_How our religious went to the island of Luzon, and of other matters
that arose there_
As time passed, it appears that we continued to attain more and more
favorable results in enlarging the Spanish dominion and empire among
the islands, and in extending likewise the name of Christ our Lord,
for the adoration and reverence of those barbarous nations. This year
the return of the father provincial, Fray Diego de Herrera, who had
gone the year before to Nueva España, as above related, and returned
the following year, was made most prosperously, and with incredible
rapidity. It seems that he had put his hand carefully to the work,
which he had already commenced, and desired to see it assume a wider
extent, and to have those fields full of workers. He was exceedingly
well received in Nueva España, and so much caressed, that all were
importunate to embrace him again and again, not being satisfied
with simply embracing him whom they saw visibly as the apostle of
China--the name by which they designated these islands. They promised
him munificent help in advancing the undertaking. On that account was
his return so prompt. He was accompanied by two religious, namely,
father Fray Diego Ordonez [37] and father Fray Diego de Espinar. [38]
He bore the despatches that Father Urdaneta had negotiated. In them,
his Majesty ordered the Filipinas Islands to be colonized, so that,
by that means, the conversion of those races might be advanced better,
which the Augustinian order had already begun, with so much labor,
to secure. And besides the service that was being rendered to our
Lord therein, his Majesty was pleased, and thanked them for the same.
His Majesty sent the title of adelantado to the commander, for himself
and for his heirs, with the warrant for this privilege with pendant
seal. This was extended to the Ladrones Islands, which were the first
that he discovered and took possession of. That clause declares: "Just
as (says his Majesty) our adelantados of the kingdoms of Castilla and
of the Indias enjoy and exercise this title; you shall have all the
honors, concessions, favors, franchises, privileges and exemptions,
preëminences, prerogatives, and immunities, which, as our adelantado,
you should possess and enjoy."
The above is given place here, because, on the one hand, it was
negotiated by our religious; and, on the other, to show ourselves
grateful, to him who loved and protected us in everything. Moreover,
his Majesty sent him leave to apportion the encomiendas among the
deserving, as seemed best to his judgment. The governor was very
grateful for all the favors received from his Majesty. He was not
puffed up, but more than ever devoted to his service; for no fetters
bind the good so tightly as do kindnesses, which are strong shackles,
with which they are held within just limits. _Compedes namque invenit
qui benefacta invenit._ [39]
The adelantado--for so shall we call him now--became more fully and
correctly informed of all the islands; and learned that that of Sugbú
was not adequate, on account of its sterility, to sustain the empire
of the Spaniards. He had been informed also that the island of Luzon,
or that of Manila, would be the best for him in everything; because
of being, on the one hand, the largest of the islands--for it had a
coast of more than two hundred leguas, and was almost four hundred
in circumference--and being on the other, more thickly settled with
people, who would be more prompt to sustain the Spaniards. And above
all it was nearer China, whose trade, it was hoped, would prove of
great advantage, not only for those who might colonize the islands,
but also for all España. For that exceedingly vast kingdom abounds
in whatever can be desired to sustain life, and is such that, since
it has so many people who have no room to live on land, many make
their habitations on the sea in certain small champáns, a sort
of boat, very suitable for them. Nevertheless, the large vessels
with chapas, and those of lesser size, are well nigh innumerable;
and they sail annually to surrounding countries, laden with food
and merchandise. Forty, and upwards, were wont to come to Manila
alone. In the year 1631, although then not [many of them] were coming,
the number amounted to fifty, counting large and small vessels. We
will not mention those that go to Japón; and although, in going there,
they experience very great trouble, still a constant stream of vessels
go thither, for great profits are derived there. These vessels go to
Siam, Camboja, Borney, Maluco, and Macasar. In short, they coast and
go everywhere, and carry iron, quicksilver, silk, rice, pork, gold,
and innumerable other things, without causing any deficiency for
their own sustenance. They carry away all the silver in the world;
and even that of Europa, or its value, is about to cease, for the
Portuguese and other nations, as the English and Hollanders, carry it
to the Sangleys, without a single piece of money, or one real's worth
of silver, leaving their own country. Thus (and I do not deceive
myself in saying it) the kingdom of China is the most powerful in
the world; and we might even call it the world's treasury, since the
silver is imprisoned there, and is given an eternal prison. And if
there were no more silver there than what has been taken from Mexico
during sixty-six years of trade, it could make them most wealthy;
and much more so, inasmuch as the Mexican silver is not the most that
they get, for they take much from other quarters. They are the most
greedy for and affectioned to silver of any race known. They hold it
in the greatest esteem, for they withdraw the gold from their own
country in order to lock up the silver therein. And when they see
silver, they look at it admiringly. I am writing not from hearsay,
but from the sight and experience of many years. Consequently, he who
has any silver, and takes passage with them, is not safe. _Deprædari
ergo desiderat qui thesaurum publice portat in via_. [40] It would
not be bad if they only despoiled him, but they will beat him most
cruelly with clubs, which they use as weapons. Great misfortunes
have happened in these islands, some of which will be recounted in
the proper place. Nevertheless, the Spaniard does not notice that
no one receives any harm [from the Chinaman], except when he opens
the doors to him, and brings him into his house. Besides this they
are excellent merchants, and are very tractable; and in this regard
they are far ahead of the Japanese. The Sangley, or Chinaman (for the
two are one), when he makes any profit in his merchandise, trusts and
waits very accommodatingly. We shall treat of their other customs as
occasion offers. This trade, then, must doubtless have influenced
our adelantado in going to the land nearest it, in addition to his
own comfort, which was found there with advantages. Accordingly, when
he had prepared his fleet of caracoas--the most suitable war-vessel
in the islands--they set sail with them after two o'clock at night,
with oar and sail, taking advantage of the weather. At five in the
afternoon, they reached land and made port, where the men ate, and
took what wood and water were necessary. These boats have bamboo
counter-balances at the side, whereby it appears that they sail
more securely; for the canes, being large and hollow, have great
sustaining power. It has happened that a sea-going caracoa has kept
continually above water during a hurricane, until driven by the waves
upon some island; and, as there are so many islands, they cannot fail
to strike one. The Indians embarked very willingly with the adelantado,
for their greatest pleasure consists in cutting off a head. And they
desired all the others to be subjects, since they were; and that no one
should escape the fire, but that the law should be universal. Besides,
the Bisayans were generally at war with the inhabitants of Manila--who
were now Moros, through contact with Borney, and captured the former,
since they were men of greater valor; and now the Bisayans wished
to prove whether they could use their swords and cutlasses against
them under the protection of Castilla. Father Fray Diego de Herrera
went with the adelantado. He seemed tireless, and wished only at one
stroke to take everything for God, whose zeal moved him.
They arrived, then, at that island, after reducing to their service
on the way, all the islands in their path. These are not few, such
as those of Masbate, Sibuyan or Sigan, Bantong, Romblón, Marinduque,
and Mindoro. The island of Manila is as large as I have already
stated. Access to it is obtained through [a bay with] two entrances,
which are caused by an island between them, called Mariveles. There
is a corregidor there, whose only duty is to set fires on the highest
part of the island. [41] These are seen from Manila, and give notice
of what is passing, in accordance with the signals that the governor
has made or given. A Chinese vessel is signaled by one fire; one
from Macan by two; one from India by three; and one from Castilla by
four. Both entrances are navigable, for both are very deep. Then the
entrance expands into the most beautiful bay that I think the world
possesses; for it is more than forty leguas in circumference. [42]
Anchorage can be found in all parts of it, and its maximum depth is
not over forty brazas. The bottom is sand and mud, without a single
pebble. A marvelous number of rivers and creeks empty into the bay,
which cause the latter to be more frequented. It is so filled with
fish that, although so great a town is fed by them, it never begs alms
outside. When the vendavals blow, the weather is terrific; for they
come from the sea, and the waves sweep in from the sea, and become so
violent that ships cannot navigate without great danger. Since the
vessels are laden in the time of vendaval season, and the distance
from Manila to Cavite--the port--is two leguas eastward, the crossing
is very dangerous during the vendaval, and great misfortunes have
occurred, both to property and to life, without the governors being
able to remedy it--or rather, caring to do so, for they could easily
remedy it. But let us leave their government, which does not concern
us. The settlement, then most flourishing, was located where the city
of Manila is situated, namely, at the mouth of the Pasig River where
it empties into the sea, and on the south side of it. On the north
side is located another settlement, which formerly was very large,
and even now is not small; for what it lacks in Tagáls, it makes
up in Chinese Christians, and those who have settled there. It is
called Tondo, [43] and our convent there is a very handsome building,
being entirely of cut stone. The convent contains the equipage of
the father provincials, who have gone there to live. This seems well
advised, because they do not stay in Manila, nor can they stay there;
and by this method they save themselves innumerable inconveniences
and importunities. Besides, whenever necessary, they can reach
Manila very quickly by taking a boat just outside the court of the
church and descending a salt-water stream; then they cross the Pasig
River--all this in less than one-half hour--and disembark at the
very gate of Santo Domingo. Our adelantado thought rightly that the
conflict with those Moros must cost much blood, as the latter were
aided by many other towns--both along the coast, and up along the
river--which endure unto this day, still as flourishing and numerous
as before. Already these peoples had been informed of events in Sugbú,
of the victory over the Portuguese, and the subjection of the other
islands. It seemed a difficult thing for them to stem the tide, and
to kick against the pricks; and accordingly, they came to regard as
well that which--according as affairs were going, with wind and tide
in favor of the adelantado--they should have considered as ill.
The greatest chiefs of that country then were the old Rajá, Rajá
Solimán, and Lacandola. These men, as they already observed the
pernicious worship of Mahoma, imitated Mahometan names, as well as
their customs. On the part of the Spaniards, their coming thither
and the advantages that the natives could derive therefrom were
proposed. These would not be few, since they would enjoy entire peace,
whereby all their affairs would prosper. _Fiat pax in virtute tua
et abundantia_. [44] The principal thing would be, that they would
be freed from the error of the law under which they were living;
for the only true law, and way of salvation, was the law of the
Christians. That law those religious whom the Spaniards brought there
would teach them. The religious had come with only this object, and
time would prove the truth. All this was very easy for them, but in
what pertains to the changing of the law they found most difficulty;
for they thought that they could attain life eternal by means of the
law under which they were living. The cursed Mahoma made the law,
and ordered his believers not to dispute his law; for he knew that
his lies would immediately be laid open at the first attack. On
the other hand he advised them that each one was saved by his own
law. Therefore, cursed demon, if thus you have advised, how in
spite of torments, do you contrive that your law is received? This
law Mahoma introduced into the world with force and arms. I am not
surprised that these natives were so sorry to leave their religion,
for they were persuaded that there was salvation thereby. But they
preferred to follow Mahoma--homicide, drunkard, incestuous, robber, and
sensual--than Christ, exposed naked on a cross, who preached fasting,
mortification, chastity, penitence, love for one's enemy, and other
virtues. The Borneans who were living in their country offered the
greatest opposition to them, and were persuading them to the contrary,
with the cessation of their cursed religion. But as this was a matter
that could not be concluded in one day, but only gradually, and they
had to be convinced of their errors and superstitions by the true and
forcible arguments of our religion, it was left for the fathers--whose
fasting, abstinence, prayers, and sermons were to cast out that demon,
so strongly fortified in the hearts of those poor wretches. _Hoc genus
(demoniorum) non ejicitur nisi per orationem et jejunium_. [45]
Upon this, those Moros or Tagáls received the peace offered them,
and rendered homage to King Don Felipe, our sovereign--whom may
God keep in His glory--and to his successors, the sovereigns of
España. The adelantado set up the standard for him and in his
name. This was concluded and effected in the year 1571, day of
the glorious St. Andrew, the patron saint of Manila. On that day,
the standard is carried in that city, the capital of the islands,
in the same manner as we related in describing the city of Santísimo
Nombre de Jesús in the island of Sugbú. It is now carried with much
less pomp than formerly, for all things are declining; and as affairs
had their beginning, so they must have their middle and their end,
for they are perishable and finite, and consequently must end.