The Sangleys who live in this Parian number ordinarily between three and four thousand, not counting the two thousand and more who come and go in ships.  These, together with those residing in Tondo, and the fishermen and gardeners who live in this neighborhood, number, according to the Dominican fathers who have them in charge, from six to seven thousand souls.  Four religious of that order are engaged in their conversion and instruction.

I have mentioned many small matters here, and it does not seem very considerate to write so long a letter to one who is so occupied in affairs of moment as your Majesty is; but my great zeal deserves forgiveness.  For, considering how far distant these regions are, and how extraordinary are these people—­of whom we have known so little hitherto, on account of the opposition shown by the Portuguese to our gaining any knowledge of them—­it seemed right for me to send your Majesty a relation and more specific news concerning the matter, so that your Majesty may know what exists and occurs here in his realms, and may enjoy through experience what was denied to his predecessors to hear even through report.  Had I not already given your Majesty news of many other things which occur here, I would not dare to omit them now, even if I might be considered prolix.

This was the condition and disposition of the Sangleys in temporal matters, when the Dominican religious came to these islands in May, eighty-seven.  I have already sent to your Majesty an account of what took place from the time of their arrival until the following year.  I reported the singular change which had taken place among the Sangleys after the Dominican religious took charge of them, and the results which began to be obtained among them; and that they willingly began to accept Christianity, in which they have persevered until now.  I will not here reiterate that, although there are many things worthy of being known, and for which many thanks are due to God, who shows how wonderful is His power when it pleases Him.  What is left for me to relate, is the departure of the Dominican religious for China; and, although we do not know how it has fared with them, as they set out so recently, still the beginnings give us reason to hope that with the help of our Lord, they will be very successful.

Of the Dominican religious who came to these islands, four are engaged in ministering to the Sangleys.  Two of these four officiate in the church of Sant Gabriel, which, together with the house where the religious live, stands close to the Parian.  Another church with its house is on the promontory of Bay-bay, near Tondo—­which a river divides, separating it from Manila.  Two of the four have learned the language of the Sangleys so well, and one of these two how to write also (which is the most difficult part of the language), that the Sangleys wonder at their knowledge.  The opportunity which the infidels of both towns had to hear the sermons preached by the