of two ships, which sailed from the Philipinas islands on the first
of July. The second, the flagship, entered on the twenty-fourth, for
it was leaking so badly that they succeeded in making port only with
great difficulty. On account of this danger, knowing the nearness of
the land, the flagship had determined to keep off shore, thinking this
course possible because of its better sailing qualities. Ultimately
they availed themselves of the land only for the purpose of taking
aboard water because their supply was failing. They entered harbor
without having lost either any people or any of their cargo. Don Pedro
de Luna, the captain, died of illness two hundred leagues away from
land, as did a few sailors also.

Fray Diego de Herrera had taken passage in one of these vessels. It was
his intention to continue the journey to Spana to give your Majesty
an account of the wrongs committed in those islands, because of the
lack of justice; and to tell you that the soldiers, inasmuch as they
are unpaid and receive no rations, are being supported at the Indians'
expense, and that on this account many extortions are practiced. The
factor Andres de Mirandaola, Captain Juan Pacheco, and Juan de
Morones, sergeant-major, also came. The factor and sergeant-major
were sent because of certain crimes which they are said to have
committed; however, I do not think that these are very serious. By
these men I have been informed of matters relating to those islands,
and of the nature of the land. They give a very good account thereof,
especially of the island of Luzon, where there are settlements very
thickly inhabited, by both Indians and Moors [Moros], although the
latter must not be thought of as really of that race, but only as
having had the name attached to them. [72] It is not believed that
they are very sincere in the profession of the Mahometan religion,
as many of them both drink wine and eat pork. There are many gold
mines, which are worked similarly to the silver mines here. A few of
some depth were seen there, although the people, naturally indolent,
work them but little--and then only to the extent of their necessities,
when the opportunity of barter is offered them--declaring that whenever
they have any need for the gold, the mines are close by. Fray Diego
de Herrera gave me an account of many other things likewise. I am
sending an abstract of his report today, which has been confirmed by
those who have come from those regions.