us ["the most holy name of Jesus,"] because of
an image of the child Jesus that we found there. Here in this island
of Lucon, he founded the city of Manilla, where from that time until
his death he resided, with all his people. He had commenced to levy
taxes, and was assigning _repartimientos_ in the islands and towns
that were being pacified; and I am now doing the same. This island of
Lucon is large and well populated. The greater part of it has been
explored and reduced to your Majesty's service. On account of the
lack of men, and the little time that we have spent here, we have
not been able to investigate everything. The land contains many rich
gold mines. The natives in general acquire, possess, and trade great
quantities of gold. The country abounds in provisions--rice, wine,
fish, hogs, Castilian fowls, and wild buffaloes; in short, it is so
well provided that it can maintain many Spanish settlements, which will
produce good fruit, both spiritual and temporal. Ships from China come
to trade at many ports of this island. It is understood as certain
that the mainland is very near us, less than two hundred leagues;
so that, if we are reenforced, I hope in our Lord that much fruit
and service will result to God and your Majesty. For reenforcements
have come to this island so slowly that, in eight years, only seven
hundred soldiers have arrived; and, moreover, when some arrive others
are dead as a result of the hardships and distress that have been
encountered. Nevertheless, our Lord indeed be praised for having
given us, now and in the future, greater repose in a larger land.

Of the natives of this island, some are Moros and Mahometans,
especially those living near the coast. Those in the interior are
pagans. Their arms are numerous and good, namely: culverins, large
and small; lances, daggers, and arrows poisoned with herbs. They
wear corselets of buffalo-hide and of twisted and knotted rope, and
carry shields or bucklers. They are accustomed to fortify themselves
in strong positions, where they mount their artillery and archery,
surrounding them outside with ditches full of water, so that they seem
very strong. But our Lord (who assists us, because his holy faith is
at stake) has always given us the victory, to his and your Majesty's
honor and glory.

The Chinese have come here on trading expeditions, since our arrival,
for we have always tried to treat them well. Therefore during the two
years that we have spe