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