The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55: 1569-1576; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55: 1569-1576; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
Northwest of Buglas lies Panae, an island abounding in rice and all
kinds of provisions. The camp was moved thither, and, as abovesaid,
I drew the plan of the said fort between the two arms of a river,
because it is impossible to effect an entrance by one arm. In the
other arm and below the fort, fourteen gabions were made and twelve
large pieces of artillery mounted for the defense of the entrance
and passage. The fort is situated two and one-half leagues inland,
and the ground all the way to the fort is a swamp, covered with
tangles of bushes; so that enemies can approach the said fort only
through the river, where are planted the above-mentioned gabions and
artillery. The position is excellent, and such that it needs only a
few men to defend it against many. The bar of the river is not more
than one braza deep; and its coast thereabout, for more than twenty
leagues, is very forbidding. Its center lies in about eleven and
one-third degrees of latitude.
Northeast of Panie is the island of Masbat, with a scanty and poor
population. There were found gold mines from two to four _estados_
[61] in depth, somewhat more or less, although I have not measured
them. I understand that the mines yield very little on account of the
scanty population, and its trade is of slight value. [The people are
the same as those of the above islands.] The center of this island
lies in thirteen degrees of latitude.
Farther to the northeast of Masbat lies the island of Ybalon or
Luzon. It is a large island, with many rivers, in which gold is
found--although, as I have ascertained, in but little quantity, because
its most influential inhabitants are Moros. While I was in Panae, [S:
the leading man among its people] sent a Moro, his steward or treasurer
to trade there; but he could hardly get for me one _marco_ of gold
in exchange for four of silver, which he bought for me. Buffaloes
are to be found here. We have [M: not] explored much of its coast,
and I have seen no one who could inform me fully concerning its
south-eastern, southern, and eastern parts, because no one has sailed
around it. Between this island of Ybalon and that of Panae, lies
Masbat. Farther on, and lying north and south, are some other small
islands, in one of which is to be found much brazil-wood. Although all
the others have it, I mention this because the Anglis [S: Sangleyes]
from the mainland of China come for it, in order to dye their
silk. [62] In this island of Luzon are three settlements of Moros,
who do not know the law of Mahoma in its entirety. They eat no pork,
and pay reverence to the said Mahoma. [The rest of the inhabitants
are the same and have the same customs as those above.] The southern
portion of this is in about thirteen and one-third degrees of latitude.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account