_Which treats of the province of Ylocos_
_Island of Luzon, continued_. Going out of the bay of Manilla, and
sailing north toward the province of Ylocos, first comes the province
of the Çambales. This province has about one thousand men, who are like
the Chichimecos of Nueva España. Their customs are much like those of
the Moros; they differ from the latter in their dress. These people
wear short trousers, and short-sleeved jackets shaped to fit [the
neck: _crossed out in MS_.], which resemble the _saltambarca_. [12]
On the middle of the breast, and on the shoulders, they wear a badge
resembling a cross, fashioned in different colors. Some of them cut
only half of their hair--namely, from the brow to the crown of the
head. The villages of this province which are known are Marayomo,
Pinahuyu, Mahaban, Buanguin, Tuguy, Polo, Bongalon, Dalayap, Cabatogan,
and Bacol. It is the custom among this people to punish murderers by
boring a hole through the crown of the head and taking out the brains.
_Province of Bulinao_. Next comes Bulinao, also inhabited by Çambales;
but the province belongs to his Majesty. It has a population of about
four hundred peaceful Indians, besides many more who live among the
mountains. The latter are a warlike people, whose only delight and
satisfaction is in waging war and in cutting off one another's heads,
which they hang up in their houses. The man who can display the most
heads in his house is he who is most respected and feared by all. They
cultivate the land although only in small tracts. They are like the
Chichimecos of Nueva España, who cannot be subdued--except that the
villages of Bulinao, as I have said, contain about four hundred Indians
who are pacified. These people recognize a God in heaven; but in times
of trouble and sickness they invoke their dead and their ancestors,
like the people of Visaya.
_Bay of Pangasinan_. About five leagues farther is the province of
Pangasinan. Its bay is about six leagues around. Three large rivers,
which flow from the mining district of the mountains, fall into this
bay. This province has a peaceful population of four thousand. The land
is allotted to six encomenderos; but the best portion of it, which
has one thousand men, belongs to his Majesty. The people resemble
the Cambales above mentioned, in both dress and language; but they
are more intelligent, for they are traders and traffic with the
Chinese, Japanese, Borneans, and the natives of other islands. This
province abounds in food supplies, such as rice, goats, and swine;
and many buffaloes are hunted. The main occupation of this people is
commerce; but they are also good farmers, and sell their articles of
food and clothing to the miners; the gold that they obtain in return
for these they barter with the Spaniards. The men are very jealous
of their wives, whom they kill immediately if caught in adultery;
nor do the relatives of the latter resent the deed. These people,
like the Pintados, kill their children if they have many, in order
that they may not live in poverty.
_Alcalde-mayor of Pangassinan_. For two years this district has had
one alcalde-mayor, who receives a salary of one hundred pesos. From
this province one can go by land to Manilla, over a very smooth and
good road, having to travel only fourteen or fifteen leagues to arrive
at the Capanpanga River.
_Port of Japon_. Four leagues farther is a port which is called the
port of Japon. There is a settlement of [Spaniard: _crossed out in
MS_.] Indians, of the same race as those of Pangasinan.
_Alinguey and Baratao_. Six leagues farther are the villages of
Alinguey and Baratao, with a population of about two thousand. Once
they were allotted to one encomendero, but now they belong to the royal
crown. The people are of the same race as those who inhabit Pangasinan.
_Purao_. Four leagues farther are the villages of Purao, with a
population of two thousand. These towns are under the encomendero
of Bitis and Lubao. The people differ from the above in language,
but resemble them in their behavior and customs. They till the land;
and possess much gold, on account of being near the mines. These
people do not kill their children, as do the people of Pangasinan.
_Villages of Lumaquaque_. Three leagues farther is the valley of
Lumaquaque, where live about one thousand five hundred natives. Half
of this district is under one encomendero, the other half belongs to
his Majesty. The people resemble those of Purao.
_Villages of Candon_. Two leagues farther are the villages of Candon,
with a population of about one thousand eight hundred. They are under
two encomenderos. The people resemble those of Purao.
_Province of Maluacan_. Three leagues farther is the province of
Maluacan, with a population of about one thousand eight hundred. It
is under the encomendero of Bonbon.
_Valley of Landan_. Two leagues farther is the valley of Landan,
with a population of about one thousand Indians, who belong to the
hospital of the city of Manilla.
_Village of Vigan_. Opposite this valley is the village of Vigan, with
about eight hundred inhabitants. It belongs to his Majesty. Not far
from Vigan is settled the town of Fernandina, which Guido de la Vezaris
founded in the year seventy-five. He appointed there six regidors, two
alcaldes, and one chief justice for all the provinces of the Ylocos.
_Alcalde-mayor of Ylocos_. At the coming of Limahon, Fernandina was
plundered, and there only remains now one alcalde-mayor, with twenty
or thirty Spaniards, who usually dwell there as if in banishment. The
alcalde-mayor receives a salary of three hundred pesos, and appoints
notaries at his pleasure.
_Valley of Bantay_. One league from this town is the valley of
Bantay, with a population of about one thousand six hundred, and
one encomendero.
_Valley of Sinay_. Three leagues farther is the valley of Sinay,
which is under the same encomendero of Bantay, and has a population
of about one thousand six hundred.
_The valley of Vavo_. Two leagues from Sinay is the valley of Vavo. It
is under one encomendero, and has a population of about one thousand
Indians.
_Province of Cacaguayan_. Still farther is the province of Cacaguayan,
with a population of about four thousand. Two thousand of them are
under two encomenderos--each with one thousand; and two thousand
belong to his Majesty.
_Province of Ylagua._ Two leagues farther is the province of Ylagua,
which belongs to his Majesty. It has a population of about five
thousand, but they are not all peaceful.
_Valley of Dynglas._ Three leagues inland from this province is a
valley called Dinglas. It has a population of about two thousand
Indians, and one encomendero.
_Valley of Vicagua._ Farther along the coast from Ylagua is
the valley of Vicagua, with a population of two thousand, and
two encomiendas. This valley is twenty leagues from the Cagayan
River. There are to be found some rivers and settlements, but the
inhabitants are not pacified or even known.
All the people of the Ylocos resemble the Pintados in their manner of
living, but they eat raw meat. They are a quiet and peaceful people,
dislike war, and are humble and well-disposed.
Thus, from the city of Manilla to the Cagayan River hither, the
distance is about one hundred and ten leagues, as stated above. On
account of the shortness of the time before me, I am unable to give
a more detailed account of this island of Luçon, which is the most
important in this land.
_Island of Mindoro._ Opposite the encomiendas of Bonbon and Batangas
lies the island of Mindoro. The Moros form the greater part of its
population. Three leagues from the island of Luçon is located the
village of Mindoro. This is a good harbor for ships, and belongs to
his Majesty. The village is inhabited by about two hundred and fifty
Moros. The island is eighty leagues in circumference, and is scantily
populated, for it has in all less than five hundred inhabitants. Some
blacks live in the mountains, who gather a large quantity of wax. The
island is ill supplied with provisions.
_Island of Luban_. Four leagues from the western point of this island,
and opposite the bay of Manilla, lies the island of Luban. It is
twenty leagues from Manilla, and has a circumference of about ten
leagues. It has six villages, with a total population of about five
hundred Indians.
Close to this island is a smaller one by the same name, with about
one hundred inhabitants. The people are the same as those of Luzon.
_Island of Elin_. The island of Elin lies two leagues south from
the island of Mindoro. It is seven leagues in circumference and is
inhabited by about two hundred Visayan Indians.
_Alcalde-mayor of Vindoro_. These islands--namely Mindoro, Elin, and
Luban--are under one encomendero, and all have one alcalde-mayor,
who holds jurisdiction also over that region of Luçon which begins
at Batangas and ends at the province of Camarines, to which region
we shall now return.
_Islands of the Babayanes_. Opposite the Cagayan River, in the open
sea toward China, are seven islands, called Babuyanes. Because many
swine are imported therefrom into the province of Ylocos, and since the
word for swine in the Ylocos language is _babuyes_, the islands have
been called by that name. Of their inhabitants very little is known.
_Island of Calamianes_. Returning from Burney and sailing from
Manilla twelve leagues beyond the island of Elin, we find the islands
of the Calamianes. These islands being somewhat out of the way,
very little is known about them--that is, about their inhabitants,
for only a few villages along the coast have been seen, where the
tribute is collected. The natives of these coast-towns are Pintados;
those who live in the mountains are blacks. A very large quantity
of wax is collected there, which is an article of barter for nearly
all the other islands. They lack provisions and clothing. The most
important of the Calamianes islands is Paraguan, which has a circuit
of one hundred and fifty leagues. The other islands are small, and
only the following are inhabited: Tanianao, Binorboran, Cabanga,
Bangaan, Caramian (which is also called by another name, Linapacan),
Dipayan, and Coron. In all these islands, only three hundred Indians
pay tribute; therefore very little is known about them. These islands
are all under the jurisdiction of the alcalde-mayor of Mindoro,
[and pay tribute: _crossed out in MS_.] and belong to the royal crown.