ovinces, while some supplies must be imported from distant kingdoms,
as China and Japon. Hence time is requisite for this purpose--and,
indeed, even more than we have; but all will be made ready although
with some difficulty.

The master-of-camp, Juan de Esquivel, arrived at the opening of the
strait of Capul June 11, and came to Cabite June 17, after having
disembarked the forces in the port of Ybalon--where he received my
order to do this, and found ships in which to send them on to the
island of Panay, where provisions for them are provided. The number of
troops who have come with the master-of-camp are six hundred and fifty
men, including thirty who came afterwards in a small vessel which had
been left behind. These men had gone from Acapulco to Tehuantepeque
for four pieces of artillery which were cast in Nueba Hespana for
this expedition.

The forces for which I asked from Nueva Hespana for this undertaking
were one thousand five hundred men, including sailors and soldiers. As
for the five hundred who have served in old companies and are not
altogether new recruits, I was told by the master-of-camp, that those
from his regiment are for the most part good soldiers. What I can
assert is, that the troops in the two companies who arrived first, and
the troops of the master-of-camp who are here, have satisfied me very
well. From this garrison and from the paid soldiers as large a force
will be formed as can be spared, in order to leave matters here with
a safe guard; since on account of the importance of this enterprise
I must, if God gives me health, go on this expedition in person. I
intend to take with me some Panpango Indians and some Indians from this
region, among whom there are many good arquebusiers and musketeers. In
company with Spaniards, they prove to be very good soldiers.

I asked for five hundred quintals of powder; and your Majesty informed
me that the viceroy would send them. Although he did not send the
whole amount, two hundred and thirty-five quintals of powder and a
hundred quintals of saltpetre arrived. We shall be obliged to use
what there is in the royal magazines here, that we may not lack so
necessary a thing; yet the whole is but little.

The said viceroy wrote me that the troops came paid for a year, and
that from the wages of the troops he had retained sixty-five pesos in
the case of each soldier. The total amount is forty thousand pesos,
which sum was sent under registry on the account