was living that your Majesty now give definite commands in respect to this matter.  The said island of Mindanao is very large and rich, and is inhabited by many people.  There is a steady increase in the number of those who submit to the sway of your Majesty, in addition to those already pacified.  It is the first of these islands to recognize your Majesty, and is the most important for their security and the conquest of Maluco and other countries.  By the papers which the governor sent in regard to the agreement that I had made with the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez, your Majesty will find that he is obliged to conclude the pacification and settlement, and maintain everything for one year, at his own expense.  Your Majesty gave him the government and a certain repartimiento for two generations.  He left a very considerable estate with which to carry out the agreement, and your Majesty will not go beyond your right in taking charge of it.  There are left here two daughters, his heirs, the elder being four years old, by whom and their guardians efforts are being made that the undertaking may be carried out and aided as far as possible, until they become of age.  To enjoy its control and favors, it would be well for the estate to be administered from this city.  Upon this point your Majesty will provide according to the royal pleasure.

The governor persisted in his determination to carry out the expedition to Camboja, and at the beginning of this year despatched one ship and two junks, with men, artillery, and ammunition, under command of Captain Juan Xuarez Gallinato.  Thus far we have received no word whatever from them.  The governor is sending the document referring thereto; and, although it is rumored that but few troops were taken by them, in fact two hundred men left this city, and artifice was used, in order that the real number should not appear at the departure.  They had, in truth, gone ahead some days earlier and awaited the vessels outside.

At the same time, he sent another expedition to China; but as those who set out returned here, it seems as if God had, for the present, closed the door for that voyage; and so it stands.

This year so many Chinese have come under pretext of trading, that we have been very cautious, and suspicious of an uprising.  For by these expeditions we have been left so greatly in need of troops, that there was good cause to be fearful and on the watch.  I undertook to put the Chinese out of the country, and by this time more than twelve thousand have embarked.  About as many more remain, and much diligence is being observed.  They are a people with whom one must live with much watchfulness and caution, of which but little has hitherto been exercised.  The city has been cut down in size, extending from the border of the fort and royal house by the garrison, furnishing a retreat in case of necessity for the few people here and the women and children.  In fact the whole change is only setting the city aright; for the fortifications were wrongly planned from the beginning.