In this island, there are many gold mines, some of which have been inspected by the Spaniards, who say that the natives work them as is done in Nueva Spana with the mines of silver; and, as in those mines, the vein of ore here is continuous.  Assays have been made, yielding so great wealth, that I shall not endeavor to describe them, lest I be suspected of lying. [85] Time will prove the truth.

The natives use this gold and mix it with copper, so cleverly as to deceive the best artisans of Espana.

Many traders have been encountered in this land; so, it is plain, the country will have them and the best trade which has been or may be discovered in all the Yndias.

A year ago there came to the port of this city three ships from China, and to the neighboring islands five more.  Those which came here brought merchandise such as is used among the Chinese, and such as they bring here ordinarily.  The distance from this island to the mainland is not great, the voyage lasting about eight days.

When those ships came in sight of the port, they sent from the sea to ask for assurance of safety.  The governor granted it, and they were treated very well.  They brought some trifles, although but a small quantity, as the natives, with whom they come principally to trade, commonly use, and for them are brought only large earthern jars, common crockery, iron, copper, tin, and other things of that kind.  For the chiefs, they brought a few pieces of silks and fine porcelain; but these goods are not especially out of the common.  For the Spaniards they brought some fine ware and other articles, which they readily sold, since we who are here have plenty of money, and the Chinese need it.  They are so delighted that they will surely return in six or seven months, and will bring a great abundance of many very rare articles.

They brought specimens of many kinds of goods peculiar to their country, in order to arrange the price at which they can be sold—­such as quicksilver, powder, pepper, fine cinnamon, cloves, sugar, iron, copper, tin, brass, silks in textiles of many kinds and in skeins, realgar, [86] camphor, various kinds of crockery, luscious and sweet oranges; and a thousand other goods and trifles quite as many as the Flemings bring.  Moreover, they brought images of crucifixes and very curious seals, made like ours.  The cause of this unusual visit is that freedom, and passage to their own country, were given to some Chinese who were slaves among us; those people spread the news of this settlement, where they could come with safety and trade freely; accordingly they came, with the ships and goods to which we have already referred.