penalty for immoderate living is death.  The food here is rice, which is the bread of this country.  It is cultivated in the following manner.  They put a basketful of it into the river to soak.  After a few days they take it from the water; what is bad and has not sprouted is thrown away.  The rest is put on a bamboo mat and covered with earth, and placed where it is kept moist by the water.  After the sprouting grains have germinated sufficiently, they are transplanted one by one, as lettuce is cultivated in Espana.  In this way they have abundance of rice in a short time.  There is another crop of rice, which grows of itself, but it is not so abundant.  Wine is made from the cocoa-palm, from rice, and from millet, and they have ajonjoli [6]—­but of all these only a little, because the people are Indians.  There is plenty of fish, but it is not so good as that of Espana.  The same fowl are found here as in Castilla, but they are much better than those of Castilla.  There are many swine, deer, and buffalo, but he who wishes them must kill them himself, because no native will kill or hunt them.  Meat spoils very quickly here on account of the heat.

83.  The soil is very fertile—­better than that of Nueva Espana; and the rains come at about the same season.  There is no such thing as a bad year, unless some hurricane works damage.

84.  The people here are naked, and barefoot.  They wrap a cotton cloth around their loins.  Those who possess such a thing wear a little cotton or China silk shirt.  They are people capable of much toil.  Some are Moros, and they obtain much gold, which they worship as a god.  All their possessions are gold and a few slaves, the latter being worth among them five or six pesos each.  They do not let their hair hang but wind a small turban about the head.  They believe that paradise and successful enterprises are reserved for those who submit to the religion of the Moros of Borney, of which they make much account.  They do not eat pork, and believe many foolish notions that tend toward superstition.  These are a richer people, because they are merchants, and, with their slaves, cultivate the land.  There are other natives who tattoo themselves, and wear long hair, as the Chinese do.  They are a poorer and fiercer race.  All carry weapons, such as daggers and lances, and possess some artillery.  No reliance can ever be placed on either of these races.  They all settle on the shores of rivers, on account of the convenience for their fields, and because they can communicate with one another, and go in their little boats to steal.  They hardly ever travel by land.  Inland in the islands, and away from the rivers, dwells another race who resemble the Chichimecos [7] of Nueva Espana, very savage and cruel, among whom are some negroes.  All use bows and arrows, and consider it very meritorious to kill men, in order to keep the heads of the slain as ornaments for their houses.  They are the most despised people in