those islands should be some one in charge of spiritual affairs, +with the care of the said souls. Neither should there be wanting the +proper and necessary spiritual and ecclesiastical government in those +regions, to the end that Almighty God may be served more faithfully, +and the gospel law and the said faith be spread and exalted the more, +on this account. After mature deliberation with our brethren on these +points, with their advice, arid at the humble solicitation of the +aforesaid King Philip, by our apostolic authority, by perpetual tenor +of these presents, to the praise and glory of the same Almighty God, +as well as to the honor of His most glorious Mother and ever Virgin +Mary and of all the heavenly court, and to the exaltation of the +aforesaid faith, we separate, exempt, and wholly release the church +of the city known as Manila, in the said island of Luzon, as well +as the city itself, and, in the islands belonging to it and their +districts, territories, and villages, all the inhabitants of either +sex, all the clergy, people, secular and regular persons, monasteries, +hospitals, and pious places, as well as ecclesiastical and secular +benefices, of whatsoever orders of regulars, from our venerable +brother the archbishop of Mexico, and from any other ecclesiastical +and diocesan prelates, under whose jurisdiction they previously may +have been--as well as from all jurisdiction, superiorship, cognizance, +visit, dominion, and power of any one whomsoever. Moreover, by the +aforesaid authority and tenor, we erect and establish forever the +town of Manila into a city, and its church into a cathedral, under +the title of "the Conception of the same Blessed Mary Virgin," to +be held by one bishop as its head, who shall see to the enlargement +of its buildings and their restoration in the style of a cathedral +church. Besides this, in it and the city and diocese he shall have +the word of God preached, the heathen natives of those islands +brought and converted to the worship of the orthodox faith, and +converts instructed and confirmed in the same faith; moreover, he +shall cause to be imparted to them the grace of baptism, with the +administration of the other sacraments of the church. In the church, +city, and diocese of Manila, he shall exercise episcopal jurisdiction, +authority, and power freely. Moreover, in both the aforesaid city +and diocese he shall now, as well as on occasion, erect and establish +dignities, canonries, prebends, and other ecclesiastical benefices, +both with and without parochial charge, with whatever else besides may +be expedient for the increase of divine worship and the health of soul +of those natives. He shall be subject to the said archbishop of Mexico, +and to his successors for the time being, as metropolitan. Moreover, +he shall enjoy all rights as on occasion shall be declared, excepting +as regards gold and silver metals, gems, and precious stones, which +are the right of the said Philip and of the Catholic Sovereigns of +the Spains for the time being. For this reason we ordain that tithes +and offerings of first-fruits [_primitias_], as required by law, +need not be paid. Moreover he shall enjoy all other episcopal rights, +the same as are enjoyed, by law or custom, by other bishops of +the kingdoms of the Spains together with the exaction of the +same as see, table [_mensa_], and other episcopal insignia, and +jurisdictions. Besides, for the future he may freely and lawfully +use, hold, and enjoy the privileges, immunities, and graces which +other cathedral churches and their prelates in the said kingdoms +use, hold, and enjoy, in any manner, through law or custom. Again, +to the same church of Manila we assign the aforesaid people for city, +the said island of Luzon and all the other islands for diocese, and +the natives and inhabitants thereof for clergy and people. Moreover +we grant to the same King Philip power to assign, increase, extend, +lessen, and otherwise change the bounds therein. For his episcopal +table [_mensa_], we apply and appropriate as dowry the yearly +revenue of two hundred ducats, to be paid by King Philip from the +yearly revenues coming to him from the said island of Luzon, until +the fruit of the table itself shall reach the value of two hundred +similar ducats. Moreover we reserve, grant, and assign forever to the +king the right of patronage over the church of Manila; and should +any vacancy occur therein (this the first occasion only excepted), +to present, within one year, to the Roman Pontiff for the time being, +persons fit for that office as bishop and pastor of the same church of +Manila. We also grant the same right of presentation for dignities, +canonries, prebends, and other benefices, from their first erection, +and thereafter as vacancies shall occur, these being similarly given +to the bishop of Manila for the time being, who shall present the same +to Philip, or the king for the time being--who, by reason of the dowry +and the new foundation, is to be consulted in the establishment of +these dignities, canonries, and prebends, the apostolic constitutions, +and ordinances, and other things, to the contrary notwithstanding. + +Let no one therefore infringe this page of our separation, +exemption, release, decree of erection, establishment, application, +appropriation, reservation, grant, and assignments, or rashly dare +to contravene. Should anyone, however, presume to attempt it, let him +recognize that he has thereby incurred the wrath of Almighty God, and +of his Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, +on the sixth day of February in the year of the incarnation of our +Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, and the seventh +year of our pontificate. + + + +Letter from Francisco de Sande to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +I have informed your Majesty in other letters concerning the condition +of these your Filipinas islands, and refer you to what I have written +to your Majesty's Royal Council of the Indies, which letters have +probably arrived ere now. Likewise I have informed your Majesty how, +obeying your Majesty's orders, and those of the Royal Council of the +Indies, to obtain the friendship of the king of Borney and Vindanao, +and to render an account of what was done in this matter, I left this +city of Manila with the fleet of galleys and galliots. This I did for +your Majesty on the third day of March, and I proceeded to the island +of Borney with forty sail, counting ships of this country, and with +peaceful intentions, as my actions demonstrated. But the Moro king +of those districts, not wishing peace, came out with his fleet to +fight me on the sea, three or four leagues from the city. I sent him +a written message of peace; but he killed one of the ambassadors (who +were chiefs), and despoiled them of their possessions, as well as the +Moro rowers whom they took with them from this island of Lucon. But +although three of these have returned, the others have not. Finally +he opened hostilities, discharging his artillery. After we had fired +a number of volleys, it was God's pleasure that the Moros should be +conquered and take to flight. Thereupon I employed myself in collecting +the galleys and ships taken from them--in all twenty-seven. Likewise +I secured the artillery, dragging much of the same out of the water, +where they had thrown it--in all one hundred and seventy pieces, +both large and small. In my other letter, however, I did not inform +your Majesty exactly concerning this number, and stated that I had +remained in Borney to settle and populate it, as in fact I did. + +After this, when I had subdued four or five thousand Moros who were +settled there--among them an uncle of the king, and a cousin who +served the latter there as captain-general in that war, the king of +Borney persisting in hiding in the mountains and swamps in which that +island abounds--and when I set about collecting and summoning the +people, it was God's will that all my soldiers should fall ill. It +became necessary for me to set sail in order to save my men, as +your Majesty will perceive by the relation which I am sending to the +Royal Council of the Indies. However, I first made an agreement with +those chiefs, who promised to give full obedience to your Majesty; +and that king assured me that he would receive Spaniards. Therefore, +at the first occasion the Spaniards will effect a settlement, a place +will be chosen for them, which is understood to be most healthful; +and your Majesty will be informed thereof. + +From Borney I sent seven of the galleys captured there, with artillery, +and two others of your Majesty's ships, for the pacification of the +island of Vindanao. That fleet arrived there after a quiet voyage, +and I shall have news of it this coming September. + +In Borney I obtained precise information concerning the entire +archipelago and the mainland, as I found there people from China, +Cauchi, [16] Camboja, Sian, Patane, Pahan, Jabas, Samatra, Achen, +Manancabo, Batachina, Maluco, Vindanao, Limboton, and other islands +thereabout. Concerning these I inform you only that as far as Sian +there dwell Moros; and thence toward the north are idolaters. Moreover, +they are within your Majesty's demarcation and are not included in +the compact [of Zaragoza]; and by employing the proper methods they +can be brought to the service of God and of your Majesty, without +violating the laws of God or nature, or the instructions which your +Majesty has most inviolably charged upon me. + +With the artillery which I have taken and still hold, and the galleys +as well, the propagation of the faith and of your Majesty's service +can be carried forward. I take part in these expeditions necessarily, +because of the communications which it is necessary to make, and +to secure the observance of instructions and the obedience of the +soldiers. In this I continue to serve your Majesty with much joy, +and I see to it that all my men shall do the same. + +On account of my small force (some of my men being also inexperienced +and ill-armed), and because of a lack of equipment, and my +determination to settle in this island, where there are gold-mines +in two localities, I do not inform your Majesty concerning what +expedition I shall make this coming year; since, whatever it may be, +it is necessary to commence it with the beginning of the year, and +cease before St. John's day. With the first reenforcements which +I received, up to the present time, I made this expedition; and I +found the second reenforcement in this city of Manila, with which I +shall do all things possible in the service of your Majesty and will +inform you thereof by the first vessel. + +With this reenforcement I obtained letters and news concerning your +Majesty's health, and that of other royal personages. I derived +therefrom the greatest satisfaction, and I continually beseech our +Lord to grant you, and to preserve, health for many years, as your +Majesty's vassals and servants desire and need. + +I am writing more at length to the royal Council, to which I am sending +a relation of what I request herein--which I hope your Majesty will +be pleased to examine, for it will be a great favor. + +In other letters I have begged your Majesty to be pleased to grant me +a reward; and I referred the matter, in order that he might urge the +same, to a brother whom I had in Espana. God has taken this brother, +as well as my father also; another brother is serving your Majesty +in the Flemish war. For this reason, I believe, I have not received +it--whence I am in anxiety, since I know what your Majesty ordinarily +does for those who serve him. I entreat your Majesty to have the +goodness to favor me, and to console me in my losses of family, +since only God and your Majesty are left me in this life. + +The favor which I beg your Majesty is that you bestow upon me the +robe, with a commandery, of one of the three orders. [17] I entreat +your Majesty to vouchsafe this in my behalf, for it is a thing that +your Majesty is accustomed to bestow upon any worthy soldier, even +when he has not an office like that in which I serve. Likewise I +entreat that Don Joan de Sande, my brother, who, as I have already +stated, has been serving your Majesty in Flanders twelve years, +be given the robe, if he be still alive; and if not, I entreat +the same for Don Bernardino de Sande, my brother, who has served +your Majesty in this country as a soldier, and is now serving you +as a captain of infantry. These brothers, as well as myself, will +serve you better according as we are more highly honored. It is of +great importance that your Majesty do not forget me, who am serving +you in this capacity of governer and captain-general. And also, +because I now have but little recompense, I beg your Majesty to have +the goodness to order it increased, and to allow me some gratuity: +for in the last expedition I spent three thousand ducats of my own, +and every day there arise similar necessities. And, regarding other +favors which I also entreat from the royal Council, may it please +your Majesty to examine the letters, graciously to take cognizance +of them, and to bestow upon me the reward due for the years that I +have spent in your Majesty's service, continuing the service, both in +peace and war, rendered to your Majesty by my ancestors and kinsmen +of a most ancient lineage. And, since God so ordains it, I am alone; +and now I entreat your Majesty to have the goodness to reply to me, +granting me the reward, which I am quite confident of receiving, +and by which I am comforted. + +Since in the letter to the Council I am writing more at length, in +this present letter I do otherwise, because of the many and important +matters that take up the time of your Majesty's royal person. + +The Portuguese have constructed six fortifications in Maluco, in each +of which they have mounted eight Lombardy guns. The real defense is +for your Majesty to order that no innovation be brought forward in what +pertains to the compact; for I see this with great pain and anxiety for +your royal crown. As for the rest, it would be quite an easy matter. + +I brought from Borney twenty-seven ships, among them being twenty-one +galleys and galliots, together with a hundred and seventy pieces of +artillery, as above said, and other war material of which I am sending +an account to the royal Council. These supplies could not be furnished +to this country for a thousand ducats; and with them the condition +of these islands will be greatly improved. May it please our Lord +so to ordain that all men shall recognize your Majesty as their king +and sovereign, as you deserve. May our Lord guard the royal Catholic +person of your Majesty many long years, augmenting your dominion and +kingdoms, as we your vassals desire. At Manila, in the island of Lucon +in the Philipinas, July 29, 1578. Royal Catholic Majesty, I am your +Majesty's loyal vassal and servant; who kisses your royal hands, + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[_Endorsed_: "September 12, 1579. To the president of the Indias. Let +it be filed with the other letter, and put away."] + + + +Grant of a Plenary Indulgence to All the Faithful Who Visit Churches +of the Friars Minors + + +To all the faithful of Christ who view these present letters, health +and apostolic blessing: + +With solicitude, as is the duty of our pastoral office, for the +health of the Lord's flock entrusted by divine arrangement to our +unworthy care, we willingly invite the faithful of that flock, all +and singular, to visit churches and perform pious and meritorious +works, in order that with the aid of divine grace, through spiritual +largesses, indulgences (namely), and the pardoning of sins, they may +the more easily reach the joys of everlasting happiness. For in the +Indias, China, and the Philippine Islands, we desire that the churches +already founded, or to be founded within the next ten years, and each +one thereof belonging to the monasteries or houses of the discalced +brethren known as the Order of Minors of St. Francis [18] of Observance +be held in due veneration by the faithful of Christ themselves--that, +frequenting them with befitting reverence, and flocking thither +to those churches with greater readiness for the sake of devotion, +they thereby may find themselves more fruitfully refreshed through +the bestowal of heavenly grace. Therefore, relying on the mercy of +Almighty God and the authority of his blessed apostles Peter and Paul, +we mercifully in the Lord grant and bestow a plenary indulgence and +remission of all their sins, on all the faithful of Christ of either +sex, who, truly penitent and confessed each year, visit devoutly the +aforesaid churches, or any of them, on the first and second day of +the month of August, as well as the feasts of St. Francis, St. Anthony +of Padua, St. Clare, St. Louis, and St. Bernardine; and these during +their visit shall, from the first vespers to sunset of those days and +feasts, pour forth pious prayers to God for the exaltation of Holy +Mother Church, the uprooting of heresies, and the conversion of the +peoples of those regions to the Catholic faith. These presents are +to hold for all times. But, as it would be difficult to have these +present letters carried to all and singular the places where needed, +we desire, and by our apostolic authority decree, that to copies of +them bearing the seal of any person in ecclesiastical rank, the same +respect shall be paid as would be given to the originals themselves, +were they shown. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the seal of +the Fisherman, on the fifteenth day of November, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight, the seventh year of our pontificate. + + + + + +Documents of 1579-82 + + + Decree regulating the foundation of monasteries. Felipe II; + Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; May 30, 1579. + + Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao. Francisco de Sande, + and others; April 19, 1578 to June 10, 1579. + + Appointments to vacancies in Manila cathedral. Felipe II; + [promulgated from?] Guadalupe, March 26, 1580. + + Letter to Felipe II. Goncillo Ronquillo de Penalosa; July 17, + 1581. + + Ordinance restricting departure from the islands. Goncalo + Ronquillo de Penalosa; March 2, 1582. + + Letter to Felipe II. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa; June 15, + 1582. + +_Sources_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +de Indias, Sevilla, except the royal decrees; these are taken from +the original MS. documents in the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo +Historico Nacional, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The first and fourth documents are translated by +Alfonso de Salvio; the second and third, by James A. Robertson; +the last three, by Jose M. Asensio. + + + +Royal Decree Regulating the Foundation of Monasteries + + +The King. + +To our governor of the Filipinas islands: + +Fray Domingo de Salazar, of the Dominican order, and bishop of +the said islands, has reported to us that he is going to reside +in these islands; and that he will take with him religious of his +order to found monasteries, and to take charge of the conversion and +instruction of the natives. He has petitioned us to issue commands +that whatever is done for the above order, as for those of St. Francis +and St. Augustine, be done at our expense and that of the Spaniards +and Indians (as has been done in other parts of our Indias), or as +suits our pleasure, and as it receives the approval of our Council +of the Indies. + +Inasmuch as we have provided that monasteries be founded in Nueva +Espana wherever it is necessary, and have ordered that, if the chosen +places be villages belonging to the royal crown, the monasteries are to +be founded at our expense--the Indians of such villages contributing +their labor in the work and erection of the buildings; and that, when +the villages are in charge of encomenderos, the monasteries are to be +founded at our expense and that of the encomenderos, as well as with +the help of the Indians of such villages apportioned as encomiendas: +therefore it is our desire that the same orders be carried out in the +founding of monasteries in those islands. I order you immediately to +ascertain in what districts and places of those islands monasteries +are needed; after which you will take the necessary measures toward +their erection, being careful that the houses be modest, and that +they be not superfluously furnished. If the villages where they are +to be founded belong to our royal crown, you will give orders that +they be erected at our expense, and that the Indians of such villages +contribute their labor towards the work and building of them. And if +the villages are in the charge of private persons, the monasteries are +to be built at our expense and that of the encomenderos; with the aid +of the Indians of such villages apportioned as encomiendas, as above +mentioned. If in the villages live Spaniards holding no encomiendas of +Indians, you will assess them also according to their condition and +property, for they are in like manner under obligation to contribute +toward the building of churches. The sum paid by the said Spaniards +will be subtracted from the share demanded from the said Indians +and encomenderos; for since this is a good work, beneficial to all, +it is only right that all help toward its completion. Being thus a +matter of such importance, you will devote to it all the care that +it requires, remembering that no new monastery of a different order +is to be founded in the same village or its vicinity. + +You will be careful always to inform us of what is being done in this +respect, and of the result of the labors of the religious. + +_I, The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: + +_Antonio de Heraso_ + +Aranjuez, May 13, 1579. + + + +Letter from Francisco de Sande to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +Last year, seventy-eight, in July, I wrote to your Majesty and advised +you of my expedition to the island of Borney, and its outcome. This +year I sent thither a fleet, which brought news that the city had been +rebuilt. The Moro king there detained the captain until he had placed +his clothing and wives in safety. The captain, in accordance with his +instructions, returned without doing them any damage. I am quite sure +that that king will quietly submit, if we effect a settlement there. + +The king of Jolo rendered obedience to your Majesty and surrendered +his artillery. This year he gave as tribute a piece weighing fourteen +quintals that must have been hidden away. + +This year of seventy-nine, I sent an expedition to pacify the river +of Mindanao. The king ruling there fled; but, as our people carried +orders not to do any harm there also, peace was made, and some of +the natives returned. If we plant a colony there, that king also +will submit--which cannot be effected in any other way, because of +our distance from there. + +In August of seventy-eight a galleon and a large galley with five +hundred men, and other necessary supplies for Maluco, passed Borney. It +is said that one hundred were Portuguese and Spaniards, and the rest +_mestizos_ [19] and people from Yndia. According to a Cafre [heathen], +their hulks were in very poor condition. He says they were going to +Maluco to collect the tribute which was lost three years ago. I am +sending the investigations and accounts of this and of everything to +your Majesty's royal Council, and am writing more in detail. I beg your +Majesty to be so good as to favor this other world by examining this +letter. Because of your Majesty's stringent orders not to go to Maluco, +we have not gone thither. However, the compact, as I have advised your +Majesty is not well considered; and Maluco is not comprehended in it, +and is in your Majesty's demarcation. [20] Thirty vessels leaving and +returning to Sevilla could load cargoes of spices--pepper, camphor, +and other drugs and spices. In these vessels, people could be brought +from Espana, and a few fleets would populate this land, and clearly +we could take possession of all of China; for by way of Nueva Espana +the despatch of vessels will always be a trifling matter, and by way +of the strait of Magallanes I do not believe that we can hope for so +good a result. I am writing in detail regarding this to your Majesty's +royal Council. I am writing also of the method which I think we should +employ--namely, to settle in greater Java, whence we should despatch +a vessel to Sevilla to give information of the route, although I +believe that that made by the ship "Victoria" is not forgotten. + +I have built a vessel here of six hundred toneladas, which can +make the said voyage, if your Majesty will so order; and I am now +building another. There is an excellent fleet of galleys; and with +what was captured from the Borneans, and in Jolo and Vindanao, and +with that taken from the Portuguese galley which I said was lost, +we have more than two hundred pieces of artillery. From the useless +pieces I am casting others. Certain Indians in this land have founded +for me one piece weighing ninety quintals; and there is not in the +castle of Milan a piece so well made. Another mold has been made, +and the Indian says that he will make as many as are ordered. From +Nueva Espana no favorable message, in regard to this or other things, +is sent. Therefore if your Majesty wishes that China be yours in +your days-please God, may they be many, as we your Majesty's servants +need--it is necessary for the execution thereof that ships be sent here +from Nueva Espana, since now we have some knowledge of this region, +and the vessels have here a good port, and we know how to proceed. + +This archipelago is secure from enemies, blessed be God. We have begun +settlements--one in the province called Cagayan, in the northern part +of this island, and sixty leagues from China. + +In other letters I have begged your Majesty to be so kind as to favor +me. Once more I bring this to your memory. I beg your Majesty to +grant me a habit and an encomienda for myself, and another for one of +my brothers. All of my brothers are serving your Majesty in the war, +and I am sure that they deserve the most that I beg and entreat. I am +writing to the royal council. I beg your Majesty to order that my case +be examined, and to honor this office in which I serve you, and bestow +favor upon one who has served you for so many years as I. May our Lord +preserve your Majesty's Catholic and royal person, and increase you +for many years as we, your servants and vassals, desire. Manila, in the +island of Lucon, in Philipinas, May 30, 1579. Royal Catholic Majesty, +your Majesty's loyal vassal and servant, who kisses your royal hands, + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Doctor Francisco de Sande. June four, 1581. He requests +a habit and an encomienda. To the Council of the Indies." "Seen, +and no answer is required."] + + + + +Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao + + +In the galley named "Santiago," on the nineteenth of the month +of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +for his Majesty of the Western Islands declared: that, inasmuch as +his Lordship is going with a fleet of galleys to the island of Borney, +both to teach the natives there the Christian law, and to reduce them +to the dominion of his Majesty--as well as to ascertain and inform +himself about the customs, past and present, of the said natives, +what law and ceremonies they observe, and the mode of life among +the natives thereabout and in other parts, who are vassals of his +Majesty--in order to attain this he ordered to be conducted, and did +conduct, the following inquiries and procedures: + +For the investigation of the above-named matters, the aforesaid +governor summoned to his presence an Indian who, through the medium +and speech of Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, an interpreter, declared his name to +be Magad-china, and himself an inhabitant of Balayan. Without taking +the oath, he promised to tell the truth; and, being interrogated +according to the tenor of this declaration, said that he knows that +the king of Borney is wont to detain many Indians who resort to +Borney for trade and intercourse, and that he does not permit them +to leave the country, especially those Indians whom he knows to be +rich. The witness knows that the king forces them to marry in that +country, so that at their death he may obtain their possessions. In +this way he has seen detained against their will, Indians of Cubu, +the island of Lucon, Balayan, Bonbon, and other districts of +these islands--all rich and influential men. In especial was he +acquainted with an Indian of Manila, a messenger of Raxa Soliman, +by name Simalinquidlan; another named Siparan, a native of Manila; +and a chief named Siganbal, a native of Balayan, whom he (the present +witness) knows to have been detained by the king of Borney, in his +country, and he does not allow them to leave it. The said chief of +Balayan has been detained six years, and some eighty or ninety tacs +of gold were taken from him, besides slaves, and all these were kept +by the king. At the end of the said six years, the said chief fled +returning to Balayan, his native village. In like manner, the present +witness knows that the king of Borney is detaining many Indian chiefs +and _timaguas_ [freemen], and that he will not allow them to leave +his country. Likewise this witness, upon going to Borney to trade, +was detained in the island against his will for eight or nine years, +until the said king of Borney sent him to Balayan to sell a trifle +of _camanguian_ and other articles--whereupon he remained in the +said town, and would not return to Borney. He has seen this done and +practiced by the king of Borney against many persons, both chiefs and +timaguas, of the region about Manila, who are vassals of his Majesty. + +Being asked where he learned the worship of Mahoma, and who declared +it to him, he said that the ancestors of the Borneans were natives +of Meca, as he, the present witness, had heard; for the natives +of Balayan, Manila, Mindoro, Bonbon, and that region did not have +knowledge of the said worship until the Borneans had explained it +to them; they have done so with the natives of these islands, and +therefore all these are Moros now, because their ancestors learned +it from the said Moros of Borney. [21] Their language, both spoken +and written, is derived from Meca; and the said Borneans and natives +of Sian and Patan possess and observe their Alcorans--the law and +worship of Mahoma. He said that in the book of the Alcoran, which the +present witness has seen and has heard preached, they say and assert +that they are the enemies of the Christians. Likewise in other books +they say that the Borneans have always desired to make Moros of the +Christians--a thing that he has also heard declared by the _catip_ +[caliph?] whom the said Borneans regard as a priest, and who preaches +the said doctrine of Mahoma. This said catip, and others, with like +expressions preach the said doctrine of Mahoma, so that the said +natives observe it. They declare and publish that the law of the +Christians is evil; and their own, good. The witness knows that, +in the former year, seventy-four, the king of Borney undertook to +attack Manila, and to plunder and kill the Spaniards, launching for +the purpose a fleet of one hundred galleys and one hundred small +vessels. In each large vessel were about fifty, and in the smaller +about thirty men--all together, in the judgment of this witness, +making about seven or eight thousand men. All were of one mind, to +kill the Spaniards at Manila. The said fleet left the river of Borney +to begin the said expedition, but, after sailing about twenty leagues, +immediately returned, because the son of the king of Borney was taking +part in the said expedition; and, in order that the Spaniards might +not land at Borney in another part, and kill his father, he did not +continue the said expedition, but returned with the whole fleet, +without his enterprise having any effect. The witness has heard +that the king of Borney wrote letters to Raxa Soliman and Lacandora, +chiefs of Manila, so that they might revolt against the Spaniards, +and saying that all would be protected. Likewise he has heard his +relatives and other Moros tell how in former times the king of Borney +has sent preachers of the sect of Mahoma to Cebu, Oton, Manila, +and other districts, so that the people there might be instructed +in it as were those of Borney. And this witness, in his own time, +has heard the said doctrine preached in Balayan, by a Moro regarded +among them as a priest, by name Siat Saen. Also it is well known that +the said Borneans are wont to plunder the Calamianes, and enslave the +people and take them to Borney. They do the same in other districts +thereabout. The witness has heard that the said king of Borney holds +captive a Spaniard, named Diego Felipe, and two Christian Visayans, +whose names he does not know. This is what he knows, or is currently +reported, and what he has seen. He certified as to its truth, ratified +it, and signed it, in his own language, as did the said interpreter. He +was about thirty-one years old. + +_Joan Ochoa Ttabudo_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Following this are depositions taken from four other men, two of them +natives of Borneo. The testimonies of all are very similar to the +foregoing, and show the policy of the king of Borneo. One testimony +declares that the king was wont to make the rich and influential +men who might land at his island captains, in order to retain their +wealth. The document continues:] + +[_Letter to the king of Borneo_.] + +I, Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his +Majesty in these islands and districts of the West, by order of his +Majesty, the king of Castilla and Leon, my sovereign, Don Ffelipe, +the greatest king and most powerful sovereign in the world, send +this letter by these messengers to you, Outardo Soltan Lixar, king +of Borney, so that you may know my will, and what I require. + +You know already how I, with the other captains and soldiers of the +Castilians live, by order of the king, our sovereign, in Manila, in +the island of Lucon, in Cubu, and in other districts. There in Manila, +Cubu, and other districts it has been rumored that you have tried and +are trying to do us harm, and to make war upon us; that you have tried +to induce and have solicited the natives of Lucon and other districts +to rebel and revolt against us; that you have sent spies to Cubu and +other districts; that you have left your residence for this purpose +of warring against us with a fleet of ships. All these things are +without any reason, and I know not what is the cause therefor; for my +will is good and I desire to show naught but good to all, and ill to +none. Since I am proceeding to confer with you openly and publicly, I +notify you that I am not coming to plunder or to harm you, but to prove +of use to you; for the king, my sovereign, orders thus, and accordingly +I gladly notify you that I am going to you. My sovereign, the king of +Castilla, spends his money through us, the Castilians, and sends us +into all parts of the world, in order that we might proclaim the law +of the true God. For this purpose I came hither; and now I am going +to confer with you, chiefly that you may know your God and Creator, +and to teach you the true law. I wish to do you no ill, nor to seize +your possessions; on the contrary, if you are our friend, I will aid +and defend you, according to the orders of the king, my sovereign. To +this end I offer you peace and friendship on our part, in such wise, +that there may be mutual security, on both sides, to go and to come, +to see one another, to trade and traffic, as is usual among friends. + +What you are to do is to admit preachers of the holy gospel, who may +preach the law of the Christians in your lands in all security; and +likewise that any person whatever of your country may have entire +liberty and permission to attend the preaching of the law of the +Christians, and that he who wishes to become a Christian may do so +without any ill befalling him. + +Further, I desire that you shall send no preachers of the +sect of Mahoma to any part of these islands, nor to the heathen +among the Tingues [hill-people], nor into other parts of your own +island--inasmuch as the doctrine of Mahoma is a false and evil law, +and the religion of the Christians alone is true, holy, and good. + +Further, I desire that you send me a Christian Spaniard, called +Diego Felipe, whom I am told you have there, as well as others if +you have them; and two Visayans, natives of Cubu, Christians whom +we know that you have, and who were captured from their own country; +likewise whomever else you have in your power. You must give to the +heirs of Raxa Soliman and Lacandora, natives of Lucon--vassals of the +king, my sovereign, and his subjects, in his royal name the slaves and +property that you have retained there belonging to them; and whatever +belongs to any other vassals of the king, my sovereign. This I would +do myself, if I had anything of yours or of your people, and would pay +and return it, and would do justice to them in that regard very openly. + +_Item_: You must allow those persons whom you have detained, because +they are rich, to go about freely, and give them leave to return to +their own lands, since they are natives of these islands of the king, +my sovereign. They went to trade with you, and you have no right to +constrain them; but you must allow them to go freely with their wives, +children, and possessions. + +Likewise, you must forbid your people from asking tribute in these +islands, inasmuch as I collect tribute in them, as it is the right of +our king, my sovereign. I write this letter that you may be advised +of my wishes. You must answer it immediately, and not detain the +messengers, even if they should say that they wish to remain in Borney +with you; for if they are detained, I shall understand that there is +some mischief and deceit on your part against our people. As we are +coming by way of the sea, and have need of food, you must send food +to us, in accordance with what is asked by my messengers, in return +for our money. This shall be paid you, as you wish; and for the same, +we are bringing silver and gold. I shall be glad to receive your +reply and to talk with you. Advise me with all haste. May God grant +you the true light and health. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +(On the thirteenth day of April of the above year, I delivered two +copies of this letter, one in the Bornean language, and the other +in that of Manila, to chiefs Magat and Magachina, so that they might +give them to the king of Borney. + +I hereby certify to the same: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) [22] + +(On this day, the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor +and captain-general for his Majesty in these islands, showed this +letter to father Fray Martin de Rada, religious of the order of +St. Augustine, whom he is taking with him in the said expedition, +so that he might examine it, as a matter resolved on by both. He, +having read it, pronounced it good and said that it could be sent to +the said king of Borney. + +I herewith certify to the same: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the chief galley, named "Santiago," while at sea near the island +of Borney, one of the Filipinas islands belonging to his Majesty, on +Sunday, the thirteenth day of the month of April, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight, the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de +Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty, declared that, +as is well known, his Lordship going with the galleys and ships of +the fleet here amid these islands at this present time--and sailing +with every mark of peace to the port of Borney, and as a token of the +same, with a white flag at the bow of the flagship, in which the said +governor is sailing--it was discovered by the said galley, and by +the _fragata_ [23] sailing in advance of the fleet as a scout-boat, +that the mouth of the river-harbor called Borney was occupied and +blockaded with a great number of vessels. And because it was learned +from other Indians of the said river of Borney that they desired war +instead of peace; and as he did not desire to war upon them, or do +them any damage--to the offense of God, our Lord, or in disobedience +to his Majesty's orders--the said governor ordered the said flagship, +and all the said fleet, to cast anchor, and sent a message by two +Moros of Balayan, his Majesty's vassals in the island of Lucon. These +men were ordered to tell the Borneans, in order that they might know, +that his intentions were peaceful; that, as a token thereof, he was +flying the white flag; and that they should not trouble themselves to +fire any of their artillery upon the Spaniards, for, if the Borneans +did any damage, they would be punished. The said ambassadors took also +two letters, one in the Bornean language, and the other in the Moro +tongue, which they understand. In these letters was affirmed security +of peace, and other matters. And--inasmuch as military affairs cannot +maintain the moderation that may be desired, because of the emergencies +that usually arise--in order that the above might be evident, and +also in anticipation of whatever might happen, the governor ordered +this set down in writing, making therein the present declaration; +that I, the said notary, might certify thereto _in toto_, and file +with these records the original of the said letter, which he ordered +to be written to the said Indians, so that all may be kept together +and serve as evidence of the above matters. Thus Doctor Francisco de +Sande ordered, and he signed it in my presence. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +On the said day, month, and year, aforesaid, in obedience to the +order of the said governor, the oath was taken and received before +God and the Blessed Mary, and on a sign of the cross, in due form +of law, from Pedro Lucas, a soldier; under which obligation, when +questioned, he declared what he knows, and that present occurrences +are as follows. On this day, Sunday, about four in the afternoon or so, +when the flagship named "Santiago" (wherein were the said governor and +other soldiers and troops) and also the other galleys and war vessels +of his Majesty were sailing toward the port of the said island of +Borney, this witness saw that the said flagship flew a white flag of +peace on the bow of the said flagship. And at the mouth of the said +port he saw a number of ships--in his opinion, some twenty-five or +thirty in all. When the said governor saw the said fleet, and that +war was about to ensue, in order not to have war with them, but that +all might be peace, he ordered the said flagship and also the other +ships and vessels of the said fleet to anchor. They anchored at a +good distance from the said port, in order to give the natives of the +said island to understand that the governor desired not war with them, +but all peace and friendship. This witness saw that the governor gave +two letters to two Moro chiefs of Balayan, vassals of his Majesty, +of the island of Lucon--one letter in the Moro tongue, and the other +in that of Borney. In them he informed the Borneans of his reasons +for coming, and that he desired not war with them, but all peace and +friendship. This witness saw the two Indians leave the said flagship +and embark on a fragata of the said fleet with the said two letters, +in order to deliver them to the Indians in the said war-vessels. The +governor ordered them to return with all haste, with a reply to his +Lordship. This is the extent of his knowledge and what he has seen +this said day. He affirms its truth, by the oath that he took, and +has signed the same. He says that he is thirty years old. Upon this +being read to him, he affirmed and ratified the same. + +_Pedro Lucas_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Testimony is received also from three others, Juan Manuel Pimentel, +Juan Ochoa, and Gaspar Perez. That of the first is similar to the +above. That of the last contains the information that the two Moros +sent with the letters "as yet have not returned nor sent a reply, +except that we see that the said fleet of the Borneans still holds +the mouth of the said port, and his Majesty's fleet is anchored in +the open sea and in great peril; and this witness has heard some +heavy shots fired by the Borneans at his Majesty's fleet. It is +well known, and this witness has heard the Borneans say, that the +king of Borneo and his people are about to war upon the Spaniards, +both by sea and by land." A portion of the interpreter Juan Ochoa's +testimony is as follows. "This witness saw at the mouth of the said +port a number of Bornean warships, in his judgment numbering some +twenty or twenty-five. When these were seen by the said governor and +by the fragata of the said fleet, the said governor ordered the said +flagship and all the other galleys and ships to anchor, which they did, +anchoring in the open sea, without any shelter. This witness saw that +the flagship was flying a white flag of peace, so that the natives +of the island might understand that the Spaniards desired not war, +but all peace. And on this same day, this witness heard from Bornean +Moros captured in a small boat on that day while on their way from the +said river of Borney to their villages, that the said king of Borney +had heard that the said fleet of his Majesty was going to Borney; +and in order to defend himself and fight with them, he had gathered as +large a fleet as possible, and for the purpose of war had come to the +island of Mohala (distant about one league from the port of Borney), +where his Majesty's fleet was about to anchor and take in water. The +said Bornean Moros told this witness, as being the interpreter, +that they had been captured on the said day, in the said boat."] + + +Testimony Regarding the Naval Battle when the Port was Captured + +After the above events, on Monday, the fourteenth of the said month +of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, about noon, the +said governor having seen that the said Borneans had returned no answer +to his letters, nor had they sent back the two above-mentioned chiefs +and six Moros from Balayan (his Majesty's vassals, who accompanied +the chiefs), and because his Majesty's fleet was in great danger, +as it had not made port; that a number of vessels belonging to the +said Borneans were on the point of beginning hostilities, and that +the Borneans showed by certain tokens that they were anxious for +war and not peace--for this reason commencing to fire and discharge +many pieces of artillery at his Majesty's said fleet and soldiers: +therefore he ordered that the said fleet, disposed in good order, +enter the said port, placing at the bow of the said flagship a white +flag of peace, that, if the said Borneans wished peace, he might make +it with them. And at the coming of the said fleet of his Majesty, thus +arranged, the Borneans in the said port--to the number of fifty ships, +large and small, rather more than less--began to resist the entrance +into the port of the said fleet, firing many pieces of artillery at +the said fleet of his Majesty and the Spaniards in it, until, after +some time, the fleet of his Majesty entered the said port, when the +said Borneans retired and fled toward the said river of Borney with +many ships in pursuit of them. Thus did the said fleet anchor in the +said port against the will of the said Borneans. Of all the above, +I, the said notary, testify herewith. These things took place before +me, as a person aboard the said fleet; and I herewith testify to +the same--Andres de Villanueva, the ensign Francisco Banon, Hernan +Ramirez Plata, Juan de Argumedo, and others, being witnesses. + +I testify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +After the above events, on Wednesday, the sixteenth day of the month of +April, of the said year one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, +the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general for his Majesty in the Western Islands, being in +the river of Borney, where there was a great settlement of houses; +and going into a large house, said to belong to the old king of the +said river, found there the said Simagat, a chief of Balayan, and a +vassal of his Majesty, who was one of the messengers sent to the said +king of Borney with two peace-letters. When questioned through the +interpreter, Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, he told what happened in regard to +the letters given them for the said king of Borney, to whom he gave +them; what answer they made to him concerning them; what insults and +ill-treatment they inflicted on him; and what befell Simagachina, +chief of Balayan, who accompanied him. He declared that what happened +is as follows. On Sunday night, the thirteenth of this present month +of April, this witness and the said Simagachina left the flagship, +embarking in one of his Majesty's fragatas, together with six Moros, +five of whom were from Balayan and one from Tondo. They took two +letters from his Lordship for the king of Borney, one written in the +Bornean tongue and the other in that of Manila. When this witness, +and the others abovesaid, had landed in the port of the said river of +Borney where a number of war vessels had gathered to prevent the fleet +of his Majesty from making the said port; and when he had come to a +large galley under command of a Bornean named Salalila--the latter, +on seeing them, ordered them placed in the said galley, and took from +this witness a gold _calenbiga_ that he wore, which weighed about +seven taes of gold. Another Indian, unknown to him, took another from +the said arm, and several other ornaments were seized from him. They +took from him a gold box, two small chains, and another smaller one, +all together weighing eleven taes. On taking away his garment, they +discovered the letters given him by his Lordship. As soon as the +said Salalila and the other Borneans with him saw the said letters, +they laid hands upon them, exclaiming: "What knavery is this that +you have here? It is some sorcery to fight with us." This witness +replied that they were only some letters for the king of Borney from +the Spaniards. Thereupon the said Salalila read the letter that was +written in the Manila tongue, and, after reading it, said jestingly, +"This letter is from Portuguese," and tore it into pieces. The other +letter, written in the Bornean tongue, the said Salalila sent, +together with this witness, in a small boat with certain Bornean +Moros to the king of Borney. The said Magachina and the other Moros +remained in the said fleet with the said Salalila. About three o'clock +next morning they reached the house where the said old king of Borney +lived. The said Borneans gave him the said letter in the presence of +this witness. A Bornean Moro read it; and, when he came to the end, +the said king remarked: "So this is the way that your people write to +me, who am king; while the Castilians are _capie_"--that is to say, +in the Bornean language "men"--"who have no souls, who are consumed +by fire when they die, and that, too, because they eat pork;" and +after certain other words, the said king asked him what he would do, +and if he wished to return to the Castilians. This witness answered, +"No, I do not wish to go now, so that I shall not be killed on the +way." Thereupon the said king of Borney said to him: "Remain here; +and, after the Spaniards are conquered, stay here, and marry. I will +give you a galley to command." This witness, for fear that he would +be killed, answered, "Yes, I will do as you wish." Thereupon the king +asked him as to the ships and people of the Castilians, and this +witness told him that there were eight galleys, thirty-two vireys, +and seven hundred Spaniards under the supreme command of Captain +Bassar. Then the king asked how many pieces of artillery were in each +ship, and their size, and how large a ball each one carried. This +witness answered that each galley carried in its bow three large +pieces; and that four galleys threw balls as large as his head, and +the others balls about one-half that size. He asked further if they +carried broadside pieces, or if they carried any that one man might +take alone; and this witness answered that they did not. Likewise he +asked him what weapons the Spaniards carried, and whether the governor +were young or old. This witness answered that each Spaniard had one +coat-of-mail, two arquebuses (one large and one small), a buckler, +sword and dagger, and a lance; and that the said governor was not +old. He asked him the governor's name, and whether he was recently +come from Espana. This witness answered that he did not know his +name, but that all called him Captain Basar, and that he had come +two years ago to Manila. Then he asked him for the master-of-camp, +Juan de Salcedo, and for many Castilians of Manila. This witness told +him that the said Juan de Salcedo was dead. He also asked him what +Spaniards remained in Manila, about their fort and artillery, whether +ships came annually from Espana, and what soldiers they brought. This +witness said that many Spaniards remained in Manila, for ships came +from Castilla every year bringing many people, all of whom remained; +and that they had built a very large fort containing forty pieces of +artillery. Many other things which he could not remember were asked +him, after which the said king dismissed him; whereupon this witness +went to the house of a relative of his, on the other side of the +river. As he was finishing his breakfast, for it was early morning, +about nine or ten Moros entered, bound him, and took him to the said +house of the king, who asked him anew many questions concerning the +Spaniards, which he does not remember, except that they threatened him +that, if he did not tell the truth, they would kill him, and whether +the said letter was witchcraft. Upon this witness asserting that he had +told the truth, they took him to the prison and thrust both his feet +in the stocks, put a chain about his neck, bound his hands, and set +a Moro named Tumanpate to guard him. While in this condition, a Moro +named Haguandatan entered the said prison, drew a Moro dagger three +palms long, and said to him: "Have no fear. I killed Magachina thus, +and gave him a dagger-thrust near the neck, from which he died." He +was a slave of the king and turned to go, saying that he was going +back to the sea and the fleet to fight with the Castilians. Then many +other Moros came in to kill him, but the jailer forbade it and would +not allow them to kill him. Afterward, about nightfall, he heard many +shouts and outcries from the said river; and, upon his asking the +said jailer what it meant, the latter told him that the Bornean fleet +was fleeing from the Spaniards. Thereupon this witness asked that he +be not killed, and said that he would give him money. Accordingly, +at night the jailer took him from the said prison to a house of his +up the river and told him that the king of Borney and many Indians +had fled up the river; and that he should write a note, so that his +relative should pay his ransom. While here, his relative aforesaid, +named Siandi, came and gave him a culverin [24] of three quintals +weight, with other Spaniards--he alone remaining, for the other man, +his relative, turned back, leaving this witness in the power of the +Spaniards. Likewise this witness declared that when they took him +to the river of Borney, he met on the way a son of the said king of +Borney who was going to fight with the said fleet. This man told him +where he was going, and how the said letters had come to his father; +and thus let him go. And this is the extent of his knowledge, and of +those events. It is the truth. Having read it to him and given him to +understand it, he affirmed and ratified it. He is about thirty years +old. He did not sign it, but the said interpreter did. He said it is +known that the Borneans killed his companion, the said Simagachina. + +_Juan Ochoa Ttabudo_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +And after the above events, on the same day, month, and year, +above-mentioned, the said governor in the said flagship and with the +other galleys and small ships in his convoy, entered the bar of the +said river of Borney and came to the village, where it was reported +that the said king of Borney resided; where also were the fragatas of +his Majesty and other vessels that had entered the port, in pursuit of +the said Borneans. And having arrived at the said village with certain +soldiers and troops, the governor entered its chamber, and it remained +for him to give two taes of gold and four slaves. Then the prisoner +was released. Upon this witness going down the river with another +relative of his, named Sicollao, they met a Spaniard named Diego +Martin, and joined a large house which was there, and below the said +river, said to be the house of a son of the said king of Borney. This +house contained a large and well-finished piece of artillery, and a +number of culverins, _frecones_, and other offensive arms. Advancing +toward the houses where it was reported that the old king of Borney +lived, near the said house, they saw a large galley with more than +twenty-four benches on each side. It contained a large swivel-gun and +another smaller piece, both loaded, and having on them some _quinas,_ +[25] which appeared to be the arms of the king of Portugal, and each +one furnished with two handles. The said galley contained also four +other culverins mounted in the place where the cargo is stored; and +the galley carried a quantity of ammunition for the said pieces. Some +four or five galleots of sixteen or eighteen benches each were found +also, with many falcons, and culverins, and one of them with a half +_sacre._ [26] After disembarking, the said governor entered a house +reported to be that of the old king of Borney. There he found a large +gourd filled with papers, among which were three letters--two written +in the characters and language of Borney, one bearing a signature, +namely, "Don Leonis Pereyra Martin Ferreyras;" the third was written in +Portuguese, beginning, "Noble and honored king of Borneo." It was dated +at Ebora, March seven, one thousand five hundred and seventy-three, +and bore a signature, namely, "El Rey" ["The King"]. By order of his +Lordship, I, the said notary, took possession of the said letters. The +said governor went also by land to a house, wherein was kept the +gunpowder. He found there eighteen Bornean jars filled with powder, +twenty-four filled with saltpeter, and many loaves of sulphur; more +than five hundred lances and _conpites_, with which the said natives +shoot; many shields, pikes with iron heads, a great quantity of small +and large iron balls of many kinds, and many arrows; and two or three +jars of poisonous herbs. Also at the door of the said arsenal was a +piece of artillery, a broken swivel-gun (also bearing the arms of the +king of Portugal), with its large handles; four other _fresones_, large +and long, with four chambers; two cannon-cases for artillery, one very +large and without any piece; and a stone ball, slightly thicker than +a man's body. Another large house, said to belong to Indian chiefs +and captains, was entered. A number of culverins and some gunpowder +were found there. Then the said governor went to the mosque located +in the said town, where he found a large chair, upon which, they say, +sat the preacher who expounded the doctrine of Mahoma to the said +Borneans. Near this chair was a block of marble containing painted +and gilded pictures of idols. This and the said chair the governor +ordered taken from the said mosque, as well as a trough which the +Borneans said contained water wherein whoever bathed went straight +to heaven at his death. This trough was removed by order of the said +governor, along with other articles, and the idols contained in the +mosque. There were collected also throughout the said town a great +number of projectiles, falcons, and culverins. This ammunition and +artillery was ordered to be collected and kept by the said governor, +so that the said Borneans could not use it. All that happened on this +said day passed before me and many others. I certify thereto--the +treasurer Salvador de Aldave, the ensign Juan de Gamboa, Luis de +Garnica, Francisco Chacon, and many others being witnesses. + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +And after the above events, in the settlement on the said river +of Borney, on Sunday, the twentieth day of the month of April of +the said year one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +for his Majesty in the islands of the West, with all his soldiers and +troops in line of battle, entered certain houses said to belong to the +said king of Borney, and went through several of them from one part +to another, and said that he was taking, and did take, possession of +them, in the name of his Majesty, King Don Felipe, our sovereign. From +here, marching in battle-array, he disembarked, and went hither and +thither in various parts, had many branches cut from trees there, +and entered the mosque of the said town, and a large house which was +among others in the settlement; here he ordered his lodging to be +prepared and at present is lodged there. All this he declared that he +did in sign of possession, and for the possession which he was taking +and did take of the said settlement and of all the island of Borney +with intention to hold and defend it in the name of his Majesty from +whomsoever might try to oppose him. For defense of the troops in the +said settlement, he ordered a stockade to be built, like a fort, where +his Lordship and all the other Spaniards are lodged. He ordered me, +the said notary, to testify to this; and I, the said notary, certify +to all the abovesaid, for these events took place before me, as one +coming upon the said conquest-witnesses thereto being Pero Lucas, +Luis de Garnica, Francisco Chacon, and many others. + +_Alonso Beltran_, notary of his Majesty + +And after the above events, in the said village on the river of Borney, +on the twenty-fourth day of the month of April of the above year, +the said governor summoned an Indian before him who, through the +interpreter Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, declared himself to be one Sinagua, +a native of the town of Balayan, one of the six Moros who left +the flagship at his Lordship's order with Simagat and Simagachina, +with two letters for the king of Borney. He was advised (but without +administering the oath, because he was a Moro) to tell truly what he +knew and had seen, and the injuries and ill-treatment inflicted upon +him and the others. He said that what he knows and what occurred is +the following. As before declared, this witness is one of the six Moros +whom the said Simagat and Simagachina took with them when they carried +the letters to the king of Borney at the order of his Lordship. When +they reached the fleet of the king of Borney, stationed in the port +of an islet to forbid the entrance there of the Spaniards, and when +the said Borneans saw them, these envoys were seized and each one +placed in a separate galley--except this witness and one other Moro, +one Sungayan, who were imprisoned together and put in fetters under +the deck. This witness does not know what was done with the others. The +next morning they took this witness and his above-mentioned companion +and led them before a captain, whose name he does not know. This +captain ordered them to be freed and food to be given them. Then he +ordered them to be placed in the said galley without this witness +seeing any of the others who had gone with them. Because he was below +in the said galley, this witness did not see the fight between the +said Moros and Spaniards, except that the vessels of the said Borneans +took flight, and that the galley in which this witness was fled up +the river of Borney, until its captain and crew landed. Taking this +witness and his companion with them, they marched inland one and +one-half days, without this witness knowing whither they were taking +them. Finally, for fear of the said Borneans, they hid themselves; +for the said Borneans were fleeing across country. This witness and +his said companion fled and returned, until they found a small boat +in which they embarked to look for the Spaniards (keeping hidden +in order not to meet any Borneans), until they met certain Spanish +vessels, which they accompanied to the village, where the governor +and Spaniards now are. Here they found alive the said Simagat, who +told them how he had been ill-treated, his gold taken from him, and +himself threatened with death; and that the said Borneans had killed +the said Simagachina. This witness is convinced of his death, for he +has never appeared nor have they had any news of him. As he does not +understand the language of Borney, he cannot tell what passed among +the said Borneans, when he was captured; he knows this and naught else. + +And he declares it true, and affirms and ratifies the same. He is +about twenty-five years of age. He did not sign the above, but the +interpreter Juan Ochoa Ttabudo, did so. + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[The deposition of the above native's companion follows. It is of +similar tenor to the above.] + +And after the above events in the said settlement and river of +Borney, on the said day, month, and year above mentioned, the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +of the islands of the West for his Majesty, said that, because there +was no fort where he could store and place the artillery, ammunition, +and other material here at present, and in order that all might be +kept safe and securely, he had ordered a fort to be constructed for +the defense of his Majesty's camp, and of the Spaniards stationed +in this settlement and river of Borney with his Lordship, where the +said Spaniards might gather. He ordered a house to be built within +it where the powder and ammunition now here may be kept; likewise a +hospital, where the sick may be cured, and a house in which to store +the provisions for the said camp. In order that his Majesty and the +members of the royal Council might know of all this, he ordered me, +the said notary, to testify thereto. I, the said Alonso Beltran, his +Majesty's notary, certify by order of the said governor that after +he took possession in the name of his Majesty, of the settlement on +the said river of Borney, where at present he is lodged, he ordered +the said fort and other buildings above mentioned to be constructed, +and it has been finished with great despatch, with the assistance, +in all the work, of the men of his camp. In order that all this may +be evident, he ordered me, the said notary, to make one copy, or +two or three, or as many more as are required, of the said records, +in which all and singular he interposed, and he did interpose, his +authority and judicial decree, in order that they should be valid and +lawful in court and out of court; and he signed the same with his name. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +The following is an exact and faithful copy of a letter missive written +on paper in Portuguese, dated at Evora, March seven, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-three, and bearing a signature, namely "El Rey" +["The King"], which was found among certain papers in the house of +the old king of Borney. The tenor of this letter is as follows. + +_Letter from the king of Portugal_ + +Noble and honored king of Borneo: I, Don Sebastian, by the grace of God +King of Portugal and of the Argarves, on this side and on the other +side of the sea in Africa, seignior of Guinea, and of the conquest, +navigation, and commerce of Etiopil [Ethiopia], Arabia, Persia, +and India, inform you that Juao Guago de Andrado wrote me that, +while passing your kingdom on his way to Maluco, as captain of his +galleon, you sent to confer with him about certain things touching my +service. Upon his entering, you communicated to him what I am very +glad to know and for which I give you many thanks and express my +appreciation. I beg that you will do, in regard to the matters that +you discussed with the said Juao Guago, and in regard to other things, +whatever offers itself for my service, and that you send to petition +in my name my governor of Malaca and the southern district, whatever +you may be able to request; and he shall give it to you without delay +and protect your affairs, as is fitting. Given at Evora, March seven, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-three. + +_The King_ + +(This copy was made and copied from the said letter of the said king, +which was found on the river of Borney on the twenty-fourth of the +month of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight. Witnesses, +who saw it compared and collated, were Francisco Pacheco and Alonso +Falcon. + +I certify thereto: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) + +That which you, Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa shall observe +on the expedition which you are about to make, God our Lord helping, +is as follows: + +From this city and island of Borney, God willing, you shall go to the +islands of Xolo, where you shall endeavor to reduce that chief and +his people to the obedience of his Majesty. You shall bargain with +them as to what tribute they shall pay, which shall be in pearls, as +they are wont to give to the king of Borney. You shall exercise great +care and, if possible, much mildness; for it is of importance that +those islands should not become depopulated; therefore, in case they +receive you peaceably, you shall treat them well. And, in addition to +the above, you must order that, besides the tribute that they are to +pay in pearls, they shall obtain as many of them as possible, so that +we, the Spaniards or Castilians, may buy them; that they must trade +with us from now on; that every year Castilians will go to their lands +with cloths and merchandise from China, of whatever they shall declare +that they may need. You shall inform yourself of their needs; and if +they wish to come to our settlements you shall give them permission +to go freely to Manila and to come to Borney, although not to steal. + +_Item_: You shall find out from them the whereabouts of the artillery +and anchors of a ship lost there some three years ago; and you shall +seek it and see that it be brought you with all haste. You shall +keep close watch over the artillery, ammunition, vessels, sails, +and other like things pertaining to the armed fleet; and you shall +deprive them of those supplies, for it is notorious that those people +are common marauders. + +And because of my information that the chief who calls himself lord +of Xolo is a Bornean, and owns houses in this city of Borney; that +he fought against us in the naval battle, and that he fled to Xolo, +where he is now; and since I am told that he took two galleys and +three small vessels, artillery, and ammunition--you shall exercise +the utmost despatch to obtain the said galleys, vessels, artillery, +and ammunition. If he acquiesce, you shall give him a passport. You +shall see whether he has any children; and, if so, you shall take one, +and tell him that he must come to see me in Borney in February. + +And, as I have said, this must be done if possible gently, in order +that no people may be killed. You shall tell them that it will be +to their advantage to be vassals of his Majesty, and our allies. If +they do not act respectfully, and it shall be necessary to punish +them in another manner, you shall do so. And inasmuch as the Joloans, +as is well known, are open pirates, whose only ambition is to steal, +and to assault men in order to sell them elsewhere--especially as +they go annually for plunder among all the Pintados Islands, which +are under his Majesty's dominion--you shall try to ascertain the +Pintados slaves among them, in order to return such to their homes, +especially those who are Christians. And, as I have said, you shall +deprive them of such vessels as seem to be used for raids, leaving +them their fishing-vessels, so that if the said lord of Jolo so desire, +he can come to confer reasonably with me. Thus you shall ascertain who +has vessels, and who can inflict injuries; and you shall command them +expressly to settle down in their land, to cultivate, sow, and harvest, +develop the pearl industry, and cease to be pirates. You shall order +them to raise fowls and cattle. You shall try to ascertain their +number, and bring it to me in writing, in order that I may see it, +together with the distance from these islands to the Jolo Islands, +information regarding the food, water, and healthfulness of that land, +and other things that may occur to you. And you shall tell the people, +in my name, that they shall tame for me a couple of elephants; and +that I shall send for those animals and pay for them. + +After having finished affairs in Xolo, if time permits you shall, +God willing, go to the island of Mindanao. There you shall try, +by the most convenient methods and with friendliness, to reduce the +chief of the river of Bindinao, and the other chiefs of that island, +and of those near by, to the obedience of his Majesty--giving him to +understand what they will gain in becoming his Majesty's vassals and +our allies, and in having trade with us. + +And, in order that the tribute may not prevent them from making +peace with us, you shall not ask them for any tribute; but you shall +take what they give freely, and nothing more, and in such form as +they are willing to give. Thus you shall suit their convenience +in everything pertaining to them, and cause them to understand the +great expenses of his Majesty in this land. You shall also tell them +that the gain therefrom affects them chiefly, since we come to teach +them our civilization, and most of all the service of God, our Lord, +who created and redeemed them, and of whom they are ignorant; and how +to live in accord with natural law, as is their obligation. For this +purpose you shall tell them that you are going to their land for two +principal reasons. + +The first is that they should cease to be pirates, who rob and harry +the weak, and enslave wherever and whomsoever they can--selling +their captives outside of their own island, and separating them from +their wives and children; and that they must cease to commit other +like cruelties and thefts, and must become good and virtuous men, +who shall grow to merit the second and principal reason for going to +their lands. You shall give them to understand that they are ignorant +of God, our Lord, who created and redeemed them, so that when they know +him they may serve him and become good. It is quite evident that they +will gain very much in these things, and therefore it is right that +they aid us and give us something. This shall be at their own will, +as above said. + +_Item_: You shall order them not to admit any more preachers of +the doctrine of Mahoma, since it is evil and false, and that of the +Christians alone is good. And because we have been in these regions so +short a time, the lord of Bindanao has been deceived by the preachers +of Borney, and the people have become Moros. You shall tell him that +our object is that he be converted to Christianity; and that he must +allow us freely to preach the law of the Christians, and the natives +must be allowed to go to hear the preaching and to be converted, +without receiving any harm from the chiefs. + +And you shall try to ascertain who are the preachers of the sect of +Mahoma, and shall seize and bring them before me. And you shall burn +or destroy the house where that accursed doctrine has been preached, +and you shall order that it be not rebuilt. + +_Item_: You shall order that the Indians shall not go outside of +their island to trade; and you shall seize those vessels used for +plundering excursions, leaving them those which, in your judgment, +are used for trade and fishing. You shall take also what artillery +and ammunition they have. + +You shall ascertain the harvest, seasons, and products of the land; +the gold mines, and the places where they wash gold; the number +of inhabitants, and their settlements; and their customs. You +must especially secure information regarding cinnamon, in order to +ascertain if it is found along the river, or if one must go to Cabite +for it, and why it is not as good as that which the Portuguese take to +Castilla. You shall ascertain how they cut and strip it from the tree, +and if it be of importance that it dry on the tree, or in what other +manner it should be treated; for I have been told that that obtained +from these districts in the past has not been good, and has not a +good sale in Espana. + +And, since it might happen that the people will not make peace, and +may offer fight, and show disrespect, then you shall punish them as +you deem best, taking special care not to trust them for it is evident +that before all else they will, if possible, commit some treachery. You +must not await such an occasion, for we know already their treachery +against his Majesty's fleet commanded by Villalobos, certain of whose +men they killed under assurances of safety; and they seized a boat. In +that treachery all the inhabitants of the islands were participants; +for four or five thousand of the said natives attacked one small +boat, which contained four or five Spaniards. Likewise many people +took part in the killing of the said Villalobos's master-of-camp, +and other soldiers, in that same year. You shall remind them of these +things, and warn them; for, from now on, we shall destroy them and +their generation. + +And since it might happen that, without any occasion of war or peace, +the said natives flee to the mountains, you shall order that certain +of the said natives summon them; and, when they have come, you shall +discuss the matter with them. If they refuse to come, you shall, +in conformity with your orders, remain there a given time. And if +they continue to refuse to come down, you shall leave them, and +shall return, without permitting their houses to be burned or their +palm-trees to be cut down. Neither shall anything be stolen from them; +but you shall take only what is absolutely necessary for food, and +the food and other things necessary to provision your vessels for +the return trip. + +You shall try to secure information of the island of Linboton, +as well as of Batachina and Celebes, so as to advise me thereof; +and you shall do this in accord with the time-limit I have set for +you to make this exploration, and you shall observe the same rule as +in that of Mindanao. + +In order that we may allot in encomiendas whatever people are found +in these districts, you shall bring me a signed notarial writ. Thus, +as those lands have no other owner, the natives thereof may be reduced +to the obedience of his Majesty, according to his will--and by war, +if the natives begin it, so that war on our part may be just, and that +the same justice may continue, so that we can compel them to obey, +and impose tributes upon them. You shall exercise much diligence +in this and see to it that these orders be carried out carefully +and intelligently. + +God willing, I shall be in Borney by the end of the month of January +next--or, at the latest, by the eighth of February--with the fleet and +all the necessaries that must be brought from Manila, and that which +is here. And at that time your Grace shall come to Borney with the +fleet that you have, and with all the people that you have or shall +have in the Pintados, so that we may do here whatever is proper for +the service of his Majesty, to which we are bound. These instructions +must not be disregarded in any point, unless I advise you to the +contrary by letter. And to this end you shall see that all who live +and dwell there be commissioned for the above, in addition to their +other duties. Given at Borney, May twenty-three, one thousand five +hundred and seventy-eight. + +If the natives of Mindanao or of any other place shall give tribute +according to the above, you shall act according to the usual custom +in these islands--namely, you shall take one-half and place it to +the account of his Majesty, while the other half shall be distributed +among the soldiers. Given _ut supra_. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +(I delivered a copy of these instructions to Captain Esteban Rodriguez +de Figueroa, so that he should observe and keep the orders therein +set forth. I certify thereto at this time. Father Fray Martin de Rada, +to whom his Lordship communicated it, said that it was well arranged. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary) + +In the city of Manila, on the fifth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said governor, +in order to verify the above, summoned to his presence an Indian, +who through the interpreter Juan Vicente declared himself to be one +Matelin Magat Buxa Amat, a native of Bayan. Without taking the oath, +he promised to tell the truth as far as he knew it, and in what was +asked him. Being asked that he tell and declare who killed Martin, +an Indian who was taking some letters to the king of Borney the past +year, seventy-eight, and the reason therefor, he made the following +declaration and deposition. This witness has resided in the said +island of Borney from childhood, more than forty years. When the said +governor was near the port of the bay of Borney with a fleet, this +witness and many other Moros went, at command of the king of Borney, +to fight with the Spaniards. He noticed that the battle was waged +for some time, for this witness was one of those taken as captain +of a vessel, until he and the other Moros fled. But this witness +did not see the said Martin, who was carrying the said letters, +killed. He knows, however, that a Moro named Sidata killed him with a +dagger-thrust in the neck by order of the said king of Borney. The wife +of this witness buried the said Martin, for he was a relative of this +witness. She buried him in front of the house of this witness where +their relatives are buried. When this witness returned to Borney, +he learned of the said Martin's death, and that he was buried, and +who had killed him. Also this witness found in the prison of the king +of Borney, in the middle of the said river, the other Indian, Magat, +the companion of the said Martin, who had been entrusted with the +said letters. He was a prisoner in the said prison, and had a chain +about his neck, and his hands bound with reeds; and they had taken +from him the gold chains that he wore on his neck. This witness knows +that this said gold was taken by Panguilan Salalila, and afterward the +king took it. The said Panguilan Salalila is the uncle of the king of +Borney. The said Salalila and many other Moros fought in the fleet of +the said king of Borney, in defense of the said port--for instance, +Tumango, the said king's brother, Bandahala, the said king's nephew, +and each man in his own vessel. Being asked what was done to eight +[_sic_] Indians who accompanied the said Indians entrusted with +the said letters, this witness said that he did not know, for he +was always in the fleet, fighting with the Spaniards. Afterward, +inasmuch as the said Magat, who was imprisoned, was his relative, +he went to the said prison to free him, and gave his jailer, by name +Patimuhaurat, a large culverin weighing fifteen arrobas, and pledged +himself to give him four slaves and two taes of gold. Thereupon the +said jailer released the said Magat, and this witness accompanied +him to a Spanish vessel. The said jailer and the other Bornean Moros +fled. Afterward the said jailer returned to Borney, where this witness +saw him deliver the said culverin to the flagship of his Majesty, +by order of his Lordship. After a certain period this witness saw +that the said governor with his fleet went to Manila, whereupon, in +fear lest the said Moros should kill him, he came to this city. This +is what he knows, and his deposition, and contains true answers to +what he has been asked. He knows naught else, and has affirmed and +ratified the above. He appears to be some fifty or so years old. He +did not sign his name. + +_Juan Vicente_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +[Likewise the deposition of one Amiguicon, a native of Luzon, was +taken. Its essential parts are as follows:] + +Being asked how long he had lived in Borney and what he was doing +there, he said, as above, that he is a native of this island of +Lucon and that about fourteen years ago he went to trade in Borney +with property and merchandise. The king of Borney would not let him +come to this city, and refused him permission therefor. Thus he made +cloth for him and served him in war and did whatever offered until +his Lordship came to Borney. + +Asked what he was doing in Borney when the said governor went there, +this witness said that, when the said governor arrived at the bay +of Borney, he went out by command of the king of Borney in a galley +with artillery, to fight with his Lordship's vessels. Other galleys +and many soldiers went also. In the galley in charge of this witness +were fifty-four fighting men, and more than thirty rowers. There were +six pieces of artillery, two large ones at the bow and four culverins +at the sides. In the vessel commanded by the son of the old king who +reigns in Borney, by name Soltan Lijar, were twenty pieces, three +large ones in the bow, and the others at the sides. All the said +galleys and other vessels were about fifty in number, and all went +out to fight with the fleet of the said governor. These fifty-four +vessels consisted of galleys and large ships, besides many other +small boats that sailed--sail-boats, _bancas_, and _barangayes_ +[27]--all of which fleet was seen by this witness as he set out +for the port where the battle was fought. The said king of Borney +remained in his galley at the mouth of the river, anchored at an islet +called Polocharami. After the Borneans were conquered, they all fled, +as did this witness. After two or three days, this witness and other +Bornean Moros came to the said governor, and begged him to pardon them; +accordingly the said governor granted them pardon. + +When this witness was asked whether he had seen an Indian, named +Martin, and another, Magat, a chief of this island, and some six +or seven other Indians who served them as oarsmen, whom the said +governor was sending to the said king of Borney with letters of peace, +and what the said king did, he responded that he did not see the +said messengers, but that he knew that they had gone with letters +from the said governor for the king. This witness knew one of them, +namely, Magat. Because this witness was with the said fleet at the +entrance of the said port, he did not see what passed with the king, +but it is well known that the said king had the said Martin killed, +and the said Magat imprisoned, as well as the other Indians who served +as oarsmen. They brought one of the said Indians, who served as oarsman +(who were from the port of this city [Manila]) to this witness, to be +cured of a wound in the arm that had been inflicted upon him. This +Indian is a slave of Don Agustin, chief of Tondo. The slayer of the +said chief Martin was a Bornean Moro, named Siparardal. The said +Magat was imprisoned, and his gold taken from him, and they wished +to kill him. This witness knows that the said Borneans commenced +the fight first with the Spaniards, firing many artillery-shots at +them. They refused any alliance with the Spaniards; on the contrary, +he saw that they mocked the Spaniards, and told them that they would +all be killed and their fleet seized. Thus this witness saw that they +set about the execution of this; for he was ordered by the said king +of Borney to go out in the said galley to fight with the Spaniards. As +soon as the said Moros were defeated they broke and fled. + +_Instructions as to what Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil is to +observe in this present expedition to the island and city of Borney, +which belongs to his Majesty_: + +The route and navigation, both going and coming, are known, and you +have a pilot. Therefore I shall say nothing more than to warn you not +to disembark on any of the islands, unless forced to by necessity, and +then with a force of men, so that the natives may commit no treason. + +When you reach the island of Borney in the district of [illegible +words in MS.]--the place to which Captain Esteban Rodriguez went +for _contrayerva,_ [28] and the people engaged in trade and gave +information as to the condition of Borney--where, they tell me, is +the _panguilan_ [29] Maraxa de Raxa, you shall halt at that coast to +see if he is there, which you will ascertain from such Moro vessels +as you will meet before reaching that place. And finding him there, +you will give him my letter. You will ascertain from him the condition +of affairs in Borney; the whereabouts of Soltan Lijar, and what he +intends to do; whether Portuguese have gone thither, and if they are +still there; and other things which may seem proper to you. + +You are already aware that I left as commander in Borney the +panguilan Maraxa de Raxa, and that I gave him a letter of assurance +and friendship, and another to the panguilan Salalila; you must +observe all friendship toward them. + +As soon as you have arrived, you must confer with the panguinals +[_sc._ panguilans]; you shall ascertain from some Indians whether +the king of Borney has returned, and his condition, and that of the +settlement. If these panguilans tell your Grace that you should not +go to [the port of] Borney, but should remain where you are, and +that they are going to talk to the king--or whatever other reasons +they may adduce, your Grace will tell them that you are ordered to +anchor at the island of Mohala, where the battle occurred, and that +your Grace will await them there for conference; and your Grace will +tell them that they should read my letters to the king. And, if it +seems advisable to your Grace, you shall write to the king, briefly, +telling him of the firm friendship that he will receive from me, and +the great advantage that will undoubtedly accrue to him in becoming +a vassal of his Majesty, the king, our sovereign. + +If the said panguilans do not appear, then your Grace will continue +your voyage and anchor at the above-named place. You shall send +my letters to Borney, with the following order. If either one of +the panguilans is dead or absent, the letters shall be given to the +other. If neither is found there, the letters shall be given to the +king; if he is not there, then to the most influential man; and your +Grace shall write him that he advise you speedily, and assign him +a certain limit of time for the answer. Should you be informed that +Raxayro, king of Xolo, is there, you shall write him also, observing +the same order as the above. + +You shall request from the king of Borney that he render obedience +to his Majesty, King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla +and Leon; that he promise to observe it faithfully, as his vassal, +and that he serve him in peace and in war in this land wherever his +Majesty commands. If he does this, then I shall pardon him for his want +of respect and his crime of last year, when he killed my ambassador, +and commenced to wage war upon us, although we offered him good terms +of peace. + +_Item_: In acknowledgment of this subjection, he shall pay tribute +to his Majesty, to consist of camphor, galleys, or other products +of that land, and in the quantity not agreed upon with him, but +to his pleasure--until his Majesty and I, in his royal name, order +the contrary. + +He shall promise not to receive pirates in that land, and that he will +not despatch plundering expeditions anywhere, nor permit any slaves to +be taken from among the natives to China, or to the Portuguese, or to +any other place, telling him that that island is depopulated thereby. + +_Item_: That each year the king of Borney and his successors send +one or two vessels to this city to bring the tribute and to trade. + +_Item_: That when I agree to settle in that island, he shall go to +the place selected, with his people, or send there, and build houses +and whatever else is necessary for the settlement, those who work at +this to receive pay. In exchange for this, you will tell him the great +advantages that will accrue to him from our alliance: that his Majesty +will show him favor; and that, if he has any enemy who undertakes to +war upon him, I shall defend him, and shall send thither the fleet +of his Majesty, if he advise me of such need. + +_Item_. If the said king declares that he will flee to the mountains, +and refuses to come to confer with you, and shall not render obedience, +then you shall try to remove his fear. If he shall persist in this, +then you shall leave him without doing him any harm, telling him to +send to me here, with letters, a Moro chief for conference with me. + +If the king do not appear, and the city is inhabited, you shall treat +concerning these matters with the most influential person there, +in accordance with the above. + +In order to send this message, you are taking Bornean Moros, to +despatch them two by two. Everything that passes must be in writing +and attested by a notary. You likewise have a letter from the daughter +of the panguilan Salalila, telling the Borneans what good treatment +I have accorded to the captives here, and how happy she is. + +After having despatched what pertains to the above, you shall +investigate the river of Tamaran. Without doing them any hurt, you +shall summon that people, and examine the location of their land, and +ascertain whether we can settle there; also the depth of the river, +and the number of inhabitants. You shall decide with them about the +tribute they are to pay; and, even if they do not pay any, or pay but +little, you shall do them no harm. After examining the river of Baran, +you shall return to this city as soon as possible. + +If there are any Portuguese in Borney, or any should come while your +Grace is there, your Grace shall give them a hospitable reception. You +shall ascertain from them both the condition of their affairs and as +much else as you are able. If they commence to show any disrespect +or hostility, then your Grace will try with the utmost diligence to +secure the victory. In no other circumstances shall you wage war with +them. And should you come to hostilities with them, your Grace shall +bring what they have to this city. + +Even if the king of Borney should be fortified and have repaired +his forts in Polocharami and Panigaran, your Grace will take +no notice of that, but transact your business in accordance with +your orders. Therefore your Grace shall in no wise fight, unless he +commences it, as upon the other occasion. Then your Grace shall take +what steps are necessary, since the thing is forced on you. + +Your Grace shall see to it that your fleet of vessels remain together; +and if any of them become separated in crossing the wide expanses of +water in your course, you shall give orders where it shall meet you, +so that all may be kept in order. In case you have to fight, you shall +put the ship from Castilla in the front, and the others shall aid it, +and, being lighter, can be used better for pursuit. + +You shall exercise great care in regard to the musketeers, and put +them in charge of an experienced man, and let opportunity be given +them to advance. + +_Item_: You shall exercise care, so that, if the Bornean galleys take +the lead, they shall not separate from the Castilian galley and the +Neapolitan fragata; likewise that the latter does not separate from +the Castilian galley. + +_Item_: You shall see to it that the Spaniards do not kill or steal +any cow (for there are but few), so that the king of Borney make +no complaint. + +There are cows in Borney and in Mohala, in the island of +Bencoraco. Notice shall be given among your people, so that these +beasts may be preserved; in the river of Tabaron, where I have said +that you must go, the men may kill swine and deer, if necessity arise, +for there are many of these animals there. + +_Item_: You shall not allow any slave, male or female, to be taken. You +shall exercise great care in this, imposing the penalty of death +on whomsoever shall steal them; and even should the natives wish +to sell slaves [30] the Spaniards shall not buy them, if they are +natives of the same island. Given at Manila, February twenty-eight, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the flagship "Espiritu Santo," on the fourth day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil said that, inasmuch as he is not +taking a notary of his Majesty or a notary-public for the negotiations +and legal proceedings that may arise in this voyage in the said galley +and the other vessels of the said fleet despatched this year to the +kingdom of Borney, before whom the said proceedings and negotiations +may be executed, in order that they may attest what happens; and +inasmuch as it is necessary for his Majesty's service to appoint a +skilful person to the said office: therefore, with entire confidence in +the character and capability of Manuel de Caceres, and feeling certain +that he will therefore fill the said office faithfully, in that manner +and form most suitable to the requirements of the law, he appointed, +and he did appoint, as notary of this said fleet the said Manuel de +Caceres before whom shall pass the legal proceedings, suits, and other +negotiations that shall occur, and he shall attest them as notary. I, +the said Manuel de Caceres, being present, accept it, and swear before +God, our Lord, and on the sign of the cross--which I do with my right +hand--to exercise precisely, faithfully, and legally, the said office +of notary in the negotiations and proceedings which shall take place +before me, and to keep secret whatever is necessary, under penalty +of falling into the lowest infamy and perjury, and of being punished +according to law. Witnesses are Andres de la Tubilla, Juan de Yepes, +Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, and Don Juan Arce. Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary-elect + +In the galley "Espiritu Santo," belonging to his Majesty, while it +was anchored at the port of Mohala, in the island and kingdom of +Borney, on the twentieth of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, in the presence of me, the notary, and the undersigned +witnesses, the illustrious captain Juan de Arce Sadornil declared that, +inasmuch as his Grace came by order of the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty in +these Western Islands, to this said river, to see whether the said +natives of the said river and city of Borney were settled, as they +were when subdued by force of arms by the said governor, and when he +left them for the city of Manila; and to see whether Soltan Lixar, +king of Borneo, had returned to his former village, and what was +become of him, and what persons might be present in his stead; and +that by all good methods he [Sadornil] should calm and pacify them, +and give them the governor's letters; and do other things set down +clearly and ordered by the instructions given by his Lordship; and, +inasmuch as the said captain had come to this said port of Mohala, but +has been unable to have any intercourse in regard to the above matters, +as the said governor orders, although he has tried and done his utmost, +and in the manner which his Lordship orders by his instruction; +and inasmuch as, having arrived at this said port on this said day, +and having seen many vessels leave the said port of Borney--which, +although he awaited them and cast anchor for this purpose, never came +to him so that he could hold communication with them, in order that the +said Bornean Moros might become quiet and learn his Majesty's purpose, +and that of his Lordship and of his captain in his royal name--to wit, +that I am not to do them harm or annoy them, but on the contrary to +protect and defend them; and that they might know the true God and the +true pathway of salvation: therefore the said captain summoned to his +presence Sipopat and Esin, Bornean Moros, whom his Lordship took to +Manila last year. The said captain has brought them for this purpose, +and given them to understand the above through the said Francisco +Magat; and he delivered to them two letters from the said governor, +written in our language and translated into the Bornean language, and +signed with his name--one for the panguilan Marraxa de Raxa, and the +other for the panguilan Salalila. He also gave them two other letters +in the Bornean tongue for the said Salalila, which were written by +his daughter and son-in-law in the city of Manila. The said Sipopat +and Esin went to the said captain to take the said letters and to +hear the message imparted to them by the said captain. They were +to return with the answer that would be given them in the river of +Borney. All of which, I, the said notary, attest, together with the +witnesses present, to wit, Father Baltasar de Miranda, ecclesiastical +presbyter, Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, +Luis Briceno, Bartolome de Tapia. And the said captain signed it. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +In the port of Mohala, in the kingdom of Borney, on the twenty-first +day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +the illustrious Don Juan de Arce summoned to his presence the captain +and pilot of a Chinese ship, which was anchored in the said port, each +one of them alone; and before me, the said notary, through the Moro +Simagat, an interpreter of the Sangley [_i.e._, Chinese] and Spanish +tongues, questioned them on the condition of affairs in the land, and +whether the king Soltan Lixar had returned to his former settlement; +and in regard to the panguilans Maraxa de Raxa and Salalila, and other +matters pertaining to the service of his Majesty. They answered that +they had entered the said port three days ago; that upon this said +day the king and his people had received news of the coming of the +Spaniards; and that the king of Borney had ordered them to enter the +said river with another Chinese vessel there. But they refused because +they did not know what would happen to them. From that time, when night +came they began to annoy them with their small boats and conpites. They +said that the king Soltan Lijar was in Borney, and that the panguilan +Salalila had died by some disease. They had heard, from the fishermen +who came to their boat to sell fish, that the king had a fort up the +river where he had placed the women and the food-supplies of the city +when he heard of our coming. The said fishermen told them that the +king had ordered a quantity of poison to be thrown into the water, +in order to kill the people. They had heard even that the death of the +said Salalila happened thus. They knew naught else, for they were come +hither but recently. This is the truth, and they know naught else. I, +the present notary, attest the same; and the said interpreter Simagat, +as well as the said captain, signed it. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +And after the above events, on the twenty-second day of the month +of March, of the said year, in the presence of me, the said notary, +and the witnesses who here signed, appeared the said Moros Sipopat +and Esin, whom his Grace had sent to the said city of Borney. They +brought a paper written in Bornean, which they said was given them +by the king, Soltan Lijar. They declared that the said king had +received the letters addressed to the said panguilans Maraxa de Raxa +and Salalila, as the said Salalila was dead, and Maraxa de Raxa had +gone to the river of Saragua. The king said that he wished alliance +with the said captain, and therefore sent that written letter, +in which he says the same thing. He wrote it so that the Spaniards +might believe it. Likewise he had sent two caracoas, which came in +care of the above-named envoys. And I, the said notary, and many +others saw these boats. They came flying white flags, and anchored +near our fleet. From there they sent the said Moros, our messengers, +in a _baroto_. [31] All of the above was interpreted by Simaguat, Moro +interpreter of the said language. The said captain having seen this, +and because he had no one who could read the letter, gave a verbal +response to the said Moros, through Simagat, ordering them to tell +the king that he had no one who knew how to read and write the said +Bornean language, and for this reason he did not write to him. He said +that the wish of the said governor, and his own through the former's +order, was that the king should become our ally, and recognize as +seignior the king of Castilla, our sovereign; and that he should come +to treat with the said captain, or send one of his chiefs, so that the +latter might discuss the matter, since this was so desirable for his +tranquillity and his honor. Thereupon he ordered the messengers to be +despatched. The witnesses present were Luis Briseno, Alonso Locano, +Bartolome de Tapia, and many other persons. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +I attest the above: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Thereupon on this said day, month, and year abovementioned, a Moro +whom the said captain said he knew last year as a slave of the +panguilan Salalila, appeared then before the said captain Don Juan +de Arce. The said Moro said that he was the abovementioned person, +and that he had come into the possession of the king through the +death of his master. The king treated him badly; and, as soon as +he knew that the Spaniards were in this port, he came to them. Then +the said captain, through the said Simagat, ordered the said Moro to +be questioned about the death of the said Salalila, his master; the +whereabouts of the panguilan Maraja de Raxa; whether the king, Soltan +Lijar, was in Borney; where he had hidden when the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, the governor, was here last year; whether +the said king was fortified; what artillery and provisions he had; +and what he was now doing. This witness replied that his name was +Sisian, and that he was a native of Sian. He came to this kingdom of +Borney with his mother, and had always been the slave of the panguilan +Maraxa de Raxa, and served the said Salalila likewise when occasion +offered. After the said governor went to Manila, this Indian served +the said Salalila the entire time. He saw that, some days after the +said Maraxa de Raxa had despatched advice that the Spaniards had gone, +King Soltan Lijar came to his settlement of Borney with about fifty +vessels, large and small--among them being a galley of Manrijar in +which was the body of the old king, his father, who had died at Baran, +a few days before, from a disease. They buried him with solemnity in +the river of Borney. With the said Soltan Lijar came the _vandaran_, +who serves as steward and treasurer, and the _tumangan_, or chief +justice, the panguilan Salam, and others. As soon as he entered the +river, the other persons and panguilans who were fugitives outside +the city began to return. The king began to collect all his artillery, +and has collected by this time about two hundred pieces. He summoned +all his Bisayan and Moro allies in order to build a fort, which he +has built up the river, from palm-trees four brazas high. He placed +there all his artillery, wives, food, and provisions, as soon as he +heard of our coming. Only the men stayed on the river, keeping close +watch. As to the death of his master, as soon as the king had come, +he asked Salalila why he had married his daughter to Don Agustin, +chief of Tondo in the city of Manila, who had come to this said river +with the said governor. He said that Salalila replied that he had +done it for fear, and to please the Spaniards. Thereupon the king +dissimulated until, after a month, there came a large galleon and a +galley of Portuguese, who negotiated by letters and in person with +the king, and went up to the city and traded about a hundred slaves, +wax, and other goods. At the end of ten days the Portuguese left for +Maluco; and three days after Salalila was dead, from a sickness that +lasted less than half a day. It was a sudden looseness of the bowels, +which proved so severe that, on getting up to ease himself, he fell +dead. It was rumored among the people that the king had ordered him +to be poisoned; but so great was the fear of the said king that no +one dared to discuss it. It is now five months since the said Maraxa +de Raxa left the city of Borney with two caracoas. This witness has +heard it said that the king sent him to Tolobaran, and to all the +other rivers as far as Saragua, in order to look for a good location in +which to settle with all his people in a strong and well-provisioned +place; and he has not returned. He knows nothing more of this. After +the death of the said Salalila, the king took all his property and +slaves, among the latter this witness. Because he was very tired and +worn out in making the fort which he has mentioned, and in cutting +wood for another fort, which the king intended to build on the site +where the said governor had settled near the mosque, this witness +resolved to flee to the Spaniards, in order to go to the city of +Manila to the daughter of the panguilan Salalila, his master. When +asked how many Portuguese vessels came, and if this witness saw them, +and if he went to them, he answered that he had gone to them many times +with his master; that they were in a ship of deep draught and a large +Castilian galley; that the galley was much larger than this flagship; +that it carried ninety men and three large pieces at the bow, and +falcons at the stern. The large ship carried one hundred Portuguese, +eight large pieces, and many culverins. The crew of the galley, +or rowers, were chained, and the galley was in poor condition from +storms that it had suffered. In this port a mast and other equipment +were made. And in regard to what he knows touching the hiding-place +of the king during his Lordship's stay in this river, he says that +it was well-known that he was in a river of Bisayas in the province +of Malanao, near to Saragua. This is all that he can tell and no +more. This his deposition being read, he declared it true. By his +appearance his age must be about forty years. The said captain signed +the above in the presence of many witnesses. + +_Don Juan Arce_ Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +After the above events, in the said port, this said day, month, and +year aforesaid, the illustrious Captain Don Juan Arce de Sadornil +ordered certain soldiers, before me, the present notary, and the +witnesses here signed, to go in the Neapolitan frigate in pursuit of +a Bornean sail which passed near the flagship, flying a white flag +of peace, to take the Indians who were in the said vessel, and bring +them before his Grace, in order that they might talk with them, and +learn what had happened in the city of Borney, so that he might take +action more intelligently. In obedience to the said captain's order, +the said soldiers went and executed the above-mentioned command, and +captured a tapaque, with seven Indians. These men, when asked of what +place they were native, and whether they were _amaguas_ and slaves, +and whence they were coming, answered through the said Simagat that +they were natives of Borney and slaves of King Soltan Lijar, and that +they were coming from the river of Baran to buy food. Questioned +about the panguilans Salalila and Maraxa de Raxa, and the others, +they said that the said Salalila had died from his illness, and +that the said Maraxa de Raxa had gone to the said river of Saragua, +they knew not why. Questioned as to where the king was, what he was +doing, and where he was living, and if he had a fortress, and where +they said that at the river above Borney he had built a fort of tall +palm-trees; that he was trying to build another in the city, near the +mosque; that he was in the city, and was living in the houses there, +which are usually of straw. They had heard that the said king had +collected two hundred pieces of artillery, counting large and small +pieces, but that he lacked ammunition. He had repaired a vessel--the +one brought by the said captain from Saragua last year--to send it +to the kingdom of Sian for artillery. Not long after the departure +hence of the governor, they had seen a deep-draught vessel and a +large galley at the said city and river of Borney, with people and +artillery. They had learned from others that they were Portuguese, and +that they conferred with the king of Borney, and then went away. They +knew nothing else. When questioned whether any among them knew how +to write, they answered that two of them knew how. Each one of them +singly interpreted the paper sent by the said King Soltan to the +said captain. Translated into our language through the interpreters, +the said Simagat and Sitales, this letter was as follows. + +_Letter of King Soltan_ + +I, Soltan Lijar, King of Borney, received the letters from Captain +Don Juan to Maraxa de Raxa and the panguilan Salalila, because of the +absence of the panguilan Maraxa de Raxa, and the death of Salalila, +who died from illness. If Captain Don Juan wishes my friendship, +I will be his friend, for I am willing to be such. + +Then the said captain wrote a letter, which through the agency of +Alonso Buytrago and the said interpreters was translated into the +Bornean language and characters. After treating the said Indians +hospitably, he ordered them to give the letter to the said king, and +despatched them. I, the said notary, attest all the above. Witnesses +are Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, +Bartolome de Tapia, and others. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +On this said day, he immediately sent this letter to the said king, by +means of the said Indians, in the presence of me, the notary, and the +witnesses herein signed. The tenor of this letter is as follows, and +was translated, as above said, into their language, by the aforesaid. + +Noble and honorable king of Borney: + +I, Captain Juan, received a letter from your Majesty, by which I was +informed that the letters which I had sent to the panguilan Salalila +and Maraxa de Raxa had been received by your Majesty, because of +the death of Salalila, and the absence of the other. I was very glad +thereat, and to learn, as I did, that your Majesty was in this kingdom, +rebuilding your so ancient and noble city, which is a token that you +wish to live in tranquillity and honor, as now is shown. Your Majesty +wished to take up arms last year, and, like a man without common sense, +to make war on one who did not make war. The governor, Don Francisco +de Sande, captain-general of our people, and of all these islands, +on the contrary, had only a desire for the friendship of your Majesty +and your people. It was God's will, therefore, that you be conquered; +and, contrary to our intention, your town was destroyed. This was very +little damage compared to the advantage that you would derive from +becoming vassals of his Majesty, the king of Castilla, our sovereign, +and the ally of the Castilians in this land; and from your people +trading in peace throughout all this land, both with Spaniards and +with the Moros of Manila, Balayan, Bonbon, Mindoro, Cubu, and any +other district, so that the Borneans will become very rich and make +great profits. If your Majesty makes an alliance with us, it is quite +certain that you will find good friends in us--and so much so, that +if any other king should molest you and you should have need of aid, +the said governor will send his galleys and fleet to protect your +Majesty, as if he were offering aid to our own Spaniards. If your +Majesty refuses our alliance, then will ensue much harm, for you +will never sleep secure in your bed. Neither will your vassals live +in ease. The Spaniards are so brave and so daring that they regard +fighting and dangers as a repast. Instead of thus offending them, +I request you urgently that you should take good counsel as to what +you should do, and quickly; so that, if you wish to make peace with +me here, we may confer any time tomorrow. Or you may appoint a chief +who will bear your letter of credit and authorization to treat, in +your name, concerning what is necessary. If not, then I shall not be +able to prevent certain damage that my people will commit, although my +governor orders me not to commit any damage; and, to obey his order, +I anchored in this port of Mohala. I shall stay here until I receive +word as to your intentions, until the said time expires. And now, +because I am told that your Majesty is a sensible man, and will study +my reasons carefully, as is fitting, I shall say no more. May God give +you much health, and grace that you may know Him. Written at Mohala, +in his Majesty's flagship. + +(This said letter was translated, and sent in the form and manner +abovesaid, witnesses being Luis Briceno, Alonso Locano, Bartolome +Tapia, and other persons. I, the above-named notary, attest the same, +which is drawn in the said galley in the said port, on the twenty-third +day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +I attest it: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +In the said port, on the said day, the twenty-third of March, of +the said year, the Indians Sipopot and Esin returned before the +said captain and in their keeping were the said two caracoas. They +anchored near by, and stated, through the said interpreters, that the +said king declared that he would come next day to confer with the said +captain. He would not come to his fleet, however, but on the coast of +this said island, where each one would land with five or ten men, an +equal number of Borneans and of Spaniards. They would treat for peace +and of whatever else was fitting. The said Spaniards should not come +in coats-of-mail, since they were to treat of peace. The said captain +answered that he would be very glad to meet him as he proposed, and +that he should come next morning. And if he did not come that day, +then he would know that his reasons were only pretense, and that he +was putting him off with words. Thereupon he sent the said Indians +together with those who took the letter above set forth; and I, +the said notary, testified thereto. Witnesses were Pablo Granado, +Andres de la Tubilla, Alonso Lozano, and many others. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +And after all the above events in the said port of Mohala, in the said +galley "Espiritu Santo," on the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain +Don Juan Arce summoned to his presence Ensign Francisco Rodriguez, +Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Ensign Pedro de Salasar, and Sergeants +Bartolome de Tapia, Cristoval de Arqueta, Antonio Canedo, Francisco +de Ribera, Melchior de Villanueva, Alonso Locano, Juan de Chavarria, +Luis Briceno, Cristoval Xuares, Baltasar de Bustamente, Juan de la +Feria, Juan de Yepes, and Antonio Sanchez, for this purpose having +ordered the rally sounded by trumpet. When these had come and with +them the other persons and soldiers whom he wished to be present, +the said captain took the instructions for this expedition given +him by the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general for his Majesty in these Western Islands, and auditor +of his royal Audiencia of Mexico, and ordered it to be read publicly +in the presence of the above-named persons. When it had been read +and heard publicly by all, the said captain told them his reason for +summoning them together to hear the said instructions--namely, that +they might know that King Soltan had broken his word given two or +three days previously. He said that he would come to treat with the +said captain; and he had not sent messengers to excuse his inability +to come, nor had he done anything else. Therefore it was proved that +he had entertained them with promises, in order that he might collect +and place in his fort the rest of his property. Especially was this +proved more conclusively, for on this said day no fishermen had come, +as was their usual custom, to the fleet to trade their fish. However +they had come near to get their nets and a sort of weir with which they +are wont to catch fish. And although the captain wished to enter the +city and river of Borney, he did not dare to do so, in order not to +violate the order of the said governor; for he had heard that they +would not neglect to station some scout-boats in Borney with some +culverins and artillery, and that they would fire at us, and then take +flight to the fort which was reported to have been built. Not being +able to pursue them or attack them, because of having no commission +for it, meant that he would suffer in estimation and lose reputation +among them. This did not appear desirable to him, so he resolved to +send some soldiers in a light vessel next day, with orders only to +see whether they had the said fort, or had commenced to build it, +in the islets of Polocelemin [32] and Pangaran, in order to advise +his Lordship concerning it. He resolved to wait several days, in order +to make other inquiries, as he should consider best. The captain told +all those present that they should examine this resolve to see whether +it was proper. If any other thing could be done or ought to be done, +more befitting his Majesty's service and that of the said governor in +his royal name, he requested them to tell him; for if their advice was +good he would accept and act upon it willingly. All of the above-named +answered--not excepting any point--that nothing better could be done; +that it was very well considered and ordained; that he should carry +out his plan for the examination of the said islets in order to +give his Lordship an account of them; and that, with this and the +inquiries made by his Grace, he would have done everything to which +his commission obliged him. And it was not at all fitting to give the +Moros any opportunity to say that we came back to make war upon them, +especially without the orders of his Lordship. I, the present notary, +attest all the above, which occurred as set down above, witnesses +being Father Baltasar de Miranda, Juan de Santiago, Pedro Granado, +the above-named. The said captain and the other witnesses signed the +same with their names. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ +_Pedro Granado de Aguero_ + +Witness, +_Baltasar de Miranda_ +_Juan de Santiago_ + +Before me, and I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +I, Manuel de Caceres, notary, appointed by the illustrious Captain +Juan de Arce Sadornil in this expedition made this present year to +the kingdom of Borney, hereby attest to all that see this present, +that from certain enclosures with nets, that are wont to be set near +this fleet, certain Moros with their boats were wont to come hither +to trade their fish. As we paid them and gave them good treatment, +they returned, and thus they were wont to do. On this day more boats +coming to the said enclosures, they drew up their nets, went away +and did not bring us any fish, nor did they appear, nor do we know +why they do not come. This argues the suspicion that their king or +some one else has summoned them. At the request of the said captain, +I give this present, so that what is done in the galley "Espiritu +Santo," in the said port of Mohala, on the twenty-fifth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, may +be evident. Witnesses of the above are Anton Sanchez, Baltasar de +Bustamente, Juan de Santiago, and other persons. + +I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + + +In the port of Mohala, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said captain, in +observance of the above decision, in the presence of me, the notary, +and the witnesses hereunto signed, ordered Ensign Salvador de Sequera, +accompanied by the men assigned to him, to embark in the Neapolitan +fragata belonging to this fleet, in order to go to the islets of +Polocelemin and Paingaran, in order to see whether the natives had +constructed any fort, after the departure of the said governor to +the city of Manila. When this was done, he should return without +going elsewhere; and if he met Moro bancas and vessels, he should +fly white flags in token of peace. He was ordered to try to open +conversation with them; and, even if the said vessels were to fire +some artillery, the said ensign and his companions were not to answer +them. On the contrary, they were to fly the said white flag of peace, +and to return to this fleet. Father Baltasar de Miranda and Alonso +Cornejo were witnesses to the above, and the said captain signed it. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +After the above events, in the said month and year abovesaid, in the +said galley, the said captain having ordered three soldiers in a light +boat, one hour before dawn, to try to talk with some Indians, and, +if possible, obtain information regarding the king, of the condition +of his affairs, and other necessary things; and having brought the +Bornean Indians prisoners, the said captain summoned each of them +to his presence. Through the agency of the interpreter Sitahel, they +were asked where the king and his people were, and what was decided +upon. The first said his name was Usman, and that he was a native of +this island of Mohala. The second day after the arrival of our fleet +at this port, some of the king's slaves came in bancas, with orders +that all the people should assemble up the river. This witness asked +a slave of the said king where the latter was, to which the slave +answered that on that day he was going to retire to the fort, where +already were the women, artillery, provisions, and other things. He +was to leave the tumangan and bandara in the city, so that these men +might have ordinarily two or three scout-boats with artillery at the +bar; if the Spaniards resolved upon going up the river or to enter it, +they should flee to the fort. This witness went also the next day to +the settlement of Borney, and found that the king had gone to the +said fort, and that the said tumangan and the bandara were in the +city. When asked why he did not go to the fort as did the others, he +replied that, because he did not find his mantelin who is a person +holding the office of captain and sergeant, with forty men under +him--in Borney, and learned that he was outside of the bar, he was +coming in search of him. When asked how many Portuguese vessels had +passed there during the last vendabals, and what forts King Soltan has +built or intends to build, he said that two vessels had passed--one +of deep draught and a galley--and that they had traded as usual with +the Borneans. The Portuguese went to the settlement, and the Borneans +went to the vessels. In regard to the forts, the king had built one +up the river where the people are gathered. It is named Talin, and +is made of palm-trees three or four estados high. They are now busy +constructing a mosque. This witness had heard that as soon as the said +mosque was completed, galleys would be begun in the ship-yard. There +was no fort at Paingaran. There is nothing else; and, the same being +read, he declared it true. He appeared to be about thirty-three or +thirty-four years of age. The said captain signed the above. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +[The deposition of another Moro follows, being in substance the same +as the above, with a slight addition in regard to the panguilans +Maraxa de Raxa and Salalila, which is similar to other testimonies +concerning them.] + +Then immediately, upon this said day, month, and year aforesaid, the +said ensign, Salvador de Sequera, the ensign, Francisco Rodriguez, +and the others who went in the said fragata as above said, to the said +islets of Polocelemin and Paingaran, returned to the said captain. They +said that, as they went upon this errand in accordance with his Grace's +orders, they met nine ships and some caracoas. As soon as these saw +these vessels, they flew their white flag as a token of friendship, +in order that the others should come to talk with them. But these +ships refused to come, and fired some artillery at them. The said +ensigns having witnessed this, the said Salvador de Sequera requested +me, the present notary, to attest it, so that if might appear in the +records. In response to his request I gave the present signed with my +name. Then the said ensigns returned, without doing anything else than +to make the said signs of peace. The natives refusing, as above said, +to come, but on the contrary persisting in discharging their artillery, +they returned, and declared this before the said captain and myself, +the present notary. They signed the above with their names, as did +also the said captain. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +_Francisco de Rodriguez_ + +_Salvador de Sequera_ + +Before me, and I certify thereto: +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Then in the said galley on this said day, month, and year above +stated, the said captain, before me, the undersigned notary, summoned +before his Grace, the said Usman, Amat, and two other youths, all +Borneans. Through the mouth of the above-mentioned Sitahel, they +were instructed that they should tell King Soltan, the tumangan, the +vandara, and the other chiefs, that the said captain did not intend +to enter the river, nor begin hostilities against him--although he +had not kept his word and had tried to injure his men--because the +said governor did not wish any harm to be done them, nor that they +and their town should be destroyed, but desired his friendship. For +this reason he ordered that he [Sadornil] should not attack them, +or enter his settlement, or do them any injury, under pain of being +beheaded. Although the men brought by the said captain had seen +his rudeness, and were desirous to retaliate, he had not consented +thereto; nor had his Grace desired such a thing, that he might not +exceed the orders of the said governor. Likewise they were to tell +the said king and the others that, since peace with the said governor +was so advisable, they should send a ship to confer and a person to +treat concerning the said peace. If they would come, the said captain +would wait two more days for them. Then returning to these men their +weapons and vanca, and presenting them gifts and food, and showing +them other good treatment, he let them go freely. They left, and I, +the present notary, certify thereto--Juan de Santiago, Pedro Granado, +and Sergeant Cristoval de Arqueta, being witnesses. + +_Don Juan de Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel Caceres_, notary + +In the said galley, "Espiritu Santo," on the twenty-eighth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said +captain--having seen that the last Borneans sent as messengers by his +Grace, on the twenty-third of this present month, did not return, +but that, on the contrary, the above affair of Ensign Sequera had +happened, who went to reconnoiter the island of Polocelemin; and that +also no answer had been returned by the Indians despatched on the +twenty-fifth of the same month; and that the said Borneans, yesterday, +the twenty-seventh of this said month, came with ten or eleven vessels +very near this fleet, and when Ensign Francisco Rodriguez met them with +a white flag and without arms, the said Borneans without any shame came +leisurely to him, beckoning him with the hand, and then forced him +to retreat. He gave an account of this to the said captain--when his +Grace saw this, and that he could not make war upon the said Borneans, +because of his Lordship's orders to the contrary and because their fort +had been built up the river, where no galley or galleot could sail; +and seeing that some of the reputation until then enjoyed by the +Spaniards might be lost, and that no advantage was accruing to the +service of his Majesty from his stay in this said island of Mohala; +and that the people ran risk of becoming sick, not only from the waters +of that land, but from the rains, the heat of the sun, poor food, +want of exercise, and others difficulties: he ordered sail to be set +in order to return to the city of Manila, and to give an account of +the expedition to his Lordship, the governor. Thus he decreed, and +ordered, and signed it with his name. Witnesses were Father Baltasar +de Miranda, Luis Briceno, Alonso Locano, and many others. + +_Don Juan de Arce Sadornil_ + +Before me: +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +Most illustrious sire: + +In a clause of the instructions given me by your Lordship, you order +me on my return from the river and settlement of Borney, to visit the +river of Taguaran. But because I was informed that the said river +is not navigable by galleys unless at extremely high tide, and to +anchor near the shore meant some risk--for at the present season occur +nightly heavy showers brought by the vendaval--and because the king +is not peaceably inclined, and considering that all the land would +revolt, I concluded that it would be useless for me to go thither, +since the said river of Taguaran is on the way to Borney, so that +any one may very easily ascertain what he wishes. In my opinion, +if we effect a colony in Borney, the Spaniards must live where the +king and the Moros are, in order to keep them under control. In any +other way they will be always unmanageable. Whenever your Lordship +wishes, I shall tell you some reasons that should induce us to make a +settlement in no other place but where the Moros live. Given in this +galley "Espiritu Santo," belonging to his Majesty, on the twenty-ninth +of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Darce_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +The order which we must regard and observe in the voyage and navigation +from here to Borney is as follows. + +The galleys shall follow the flagship, without preceding it, and at +night they shall be vigilant, both in following the lantern, and +in watching for certain shoals such as are wont to be in the sea, +and for strange ships, as well as all else advisable. + +When any galley encounters any danger, and needs help, it shall +discharge a cannon as sign of distress; and all the other ships shall +go to its assistance, to see what has happened. + +The Neapolitan vessel shall go as much as possible in advance of the +flagship; and, in case it should come upon any shoal or promontory +that juts out too far, if it be daytime it shall return to give +advice thereof; but if at night, besides turning to give advice, +it shall fire a small piece of its artillery so that we may stop and +take the necessary steps. + +If perchance any galley should lose the route through either bad +weather or any other cause not malicious, it shall continue its +voyage to the island of Malaca, where the one arriving first will +await the other. + +Should any enemy attack us at sea, with intent to annoy us, the two +Bornean galleys shall go to the flagship--that in charge of Ensign +Francisco Rodriguez on the right, and that in charge of Antonio +Canedo on the left. The Neapolitan ship shall take up a position at +the stern of the flagship, in order to assist in what is ordered. + +The vessels shall take care always to anchor near the flagship, +keeping watch over their oars. They shall be alert. From Malaca each +afternoon they shall ask for a watchword, so that, if they meet any +hostile ship, it may be known. A copy of these instructions shall be +given to the other galleys, so that they may keep them. Given on the +seventh of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Arce_ + +Before me: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary + +The order to be observed at present by the soldiers in this fleet, +while anchored in the port of Mohala, or wherever else, is as follows. + +First, although the natives of the river of Borney are peaceful, +they shall buy no slaves who are natives of the island of Borney, +even if the natives wish to sell them. If they wish to buy any slaves +not natives of the said island, they shall not do so, except in my +presence, in order that I may find out his native place, and whether +or no he can be bought. + +_Item_: No soldier shall dare to kill any cattle here or in any other +part where they have them, so that the king of Borney and the other +natives may see that we do not come to harass them, but that we wish +their friendship. + +_Item_: No soldier shall disembark or go from his ship to take water +or any other thing, except when the flagship takes in water, and +he is summoned. Then the landing shall be effected with great care, +and the commanders of the galleys shall signify what soldiers are to +disembark. They shall be advised not to take any water that is not in a +newly-made well, so that the water may not be poisoned by the natives. + +_Item_: All the galleys shall keep close sentinel guard at night, and +shall keep their arms ready. Each night they shall assign a watchword, +and the galleys shall not fire any shot unless compelled by necessity. + +_Item_: No one shall dare go to the Sangley ship anchored at this +port, in order to avoid the insults and damage that the soldiers are +wont to inflict on the said Sangleyes. If they need anything, they +shall send their slaves to buy it. They shall in no point infringe +the above regulation, under penalty of punishment to him who shall +act contrary to this, with all the severity allowed by law. In order +that this paper may be manifest to everyone, it shall be read and +proclaimed in all the ships of the fleet, in the presence of the +commanders. Given on the galley "Espiritu Santo," on the twenty-first +of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Don Juan Arce de Sadornil_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Manuel de Caceres_ + +(Thereupon, on the said day, month, and year above stated, I, the said +notary, read and proclaimed the decree above set forth, by order of +the captain, to the soldiers of the said galleys, in the presence of +the commanders. They said that they heard and would obey it. Witnesses +were Francisco de la Mesquita, Juan de Santiago, and Pedro Granado. + +I attest the same: + +_Manuel de Caceres_, notary) + +I, Gonzalo de Santiago, notary elect, certify to all who may see +this present, that, on the fourteenth day of the month of June, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, Rahayro, panguilan of +Borney, who calls himself king of Xolo, surrendered himself as a +vassal to his Majesty, King Don Phelipe, king of Castilla and Leon, +for himself and his descendants. In token of recognition and vassalage, +he gave twelve pearls and thirty-five taes of gold for himself and +his vassals, which are the islands of Xolo, Treguima, Camboanga, +Cavite, and Tavitavi, his subjects and vassals. The said Rahayro +bound himself and his descendants from this day to recognize King Don +Felipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla and Leon, and to be subject +to the crown of Castilla and Leon; and as such, he, the above-named, +will give the yearly recognition and tribute which shall be assigned +to him. This said vassalage was made by the said Rahayro, in virtue +of an act of war. The illustrious Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa, +captain of infantry for his Majesty, justified the war on his part. He +had two engagements with the above king, one in the town of Xolo, +and the other at the foot of a large rock in the open field. Having +conquered them, just as he was about to enter their fort the said king +of Xolo came out peacefully and rendered obedience to his Majesty, +as above stated. Therefore I gave the present, so that the above +declaration may stand in the records. Witnesses were Ensign Alonso +Osorio, Sergeant Mateo Sanchez, Alvaro de Angulo, Rodrigo Sanchez, +Luis de Santacruz, Juan Lorenco, Juan Lope de Leon, and many other +soldiers. Therefore I affix here my signature and accustomed flourish, +in testimony of truth. The said captain signed it with his name. + +_Esteban Rodriguez_ + +I certify thereto: + +_Gonzalo de Santiago_, notary by appointment + +In the city of Manila, on the nineteenth day of the month of April, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty +in these Western Islands, and his auditor in the royal Audiencia of +Mexico in Nueva Espana, declared that he has heard that a war-galley +of the king of Portugal was lost on the coast of Mindanao, and in +order to ascertain where it was going, and whose it was, he ordered +to be made, and did make, the following inquiries. + +In verification of the abovesaid, the said governor summoned to his +presence a man, who declared his name to be Bartolome Fernandez, +a native of the city of Goa in Yndia. He said that he was there +a freeman, serving as page a Portuguese named Luis Fragoso; and +that he is a baptized Christian. The oath was taken and received +from him before God and the blessed Mary, and on the sign of the +cross, in the form prescribed by law; under which obligation, +being questioned, this witness said that he left the city of Goa, +in Yndia, about a year or so ago, in a galleon called "San Jhosef," +under Captain Martin Lopez de Sossa, a nobleman. With the said ship +was a merchant ship from Cochin. The said ship "San Jhosef," had +one hundred old Portuguese soldiers, and one hundred others, young +mestizos of that land. It was equipped with twelve large pieces and +certain culverins. The soldiers were armd with arquebuses and other +weapons. This said vessel was despatched to Maluco, by order of the +governor of Yndia, Don Diego de Meneses, and the said Martin Lopez +de Sossa was captain. In Malaca, more of the mestizos of Yndia, +sons of Portuguese, were shipped, to the number of three hundred +men. These with the mestizos brought from Yndia, made somewhere +about five hundred men in the said galleon. A galley of twenty-four +benches accompanied it, each oar being manned with three men. They +carried lead. The galley was old and was given to them in Malaca by +the captain of Malaca, named Arias de Saldeva, who is captain of the +fortress. The captain of the sea is Matias de Alburquerque. Because +of the said Martin Lopez de Sossa falling sick, he remained in Malaca, +very sick; and one of his brothers, Pedro Lopez de Sossa, came in his +place as captain of the said galleon. Another nobleman, Tome de Sossa, +a former page of the said Matias de Alburquerque, captain of the sea, +was made captain of the said galley. This witness was aboard this +galley, in the service of the said Tome de Sossa, who brought this +witness from Yndia to Malaca. Thus the said galleon and galley, with +the people above mentioned (of whom some fifty soldiers were aboard +the galley and the rest aboard the galleon), set sail for Maluco in +the month of August of last year seventy-eight. After sailing for +a week, they anchored at Borney, near the island of Mohala. When +they were there together, a banca with certain Bornean fishermen +came to talk with the people of the ship and the galley. They asked +who they were, and were answered that they were Portuguese. Then the +said Bornean Moros said "We thought that you were Castilians, for we +are expecting them daily to come for tribute." Thereupon they told +them that a fleet of Castilians with many vessels and a multitude of +people had gone there, and fought with them, and had plundered them. + +It was current talk among the Portuguese, that they marveled that +the Spaniards would have plundered the Borneans, for they considered +that people as valiant, since they are accustomed to go to Malaca, +Pegu, and other places for the sake of plunder, and Borney was very +strong. Therefore they were surprised that the Castilians had taken +them. They began a song sung by the rowers, which runs: "Borney, peak +above peak in salt water; there you go to eat buyo." [33] This song +they sang because they formerly regarded the Moros as valiant men, +and in jest. The said captain-in-chief sent this witness in this said +fishing-boat, to talk with the king of Borney, because he knew the +Bornean language. With this witness went an inhabitant of Malaca, +one Quenana, a native of Malavar. They took a present to the said +king of Borney; this was a carpet from Conbaya [Camboja]; which was +given to this witness to give to the king of Borney. He found him in +a large house which belonged to the old king. This witness knew this, +for he formerly knew the said old king of that land. The old king is +dead and the said king is his son. He is a tall, fat man, and quite +black. He was seated with many of his relatives, called panguilans, +and his children and brothers. This witness saw and knew the tumango +and mandahala, the panguilan Salalila, and many others. The said +king of Borney was playing chess, seated in a hall with the said +panguilans. This witness bowed low and made the usual obeisance, +gave him the said carpet, and sat down. One of the king's sons said +to this witness, in his own language, that he talked excellently, and +asked him his nationality. This witness told him, and the said king's +son gave him some buyo to chew. He remained with them some time. The +king asked him what the Portuguese wished. This witness replied that +they were on their way to Maluco, and were looking for some slaves +for their galley, and for food. Thereupon the said king of Borney +ordered the vandahala to go to talk with the captain-in-chief in the +galleon. The vandahala went in a small boat with thirty rowers and +two culverins. When he left the king's house for the said vessel, the +said people showed this witness some vireys, saying that they had taken +them in battle from the Spaniards. They said that they had hanged one +Spaniard, and threatened them. They said that the Spaniards had come +in large vessels and with a numerous fleet, whereat they had fled to +the mountains. They did not tell that the Spaniards had seized any +galleys and artillery. The said bandahala went to the said galleon +to talk with the said captain, Pedro Lopez de Sossa. He asked him, +in the name of the king of Borney, to help him fight the Castilians, +who were about to return there for the tribute; and desired them to +remain in the island. If he would winter there, the king of Borney +would pay him as much as he would gain in Maluco. The said Captain +Pedro Lopez answered him that he was about to make investigations in +Maluco, which was in bad condition, and could not remain in Borney. It +was likewise impossible for him to fight with the Castilians, for they +were brothers. If he wished to ask for help, he must send to request +it from the captain of Malaca. Likewise this witness saw two ships +that they were about to send to Malaca. The said bandahala, thereupon, +went to talk with the king. That night a Cafre blacksmith, a Christian, +one Luis, fled from Borney to the Portuguese. He told the said captain, +Pedro Lopez, that the king of Borney had ordered that the Portuguese +who were in Borney at the arrival of the Castilian fleet should be +killed; that the king had robbed them of their possessions, and that +some sailors had fled with the vessel. When the said captain Pedro +Lopez heard this, he was angry at the Borneans, and sent the small +boats to bring men from the galleon (for he was in the galley), saying +that he intended to enter the river to fight the said Borneans. The +next morning the said bandahala tua, that is to say, "old man," came +in a ship. The Borneans brought fowls, sugar, fruits, _tampo_, and +other things, to sell. They brought no presents. The said captain, +Pedro Lopez, seized the said vandahala and about thirty rowers with +him, and put them in the said galley, with the intention of keeping +them prisoners. The said vandahala asserted that they had not killed +the Portuguese, nor robbed them at all. The said captain, Pedro Lopez, +sent the said trader Quenenia to talk to the king, and to ask him why +they had killed those Portuguese. The said king replied that he knew +of no such thing, and that the tanguilans of the mountain had killed +them. Afterward the said captain, Pedro Lopez, said, "Who is deceiving +me in these things among these Moros?" He then set free the Moros, +and left the said trader Quenena, in Borney with a pack containing +seven or eight hundred pieces of cloth, so that he might trade it for +camphor, wax, and tortoise-shell, and then go to Malaca with it in one +of the two ships that I said were about to sail to Malaca. The said +captain bought eight Javanese slaves, and the king presented to him two +more, making a total of ten. Each slave cost ten pieces of _caniqui_ +[34] which we valued at three _vardagos_, each _vardago_ being worth +one _patagon_, which this witness thinks is about equivalent to two +Manila tostones. Then weighing anchor they proceeded on their way +to Maluco. The galley anchored at the river of Tabaran to look for +food. They bought there swine and fowls, receiving five fowls for +one piece of _caniqui_. From there they sailed near a large island, +called by them island of Xordan. There a storm with a vendabal +struck them and destroyed the said galley, which was old. It sprang +a leak under the keel, and was driven upon some rocks near Cabite, +at an island near Canboanga. There the said galley was lost with all +its food, artillery, and ammunition. Five Portuguese were drowned, +and two others were killed by the Moros of that land. All the Cafres +and slaves who were chained were drowned. About forty Portuguese +and twelve Cafres escaped. They scattered into different parties, +so that the natives should not kill them. This witness fell into the +power of some natives of Camboanga, who made him prisoner. A Spaniard +brought this witness and others recently, when they came with his +Majesty's spice. However, this witness did not see what became of the +said Spaniards, nor what became of the galleon, except that he heard +that the galleon collected the men in its small boats and finished +its voyage, by taking another tack, as he heard from the natives of +Camboanga. Therefore this witness never saw the said galleon again. He +heard also that the said galleon had broken its mainmast. This is +what he knows, and his deposition. It is the truth, on the oath that +he took. He affirmed and ratified it. When this witness was asked if +he had been in Maluco, and requested to tell what he knew of matters +there, and why so many Portuguese should go there, he declared that +he had heard it stated publicly and openly in Yndia and in Malaca, +and that he heard Diego de Sanbucho, a noble inhabitant of Malaca, +now there, say that the fortress of Maluco, which the Portuguese held +in Terrenate, was lost to them three years ago. For after the death of +Gonzalo Pereyra, who had gone with the Portuguese to fight at Cubu, +and who had died at Maluco after his return there, the noble above +named, Diego de Sanbucho, was captain of Maluco. He found that certain +of the married men had gone to live at Anbon and others to Malaca, +and that they had taken all their cattle and artillery with them in +two galliots, which they now have at Anbon. The cause of the loss of +the said Maluco was the revolt of the said natives and a war because +a Portuguese had killed their king. Immediately the people revolted, +and besieged the Portuguese. They died from hunger, until the survivors +abandoned the fort, going to Anbon, as I have said; only two Dominican +fathers remained. The said inhabitants of Maluco refused to give +cloves to the Portuguese, and sold them to the Javanese, who in turn +sold them at Malaca. The only cloves brought were those of Anbon, +and only one ship-load at that. The Portuguese go to Anbon by way of +Jaba, across from Borney, since Maluco was lost; the present fleet +came by way of Borney. On account of these troubles, it is sailing +straight for Maluco, in order to construct a fort to fight with the +natives. Another galleon, the "San Juan," under Captain Martin Alfonso, +a noble, is in Malaca, and is about to go to Anbon; and it must go +by way of Jaba, opposite the coast of Borney. With the few men whom +it can take, and those whom it can secure at Anbon, it must go with +them all to Maluco to aid the said captain Pedro Lopez to oppose the +inhabitants of Maluco. This witness knows, too, that the Portuguese +captured a son of the king of Maluco, named Don Francisco, whom they +took to Yndia. This witness saw him lately at Malaca. He has heard +that the people of Maluco begged that he be given up, as he is their +king, and that if he is restored they will make peace and surrender +the fortress. With the said Don Francisco are three of his relatives, +one Don Enrique, one Pablo Desa, and the third Jordan de Fletes. Don +Enrique is undahala at Malaca, which is the office of judge among +the natives. The vessel which is going by way of the coast of Jaba to +Anbon must lay in a good supply of food from Xaba. This witness knows +further that a queen of Xaba is at war with the Portuguese; she is +the queen of Xapara. Consequently the Javanese refuse to take food +to Malaca, which is furnished by the king of Pegu. This witness has +heard that the king of Pegu has made dependents of the kings of Sian +and Patan. The Portuguese have war likewise with the king of Bintan, +for the latter married a daughter of the king of Achen who is hostile +to the Portuguese. This witness has been twice in Maluco, and has seen +what he has described. At the entrance to the port is a rampart, and, +farther in, the fort where the said Portuguese live. They have a vault +there in the middle of the court; and, even if the fort be burned, +the court inside is not burned. + +When asked what became of the artillery of the galley which was lost +on the coast, he said that the king of Mindanao, who is an old man, +heard of the loss of the said galley there, and went there with forty +vessels, and that the people of Samboanga seized the said artillery, +which they had taken from the galley and took it ashore at the river of +Mindanao. He said that the people of Samboanga burst one piece; and the +Spaniards took it, along with two grappling hooks, and brought it to +this city. All the above is the truth. This witness said also that the +said galley that was lost carried nine pieces of artillery--amidships +a large round swivel-gun; at the bow and along the sides, two large +chambered falcons; at the stern two more; and at the sides four +culverins, two on each side. The chief of Taguima took two culverins, +and the king of Mindanao took all the rest. This is the truth, on the +oath that he has taken; and he affirmed and ratified the same, but +did not sign it. He is about thirty years old, a little more or less. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + + +_Captain Ribera's Instructions_ + +The instructions that Captain Grabiel de Rivera must observe in the +expedition that he is about to make, at my command, to the island +and river of Mindanao, are as follows. + +First, you shall go to the port of Cubu, where are the artillery and +ships of his Majesty brought from Borney by Captain Esteban Rodriguez, +and the other supplies left there by him. You shall take all of these +supplies that you may need for your expedition as well as the necessary +soldiers and food. The soldiers shall be taken from the inhabitants +of the said city, and from the soldiers taken for the said expedition +by Captain Juan Lopez de Aguirre. This latter shall deliver his men +to the magistrate there. You shall choose from them such men as you +desire, since you have the affair in hand. You shall try to take +some men belonging to the captain and chief named Quilantan, as, +they tell me, he is acquainted in the river of Bindanao. + +As you know, Captain Esteban Rodriguez went last year by my orders +to pacify the river of Mindanao. Because of the lack of provisions, +the current of the river, and other causes, he did not carry out my +wishes--namely, to explore that river and all its environs personally, +and to wait there some little time to try to get them to make peace. I +ordered him to represent to the natives how advantageous it would be +for them to become his Majesty's vassals and our allies. He was ordered +to treat them well, and to use kind methods and persuasion with them; +and not to use force, or plunder them, burn their houses, or do any +other damage to them. And that they might become friends, he was not to +ask tribute from them, and should exercise no force in this regard. He +was merely to tell them of his Majesty's heavy expenses in this land, +and the many hardships endured by the Spaniards in going to civilize +them, and to teach them how to live in accordance with the law of +nature, so that they might understand the chief requirements--namely, +to become Christians and recognize the true God, who created and +redeemed them; and in order that they might cease to do evil to their +neighbors, and to commit other cruelties and robberies. And it is just +that, since so much is spent by his Majesty, and by the Christians who +go there, that the natives should on their side aid somewhat, since +they benefit thereby. But the said captain was ordered that whatever +they gave should be decided by the natives themselves. In observance +of this the said Esteban Rodriguez did them no injury whatever; +but they fled. And because, when the Spaniards went to attempt to +pacify them, as I have heard, the natives killed those who went as +ambassadors to them (among whom was a vassal of his Majesty from +the island of Jolo), you will investigate this matter in the city +of Nombre de Jesus among the soldiers who went on that expedition, +in order that you may have the necessary foreknowledge. And if they +really killed those who went on an embassy to them--a barbarous and +cruel act--and if they are wont to display such treachery, then you +shall punish them as you deem best. I leave this to your own judgment +advising you that in his Majesty's fleet, commanded by Villalobos, +they killed certain men, under promise of security, and seized one of +his boats. In this treachery they all shared, for one boat containing +three or four men was attacked by three or four thousand natives. They +killed also the master-of-camp of the said fleet. This will warn you +not to put any trust in them, or to allow them time or opportunity +to enable them to commit any treachery. You will keep strict watch +over your ships and men. + +Although you have the said information and you understand clearly +that they are evilly inclined and have committed the said crimes, +you must begin by trying to make them peaceable by kind methods, +as above stated. If they are unruly and it becomes necessary to +punish them, you shall do it. And if they give no occasion for +either peace or war but flee to the mountains, then you shall wait +for them with all the prudence possible, and such as I expect from +you. You shall endeavor always to see that the soldiers and troops +commit no depredations. If the said Indians come peaceably and with +friendliness, you shall receive from them what they offer, as above +stated. And you shall give testimony, before a notary appointed by +yourself as to the way in which the natives of those regions place +themselves under the obedience of his Majesty--by their own wish, +or by act of war, if they commence it; so that, as far as you are +concerned, you may have permanent and just authority to compel them +to obey and pay tribute. In this matter you must exercise care and +diligence, for it is an affair which needs accuracy, so that the land +may be allotted according to the instructions of his Majesty. And in +such case you shall agree with the natives upon the season when the +Spaniards shall return thither next year; and tell them that they shall +come here freely, if they wish, for intercourse and trade with us. + +You shall bring in writing a memorandum of the times of harvest and +the products of the land; the gold-mines and places where gold is +washed; the number of inhabitants, their settlements and customs; +whether that river yields cinnamon, and how it should be treated in +order to make it good. + +_Item:_ You shall obtain information regarding the islands of Limboton +[35] and Celebes, the course thither, their products, and bring me +a clear statement thereof. + +_Item_: You shall order that no Indian be sold outside the island, +representing to them how cruel it is to sell the men of their own land, +and that by such an act they offend God and depopulate the land. + +_Item_: You shall order that they cease to rob, within or without +the island, warning them that such is an offense to God, our Lord. + +And because I have heard that one of the ships of Villalobos was lost +for want of a small boat, and in it two large anchors and one half +sacre (weighing fourteen quintals, and named "San Marcos"), twelve +culverins, and certain pieces of iron ordnance, you shall try to get +hold of them all, employing therein much diligence. + +You shall try to ascertain where their artillery is, and to secure it, +for it is very material that they remain at peace. + +And inasmuch as the chief of Mindanao has been deceived for some +time by preachers from Borney who preach the doctrine of Mahoma, +and it is said that there are preachers there endeavoring to convert +them all into Moros; and since our main intention is to convert +them to Christianity: you shall order them to admit no more such +preachers of the sect of Mahoma. And if you can ascertain who they +are, you shall try, to the best of your ability, to bring them here; +and shall burn the edifice wherein the accursed doctrine was read +and taught, and shall order that none other like it be built. You +shall tell the said natives that I will send Christian fathers there, +who will instruct them; that already the mosque at Borney is burned, +and that there are now no more Bornean preachers. You shall also tell +them what occurred in Borney last year. + +You shall examine the entrance and port in the river and the ships +of the natives; for it will be allowable to take from them those used +for piracy, leaving them their fishing and trading vessels. + +If the said natives pay tribute, it shall be disposed of in accordance +with the custom of that land--namely, one half shall be reserved for +his Majesty, and the other half shall be divided among the soldiers, +as an aid in their necessity. + +And since all the importance of this expedition lies in patience and +comfort (because the Indians, having seen that they would soon have to +yield, refuse to come down from the mountains), you shall try to make +yourself as comfortable as possible, paying special attention to the +health and welfare of your troops. And you shall carefully study the +country in general, and its water and food-products, so that you may +inform yourself better, in order if possible, to preserve health, +which is the principal desideratum. In order to guard the health +of your men, I charge you specially that you take good care of your +sick. You shall put a soldier of good temper in charge of them who +shall minister to them. From whatever gold or other property of +his Majesty's you may have, the sick shall be provided with fowls +or whatever is necessary. You shall especially forbid the soldiers +to eat bananas or sugar-cane, or other harmful things, and see that +they live decently. + +You shall find out from the Indians of that land whether they sail +or go to Maluco. You shall ask them whether there are any Christians +there; and if there is any Cafre or Christian in Bindanao, you shall +secure him. + +Having completed matters at Bindanao, you shall return to the port +of Cavite. [36] Thence, with what men you deem advisable and with +interpreters from Taguima, you shall go to the island of Jolo, +where Captain Esteban made an agreement with the king of that place +to pay tribute to his Majesty. You shall tell that king that I left +Borney for certain reasons, and that I send this other fleet there +for the purpose of telling him that he should abide by his obedience, +in order not to receive more harm. + +You shall ask tribute from the lord of Jolo, but this shall be paid at +his pleasure and be very light, inasmuch as he has rendered obedience +to his Majesty but recently, and because of the good will he has +shown in his Majesty's service, in sending a letter and returning +eight slaves that he had there who were taken from the island of Cubu, +who were vassals of his Majesty. However, in return for that, Pedro +de Oseguera wrote me that two men from Jolo, who had been captured +by the men of Cubu, had been given up. If there are any more Joloans +there, you may take them, first seeing whether they are Christians +and whether they go of their own free will. The priest at Cubu shall +declare what it will be right to do in this. You shall tell the said +lord of Xolo also that, if he wishes to ask anything else of me, +he shall despatch ships hither. They shall be secure from injury, +for I have ordered that none molest them; and you shall give him my +letter that you have with you. You shall give him a written permit, +so that his people may pass freely through our territory, if they +show the said letter to the people of this land. + +Captain Esteban Rodriguez told me that the lord of Xolo had told him +that he would have two or three tame elephants for his Majesty's +tribute. You shall ask for them, and if he gives them, you shall +bring them here with the utmost care. For that purpose you shall take, +wherever you find it, such ship as is most suitable. If he has no tame +ones to give you, you shall tell him to have them, at all hazards, +next time the Castilians go thither. You shall ascertain the time +and manner in which they can be brought here. + +You shall likewise show yourself very affable to the lord of Xolo. You +shall urge him to persevere in the pearl industry. Both from him and +from the inhabitants of Mindanao, you shall ascertain what things +they need from China, so that other methods failing, those articles +may be taken to them from here. + +Inasmuch as Captain Esteban Rodriguez brought certain anchors and +pieces of artillery from that island, and did not sound the place where +a ship was lost in a storm from the north, if you have opportunity, +you shall be careful to do so, taking care to return before the season +for sailing is past. On your return you shall see whether Captain +Juan Lopez de Aguirre left any cinnamon because unable to bring it +in the vessels of his fleet. + +_Item_: When you return by way of Cubu, you shall bring back all his +Majesty's vessels there, as well as all the artillery left there by +Esteban Rodriguez. You shall bring also a relation of present and +past occurrences there. + +You shall try to ascertain whether there is any cinnamon in the +river of Mindanao. If so, you shall try to bring some of it. You +shall try to find out how to treat it, so that it may be of as good +quality as that in Castilla; for his Majesty has had us notified +that that sent from these districts has not been good. On your way +to Cubu, you shall send some one to pacify the tingues [hill-people] +of Butuan and to examine the towns reported by Juan Gutierres Cortes, +in order to discover the people and ascertain their number and their +location. You shall send a cautious man for this, who shall investigate +such matters as are necessary. When you leave Cubu, you shall order +Pedro Navarro to send to this city all his Majesty's ships in that +place, and the artillery taken there by Captain Esteban Rodriguez, +as well as whatever else he has there in his keeping, in charge, of a +careful man. This must be accomplished by the bonancas of April, for +the artillery can be brought more securely then. If any soldier or any +one else should die, you shall make an inventory of his possessions, +and keep the same. You shall note his name and his birthplace, so +that there may be a good account and relation of everything. + +Given at Manila, January fifteen, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +In the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, in the Filipinas islands of +the West, on the eighteenth day of the month of February, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Rivera--a person who by order and authorization of the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's council, auditor of his +royal Audiencia established in the City of Mexico, and his governor +and captain-general in these islands, is about to go to pacify and +explore the river and island of Mindanao--said that, inasmuch as it is +necessary to appoint a notary for the said expedition, in order that +he may handle and despatch the business that will arise during it; +and inasmuch as Diego Lopez Carreno is a skilful man and qualified +to take charge of this: therefore he appointed, and he did appoint, +him as notary of the fleet and expedition. He authorized him fully, +in so far as he himself is authorized by his Lordship, to enjoy and +exercise this power. He ordered him to take the oath and execute the +formalities required by law, for the exercise of this power. Then the +said Diego Lopez Carreno, who was present, accepted it, according to +the order of the said captain. He took the oath before God and the +blessed Mary, and on a sign of the cross, upon which he placed his +right hand, to exercise the office well and faithfully to the best of +his knowledge and understanding, and to commit no fraud, equivocation, +or deceit; and, if he did thus, may God so reward him; but if not, +then may he be proceeded against. + +He affixed his name thereto. Witnesses were Tome de la Ysla, Pedro +Navarro, Grabiel de Ribera. + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary + +Off the coast of the river of Mindanao, when sailing toward the said +river, on the thirteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain, Grabiel de +Ribera, met off the coast of the said river, a small boat. His Grace +ordered it brought to the side of the flagship, in order to find +out whence it was coming and whither bound. When it was brought, it +appeared that certain Indians were aboard; through the interpreter, +Miguel Godines, who understands the language of the said Indians, +they said that they were slaves of Limansacay, king of the said river +of Mindanao. The said captain feasted them, gave them some articles +that he had brought in his galley, and ordered the said interpreter to +inform them that he had come by order and authorization of the very +illustrious governor of these islands; that he came in his Majesty's +name to pacify the said land, to pacify and quiet the said natives, +and to make them friends, vassals, and servants of his Majesty, as +are the natives of the other islands. As vassals of King Don Ffelipe, +our sovereign, they would be greatly profited, would be protected and +aided by the said governor, and his Grace would now protect them in +whatever arose and in what they most desired. The reason why he wished +to have peace with him, and with the other chiefs of the said river, +was because his Majesty wished them to understand the great error +and delusion that they labored under, and to recognize their Creator +and Lord, who is the only true God. And because they were Indians who +could not write and slaves of limited understanding, the captain did +not discuss with them more fully his Grace's reason for coming. He +asked them to tell the said Limansacay all the above things, and told +them that they should have no fear or suspicion of any thing, for +his Grace had no authorization to injure or molest them in any way, +but only to entertain and protect the said Limansacay and the other +chiefs of the said river, as had been done in many other districts, +and as is done with all the natives of all the islands. Thereupon the +said Indians went away, without any harm or insult being offered them; +on the contrary they were feasted. + +To all of the above I attest, for it occurred in my presence. Witnesses +are Pedro de Oseguerre, Tome de la Ysla, Ensign Melchor de Torres. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary-elect + +Off the coast of the river of Mindanao, four leagues from the said +river, on the fourteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Ribera, sailing toward the said river met a small boat, and in +order to take in water and ascertain their position, ordered it +brought to the flagship. When it was brought, it appeared that it +contained a Boholan Indian, named Umapas, married in the said island +of Mindanao. Two of his brothers-in-law, natives of the said river, +accompanied him. Through the interpreter, Miguel Godines, they were +asked whence they came and whither they were bound. Through the said +interpreter they answered that they were bound for the city of Manila, +at the order of Limansacay, king of Mindanao; and that they were +taking to his Lordship, the governor, two gold-emblazoned daggers, +and two great loaves of wax. Furthermore, the said king ordered them +to collect five taes of gold owed him by some Indians. All this, they +said, was to be given to the said governor in token of recognition and +peace, which they were going, in the name of the said king Limansacay, +to ask from the said governor. Upon hearing this, the said captain +informed the above-named persons that his Grace was going in the name +of his Majesty and by order of his Lordship, in his royal name, to +pacify all that region, and to make peace with all the natives thereof. + +Therefore his Grace took them with him to the very mouth of the said +river, and from there despatched the two brothers-in-law of the said +Umapas, who are natives of the said river, in order that they might +advise the said Limansacay, king of the said river, that his Grace +was commissioned by the said governor to treat with him for peace +and alliance, which his father Asututan, now defunct, had requested +from King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign. In consideration of Umapas's +fear and premonition that the king would behead him if he returned, +his Grace despatched the two said brothers-in-law. He ordered them +to tell Limasancay, king of the said river, when they reached his +presence, of the good resolution that his father had taken, and his +great zeal in making peace with his Majesty, and with the governor +in his royal name; that his Grace was ready and prepared to receive +them as vassals of his Majesty, in whose royal name he was come; +and that the king would take them under his royal crown and give +them his royal aid. They would be protected and aided on every +occasion that might arise, and whenever they needed it. In order to +ascertain what were King Limasancay's purposes, and what he intended +to do, his Grace would await a reply to it all, for one natural day +[_i.e.,_ twenty-four hours], anchored at the mouth of the said river +of Mindanao. He ordered all the above to be set down in writing, +that it might stand in the records, and affixed thereto his signature. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godines_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On the coast of Mindanao, two leagues, more or less, from the said +river, on the fourteenth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de +Ribera ordered that the following instructions be imparted to all +those in charge of the warships taken by the said captain for the +conquest and pacification of the said river and island of Mindanao, +and that they should keep it in its entirety. + +First, the fragata acting as flagship shall enter first, having on its +right the other fragata under command of Sergeant Lope de Catalaraga, +and on the left, the two vireys--in order that they may be at hand, +if it is necessary that any message be despatched. + +Immediately shall enter successively the two Bornean galleys, in +charge, of Tome de la Ysla and Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, so that, +should it be necessary to fire their artillery, they may do it when the +fragatas discharge theirs, for which I shall have the trumpet sounded. + +The two virocos shall form a rear-guard, preceding the other viroco, +which has a lack of men. All of them shall sail as closely together +as possible, and those which sail faster shall await the others, +so that we may all keep in order. + +No arquebuse shall be fired unless it is necessary, and no one shall +disembark without my permission and order. + +I order you to observe great care in all the above, and even more +in looking after the provisions in your vessels; for we do not know +how long we shall stay in the said river, nor do we know whether we +can procure provisions there, and because of the long distance from +this said river to the town of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, where we +could find the articles necessary for the support of the said fleet. I +order you to observe and obey all the above, and not to violate these +provisions, under penalty of punishment. I order that all the above +instructions be read to each commander of the said vessels, so that +he may know it. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +(On the said day, month, and year aforesaid, I, Diego Lopez Carreno, +notary of the fleet, certify that I read the entire instructions +of the other part of this present to all those commanding the +ships of the said fleet, to each one separately. They all answered +that they were ready to observe and obey the contents of the said +instructions. Witnesses are Tome de la Ysla and Sergeant Catalinaga, +who were present the entire time. + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river of Mindanao, at the mouth of the said river, on the +fifteenth of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de Ribera, after having +waited at the mouth of the said river, during the time which he had set +with the two messengers whom he sent to Limansancay, king of the said +river of Mindanao; and seeing that the above-mentioned persons did not +bring any reply to the message that his Grace had sent to the said king +(as is set forth in more detail in a certain writing in regard to this +matter executed before me the present notary, and to which I refer): +notifying and arranging all his fleet, he entered the said river. After +having ascended it for about a league or so, and reached the first +port in the said river which is settled, a chief called Dato Bandel, +accompanied by many Indians, came, bearing a white flag in his hand. He +told the said captain that he wished to make peace and alliance with +his Majesty, and with him in his royal name. That was his intention, +but he was hostile to Limancansay, king of Mindanao, who was settled up +the river. Therefore his Grace took with him the said chief, and after +arriving at the said village--where, he declared, the said Limasancay +lived--he found there certain Indians. He had them summoned, and when +they readied the flagship he embraced and regaled them, and made them +sit down near him. One of them was a chief, who said through Miguel +Godines, interpreter of their language, that his name was Sicuyrey, +and that he was a cousin to the said king Limasancay. His Grace set +this man next himself, and gave him ornaments and presents from among +his store, as well as to the others. His Grace told and informed them +that he was come in the name of King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, and +by order of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his +Majesty's council, and his governor and captain-general throughout +these islands, to make terms with Limasancay, king of this river of +Mindanao, for peace and alliance, and that they might become vassals +of his Majesty. He informed them of the great good that would accrue +to them all and to the said Limasancay in particular, if he made the +said peace and alliance with his Majesty, and with the said governor +in his royal name, at whose order his Grace, was come--principally that +they might recognize Jesus Christ, the Creator of the whole world, our +only salvation. This is his Majesty's principal purpose, and he will +entertain and protect them in all things, as is his custom among all +the other natives of these islands who are under his royal crown. In +order to impart this, and many other things, of advantage to the said +Limasancay and to all the natives of this river, it was necessary that +Limasancay come to his Grace. If he feared anything, the captain was +ready to give him whatever security he wished; for he had not come +to molest, but to favor him, according to the orders of the said +governor. Sicuyrey, having been informed of all the above matters by +the interpreter, answered that the said king, Limasancay, was not at +present in that town, but in another, two leagues distant. He said he +would go to him and confer with him in regard to everything that the +said captain had told him; and that he would bring him back with him, +in order that the captain might discuss all those matters. Then they +left, and the said captain said that he would await the answer given +to the, said Sicuyrey by the said Limasancay; and Sicuyrey went away, +together with the others who had come with him. Four hours later, +he returned to the said captain with the news that he had talked to +his cousin Limasancay, and had told him all his Grace's words. He +sent as answer that upon the following day he would come to talk with +him, and that he should await him. Upon receiving this reply the said +captain said he would wait until the following day. He ordered that no +soldier should go ashore or do any damage in the said port to any one, +until the plan and purpose of the said king Limasancay was evident, +and what he would do in regard to the said alliance and peace that +his Grace wished to make with him in accordance with his Majesty's +orders. In order that all the above, and the said captain's great +zeal and resolution in everything concerning these natives might be +properly recorded, he requested me, the present notary, to set it down +in writing, so that everything might stand in the records. I certify +thereto, for it occurred before me, in the presence of the witnesses, +Ensign Melchor de Torres and Pablo de Asequera. + +_Graviel de Ribera_ + +It took place before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +After the above events, on this said day, month, and year above stated, +after all the above had happened in regard to the said chief, the +said captain, considering that the said Dato Bahande had come of his +own accord to make peace, inasmuch as he came with the said flag, his +Grace declared, in the name of his Majesty, and that of the governor +in his royal name, that he received him as his vassal, with all his +subjects--declaring that hereafter they will molest no Spaniard, +will not make war on the Spaniards, and will render assistance in +whatever the governor, or whosoever is authorized by him, shall +order. He said that he was ready to obey. I certify thereto, in the +presence of witnesses Sergeant Catalinaya and Ensign Artiaga. + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +While anchored in the river of Mindanao at the port reported to +belong to Limansancay, king of the said river, on the fifteenth of +the said month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +at about four o'clock in the afternoon, or a trifle later, certain +Indians of the small boats carried by the ships of the said fleet +went ashore at the said port, to look for wood with which to cook +their food. It appears that an Indian (from the fragata commanded by +Juan Rodriguez de Norvega) who was a native of the town of Cayut, of +Tome de la Ysla's encomienda, received five wounds from other natives +of the said river of Mindanao who were at the said town--one in the +abdomen, which caused his intestines to protrude, and the rest in his +arms and thighs. The natives of the said river and village inflicted +these wounds on the said Indian treacherously, giving him some buyo, +and while he was reaching for it, wounding him. He died as a result and +was buried in the said village. Although this injury was inflicted on +us, the captain, because he was awaiting the said Limasancay, for the +said peace, ordered all the soldiers and the other Indians of the fleet +not to harm the natives of the said village, until it was seen what +the said Limasancay would do regarding the agreement which he had made +with the said captain. In order that this, as well as the death of the +said Indian and the wounds he had received, might be evident, the said +captain requested me to give him the present writing as certification +and attestation in the manner above stated. Witnesses, Ensign Melchor +de Torres, Pedro de Esequera, and Diego de Artiaga Gamboa. + +_Graviel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river and village called Mindanao, on the sixteenth of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the fleet +being anchored at the entrance of the said village, wherein it is said +Limasancay, petty king of the said river, usually lives and resides, +at about three o'clock or so in the afternoon, in the presence of me, +the notary, and the witnesses hereunto subscribed--the illustrious +captain, Grabiel de Ribera, being in his flagship--it appears that +Sicurey summoned him from the other side of the river. The said +captain had sent him, one or two days previously, to summon the +said Limasancay. To ascertain the reply of the above king and what +the said Sicurey asked from him, his Grace, accompanied by me, the +present notary and the witnesses, went to an uninhabited house in +the said village and ascended to its top, in order to be able to see +and talk with the said Sicurey--who as above stated was on the other +side of the river with certain Indians who came with him. Through +the interpreter whom his Grace carried he ordered the said Sicurey +to be interrogated concerning the reply that he brought to what the +said captain had sent him to tell his cousin Limasancay; and the said +captain told Sicurey that he should come from the other side of the +river in order that he might talk with him, and ascertain what message +the said Limasancay sent, what was the latter's intention and purpose, +and whether he desired to make the said peace that he had requested +in his Majesty's name. To all of this the said Sicurey answered, +without coming to his Grace, that he had talked to his cousin, the said +Limasancay, who was three days' journey up the river from where the +said captain was stationed; that the said village is called Busayen, +and that he had told the king everything that he had been ordered to +tell. But the king had answered that he was afraid that he would be +seized, and for that reason he would not come to see his Grace; but +he told Sicurey that he should return thanks to the said captain for +the presents which his Grace had given to him and to the others. He +would return to talk again with the said Limasancay, and would again +ask him to come. The said captain told him that, since he was willing +to do him that pleasure, and return again, he should tell the said +Limasancay that his Grace did not come to seize or annoy him; for, +had he wished to annoy him, he would not have asked as he had that the +king come to make peace. The intent of his Majesty, and that of the +very illustrious governor, by whose commission and mandate he comes, +is only to inform the people in that so great river where they are +and live, that they should become vassals of his Majesty, and of the +said governor in his royal name, as the natives of other islands have +done. If he and the other chiefs give obedience to his Majesty, to whom +all render obedience, and are willing to be his vassals and desire to +be protected under his royal crown and favor, his Grace would regale +them and would not molest or annoy them. They could remain in their +own lands and settlement. If they would, of their own volition and +without being forced, give some tribute, his Grace would receive it +in his Majesty's name, and only in token of obedience and so that it +might be understood that they wished peace and were obedient under his +royal crown; that they themselves should decide whatever they wished +to give for this purpose. If the said Limasancay feared, as he said, +that his Grace would seize him, he was prepared to give him any and +all security that he might desire, so that he might come to treat with +the said captain and that he might understand that the latter has no +intention of illtreating him; for if his intention were to molest the +king, his Grace had had occasion therefor already, and could have +seized the said Sicurey and other chiefs who came to discuss peace +with his Grace, as well as a chief called Dato Bahandie. This last +has come peacefully and has rendered obedience to his Majesty; and +in return therefor the said captain has regaled him and will protect +him on every occasion. If the said Limasancay purposes to attempt +treachery and deceit toward the said captain, and in short not to +come peacefully, he shall send word immediately as to his intention; +for, if he do not come peacefully, then his Grace will employ all +the correctives and artifices possible, until he leaves this land +pacified and its inhabitants as vassals of his Majesty. His Grace +has been informed, by natives and chiefs of the said river, that +the said Limasancay is preventing and hindering many chiefs from +surrendering themselves as vassals of his Majesty, by saying that, +if they did, he would persecute and destroy them. Since he prevents +this, and refuses to make friendship, as has been required of him, +and prevents others from doing so, his Grace, as above stated, will +proceed against the said Limasancay by all possible ways and methods, +as against a man who prevents the chiefs of the said river from making +peace and rendering obedience to his Majesty as they wish: his Grace +will also proceed against all his paniaguados, and against all those +who refuse peace and obedience to his Majesty. The said Sicurey having +heard all the above declaration, and other words to the same effect, +replied that he would repeat it all to the said Limasancay, and would +return within three days. Because the said village of Mindanao did +not contain food for the soldiers, the captain told the said Sicurey +that he would await him and his reply in Tampaca, six leagues up the +river above the said village of Mindanao. In order that this might +appear in the records, I attest and certify the same, which took +place before me. Witnesses, Pedro de Eseguera and Ensign Arteaga. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +At the river and village of Mindanao, on the seventeenth day of the +month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, after +the illustrious captain, Grabiel Ribera, had waited three days at his +anchorage for Limasancay to come, to make peace as he had requested +of him; and seeing that he did not come and that food was becoming +scarce, and, the said village being depopulated, he could find no food +there; and because his Grace had been told by natives of the said +river that the said Limasancay was retiring up river to one of his +villages, to make a fort there for his defense; and seeing that the +king was dealing treacherously, in order to gain time to build the +said fort: in order to avoid the possible great danger in allowing +the said Limasancay to fortify himself, and likewise because he had +heard that the village of Tapaca, about four leagues up the river, +contained food, from which the fleet (some vessels of which were in +want) might be reprovisioned; to look for and collect certain pieces +of artillery which were said to be in the said village, and which +were reported to have belonged to the lost Portuguese galley--his +Grace on this said day, ascended the river to the said village, for +the causes and reasons above stated. I attest the same. Witnesses, +Pedro de Eseguera, Ensign Melchor de Torres, and Ensign Arteaga. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, on the nineteenth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, in fulfilment of the order +given by the illustrious captain Grabiel de Ribera, after having +voyaged for three days up stream to the village of Tapaca, whither +his Grace shaped his course, it appears that, at the entrance of the +port, the said captain despatched a small barangay with certain Indians +and three soldiers. He ordered these to go ahead to notify the chiefs +of the said town that his Grace was coming, by order of his Majesty, +to pacify the said town and its vicinity; and that the said natives +should come peaceably. It appears that, at the entrance of the said +village, before talking to any of the natives, according to his Grace's +orders, certain culverins and many arrows were discharged at the said +barangay. As soon as the said captain learned of this, he ordered +immediately all the soldiers and men in the ships of his fleet, to set +in order for instant action the cannons, muskets, and other firearms, +so that if necessity demanded, they might be fired. When everything +was in order, he entered the said village. At the said entrance many +culverins and arrows were fired at the said fleet. Consequently his +Grace ordered all the soldiers to keep together and not to separate +at all. Thus the said captain went up the river to the said village, +where he disembarked. Accompanied by me, the present notary, certain +soldiers, a chief whom he took as interpreter, named Quilantan, and +other chiefs and interpreters, the said captain advanced, carrying a +white peace-flag; and he ordered the said chiefs to call out and summon +the Indians who were on the other side of the river. Thereupon these +latter summoned them, and some of those on the other side came, upon +which the said captain ordered his interpreters to ask the said natives +why they had fled and deserted the town, and why they had discharged +those arrows and culverins, inasmuch as his Grace had given them no +cause therefor. He informed them all that he did not come to harm or +offend them; he came to this river solely at the command of the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's Council, and +his governor for all these islands--who had sent his Grace to inform +them of the great error and delusion under which they live and labor, +and to make them vassals of his Majesty, and of the said governor in +his royal name. Being vassals, great gain and advantage would accrue +to them, and they would dwell in quiet and peace in their lands and +settlements, as at present. They would not be ousted or dispossessed +of them, and no person should annoy or molest them. On the contrary, +they would be protected, defended, and aided by his Majesty and +the very illustrious governor in his royal name. By his Grace also, +protection would be given, in whatever required it at present, as +he had promised to Dato Bahandie, a native of this village, who, +because he came peacefully and rendered obedience to his Majesty, +had been received under his royal protection. He and others of his +opinion would be protected in all necessities, and on all occasions, +as vassals of his Majesty. They should understand that the captain has +not come to plunder them or to seize, their possessions, but only for +the purpose above stated. If they had any food, his Grace had need of +it, and would pay them in full for it. They should return to their +houses and land and should not abandon their village. He did not +wish them to pay him tribute or other things. While summoning them +and notifying them of these and other things which his Grace tried +to make them understand, they sent a volley of arrows toward his +Grace, and by good luck missed killing one of the said interpreters +and chiefs there. And as soon as the said Indians on the other side +heard the said summons, they declared that the Castilians were rogues +and had come to deceive them. Thereupon the said captain returned +to the rest of his men. To all of the above, I, the present notary, +certify. Witnesses, Francisco Gomez, Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, +and Juan Rodriguez de Norvega. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca on the twentieth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, Captain Grabiel de Rivera, +seeing that he had had no intercourse with the natives nor was able to +secure it since his arrival in the said village, ordered that three +ambuscades be made inland. Thereupon a certain number of soldiers +and some friendly Indian rowers whom he had, penetrated inland about +one and one-half leagues. It appears that in four hours the said +soldiers returned with the report that it was utterly impossible to +advance farther, because of the numerous swamps and marshes, where +the water reached their knees and higher. Consequently, and because +the captain saw how the food was failing, and because he had been +informed by certain friendly Indians who had come in peace and by +Dato Bahandie, that the petty king Limasancay must be in the village +above Tampaca, he authorized Pedro Brizeno de Eseguera, a citizen +of the town of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, a discreet and capable man +and one experienced in that land, to ascend the river in two vireys +and one small barangay, with twenty-six soldiers; for these vessels +were light and the current of the river strong and his Grace could +not ascend the said river with the other ships of the fleet. Indeed, +coming from the village of Mindanao to this village of Tapaca, it +had taken four days to make four leagues (the distance between the +two towns), and he had arrived after great effort, and being towed +by the Indians. He gave, for this reason, the said commission to the +said Pedro de Oseguera, and ordered him to obey and observe in every +particular, and not to exceed the tenor and order of what was commanded +him in the said commission given him by the captain. Thus he ordered +and affixed thereto his signature. Witnesses, Sergeant Catalinaga, +Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +I, Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry for his Majesty in the +Filipinas islands of the West, who by order of the very illustrious +Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general of these +islands, come to pacify and explore the river of Mindanao, by virtue +of the commission and instructions given me by his Lordship to make +the said expedition: inasmuch as I have reached the village of Tapaca +in prosecution of my voyage, and after remaining here certain days, +summoning and notifying the natives--in the presence of a notary, +who attested the same--to come to make peace; and having informed +them that I came in his Majesty's name to pacify the said river, +and to make the natives and residents of that region vassals of his +Majesty--which was proclaimed through interpreters who understand +their language; and inasmuch as the natives of the said village, +although all the above information was proclaimed, have fled and +abandoned their houses and lands, and the fleet is suffering from +lack of provisions, for the food is all gone; and because it would +be extremely difficult for it to ascend the river farther, and would +require much time, because of the great strength of the current all +along the river, it having taken three days to tow the galleys and +fragatas by means of small oared vireys from the village of Mindanao +to this of Tapaca (a distance of four leagues), because of the said +current: therefore in the name of his Majesty, and for the proper +provision and despatch of the said fleet and men, and so that the +instructions of his Lordship may be observed and obeyed, he said +that he delegated, and he did delegate, all his power, as far as +he possesses it for the said purpose, to Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera, +a citizen of the town of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus--a deserving and +capable man, and experienced in that land--so that with two vireys and +one barangay, all oared boats, and accompanied by twenty-six soldiers, +he may ascend the said river. + +When he has reached certain settlements on the river, and in especial +that of the village of Ybatel (where it is said the petty king +Limasancay is), he shall notify him and the chiefs of the said village, +and those of the village of Buayen, through the interpreters that +he shall take with him, that the said Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera goes +by my orders to the said villages, to inform them that I have come by +order of the said governor to execute and fulfil the above purpose; and +that I am awaiting, in this village of Tapaca, the said Limasancay and +the other chiefs to come to make peace and to acknowledge themselves +vassals of his Majesty, as Dato Bahandie, chief of this river, has +done. Likewise he shall inform them that his Majesty's purpose in +sending me to this said river is to pacify it and make it peaceful, +and to make them understand the great delusion in which all the natives +thereof live; that they shall become vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign (whom may God preserve), as are all the natives of the island +of Panay, the Pintados islands, and those of the island of Lucon; and +that they may be instructed in the matters which pertain to our holy +Catholic faith. If they become vassals of his Majesty they will be +protected and guarded, whenever they have need and whenever occasion +requires. They shall return to their houses and towns as formerly, +for I have given them no occasion to abandon these. I do not come +to plunder their possessions or to harm them, or to require them +to give tribute, beyond what they give now of their own volition, +in token of recognition and obedience, so that it may be understood +that they desire peace and alliance. Furthermore he shall try to +ascertain and discover with all solicitude and care the whereabouts +of Limasancay, for I have heard that he is in the village of Buyayen +with his father-in-law, the chief of the said town, by name Seproa. He +shall try to confer and treat with Limasancay; and, that failing, +he shall send another person to tell him to come to this village of +Tapacan, where I am at present, and that he shall have no fear, or +be alarmed at anything; and that, if he comes, we shall treat for the +peace and friendship that I come to make with him and the other chiefs +of the said river in his Majesty's name. I am thoroughly aware that +the reason for the hostility of the natives of this entire river and +their abandonment of their houses and native places is his instigation +and command. If he does not intend to come to treat with me, he shall +not hinder or prevent the said chiefs who, as I have been informed, +desire to do so, from coming to make peace. For this reason he shall +not do it. Likewise he [Oseguera] shall inform the said Limasancay +and the said chiefs that, if they become his Majesty's vassals and +render him obedience, they shall be protected and aided, and live +quietly and peaceably in their lands and native places. No one shall +molest or annoy them in any way. If they do not do this, then there +will result many wanderings and anxieties, and many other troubles +and losses will come upon them. For all the above and for whatever +happens in the said summons, he shall appoint a notary before whom +declarations shall be made. I give him power and authority, in all +the fulness delegated to me by his Lordship for the said purpose. He +shall exercise great diligence and care therein. He shall not allow +the soldiers who take with them Indian rowers to molest or trouble +the natives of the said village, or their houses and possessions. He +shall take as many days as he deems necessary for this purpose, but +no more. Given at the said village of Tapacan, on the twentieth day +of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapacan, on the river of Mindanao, on the +twenty-third day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and +seventy-nine, before the illustrious Grabiel de Ribera, captain of +infantry for his Majesty in these islands, and before me, Diego Lopez +Carreno, notary of the fleet, appeared Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera. He +said that, in fulfilment of the commission and instructions given him +by the said captain, to ascend the river with the two vireys and one +barangay, accompanied by others, as declared in the said instructions, +he went, in prosecution of his voyage, and arrived at the village +of Buayen, about four leagues from this village of Tapacan, passing +some small uninhabited villages on the way. When he reached the said +village of Buayen carrying a white flag in token of peace, many shouts +were raised by his Indians, who called in their own language Siproa, +chief of the said town and father-in-law of Limasancay. Although they +shouted, as said, and tried to find some natives in order to confer +with them, they could see nothing of them. On this account they could +not inform the natives of the said village of their object. Therefore +he went on to the village of Ybalet, about three leagues from the +said town of Buayen. Carrying his said white flag, he looked for +Indians in the said village, and found certain Indians. He ordered +the interpreters with him to summon these Indians to him, declaring +that he would not harm them, for he came only to request their peace +and alliance, and that they become vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign, as is Dato Bahandie, chief and native of this river. When +they were asked where the said Limasancay and other chiefs were, they +answered that they had left them behind in the village of Buayen and +that they had no chief in their village, for he too was hidden with +the said Limasancay. The said Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera also sought +provisions in both the villages of Buayen and Ybalet, for the support +of the said fleet, but found nothing in either one, for the natives +were all hostile, and all their houses had been abandoned. When the +said Indians were asked the above questions, and he saw how scanty was +the information derived from them, he [Oseguera] tried to lay certain +ambuscades, in order to capture some Indian to have speech with him +concerning the said river. Therefore the two ambuscades were laid, +but an Indian could be taken in neither one; for none appeared to be +captured, as all had fled, and were so afraid of the soldiers that +upon seeing Spaniards in their land they took to the mountains. Thus +retired the Indians who talked with the said Pedro de Oseguera, +refusing to come to him. Since he saw that these two villages--the most +important, so far as he knew, on all this river--contained no peaceful +Indian with whom to treat and from whom he could ascertain what was +happening; and that he could find no food, he decided to return to +the said captain to advise him of what he said had occurred. This +relation is true, and witnesses present were Ensign Melchor de Torres, +Francisco Rodriguez de Salamanca, and San Juan de Cavala. He affixed +his signature, jointly with Captain Grabiel de Ribera. + +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, located on the river above the village of +Mindanao, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain Grabiel de +Ribera, after remaining seven days at the said village of Tapaca, +anchored there with his fleet and soldiers; and, having seen that the +natives of the said village and all its vicinity refused to come to +make peace--as is stated above more in detail and as appears by the +records made in regard to this matter, to which I refer--in order to +fulfil and observe the orders contained in the instructions given him +by the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, in consideration +of the fact that the location and settlement of the said village of +Tapaca is very unhealthful, and that some of his soldiers and many +Indian rowers had fallen ill, in order to avoid the danger that might +again occur for the above reason, ordered all the commanders of ships +to make ready to come to this village of Mindanao, where his Grace had +formerly been with the said fleet, without committing any depredations +in the said village; for the said village of Mindanao is a healthful +village and settlement, and its climate is excellent. Accordingly, +he left the said village of Tapaca on this said day to return to +this of Mindanao, where he arrived on the same day at five o'clock +in the afternoon. I attest the same. Witnesses, Pedro de Oseguera, +Tome de la Ysla, and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +By order of his Lordship: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Tapaca, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Captain Grabiel de Ribera, upon finding that he had been unable to +seize any Indians in the ambuscades which his Grace had ordered to +be made in the said village, in order to talk with them regarding +affairs of the said river, left, when about to depart, two ambuscades +of soldiers in the said village of Tapaca. Two Indians were taken +in this way by the soldiers, who were led before the said captain, +then anchored with the rest Of his men and boats in the village +of Lusa, one-half a league from Tanpaca. They were brought before +me, the present notary, and the interpreter Laquian--an Indian, +who understands the language of the natives of this river; and the +following questions were asked them. + +One of them on being asked his name and whose slave he was, responded +that his name was Sidurman and that he was the slave of Batala, a +chief of the said village of Tapaca, and brother-in-law to Limasancay, +petty king of the said river. + +Being interrogated by the said interpreter why he and his companion +came to the said village of Tanpaca, where the said captain was, since +the natives of the said village had hidden themselves and abandoned +the said village, he declared that the said Batala sent them both to +the said village in order to find out what the Castilians were doing +there. This was their reason for coming. + +Being asked to tell where the said Batala was when he sent him and +his companion on the above-mentioned errand, he said that he was in +a village called Bulon, situated on the said river. The said captain +asked him what he [Sidurman] was doing in the said village, and why +Batala and all the other chiefs had abandoned their own village. He +said and answered that they had fled from fear and terror of the +Castilians, for Limasancay had sent word by a slave to his said +master to do this, and that he was doing the same to the village of +Buyen. Therefore the said Batala and the other chiefs went to the +said village, as above stated. + +He was asked if there was a road by which his Grace might go to the +said village, where the said Batala was, in order to treat with him +for peace. If there is, his Grace said, he would loose them and give +them their liberty. This witness said that the creek by which he +came is navigable only with barotos, and he and his companion came +in one. It is quite impassable in one part and swampy in the other, +with water up to the breast, and higher. When the said Batala and +all his wives and the rest of the people went thither, they used very +small barotos, and then with difficulty. Therefore the Spaniards do +not dare go thither by way of the said swamps. + +This witness being asked where his master Batala keeps his artillery, +said that he knew that he had two falcons that were brought from the +town of Zamboanga, when Batala was with Limasancay. These were taken +from the lost Portuguese galley. When he went away, he took these +pieces with him in a baroto, and has them, as well as other small +culverins, in his possession. + +Being asked where the said Limasancay and the other people are, since +Limasancay sent word to his said master, Batala, to flee and abandon +his village, he said that he knows only what he has heard--namely, +that he is in the village of Buayen with his father-in-law, Siproa, +and that they are hidden in a marsh. Sidurman was also asked, as he +is a native of this river, if he knows where Limasancay keeps his +artillery, and that which he brought from Samboanga. He said that he +does not know. This he deposed through the said interpreter before +the said captain and in the presence of me, the said notary. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On this said day, month, and year aforesaid, the said captain +summoned to his presence the Indian Laman, the companion of the said +Sidurman. The same questions and articles put to the said Sidurman were +asked of Laman through the interpreter. His answers were similar to +those declared by the same Sidurman in his deposition. I, the present +notary, attest the same. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +In the river of Mindanao, on the twenty-seventh day of the month of +March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, while the fleet was +anchored at the village of Limasancay, petty king of the said river, +the captain, considering that in the villages of Tapaca, Buayen, and +Balete (the most important villages of the said river), and in many +other villages of the river, he had endeavored to induce Limasancay +and the other chiefs to come to make peace (as is contained in the +reports, to which I refer), said that, in order that the natives of +the said river might understand that his Grace would not return, +or leave the said river until he left it pacified and tranquil, +under the protection of King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign (whom may +God preserve), be ordered for this purpose a fort to be commenced +in the said village of Mindanao, on a point made by two arms of the +river, near where the fleet is anchored. [37] He ordered palm-trees +and other wood needed for it to be cut. Therefore, on this said day, +and in presence of me, the said notary, certain palm-trees were cut, +and the said fort begun. I certify thereto. Witnesses, Sergeant +Catalinaga, Tome de la Ysla, and Pedro Brizeno de Eseguera. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on this said day, month, and year +aforesaid, the said captain ordered Aquilantan, a chief of Tanae, +who accompanied his Grace, to go to the town of Silanga, situated on +the said river, to summon its chief, Dato Bahandil, the one with whom +his Grace had made peace when he ascended the river. He was to tell +him to come immediately to his Grace, who wished to discuss certain +matters with him. The said Quilantan summoned the said Bahandil, and +he came on the same day. When he and the other chiefs who accompanied +him from the same village were brought before the captain, they +were informed through Laquian, the interpreter, that his Grace had +ascended the river to the town of Balete, displaying a white flag +all along the said river, as a peace token. He had summoned the +natives of the river to make peace, as he did not come to plunder +or harm them. Although he did his utmost to make peace with them, +he could not effect it. His Grace has understood that Limasancay is +responsible for this condition of affairs. Through his cunning and +by his order, all the people have been hostile to the Spaniards, and +have abandoned their villages. He requested Dato Bahandil, since he +is the vassal and ally of his Majesty, to go or send to the village +of Buayen, where the said Limasancay is, and tell him that the said +captain did not come to rob or harm him, but only to make alliance +and peace, and that he should place himself under the dominion of +King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign (whom may God preserve), From this +much advantage would accrue to him, and he and all the other chiefs +would be dispossessed of the error in which they all are, and would +recognize their Creator, who is the only true God. Although his Grace +had many excuses for putting him to death--inasmuch as they killed +one of his Grace's Indians in the said village of Mindanao and had +discharged many arrows at the Spaniards all along the river, both +by day and night--yet he had no desire to harm them, notwithstanding +his opportunities therefor; for he could have burned their villages, +cut down their palm-trees, and seized and killed many people, and +that whenever he wished. Consequently they should understand that he +bore express command from the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de +Sande, governor of all these islands, not to harm them in any way, +and hitherto he has not done so. Should the said Limasancay refuse to +come to make peace, he should not prevent the other chiefs and natives +of this river from coming to render obedience to his Majesty. His +Grace has heard that, because Limasancay will not consent to come, +no one else dares to come to make peace. The said Dato Bahandil +having heard and understood all of the foregoing, answered that, +having had war with Limasancay and having made peace but recently, +he did not dare to go to talk with him or any other of his village; +for, if he had any trouble with him, the latter would immediately +order him to be killed. Therefore he declined to go. The said captain +asked him, since he would not go, to find some one in his village +who would go to tell the said Limasancay all the above, saying that +he would pay this man. Likewise Limasancay should be told that his +Grace was building a fort in his said village, and that he did not +intend to leave until the king should make peace. Dato Bahandil went, +saying that he would return with the answer within two days and that +he would try to despatch the said Indian to the said Limasancay. The +payment for this man was given to the said Dato Bahandil. I certify +to all the above. Witnesses, Pedro Brizeno de Eseguera, Melchor de +Torres, and Pedro de Brito. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On this said day, month, and year aforesaid, while the said captain, +in the said village of Mindanao, was holding a conference there with +the said Dato Bahandil and other chiefs of the said village--wherein +he discussed all the matters above stated, and declared--before the +said captain and in the presence of me, the said notary, and of the +greater part of the people of his fleet, a volley of poisoned arrows +was discharged from the other side of the river and fell near the said +captain and among the others. By great good fortune none of those with +the said captain were wounded. Thereupon the said chiefs, seeing this +shameless conduct of the Indians, begged and persuaded the said captain +to send men and soldiers to kill the said Indians. Persuaded by them, +he ordered some soldiers to fire a few arquebuses in the direction of +the firing of the said arrows, in order to stop further volleys. Yet +they refused to desist, and sent another volley of arrows. And +because of the excitement among the Indians engaged on the fort, +the captain ordered six soldiers and a few of his Indians to go to +the other side to try to capture an Indian, in order to ascertain +who they were and who sent them there. The said soldiers went to +execute this order, and the Indians who had fired the said arrows +began to defend themselves. Therefore the friendly Indians killed +three of them and took one prisoner. He was taken to the captain, +who ordered him to be imprisoned. I certify thereto. Witnesses, +Sergeant Catalinaga and Tome de la Ysla. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +After the above events, in the said village of Mindanao, on the +twenty-eighth of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, +Atangata, an Indian slave of Limasancay, was summoned before the +illustrious captain Graviel de Ribera, and in the presence of me, +Diego Lopez Carreno, notary, that I might take down his confession +and deposition. Upon his appearance he was interrogated thus. + +He was asked who were the people with him when he was captured, who +were shooting at the Spaniards, and at whose commission and command +they came to shoot those arrows. He said that they were fourteen +Indians who came to discharge those arrows; that some of them were +timaguas, and others slaves belonging to Limasancay, at whose order +they had come; and that they had left the town of Buayen, where the +said Limasancay is, two days ago, coming hither in barotos. + +Being asked whether the said arrows that were shot were poisoned, +in order thereby to kill the Spaniards who were in the said village, +and who gave the poison, he said that they brought it from the said +town of Buayen, and that some arrows were poisoned when they came, +and others they themselves poisoned when they were ready to use +them. The herb used was poisonous, and if any Castilian should be +wounded, he would die therefrom. + +Being asked, since he is a slave of the said Limasancay, where his +said master keeps the artillery that he brought from the village of +Samboanga (from that lost in the Portuguese galley), and that which +the said Limasancay has of his own, he declared that he knows that +he threw a large piece into the river in front and near to his house +(one brought from Samboanga), as well as another and smaller piece. The +rest of the artillery being small, he took it all with him when he +went away. These pieces consist of three very small culverins. As the +rest were large, he threw them into the river in front of his house. + +Being asked where Limasancay was hiding and why he had fled, he said +that Limasancay had gone away, through fear of the Spaniards, to the +village of Buayen, where he is with his father-in-law. Beyond that +he does not know where he is hidden. This witness was not with him, +for they took the barotos in which they came hither from the village +of Ertala, where he lived. This is what he knows of the matter, +and nothing else. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +On the twenty-eighth of the said month of March, of the year above +stated, considering that, by his confession above given, Atagayta, +the slave of Limasancay, deposed that the said artillery was in +the river in front of the house where Limasancay lived and resided, +he ordered all his Indian rowers, and those of the other vessels, +that they should look for it in the river at low tide, at that point +where the said Indian signified that they were. His Grace ordered +them to look for it, saying that he who should find it would be +given and paid one-half tae of gold. Accordingly they began to look +for the said artillery, and found, in the said river in front of the +houses where the said Limasancay generally lives, one large piece, +from the artillery found in Samboanga; one small culverin, one small +grappling-iron, and three googings of the anchor, two of these broken +and one whole. His Grace ordered all these to be brought ashore, +giving the Indian who discovered them the one-half tae of gold. I, +the present notary, testify thereto. Witnesses, Ensign de Arteaga +and Pedro de Oseguera. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez Carreno_, notary of the fleet + +On the twenty-ninth of the said month of March, the said captain +ordered the said Indians to search the said river for the other +pieces; and, as on the preceding day, his Grace said that he who +found any piece would be paid and rewarded. Accordingly many of the +Indian rowers searched throughout the whole river, but found no other +pieces, nor anything beyond what was found the previous day. I testify +thereto. Witnesses, Tome de la Ysla and Pedro de Brito. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Diego Lopez_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the thirtieth of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain +Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry for his Majesty and of the +fleet and troops who came to pacify this river and the villages of +this island and the island of Jolo, by order of the very illustrious +governor and captain-general of these islands, declared that, inasmuch +as his Grace has arrested Diego Lopez Carreno, notary, hitherto of +this fleet for necessary reasons, and as it is necessary to appoint +another person to exercise the said office and to act as notary of the +said fleet: in consideration of the ability and capacity of Benito +de Mediola, a soldier of this fleet, and as he has confidence that +he will perform his duty thoroughly and faithfully, said that he +appointed, and he did appoint him, as notary of the said fleet. He +ordered him to accept it with the formality and oath required by +law. I, the said Benito de Mendiola, being present, placed my hand +on a sign of the cross which the captain made with his right hand, +and swore before God and on the said cross, and promised to exercise +the said office of notary faithfully, legally, and diligently, under +pain of incurring the penalties incurred by those who do not exercise +their duties legally, and to keep secrets. I affix my signature, +together with the captain--who, when he saw my oath and formality, +said that he gave me complete power in form of law to exercise the said +office, and said that he would confirm by his authority and judicial +decree the acts that were executed before me, so that they should be +valid in court or out of it. Witnesses, Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, +Juan de Avila, and Don Sebastian de Baeca, soldiers. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirtieth day of the month of +March of the said year, Dato Bahandil, chief of the said village of +Silanga, appeared before the said captain, and said that, in obedience +to his Grace's orders in regard to the messenger that should be sent +to the said Limasancay, he sent yesterday, the twenty-ninth day of +this present month, an Indian timagua from his village accompanied +by four Indians, in a baroto. He gave these men the payment that +his Grace had given him for this purpose. He told and charged them +all that his Grace had ordered to be told to the said Limasancay and +other chiefs. He expects a reply within three days. + +Being asked by the said Laquidan, interpreter, how it is that, being +hostile to the said Limasancay, as he says, he does not know where +he is and where he is living, Dato Bahandil answered that the said +Limasancay is fleeing with one virey and ten vancas. From fear of the +Spaniards he never remains in one town permanently but is in one swamp +today and another tomorrow. This he declared before the witnesses, +Sergeant Catalinaga and Juan Davila. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the said +month of March, Sihauil, a friendly Indian of Dato Bahandil's town, +appeared before the said captain and in the presence of me, the present +notary. Through the said interpreter, Laquian, he told the said captain +that, if he would pay him, he would tell him where was the other +large piece of artillery brought by Limasancay from the said village +of Samboanga. He asked them not to tell Limasancay who had told them, +lest he order him to be killed. The captain bargained with the said +Indian in my presence to pay him three taes of ingot [_linguague_] +gold, which was proved with the touchstone, according to the said +law; and they were weighed out and given to him immediately. Then +many of the Indians and soldiers went to look for the said piece, +and dragged a small marsh, which is covered by the river at high tide, +quite near the fort built by order of the said captain. They found a +bronze piece of artillery bearing the arms of the king of Portugal, +apparently some seven or eight quintals in weight. The said captain +ordered it placed on one of the fragatas--that commanded by Lope de +Catalinaga. And although many people looked for other pieces throughout +that entire swamp, no more were found. I certify thereto. Witnesses, +Pedro Brizeno de Eseguera, Diego Nunez, and Ensign Melchor de Torres. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, the thirty-first +of March of the said year, the said captain, considering that, by +reason of the long voyage and bad weather, and the great lack of all +kinds of food in the fleet, because of his long stay; and seeing how +much was needed if he accomplish the purpose for which the governor +despatched him on this expedition, and the said hunger and want; and +that he could not by any method secure provisions in all this river: +therefore he ordered that certain of those captured Indians, natives +of this country, be set to making _landan_, [38] a food eaten in that +river. For this purpose he ordered a great quantity of palm-trees, +of the sort that produces the said landan, to be cut; and they began +to work it and to make the said landan, and it is being made for the +above-named purpose. He ordered me, the present notary, also to set +down the above in the proceedings; and he affixed his signature. I, +the present notary, attest the same. Witnesses, Lope de Catalinaga, +Pedro de Eseguera, and many other soldiers. Likewise I certify that +it takes four days to make the said landan. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the month +of March of the said year, Sibandao, a chief of this village, said to +be a cousin of the petty king Limasancay, with Sinago, Siligan, a chief +of this said village, and many other timagua Indians, appeared before +the said captain and in the presence of me, the present notary, and of +witnesses. They told the said captain through the interpreter Laquian, +that they wished to become allies of the Castilians. They were received +by the captain with great display of affection. He regaled them, +embraced them, and showed them in every way kind treatment. Through +the said interpreter he told them of the advantage that would accrue +to them from becoming allies and vassals of King Don Ffelipe, our +sovereign, and how they would be protected and favored. He told +and informed them that they were deceived by their idols and that +they should believe in one all-powerful God, who created heaven and +earth--three persons but one sole and true God--in whom we all believe; +and they were very attentive to this. He told them that, as allies, +the governor of these islands would send them priests to instruct them +in the Catholic faith. He told them also, through the said interpreter, +that he was sorry that the said Limasancay had fled and was absent; +for his Grace came, not to rob or injure them, but to secure their +alliance and peace and to teach them the said Catholic faith. Such +were the orders of the said governor. He requested them urgently to +go to tell this to the king. They replied that they did not dare, +for the said Limasancay was evilly inclined; but if his father were +alive they would go. They were unable to pay any tribute in gold or +wax now, as their Indians had fled; but they would give some food +from their stores, equivalent to forty tributes. Then the above-named +chiefs departed, promising to bring this food within three days. + +Witnesses, Pedro Brizeno de Eseguera, Tome de la Ysla, and Ensign +Melchor de Torres. + +_Gabriel de Rivera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of +April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious +Gabriel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and people who +came to pacify this river and that of Jolo by order of the governor +of these islands, said that, whereas the majority of the Spaniards of +this fleet have told him that many Spaniards and Indian rowers of this +fleet are daily becoming sick, and that he should provide the necessary +remedy therefor, in order to avoid the danger that might ensue, +as his Grace knows the nature of the land and its unhealthfulness: +therefore he ordered Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, accompanied by the +present notary, to go to see and visit the said sick both Spaniards and +Indians. He ordered us to give him full information regarding it and to +make attestation regarding the sick, so that it might be evident that +his Grace has had and has exercised the requisite care and diligence +in everything. This he ordered and affixed his signature thereto. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon the said sergeant, Lope de Catalinaga, and I, the present +notary, went to the fragata of the said captain, where we visited, and +saw, in two beds, Francisco Gomez and Bartolome Ruiz, both soldiers, +and in another Ensign Diego de Arteaga. They complained of fever, +and their appearance bore out this statement. We found also in the +flagship, six Indian Moros, rowers, who were sick; and their appearance +showed it. As witnesses to all the above were Melchor de Medrano and +Juanes de Yracabal. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon the said sergeant Lope de Catalinaga and I, the +present notary, went to the vessel commanded by Juan Rodriguez de +Norvega. There we saw in one bed the said Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, +and in another Pedro de Brito. Both of them complained of sickness--the +said Juan Rodriguez of a very bad abscess in the leg, and the said +Pedro de Brito of a violent fever; and their appearance confirmed +their complaints. We saw also in the said vessel Juan de Leon, +a soldier and Anton Martin, a sailor sick with chills and fever, +as was evident from their appearance. Further in this same vessel, +Diego de Anaya, a soldier, is sick with fever, as is evident. In the +same vessel are nine sick Indians, from among the rowers. Witnesses +of this were Juan de Avila and Goncalo Ruiz, a soldier. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then the said sergeant Lope de Catalinaga and I, the present notary, +went to the ship commanded by Francisco Velasquez. There were the +said Francisco Velazquez and Miguel Nunez in one bed. They complained +of sickness, and their appearance proved it. Ten Indian rowers were +sick in this vessel, as their appearance proved. Witnesses to this +were Juan Lopez, Melchor de Medrano. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the virey commanded by San Juan de +Cavala. We found there sick the said San Juan de Cavala and Gonzalo +de Villanueva, as their appearance proved. Eight Indian rowers are +sick in this vessel. Witnesses, Bernabe Cortes and Miguel Godines. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went to the virey commanded by Francisco Rodriguez de +Salamanca. We found sick there the said Francisco Rodriguez +de Salamanca and Miguel Romero, as was very evident from +their appearance. There are three Indian rowers sick on this +vessel. Witnesses, Bernabe Cortes and Miguel Godines. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the viroco commanded by Alonso +Pimentel. There the said Pimentel, Juan Ortuno de Onate, and +Diego Carrion appeared to be sick, and such was evident from their +appearance. Eleven Indian rowers are sick in this vessel. To this +were witnesses, Diego Nunez and Tomas Dato. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the vessel in command of Tome de la +Ysla. There were ten Indian rowers sick there, and their appearance +proved it. In this vessel Miguel Rodriguez has been sick more than +one week. Witnesses, Marcos Quenta [?] and Pedro de Arana. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the vessel used to carry provisions from +the flagship. There are four Indian rowers sick in it, besides Pedro +Lopez, a Spaniard, and their appearance proved it. Witnesses, Domingo +de Santurcio and Francisco Quenta [?]. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Then we went immediately to the fragata commanded by the said sergeant, +Lope de Catalinaga. In it appeared to be sick eight Indian rowers, +and their aspect proved it. Witnesses, Domingo de Santurcio and +Francisco Quenta [?]. + +_Lope de Catalinaga_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of April, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said captain, in the +presence of me, the present notary, and of witnesses, asked Dato +Bahandil, chief of the village of Silangan, how many people there +are in all this river, and in the lake and coast of this island; +and the names of the villages, and the number of inhabitants in each +one. The above Bahandil, through the said interpreters Laquian and +Miguel Godines, made the following declaration. + +In his own village, Silangan, there are about two hundred Indians, +counting slaves and timaguas; in the village of Sinurey, two hundred; +in the village of Caracan, one hundred; in Catituan, one hundred +and fifty; Vindanao, seven hundred; Vitala, one hundred and thirty; +Vinuruan, four hundred; Lucon, one hundred and sixty; Tanpacan, +one thousand; Atalayan, seventy; Burruan, two hundred; Balabaca, +seventy; Caburundan, one hundred; Macapan, eighty; Corocoan, one +hundred and forty; Buayen, eight hundred; Tuoca, one hundred; Balete, +one thousand; Batunan, one hundred; Baluaquen, one hundred; Ybalen, +one hundred and eighty; Tolendin, six hundred; Salunbun, one hundred; +Quibaca, two hundred; Cacaren, two hundred and fifty; Matinguaguanen, +four hundred; Cabacan, one hundred and eighty; Bagaygaran, one hundred +and forty. Total, seven thousand nine hundred and fifty. + +The said Dato Bahandil declared that all the above villages were on +the said river, swamps, and lake of this province of Mindanao. He said +that a river called Ytilurey flowed into this lake, [39] which comes +from the mountains of Butuan and Caragan, and it has places where +gold is washed. When he was asked how much gold each person could +wash daily, he said that he had not seen it, but he had heard that +they got sometimes one-half a tae, and from that down to six, four, +or two maes. This river contains six thousand men, and near by is +another branch of the river called Dumanen with about seven hundred +Indians. From the said river of Esirey is another branch called Sula +with about one thousand Indians living at its confluence with the large +river which flows into the lake. There is a settlement called Megatan, +under a chief Cacopi, with two thousand men. It is near the junction +of the three branches, which form a cross. This lake is about one-half +league wide. In summer it dries up and is then full of sedges. In the +rainy season it is quite full of water. From this river of Mindanao +to the tingues [mountains], whence flows the said river of Tirurey, +it is a twenty days' journey up the lake. + +He was asked how many people the coast of this said river of Mindanao +contained. He said that a day's journey along the shore of this river +by which we came is a province called Tabungao. It has about three +thousand Indians, who harvest a great quantity of rice. They live +inland a distance of four leagues. Farther on and adjacent to this +province is another settlement, called the province of Picon. It has +one thousand five hundred Indians, who are well supplied with food. + +Along the coast two days' journey eastward, is a settlement called +Bilan. It is a river with gold mines. He says that along the entire +river dwell ten thousand Ytingues [mountaineers] Indians who are not +settled, and that they are at peace with a village at the mouth of the +river, called Canipaan. With all others they are at war. The people +are very rich. All the rest of the coast is settled by Lutaos. [40] + +The chief food of the river of Mindanao is landan, which is made from +certain palm-trees very abundant in that land, called buri. After +soaking this substance they make from it a sort of flour which is their +food. For this reason they do not sow much rice although they have +rice-fields. The rice harvest is in October and November. They have +exceedingly large palm-groves and abundance of cocoanuts both green +and dry; also many swine, which are as large as those in Castilla. The +bar is covered with three to four brazas of water, or four at full +tide. Upon entering there is a good depth of water all the way to +the lake, a distance of eighteen leagues. This is the deposition of +the said Dato Bahandil, and what he has seen hitherto. The captain +signed it; and Francisco Gomez, Lope de Catalinaga, and many other +soldiers were witnesses. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said river of Mindanao, on the second day of the month of April +of the said year, an Indian said to be a native of the village of Dato +Bahandil of this river, appeared before the said captain Gabriel de +Ribera, and before me, the present notary, and witnesses. Through +the interpreter Laquian, he said that his name was Simangary and +that he was one of the messengers despatched in accordance with the +captain's orders by the said Dato Bahandil, with the reward given him, +in order to confer and treat with Limasancay and his people, as is +contained in the above record. In regard to this, he deposed that +he went in a baroto with four Indians to the village of Tanpacan, +where he found Dato Sibatala, to whom he related the object of his +journey. The said Dato Sibatala told him that he did not care to +be the ally of the Castilians, even should they burn the natives' +houses and cut down their palm-trees. He told him also not to go +farther for the purpose of talking with the said Limasancay; for, +if he knew that Simangary was coming from the lord of the Castilians, +he would behead him. Upon this he returned to notify the captain. The +latter ordered it set down in the records and signed it. Witnesses, +Joan Lopez, Francisco Velazquez, and many other soldiers. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, month, and year, the +said Siligan, a chief, appeared before the said captain, and brought +as tribute, to apply on what he was to give, five tributes of rice, +two bundles of tortoise-shell; three dishes, and two _medrinaque_ +robes, one green and the other white. + +This same day Dato Bahandil brought to apply on the tributes +to be given by him, sixty _chicubetillos_ of landan, five hogs, +and six fowls. The captain took it all, and ordered the food to be +apportioned among the fleet. Witnesses, Alonso Pimentel, Francisco +Gomez, Francisco Velazquez. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said day, the second of +April, of the said year, the said captain, after receiving the answer +brought by the man who went to talk with Limasancay, ordered Pedro +Brizeno de Oseguera, in the presence of many Indians of this river +who have made peace, to embark in the virey commanded by Francisco +Rodriguez de Salamanca in order to go to the channel to look for food +for the fleet. To exchange therefor, he was given dishes, gold, and +_tacley_. He was to inform the said Indians through the interpreters +that his Grace was sending the above vessel and the Spaniards who +accompanied him to the town of Cubu for men to settle in this village, +and for food. He ordered it to be set down in the records. Witnesses, +Lope de Catalinaga, Juan Lopez de Queto, and others. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on the second day of the said +month of April of the said year, Simagao, an Indian chief of this +settlement of Mindanao, who claimed to be a relative of the petty +king Limasancay, together with many other timaguas and native Indians, +appeared before the said captain and in the presence of me, the notary, +and of witnesses. Through the said interpreter, Laquian, he said that +he wished to become the ally of the Castilians. The captain regaled +him and treated him hospitably. He told them what, advantage they +would derive in becoming vassals of his Majesty, informing him, as he +had hitherto told all the others, that he would be very glad to see +the said Limasancay. He told them that if the said Limasancay would +come, he would not be required to pay tribute for this year. He asked +Simagao what they would give as a token of recognition. They answered +that they had no gold, but would give provisions, such as they had, +to the value of fourteen tributes. Thereupon the said captain showed +them all hospitality and affection. Witnesses were Alonso Pimentel, +Tome de la Ysla, and other soldiers. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the said village of Mindanao, on this said second day of April of +this year, the said Simagao, chief of this river, appeared before the +said captain, and before me, the notary, and witnesses. The captain, +asked him why--since he was an ally of the Spaniards and was a chief, +and saw that so kind treatment was accorded to all who made peace and +placed themselves under the protection of his Majesty, as had been +done to himself and the others--he did not talk to the other chiefs +who had not come to do the same. The said Simagao answered, through +the said interpreter Silaquian, that he had talked to another chief +named Silitula, who had answered that he did not care for peace, as +he had no gold for tribute. He had told him that we desired gold. The +said captain told him, through the said interpreter, that he did not +come to levy tribute beyond what the chief himself should choose to +give as a token of putting himself under the protection of King Don +Ffelipe, our sovereign. This he did to all his allies. Thereupon the +said chief went away. Witnesses, Ensign Melchor de Torres, Juan Lopez, +and Francisco Velazquez. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the fourth day of the said month of +April, of the said year, Taganchina, a chief, who claimed to be from +Catituan, a town of this river, came, and appeared before the said +captain and me, the present notary, and witnesses. Through Miguel +Godines, the interpreter, he said that he wished to become the ally +of the Castilians and to enroll himself under the protection of his +Majesty--himself and his Indians, both timaguas and slaves. Many +Indians from his village came with him. The said captain received him +very kindly and informed him of the great gain that would accrue to him +in becoming his Majesty's vassal, telling him among other things of the +[Catholic] faith, of which he had told the others. He listened with +attention and said that he would assemble his people and give what he +could in recognition and tribute. The said captain told him to give +what he pleased. He tried to induce him to confer with Limasancay to +persuade the latter to make peace, discussing in detail all that he +had told the other chiefs. These Indians went away, promising to return +tomorrow. Witnesses, Juan Lopez de Queto, Tome de la Ysla, and others. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godinez_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the sixth day of the month of April +of the said year, Sibahandil, chief of the village of Silangay; +Simangao, of this village of Mindanao; Simaganchina, of Catiman; and +Sibandao, chief of this village, appeared before the captain and me, +the notary, and witnesses, The said Bahandil gave an account of the +tribute he had promised--two hundred _yrcuvitillos_ of landan, each +of them about one ganta; [41] and ten swine, large and small. The said +Sibandao brought two hogs, and twenty tributes in rice, and medrinaque +cloth, and two dishes from China, as tribute; for he gave nothing +else. The said Sibangao gave four tributes in rice, each tribute of +one _chicuvite_. The said Mahanchina gave twelve tributes in dishes as +above mentioned. They said, through the said interpreter, that their +reason for not coming before and not bringing tribute more fully was +because of the great poverty that they were undergoing--since all the +natives were in revolt and were suffering severely from famine, as +they were all unwilling to come for peace. They asked pardon for their +inability to do more. If they were at their own homes, they would pay +more. The captain ordered it put down thus in the records. Witnesses, +Francisco Velazquez, Ensign Melchor de Torres, Juan Lopez de Queto. + +_Grabiel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the village of Mindanao, on the sixth day of the month of April, +one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Gabriel +de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and men sent to +pacify this island and that of Jolo by the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general of these islands +for his Majesty, made the following declaration. Inasmuch as his +Grace has remained twenty-four days in this river and has done all +that is declared in the records above, during all of which time he +has striven to make peace and alliance with the petty king Limasancay +and his chiefs, exercising for this purpose the utmost possible care, +committing no injury--although indeed he has had much excuse therefor; +and has contrived to have messengers sent to the said Limasancay, +in order to confer with him, but the latter refused to talk, nor does +anyone care to take a message to him, for they assert that they would +be beheaded; and, besides, since Limasancay prevents his chiefs from +coming to make peace; and although some chiefs have come to make peace +and enroll themselves under his Majesty's protection (as, for instance, +the chiefs of Silangay of this village of Mindanao and of Catituan), +they do not pay us the tribute promised; and some of those who come +bring two or three tributes of articles of little value, or of no +importance, which is an ill way of amusing us, and of no advantage; +and having seen the great need and lack of food suffered by the entire +fleet, because of the long voyage and severe storms that they have +experienced; and because of the many sick--each day both Spaniards and +Indian rowers falling ill, because of the unhealthful climate of the +land, and the lack of all food, except rice--and very little of that, +on many days having only one ration a day, to all the people, both +Bisayans and Moros; and considering the long voyage ahead of them, +and the amount of work that must still be done in order to obey his +Lordship's commands; and having no certain assurance of provisions--as +this island is so short of them; and although his Grace sent Pedro +de Oseguera with gold and articles of barter six days ago to search +for food, still he is not sure that he has found it: therefore he +said that he ordered, and he did order, all the vessels of this +fleet to prepare to cross the bar, in order to make the voyage. His +Grace ordered that a copy of a letter written in the Moro tongue, +to the said Limasancay be placed in these records, so that it might +be manifest. He signed the above. Witnesses, Francisco Velazquez, +Tome de la Ysla, and Lope de Catalinaga + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In fulfilment of the above order of the said captain, I, the present +notary, caused to be made and did make, a copy of the letter written by +order of the said captain to Limasancay, which was first written in a +rough draft, so that the essentials of the said letter might therein +be set down. It was written in the Moro language by the interpreter +Laquian, an Indian Moro, who can write in the said tongue. In order +that the said Laquian might write the said letter, it was explained +to him by Miguel Godines, Spanish interpreter. Its tenor is as follows: + +To Limasancay, the panguilan who is lord over this river and the +environs of Mindanao: I came to this river by order of the very +illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general +of the islands of Lucon, the Pintados, and the other islands, which he +governs and rules for King Don Ffelipe, our sovereign, king of Castilla +(whom may God preserve during many years). He ordered me to come to +treat with you for the alliance that your father Sulatan so earnestly +desired with the Castilians; to enroll you under the protection of the +said king, our sovereign; and to warn you of the great error under +which you and all the natives of this island are living because you +do not know your Creator--who is three persons yet the one and only +true God who created all men, the heavens, and the earth--so that, +believing on Him, you might merit the enjoyment of the heaven that He +created for those who believe and serve Him. At the entrance of this +river I met Umapas, a slave of yours, who told me that he was going +with a letter and message from you to the said governor, wherein +you say that you wish to be his ally. In acknowledgment, you were +sending two daggers and two cakes of wax. I ordered him to return to +you, in order to tell you that I was coming for the purposes above; +and that you should not flee or have any fear, for I was not coming, +nor had I commission, to molest you in any way. But the said Umapas +answered that he did not dare go upon this embassy for you would behead +him. Likewise I sent to you one day prior to this two of your slaves +(whom I seized on the sea in a ship), that they might advise you of +my coming and that you should have no fear. You refused however to +observe this; and not only have you fled and revolted, but you have +caused the entire district and its chiefs to revolt. They desire to +have peace with the Castilians and to be under the protection of +the said king, our sovereign. But you have counseled them evilly; +for, like a stripling, you do not know the blessings and advantages +which you are losing, and which would be yours if you became the +ally of the Castilians and placed yourself under the control of +the said governor, both for your own and your land's tranquillity, +and for your soul's salvation. Now this is the twenty-fourth day of +this my stay in this river, without having injured you in any way, +although I had good warrant therefor, and during which time I ascended +the river of Balete in search of you, and then returned to this your +village. Thence I sent messengers to tell you the above, none of whom +have returned with a reply from you or have dared to talk with you. Now +I am going to the island of Jolo to confer with its chief. I request +you urgently to consider well what I have said for it concerns you +much. I shall await your reply at Cavite and shall be able to receive +it within twelve days. May God give you grace to come to His knowledge. + +Your friend, _Gabriel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +This said letter in the above form written in the Moro speech and +signed by the said captain before me, the said notary and before +witnesses, was given and delivered on this day, the sixth of April of +this year, to Sibandao, an Indian chief of this town, so that he might +give it to the said Limasancay. Sibandao, through the said interpreter, +offered to take it and deliver it to Limasancay. In order that it might +appear in the records, this copy was inserted. The said captain and +the said interpreter signed it. Witnesses were Francisco Velazquez, +Lope de Catalina, and Juan Lopez de Queto. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Miguel Godines_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +This is a well and faithfully executed copy of a commission given to +Lope de Catalinaga by the illustrious captain, Gabriel de Ribera, +who comes to pacify these islands of Mindanao and Jolo, by order +of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty's +council and governor and captain-general of these islands. Its tenor +is as follows: + +I, Grabiel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet and people +who come to pacify the islands of Jolo and Bindanao, at the order +of the very illustrious governor and captain-general for his Majesty +of these islands: Inasmuch as the instructions of the said governor +ordered me to send some one from the town of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus +to pacify the river and tingues [mountains] of Butuan; and considering +how much we may shorten the long voyage by going from this district +of Cavite instead of from the said town, and that we have here ships +and rowers suitable for this undertaking--therefore in the name of his +Majesty I entrust the said expedition to Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga. I +order him to go as leader for the said pacification with fifteen +soldiers besides himself. I order him to go with the said soldiers +to the said river and tingues of Butuan to pacify the said people in +the tingues. He shall try to render them obedient to his Majesty, +making the best possible terms of peace by means of interpreters +whom he is taking. From the natives of the said tingues, when they +are pacified, he shall have power to collect such tribute as in all +fairness can be collected from them. As he has the matter in hand, +he shall do what is most convenient in this. Having collected the +tribute, he shall keep one-half of it very carefully, as it belongs +to his Majesty. The other half, according to his Lordship's orders, +shall be divided among his soldiers, according to custom. Everything +that shall be done upon this expedition shall be attested by notary; +and I authorize him to appoint one, before whom shall be transacted +all the proceedings necessary, so that an account may be rendered of +everything. I order all his soldiers to regard, consider, and obey +him as their leader, and observe his orders, under such penalties +as he may inflict. Given in Cavite on the fourteenth of April, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ + +By order of the captain: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Collated with the original: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port of Cavite, on the fourteenth of April, one thousand +five hundred and seventy-nine, after his arrival at this port, the +illustrious Gabriel de Ribera, captain of infantry and of the fleet +and people who came to pacify the islands of Mindanao and Jolo, +by order of the very illustrious governor of these islands, saw in +this port three vessels manned with Joloans. These vessels contained +about fifty persons from the said island of Jolo. The said captain +summoned them to his presence, and through the said interpreters, +Laquian and Miguel Godines, asked them who they were. They replied +that, when the captain was going to the river of Mindanao, he had sent +a Boholan Indian to notify them to collect the tribute, as the said +captain would come for it on his return. Therefore they, as soon as +they heard this, went thither to confer with the said captain. The +said captain asked them why they had left their village, and [had +not] collected their tribute, since he had sent to tell them that +they should have it ready; whereupon they all answered with one +voice that the chief named Rasea had gone to Borney, four months +ago, with a galliot and four vireys full of people, to the number of +about three hundred. These had gone with the said chief to settle in +Borney. Those left were about two hundred men, who were all reduced +to despair through the great famine which they are suffering and have +suffered since Esteban Rodriguez was in their village, and because +of the damage inflicted upon them by the said Esteban Rodriguez. The +said Esteban Rodriguez had told them that they would not be assessed +tribute for two years. For this reason the people had gone to look for +food in other islands. They had collected fifty-seven tributes, which +they brought, with the request that his Grace would not go to the said +village of Jolo because of the severe famine there; if he did, they +must all abandon it. The said captain asked them if they had caught +the elephants as the said captain Esteban Rodriguez had ordered and +which they had promised to his Lordship. They said they knew nothing +of this and that if elephants had been promised, it was by Raja Yloi; +but he had gone to Borney and it was impossible for them to catch any +alive. The said captain went outside secretly, and informed himself, +through the said interpreters, from the Boholan who had been sent, +and from the people of this port of Cavite, regarding the famine from +which the said Indians asserted they were suffering. These declared +that it was very well known and true, and was current talk on this +coast, that the said Raja Ylo had gone to Borney with the people above +mentioned; and that, in the opinion of the people who came from the +island of Jolo, there will be much famine in the future. They are a +poor people and in need of food. All of them begged among the ships +of the fleet, and in the Spanish tongue, that, for the love of God, +_humay_ be given them for they are hungry. It was seen that they gave +their weapons and clothes in exchange for rice. Thereupon the captain +ordered the tributes brought by them, as they said, to be placed +before him. They brought some robes, daggers, dishes, and articles +of slight value and price, and cloth of their land, but no gold or +silver. When the said captain saw how slight was the tribute and that +it was in almost worthless articles, and as he had heard that there +was a large field-piece in the village of Jolo, taken from the lost +galley, he said that, since they did not have the tribute collected +and were so pressed by dire need, he would have pity and not take +the tribute, on condition that they would give the said piece. They +said they would all assemble and discuss this, and they asked the +said captain to await them there until they returned to Jolo. His +Grace told them that this would trouble him considerably because of +his great lack of food; but that he would send Pedro de Oseguera in +a fragata to bring back the said piece, and to ascertain whether they +had told him the truth. Thereupon that very night he ordered the said +Pedro de Oseguera to get ready and embark with ten soldiers in the +said fragata. He was to go to the said island of Jolo and examine +the people and their settlement and ascertain their need of food. He +was to take note of everything, charging his men to act cautiously, +and was not to land or molest the natives. The said Pedro de Oseguera +left that night to execute this commission, in order to take back +the tributes that the said natives had brought, and took them. + +Witnesses, Francisco Velazquez, Juan Davila, Melchor de Torres, +and many other soldiers. + +Before me: + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port of Cavite, on the nineteenth day of the month of April of +the said year, Pagalugan and other chiefs and timaguas of the island +of Taguima [Basilan] appeared before the said captain in the presence +of me, the notary, and of witnesses. They said that they brought to +his Grace, in recognition of tribute (for they knew the fleet needed +food), twenty fowls, twenty pieces of colored medrinaque, three hogs, +and one _chivanta_ of wax in four pieces. They said that they had paid +their tribute to Juan Lopez de Aguirre in civet-cats, fowls, swine, +goats, and cloth. They came also to find out to whom they must pay the +tribute hereafter, and how much they must pay. The captain asked how +many people they were and how they could pay their tribute. Through +the said interpreters they replied that they could pay their tribute in +wax, civet-cats, tortoise-shell, and colored cloth. With the tinguianes +[mountaineers] they number about one thousand men more or less. Upon +this day the captain, seeing the fleet's need of food and the slight +prospects for getting any, ordered all the said vessels of this fleet +to return to the town of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus. + +Witnesses, Melchor de Torres, Francisco Gomes, +and others. + +Before me: + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the port called Dapitan, on the twenty-third day of the month of +April of the said year, Pedro de Osegura, whom his Grace had sent +to the island of Jolo, as above recorded, and who arrived at this +port today with the men and fragata that he had taken, appeared +before the said captain, and in the presence of me, the notary, +and of witnesses. He said that, in fulfilment of his Grace's orders, +he had gone to the said island of Jolo. He anchored at the mouth of +the river there, for four days. As soon as he arrived he summoned the +chiefs. They came, and through the said interpreter Laquian he learned +from them that Raja Ylo, with the Indians of the island--three hundred +men, and their women-with his wives, children, slaves, and all his +possessions, had gone to settle in Borney. He [Oseguera] tried also +to learn who had remained, whether they had a famine, as reported. He +was told that not more than one hundred and forty Indians remained +and that, they were suffering a most severe famine. He ordered them +to bring the piece that was said to be inland. In three hours they +brought one to him, and he brought it hither in his fragata. It +seems to be of about twelve or thirteen quintals' weight. Thinking +that they were lying in regard to the people and their poverty, +he insisted upon asking them for the tribute, telling them that +everyone who becomes his Majesty's vassal, pays that recognition, +as a return for his Majesty's expenses in his fleets. They showed +so great poverty, and were so little able to give anything, that, +although he had the chiefs on his vessel and sent them to notify all +the Indians of the land that they must bring tribute in three days, +not forty Indians came with tribute--and that was in dishes, cloth, +and articles of but little worth. The chiefs told him to go ashore +and see for himself that there were no more people. Consequently he +bargained with an Indian, a timagua of the said island (the one who +had owned the said cannon), as he learned that the Indian had traded +for it with others; and gave back to them the fifty-seven tributes +given them by the captain. Then he returned to the fleet. This was +his declaration, and he affixed his signature thereto. Witnesses, +Juan Davila and Francisco Gomez. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +Thereupon, upon this said day, Pedro de Oseguera declared before +the said captain that the said Indians of Jolo had given, in token +of tribute, forty-three tributes, consisting of two tacs of gold, +nineteen pieces of colored medrinaque, and eight tributes in dishes, +a total of forty-three--besides the fifty-seven that were taken on +account for the piece. The full total is one hundred, and he delivered +them to the the captain. Witnesses, the above-named persons. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_ + +Before me: + +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the town of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, on the eighth day of +the month of May, of the said year, the said captain said that, +inasmuch as his Lordship, the governor of these islands, ordered in +the instructions given him for the said expedition that one-half +of the tributes be given to his Grace's soldiers and the other +half to his Majesty; and having seen the small amount collected +and its little value, and the great lack in this town of food for +this fleet: therefore he ordered that all the tributes of cloth and +gold be delivered over and divided among the four ships commanded +by Francisco Velazquez, Tome de la Ysla, Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, +and Alonso Pimentel, respectively. He ordered that it be inspected in +order to make a note thereof. There were forty-four pieces of colored +medrinaque and forty maes of gold. Therefore each ship received +eleven pieces of cloth and ten maes of gold, which was delivered to +the above officers, and they gave receipts for it. Witnesses were +[Juan Lopez de] Queto, Francisco del Castillo [MS. illegible]. The +captain affixed his signature. + +_Gabriel de Ribera_ +_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet + +In the city of Manila on the tenth day of the month of June, one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the very illustrious Doctor +Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty in +these islands of the West, after examining these records, ordered that +I, the said notary, make two copies of them all, signed and attested, +so that they may have authority. I was ordered to give and deliver +them to him, to be sent wherever was most fitting for his Majesty's +service. In each one of them he said that he would sanction them, and +he did thus sanction by his authority and judicial decree, so that +they may be valid and have credibility in court or out of court. He +affixed thereto his signature. + +_Doctor Francisco de Sande_ + +And I, Alonso Beltran, notary of his royal Majesty and of the +government of the Filipinas islands of the West, was present at the +above proceeding. I had him affix his signature and affixed my own +in testimony of truth. + +_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary + +_[Endorsed at beginning_: "Testimony and proceedings in regard to +the expeditions to Burney, Jolo, and Mindanao which were made during +the past year (seventy-eight) and this one (seventy-nine) by command +of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and +captain-general of the Philipinas Islands of the West. These papers +are forwarded for his Majesty and his royal Council of the Indies."] + + + +Appointments to Vacancies in Manila Cathedral + +The king. [42] To our governor of the Filipinas islands. When we +heard that there were not sufficient tithes for the support of four +prebendaries in the cathedral church which is to be erected in those +islands, we ordered you in our decree of the thirteenth day of July +of the past year 1579, to give them from our treasury a competent +stipend, which was to be in proportion to the amount yielded by the +said tithes. Now the said bishop has reported that, in case the said +prebends or other benefices which were to be established in the said +church become vacant, it would be necessary to defer the appointment of +other persons thereto until orders could be despatched from here; and +thus the said church would remain without the divine service. In view +of this inconvenience, he petitions us to give orders that, whenever +dignities, canonries, and other benefices of the said church become +vacant, they shall immediately be filled by other worthy persons, +with the same stipends as those received by their predecessors; +or to order what else is our pleasure. With the approval of our +Council of the Indies, we favor this; and therefore order you that, +whenever the said dignities, canonries, and other benefices of the +cathedral church in those islands shall become vacant, you fill them +with competent persons of the required rank, who shall serve in the +place of those through whom the vacancy occurs, at the same stipend +as that received by their predecessors, until we make our appointments. + +_I, The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: + +_Antonio de Eraso_ + + + +Letter from Ronquillo de Penalosa to Felipe II + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +This city has begged me to inform your Majesty about three things +solicited by the citizens. May your Majesty command accordingly by +a royal decree addressed to me, in order that I may inform them if +these things are fitting for the service of your Majesty. + +First, that your Majesty may have me informed whether it is convenient +that this city be the capital of this government. At present it is the +largest city, has the largest population, and is the best governed in +this kingdom. It is well situated, so that from it the governor may +easily reach the settlements in these islands. Although the place is +unhealthful, it would nevertheless for the present be convenient that +this city be the capital of this government and the headquarters of +the governor. + +As to whether the repartimientos of the Indians should be made +permanent, I will say that at present such a course would be by no +means beneficial to your royal service, as it would cause the soldiers +to lose the hope of being rewarded for their services. Those who are +now here would not serve and no others would come to this land. + +Touching the granting of estates to this city, there is exceeding need +of them, as this city has none belonging to it by which any necessary +works may be carried out. Nevertheless I do not know whence the land +can be taken without causing much damage. The vacant repartimientos +are very necessary to reward the many persons who have served, and +who complain with reason that the royal estate is always increasing, +and yet it has many debts. May your Majesty provide for everything +according to your pleasure. May our Lord guard your royal Catholic +Majesty, and increase your Majesty's kingdoms, as we your servants +desire. Manila, July seventeenth, of the year 1581. Catholic Royal +Majesty, your Majesty's most humble servant, who kisses the royal +hands and feet, + +_Don Goncillo Rronquillo de Penalosa_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Seen. An answer is unnecessary."] + + + +Ordinance Restricting Departure from the Islands + +At the city of Manila, in the Filipinas, islands of the West, on the +second day of the month of March of the year one thousand five hundred +and eighty-two, the most illustrious Don Goncalo Ronquillo de Penalosa, +governor and captain-general for his Majesty of these said islands, +said that, inasmuch as he had been informed that about three years ago +Fray Pedro de Alfaro, custodian of the descalced religious of the order +of St. Francis, had left these islands secretly, taking with him other +religious, and that he went without order or license therefor from his +Majesty or the governor, to the kingdom of China, where he now is; [43] +and inasmuch as Fray Pablo de Jesus, a custodian, and other religious +did the same thing a few days ago, causing thereby much scandal and +talk in this commonwealth: in order to correct the aforesaid as is +very necessary and to inform your Majesty thereof, he declared that +he was ordering (and he did so order) that it be publicly proclaimed +in this city that no person of any quality or condition whatsoever +should dare to leave this said city or any other places where said +religious may be, accompanied by any persons whatsoever, by land or +sea, or in any other manner whatsoever, except with express permission +from the governor and captain-general of these islands. This shall +be under penalty of incurring confiscation of all property by the +exchequer of his Majesty, and proclamation as a traitor and rebel +against the royal crown. Moreover, proceedings will be instituted +against such person with all due severity. Thus he provided; and, +under the said penalties, no one shall dare to give such, persons +ships or conveyance by which they may leave, without said permission. + +Given _ut supra_: + +_Don Goncalo Ronquillo de Penalosa_ + +By command of his Lordship: + +_Alonso Beltran_ + + + + +Letter from Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa to Felipe II + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +In another letter of greater length, I have informed your Majesty +regarding the affairs of this land, and have requested some things +desirable therefor. What is now presented is as follows: + +On the twenty-fourth of the past month, there came to this port a +ship of about one hundred and twenty toneladas. It was sent by your +viceroy of Nueva Espana, but it contained no reenforcements, nor +has he yet despatched them. This country cannot make progress if a +year passes without reenforcements, since it depends upon colonists +for its settlement and growth. Moreover, the commerce cannot be +increased by sending, from year to year, a ship so small that after +the departure of two ships (and one of them more than four hundred +toneladas) this year, half of the goods remain in this city for lack +of a ship. Moreover, this settlement is not provided with a doctor +or apothecary, who are greatly needed on account of the insalubrious +nature of this country. There was a scarcity of everything except +provisions; this fact the royal Audiencia [of Mexico] sent against +me, with only false accounts and petty information obtained from +the followers of Doctor Francisco de Sande, my predecessor--whose +residencia I had taken, and, as a result thereof, had deprived him of +all royal office. Nevertheless, he was received in that royal Audiencia +as auditor; and, as a consequence, persons with grievances may well +lose hope of obtaining justice. It is just that complaints against +me as subjecting him to indignities, be heard, and that justice be +done in that tribunal; but I also believe that your Majesty will +be pleased to guard the dignity of an office as important as mine, +and the servant in whom your Majesty has placed so much confidence. I +say this because from Mexico they meddle with my government--giving me +orders as to the corregidors whom I am to keep, and addressing private +individuals in regard to the supplies, directing them to keep watch +over that matter. This gives much occasion for those who are here +to lose respect for me. The most serious thing is, that no matter +how small the affair may be, they do not listen to me, or to my side +of the story. They impose grave penalties upon me and threaten that +I will be obliged to defray the expenses of the judge. I send some +copies of the commands to your Majesty so that the royal council may +consider and provide what is most fitting for your royal service. + +Moreover, I have heard news in regard to Captain Graviel de Ribera, +who was the attorney of this city; he was one of Doctor Sande's chief +enemies, and most accused him in his residencia, as will appear by +his own deposition therein. On the way from here to Mexico, he became +an ally and confederate of the said Doctor Sande; and together, with +false reports and some witnesses who were tools of the said doctor, +they preferred many charges against me in that royal Audiencia. With +these charges the said Grabiel de Ribera went to Espana, without a +hearing having been accorded to me or to anyone in my behalf. It is +just to believe that in that supreme tribunal, in the presence of your +Majesty, injustice will be done to no one--least of all to me, who +have served and am now serving your Majesty with so great integrity +and solicitude, and who have had so long an experience. I am sure +that your Majesty will first give me a hearing, and afterwards command +that amends be made for my wrongs, by punishing those who have tried +to stain my honor and my good reputation in life and character. This +I beseech your Majesty to do, in consideration of my services. + +I have great need of an educated assistant, as there is much to be +done here in the business of war and government, as well as a great +amount of work that must be done in affairs of justice, both civil +and criminal. The trouble here is that the people are of such a nature +that, at the same time when justice is done to one, an enemy is made +of another person. I beseech your Majesty to command such provision +to be made as shall be fitting for the royal service. + +The sub-lieutenant Francisco de Duenas, who, as I have explained in +another letter, was sent as envoy to Maluco, came to this city on the +twenty-second current. He brought very good returns, which have given +us all great satisfaction, as your Majesty will see by the letters of +the chief captain and other private persons, which I am sending through +your viceroy of Nueva Espana. There is also remitted an account of +the voyage and its events. That fortified place is now open for your +Majesty's advantage; [44] and although its chief captain sent me no +request for aid, I know that it is necessary to send the same, as well +as to pacify the king of Terrenate. It is very important to understand +how desirable it is for that stronghold to prosper, as it is of the +greatest advantage for all Nueva Espana. Consequently, I have been +exceedingly troubled by the non-arrival of reenforcements from Nueva +Espana during the past two years. A large number of troops I have +assigned to several settlements, as I have already written at greater +length. In the shortest time possible I will send aid to Maluco; +and from time to time I shall advise what is done in this respect. + +Your Majesty has already been informed how the English pirate [45] set +out for Maluco and the Xabas [Java]. In Maluco he formed a friendship +with the king of Terrenate, to whom he promised to return in a short +time with more forces. Consequently, I have considered how much more +reason there is to believe that they cannot return by the strait of +Magallanes--since I know that that strait is well guarded, and because, +since they have gone through it, both Piru and Nueva Espana are warned; +they could gain nothing in the expedition, and it would certainly +be lost. No one but the pirate himself knows the route which he took +and the channel which he followed to Maluco; and therefore no efforts +were made to check him. If Maluco should be considered in England as +of great value, and as a stronghold which can be taken and held with a +few men, then they would feel bound to place a large force in it. Your +Majesty should do much for its defense. These considerations impress me +so strongly that, if I were supplied with more troops and artillery, I +could by no means imagine a more necessary task. I will do what I can, +however, in your royal service, although it is not under my charge. + +In my opinion, the spices should be sent from Maluco to Panama, +a voyage very safe and not too long. In this way the ships which +conduct it to Panama may touch at Nueva Espana and leave there the +amount necessary for that kingdom, and in Panama, what is needed for +Piru, the kingdom of Tierra Firme and the new kingdom of Granada. From +the port of Panama, where the ships coming from Maluco anchor, it is +but five or six leagues' journey by land to the river of Chagre. From +there to Espana is nothing but water, and consequently the said spices +can be conveyed thereby very easily and at little cost. This I think +is the shortest, safest, and least expensive method. Your Majesty +will order what is most fitting for your service. + +The artillery, which your Majesty orders me to send to the viceroy +of Peru, I am preparing with promptness. Nevertheless, that which +your Majesty has here at present is necessary for this stronghold, +and for the other islands, where I have distributed a number of cannon +for their greater security and prosperity. + +I send the relation of the islands and their villages, and of their +inhabitants and industries, which was forwarded to me to send you. I +would send a longer account if more time had elapsed since the receipt +of your Majesty's royal decree, which arrived the twenty-fifth of +the past month. + +No papers whatever of Fray Martin de Rada [46] were left in this +country; nor have I been able to discover any, although most diligent +search has been made. + +Among the other orders brought by this ship was one directing that +a considerable sum of money be paid to Doctor Francisco de Sande. He +says that this is due to him as salary; and for the payment of this +is designated the greater part of the villages which belong to the +royal crown of your Majesty. The fleets are maintained thereby, as +well as other expenses of your Majesty here. This order is received +with regret and sorrow, and the royal officials have sent a petition +to this effect; and I too beseech your Majesty to declare if it be +your royal pleasure that this man support himself at the expense of +the royal service. May it be provided that we be not constrained thus +in similar things. + +In the ship that just arrived from Nueva Espana, there came eighteen +descalced friars, a class of people who do much good in this land, +on account of their mode of life and their poverty. Nevertheless, +they come so eager to pass on to China that it would not be right to +keep them here. Accordingly, in order to console them, I am now giving +permission to the commissary who accompanied them, and to four other +religious, both to go to Macau [Macao] to visit the house which they +have there, and to pass to the bordering kingdom of Cochinchin. News +is had that the king of the latter country asks for ministers to +teach him our holy faith. I hope to God that benefit may be derived +therefrom, for the salvation of those souls. I have also improved +the opportunity of the commissary's departure to send by him to the +Portuguese of Macau the news of the certainty of the late coronation +of your Majesty. [47] Therefore I expect that that stronghold will +be as peaceful as that of Maluco. + +Through your viceroy of Nueva Espana I am sending a copy of the +residencia of the doctor Sande, as that sent a year ago was lost with +the ship to which it was entrusted. + +Much pleasure was caused in the land by the arrival of the bishop, [48] +and I received him as well as I could. On account of the austerity +of his disposition and his wish to dominate, people do not like +him; and he has caused much discontent among both ecclesiastics and +laymen. His Christianity and zeal is worthy, and he will undoubtedly +prove to be true. As your Majesty is better informed, you may provide +accordingly. May our Lord guard your royal Catholic Majesty and +increase your kingdoms, as we your Majesty's vassals desire. Manila, +June 15, in the year 1582. + +Royal Catholic Majesty, the most humble servant of your Majesty, +who kisses the royal feet and hands. + +_Don Gonzalo Rronquillo de Penalosa_ + + + + + +Bibliographical Data + +Most of the documents in this volume are obtained from the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. The original MSS. (from copies of which +our translations are made) are there preserved in two patronatos, +as follows: + +(a) "Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes +del gobernador de Filipinas, vistos en el consejo; anos 1567 a 1599; +est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6." To this belong Sande's report of 1576, +his letters of July 29, 1578 and May 30, 1579, Penalosa's letter, +and the two documents of 1582. + +(b) "Simancas-Filipinas; descubrimientos, descripciones y +poblaciones de las Yslas Filipinas; anos 1566 a 1586; est. 1, caj. 1, +leg. 2|24." From this patronato we obtain Sande's report of 1577 (in +ramo 40), and the record of his expedition to Borneo (no. 48). The +former lacks a signature, and may be a duplicate copy, sent (as already +explained) by another vessel to ensure the arrival of at least one copy +in Spain, the signature being perhaps forgotten through some clerical +oversight; but its date and composition show it to be Sande's report. + +The bull erecting the diocese of Manila is taken from +_Doc. ined. Amer. y Oceania_, xxxiv, pp. 72-79. The grant of +indulgences is obtained from Fray Francisco de Santa Ines's _Cronica +de la provincia de San Gregorio Magno_ (Manila, 1892), pp. 215, 216. + +The two royal decrees are translated from copies of the originals, +which are found in the "Cedulario Indico" in the Archivo Historico +Nacional at Madrid; their pressmarks are: for the decree of 1879, +"Tomo 31, F deg. 132b, n deg. 135;" for that of 1580, "Tomo 31, F deg. 193b, n deg. +184." The "Cedulario" contains forty MSS. volumes of these decrees, +with a calendar index of twenty-four volumes. + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] The Spanish phrase here is _armas enastadas_, literally, "weapons +fastened to handles." See cuts of Chinese battle-axes (from specimens +in Musee d' Artillerie, Paris) in Auguste Demmin's _Arms and Armor_ +(London, 1877), p. 442. + +[2] The day of St. Andrew falls on November 30, according to the +church calendars. + +[3] This narrative is given in Juan Gonzales de Mendoza's +_Hist. China,_ part ii, book i, ch. ix-xxix. + +[4] Marco Polo, the noted Venetian traveler, was born about 1256, +and died in his native city in 1323. His father and uncle were also +travelers; they went to Tartary in 1255, returning to Europe in +1269, as envoys from the noted Kublai Khan. Two years later, they +returned to the court of that ruler, accompanied by the young Marco; +and they remained in the service of the Mongol emperor until 1292, +when they returned to Venice. Marco's account of his travels and +observations was written as early as 1307. A Latin version of it +was published in Antwerp, about 1485; and one in Italian at Venice, +in 1496. Many other editions and translations of it have since been +issued--perhaps the most notable being that by G. Pauthier (Paris, +1865). See this editor's account of Polo and of his work, in Hoefer's +_Nouvelle biographie generale_, t. xxxix, art. Polo; Pauthier shows +that this work must have been originally written in French. Kublai +Khan at that time had his capital at Pekin, not at Kingsze. + +[5] The Great Wall of China was constructed during the reign of +Hoangti, the second emperor of the Tsin dynasty (about 244 to 210 +B.C.); it was built to protect the Chinese land from the invasions +of the Tartar hordes on the west and north, among whom were those +later known as Huns. + +[6] The oil extracted from sesame (_Sesamum indicum_); it is used by +the natives for the hair, and in medicine. + +[7] Chichimecos (meaning "braves") was a term applied to all the wild +tribes of Mexico; it was also used specially to designate the hunting +and pastoral tribes in the northern provinces of the present country +of Mexico--who, according to Humboldt (_New Spain_, Black's trans., +London, 1811, i, p. 133), came to that country about 1170. See also +G.P. Winship's _Coronado Expedition_ (Washington, 1896), p. 524. + +[8] A Malayan tribe, living in the provinces of Abra and Ilocos, +in Luzon. See Sawyer's account of them, in his _Inhabitants of +Philippines_ (N.Y., 1900), pp. 275-280. + +[9] The residencia is a Spanish institution, dating as far back as +the fourteenth century, although its beginnings may be traced to +the Visigothic codes. It required a judge or a governor, at the +end of a term of office, to reside for a certain time (usually +thirty or fifty days) at the chief place where he had exercised +his functions. During that time, complaints of his conduct might be +made by any person aggrieved, before an official appointed for that +purpose. The residencia was a prominent feature of Spanish colonial +administration. See Helps's _Spanish Conquest in America_, iii, +ch. iii, for an account of this institution. + +[10] "In fortification, a work of extraordinary height, overlooking the +surrounding parts as a horseman overlooks foot-soldiers." (Webster's +_Dictionary_.) + +[11] This decree may be found in _Recopilacion de leyes Indias_, +lib. iv, tit. iii, ley xix. It seems to have been a general regulation, +applied to any colonial possession as need might arise. + +[12] Crawfurd says, in his _Dictionary of the Indian Islands_ (London, +1856), p. 144: "In the language of the Bugis, whose country produces +gold, we find a native word, _ulawang_, and this is again the case +in the languages of the Tagalas of the Philippines, where we have +the indigenous name _balituk_; while in the language of the volcanic +Bisaya Islands we find the word _bulawang_, most probably a corruption +of the Bugis word." + +[13] There is some mistake in this calculation; for the Chinese tael is +equivalent to 1.1334 ounces, and the Spanish onza to 1.0161 ounces, in +English or U.S. avoirdupois. The mace is one-tenth of the tael. 8 onzas += 1 marco; 2 marcos = 1 libra = 1.016097 U.S. pounds. The equivalent +of one libra, then, would be nearly 12 taels and 2 mace. By _texuela_ +is apparently meant the sheet gold previously mentioned. + +[14] In New Spain, the hot and fertile regions along the coast, +having an elevation of seldom more than 1,000 feet, are called +_Tierras calientes_ ("regions of heat"). On the declivity of the +Cordilleras, at an elevation of 4,000 to 5,000 feet, there reigns +perpetually a soft spring temperature, which never varies more than 10 deg. +Fahr. The natives give to this region the name of _Tierras templadas_ +("temperate country"), in which the mean heat of the whole year +is about 70 deg. Fahr. The plains elevated more than 7,000 feet above +the sea level are called _Tierras frias_ ("cold regions"), where +the mean temperature is under 62 deg. Fahr. See Humboldt's _New Spain_ +(Black's trans.), i, pp. 64-67. + +The name Tierra Firme was applied not only to the northern part of +the South American continent, but to a definite region which extended +from the middle of the Gulf of Darien to Cape Gracias a Dios. It was +at first called Darien, and Castilla del Oro. + +[15] Span., _de no aver pies ni cabeza_, "as he had neither feet +nor head." + +[16] Cauchi is a phonetic form of Kuchi, the Malay appellation of the +region known in recent years as Cochin-China, now a part of French +Indo-China. Camboja is a better form of the name usually written +Cambodia, also a part of French Indo-China; Sian is but a variant of +Siam. Patani and Pahang are Malayan states on the eastern side of the +Malay Peninsula. Jabas is a corruption of Jawa (now commonly written +Java), the name of the principal nation inhabiting the island--the +most civilized and moral of the Malayan peoples. Samatra is only a +variant of Sumatra--the largest island, next to Borneo, of the Malayan +archipelago. Achin (or Achen) and Manangkabo (Manancabo) are states +in the island of Sumatra; and Batachina evidently means "land of the +Bataks," a tribe of cannibals dwelling near Achin. See Crawfurd's +_Dictionary_ for valuable information regarding all these regions. + +[17] The three great military orders then vested in the crown of +Spain--those of Santiago, Alcantara, and Calatrava. + +[18] The order of Friars Minors (_Fratres Minores_), better known as +Franciscans, was founded (1208) by St. Francis of Assisi. + +[19] _Mestizo_: the offspring of a white man and an Indian woman, +or of an Indian man and a white woman--of course, almost entirely +the former. See interesting notes on this subject by Retana, in his +_Zuniga_, ii, pp. 525*, 526*. + +[20] Herrera says (_Descripcion de las Indias_, cap. 26), that: +"The West Indies [_Indias del Poniente_] comprise all the islands and +mainland [_Tierra firme_] beyond the line of demarcation of Castilla +and Leon, as far as the western bounds of that said demarcation, the +line whereof passes around the other side of the world, through the +city of Malacca." This is conformable with the law of February 22, +1632 (_Recop. leyes Indias_, lib. i, tit. xiv, ley xxxiii), which +locates Japan and the Philippine Islands in the West Indies; it also +corresponds with the Constitution (_Onerosa_) of Clement VIII, issued +December 12, 1600, to be found in section 4, wherein the Philippines +are located, it seems, in the West Indies, or what are considered +as such. However, what really is the dividing line has not yet been +decided.--_Rev. T.C. Middleton_, O.S.A. + +[21] The missionaries who effected the conversion [of the Malaysian +tribes] were not, for the most part, genuine Arabs, but the mixed +descendants of Arab and Persian traders from the Persian and Arabian +gulfs--parties who, by their intimate acquaintance with the manners and +languages of the islanders, were far more effectual instruments. The +earliest recorded conversion was that of the people of Achin in +Sumatra (A.D. 1206). The Malays of Malacca adopted Mahometanism in +1276; the Javanese, in 1478; the inhabitants of the Moluccas, about +the middle of the fifteenth century. This doctrine has been received +by all the more civilized peoples of the Indian archipelago. See +Crawfurd's _Dictionary_, pp. 236, 237, 284. + +[22] Throughout this document, the attestations and other legal +procedures of notaries are enclosed within parentheses. + +[23] The name _fragata_ (from which is derived the English word +"frigate") is here used to designate merely a light sailing-vessel +which could navigate among the islands. + +[24] Evidently one of the so-called "hand cannon," which were often +used at this period, both by cavalry and by infantry--portable +fire-arms, loaded sometimes at the breech and sometimes by a movable +chamber. See illustrations and descriptions of these weapons in +Demmin's _Arms and Armor_ (Black's trans.), pp. 59-74, 485, 511-517. + +[25] The arms of Portugal, consisting of five scutcheons, in memory +of the five wounds of Christ. + +[26] One of the numerous appellations of small cannon. + +[27] The _banca_ was a sort of canoe made from a hollowed tree-trunk +(like the American "dug-out"), sometimes provided with outriggers, +to prevent it from upsetting, and sometimes with a roof of bamboo. The +_barangay_ is the most primitive and most characteristic boat in the +Philippines; it is described as a sharp and slender craft, pointed +at both ends, and put together with wooden nails and pegs. It is +this boat which has given name to the primitive groups of the social +organization; see Bourne's mention of these, _Vol_. I of this series, +p. 56.--_Editors_.] + +"The people were divided or grouped into families, known as +_barangayes_ (the name of a small ship or vessel), thus preserving +the remembrance of the conveyance by which their forefathers reached +the islands. As the various families came hither, each in its own +barangay--all, during the voyage, being under the command of a _cabeza_ +(a head captain, or pilot)--the land was partitioned among them, so +much for each family; while all continued, on the land, subject to the +cabezas who had directed them on the sea. These in time were known as +_datos_, or _maguinoos_. See the _Cronica_ of Francisco de Santa Ines +(Manila, 1892), i, p. 57; Noceda and Sanlucar's _Vocabulario Tagala_ +(3rd ed., Manila, 1860); Diego Bergano's _Vocabulario Pampanga_ +(Manila, 1860); and Andres Carro's _Vocabulario Iloco-Espanol_ +(Manila, 1888)."--_Rev. T. C. Middleton_, O.S.A. + +[28] Meaning some plant used as an antidote for poison. + +[29] Apparently a phonetic variant of _pangeran_ (a Javanese word +adopted in Borneo), meaning "prince." + +[30] In this connection may be cited Rajah James Brooke's statement, +as given by Captain Henry Keppel in his _Expedition to Borneo_ +(American edition, New York, 1846), p. 305: "The most detestable +part of this traffic is Seriff Houseman ["a half-bred Arab" pirate in +Borneo] selling, in cold blood, such of these slaves as are Borneans, +to Pangeran Usop, of Bruni, for 100 rupees for each slave, and Pangeran +Usop re-selling each for 200 rupees to their relations in Bruni." + +[31] Apparently a sort of "dug-out," used mainly as a lighter, for +unloading larger vessels. + +[32] _Pulo_ (incorrectly made _polo_ in the text) is a term used +throughout the Malayan archipelago referring to a small island or +islet; this name means, then, "the small island Celemin." + +[33] The habit of chewing _buyo_ is common through the Malaysian +archipelago. It is prepared by wrapping a leaf of the betel (_Piper +betel_) around a piece of the bonga-nut (the product of a palm, _Areca +catechu_) and a small piece of lime. It is thought to stimulate the +nerves, especially in the digestion of food; and is a notable feature +on ceremonious and social occasions. + +[34] Fine East Indian muslin. + +[35] Probably referring to the island now known as Boeton or Butung, +lying southeast of Celebes. + +[36] Evidently the old port in Mindanao so called. + +[37] Probably referring to the island now known as Boeton or Buntung, +lying S.E. of Celebes. + +[38] Reference is here made to the starchy food procured from the +sago-palm, called by the natives _buri (Corypha umbraculifera)_. This +tree gives name to the island of Burias, where it grows abundantly. By +tapping the tree, as is done with the American maple, the sweet +sap (called by the natives _tuba_ or "water-honey") is obtained, +from which are made a syrup and a dark sugar; also the natives +manufacture from it wine and brandy. The young shoots or buds are +edible, as is the entire inner part or pith of the tree. This pith +is placed in troughs, wherein it is soaked in water, which washes +out certain bitter substances; it is then pounded, which causes +the starchy grains to separate from the tissues of the pith. These +grains are collected and dried, and made into a flour called sago +(or sagu), which furnishes a nutritious and healthful food; in the +islands where this tree abounds, the sago takes the place of rice. The +leaves of the sago-palm are used as a covering for houses, sails for +vessels, and many other purposes. See Delgado's _Hist. de Filipinas_ +(Manila, 1892--but written in 1753-54), pp. 660-662, for a long and +detailed description of this tree and its uses; also Blanco's _Flora +de Filipinas_, p. 160, and _U.S. Philippine Gazetteer,_ p. 74. + +[39] The lagoon of Liguasan, the waters of which are discharged into +those of the Pulangui River at its "great bend," thus forming the +Rio Grande. The Pulangui rises in the northern part of the island, +about half-way between the present towns of Cagayan and Butuan. The +Tirurey or Ytilurey River of our text apparently indicates a southern +tributary of the Rio Grande, flowing from Mt. Tiruray. + +[40] A tribe inhabiting the western part of Mindanao, but mainly +located on other islands--Basilan, Sulu, Piragua, and others; they +were Mahometan Malays. + +[41] The ganta contains 3 litros, a little more than 1/3 of a peck +(U.S.). + +[42] At the top of the sheet is written, on the original MS., +"Guadalupe, March 26, 1580," which apparently indicates that the +decree was sent to New Spain, and promulgated by the viceroy there. + +[43] "A fleet on which were some Franciscan missionaries being at +Sevilla in 1576, ready to sail for the Solomon Islands, Felipe II +obtained permission from Pope Gregory XIII that they should be sent +to evangelize the Philippine Islands--where they arrived on June 24, +1577. They were received in Manila with enthusiastic demonstrations +of joy, and soon founded a religious province, which they named San +Gregorio Magno ["St. Gregory the Great"--named in honor of Pope Gregory +I (A.D. 590-604)]. The marshal, Don Gabriel de Rivera, built for +them the convent of San Francisco in that same year, 1577."--_Algue_ +(_Archipielago filipino_, i, p. 250). + +On June 24, 1577, fifteen religious of St. Francis arrived at Manila, +under the orders of Fray Pedro de Alfaro, the father custodian of the +province. On June 15, 1579, Alfaro left Luzon (secretly, as our text +declares, because Sande refused to permit him to go), to establish +a mission in China; he was accompanied by the friars Juan Bautista, +Sebastian de San Francisco, and Agustin de Tordesillas. The last-named +wrote a detailed account of their journey and their experiences in +China up to November 15 of that year; this relation is published in +Mendoca's _Hist. China,_ part ii, book ii. + +[44] Maluco, the Portuguese post on Ternate, was taken over by Spain +with other colonial possessions of Portugal, when Felipe II seized +the government of the latter country (September, 1580), after the +death of its king, the cardinal Henrique. This union lasted during +sixty years. The possession of the Moluccas of course gave to Spain +the control of the spice trade. + +[45] Apparently a reference to the visit of Sir Francis Drake to +Ternate, in November, 1578. A full account of this visit, the friendly +reception of the English by the Malay ruler, and the expulsion of +the Portuguese from the island, may be found in Francis Fletcher's +_World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake_ (Hakluyt Soc. pubs. no. xvii, +London, 1854), pp. 137-148. + +[46] Rada had died at sea, in June, 1578. + +[47] Felipe II was crowned at Lisbon in April, 1581. + +[48] The first bishop of Manila, and of the Philippines, Domingo de +Salazar (a Dominican) arrived at Manila in March, 1581. With him came +Fray Christoval de Salvatierra, of his own order; twenty Augustinians, +and eight Franciscans; and two Jesuit priests, Antonio Sedeno and +Alonso Sanchez, with the lay brother Nicolas Gallardo. See Juan de +la Concepcion's _Hist. Phil_., ii, pp. 44, 45. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Phillipine Islands 1493-1898, Vol. +4 of 55, by Edited by E. H. Blair and J. A. 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