he lives in great privacy
and prudence, keeping himself informed about us. With the people that
I sent for this purpose was a pilot, who had mapped the islands and
lands that he saw on the way. He said that it was about two hundred
leagues to the west from here to Borney. With this relation I send your
Majesty the map of this island, and of those near Borney and China.

Last year, seventy-two, the governor Miguel Lopez despatched two ships
to Nueva Espana a few days before his death; but, as it was late when
they started, and the weather bad, they could not that year make the
voyage. They came back, therefore, much disabled and disordered. After
the death of the governor, who had made liberal provision for their
repair and [the MS. is torn here] rigging and pitch, which it has
been no little trouble to find. This year, therefore, God willing,
three ships will go, so that they may not for lack of vessels neglect
to send reenforcements.

Since the death of the governor, Miguel Lopez, I have had made from
the gold that has been brought and given by the natives as tribute
and service, some jewels, which I send to your royal Majesty and to
the Queen our mistress, with some specimens of the articles brought
by the Chinese. These two ships now carry one hundred and thirty-six
marcos [51] of gold, just as it was obtained from the natives who
gave it as tribute. I hope in our Lord, that henceforth your Majesty
will be better served with the first fruits of this land. I am also
sending to Nueva Espana three hundred and seventy-two _quintals_
of cinnamon, which I had brought from the island of Vindanao, where
there is a great quantity of it. There is no longer any necessity
for the Portuguese to export hereafter any more cinnamon into your
Majesty's kingdoms and seigniories; because a greater quantity can be
brought from these districts than can be sold in Europe, if ships are
supplied. I am sending also to Nueva Espana shoots of the cinnamon
and pepper trees, so that they may be planted there and benefit
your Majesty. I have also sent previously a tamarind tree, and have
been informed that it is already bearing fruit in Nueva Espana. I
have tried to have some rigging for the ships made on this island,
because what is brought from Nueva Espana is completely rotten and
useless, and for want of rigging the vessels have many times been
unable to sail. God has been pleased that we should succeed in our
endeavors--a thing that will b