Sire:
By the ships that left these islands this year for Nueva Hespaña I
wrote for your Majesty, in duplicate, an account of my voyage and
arrival here, and of the other events which have happened to me; and
as a ship was about to depart for Malaca I was unwilling to let slip
the opportunity to write these lines and to send them in it by way
of Yndia, that your Majesty might be informed of what other events
have taken place and have come under my notice.
In my previous letters I gave your Majesty a detailed account of
the state of affairs in Mindanao and Jolo, and sent a report of
the retreat to Pintados of Captain Juan Xuarez Gallinato with your
Majesty's force that was at Dapitan. The reason of this retreat was
the information received that the enemy were preparing a great fleet
to attack Pintados, which rendered it desirable to place the force
at a point whence it could better be transported to the region where
it might be needed. The result showed the importance of the retreat;
for the enemy, being informed of it, dared not go to the said islands
of Pintados, but advanced with a squadron of ships against Cuyo and
the neighboring islands, distant from Pintados, where they pillaged
everything and killed and took captive more than seven hundred
persons. [3] This is misery enough; and, as I wrote your Majesty,
this unfortunate condition of affairs _cannot be remedied except by
arming galleys [underlined in original]_ or large galliots, with which
it will be possible to hasten from island to island. In many regions
the mere knowledge of their existence will be sufficient to put a
bridle on the audacity of these barbarians; and with them it will be
possible to hunt out the enemy at home. With garrisons no beneficial
results can be expected, in view of the great number of the islands;
if we put soldiers wherever they are needed, the whole force of these
provinces would not suffice--no, nor many more. Even if we had the
troops, the cost would be enormous and the gain nothing; for the Moros
come by sea, seize their booty, and take flight, without waiting to
come to close quarters, understanding well how to accomplish their
purposes and desires. Since it is impossible to get to close quarters
with them, I am making all possible haste to build the galleys. For
two I have the wood already cut, and for two others the wood will be
cut next month. I am making plans to provide them with a complement
of rowers; and I believe I shall be able to put them into such order
that we can live with much more quiet than hitherto. [_In the margin_:
"For the council of war--there is no answer;" _and, lower down_:
"Again no answer."] [4]
It was agreed at a council of war that the fleet under Captain
Gallinato should be prepared and put in order, to go on the expedition
for the occupation of Mindanao. It seemed that this was the best
means of putting an end to the great harm done by the inhabitants
of that island and of Jolo and Terrenate, and their confederates, to
your Majesty's vassals. While the orders in regard to the preparations
necessary to that end were being given, two letters arrived, one from
the viceroy of Yndia, and the other from Commander Andres Hurtado
de Mendoca. Copies will be enclosed, from which your Majesty will
understand the condition of the fleet made up in Yndia for Maluco,
and its need of aid. Your Majesty will also learn from the report
of Captain Antonio Brito Fogaça and of Father Andres Pereyra of
the Society of Jesus, who brought the letters, that although the
fleet to which the viceroy refers in his letter set sail from Yndia,
it put into harbor in distress and part of it was lost, as is made
plain from a statement by the said Captain Brito, of which a copy is
also enclosed. A great reduction of the strength of the fleet must
of course have resulted; and we considered the importance of the
undertaking and the great service that would be done by it to our
Lord God, and which your Majesty would receive from its success,
since the king of Terrenate is the principal defender in these
regions, of the accursed sect of Mahoma. We considered these things
and were moved by the disturbances to which your Majesty's vassals
are subjected by the necessity of preparing a defense against the
enemies of our true law--especially against the English and the
Dutch, with whom the Moros make regular treaties and alliances,
not only for the commercial advantages thus obtained, but for their
favor and assistance against us. We also took into consideration
your Majesty's commands and decrees to the effect that when occasion
should arise we should give aid and succor to the vassals of your
Majesty in the states of Yndia, _as appears from the royal decree_
[5] [_underlined in original_] of which also a copy is enclosed. The
whole matter was considered and discussed in two councils of war,
held with the Audiencia, the master-of-camp, and the captains; and it
was agreed that for the present the expedition to Mindanao and the
occupation of that island should be given up, together with all the
preparations made or about to be made therefor; and that aid should
be sent to the said fleet, as the more important matter, in the manner
laid down in the formal votes of the councils of war, _copies whereof
are enclosed [underlined in original]_, together with a memorandum of
the forces sent. I have had a ship of your Majesty's made ready, that
there may be no lack of what is requisite. In it may be transported
the soldiery, the provisions, and the rest; and assistance will
be given by the other vessels, which will supply what is not taken
in the ship. It has already been despatched to the town of Areualo,
since on that island (namely, Panay) are to be collected and prepared
the greater part of the said supplies. Since the expedition seemed
to me of the importance that I have ascribed to it, I was unwilling
to entrust the despatch of this reënforcement to anyone but myself;
and to attend to it with the greatest care, promptitude, and haste,
I depart today for the said town of Areualo, which is ninety leagues
from this town of Manila. While there, I shall give all my energy
to the matter, that not an hour of time may be lost. The result that
can and should follow is in God's hands. Should it be the contrary of
what we desire, life in this archipelago will be attended with many
hardships. When the expedition is despatched, I shall visit the fort
in Octon, which is the one at Areualo, and thence I shall proceed to
Cebu; and in both places I shall give the necessary directions for
their security. Since those places are the two capitals of Pintados,
from which the Indians of these provinces receive aid and protection,
it is essential that those positions should be properly prepared and
garrisoned. [_In the margin_: "Let a copy of this section and of the
summary sent be transmitted to his Majesty, and let him be informed
of the diligence displayed, in order that his Majesty may know of the
sending of the reënforcements, and of the friendly relations between
the Portuguese and the Castilians in the Filipinas."]
From the very day on which Captain Brito arrived, which was the seventh
of last September, he began to give orders for the despatch of his
fleet. Since the weather has been unfavorable to navigation to Maluco,
he has not been able hitherto to depart. Now that the Bendavales
[_i.e._, southwest winds] are moderating, and all is quiet, and so
favorable that unless there is a monsoon, as the Portuguese call it,
nothing is lacking, it seemed best to me to make all possible haste
with them, as your Majesty will learn by the report which I send;
so that, if there be any delay, it may be known that it has not been
by my fault. I wished to make this statement to your Majesty, so that
you might give orders to be informed in the matter because of what may
happen in Terrenate. In my opinion the coming of a fleet from Yndia to
Maluco incurs the difficulties of which I wrote to your Majesty from
Mexico. The voyage is long and dangerous for galleys and galliots;
and the worst is, that the enemy knows that they are remaining three
or four months in Ambueno, waiting for favorable weather. Hence I fear
that evil results may follow, because the troops and other requisites
for defense may be made ready in advance by the islands subject to
Terrenate and by the other friends of their sect.
In these islands there are many veterans who have done good
service. Some are sick or wounded; and since there is here no
occupation or support for them all, and since they are at such a
distance from your Majesty that they cannot come before you to ask that
you will show them favor in return for their services, some suffer
the extremity of want, and feel greatly discontented and discouraged
at seeing themselves in such misery, without anyone to turn to for
relief. Hence it seems that it would be just if they were to receive
rewards and gifts as your Majesty commands, and as is done in España
for those who come from other regions to ask for such bounty. Inasmuch
as affairs of greater consequence are entrusted to me, I beg your
Majesty to be pleased to give me authority to aid such persons from
the royal treasury of these islands, bestowing upon them annually such
an amount as their service to your Majesty shall have deserved. I beg
also for authority to give some false musters to such as deserve them,
that they may be able to live and maintain themselves. Such a course,
in addition to being worthy of your Majesty's greatness, will have
the important effect of animating the others to do good service on
occasion, stimulated as they will be by the hope of reward. Our Lord
protect the Catholic person of your Majesty in the happiness necessary
to the good of Christendom. Manila, the twenty-sixth of October, 1602.
_Don Pedro de Acuña_
[_Endorsed_: "Manila. To his Majesty; Don Pedro de Acuña, the
[twenty-sixth] of October. Let it be seen if this is a duplicate,
and if the original has been filed." "Filed and registered
within. Let attention be paid to the part on which a consultation
is directed." "Two sections have already been epitomized, and were
sent on to the council of war in Valladolid, on the twenty-eighth of
June, 1605."]