_Of the discovery of these islands_
They continued their voyage toward the west, until the thirteenth of
the above month, on which day land was sighted at eight o'clock in
the morning. That point marks the beginning of the Filipinas Islands,
which name was given to all these islands, in the year 42, by Ruy López
de Villalobos. Anchor was cast in a bay forty-five brazas deep. Then,
at the general's command, the master-of-camp, Father Urdaneta, and
some soldiers with them, landed, and went to see whether the island
contained any town or people with whom they could talk. And although
they brought report of none of this, they found quite sufficient
information next day from some Indians who came to the flagship,
who furnished them with the desired information regarding those
islands. The commander received them kindly, and presented to them
some small trifles, of little value--which, however, they esteemed
highly, as they were novelties and unknown to them before--and they
went away happy. When they were going, they were told that they
could treat for friendship and alliance with the Spaniards without
any fear. Those Indians, drawn to the Spaniards by both the kindly
treatment and the presents given them, talked to their tribesmen. As
a result, the next morning the ships were surrounded by their little
boats, all full of Indians of all ages. Among them were some chiefs,
who told the Spaniards that they wished to draw blood with them, as
a proof of the constancy with which they would keep the friendship
that was to be made with them. This ceremony consists in drawing
some drops of blood, generally from the arms. These drops they mix
together, and afterward mix with a little wine, which is then drunk
by the two or more who bled themselves and who wish to contract the
friendship. The commander rejoiced at this, although he refused to
draw blood himself, reserving that ceremony for the king, or supreme
head of all the islands. Accordingly the master-of-camp drew blood
with them, and then they became seemingly firm friends. The commander
regaled them as well as he was able, and bestowed not less attention
on them. As a result they appeared well pleased, and bound to make
similar returns. They promised to do many favors for the Spaniards
in the future.
Through this care, the islanders continued to frequent the vessels
fearlessly. The commander treated them according to their rank,
and showed himself kind and affectionate to all. He believed that
he could accomplish more for God and his king by that way than by
the din of arms. As soon as the father prior, Fray Andrés Urdaneta,
considered them somewhat quiet and less timorous than at first, he
began, as a true curator of souls, to tell them the chief purpose of
the Spaniards' coming through so wide and vast seas, ploughing the
waters in those vessels of theirs; this he declared to be none other
than to give them light, in order that, issuing from the darkness
of the ignorance in which they had lived for so many years, they
might know the true God, the creator of the universe, and His only
begotten Son--who became man for our redemption and our release from
the slavery of the devil, lived in this world among men, and finally
died, so that by His death we might have life and liberty. He declared
that the imparting of such truths to them was the duty of the fathers
and priests who were in the vessels, who would take nothing else upon
themselves, so that these natives, guided thus by the right way, might
also enjoy salvation. The others, he said, although they were of the
same nation, desired to settle among the natives--not for any evil,
but only to trade in the things of which the natives had abundance;
and at the same time to protect them and defend them from their
enemies, who, envious of their good fortune, might try to make war
upon them. Likewise they would maintain the natives in all peace and
quiet, so that, on this account, the latter might devote themselves
more thoroughly to their occupations, either at home or abroad,
without any fear of harm befalling them from the Spaniards, if they
on their part regarded thoroughly the laws of the friendship that had
been entered upon with so many ceremonies, according to their manner
and custom. In all these negotiations, the Indian Pacheco proved of
great use. Through what was said to him, and from his own experience,
he endeavored to persuade the natives to do what would be so much to
their advantage. The natives showed themselves very well satisfied
at everything, and agreed to everything without any repugnance or
opposition. After this the Spaniards requested the natives to sell them
some food; for they needed food, because of their long voyage. The
natives promised the food generously and willingly. The men in the
fleet waited until next day, believing that the natives would surely
fulfil their promise, since the promise had been made with so many
appearances of affection. The natives came then, but brought no more
than one cock and one egg, and said that they were collecting the
other food in their towns. Now at this the general recognized the
islanders' faithlessness and malice, and that they were entertaining
the Spaniards with words alone, and that they were only awaiting a good
opportunity to work some great mischief. The gallant gentleman bore
it all, in order not to give any grounds for any possible complaints
from the natives. On the other hand, he set about finding a better
port, in order to have it against the occasion already feared by the
tokens observed in those fickle people. To this end he sent Captain
Juan de la Isla to look for a good port. He and his men went to a
bay, where the Indians met them peaceably, and showed signs of a
desire to draw blood with them. But our men dared not trust them, as
they feared some calamity or treachery. One of our gallant youths,
an attendant on the commander, by name Francisco Gómez, declared
his intention to draw blood with them; and without more consent,
suiting the action to the word, he landed, and began to loose his
clothing for the ceremony. But scarcely had he uncovered his breast,
when suddenly an Indian pierced him with a lance, and he fell to the
earth dead. This unlooked for event caused our men great grief. It
confirmed their fears, and showed them how little they could trust to
that faithless race. Our commander was likewise mocked by the Indians,
who seeing that they had enjoyed his presents, and that the Spaniards
were still mild and discussed only the question of concluding the
temporal affairs, now came no longer to the ships, and not one single
Indian appeared. This made the commander somewhat anxious, and his
anxiety was increased by the non-return of the small-boat, and he
feared greatly that some ill-fortune had befallen it. On this account,
he determined to weigh anchor with all the fleet, and coast along
the island in search of ports, rivers, or settlements, and not less,
provisions, of which now they were in sad want. Accordingly they set
sail at nightfall, and next day sighted another bay, which they named
San Pedro, as it was the eve of St. Peter's preaching in Antioch. At
that place one of the chief Indians, nephew of Tandayag, chief of
that island, came to see them. He came, on behalf of his uncle, to
draw blood with the commander. He was received courteously, and the
commander made much of him, and asked him to bring his uncle, with
whom he would draw blood willingly; for it was not reasonable that the
commander of the Castilians, the ambassador of so powerful a sovereign
as the king of España, should draw blood with less than the supreme
ruler of the islands. This argument satisfied the barbarian, and be
declared the commander's remark to be very reasonable. Accordingly
he would have his uncle come, both because the request of _Basal_
was reasonable--_Basal_ was the name given by them to the commander,
and this name is given even now to all the governors, whom they have
called and call Captain Basal (_id est_, "captain-general")--and
also because, as he said, he knew his uncle was very willing to make
peace with the Castilians, and to live under their guardianship and
protection. The commander bestowed generous gifts upon him, and sent
him away very happy. He went away, to all appearances, making them
a thousand promises that the natives would bring them very willingly
all the provisions, and everything that they requested, as alliance
and friendship with the Castilas [i.e., Castilians]--as the natives
called, and still call us--was of great moment to them. But neither
they nor the many others who came fulfilled their word one whit,
so that our men were made to understand that they came only to see
and note what kind of men ours were, their arms, and how they could
rid themselves of them. For they immediately thought that friendship
with the Castilians would be of no use to them, because those who
were then the rulers of the natives would afterward behold themselves
under the yoke, serving as slaves. This they considered more than the
good of the soul, offered to them, to which they paid no attention;
nor did they desire it, as they were content with their _anitos_,
wassails, and innumerable other superstitions that had been handed
down from father to son since time immemorial.
When this was considered by the commander and the religious, the
former, by the advice of the religious, sent Captain Martin Goiti to
explore the river of Tandayag, and to find out, on the way, whether
any good port existed along the coast, where safe anchorage might be
had. He was ordered strictly to do no harm to the Indians. He took
father Fray Diego de Herrera with him. I beg the kind reader to note
that there is no sign of any action, in which, if one of our religious
took part, he did not play the principal role. One is led to think
that the Lord wished them to be the explorers in everything. The
commander had so good an opinion of our religious, that he trusted
to nothing without them, nor had any confidence in the good outcome
of any undertaking without them. He chose, as an excellent Christian,
to attribute all his prosperity to the servants of God, in whom he put
greater trust than in his own strength. For at the end difficulties
are removed more easily by prayers than by human strength; and God
always desires that the glory of things be attributed to Him, as the
one who really does them. He who does not guide himself thus is in
great error. And if, by the same reasoning, one attributes anything
to himself, God makes of no account his intents; so that, whereas he
expected to derive from it honor, he derives disgrace. This I think
the reason of so many lost opportunities, so many ruined fleets, and
the ill-success of other fleets, for perhaps no thought or heed had
been given to God. But it was quite apparent how little confidence our
commander placed in his own honor, since he would allow no action to
be passed over without our religious, in order to attribute it to God,
whose in truth it was. As soon as the commander had despatched the
frigate or patache, [as] the governor, he landed, and took possession
in his Majesty's name. Father Fray Andrés de Aguirre said the first
mass. This taking of possession was observed before a notary, with
all the solemnities requisite and necessary. From that point, the
commander ascended a creek, toward the town of Coyongo He took Father
Urdaneta and Father Aguirre with him to talk to the inhabitants, and to
endeavor to make them peaceful. Arrived in sight of the town he found
that the Indians were hostile. They were drawn up in squares according
to their custom, and by their cries demanded battle. The commander
did not permit any harm to be done them, but tried to inform them,
through his interpreter, of his reason for coming. But it was of no
avail, for the natives answered that the Castilians' words were fair,
but their deeds evil. When the commander found his efforts of no
avail, he went down the creek. The Indians imagined he was fleeing,
and with loud cries followed him. They threw such a shower of stones,
and they were so troublesome, that the commander was obliged to face
about to censure them. He fired a few arquebus shots, but with so
great mildness and moderation that it served only to frighten and
not to kill them, but it was effective.
Captain Martín de Goiti, who, as I have said, went to explore the river
of Tandayag, had no better success with the Indians than the above; for
when he tried to take in water in a river, an Indian came out from the
thicket, and throwing his dart, transfixed a servant of the captain,
so that he died immediately. The frigate advanced, and discovered a
large river, and a large settlement, with many rice-fields, herds of
swine, and Castilian fowls. Thereupon they thought it unnecessary
to make any further explorations. Goiti learned that the town was
called Cabalían, and thereupon returned to inform the commander fully
of his expedition. The latter was much cheered at this, because
of the little result obtained by his efforts in Tandayag, and the
time and presents that he had lost. The commander removed his fleet
to Cabalían. Upon his arrival there, he landed some men, so that,
accompanied by Father Urdaneta, they might offer the inhabitants
peace. Scarcely had the embassy been announced in Cabalían, when the
Indians filled the shore and sea with their _barotos_ [21] and boats;
for they had heard already of the commander's kind treatment, and had
been informed concerning the gifts and presents that he gave. Among
them came a youth, the son of the chief of Cabalían, who came to
draw blood with the commander. He was received courteously, and the
alférez-general, son of the commander, drew blood with him. He said
that when the ruler of that town should come, then the commander
would draw blood with him. That youth, named Camatuan, assented to
everything, for never does the swindler consider that he must pay
or fulfil anything. This visit allowed the people of Cabalían time
to collect all their best possessions and food, which they removed
that night, thus mocking the commander.