or disembarked with all his men, and in your Majesty's
royal name took possession of the whole island of Luzon. He founded
and settled the city of Manila, and called the said island _El nuevo
reino de Castilla_ ["the new kingdom of Castilla"]. Having done this,
he tried in every way to bring the most of the natives to actual
acknowledgment. Many did not do so, nor have they been willing to;
on the contrary, they induced others not to submit, saying that the
Castilians, as they call the Spaniards, could not remain in that
land, since they were so few; and that the people, by making war on
them, could make an end of them. So it was necessary to subdue those
rebels. This made trouble, because in the end they will be subjected
by the said governor and the troops whom he has brought with him. The
governor was diligent in reconnoitering the said island, which he found
to be very rich in many gold mines, which the natives improve and work,
especially in the province called Ylucos. The latter is very fertile,
abounding in provisions: rice, fowls, swine, goats, buffaloes, deer,
and many kinds of lake-birds, all in great abundance. In this island
there are many provinces, and in each one of them there are different
tongues and customs. The greater number of the people are Mahometan
Moros and Indians; besides other Indians who tattoo themselves in the
fashion of their ancestors, and invoke the demon. They have no native
king. Certain of the richest individual chiefs rule the country. They
wage war with one another, take prisoners in their wars, enslave them,
and sell them from province to province.

This island of Luzon is sixty leagues from the mainland of China. The
city and harbor of Manila is in thirteen degrees north latitude. This
island measures five hundred leagues in circumference. It has fine
harbors, bays, and rivers of good depth, better harbors being found
along the south side. This island is little more than one hundred
leagues east of the island of Burney. Likewise the islands of Maluco,
Filolo [Gilolo], Tidore, Ternate, and Ambon, called the Malucos,
are three hundred leagues south of this island of Luzon. So also
the rich country of Japan, whence is brought great quantities of
silver, is three hundred leagues, more or less, distant from die
island of Luzon. Every year Japanese ships come to these islands
laden with merchandise. Their principal trade is the exchange of gold
for silver, two to two and a half marcos