They were welcomed gladly, although with grief for the great loss that they had sustained. Those religious suffered greatly; for the storms compelled them to disembark between Bacon and Verde Island, which must have cost them dear. Afterward they suffered not a little on land until they reached Manila, where they were well received and feasted. The priests began to labor, and the brothers, after ordination, did the same, since they had come for that purpose. I, who had obtained by entreaty what I could to buy two ornaments and all that was necessary, returned to my field of labor; so that I left the convent with a house, church, sacristy, and ornaments, better than before; and all that was necessary for the house, more abundantly and fully than before. I also increased its annual income by more than three hundred pesos. CHAPTER XLI _Continuation of the preceding_ Governor Don Fernando de Silva thought that the trade of this country with China was annually decreasing, because of the Chinese pirates, who were now very bold, so that the traders could not leave port without manifest danger to their property and lives. And indeed, if any came, it was to bring rather people than cloth and the other things that the country needed. Besides this, since the Chinese had Portuguese in their country, they could transport their cloth without so much danger and sell it to the Portuguese. The latter brought it from Macan to Manila, and sold it there at whatever price they pleased; for the Spaniards had to export something, as otherwise they could not live. For their other incomes, acquired through encomiendas--I know not how they are valued--do not suffice or enrich, and least of all satisfy. Perhaps the reason is that in collecting them no attention is paid to what is produced. Besides that, the governor knew that the Dutch were settled in Hermosa Island, a very large island, which lies more than two hundred leguas north of Manila. It is called Hermosa [_i.e._, "Beautiful"] Island because of its fertility. It is quite near China, although it is inhabited by Indians, like the rest of the islands. The governor thought that, from that place, the Dutch were depriving us of the trade; this would mean the destruction of Manila, which only a lucrative trade could sustain. To remedy all this, he thought to capture Hermosa Island, and he discussed and conferred about this plan. The Dominican fathers, influenced by the gain of souls, encouraged this affair, because of the nearness of the island to China. As all are dependent on the governor in these regions, no one dares to contradict him in whatever pleases him; for they fear his anger upon them, which often deprives them of sustenance. But, I think time has proved what an unwise thing was done; for none of those injuries have been remedied, but have remained. The forces, which are daily becoming fewer in the islands, were divided, and there were innumerable other inconveniences. Finally, the governor