The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 05 of 55: 1582-1583; 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 05 of 55: 1582-1583; 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
_Island of Batbatan._ South of the north point of Panay, and about one
and one-half leagues from that island, lies the island of Bacbatan,
with a population of eighty Indians. The island is about three
leagues in circumference, and one league wide. The inhabitants raise
their wheat and produce their wax on the island of Panay. All these
islands--Buracay, Anbil, Simara, Sivaay, Similara, and Bacbatan--are
under one of the encomenderos of Panay.
_Island of Banton._ The island of Banton lies about one and one-half
leagues from the island of Simara, or Cabras. It is about eight
leagues in circumference and three leagues wide, and has two hundred
Indians. The island is very craggy; it abounds in palm-trees, potatoes,
yams, and wax. The people are traders.
_Island of Donblon._ The island of Donblon lies between Cibuyan and
the island of Tablas. It is seven leagues in circumference and three
leagues wide. Donblon is inhabited by nearly two hundred and fifty
Indians, and abounds in wax. This island and that of Banton come
under one of the Panay encomenderos, and under the jurisdiction of
the town of Arevalo. The jurisdiction of this town extends also over
the islands of Ymaras, Cuyo, Bacbatan, Sivahi, Similara, Buracay,
Anbil, Simara, Osaygan, Banton, Donblon, Cibuyan, and over the
larger populated section of Negros Island--namely, from the cape of
Sitaravaan to Siparay, an extent of more than twenty leagues. Banton,
which is the last island of this jurisdiction, lies about fifty-five
or fifty-six leagues from the town of Arevalo.
_Island of Cagaian._ Sailing south-southeast from the town of Arevalo,
one comes to the open sea; for there are no other islands in that
direction except the ones called Cagayan--two low islets about fifteen
leagues from the island of Panay. They are surrounded by many low
reefs; and unless their narrow entry is well known, the ships which go
there encounter great dangers. These islands have about four hundred
inhabitants, all of whom are very skilful ship-builders. It is said
that a few years ago the natives peopled these islands in order to
fortify themselves by the reefs, for fear of the pirates. Then they
undertook to return to the island of Panay in order to dwell there;
but very many of their women died there. Seeing this, as they are
soothsayers they returned to the islands of Cagayan, whence they set
out every year, and scatter themselves over all the islands to build
ships. These Indians of Cagayan have made his Majesty's ships in
these islands, as well as the galleys, galliots, and fragatas. They
also help in repairing and righting ships. Being therefore the most
important people in these islands, the adelantado Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi allotted the islands of Cagayan to the encomenderos of Negros
Island. Afterwards it seemed best to put them under his Majesty's
control. Thus the town of Arevalo holds jurisdiction over an extent
of about two hundred and fifty leagues.
Chapter Third
_Of the Island of Lucon_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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