In 1631 there happened a wonderful thing in Sugbu. On account of the ill-success achieved at Jolo, the governor sent Sargento-mayor Tufino to Sugbu, so that, being posted in Dapitan (situated in Mindanao), he might prove an obstacle to the Joloans, so that they should not infest the islands. He reached the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, and was lodged in a house belonging to the convent, opposite the prison; the two houses are separated only by a very wide street. The sargento-mayor stored his powder, amounting to sixteen barrels, in his house. The prison caught afire. All the people ran thither, since if the fire leaped to the house opposite, and caught in the powder, the city would surely be blown to pieces. The most Holy Child was immediately taken out, at sight of whom the fire was checked, and burned only the nipas of that piece, and left the supports on which it rests intact. This is the latest thing [of this sort] that has been seen. It was a solemn miracle; but that Lord who is omnipotent in all things can do this. CHAPTER XLIII _Continuation of the preceding_ The trade and commerce of the Japanese Islands has always been considered of great importance in these islands; for, as the former are rich in metals and foods, what is needed here can be brought thence at moderate prices. Formerly the Manila traders made much more profit by sending their goods to Japon than to Espana, for they saw the returns from them more quickly and at less risk. The governors have sought this trade very earnestly. Don Alfonso Fajardo sent two ambassadors, namely, Don Juan de Arceo and Don Fernando de Ayala, who were very influential men of Manila; they carried a goodly present with them. But that barbarian refused to admit them, whereupon they returned abashed, without effecting anything. All this rancor has arisen through his expulsion of the orders [from Japan], and his prohibition against preaching any new religion in his country. Although the emperors have done this in their zeal for their idolatries, the credence given to a falsehood told them by the Dutch has aided greatly in it. The Dutch told the emperor, in short, that he should beware of the European religious, for that by their means the king of Castilla made himself sovereign of foreign kingdoms; for after they had entered the country and reduced it to their religion, the rest was easy. It is not necessary to prove the falsity of this, so apparent is it. Disguised religious have not on that account discontinued going to Japon, but continue that work, although the severity of the persecution is ever increasing.