That, it is justifiable—­by methods which will not cause greater annoyance to the regions adjoining the Negrillos and Zambales—­to make war upon the Negrillos and Zambales, even with fire and sword, whenever the above reasons are evident.  We prove this by the above statements, for ferocity is a quality among them now almost a natural instinct; and they place all their honor in killing, without caring for any other object.  Again, these ills cannot be obviated and prevented, except by destroying them, if it be possible. Item:  because there is no hope that they will make peace and settle down; for their happiness consists in living a nomadic life, without any restraint, and they are a race who never keep any promise.

Item:  We say that, because the method of warfare as employed by the Castilians is not by means of rough ground, forests, and dense thickets—­as witness the war of Granada, in which Hespana lost so many men because the rising was in places unknown to the Spaniards but known to the Moors.  It has been seen here many times that the Spaniard needs ten or twenty servants to take care of his person, furniture, food, and clothing, alone—­from which results more loss than that which the Negrillos and Zambales can inflict in a lifetime.  We think, in the absence of better judgment, that, for a specified time, those captured alive should be handed over to the neighboring districts as captives, or remanded to the galleys.  Whoever is put to death, let it be by order of the captains, and at the time and place appointed.  We render this opinion, as long as this measure does not appear more harmful [i.e., than the harm caused by the Negrillos and Zambales].  If any measure whatever is more harmful, then we shall consider it unlawful, although we are assured that a most justifiable right exists for making war, and for destroying with all the harm possible to them, and less harm to the surrounding people, than is done or can be done by the Negrillos and Zambales. Item:  We declare that, as the losses of war are accidental, and depend on artifice, seasons, and innumerable other circumstances, it might well happen that what is advanced one time as justifiable may, given a change of conditions at the time of execution, become unjustifiable; for with the change of conditions the argument of justice or injustice is altered.

Item:  Because the term “Zambales,” in general, comprehends many people to whom the above arguments do not apply, we say that, under the terms Zambales and Negrillos, we understand only those who are nomadic, as above stated.  As to whom these may be, we refer to the investigations in detail; it is not for us to judge the information given, but to credit it.  This we advance as our opinion, and as such we sign it.  Given in the convent of Santo Domingo at Manila, January 1, 92.

Fray Juan de Castro Fray Alonso Ximenes Fray Juan de Castro Fray Juan de San Pedro Martir Fray Juan Cobos Fray Thomas Castellar Fray Juan Garcia