67.  There are walls in the city formed of smooth, dry stone, well placed on the outside.  The food consists mainly of fish, for which they go out into the sea to a distance of twenty leagues.  Whoever should prove master of the sea might do with them as he wished—­especially along their coast, which extends north and south for more than five hundred leagues, where one may work daily havoc.  Their garrisons of soldiers along the coast are worthless, for they are treated only as the servants of the commanders, and are overburdened; the result is that the lowest and most abused people among the Chinese are the soldiers.

68.  The people generally have no weapons, nor do they use any.  A corsair with two hundred men could rob a large town of thirty thousand inhabitants.  They are very poor marksmen, and their arquebuses are worthless.

69.  The trade with China is very disadvantageous to the Spaniards, as well as to the inhabitants of these islands; for the only useful thing that they bring is iron, and nothing else.  Their silks are of poor quality; and they take away our gold and silver.  Just so long as their intercourse with us endures without war, just so much the more skilful will they become; and all the less fear will they have of those with whom they have traded.

70.  Some Indians, Japanese, and Chinese told me here that the Portuguese have taken weapons to China, especially arquebuses such as we use; and a Chinese sold me a Portuguese broadsword.  The Portuguese could teach them the use of large artillery, how to manage the horse, and other things equally injurious to us.  As they are merchants, it would not be surprising that they should do so.  Does not your Majesty think that it would be well to hasten this expedition, and to do so at once?  For, in truth, it is the most important thing that could happen for the service of God and of your Majesty.  We are told that there are millions of men, and that their tribute to their king is thirty millions or more.

71.  The equipments necessary for this expedition are four or six thousand men, armed with lances and arquebuses, and the ships, artillery, and necessary munitions.

72.  With two or three thousand men one can take whatever province he pleases, and through its ports and fleet render himself the most powerful on the sea.  This will be very easy.  In conquering one province, the conquest of all is made.

73.  The people would revolt immediately, for they are very badly treated.  They are infidels, and poor; and, finally, the kind treatment, the evidences of power, and the religion which we shall show to them will hold them firmly to us.

74.  There is enough wood in these islands, and enough men to make a great fleet of galleys.  In all the islands a great many corsairs live, from whom also we could obtain help for this expedition, as also from the Japanese, who are the mortal enemies of the Chinese.  All would gladly take part in it.  Some native corsairs would also join us, and introduce us into the country.