_An Account of the Commerce carried on between the City of Manilla
on the Island of Luconia, and the Port of Acapulco in the Coast of
Mexico._[1]
Though Spain did not acquire the property of any of the spice islands,
by the enterprising labours of Magellan (related in our tenth volume,
to which we refer,) yet the discovery made in his expedition to the
Philippine Islands, was thought too considerable to be neglected; for
these were not far distant from those places which produced spices,
and were very well situated for the Chinese trade, and for the
commerce of other parts of India; and therefore a communication was
soon established, and carefully supported between these islands
and the Spanish colonies on the coast of Peru: So that the city of
Manilla, (which Was built on the island of Luconia, the chief of the
Philippines) soon became the mart for all Indian commodities, which
were brought up by the inhabitants, and were annually sent to the
South-Seas to be there vended on their account; and the returns of
this commerce to Manilla being principally made in silver, the place
by degrees grew extremely opulent and considerable, and its trade so
far increased, as to engage the attention of the court of Spain, and
to be frequently controlled and regulated by royal edicts.
[Footnote 1: Much of the original in this section is omitted, as
either unimportant now; or elsewhere given in the work.]
In the infancy of this trade, it was carried on from the port
of Callao to the city of Manilla, in which voyage the trade-wind
continually favoured them; so that notwithstanding these places were
distant between three and four thousand leagues, yet the voyage was
often made in little more than two months: But then the return from
Manilla was extremely troublesome and tedious, and is said to have
sometimes taken them up above a twelvemonth, which, if they pretended
to ply up within the limits of the trade-wind, is not at all to be
wondered at; and it is asserted, that in their first voyages they were
so imprudent and unskilful as to attempt this course. However, that
route Was soon laid aside by the advice, as it is said, of a Jesuit,
who persuaded them to steer to the northward till they got clear of
the trade-winds, and then by the favour of the westerly winds, which
generally prevail in high latitudes, to stretch away for the coast
of California. This has been the practice for at least a hundred and
sixty years past, (1740-4:) For Sir Thomas Cavendish, in the year
1586, engaged off the south end of California a vessel bound from
Manilla to the American coast. And it was in compliance with this
new plan of navigation, and to shorten the run both backwards and
forwards, that the staple of this commerce to and from Manilla was
removed from Callao, on the coast of Peru, to the port of Acapulco, on
the coast of Mexico, where it continues fixed at this time.
This trade to Acapulco is not laid open to all the inhabitants of
Manilla, but is confined by very particular regulations, somewhat
analogous to those by which the trade of the register ships from Cadiz
to the West-Indies is restrained.
The trade is limited to a certain value, which the annual cargo ought
not to exceed. Some Spanish manuscripts', I have seen, mention this
limitation to be 600,000 dollars; but the annual cargo does certainly
surpass this sum; and though it may be difficult to fix its exact
value, yet from many comparisons I conclude, that the return cannot be
greatly short of three millions of dollars.
This trade from Manilla to Acapulco and back again, is usually carried
on in one or at most two annual ships, which set sail from Manilla
about July, and arrive at Acapulco in the December, January, or
February following, and having there disposed of their effects, return
for Manilla some time in March, where they generally arrive in June;
so that the whole voyage takes up very near an entire year: For this
reason, though there is often no more than one ship employed at
a time, yet there is always one ready for the sea when the other
arrives; and therefore are provided three or four stout ships, that,
in case of any accident, the trade may not be suspended.
The ship having received her cargo on board, and being fitted for
the sea, generally weighs from the mole of Cabite about the middle of
July, taking the advantage of the westerly monsoon, which then sets
in, to carry them to sea. It appears that the getting through the
Boccadero to the eastward must be a troublesome navigation, and in
fact it is sometimes the end of August before they get clear of the
land. When they have got through this passage, and are clear of the
islands, they stand to the northward of the east, in order to get into
the latitude of thirty odd degrees, where they expect to meet
with westerly winds, before which they run away for the coast of
California.[2] It is most remarkable, that by the concurrent testimony
of all the Spanish navigators, there is not one port, nor even a
tolerable road, as yet found out betwixt the Philippine Islands and
the coast of California and Mexico; so that from the time the Manilla
ship first loses sight of land, she never lets go her anchor till she
arrives on the coast of California, and very often not till she gets
to its southermost extremity: And therefore, as this voyage is rarely
of less than six months continuance, and the ship is deep laden with
merchandise and crowded with people, it may appear wonderful how they
can be supplied with a stock of fresh water for so long a time. A
supply indeed they have, but the reliance upon it seems at first sight
so extremely precarious, that it is wonderful such numbers should
risque perishing by the most dreadful of all deaths, on the
expectation of so casual a circumstance. In short, their only method
of recruiting their water is by the rains, which they meet with
between the latitudes of 30° and 40° north, and which they are always
prepared to catch: For this purpose they take to sea with them a
great number of mats, which they place slopingly against the gunwale,
whenever the rain descends; these mats extend from one end of the ship
to the other, and their lower edges rest on a large split bamboe, so
that all the water which falls on the mats drain into the bamboe,
and by this, as a trough, is conveyed into ajar; and this method of
supplying their water, however accidental and extraordinary it may at
first sight appear, hath never been known to fail them, so that it is
common, for them, when their voyage is a little longer than usual, to
fill all their water jars several times over.
[Footnote 2: In the original is inserted a chart for the explanation
of this track, which it is unnecessary to give here.--E.]
The length of time employed in this passage, so much beyond what
usually occurs in any other navigation, is perhaps in part to be
imputed to the indolence and unskilfulness of the Spanish sailors, and
to an unnecessary degree of caution and concern for so rich a vessel:
For it is said, that they never set their main-sail in the night, and
often lie by unnecessarily. And indeed the instructions given to their
captains (which I have seen) seem to have been drawn up by such as
were more apprehensive of too strong a gale, though favourable, than
of the inconveniences and mortality attending a lingering and tedious
voyage; for the captain is particularly ordered to make his passage in
the latitude of 30° if possible, and to be extremely, careful to
stand no farther to the northward than is absolutely necessary for the
getting a westerly wind. This, according to our conceptions, appears
to be a very absurd restriction; since it can scarcely be doubted,
that in the higher latitudes the westerly winds are much steadier and
brisker than in the latitude of 30°: So that the whole conduct of this
navigation seems liable to very great censure. If instead of steering
E.N.E. into the latitude of thirty odd degrees, they at first stood
N.E., or even still more northerly, into the latitude of 40° or 45°,
in part of which course the trade-winds would greatly assist them, I
doubt not they might considerably contract their voyage. And this is
not merely matter of speculation; for I am credibly informed, that
about the year 1721, a French ship, by pursuing this course, ran from
the coast of China to the valley of Vanderas on the coast of
Mexico, in less than fifty days: But it was said that this ship,
notwithstanding the shortness of her passage, suffered prodigiously
by the scurvy, so that she had only four or five of her crew left when
she arrived in America.
The Manilla ship having stood so far to the northward as to meet with
a westerly wind, stretches away nearly in the same latitude for the
coast of California: And when she has run into the longitude of 96°
from Cape Espiritu, Santo, she generally meets with a plant floating
on the sea, which, being called Porra by the Spaniards, is, I
presume, a species of sea-leek. On the sight of this plant they esteem
themselves sufficiently near the Californian shore, and immediately
stand to the southward; they rely so much on this circumstance, that
on the first discovery of the plant the whole ship's company chaunt
a solemn _Te Deum_, esteeming the difficulties and hazards of their
passage to be now at an end; and they constantly correct their
longitude thereby, without ever coming within sight of land, till they
draw near its southern extremity.
The most usual time of the arrival of the galleon at Acapulco is
towards the middle of January: But this navigation is so uncertain,
that she sometimes gets in a month sooner, and at other times has been
detained at sea above a month longer. The port of Acapulco is by
much the securest and finest in all the northern parts of the Pacific
Ocean; being, as it were, a bason surrounded by very high mountains:
But the town is a most wretched place, and extremely unhealthy, for
the air about it is so pent up by the hills, that it has scarcely any
circulation. The place is besides destitute of fresh water; except
what is brought from a considerable distance; and is in all respects
so inconvenient, that except at the time of the mart, whilst the
Manilla galleon is in the port, it is almost deserted.
When the galleon arrives in this port, she is generally moored on its
western side, and her cargo is delivered with all possible expedition.
And now the town of Acapulco, from almost a solitude, is immediately
thronged with merchants from all parts of the kingdom of Mexico. The
cargo being landed and disposed of, the silver and the goods intended
for Manilla are taken on board, together with provisions and water,
and the ship prepares to put to sea with the utmost expedition.
There is indeed no time to be lost; for it is an express order to the
captain to be out of the port of Acapulco on his return, before the
first day of April, N.S.
The principal return is made in silver, and consequently the rest of
the cargo is but of little account; the other articles, besides the
silver, being some cochineal and a few sweetmeats, the produce of the
American settlements, together with European millinery ware for the
women at Manilla, and some Spanish wines, such as tent and sherry,
which are intended for the use of their priests in the administration
of the sacrament.
This difference in the cargo of the ship to and from Manilla,
occasions a very remarkable variety in the manner of equipping the
ship for these two different voyages. For the galleon, when she sets
sail from Manilla, being deep laden with a variety of bulky goods, has
not the conveniency of mounting her lower tire of guns, but
carries them in her hold, till she draws near Cape St Lucas, and is
apprehensive of an enemy. Her hands too are as few as is consistent
with the safety of the ship, that she may be less pestered with the
stowage of provisions. But on her return from Acapulco, as her cargo
lies in less room, her lower tire is (or ought to be) always mounted
before she leaves the port, and her crew is augmented with a supply of
sailors, and with one or two companies of foot, which are intended
to reinforce the garrison at Manilla. And there being besides many
merchants who take their passage to Manilla, her whole number of hands
on her return is usually little short of six hundred, all which are
easily provided for, by reason of the small stowage necessary for the
silver. The galleon being thus fitted for her return, the captain, on
leaving the port of Acapulco, steers for the latitude of 13° or 14°,
and runs on that parallel, till he gets sight of the island of Guam,
one of the Ladrones. In this run the captain is particularly directed
to be careful of the shoals of St Bartholomew, and of the island of
Gasparico. He is also told in his instructions, that to prevent his
passing the Ladrones in the dark, there are orders given that, through
all the month of June, fires shall be lighted every night on the
highest part of Guam and Rota, and kept in till the morning.
At Guam there is a small Spanish garrison, purposely intended to
secure that place for the refreshment of the galleon, and to yield her
all the assistance in their power. However, the danger of the road at
Guam is so great, that though the galleon is ordered to call there,
yet she rarely stays above a day of two, but getting her water and
refreshments on board as soon as possible, she steers away directly
for Cape Espiritu Santo, on the island of Samal. Here the captain is
again ordered to look out for signals; and he is told, that centinels
will be posted not only on that Cape, but likewise in Catanduanas,
Butusan, Birriborongo, and on the island of Batan. These centinels
are instructed to make a fire when they discover the ship, which the
captain is carefully to observe: For if, after this first fire is
extinguished, he perceives that four or more are lighted up again, he
is then to conclude that there are enemies on the coast; and on this
he is immediately to endeavour to speak with the centinel on shore,
and to procure from him more particular intelligence of their force,
and of the station they cruise in; pursuant to which, he is to
regulate his conduct, and to endeavour to gain some secure port
amongst those islands, without coming in sight of the enemy; and in
case he should be discovered when in port, and should be apprehensive
of attack, he is then to land his treasure, and to take some of his
artillery on shore for its defence, not neglecting to send frequent
and particular accounts to the city of Manilla of all that passes.
But if, after the first fire on shore, the captain observes that two
others only are made by the centinels, he is then to conclude, that
there is nothing to fear: And he is to pursue his course without
interruption, and to make the best of his way to the port of Cabite,
which is the port to the city of Manilla, and the constant station for
all the ships employed in this commerce to Acapulco.