among them.  In some islands we have been informed of and have seen mines of gold, which, if the islands were peopled with Spaniards, would, it is believed, be rich and profitable.  In other islands there is an abundance of cinnamon, of which they make little use.  They make no exportation of it, and therefore it is of little worth to them.  Seventy quintals of it, more or less, have been carried upon this ship for your majesty; and there may be carried every year as much as your majesty wishes—­enough indeed to supply all Christendom.

I have resided continuously on this island of Cubu, awaiting the orders which your majesty may be pleased to have sent.  I have barely succeeded in maintaining the forces with the least possible harm to the natives, and I shall try to do the same until I see your majesty’s command, and know your royal will; because if we should make war upon these people, I think that great harm would ensue, but little advantage would be gained, and we should suffer hardships greater than those which have been suffered, although they have been bad enough.  By the blessing of peace, we have succeeded in attracting into the obedience of your majesty many towns.  As they have come from all this neighborhood of which possession has been taken in your royal name, the list of the towns accompanies this letter.  And as these people are fickle and treacherous, and know not how to obey or serve, we ought to have here a fort and a number of Spaniards, who by good treatment might restrain them and make them understand what justice is; and who may settle in other places most convenient for the security of all those of this region.  For this purpose married men should be sent and those who would have to remain permanently in this land.  I beg your majesty to be pleased to have provided with all despatch what is most in accord with your royal pleasure, and give the commission to some one in Nueva Espana, who with all care and special diligence, will provide all that is necessary, without there being so much delay as in the past.

For the security of these parts, and in order to get this needed security, it would be fitting and necessary to have built half a dozen galleys.  For this, and even to provide them with crews there is reasonable provision here, provided you send officers and workmen to build the vessels, as has been written to the royal Audiencia of Mexico.  With these vessels all these islands may be protected, as well as many others that are farther away from them; and it might even be possible to coast along the shores of China and to trade on the mainland.  They would be very profitable and effective.  Your majesty will cause to be provided in this regard what is most pleasing to you.

In November of last year arrived, very near where we are, a large fleet of Portuguese who were coming from India to Maluco, where they must have thought that we were.  Having arrived near our settlement, they stopped a few days, giving out that they were coming in search of us.  They sent two small boats to reconnoiter our colony and station, afterward resolving to continue their voyage without stopping here.  It may well be imagined that they were not pleased to see Spaniards in these parts.