quickly by taking a boat just outside the court of the
church and descending a salt-water stream; then they cross the Pasig
River--all this in less than one-half hour--and disembark at the
very gate of Santo Domingo. Our adelantado thought rightly that the
conflict with those Moros must cost much blood, as the latter were
aided by many other towns--both along the coast, and up along the
river--which endure unto this day, still as flourishing and numerous
as before. Already these peoples had been informed of events in Sugbu,
of the victory over the Portuguese, and the subjection of the other
islands. It seemed a difficult thing for them to stem the tide, and
to kick against the pricks; and accordingly, they came to regard as
well that which--according as affairs were going, with wind and tide
in favor of the adelantado--they should have considered as ill.

The greatest chiefs of that country then were the old Raja, Raja
Soliman, and Lacandola. These men, as they already observed the
pernicious worship of Mahoma, imitated Mahometan names, as well as
their customs. On the part of the Spaniards, their coming thither
and the advantages that the natives could derive therefrom were
proposed. These would not be few, since they would enjoy entire peace,
whereby all their affairs would prosper. _Fiat pax in virtute tua
et abundantia_. [44] The principal thing would be, that they would
be freed from the error of the law under which they were living;
for the only true law, and way of salvation, was the law of the
Christians. That law those religious whom the Spaniards brought there
would teach them. The religious had come with only this object, and
time would prove the truth. All this was very easy for them, but in
what pertains to the changing of the law they found most difficulty;
for they thought that they could attain life eternal by means of the
law under which they were living. The cursed Mahoma made the law,
and ordered his believers not to dispute his law; for he knew that
his lies would immediately be laid open at the first attack. On
the other hand he advised them that each one was saved by his own
law. Therefore, cursed demon, if thus you have advised, how in
spite of torments, do you contrive that your law is received? This
law Mahoma introduced into the world with force and arms. I am not
surprised that these natives were so sorry to leave their religion,
for they were persuaded that there was salvation thereby. But t