The island of Mindanao is almost three hundred leagues in circumference.  It is a land of slight elevation; although of good climate; it is sparsely settled, and its inhabitants very warlike and inclined to arms.  Their only aim is to rob and kill.  There is a scarcity of supplies in some parts, though cinnamon is found in some districts, and a large quantity of wax everywhere.  Tortoise shells are also found.  They weave cloth from medrinaque and some from cotton.  All the inhabitants on the coast and the river profess the doctrine of Maoma, and those of the uplands are heathens.  Although it cannot be maintained without assistance, still it is necessary to maintain it, in order to avert the injuries which on the other hand would be received by the islands of the Pintados.  It would usually be necessary to bring an army for their defense, if the Spaniards should abandon the island of Mindanao, and the chiefs rebel.

[Endorsed: “Relation of the condition of the island of Mindanao, cited in section ix of the letter of July 12, 1599, concerning the war.”]

The State of the Kingdom of Camboxa in Relation to these Phelippinas Islands

The past year, one thousand five hundred and ninety-six, Don Luis de las Marinas, governor of these islands, sent Captain Joan Xuarez Gallinato with an armed fleet to the assistance of the king of Canboja, who had asked him to defend him from the king of Sian, who had threatened him; and the former offered to introduce Christianity into his kingdom and make friends with the Spaniards.  When aid arrived at Canboxa, it appeared that the king had retired with his children to the kingdom of Laos, for fear of the king of Sian, who had occupied his kingdom; and that Anacaparan, military commander of Camboxa, had assembled the greater part of the people of Camboxa, who had remained.  Having met the Sianese and recovered the kingdom, he was powerful enough to claim it and become tyrant.  Some of the Spaniards who arrived at Canboja beforehand without their commander, on account of a storm which separated them on the way, although they were received with simulated friendship by Anacaparan, heard later that he was plotting to kill them.  Provoked by this and other injuries which a number of Chinese, who had gone to the cities of Hordemuz and Sistor (the chief cities of that kingdom) in five trading-vessels, had inflicted upon them, and for which the tyrant refused to give them any satisfaction and justice, the Spaniards, who numbered about forty soldiers, attacked the Chinese and Anacaparan and his men, a numerous force, in his palace.  They made so great havoc among them, that they killed the tyrant king and many of his men, completely crushing them.  They took the Chinese ships, and without harm or injury retired to their own ships, defending themselves from a much greater number of warlike enemies and elephants who charged them.  At this juncture the rest of the Spaniards