it has a great abundance of
rice, fowls, and swine, as well as great numbers of buffaloes, deer,
wild boars, and goats; it also produces great quantities of cotton and
colored cloths, wax, and honey; and date palms abound. In conclusion,
it is very well supplied with all the things above mentioned, and
many others which I shall not enumerate. It is the largest island
which has thus far been discovered in these regions. As I say, it is
well populated and very rich in gold mines. There is much trade with
China. That part of it which has thus far been conquered and pacified,
the governor has begun to allot to the conquerors.

I could write many other things about this land, and the conditions
existing in it; but I omit them, in order to avoid prolixity. Therefore
I bring the present relation to a close, to the honor and glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the one and everlasting God, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, and of the glorious Virgin Mary, our Lady, in the year
one thousand five hundred and seventy-two, in this city of Manilla,
on the twentieth day of the month of April.

Foundation of the City of Manila

I, Hernando Riquel, notary-in-chief and governmental notary for his
Majesty in these islands of the West, do hereby certify most solemnly,
to whomsoever shall see this present, that the most illustrious
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, governor and captain-general in these said
islands, gave the title of city to this colony of Manila, on the third
day of the month of June of the past year, seventy-one; and on the
twenty-fourth day of the same month and year, which was St. John's day,
he appointed two _alcaldes_ in ordinary, one _alguacil-mayor_, and
twelve _regidores_; and on the day following he appointed one notary
for the _cabildo_ and two notaries public for the court of the said
_alcaldes_, [49] as is set forth in greater detail, and appears by the
list of the said appointments, which are in my possession. Therefore,
that this might be manifest, I have been ordered by the aforesaid
governor to draw up the present document; which is done in the said
city of Manilla, on the nineteenth day of the month of June, in the
year one thousand five hundred and seventy-two.

_Fernando Riquel_

[_Endorsed_: "June 19, 1572. Copy of the [notarial record of the]
bestowal on Manilla of the title of city, and the establishment
of alcaldes and regidores." _And, in another hand_: "For the first
article of the 7th, consult the v