their cargoes; for it is one of the foremost ports in the discovery of the Indies—­large, safe, very healthful, and with a supply of good water.  It abounds in fish; and at a distance of five or six leagues there is an abundance of wood for the buttock-timbers of the vessels, and, some distance farther, of wood for decks and sheathing, and pines for masts and yards.”  Further, the district about this port is reasonably well populated.  Urdaneta says that if material for making the artillery be sent from Spain, and good workmen, the artillery can be made in New Spain; as well as anchors.  “In this land there is copper in abundance, from which artillery can be made,” which only needs to be refined.  The Augustinian makes some interesting observations regarding social and economic conditions in Mexico, and suggests that it would be very advantageous to compel many youths who are growing up in vagabondage to learn trades, “especially the mestizos, mulattoes, and free negroes.”  Weapons, ammunition, and defensive armor must be sent from Spain for this expedition.  Urdaneta requests that hemp-seed be sent, in order that ropes may be made in New Spain.  He tells of a plant pita [agave], growing in this country which can be used as a substitute for hemp, and many plants of it must be planted near the ports.  The pitch, tar, and resin, the instruments and charts for navigation, etc., must be sent hither from Spain.  They need good seamen and workmen.  The king is requested to allow them to make use of any workmen in the other provinces of “these parts of the Indies,” paying them their just wages; likewise to take what things they need, paying the just price.  It is advised that the necessary trees for shipbuilding be planted near the ports, and that ranches be established near by to furnish food.

The second section of this document treats of the navigation to the Western Islands:  and Urdaneta maps out various routes which should be followed, according to the time of the year when the fleet shall depart on its voyage of discovery.  These routes all have to do primarily with New Guinea as the objective point of the expedition, the Philippines being considered as only secondary thereto.  Speaking of the Ladrones and their inhabitants, Urdaneta says:  “The islands of the Ladrones are many, and thirteen [42] of them are said to be inhabited.  The inhabitants are naked and poor.  They eat rice, have many cocoa palms, and use salt.  They fish with hooks made from tortoise-shell, being destitute of articles made from iron.  They place a counterweight in one end of their canoes, and rig on them lateen-like sails made of palm-mats.  It is quite important to explore this island thoroughly, or any of the others, in order to discover and ascertain accurately the navigation that has been made up to that point, and their distance from Maluco and the Filipinas Islands ...  Those islands are somewhat less than three hundred and seventy leagues from Botaba [one of the