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n deprives them of sustenance. But, I think time has proved what an unwise thing was done; for none of those injuries have been remedied, but have remained. The forces, which are daily becoming fewer in the islands, were divided, and there were innumerable other inconveniences. Finally, the governor sent troops to the island, and possession of it was taken, more than forty or sixty leguas from the Dutch fort. Only Dominican religious went on this occasion. Then it befell that many of the troops died, for the island is very cold. Most of the fruits of Castilla are raised there. Its inhabitants are fierce, and live without law or reason, but more as their chiefs dictate. Ours have suffered signal hardships there. Sargento-mayor N. Careno was governor of that fort and the troops; and he did his utmost. The Chinese came and offered many things when the soldiers had money; but, when money failed, all was about to perish. That year, 1626, Don Juan Nino de Tabora came as governor. He was told of Hermosa Island and its great importance. Accordingly, he resolved to make an expedition thither, with as many of the remaining soldiers as possible. They filled three large galleons and other smaller ones. Captain Lazaro de Torres, of whom we have made so much mention, sailed in the "Trinidad," the smallest of all the ships. They left in August, after the despatch [for New Spain] of the vessels of 1627. The weather was rough, so that the governor grew afraid. After incurring so great expenses for his Majesty, and sailing in galleons which carried fifty or sixty pieces of artillery, a return was made to Cavite. Only Lazaro de Torres went ahead, with whom sailed father Fray Lucas de Atienza, of our order, as prior and vicar-provincial. They suffered terrible storms, and ran manifest dangers; especially when, running with the lower sail on the foremast, they ran aground on an island, which they had not seen because of a dense fog. At last they all got away. They flung out, or rather raised, the greater yard (which they were carrying down), shook out the sails full, and then were able to make land with the sides under water, and the sea running sky-high. They just missed scraping the sunken rocks about the island. The most courageous man among them was our religious, for no one, neither soldier nor sailor, met the danger with greater courage or resolution. At length they reached Hermosa Island at a time that proved the redemption of those m
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