78.  The kingdom inland, from what I have learned from men who know, is not so large, nor does it extend so far as they say—­namely, that it requires a journey of seven months to reach the place where the king lives.  There are about five hundred leagues of seacoast running north and south.  It is wonderful to see the number of people and the eagerness that they display in their duties and occupations.  Besides the ordinary tribute, they say that the king has a million paid soldiers to oppose the Tartars, at the wall [5] made by both nations.  With this I send a Chinese map, from which one can learn something, although the Chinese are so barbarous, as will be seen from their papers.

79.  In a letter from China, from the Yncuanton (as they are barbarians, and the real information that they possess of us is that our numbers are but two hundred men), he states (I know not what the words are, but they mean “tribute"), that a present taken by the Chinese the past year, before my arrival, was placed in the king’s treasury.  As Omocon falsified the letters that he took from here, as the friars told me on their return, and as he even stole a large part of that present—­he must have said, that it was through his efforts that the fleet of the corsair Limahon was burned, when he joined the Castilians; and that the latter would send the corsair to their king.  Afterward they tried to induce us to write from here in accordance with their desires, as I have said before.  I treated them kindly, but the council decided that the Chinese should take no present, since it might happen that they would steal it; but that two priests should go to that land, who should carry letters and instructions from me, and should send back an answer, to ensure better success.

80.  It is said that every three years the king changes the viceroys in China, because of his knowledge that they have robbed the whole country; also that those in command there resist the king’s authority, as soon as they end their terms of office, and persuade others to do the same.  In short, as no one can or does speak to the king or his viceroys except through a third party, they never tell the truth, and thus the whole country is in a state of infidelity and barbarism.

81.  Concerning the demarcations, it is perfectly clear that the Malucos and all the rest extending from Malaca toward this direction, including Burney, the whole coast of China, Lequios, the Japanese islands, and Nueva Guinea are in the demarcation of your Majesty.  The Portuguese pass the limits of their demarcation by more than five hundred leagues, and are busied in fortifying themselves.  However, it is not necessary to take any notice of their fortifications; for, if ordered to do so, we can go to Maluco very easily.  We are only awaiting the will of your Majesty.  The Chinese bring here quantities of pepper which, as well as cloves, they sell for four reals a libra—­and one hundred nutmegs for the same amount.  This