The other cape of this island of Luzon lying to the southeast is called
Buza y Gan. [106] It lies in a latitude of thirteen and one-third
degrees. There is a port there which is at times made by the ships from
Mexico. Twenty leguas from the cape of Buza y Gan inland is the village
of [Nueva] Caceres. That village was colonized by Captain Don Juan de
Arze at the order of Governor Francisco Sande.
That province is called Camarines and is very large and densely
populated. It contains many small provinces in its confines. The people
are well featured and are excellent husbandmen, and therefore they have
considerable rice. There are many gold mines in that province and many
excellent goldsmiths after their fashion. Those men roam throughout the
island in order to gain their living. Many interesting things made by
them are taken to Mexico, especially filigree work. It is a very
healthful land, has good air, and is well populated by Spaniards. That
province also contains many Christians. Its people are very ready to
receive our holy faith, and are of considerable intelligence; but they
are not all Christians for lack of ministers. [107] It is a cause for
pity to see so much ready for the harvest in these islands and to see
how few workers there are, although they are full to overflowing in the
convents of España. The above is what occurs to me to tell briefly of
the island of Luzon and of the city of Manila. Manila is of great
importance viewed in any light, and must become very great and a
general center for many parts. The distance from this city of Manila to
the city of Macan in China is one hundred and sixty leguas. The
Japanese also are slightly farther away from the upper point of this
island, namely, the cape of Boxador. The island of Burnei is one
hundred and eighty leguas from Manila and extends northeast and
southwest from Manila. It is a very large island and densely populated.
Doctor Francisco de Sande went to that island in the year 78, with
three royal galleys and some other small ships and less than four
hundred men, to summon the king of the island to make peace and
friendship with us; for the natives of Luzon were daily threatening us
with the coming of the king of Burney. When Sande arrived near the
island he sent two Indian interpreters with a message to the king, but
the latter refused to listen to the message, and with great fury
ordered the ambassadors to be killed. However, it was the Lord’s will
that one of them should escape as by a miracle, for he made a vow when
he beheld himself in that predicament to become a Christian if the Lord
would save him. The Lord saved him and he afterward performed his vow
and is now an excellent Christian, and has produced much fruit among
his fellow-natives, as I am a good witness. When the governor learned
of the insult that the king of Burnei had shown him, he resolved to
gain by force what they refused to give him willingly. The king of
Burneo sailed out into the sea with a great number of galleys and
galliots and a considerable quantity of good artillery. But when our
artillery was discharged, and the Borneans saw that it had so long a
range, while their own had no effect, they began to turn and flee. The
small ships went in pursuit of them and captured their galleys which
they had abandoned and a quantity of their artillery, although much of
the latter was also thrown into the water. The governor followed up his
victory, and entered the city where he pillaged a great part of wealth.
Almost all the people fled to the mountains. That city was very large
and rich, and was built on a very broad and deep river, and had the
appearance of another Venecia. [108] The buildings were of wood, but
the houses were excellently constructed, many of them being constructed
with stone work and gilded, especially the king’s palaces which were
of huge size. That city contained a very sumptuous mosque, a very large
and interesting building quite covered with half-relief and gilded.
When the governor returned to Manila he ordered that mosque to be
burned. That king of Burnay is a Moro from Meca and is the ruler of the
seaports and rivers of that island where he has settlements of Moros.
The natives of the island however are heathen as are all the other
peoples of the Philipinas. The governor sent a message to the king in
order to get him to make peace with him, but it was impossible to find
him for he refused to put in an appearance. More than five hundred
Indians came to make peace, among them an uncle of the king who acted
as his master-of-camp. At that juncture it was the Lord’s will that
all the men of our camp commenced to fall sick so that there was almost
no man in the camp who could perform sentinel duty, and many died. It
was thought to be caused by an herb which the natives put into the food
or which they had thrown into the water. The governor was, therefore,
forced to abandon the settlement and return to Manila. The Moro king
returned to his city and rebuilt his mosque and fort. He has many
galleys and a quantity of artillery at present, but it will be of no
avail if the Spaniards return thither. It is reported that he had his
uncle killed as well as the other leaders who made peace. Burney is a
way-station of great importance, for it is on the way from Malaca to
Meluco, and Manila, while it is an excellent harbor for the fleets
which sail to Malaca destined far Patan, Sian, and other kingdoms. From
Manila toward the south lies Maluco at a distance of three hundred
leguas, and in the midst of the way lie the islands called Philipinas.
The latter are densely populated, well supplied with food, and rich in
gold. Among them are Mindanao, Sebu, Panay, and others which I do not
name although they are large. All the above-named islands are inhabited
by Pintados, whom we call Vizayos. They exhibit but few differences
among themselves. They are a robust and energetic race, and more
inclined to war and pillage than to work. They are not traders as are
those of Manila nor so wealthy, for they are satisfied if they have a
bit of rice and wine. The island of Zebu is one of these islands. It is
the province where the Spaniards were stationed, and where they
established the oldest colony on the seashore on one of the finest
harbors in the world. It was colonized by Adelantado Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi, and was called the city of Nombre de Jesus; for, when our men
went thither, they found a very beautiful child Jesus there, which had
been there since they had killed the famous Magallanes. The Indians
reverenced that image highly and commended themselves to it in their
necessities. Especially at times of drought they took it and bathed it
in the sea, whereupon the Lord gave them rain in plenty. It is now kept
in the convent of the Augustinian fathers of that city. That was the
first church in these islands. The Lord works many miracles at present
by means of that image. The Spaniards were living in that island when a
vast Portuguese fleet composed of galleys and galleons came to take
them to India. Its captain was a certain Gonçalo Pereira Marromaquez,
and notwithstanding that our men were so few [109] and had no fort,
they managed so discreetly and the Lord (who knew the great benefit
that must follow from their permanence), aided them so well that the
Portuguese retired in confusion seemingly with their hands to their
heads. That island [of Cebú] is small but very healthful. All its
inhabitants are Christians, being the oldest Christians of all the
islands. That island lies on the way and route to Malaca. The
adelantado went to the island of Panay from that island as it was
inadequate, after leaving a sufficient number of Spaniards there, and
settled on a large river called by the same name [of Panay]. He stayed
there until he went to Manila where even to this day is the settlement
of the Spaniards, and where I believe that it will always be as it is a
fine center. That island of Panay is the best of those under his
Majesty’s dominion except the island of Luzon. Its inhabitants are
Pintados like the others. It abounds in all sorts of provisions, and
has quantities of cotton cloth. It has an excellent Spanish colony at
the present, although it is not in the same location as at first. That
settlement is called the city of Arevalo. Panay is a healthful and
temperate island and contains many Christians, for there are a number
of convents of the Augustinian fathers in nearly all parts of it. There
are many other islands which are of quite large size and densely
populated. They are under the dominion of his Majesty and pay an annual
tribute. However, they have no Spanish colonies, and cannot have any,
because the Spaniards are few in number and have much to which to
attend. If his Majesty should send more men here to these islands, they
are located in a center where great things can be undertaken and
success assured, for finally as abovesaid all of the inhabitants are
Indians.