Sec. IV
Relation of the insurrection of the Sangleys or Chinese and how our
religious aided in bringing about peace and victory.
29. Outside the walls of the city of Manila, under the cannon of the
plaza, there is a very thickly populated settlement called the Parien,
where a large number of Chinese live. Those people are known there
under the name of Sangleys. Although heathen they have been allowed to
reside there for the sake of commerce and because they are employed
in almost all the mechanical trades. It cannot be denied that that
nation fomented and maintained with aid and cunning the rebellions
of the Indians which we have just related. That is apparent, because,
when the alcalde-mayor Don Francisco Pulido was killed in Pangasinan,
some Sangleys were found among the rebels, who contrived that under
cover of the small boats they might capture the large vessel where
the alcalde-mayor was defending his life very gallantly; and on the
arrival of our naval fleet to explore the beach of Lingayen, there
were seen there many armed men, consisting of Sangleys and Indians,
as is affirmed by Father Santa Cruz, in volume 2 of his Dominican
history of the Philipinas. [10] But it is still more fully shown by
the many bodies of Sangleys which were found in the field whenever
there was an engagement with the rebels, for on all occasions they
served the Indians as auxiliaries. Let us examine the motive for the
Chinese taking part in a war that concerned them so little.
[Here follows a brief description of China and an account of the
victories of the Tartars about this time, the alliance of the pirate
Kuesing with the legitimate Chinese king Junglie, and following
the latter's death, the retreat of the pirate to Formosa whence he
expels the Dutch. His design to make the conquest is also related,
and his embassy by Father Victorio Riccio to Manila, demanding "prompt
vassalage, and a huge tribute from the islands, and threatening the
most bloody war if Spaniards and Indians did not obey this obligation
and recognize him as king." The Chinese in Manila, hating the Tartars
and favorable to Kuesing, begin to raise disturbances. Their anger
is also further aroused by a commercial treaty between the Spaniards
and the Tartar emperor of China. But little attention is paid to
the Chinese of the Parian, however, but both interior and exterior
fortifications are strengthened and constructed in case of an attack
by Kuesing. The narrati
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