_Relation of the information that we possess regarding the province of
Tuy, and the wanderings of those who went to explore it, each singly;
and the condition in which the said exploration was left. What is
known of the characteristics of the said province, and the great
importance of completing the exploration of it all, and pacifying
and colonizing it, for the preaching of the holy gospel; of its
fertility and the excellent disposition of the people, of whom it
is understood that they will readily accept the holy Catholic faith,
because it has pleased God that the cursed sect of Mahoma, which is
being extended through this archipelago, has [not] yet arrived there_.
_Guido de Lavaçares_. When Guido de Lavaçares was governor of these
islands, he sent an expedition to explore this land, as he had learned
of a densely-populated and very fertile province eighty leguas from
the city of Manila, in the northern part of these islands. For this
exploration he sent Captain Chacon; but the latter managed the affair
so poorly that, after having covered half the distance and reached the
place called Bongavon, he returned to the city of Manila with his men,
under pretext of having no guides, without bringing any account.
_Doctor Santiago de Vera_. Doctor Santiago de Vera, who succeeded
to the said office, having been informed of the same region, sent
an Indian chief, named Don Dionisio Capolo, who is still living. He
gave the latter one hundred Indians for the said exploration. This
man returned after having gone sixty leguas from Manila--twenty more
than the former expedition--on the said exploration. He reported that
Indians of the country, his acquaintances, upon learning his errand,
advised him not to proceed farther, for the people whom he was going
to discover were numerous and warlike, and were hostile and would kill
him. And inasmuch as he had no order to fight, and had but few men,
he returned.
_Gomez Perez Dasmariñas_. In the year one thousand five hundred and
ninety-one, Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, governor of the said islands, sent
his son, Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas, with seventy or eighty Spanish
soldiers, and many Indian chiefs of La Pampanga, who were going with
their arms and men to serve with Don Luis, to explore the province
now called Tuy. The chiefs took more than one thousand four hundred
Indian bearers. Don Luis, having reached the river called Tuy, [50]
which is at the entrance of the said province, ordered a cross to be
made there on a tree, rendered thanks to God, and took possession,
in his Majesty's name, on the fifteenth of July of the said year. On
the sixteenth, after having told the inhabitants of that village,
which was called Tuy, that he came in order to make them friends of
the Castilians, and to have them render homage to his Majesty, so
that the latter might take them under his royal protection, and so
that they might be instructed in matters of the faith--for which he
[Don Luis] had brought religious; and after having given them a few
small articles, as pieces of cloth, garments, beads, and combs: they
accepted the situation, and promised to pay tribute and recognition in
due season. They swore peace after their own manner, which consisted
in Don Luis and another another--a chief, who spoke for all--each
taking an egg, and throwing the eggs to the ground at the same time;
they said together that just as those eggs had been broken, so they
would be broken, should they not fulfil their promises.
_Bantal; Bugay; Burat_. That same day, Don Luis summoned other
chiefs of the villages of Bantal, Bugay, and Burat, and after the same
ceremonies as on other occasions, ordered them, since they were friends
and vassals of his Majesty, to bring their wives (whom they had placed
in the mountains) to the villages. Although he so ordered them twice,
they declined, saying that they were keeping them in another village
in order to amuse them, and give them time to rest from the care of
their houses, and that it would be impossible to bring them at this
time. Another chief, named Tuy--after whom the province was thus named,
and who had not taken part in making peace--as soon as he knew this,
reproved the Indians severely for having made peace; and he caused them
to break it by hostilities. Don Luis also heard that a great number
of armed Indians were in the mountains. He attacked the trenches of
the fort built by a troop of Indians, who declared with loud boasting
that they desired no peace, even if the Spaniards were to go farther to
see other villages. The natives set fire to the village of Tuy itself,
which was totally burned, with the houses within the fort--although
all the means possible were exerted, and some soldiers risked their
lives--as the houses were all roofed with nipa and were built of wood,
compactly constructed and built, with their streets evenly laid out.
_A notable case_. All the village having been burned, together with
some houses near a cross, the latter did not catch fire on the front
side facing the street, but only at the back. And although the rattan
that fastened the arm of the cross was burned, the arm did not fall,
or destroy the shape of the cross. And while there was not a single
stick left unburned in the village, the fire did not leave mark or
stain on the front of the cross, but it retained the same color as
when set up. Alonso Vela, notary of the expedition, testified to the
truth of this.
_Tuy, sixty houses; Bantal, thirty houses; Burat y Buguey, with five
hundred houses_. Don Luis afterward arrived at three villages, one of
sixty houses, another of thirty, and the third of five hundred. There
were no people there, but he learned of two provinces, one called
Danglay and the other Guamangui; and that inhabitants of the above
villages had gone to join those of the said provinces, although before
that time they had been hostile to them.
The chiefs of Sicat, Barat, Tuy, Bugat, and Bantal begged pardon
of Don Luis for the past, promising peace and the payment of the
tribute in products of the land. They took oath according to another
custom--each chief taking a candle in his hand and Don Luis one in
his, and saying that so would he, who failed to keep his promise,
or who broke his promise in whole or in part, be consumed even as
that candle was consumed. Then they extinguished the candles, saying
that just as that candle expired and was consumed, just so would he
who broke his promise be slain and perish. Then the tribute for that
year was conceded to them, whereat they were very happy.
_Acknowledgment: Tuy; Sicat; Ybarat; Bugay; Bantal._ On July 29,
the village of Tuy paid its acknowledgment, consisting of seven
little trinkets of gold in the shape of necklaces; that of Sicat,
three maes of gold and two canutos of rice; Barat, six little gold
trinkets in the form of necklaces of the value of four maes, and two
canutos of rice; Bugay, thirteen small gold necklaces valued at eight
maes, a small string of beads, and two canutos of rice; Bantal, five
small gold necklaces valued at three maes, and two canutos of rice.
_Dangla Province_. On the thirty-first, Don Luis left Tuy, going
down the valley, following the course of the principal stream,
a large river, which at Cayan gives a passage to the province of
Dangla. The chiefs of the province came to see him, whom he informed
that the inhabitants of Tuy, Bantal, and other villages, accepted the
peace. They took the oath, with the ceremony of the egg, and rendered
acknowledgment in small gold necklaces of the value of eight maes,
and ten _bandines_.
_Japalan; Tugai; Bayaban; Balayan; Chiananen; Yabios; Bayalos; Banete;
Lamot; Bolos._ From the second of August until the eighth of the same
month, Don Luis remained in the villages of Japalan, Bugai, [_sic_],
Bayaban, Balayan, Chicananen, Yabios, Bayocos, Banete, Lamot, and
Bolo. The chiefs of these villages and the Indians rendered homage,
took the oath as the others had done, and gave as their recognition
small trinkets of gold necklaces, _cornerillas_ [cornerinas?], [51]
and other trifles. The Indians of Boloc alone seized their weapons
and fled to the open fields.
By the sixth or seventh of August, they had already consumed the
food that they had brought, and what they had seized at Tuy and
other villages; and they had seized some without paying for it, as
appears from the original. Don Luis reached three little hamlets, and,
calling an Indian, the latter told him that his chief was gone to make
peace with the Spaniards who were coming up the river; and that if
Spaniards came both up and down the river, they were to escape. Don
Luis saw also the old village of Yugan, which was then divided
among the three hamlets above, for they did not dare to live in the
village after killing seven Spaniards, who had come up the river from
Cagayan with assurances of safety. Don Luis returned to the hamlets,
and, after summoning the chiefs, four of them came. These, together
with some Indians, rendered homage, and promised to pay tribute;
and by way of acknowledgment, they pardoned the damage committed
by Don Luis in one of the hamlets. When they offered to ransom some
women and children who were in the camp, Don Luis gave these to the
Indians freely, so that they might understand that the Spaniards did
not come to harm them. The Indians swore, with the candle ceremony,
to remain obedient and to pay tribute. The province of Tuy, it seems,
ends at that place. On the ninth or tenth of August, Don Luis embarked
on the river of Tuy, which is the same river as Cagayan, otherwise
called Nueva Segovia. It appears that he did no more than the above.
_Relation of what Don Francisco de Mendoza did in the exploration of
the said province_.
_Gomez Perez Dasmariñas_. At the beginning of August of the same
year, Gomez Perez Dasmariñas sent Don Francisco de Mendoca with
a troop of soldiers after Don Luis Dasmariñas, his son. Having
reached Tuy on the nineteenth of the said month, the chiefs gave
him a cordial reception, and he traded with them, especially with
one of the principal women. Thence, accompanied by this woman, and
other Indians of her village, who aided him in carrying the burdens
of his stores, he went to Bantal. There he found a cross erected,
and the inhabitants of the village drawn up near it with lance and
shield, as if about to offer him battle. He asked nothing from them,
and they gave nothing. He did not stop there. A chief went with Don
Francisco of his own accord to Buguey, where he found its inhabitants
stationed in the passes with the same preparation of arms. The people
making an effort to fool him with some bundles of grass, he begged
them for rice in return for money, but they refused him. He seized by
force two chiefs, and took them with him. These men, having seen the
injury done him by the inhabitants of Tuy, took it upon themselves
to guide the expedition to the hamlets where Don Luis had been before
going to Dangla. Don Francisco tried to get rice in Dangla, offering
to pay for it; but as they refused to sell it to him, he seized a
chief. He entertained this chief and his wife and had them sleep near
him. When morning came, the chief offered that if Don Francisco would
allow him to go to the village, he would bring him rice; but as soon
as he was at liberty he took flight, and had the village put under
arms. The inhabitants went out to meet Don Francisco armed with spear
and shield, so that he was obliged to fortify himself during one night,
as they insolently molested the Spaniards.
_Balabat; Pao; Palali; Lamot; Nacalan_. Don Francisco went to the
villages of Balabat and Pao. The two chiefs in his custody escaped
from him there. Thence he went to the village of Palilamot, which
he found under arms. From this latter place he went to the village
of Nacalan, which he found deserted. In that place he embarked in
certain small boats on Thursday, the twenty-ninth, and voyaged along
the river until the thirty-first of August. On that date he reached
three small villages, which he found deserted and their approaches
strewn with straw.
He reached some farms on the first of September, where Don Luis had
been, opposite Yugan. He offered several Indians pay to guide him,
but they refused. On the third of September, Don Francisco reached
a river, that of Cagayan. Embarking on it, he reached the settlement
of Purao, where he seized some supplies. On the sixth of September he
reached the presidio of San Pedro y San Pablo [St. Peter and St. Paul]
where he found some Spaniards from the province of Cagayan. Continuing
his voyage in search of Don Luis, along the said river, he reached
the city of Nueva Segovia. [52] It is understood that he was sent
from Manila to look for Don Luis, since throughout his journey he
proceeded on the road that he had taken, without stopping to attend
to anything pertaining to the exploration and pacification.
_Expedition made by Pedro Sid to the province of Tuy in the year 591_.
_Gomez Perez, November 16; Tuy._ In that same year of 91 Gomez Perez
Dasmariñas sent Pedro Sid and a number of soldiers to make explorations
additional to those made by Don Luis, his son. It appears that on
the sixteenth of November, he arrived opposite the settlement of Tuy,
near Bantal. He found that place deserted, but after he had informed
the inhabitants that he had not come to harm them, they returned to
their village. The chief of Tuy, accompanied by many other Indians,
went to his camp. He received them with much show of affection,
asking them whether they desired religious to instruct them in the
faith. They replied that they did not know what that was, but that the
Spaniards should do as they wished. Don Pedro had some bits of cloth,
bells, rings, needles, small strings of beads, and combs given to
them. When he asked if there were any other settlements, they replied
that there were several thickly-settled valleys back of a mountain
to the left. He told them that his Majesty wished no tribute for
the present, but only what recognition they were willing to make as
a sign of homage; and that they should settle and cultivate their
fields and grow their products, in order to have the wherewithal
to pay their tribute when it should be asked. They answered that
they would do so. When he asked them where they obtained the gold
that they possessed, they answered that they obtained it from the
villages of Yguat, Panuypui, and Bila, which were located behind a
range of mountains opposite them. The inhabitants there obtained it
from the village of Bayaban, located near the town of Yguat, close to
the Ygolotes, where the gold mines were situated, and where the gold
was traded. They gave as recognition two fowls and a small quantity
of rice, and very heartily bade Don Pedro farewell.
_Bantal, Marangui._ After this, chiefs came from Bantal and the village
of Marangui; and with them the former scenes were reënacted. They
gave as recognition some fowls, a little rice, and sugar-canes.
It appears also that chiefs came from Bugay, accompanied by other
Indians. After the same dealings with them as with the others, they
said that Pedro de Sid should be bled with them in order to make the
peace sure, and that each should drink the other's blood. This was
accordingly done, whereupon they gave as recognition a small string
of red beads, together with a little rice, gold, and a few fowls.
_Dungla._ It appears that Don Pedro went afterward to the village
of Dungla, where he was received by the chiefs and a number of
Indians. The same ceremonies were enacted with them as with those
above, and blood friendship was made. Their recognition was one cock,
three chickens, and rice.
_Pamut._ He also went to Pamut, where the same things occurred as
with the others, and he was bled with them.
_Palan; Pao; Balabat; Payta; Balavad; Yanil._ The inhabitants of the
villages of Palan, Pao, Balabat, and Paita did the same. They gave,
as recognition, hens, chickens, swine, and rice. It appears that
he shifted his course at the village of Balabad, and went up the
river. After half a day's journey he reached a village called Yanil,
which he explored anew. The Indians received him gladly, and declared
their pleasure at becoming acquainted with the Castilians. They
confirmed the peace by bleeding themselves as those above had done,
and gave as recognition two fowls and rice.
_Saguli._ On the afternoon of that same day, Don Pedro came upon
another village named Saguli, which is located in the same valley. The
chief and the Indians went out to meet him with expressions of their
joy at becoming acquainted with the Castilians. They made peace after
the manner of those above, and Don Pedro advanced the same arguments
with them as with the inhabitants of the above-named villages.
_Pintian._ Next day Don Pedro discovered the village of Pintian,
where the same proceedings occurred as with those above. They received
him gladly and gave as recognition, venison and sweet potatoes. He
took possession of that place and those above mentioned, as he had
rediscovered them.
After a four days' march through very rough roads, and without knowing
his bearings, Don Pedro reached the village of Ayubon, through which he
had passed on his way up. That place is located between the province
of La Pampanga and that of Tuy. There his expedition ended, on the
thirtieth of November of the said year 591. Don Luis Dasmariñas, Don
Francisco de Mendoza, and Pedro Sid made this exploration so hastily
that all three expeditions were made between July seven, five hundred
and ninety-one, and November 30 of the same year: for Don Luis began
his on the seventh of July of the above year, and finished it, and
left the said province on the eighth of August of the same year. Don
Francisco left on the sixth of August of the said year, and finished on
the sixth of September. Pedro Sid began his expedition on the fourth of
November, and finished on the thirtieth [of November] of the same year.
_Relation and treatise of Captain Toribio de Miranda's deeds in the
exploration and pacification of the said province of Tuy, in the
year 1594._
_Year 1594. Don Luis Dasmariñas._ By commission of Don Luis Perez
Dasmariñas, who became governor of the Filipinas upon the death of
his father, Gomez Perez, Captain Toribio de Miranda was sent in the
year 594 with eighty Spanish soldiers, four Franciscan religious, and
the necessary Indian bearers, to pacify and complete the exploration
of the province of Tuy. He reached the valley of Dumagui, which the
religious called Todos Santos ["All Saints"], near the village of
Guilaylay, which lies in front of Tuy, on the second of November. A
chief went to meet him, whom Captain Miranda received courteously,
and gave to understand the reason for his coming--namely, for their
good and protection; and told him that he had fathers to instruct them
in the faith. The captain gave him some small articles, and he gave
the captain two fowls and a sucking pig. He said that the settlement
consisted of forty houses, and went away happy.
_Anit; 70 houses._ That same day the captain reached the village of
Anit, which consisted of seventy houses. From the houses were hanging
the heads of people and animals. On being asked why they did that,
the people answered that it was their custom. The captain dealt with
the chief and Indians as with those above named. They said that they
would receive instruction, and three of them gave rice, a sucking pig,
and three chickens. They were quite satisfied.
_Bantal; Buguey._ The chiefs went to meet him, among them one
Ybarat. The captain gave them some presents, whereat they were
satisfied, and Ybarat promised him rice, but did not keep his word. The
captain built a fort, which he called San Jhoseph, and suspecting that
Ybarat was planning some treachery, seized him several days later, when
he came with a sucking pig and four jars of rice. On this occasion the
captain heard that the chiefs were waiting in the village of Buyguey
in order to kill the Spaniards. Chief Ybarat was so insolent that he
could not be induced to bring provisions either by requests or threats;
and, as our men lacked food, it was determined to go out to obtain
rice, by orderly means, among the Tanbobos; it was brought from the
village of Bantal and the fort was supplied. This was done without any
resistance, for the village was deserted. One of the principal women,
the mother of Chief Tuy, the friend of Don Luis, brought two baskets
of rice and two sucking pigs. The captain made much of her and gave
her several articles. Having told her that the fathers were coming
to give instruction in the faith, she was overjoyed. She told the
captain of a village called Tulan, whose inhabitants she declared to
be knaves and excellent archers. She visited the fathers, while in
the fort. The captain told Ybarat that he would set him at liberty,
if the latter's children would remain as hostages. As soon as their
father told them this his children said, with great humility, that they
would do as he ordered. The captain did the same with a chief who had
been arrested as a disturber of the peace. The latter gave his only
son, and the youth obeyed with cheerful face and great resolution,
remaining as prisoner in his father's stead. The captain ordered
another chief, who had been arrested, to do the same; but the latter
refused to give his son as hostage. Ybarat requested the captain to
free his children when he should fulfil his word, and the captain,
trusting his word, restored them to him.
On November 16, the captain reached the valley of Dangla. A chief with
his timaguas went out to meet him. The captain received him well and
said that he was coming to treat them well, and brought fathers to
instruct them in the faith, and told them to treat the fathers with
great respect. Chief Ybarat guided them, having done so because the
captain had gained his good-will. The captain asked them for some
provisions, to be supplied for pay and on the account of the future
tribute. They replied that they did not desire pay. They gave two
hogs and two baskets of rice. The first village which he reached was
called Agulan and consisted of eighty houses. It is to be noted that
many little boys and girls were observed in that village who wore
gold necklaces of as good quality as those of the Moros of Manila,
and good enough to be worn in Madrid. When they were asked where
they had obtained these, they replied, "From Balagbac," which was
the customary reply to all such questions.
The captain went to another village called Yrao, which consisted of
sixty houses, at a quarter-legua's distance from the former village. A
chief gave the Spaniards a cordial reception, and called himself
their friend. He said that he had not gone to visit them because of
sickness. They asked him for some rice, and he gave them three baskets
of it, and two hogs. In this town were seen chased gold necklaces,
and armlets reaching to the elbow, and anklets. Their earrings were
of fine gold.
Thence the captain went to the village of Palan. A chief and some
Indians went out to receive him and carried him a hog and rice. This
chief was Ybarat's brother-in-law. They asked, since the latter was
the friend of the Spaniards, why they also should not be friends of
our people. The captain presented them with some articles and asked
them for rice; and because they did not give it to him, seized it
and paid for it in cloth. That village had eighty houses.
_Tuguey; 112 houses._ The captain went from that village to the village
of Tuguey, crossing a lofty mountain to which the Spaniards gave the
name Altos de Santa Zicilia ["St. Cecilia's Peaks"]. Notwithstanding
the stout resistance of the Indians, the Spaniards entered the
village. The natives hearing the discharge of the arquebuses came to
make peace. They gave six baskets of rice and six sucking pigs. The
captain made the same statements to them as to those above, and they
were satisfied. The village has one hundred and twelve houses.
_Giarin; 40 houses._ Thence the captain went to the village of
Giaren. The inhabitants are excellent archers, and with their bows
and arrows tried to resist the Spaniards' entry. After forcing their
way into the village, the Spaniards assured them with friendly talk,
and gave the people some trifles, so that they lost their fear of
the Spaniards. The village contained forty houses.
_Pao; 40 houses_. The captain went thence to the village of Pao,
which contained forty houses. He used with them the same arguments
as with the others, and they gave two hogs and some rice.
_Balagbac, with 120 houses; another village, of 12 houses._ Thence
the captain went to the village of Balagbac, which consists of one
hundred houses. On the way he passed another of twelve houses, called
Bizinan, dependent on Balagbac. As he was passing that village, the
people shot some arrows at him from a thicket, and, in the camp, it
appeared that a Cagayan, who was acting as guide, was killed; but it
was not ascertained who killed him. The captain informed them of the
purpose of his expedition, and that he had fathers to instruct them
in the faith. He gave them some trinkets, and they gave rice and hogs,
and were satisfied.
Thence he went to the village of Paytan, which he found deserted. Three
Indians came with a little rice and a hog; and although he assured
them, so that they might call their people, they returned to the
village and their chiefs. Only one chief came, and the captain detained
him, to act as guide.
_Palali; Buya, with 30 houses; Batobalos; Apio, with 180 houses._
On the twenty-eighth of November, the captain went to the village
of Palali, which he found deserted. From that place four [_sic_]
other villages were seen: Buya, with thirty houses; Batobalos,
the population of which was not known; and Apio, with one hundred
and eighty houses. The Indians seemed to be much disturbed, and with
threats warned the Spaniards to depart from their country, since all
the valley was uniting in order to kill them, and that the Pogetes,
who are Indians in the more rugged parts of the mountain, had joined
the others. At that place, they killed an Indian guide with a volley
of arrows. This loss was felt deeply, for he had promised to show the
Spaniards the mines of Yguat. An extensive ambuscade was discovered,
whereupon the captain ordered a musket and four arquebuses to be
fired at the same moment. With this volley a great noise was heard,
and the people fled. From this point the captain returned to his fort
with all his men, for lack of guides, ammunition, and provisions, and
with some sick men. A guide informed him of certain villages located
in the mountain to the left, called Piat, Pulinguri, Malias, Ybana,
and Aplad. Their population is not known.
By the flight of Chief Ybarat, the captain feared lest he should go to
incite to rebellion the villages that he had left quiet behind. Going
to them, he found the inhabitants of the village of Balagbac in
insurrection, and that of Paytan deserted, while the village of Bugay
was also deserted. Upon reaching the fort, the captain found that
the said Ybarat was inciting the people of his village to assault the
fort; and those who were inside the fort were very fearful, and some
of them sick.
After the captain had provided some necessary things in the fort, he
made another sally and remained away for two days. During that time
he discovered certain very small villages among the mountains. On his
return to the fort, he captured Ybarat, and sent him to Manila. Don
Luis Dasmariñas had him feasted and delivered him to Don Dionizio
Capolo. After some days Don Luis visited Ybarat and those who
accompanied him, and then sent him back, well satisfied, to his own
country, in charge of the same Don Dionisio.
The captain again made a trip, to look for some mines that were
reported to be situated among those mountains, and a golden goat [53]
which people said that a chief had abandoned. It was all found to
be false. The captain requested permission from Don Luis to return,
as he was sick, although the friars had first made the same request,
notwithstanding that they had promised great perseverance at first.
In his place, Don Luis sent Captain Clavijo with orders to go on
farther in order to discover the mines of the Ygolotes. Although
that captain left the province of Tuy in search of the Ygolotes,
he turned back on the way, because he was assaulted by more than one
thousand Indians. The latter wounded his guide, Don Dionizio Capolo,
very severely in the face; and it is reported that the captain was
forced to return because he had no one to guide him. After his arrival
at the fort, it was determined that the entire camp should return to
Manila, as they had no provisions and the soldiers were sick, without
making any further efforts for the discovery of the Tuy Ygolotes.
In the year 607, when the Audiencia was governing, two chiefs of that
province [Tuy] came to the house of Don Dionisio. This man had been in
all the above expeditions, where he had served with great fidelity. He
took the two chiefs to the Audiencia and said that those chiefs were
coming to render homage to his Majesty, and wished to pay tribute,
and would make others come. This was regarded lightly, for the most
part, although the Audiencia took care to make much of them and to
feast them, in order to get news of their land from them. Finally
permission was granted to Don Dionisio to return with the chiefs to
their land, in order that they might bring in more Indians who might
wish to come. He accomplished this so well, that he brought seventeen
chiefs, whom he took to the Audiencia. These were received with the
same coldness as the two chiefs, and no more was given them, nor any
interest in them displayed. And inasmuch as a citizen encomendero
came with the report that those chiefs were peaceful and belonged to
his encomienda--which was a notorious falsehood, as they lived more
than forty leguas from his encomienda, and were hostile, as appeared
but a few days ago--this was sufficient completely to extinguish what
little interest the Audiencia had displayed in the matter.
In order that the prevarication of the encomendero may be understood,
it is to be noted that about one year ago, the inhabitants of the
encomienda of this man and other fellow-citizens of his attempted
to make an incursion into the land of these Tuy chiefs, under the
leadership of three Spaniards; but the inhabitants of Tuy attacked them
and killed more than one hundred, among whom were more than twenty
chiefs and the Spaniards. From that occurrence the encomendero's
falsehood is manifest, as well as the coldness and neglect of the
Audiencia, although not of all that body.
Don Dionizio attests that he has gone to the province of Tuy sometimes
with seven or eight Indians; and as they were acquainted with him
in the past, and knew that he had entertained Chief Ybarat, they
have received him very hospitably and entertained him. They request
him earnestly that some officer may go to protect them and receive
their submission to his Majesty, and for fathers to teach them. They
show by their deeds that they desire just what they say, for they
begged a servant of this chief to teach them the prayers and Christian
instruction. They learned these in the Tagal language and went to pray
before a cross raised by the same chief. It is reported that their
land is quite capable of sustaining the burden of the Ygolotes and
the Spaniards who should go there to discover and work the mines; and
would be of great service in the discovery of them and the pacification
of the mountaineers, because of their communication with the latter,
as the said province borders on the said Ygolotes. The land contains
many settlements and many level plains, while its rice is the best
that is grown in the Yndias.
The nature of that land is for the most part good. It is an upland
situated between two mountains, and is covered with grass, like
Castilla. There is abundance of water and trees; and there are many
valleys and broad, pleasant plains. It has many deer and carabaos,
or buffaloes. Sugarcane is grown, and produces abundantly, and it
attains a much larger growth than in other regions; and even, where
moisture is obtained, many trees grow. There are many bare mountains,
thought to be composed of minerals. The highest mountains are very
rugged. The region explored by those who have gone there hitherto has
been only the valley of Tuy, and part of the headwaters of the river
of the same name. This river becomes of great volume, and terminates
at the city of Nueva Segovia, or Cagayan. It contains numerous fish,
and the best ones that are found in the island of Luzon. This valley
and province are said to be forty leguas long, and end at the mountains
of the Ygolotes. Its width is unknown, except that it extends from
the province of Pangasinan to the sea, from which one may infer that
is a greater distance than the forty leguas.
_Relation of what has been known from old times, in these districts,
of the rich mines of the Ygolotes--both from seeing the great amount
of gold that the Indians of those mountains have extracted without
skill, and are still obtaining, and which they sell to the neighboring
provinces, and trade for food; and by persons (Spaniards as well as
Indians) who have been in the mines opened by those mountaineers._
First, it is to be taken for granted that they are located in the
mountains and ridges called Ygolotes, at somewhat less than eighteen
degrees of latitude; It is an upland situated between two mountains,
and is covered with grass, like Castilla. There is abundance of
water and trees; and there are many valleys and broad, pleasant
plains. It has many deer and carabaos, or buffaloes. Sugarcane is
grown, and produces abundantly, and it attains a much larger growth
than in other regions; and even, where moisture is obtained, many
trees grow. There are many bare mountains, thought to be composed of
minerals. The highest mountains are very rugged. The region explored
by those who have gone there hitherto has been only the valley of Tuy,
and part of the headwaters of the river of the same name. This river
becomes of great volume, and terminates at the city of Nueva Segovia,
or Cagayan. It contains numerous fish, and the best ones that are found
in the island of Luzon. This valley and province are said to be forty
leguas long, and end at the mountains of the Ygolotes. Its width is
unknown, except that it extends from the province of Pangasinan to
the sea, from which one may infer that is a greater distance than
the forty leguas.
_Relation of what has been known from old times, in these districts,
of the rich mines of the Ygolotes--both from seeing the great amount
of gold that the Indians of those mountains have extracted without
skill, and are still obtaining, and which they sell to the neighboring
provinces, and trade for food; and by persons (Spaniards as well as
Indians) who have been in the mines opened by those mountaineers._
First, it is to be taken for granted that they are located in the
mountains and ridges called Ygolotes, at somewhat less than eighteen
degrees of latitude; and as the land in itself is so lofty, it is cold,
although its inhabitants go naked except for some garments made from
the bark of trees. This region lies between the provinces of Cagayan,
Ylocos, Pangasinan, and Tuy. The people are light complexioned,
well-disposed, and intelligent. [54] It is reported that about
eighteen or twenty thousand Indians use lance and shield. They are
at war with their neighbors up to certain boundaries. Beyond those
boundaries those peoples trade with one another; for the Ygolotes
descend to certain towns of Pangasinan with their gold, and exchange
it for food--hogs, carabaos, and rice, taking the animals alive to
their own country. Until that food is consumed, or but a little time
before, they pay no heed to securing any gold. Then each man goes to
the mine assigned to him, and they get what they need, according to
what they intend to buy, and not any more. They are a people as void
of covetousness as this; for they say that they have it there at hand
for the times when they need it.
It is probable that the mines here are very numerous and rich; and
it is a well-known fact that for these many centuries the greatest
quantity of gold, and that of the finest quality, in these islands has
been and is still obtained there; and at the present time this industry
is as active as ever. Although gold is obtained in certain parts of
these islands, such as the island of Masbate, Catanduanes, Paracali,
and the Pintados, yet none of it is in such quantities as that here;
and this has been always, and now is the general opinion. Consequently
one cannot doubt that a great treasure could be secured with expert
men and the order to work those mines, since rude Indians, without
any skill except in washing, obtain so great a quantity. It is said
that one can obtain more gold in the rewashing of what the Indian
leaves than the latter obtains.
It is also said that the wealth of these mines lies in certain
mountains, in a district of four or five leguas in extent, and
included between two large rivers which flow into the province of
Pangasinan. The natives do not cultivate the land--for one reason,
because of its great sterility, and the lack of ground to cultivate;
and, on the other hand (which can more easily be believed), because,
confident in their gold mines, they have thereby sufficient to purchase
whatever they wish from Pangasinan, where the nearest abundant supply
of provisions is to be found. The richest and chiefest among them
is he who has more heads hanging in his house than the others; for
that is a sign that he has more food, and gives more banquets. These
mountains contain large pines, and other trees found in Castilla. Don
Luis Dasmariñas, as above stated in the relation of Captain Miranda,
sent Captain Clavijo to discover those mines; but he did nothing
therein, because his guide was wounded on the road.
It is not known that these people have as yet received any evil
religious sect. Accordingly they are pagans, and but little given
to pagan rites, at that. On the contrary they are very lukewarm in
their idolatry, and consequently it will be easy to inculcate in
them the holy Catholic faith, as they are a race uncorrupted with
pagan rites. One may greatly hope, with the divine aid, that their
souls will be stamped with the faith, like a clean tablet. The same
is said of the inhabitants of Tuy.
Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, former governor of these islands, sent Juan
Pacheco Maldonado to discover those mines. It was said of this man
that he was of little diligence and intelligence, and that he remained
two months amid those mountains, in which period he could not catch
a single Indian except only two women. At the end of that time,
he returned because his provisions were all consumed. He brought
a quantity of earth with him, which he declared to be from the
mines. A charlatan--who had been brought from España, at a salary of
one thousand ducados, as an assayer--having made the test, found no
gold in this earth. They say that the reason was, that he threw salt
into the mass that he was about to smelt; and that salt should not be
thrown into gold as is done in smelting silver. As then but few men
knew of that, they did not investigate this difficulty. That test was,
accordingly, worth nothing, since the experience of so many centuries
and that of the present prove that those mines contain quantities of
gold, most of it of twenty-two carats; for almost daily those Ygolotes
go to a village of the province of Pangasinan, as to an emporium,
to buy provisions in exchange. Of this one cannot doubt in the least.
This race and the inhabitants of Tuy, and those of many other
provinces and mountains, have a cruel, barbarous custom, which they
call "the cutting off of heads." This is quite usual among them,
and he is considered as most valiant who has cut off most heads in
the civil wars waged among themselves and with their neighbors. This
race are ruled by certain superiors whom they call "chiefs," who are
the arbiters of peace or war.
The above relations follow the fragments of certain old papers that
have been found, and the narratives of persons acquainted with these
matters. From them one can easily infer the lack of care among those
who have ruled the country, to know the truth concerning the Ygolotes;
but in no event would that have been work lost. On the contrary,
according to the opinion of many men who have lived a long time in
the country, it is regarded as very probable that a wealth of gold
would have been discovered, like the silver of Potosi. [55] The same
is true of Tuy, even if no other wealth should be attained beyond the
inestimable one of having reduced to the faith of Christ a province
so vast, and which is said to number more than 100,000 souls; that
would be a most lofty and divine work and one accompanied by great
temporal advantage.
After having reached this point in the present relation, I saw the men
who made the test of the earth brought from the Ygolotes. They were two
men sent by Joan Pacheco from Tuy to Don Gonzalo Ronquillo. They tried
to deceive the latter by bringing some bars of very fine gold, which
they said was taken from the mines which had been discovered. Some
doubt having been expressed at this, the governor had the metal or
earth pulverized in their presence, and had the said men make the
test. Being ignorant of that business, they did not obtain a grain
of gold. On being urged, they said that those bars had truly been
obtained from the Indians of the mines of the Ygolotes; accordingly,
they did not come from the earth that had been brought. Thereupon Juan
Pacheco came, without any clearer explanations, which sufficiently
demonstrates his lack of intelligence, since he was unable, in so
long a time, to catch any Indians in order to talk with them. If the
Indians descended to the plain daily, as they do at present, for food,
as would seem necessary, they could have caught many of them; for,
as above stated, the natives resort to Pangasinan, as to a market or
fair. Given in Passi, July three, one thousand six hundred and nine.
_Doctor Juan Manuel de la Vega_
_Relation of how Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, governor of the Philipinas,
heard that the province of Tuy was unexplored, which induced him to
undertake its exploration; and his authorization to his son, Don Luis
Perez, to make the said exploration._
Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas learned from certain religious of the
Order of St. Augustine that this island of Luzon, where is located
the capital of all the islands--namely, the city of Manila--was not
yet completely explored or conquered, as it was suspected that the
interior contained hostile and very valiant Indians; that the country
was exceedingly productive, temperate, and fertile, and contained many
cattle; that it was called the province of Tuy, and was contiguous on
one side, as was imagined, to the farthest territory of the Sanvales
[_i.e._, Zambales], and on the other to the source of the river flowing
to Cagayan. This last was one of the reasons why Cagayan had always
been hostile, and the Indians never weary of continuing the war; for
they went inland by way of the river--where, the Spaniards did not
know, beyond the fact that they were supplied from that region with
provisions and other things, which the Spaniards took from them, in
order to reduce them. When the governor asked the Spaniards the reason
for so much neglect--why, for twenty years, they had made no attempt
to go inland, since that was so important for the pacification of what
was discovered--they did not know what to answer, except that a certain
number of Spaniards had once ascended the Cagayan River, seven of whom
were captured by the Indians. Since then, they said, the ascent had
not been again attempted. The governor, having found that, although
he tried to obtain from the Spaniards more definite information of
the nature and characteristics of the said new land of Tuy, they were
unable to give him any account of the said province, tried to gain
information of that land by means of some of the natives. This he did
by sending two Indians thither with all secrecy. One of them only,
the more clever of the two, reported that beyond the farthest village
of the Sanbales toward the north, he had learned with certainty that
there were three or four villages of very well-disposed Indians,
and that the country was excellent. He recounted some details of it,
adding that he believed that the river of that province ended in
Cagayan. The governor realized the importance of the expedition from
this relation, and through two Indian women (by the medium of two
interpreters from that land); and saw that the sure pacification of
all Cagayan and of this island of Luzon, and the removal of errors
by ascertaining with certainty what it contained, depended on that
expedition. There was also reasonable ground, from the indications and
reports adduced, for expecting that there must be many undiscovered
Indian settlements. Accordingly he determined--although against the
advice of the Spaniards who had lived longest in the country, who
declared that the country was thoroughly explored and that there was
nothing else to explore in it--to send his son, Don Luis Dasmariñas,
thither to make the said new exploration of Tuy. The latter was to be
accompanied by the captain and sargento-mayor, Juan Xuarez Gallinato,
Captain Don Alonso de Sotomayor, and Captain Cristoval de Asqueta
(all old residents), and seventy soldiers, most of whom the governor
had brought new with him from España, besides certain of the governor's
servants and some other soldiers who had been here in the country. The
said Don Luis was accompanied also by two fathers, religious of the
Order of St. Augustine, for the greater justification both of the
expedition and of the mildness with which he was to proceed. One was
the definitor, Fray Diego Gutierrez, and the other, Fray Mateo de
Peralta. Juan de Argumedo, and even many soldiers and others, private
persons, who came to the governor to ask permission to go with his
son, accompanied Don Luis halfway, but halted in La Pampanga, as they
did not appear to be needed. To these latter the governor refused the
permission, although very much pleased at seeing so great willingness
and readiness in all of them to follow his son, and to take part in
this or in any other expedition that might offer, and which for lack
of system and resolute action could not be continued throughout, as
was fitting, according to the arrangement and outcome of affairs. The
title of lieutenant to the captain-general was given to the said Don
Luis, with the following orders and instructions. He was instructed
especially to tell his father in detail all that should happen.
_Warrant of Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas for the exploration of the
province of Tuy._
Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, etc. Inasmuch as I have been informed by the
relations of persons of credit that about three days' journey from
Mungabo, a village of La Pampanga, lies a densely-settled district,
very fertile and prosperous, called Tuy, which extends to the confines
of the province of Cagayan; and although many things have been told
of it and of its vast population, no exploration has as yet been
made therein, nor has possession been taken of it in his Majesty's
name; and although his Majesty's royal and holy intention is the
preaching of the holy gospel; and since--so that these nations may
learn of the true God, and be saved by means of our holy Catholic
faith--it is advisable to explore and colonize the said province,
and establish therein the holy Catholic faith and obedience to his
Majesty, for which it is necessary to send religious to preach the
law of God and the Christian doctrine, and soldiers to accompany
and protect the religious: Therefore, by this present, I order my
son, Don Luis Dasmariñas, hereby appointed by me as lieutenant of
the captain-general in this camp, to undertake the exploration,
entrance, and new pacification of the said province and district of
Tuy accompanied by the said fathers, religious of the said Order of
St. Augustine, and those soldiers who will be assigned to him. He shall
fulfil and observe the instructions that shall be given him with this
my order, in the expedition and exploration. For all the above and for
all annexed and pertaining to it, I grant him authority and power in
due legal form, and as I possess and hold it from his Majesty. Given
at Manila, July three, one thousand five hundred and ninety-one.
_Gomez Perez Dasmariñas_