these islands, and are called Tinguianes [8] or “mountaineers;” for tingue means “mountain.”  They have quantities of honey and wax, and trade these commodities with the lowlanders.  As these islands are so fertile, there are large groves which are called arcabucos ["thickets"].  Thus there are no open roads, for which reason the Spaniards experience difficulty in moving rapidly on land, while the natives can easily flee from one end to the other.

85.  Most of the Indians are heathens, but have no intelligent belief, or any ceremonies.  They believe in their ancestors, and when about to embark upon some enterprise commend themselves to these, asking them for aid.  They are greatly addicted to licentiousness and drunkenness, and are accustomed to plunder and cheat one another.  They are all usurers, lending money for interest and go even to the point of making slaves of their debtors, which is the usual method of obtaining slaves.  Another way is through their wars, whether just or unjust.  Those who are driven on their coast by storms are made slaves by the inhabitants of that land.  They are so mercenary that they even make slaves of their own brothers, through usury.  They do not understand any kind of work, unless it be to do something actually necessary—­such as to build their houses, which are made of stakes after their fashion; to fish, according to their method; to row, and perform the duties of sailors; and to cultivate the land.  The mountaineers make iron lance-points, daggers, and certain small tools used in transplanting rice.  They are very anxious to possess artillery, of which they cast a little, although but poorly.  They are all a miserable race.  Although the Pintados behave better to the Spaniards, yet, whenever they find one alone, they kill him, and the Moros do the same whenever they can.

86.  When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to these islands, he settled in the island of Cubu, which is very barren and small.  When he went thence, he went to Panae, on account of the war waged against him by the Portuguese, and the famine there, which was very severe.  With but little acuteness, he established a settlement in Cubu, with about fifty inhabitants; and built a little fort of stakes, which soon tumbled down.  Although the country is healthful, it is so barren that no one cares to live there; neither is it an important place.  I have established this place and rebuilt the ruined fortress; and I have placed there an alcalde mayor and about fifty soldiers who have pacified those natives.  The latter had risen in rebellion, at the opportunity afforded by the tyrant Limahon.  That islet is next another called Mindanao, a large and rich island—­where, God willing, we must make an expedition soon.  This settlement is of no advantage, and causes expense and no gain, beyond saying that it is near Maluco; nor does it possess other good qualities than that it claims to have a good climate and port.