The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55: 1576-1582; 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 04 of 55: 1576-1582; 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
85. Most of the Indians are heathens, but have no intelligent belief,
or any ceremonies. They believe in their ancestors, and when about to
embark upon some enterprise commend themselves to these, asking them
for aid. They are greatly addicted to licentiousness and drunkenness,
and are accustomed to plunder and cheat one another. They are
all usurers, lending money for interest and go even to the point
of making slaves of their debtors, which is the usual method of
obtaining slaves. Another way is through their wars, whether just or
unjust. Those who are driven on their coast by storms are made slaves
by the inhabitants of that land. They are so mercenary that they
even make slaves of their own brothers, through usury. They do not
understand any kind of work, unless it be to do something actually
necessary--such as to build their houses, which are made of stakes
after their fashion; to fish, according to their method; to row,
and perform the duties of sailors; and to cultivate the land. The
mountaineers make iron lance-points, daggers, and certain small
tools used in transplanting rice. They are very anxious to possess
artillery, of which they cast a little, although but poorly. They
are all a miserable race. Although the Pintados behave better to
the Spaniards, yet, whenever they find one alone, they kill him,
and the Moros do the same whenever they can.
86. When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to these islands, he settled
in the island of Çubu, which is very barren and small. When he went
thence, he went to Panae, on account of the war waged against him by
the Portuguese, and the famine there, which was very severe. With
but little acuteness, he established a settlement in Çubu, with
about fifty inhabitants; and built a little fort of stakes, which
soon tumbled down. Although the country is healthful, it is so
barren that no one cares to live there; neither is it an important
place. I have established this place and rebuilt the ruined fortress;
and I have placed there an alcalde mayor and about fifty soldiers
who have pacified those natives. The latter had risen in rebellion,
at the opportunity afforded by the tyrant Limahon. That islet is next
another called Mindanao, a large and rich island--where, God willing,
we must make an expedition soon. This settlement is of no advantage,
and causes expense and no gain, beyond saying that it is near Maluco;
nor does it possess other good qualities than that it claims to have
a good climate and port.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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