On the first of July of last year, I despatched from this port
Captain Felipe de Salzedo in the flagship to that Nueva España,
to give your Excellency [8] an account and relation of what had
occurred until then, and to carry specimens of articles produced in
this land. It pleased God that the ship should be wrecked while at
anchor in one of the Ladrones Islands; for it was driven on the coast
and all that was on board was lost, except the crew. They returned to
these islands with much difficulty, in the boat, which they repaired
for that purpose, as well as they could. Felipe de Salcedo saved
the packet of letters for your excellency, which accompanies this
letter. A few days after the departure of the flagship from here,
I heard that a Portuguese fleet was coming toward us. In fact, it
came in sight of this port--seven vessels in all, sailing in a line,
four galleons and three _fustas_. The captain-general of the fleet
was a gentleman called Goncalo Pereira. At first, he declared that he
came there only to see us and to inquire whether we needed anything
that he could supply us; but after he had entered the port with fine
words, offers, and promises both general and specific, he tried to
persuade us to go with him to India, saying that he was surprised at
our remaining so long in this land, when we knew that it belonged
to the king of Portugal. I answered him that I had believed myself
to be on land of his Majesty, but that, not being a cosmographer,
and not possessing a commission from his Majesty in regard to it, I
did not wish to contradict him or quarrel with him on that subject. I
assured him that, on arriving in this land, I was obliged to go into
winter-quarters here; and that I had despatched a ship to his Majesty
with a relation of what had occurred on the voyage. I added that I
had been expecting and still expected an answer to that report; and
that for lack of ships I had postponed my departure from the country
until they should be sent from Nueva España. To this he answered that,
on the contrary, it seemed to him that we wished to take possession
of the land of his king, with the intention of passing over into
China and other regions which were likewise his, thus breaking the
compact made between the kings of Castilla and Portugal. That was
satisfactorily answered by me, in the above manner, and I assured him
that my intention was not to injure his king in anything whatever, or
to seize anything belonging to him, because such was the injunction
imposed upon me by his Majesty. All this did not prove sufficient,
and he said that he could not go away from here unless either he
took us away, or we left the country immediately. He began to issue
some written injunctions, which, together with our answer to them,
accompany the present letter, so that your Excellency may know what
occurred. My intention was always to avoid giving him occasion for
commencing hostilities; but it availed little, for without any cause
whatever he started the war, and began to demolish with his artillery
some gabions we had built on the coast for our defense. He blockaded
both entrances to this port with his ships, to prevent us from bringing
in provisions or anything else, as will be confirmed by the testimony
accompanying this letter; and declared that, if they could not capture
us by any other means, they would do so by hunger. Thus he besieged
us for nearly three months, and the harm which he could not inflict
upon the Spaniards he inflicted upon the natives of the neighborhood
who were our friends. He burned and destroyed seven or eight towns,
and gave the natives to understand that this land belonged to the king
of Portugal. He said that we were thieves on a plundering expedition,
and that the Portuguese would destroy and kill those who befriended
us. From this we clearly saw and understood the good-will with which
they had come. Many towns which had been won to us have withdrawn from
our friendship, especially those lying along the coast of Mindanao,
where cinnamon is bartered. These towns the Portuguese injured,
and captured and took away some of the people. On the New Year's
Day just passed, they raised the blockade and departed; for God,
our lord, in His infinite goodness and mercy was pleased, through
the very means by which they thought to defeat us, to force them
to depart--namely, because of lack of provisions; although at their
departure they threatened to return soon and take us away by force.
After the blockade had been raised, and we saw the great need and
distress into which they had brought us, the captains and leaders of
the camp discussed the course which was to be taken for our defense in
case the Portuguese should return hither, as they are likely to do. All
agreed that we should change our location and settlement, because it
would be impossible to defend ourselves here where they could, simply
by closing the entrances to the port, as they did at first, starve
us, on account of the lack of food on this island. In view of other
causes and arguments set forth for this change, we thought that the
river Panae, situated forty leagues from this place, would be a more
suitable site, for it abounds in rice, and no one from the sea could
prevent us from going up the river to the mountains. Accordingly we
have removed thither the artillery, although the quantity of powder
and ammunition now remaining is so small that the artillery can be
of little help in any place. We have decided to send the companies
around the river into other towns, where they can sustain themselves
until we hear from the enemy.
The flagship having been lost, I tried to repair this _patache_
"San Lucas," in order to send word to your Excellency that I have
no other ship left, nor can I send further information until its
return. Thus we are left surrounded on all sides by water and
enemies, awaiting the mercy of God, and the help and remedy which
your Excellency will be pleased to send us, for we cannot expect
it from any other source. During the blockade by the Portuguese,
we did not lack infamous men who, persuaded by words and promises,
turned traitor and passed from this camp to their fleet. These men,
whose names accompany this letter, did us no little harm. If the
enemy return, may it please God that there be no more thus inclined;
for, as we are poor and needy, and have not seen for many years any
letter or order from his Majesty, or from any other person in his
royal name, concerning what we ought to do, some of our men are much
disheartened. On the other hand, they are strongly solicited by the
Portuguese with many offers and promises--a thing which I most regret,
and which gives me more grief than the harm which the enemy can do
us. May it please God to remedy this, for he knows what we need.
Before now I have written that if his Majesty has an eye only on the
Felipina islands, they ought to be considered of little importance,
because at present the only article of profit which we can get from
this land is cinnamon; and unless order is established and a settlement
is made, his Majesty will continue to waste money--although since
then I well understand that this land possesses regions which would
more than pay for the money spent on them. If his Majesty desires
more important things hereafter, he needs to have a settlement here
with a sure harbor and port. In order that a better explanation may
be given concerning what I am saying, I send to your Excellency a
summary relation on the nature of this country and of the natives,
[9] so that your Excellency may examine it and provide what is most
necessary for the service of God and his Majesty and for the welfare of
this land. I also send with this letter the register of the flagship,
so that it may be learned what it was carrying, and what of the cargo
was lost.
What we most need and lack at present is powder, ammunition,
arquebuses, and pikes. We are so short of them that a third of our
men possess no weapons with which to fight. I humbly beseech your
Excellency kindly to favor me by sending us what I have asked for, by
this same _patache_, or by any other which might speedily be sent. This
aid, even if no men or other supplies be brought over, will, with the
news of favors to be received hereafter, give courage to the men; and
will make them stand their ground and defend themselves until the other
supplies arrive. Otherwise, I think it will be exceedingly difficult
for them to do so. If your Excellency holds a warrant from his Majesty
to provide what we need here, may your Excellency be pleased to see
that it be fulfilled with the haste which the matter demands, and for
which we beg and implore; otherwise, may your Excellency favor us by
sending vessels by which we might leave this land, and not perish here
without any profit. And I am sure that his Majesty will be pleased
with that, for he would not wish us to perish here for lack of ships,
as long as he expects nothing else from this land.
I am sending in this _patache_ five pieces of artillery as
ballast. They are medium-sized cannon, in very good condition; and,
with their ammunition cases and fittings may be utilized by the ships
which your Excellency may be pleased to despatch. They will not be
missed here, for we lack powder and ammunition even for the cannon
which are left.
I notified your Excellency, through the flagship, that I detained
Captain Diego de Artieda against his will, for he desired to depart
with the ship. He has now insisted and claimed that he should return;
and I, in order not to oppose and detain him longer against his will,
have permitted him to depart on the _patache_. On the same vessel
departs father Fray Diego de Errera, [10] who has been our prior
here, and whom we shall greatly miss. Only one religious is left us,
the father Fray Martin de Herrada, [11] and it is fortunate that he
is with us. If this work is to go on, it will be necessary to send
him companions and religious suited for so great and holy a work,
and who might help him to sustain the charge and labors of this
land, where they cannot be rewarded at present as much as in that
Nueva España. The people who come here, whether they be religious
or laymen, should be such as are willing to settle in this land as
permanent residents, and not return in the same ship on which they
came. Your Excellency will provide for this and in all other necessary
matters. I humbly beg your Excellency to have much compassion on me,
and kindly give me permission to go into retirement, entrusting the
affairs of this land to the hands of one who might take them up with
more energy. This will be a very great favor to me.
Before now I have written that it is best not to allow any Portuguese
to come over with the other people. This matter ought to have careful
attention, for the Portuguese are not to be trusted, and will profit
us little. Many of them, both soldiers and sailors, came on the
flagship, and I would be glad to see them far from here. I beseech
your Excellency to be pleased to take the necessary measures in this
respect; for it is certainly an important matter, upon which much
depends. Felipe de Salzedo is coming in this _patache_ and will give
a more complete relation of everything; I refer you to him. May our
Lord keep, etc.
From this island of Çubu, July seven, 1569.
Relation of the Filipinas Islands and of the Character and Conditions
of their Inhabitants.
This archipelago is composed of many islands. Some of them are large,
and most of them thickly populated, especially on the seacoast and
all along the rivers. The mountains are also inhabited; but there
are not as many large towns as along the coast and the rivers. The
inhabitants of these islands are not subjected to any law, king, or
lord. Although there are large towns in some regions, the people do not
act in concert or obey any ruling body; but each man does whatever he
pleases, and takes care only of himself and of his slaves. He who owns
most slaves, and the strongest, can obtain anything he pleases. No
law binds relative to relative, parents to children, or brother to
brother. No person favors another, unless it is for his own interest;
on the other hand, if a man in some time of need, shelters a relative
or a brother in his house, supports him, and provides him with food
for a few days, he will consider that relative as his slave from that
time on, and is served by him. They recognize neither lord nor rule;
and even their slaves are not under great subjection to their masters
and lords, serving them only under certain conditions, and when and
how they please. Should the master be not satisfied with his slave,
he is at liberty to sell him. When these people give or lend anything
to one another, the favor must be repaid double, even if between
parents and children, or between brothers. At times they sell their
own children, when there is little need or necessity of doing so.
These people declare war among themselves at the slightest
provocation, or with none whatever. All those who have not made a
treaty of peace with them, or drawn blood with them, are considered
as enemies. Privateering and robbery have a natural attraction for
them. Whenever the occasion presents itself, they rob one another,
even if they be neighbors or relatives; and when they see and meet
one another in the open fields at nightfall, they rob and seize one
another. Many times it happens that half of a community is at peace
with half of a neighboring community and the other halves are at war,
and they assault and seize one another; nor do they have any order
or arrangement in anything. All their skill is employed in setting
ambuscades and laying snares to seize and capture one another, and
they always try to attack with safety and advantage to themselves.
The land is fertile, and abounds in all provisions common to this
region. [12] If at times some places lack the necessaries of life,
it is because the natives are the laziest people in the world,
or because they are forced to leave their towns through war, or for
other reasons. The land is neither sowed nor cultivated. Another cause
for the lack of provisions is, that they have so little authority
over their slaves. They are satisfied with what is necessary for the
present, and are always more ready to rob their neighbors of their
possessions, than to work and cultivate their own land.
More or less gold is found in all these islands; it is obtained from
the rivers, and, in some places, from the mines, which the natives
work. However, they do not work the mines steadily, but only when
forced by necessity; for because of their sloth and the little
work done by their slaves, they do not even try to become wealthy,
nor do they care to accumulate riches. When a chief possesses one or
two pairs of earrings of very fine gold, two bracelets, and a chain,
he will not trouble himself to look for any more gold. Any native who
possesses a basketful of rice will not seek for more, or do any further
work, until it is finished. Thus does their idleness surpass their
covetousness. In spite of all this, we see that the land possesses much
gold; for all men, whether they be chiefs or not, whether freemen or
slaves, extract and sell gold, although in small quantities. Then, too,
many ships come every year to these islands, from Bornei and Luzon,
laden with cloth and Chinese goods, carrying back gold [13] with them;
yet, with all this regular withdrawal of gold, the natives have always
gold enough with which to trade. All these things permit us to infer
that, if the mines were worked steadily and carefully by Spaniards,
they would yield a great quantity of gold all the time. Nevertheless,
in some places where we know that mines exist, the natives do not
care to work them; [14] but, on the arrival of the foreign vessels
for purposes of barter, they strike a bargain with those foreigners
and allow them to work in the mines for a period agreed upon. From
this it is clearly evident how slothful these people are.
There are places in these islands where pearls can be found, although
they are not understood or valued by the natives; therefore they do
not prize them, or fish for them. Cinnamon is also to be found here,
especially in the island of Mindanao, where a large quantity of it is
gathered on the headland called Quavit, [15] and in Samboaga and other
parts of the said island. In some places we have seen pepper trees and
other drugs which the natives do not value or cultivate--from which,
with care and cultivation, they might derive and obtain profit.
At present cinnamon is the only article in the land from which we can
derive profit; for, as I have said above, the gold supply will always
be small until the mines are worked. I believe that if the land is
settled and peopled by Spaniards, we shall be able to get plenty of
gold, pearls, and other valuable articles. We shall also gain the
commerce with China, whence come silks, porcelains, benzoin, musk,
and other articles. Thus partly through commerce and partly through
the articles of commerce, the settlers will increase the wealth of the
land in a short time. In order to attain this, the first and foremost
thing to be attempted is colonization and settlement. Through war
and conquest, carried on by soldiers, who have no intention to settle
or remain in this country, little or no profit will result; for the
soldiers will rather impoverish the land than derive profit from it.
If your Majesty looks forward to this land for greater and richer
things, it is necessary to people it, and to have a port here; for
this land has many neighbors and is almost surrounded by the Japanese
islands, China, Xava [Java], Borney, the Malucos and Nueva Guinea. Any
one of these lands can be reached in a short time. This country is
salubrious and has a good climate. It is well-provisioned, and has
good ports, where can be found abundance of timber, [16] planking, and
other articles necessary for the building of ships. By sending here
workmen, sails, and certain articles which are not to be found here,
ships could be built at little cost. Moreover, there is great need of
a good port here, for it is very dangerous for large ships to sail
very far in among these islands, on account of the shoals and tides
hereabout. For this reason, it would be better to build galleys and
light boats with oars, to go to the lands above-named, whence they
would bring the cargoes for the heavy vessels. Thus the latter would
not leave any port of these islands which might be founded for this
purpose; and by this method the voyages and trading would be effected
with great rapidity in every direction. The large ships would simply
come to such ports as I have said, load their cargoes, and return.
I believe that these natives could be easily subdued by good
treatment and the display of kindness; for they have no leaders,
and are so divided among themselves and have so little dealing with
one another--never assembling to gain strength, or rendering obedience
one to another. If some of them refuse at first to make peace with us,
afterward, on seeing how well we treat those who have already accepted
our friendship, they are induced to do the same. But if we undertake to
subdue them by force of arms, and make war on them, they will perish,
and we shall lose both friends and foes; for they readily abandon their
houses and towns for other places, or precipitately disperse among the
mountains and uplands, and neglect to plant their fields. Consequently,
they die from hunger and other misfortunes. One can see a proof of this
in the length of time which it takes them to settle down again in a
town which has been plundered, even if no one of them has been killed
or captured. I believe that by peaceful and kindly means, they will
be easily won over, although it may take some time to do so--because,
in all towns where Spaniards have brought peace and not destruction,
the natives have always begged for friendship, and have offered to pay
tribute from what they gather and own in their lands. And although at
times they do not fulfil their promise, it is not to be wondered at;
for the country is not yet sufficiently settled and secure. I am sure
that, when this is so, they will be subdued and will do whatever is
justly commanded them.
These natives will be easily converted to our holy Catholic faith,
for most of them are heathens, excepting the natives of Borney and
Lucon (who are chiefly Moros), and a few converted chiefs of these
islands. [17] These Moros have little knowledge of the law which they
profess, beyond practicing circumcision and refraining from pork. The
heathens have no law at all. They have neither temples nor idols,
nor do they offer any sacrifices. They easily believe what is told
and presented forcibly to them. They hold some superstitions, such
as the casting of lots before doing anything, and other wretched
practices--all of which will be easily eradicated, if we have some
priests who know their language, and will preach to them. Certainly,
there is a great opportunity to serve God, our Lord, and to expand
and extol our holy Catholic faith, if our sins do not hinder the work.
In some of these islands, [18] the mountain regions are inhabited by
blacks, with whom as a general rule, the Indians are at war, and whom
the latter capture and sell, and also employ as slaves.
Marriage among these natives is a kind of purchase or trade, which the
men make; for they pay and give money in exchange for their women,
according to the rank of the parties. The sum thus paid is divided
among the parents and relatives of the woman. Therefore the man who
has many daughters is considered rich. After marriage, whenever the
husband wishes to leave his wife, or to separate from her, he can do
so by paying the same sum of money that he gave for her. Likewise the
woman can leave her husband, or separate from him, by returning the
double of what he gave for her. The men are permitted to have two or
three wives, if they have money enough to buy and support them. The
men treat their wives well, and love them according to their habits
and customs--although they are all barbarians and have no manners
or politeness.
_Miguel Lopez de Legazpi_
[_Endorsed_: "There is no date." "Relation of the Filipinas Islands
and of the character of their inhabitants."]