_The Spaniardes departe from the port of Tansuso
towardes the Ilandes Philippinas, and euery day they
doo harbor themselues in ilands by the way; declaring
what they saw in them._
Being departed out of the port as aforesaide, the Spaniards deuided
themselues into two shippes, to wit, the two friers and Michael de
Loarcha, Omoncon and three other captaines in one shipp. And Peter
Sarmiento, Nicholas de Quenca, and Iohn de Triana, Sinsay, and all their
souldiers, in another ship, with eight other ships of warre, which went
with them for their safegard: they sailed forwards, directing their
course towards a small iland that was not farre off, with determination
there to take water for their ships, for that it had in it many riuers
of very sweete water. Within a smal space they ariued there, and it had
a very faire and sure port, wherein might ride in securitie a great nauy
of ships. All Thursday they were there recreating and sporting
themselues, for that it was a pleasant ilande, and full of fresh riuers.
Uppon Friday, being the sixteenth of September, the day being somewhat
spent, they made saile and tooke port foure leagues from that place, in
another ilande called Laulo, for to put themselues in a newe course
different and contrary vnto that which they brought when as they came
vnto that kingdome, for that the Chinos had by experience prooued, that
in those monethes the windes were more fauourable then in other
monethes, and for the most part north and northeast windes. Al that
night they remained in that iland, and the next day following they
sailed vnto another iland which was called Chautubo, not farre distant
from that of Laulo. This ilande was full of little townes, one of them
was called Gautin, which had fiue sortes of towers made of lime and
stone, verie thicke and strongly wrought: they were all foure square,
and sixe fatham high, and were made of purpose for to receiue into them
al the people of those little townes, to defend themselues from rouers
and theues that daylie come on that coast. These fortes were made with
battlements, as we do vse, with space betwixt them: and for that the
forme and fashion of their building did like them verie well, they were
desirous to see if that within them there were anie curious matter to
bee seene; wherewith they bent their artilerie towards them, and went a
shore. But when they which had the garde and keeping off did see their
comming, they did shut the gates, and woulde not consent that they
shoulde satisfie their desire, for any intreating or promises that they
could make.
[Sidenote: Mine[32] kine and horse.]
[32] Query misspelt for _maine_, from the old French word
_maint_,--many.
They verie much noted, that although this ilande were rocke and sandie,
yet was it tilled and sowed full of rice, wheate, and other seedes and
graine. There was in it great store of kine and horse, and they
vnderstoode that they were gouerned, not by one particular man, to whom
they were subject, neither by any other amongst themselues, nor of
China, but in common: yet notwithstanding they liued in great peace and
quietnesse, for that euerie one did content himselfe with his owne.
Uppon Sunday, in the afternoone, they departed from this ilande, and
sailed their course all that night, and the next morning they ariued at
another iland called Corchu, which was twentie leagues from the port of
Tansuso, from whence they departed. The Spaniards seeing what leasure
they tooke in this their voyage, they requested the captaines to
commaunde the marriners that they shoulde not enter into so many portes
or harbors, for that they had no certaintie of the weather, and not to
detract the time, but to take opportunitie before that contrarie weather
do come: for to saile in that order it seemed more for recreation then
to achiue or obtaine a voyage. The captaines answered, and requested
them to haue patience, for that in making their iournies as they did,
they doo accomplish and follow the order set downe by the vizroy and
Insuanto, who did expressely commaunde them with great charge for to
direct their nauigation by those ilands with great deliberation and
consideration, because they might in safetie and health ariue at
Manilla.
[Sidenote: The Chinos are fearefull of the sea.]
The same day the north winde beganne to blowe verie strongly: in such
sort, that they thought it not good to go forth of that harbor (as well
for that aforesaid, to be commanded to the contrarie), as also for that
the Chinos are very fearefull of the sea, and men that are not
accustomed to ingulfe themselues too farre, neither to passe anie
stormes.
Neere vnto this iland there was another somewhat bigger, which is called
Aucon, wholly dispeopled and without anie dwellers, yet a better
countrie and more profitable for to sowe and reape then that of Corchu.
The Spaniards being at an anker there, vnderstood by the Chinos that in
times past it was very well inhabited, vnto the which ariued a great
fleete belonging to the king of China, and by a great storme were all
cast away vpon the same: the which losse and destruction being
vnderstood by another general that had the guard of that cost,
suspecting that the dwellers thereof had done that slaughter, he came to
the shore and slew many of the inhabitants, and caried all the rest in
their ships vnto the firme lande, who afterwards would neuer returne
thither againe, although they gaue them licence after that they
vnderstoode the truth of that successe: so that vnto that time it
remained dispeopled and full of wilde swine, of the broode that remained
there at such time as they were slaine and caried away as you haue
heard.
This iland and the rest adioyning thereunto (which are very many) haue
very excellent and sure ports and hauens, with great store of fish.
These ilands[33] endured vntill they came vnto a little gulfe, which is
fiue and fortie leagues ouer, and is sailed in one day, and at the ende
thereof is the port of Cabite, which before we haue spoken off, and is
neere vnto Manilla.
[33] The names of the various islands mentioned in this chapter are not
now recognizable.
So when that winde and weather serued their turne, they departed from
the ilande of Aucon, and sailed til they came vnto another ilande called
Plon, whereas they vnderstoode by a shippe that was there a fishing,
howe that the rouer Limahon was escaped, wheras he was besieged at
Pagansinan: the manner and forme of the policie hee vsed therein shalbe
tolde you in the chapter following.