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]