leagues
from that coast The natives of that island were famous sea-pirates,
who did much injury wherever they went. The people of that region are
well disposed, and possess gold, mines, and plenty of provisions. Now,
with God's help, the whole land will be apportioned and distributed
among the conquerors of these islands, according to your Majesty's
orders. The mines of Paracali, which are a day's journey from Bicor
River, will be settled, for they are in a suitable place; and when
they are given to the Spaniards and worked by them, the land will
increase in population and its commerce will prosper. I have faith
in God that from this small beginning He will enlarge and increase
the kingdoms and seigniories of your Majesty, and we shall be able
to carry the true knowledge of the holy Catholic faith to so many
barbarous and blinded men who are found in these regions, including the
vast kingdom of China and many others. Heaven has this good fortune
in store for your Majesty, so that it may be fulfilled during these
propitious times of your Majesty.

29. Accompanying this letter, I send a map of the island of Lucon and
of the coast of the mainland of China, from which it appears that,
from the coast and great river of Cagayan at the northern extremity of
this island to the nearest point of China, it is but a short distance
by sea, a matter of forty leagues or thereabout. By next year when
we shall have seen and explored more of this land, I shall send your
Majesty a fuller description of it than now.

30. I am also sending your Majesty another paper which I received from
the Chinese, upon which is printed a map of the whole land of China,
with an explanation which I had some Chinese interpreters make,
through the aid of an Augustinian religious who is acquainted with
the elements of the Chinese language. They have promised me to bring
next year other maps drawn in more detail and with more precision;
and, God willing, I shall send them to your Majesty.

31. By the ship "Spiritu Santo," now about to sail, I am sending
to your Majesty's officials in Mexico eighty quintals of cinnamon
and forty-six quintals of wax. For lack of room we have a quantity
of cinnamon left over. May our Lord preserve the sacred Catholic
royal person of your Majesty with an increase of greater kingdoms
and seigniories, according to the desire of your Majesty's faithful
subjects. Manila, July 30, 1574.

Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty. His loyal su