s not been explored
and that does not render peaceful homage to your Majesty.

Your Majesty will have learned from my letters of the satisfactory
completion of the enclosure and fortification of this city, since it
was already walled from the new fort on the point along the whole
stretch of seacoast to the round fort of Nuestra Senora de Guia
["Our Lady of Guidance"]. This fort having fallen, not having been
properly constructed, and so that it was of little or no use, I have
reduced it to such shape that it will be of use, by joining to it a
defense of cut stone, about as high as the fort, and a rampart that
commands all the country and part of the sea. On the other side,
I have built another rampart, small and low, for the defense of the
principal gate of the city, which has been built there under the
shelter and defense of the projection of the high fortification; so
that fort is now safe and useful. Afterward the work will be completed
on the other side. I am sending an account of this. From this gate,
the wall is being continued along the land side toward the river as
far as its entrance, with the same thickness, height, and shape as
the other wall, and each with its traverses.

And now this city is enclosed by sea and land, so that only one small
portion fronting on the river is open between that and the fort of the
point. This has not been enclosed, because that open space is so small,
and it fronts on the river between the fort of the point and another
cavalier named Sanct Gabriel which has been built there. As these two
are opposite each other and within easy distance, it is evident that no
danger will enter by that place, for it is the best guarded and most
secure. And, too, as this wall and fort have been built at so little
or no cost to your Majesty, except from the two per cent tax levied
once, and from your Majesty's monopoly of the sale of playing-cards,
I ran so short of funds that I was compelled to leave this bit of
the shore unenclosed. But, God be praised, the work in its present
condition is so far advanced, that no enemy who attacks me can give me
any cause for anxiety. Your Majesty may see what has been done since
my arrival here, by the accompanying plan. [10] This wall has had no
less effect for the undeceiving of the natives. Hitherto they have
hoped that the occupation and settlement of the Spaniards here was not
to be permanent, as was observed in a joint meeting of the religious
orders and