m his encomienda, and were hostile, as appeared
but a few days ago--this was sufficient completely to extinguish what
little interest the Audiencia had displayed in the matter.

In order that the prevarication of the encomendero may be understood,
it is to be noted that about one year ago, the inhabitants of the
encomienda of this man and other fellow-citizens of his attempted
to make an incursion into the land of these Tuy chiefs, under the
leadership of three Spaniards; but the inhabitants of Tuy attacked them
and killed more than one hundred, among whom were more than twenty
chiefs and the Spaniards. From that occurrence the encomendero's
falsehood is manifest, as well as the coldness and neglect of the
Audiencia, although not of all that body.

Don Dionizio attests that he has gone to the province of Tuy sometimes
with seven or eight Indians; and as they were acquainted with him
in the past, and knew that he had entertained Chief Ybarat, they
have received him very hospitably and entertained him. They request
him earnestly that some officer may go to protect them and receive
their submission to his Majesty, and for fathers to teach them. They
show by their deeds that they desire just what they say, for they
begged a servant of this chief to teach them the prayers and Christian
instruction. They learned these in the Tagal language and went to pray
before a cross raised by the same chief. It is reported that their
land is quite capable of sustaining the burden of the Ygolotes and
the Spaniards who should go there to discover and work the mines; and
would be of great service in the discovery of them and the pacification
of the mountaineers, because of their communication with the latter,
as the said province borders on the said Ygolotes. The land contains
many settlements and many level plains, while its rice is the best
that is grown in the Yndias.

The nature of that land is for the most part good. It is an upland
situated between two mountains, and is covered with grass, like
Castilla. There is abundance of water and trees; and there are many
valleys and broad, pleasant plains. It has many deer and carabaos,
or buffaloes. Sugarcane is grown, and produces abundantly, and it
attains a much larger growth than in other regions; and even, where
moisture is obtained, many trees grow. There are many bare mountains,
thought to be composed of minerals. The highest mountains are very
rugged. The region explored by those wh