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INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
The original, of which the following translation is offered to the English reader, is, probably, the only copy which has yet reached this country. Whether the chance which threw it in the way of the translator may be deemed fortunate or otherwise must be left to the decision of the candid public; but it appeared to him that the information it contains respecting a Spanish colony, the most interesting of any other to a British subject, supplies that desideratum so much wanted in our language;— a
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CHAPTER I. ANNO DOM. 1669.
CHAPTER I. ANNO DOM. 1669.
The Administration of Don Manuel de Leon. Don Manuel de Leon, the new Governor of these islands, took possession on the 24th of September, 1669. The first act of his government was to declare that Señor Bonifaz, who had been Governor ad interim , had not been duly authorized, and though he confiscated his goods, he did not succeed in his attempt to imprison him, as the moment he gave up his government, he retired to the convent of the Franciscans. The Governor found the commerce of Manila at a v
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CHAPTER II. ANNO DOM. 1678.
CHAPTER II. ANNO DOM. 1678.
The Administration of Don Gabriel de Curuzalegui. Don Gabriel de Curuzalegui took possession of his government the 24th of August, 1684, and by his judgment and prudence, put an end to these disgraceful dissensions. On the 27th of April, 1689, the Governor died, and was interred in the church of St. Augustine. He was a quiet and inoffensive man, and although he leaned too much to the side of the Archbishop in the ecclesiastical disputes which had occurred for some years previous, yet the court a
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PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. CHAPTER I.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. CHAPTER I.
We have in Mindanao the garrison of Zamboanga, with a Spanish governor, to check these depredations; but as yet we have found little benefit from this establishment. To the east of these islands, at the distance of three hundred leagues, are found las Marianas, las Carolinas, and the islands de Palaos, or Pelew. Of these, the Marianas alone are under the dominion of the Spaniards. Here there is a governor, with a detachment of troops, to overawe the Indians, and three Franciscan friars to instru
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CHAPTER III. ANNO DOM. 1684.
CHAPTER III. ANNO DOM. 1684.
The Administration of Don Fausto Cruzat y Gongora. Don Fausto Cruzat y Gongora, of a distinguished family in Pampeluna, took possession of his government in 1690, with the accustomed pomp on these occasions. On his arrival, he found that the royal establishments were very badly administered, the superintending officers paying more attention to their own individual interests than to those of his Majesty, whose control was too remote to produce any salutary check on their proceedings. He set immed
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
No doubt can be entertained, that the radical language, from which all those dialects spring, prevails from Madagascar to the Philippines, with local shades of difference. It is spoken too in New Guinea, and in all the islands to the southward, in the Marianas, in the islands of San Duisk, in those of Otaheite, and in almost all the islands in the South Sea. In one collection of voyages, there are given various vocabularies, with such corresponding terminations, as the respective travellers, wer
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CHAPTER III. ANNO DOM. 1519 to 1564.
CHAPTER III. ANNO DOM. 1519 to 1564.
On the death of Magellan, the Spaniards chose Juan Serrano as Commander of the expedition; and, alarmed at their defeat at Mactan, they remained on board their ships, apprehensive of the treachery of the other Indians. In fact, the people of Zebu, began to think lightly of the strangers, whom they had hitherto considered as invincible, and proceeded to plan their destruction. Abundantly deceitful by nature, they concealed their designs, and succeeded in persuading our General to be present, with
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CHAPTER IV. ANNO DOM. 1690.
CHAPTER IV. ANNO DOM. 1690.
The Administration of Don Domingo Zabalburu. Don Domingo Zabalburu took possession of his government on the 8th of September, 1701. He finished the royal magazines which had been begun by his predecessor, re-built the redoubt of San Antonio Abad, and repaired the fortification of Cavite, the inhabitants of Manila contributing with their accustomed generosity by presents for the purpose. At this time the Kings of Jolo and Mindanao had a serious misunderstanding, each requesting assistance from th
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CHAPTER V. ANNO DOM. 1701.
CHAPTER V. ANNO DOM. 1701.
The Administration of the Conde de Lizarraga. Don Martin de Ursua y Arismendi Conde de Lizarraga took possession of his government on the 25th of August, 1709. His first care was to send out of the islands all those Chinese who had been hitherto in the habit of remaining annually after the departure of the junks, to the great prejudice of the Spaniards. The safety of the state required this step, and all were expelled except those who were mechanics, or in the service of the public. The indulgen
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CHAPTER IV. ANNO DOM. 1564 to 1565.
CHAPTER IV. ANNO DOM. 1564 to 1565.
Legaspi paid well for every thing they brought; and, at length, procured sufficient provisions, to be in a situation to despatch one ship to New Spain, but was unable to accompany it; and he did not wish to have recourse to violence, to procure a larger supply, thinking that unjustifiable and unwise, except in case of extremity. With the people of Zebu, he was inclined to conclude, he should be obliged to have recourse to arms, unless they supplied him, on friendly terms, with provisions; and he
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CHAPTER VI. ANNO DOM. 1709.
CHAPTER VI. ANNO DOM. 1709.
The Administration of Don Fernando Bustamante, commonly called the Marshal. The Field-Marshal Don Fernando Bustamante Bustillo y Rueda, late alcalde mayor of Tlascala, in New Spain, took possession of his government on the 9th of August, 1717. He was a man who knew how to make himself obeyed, and the more difficulties he encountered, the more did his resolution impel him to meet them with effect. He began by issuing some strong decrees, and others still more severe were expected. These were prin
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CHAPTER V. ANNO DOM. 1565.
CHAPTER V. ANNO DOM. 1565.
The General was well aware of the treachery of the Zebuans, of the little faith to be placed in them, and their doubtful intentions; but he dissembled his sentiments, as they were necessary to his views, and our camp was tolerably well supplied. By the expeditions, which Martin de Goite and others made round the adjacent islands, it was discovered that some of the towns courted the friendship of the Spaniards, while others planned their destruction by famine, for which purpose all the provisions
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CHAPTER VII. ANNO DOM. 1717.
CHAPTER VII. ANNO DOM. 1717.
A charge was made by the King’s fiscal against Señor Torralba, for property which had disappeared during the time he held the chief authority, the amount of which, according to his own account, was seven hundred thousand dollars. It was understood that his son had effected his escape with considerable property, and that his wife, with his younger sons, had embarked in the ship for Acapulco, at the close of his government. The royal fiscal requested that the property might be attached which his w
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CHAPTER VI. ANNO DOM. 1569 to 1571.
CHAPTER VI. ANNO DOM. 1569 to 1571.
On the 23d of June of this year, Captain Juan de la Isla arrived with three vessels, in which came the Friar Perrera with two other religious, viz. Friar Diego Orduñez, and Friar Diego de Espinar, who came to labour in this new vineyard. Despatches were brought by them from his Majesty, by which Miguel Lopez de Legaspi was constituted President of the islands of the Ladrones, and he was recommended to settle the Philippines; at the same time his Majesty bestowed portions of lands, with their inh
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CHAPTER VII. ANNO DOMINI, 1571.
CHAPTER VII. ANNO DOMINI, 1571.
The greater part of this quarter of the island, being reduced to complete obedience, to the King of Spain, and nothing being known of the northern part of it, Juan de Salcedo offered to make the discovery, at his own risk. He collected men and ships, the Governor allowing him forty-five soldiers, with necessary ammunition. He sailed from Manila on the 20th of May, 1572; on the third day, he arrived at Cape Bolinao, in the province of Zambales, where he found a Chinese junk or sampan, and a party
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CHAPTER VIII. ANNO DOM. 1721.
CHAPTER VIII. ANNO DOM. 1721.
The council of the Indies, who had taken the account of the examinations on the murders of the Governor and his son, agreed with the Royal Audience in remaining apparently satisfied with them; but a royal order having been forwarded to the Marquis de Torre Campo to sift the business to the bottom, and punish the offenders, this Governor, having no desire to enter further into such unavailing processes, consulted the Friar Totanes and the Jesuits, who had before given him their assistance. The fr
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CHAPTER VIII. ANNO DOM. 1575.
CHAPTER VIII. ANNO DOM. 1575.
Towards the close of La Lande's government, an unpleasant disagreement arose between the clergy and laity. The factors had introduced into their respective districts, several abuses, which the clergy would not countenance. Certain services were required of the Indians, beyond the stipulated rents, which were extremely vexatious, and which little accorded with the Christian character. The friars began by preaching against these abuses, but this had little effect, and in the end, so many complaint
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CHAPTER IX. ANNO DOM. 1729.
CHAPTER IX. ANNO DOM. 1729.
Under this Governor was terminated the discussion which had subsisted between the Chamber of Commerce of Seville and the merchants of Manila, the subject having occupied the public attention many years. The merchants of Seville argued, that the galleon ought not to carry silk from Manila to New Spain, in either its raw or wrought state; and that the commerce of the Philippines with that country ought to be restricted to cotton goods, flag-stones, wax, and spices; and even to this they insisted o
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CHAPTER IX. ANNO DOM. 1580.
CHAPTER IX. ANNO DOM. 1580.
The Governor, Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, was deeply afflicted at those disputes, so much at variance with his character, and with the anxiety of his views, for the happiness and prosperity of these islands. His whole mind, indeed, was occupied in the consideration, of what might contribute to these ends, and to the aggrandizement of the Spanish name; but unhappily persuading himself, that his honour was committed by these dissensions, he became affected by a deep melancholy, to which he was a prey d
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CHAPTER X. ANNO DOM. 1739.
CHAPTER X. ANNO DOM. 1739.
When the Cobadonga perceived the enemy, there was no alternative but to yield, or boldly encounter a superior force. They chose the latter, and fought so desperately, that they did not strike till they had sixty killed and seventy wounded, among the number of which were the first and second captains. Admiral Anson took possession of the vessel and property, amounting to one million five hundred thousand dollars in silver alone, and carried the ship to Macao, where he left the Cobadonga, proceedi
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CHAPTER X. ANNO DOM. 1584.
CHAPTER X. ANNO DOM. 1584.
In the year 1589 no ship was despatched to New Spain; for two which had been equipped for this voyage, were lost in the port of Cavite in a dreadful storm, which happened on St. Peter's Day. About the same time many insurrections of the Indians took place, and in particular, those of Cagayan, who were always very troublesome, murdered many Spaniards. Those likewise, in the valley of Dingras, in the province of Ylocos, resisted the collections of tribute, and murdered six people from the city of
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CHAPTER XI. ANNO DOM. 1750.
CHAPTER XI. ANNO DOM. 1750.
On this last point, indeed, there was a diversity of opinion, for many thought that his fidelity could not be relied on, and that the very first opportunity which offered he would be guilty of treachery, as his ancestors had been. It was, however, determined in favour of the expatriated King, and he was conducted to Jolo in the Admiral’s ship of the squadron, which sailed from Cavite, under the command of Colonel Quian, who was charged with both commissions. The squadron arrived at Zamboanga, wi
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CHAPTER XI. ANNO DOM. 1590.
CHAPTER XI. ANNO DOM. 1590.
On the death of the Governor, the Licentiate Rosas succeeded to the Command, and immediately despatched two ships in search of the Chinese, under the command of Don Juan Ronquillo. They made enquiry in several ports; but not being able to gain information respecting their route, they returned without effecting their object. That they might not, however, remain without punishment for such atrocious crimes, and supposing that the Chinese might have taken shelter in the province of Chancheo in Chin
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CHAPTER XII. ANNO DOM. 1754.
CHAPTER XII. ANNO DOM. 1754.
The King was desirous of marrying a woman who had been his concubine, and had already become a Christian. The Archbishop was not inclined to consent; but Arandia not only removed every difficulty, but allowed him the use of his palace, in order that the marriage might be celebrated with more solemnity and grandeur. These arrangements were not made without some dispute with the Archbishop; and at the same time another circumstance, although of no great importance in itself, proved sufficient to o
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CHAPTER XII. ANNO DOM. 1596.
CHAPTER XII. ANNO DOM. 1596.
While this was passing in Japan, the two expeditions which Luis Dasmariñas had sent to Camboxa and Mindanao were proceeding in their operations; that which went to Camboxa began successfully, but it was afterwards completely ruined by Major Juan Gallinato, and returned to Manila without effecting any thing. Don Luis Dasmariñas having pledged himself for the success of this expedition, armed, at his own cost, two ships and a galiot, and with the approbation of the Governor, left Manila for Cambox
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
On the arrival of the English, four companies of militia were formed from among the merchants, and a few days after five thousand Indians came to our aid, who not knowing how to handle a musket were of very little use. The English had one thousand five hundred European troops, consisting of Draper’s regiment, two companies of artillery, three thousand seamen, eight hundred seapoy fusileers, and one thousand four hundred seapoy pioneers, making in all a force of six thousand eight hundred and thi
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
At the request of the Archbishop, guards were placed at the convent of Santa Clara, and the other nunneries, to prevent the soldiers from committing any outrages on them. These dispositions being made, the city was delivered up to pillage, and the soldiers spreading themselves over the town, plunder and robbery became general, and was accompanied by those atrocities which are usual with victorious troops, although, to say the truth, there was no reason to complain of the English soldiers, as the
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CHAPTER XIII. ANNO DOM. 1602.
CHAPTER XIII. ANNO DOM. 1602.
The first step the Governor took, was to attempt to reconcile the annual Chinese merchants, who were very numerous; but he failed in the attempt, as they had collected in a large body in open rebellion, in a town within half a league of Manila, the others remaining in Parian. The Governor made a confidant of Engcan, and sent him, in company with some Spaniards, to endeavour to bring them back to a sense of their duty, but without effect, as the works they had raised in their defence would, in th
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CHAPTER XIV. ANNO DOM. 1609.
CHAPTER XIV. ANNO DOM. 1609.
By the death of the Governor, the command devolved on Don Andres Alcaraz, the oldest Oidor, who had been left in charge of the government by Don Juan de Silva, when he sailed with the armament for Malacca. About the same time our squadron sailed from the bay, another Dutch squadron, which had lately arrived by the Straits of Magellan, entered the mouth of the harbour, and lay a month close to Marivelez. There were only four ships and two pataches laying before Manila, and it was without artiller
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CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV.
The English perceiving that decrees were of very little service, and that it was necessary to have recourse to force, determined to take possession of a position on the Pasig, in order to open a passage for provisions from the Lake Bay; and Thomas Backhouse, whom the Spaniards called Becus for that purpose, filed off with five hundred men to the left of the river. He arrived in front of Maybonga, where the famous Bustos was stationed with his Cagayans, ready to defend the passage of the river. H
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CHAPTER XV. ANNO DOM. 1618.
CHAPTER XV. ANNO DOM. 1618.
This expedition, under charge of Francisco Carriño de Valdes, head of the provinces of Pangasinan and Ylocos, marched in good order seven days, and on the eighth arrived in the town of the mines, where the natives received them well; but the Spaniards placed too much confidence in them. The Igorrotes, when least expected, rose on them, and treacherously murdered the chief of the friendly Indians, on which de Valades retired, to wait a better opportunity. The following year the expedition was exp
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CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI.
Although the Señor Arandia had sent away all the Pagan Chinese, others replaced them after his death, and the augmentation of their numbers which took place in three years was incredible. There were besides many Chinese Christians in Parian, and scattered over the provinces, and almost all of them declared for the English. The moment they took possession of Manila, these Chinese gave them every aid, and accompanied them in all their expeditions. They had it, indeed, in contemplation to make a ge
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CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII.
The English adhering to the resolution of committing no act of hostility, and keeping on the defensive, only endeavoured to procure their provisions in the provinces. With this view they sent to the province of Batan a sloop, with a very few people, to the town of Orion, and taking refuge in the convent, they purchased what provisions they wanted. Señor Anda hearing of this, sent troops against them: the Indians assaulted them through the kitchen, and surprised them, but they saved themselves in
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CHAPTER XVI. ANNO DOM. 1626.
CHAPTER XVI. ANNO DOM. 1626.
This year several embassies arrived at Manila: one from Japan from the Governor of Nangasaquy; and the King of Saxuma, likewise, sent ambassadors, seeking redress for the ravages our galleons had committed in the harbour of Siam, on two junks of his nation, and out of which had been taken some of the royal merchandize, which they considered a great sacrilege, and which had so irritated them, that the real object of the embassy was to reconnoitre the place, with a view to take vengeance for this
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OF THE PHILIPPINES.
OF THE PHILIPPINES.
There is, besides these, in the mountainous parts, a description of people absolutely in a savage state; they shun the face of man, they even shun each other; they are solitary wanderers; they stop when night overtakes them, and take their rest in the hollows of trees; they are strangers even to domestic life. The invincible propensities of nature are alone capable of bending their stubborn character, and impelling the men to satisfy themselves with such females as chance throws in their way, an
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CHAPTER XVII. ANNO DOM. 1635.
CHAPTER XVII. ANNO DOM. 1635.
By the year 1639, the number of Chinese in these islands had increased to thirty thousand, most of them cultivators in Calamba and in Biñan. Among these began a disaffection, which spreading to those of Santa Cruz, Parian, and Manila, they at last converted the church of St. Peter Macati into a kind of strong hold, in which they established their head-quarters. The Governor sent against them two hundred Spaniards, and a large body of Indians, who easily dislodged them from this position. Dispers
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OF THE MOLUCCAS.
OF THE MOLUCCAS.
Their arms are the bow and arrow, quiver and shield; the bow is constructed of a very light, fibrous, and elastic wood, ornamented with rings made of the rotin, which likewise, when prepared for the purpose, answers for the string. The arrows are made of a light elastic reed, and the point of wood jagged and very hard; sometimes this point is formed of the longest dorsal fin bone of a large fish, and which is prickly or barbed. The quiver is made of the bark of a tree, the shield of a black wood
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CHAPTER XVIII. ANNO DOM. 1644.
CHAPTER XVIII. ANNO DOM. 1644.
A commotion, likewise, was begun in Palapag, by murdering the Jesuit friar, who was the curate of the place; and, to enhance the criminality of the action, and comprehend every one in the rebellion, Sumoroy, who was the assassin, was for two days parading the town, avowing publicly that he killed the friar; and, setting at liberty two insurgents, whom the Jesuits had confined, he ordered the people to plunder the church and convent: from this source, the insurrection spread through the whole isl
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NOTES TO VOLUME II.
NOTES TO VOLUME II.
This is another instance of the disposition of the Spaniards to extend what they ridiculously enough term their conquests, rather than to consolidate their power, and establish their influence in the Philippines. The attempt seems to have met with the fate it merited; but although it proved abortive, we cannot help holding up to due praise the perseverance with which, in perfect contempt of all personal danger, the Catholic missionaries pursue their object of proselytism. Note IV. —Page 72. The
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CHAPTER XIX. ANNO DOM. 1653.
CHAPTER XIX. ANNO DOM. 1653.
A slight disturbance, about this time, took place in the province of Pampanga, the cause of which was as follows: the late Governor having ordered a ship to be built in Camboxa, sent all the necessary workmen in a vessel, which he patched up, and launched for the purpose. After having completed their work, and when they were on their return from Camboxa to Manila, they encountered a storm, so violent, that the vessel was wrecked, and almost all the people perished. The galleon, San Francisco Xav
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NOTES TO VOLUME I.
NOTES TO VOLUME I.
The most authentic communications on this subject to the translator, are, that during the months of March, April, and May, the heat is sometimes oppressive; June, July, August, and September, forms the rainy season; the month of October of a doubtful character; November, December, January, and February, a heavenly spring: and that the climate in the whole is uncommonly healthy, the natives living to a great age. Note IV. —Page 13. If it were not sufficiently ascertained that the author of this w
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