The city of Manila was founded by the adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, first governor of the Filipinas, in the island of Luzon.  It occupies the same site where Rajamora had his settlement and fort—­as has been related more at length—­at the mouth of the river which empties into the bay, on a point between the river and the sea.  The whole site was occupied by this new settlement, and Legazpi apportioned it to the Spaniards in equal building-lots.  It was laid out with well-arranged streets and squares, straight and level.  A sufficiently large main square [Plaza mayor] was left, fronting which were erected the cathedral church and municipal buildings.  He left another square, that of arms [Plaza de armas], fronting which was built the fort, as well as the royal buildings.  He gave sites for the monasteries, [166] hospital, and chapels which were to be built, as being a city which was to grow and increase continually—­as already it has done; for, in the course of the time that has passed, that city has flourished as much as the best of all the cities in those regions.

The city is completely surrounded with a stone wall, which is more than two and one-half varas wide, and in places more than three.  It has small towers and traverses at intervals. [167] It has a fortress of hewn stone at the point that guards the bar and the river, with a ravelin close to the water, upon which are mounted some large pieces of artillery.  This artillery commands the sea and river, while other pieces are mounted farther up to defend the bar, besides some other moderate-sized field-pieces and swivel-guns.  These fortifications have their vaults for storing supplies and munitions, and a magazine for the powder, which is well guarded and situated in the inner part; and a copious well of fresh water.  There are also quarters for the soldiers and artillerymen, and the house of the commandant [alcayde].  The city has been lately fortified on the land side at the Plaza de armas, where it is entered by a strong wall and two salient towers, defended with artillery, which command the wall and gate.  This fortress is called Santiago, and has a company of thirty soldiers with their officers, and eight artillerymen who guard the gate and entrance by watches—­all in charge of a commandant who lives inside, and has the guard and custody of the fort.

There is another fortress, also of stone, in the same wall, within culverin range, located at the end [168] of the curtain, which extends along the shore of the bay.  It is called Nuestra Senora de Guia, and is a very large round tower.  It has its own court, well, and quarters inside, as well as the magazine, and other rooms for work.  It has a traverse extending to the beach, on which are mounted a dozen large and moderate-sized pieces, which command the bay and sweep the wall, which extends along the shore to the gate and to the fort of Santiago.  On the other side the fortress has a large salient tower, mounted with four large pieces, which command the shore ahead in the direction of the chapel of Nuestra Senora de Guia.  The gate and entrance is within the city and is guarded by a company of twenty soldiers and their officers, six artillerymen, and one commandant and his lieutenant, who live inside.