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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 07 of 55: 1588-1591; 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 Close of the Nineteenth Century

History

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 07 of 55: 1588-1591; 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 Close of the Nineteenth Century

Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources

The island of Mindanao is larger than that of Luzon, although it is
believed to be not so well populated. Much of it is apportioned among
Spaniards, and some of the natives pay tribute. For three years, the
preachers of Mahoma have come into the regions hereabout, coming from
Burney to Terrenate. We have heard that there are some Moros from Méca
among them. The law of Mahoma is preached publicly at the very river
of Mindanao, and mosques have been built and are being built. And it
is to the shame of Christianity there that it does not hasten to drive
these preachers from that region, since the inhabitants are vassals
of your Majesty, and have rendered your Majesty obedience for a long
time. The galleons sailing from India to Maluco know that island,
and obtain water and provisions there. Fifty leagues from this island
of Mindanao lies the island of Jolo, which has been given over to
encomenderos these many years. It is an island where many pearls are
found, and where elephants are reared. The inhabitants have a king of
their own, who is a relative of the monarch of Terrenate. Neither in
this island nor in that of Mindanao is there much Christian teaching;
nor can there ever be, unless the people are pacified.

The island of Ybabao, situated between this island of Luzon and that
of Cubu, is quite large, but does not contain many inhabitants. It
has a few encomenderos, is not yet entirely pacified, and has never
had any instruction. The island of Catanduanes is excellent and well
populated; it lies next to Camarines. There are four encomiendas
on it; it contains about three thousand tributarios, who up to the
present time have never had any Christian teaching. The island of
Marinduque, lying about three leagues from this island, is divided
into encomiendas. It has about eight hundred tributarios, who have
never been instructed in the faith. From this island to the strait
called Espiritu Sancto, many small islands are scatered--namely,
Masbate, Capul, Burias, Banton, Conblon, Simara, Sibuyan, the island
of Tablas, and many others--of which, because of their small size and
scanty population, no mention is made, although all are apportioned
into encomiendas and tribute is collected in them every year. They
have no Christian teaching, nor hope of any.

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