to Barcito, Lepo, and Damasco, and to various Mediterranean ports. [270] The sultans of Cayro restored this trade to the Bermejo Sea, and to Alexandria by the Nilo [i.e., Nile] River.  The Portuguese deprived the sultans of it, after their conquest of the Eastern Indias, and now they bring the spices by way of the cape of Buena Esperanza in their fleets; while with those that sail along the coasts of Arabia and Persia, and to the cape of Guardafun, they prohibit drugs being taken to Cayro, sinking or capturing the vessel that tries to do so.  The sultan’s trade was suppressed by this fear and the security that was introduced, and all the spices come on the account of the royal crown to India, with innumerable delays, until they reach Lisboa.  He who is master of the navigation will be master of this pleasing wealth.

[Mindanao—­which, as appears from an allusion by Argensola, was not always considered a portion of the Philippines proper—­is visited by one of the early Portuguese conquerors, Captain Pinto, being sent there by Tristan de Atayde “and to the neighboring islands, to provide themselves with the necessities of life.”  There “he visited the king, by whom he was courteously received; and after his credentials were examined, and consultation over his requests was held with the Sangages [271] of the king’s council, peace and friendship were made.  Pinto sold his merchandise at whatever price he wished, and traded for and bought a cargo of provisions at will.” (Book ii, pp. 49-50.) The desire for cloves [272] on the part of the Portuguese is so strong in the Malucos that the natives determine to burn their trees, although “the clove harvest forms the wealth of the Maluco kings,” in order to cause them to leave.  Although the threat is not carried out, wars prevail constantly between natives and conquerors.  The contests become so vindictive and troublesome that they lead to arguments for abandoning the Philippines after Felipe II’s accession to the throne.  The passages relating to this are as follows:]

The apprehensions of this danger had made the ministers of all those provinces anxious, for their fears were being confirmed by proofs of manifest rebellion.  In Goa, Diego Lopez de Mezquita was already a prisoner in the fortress of Benastirim, and under a strong guard, and the viceroy was awaiting the decision from Espana to dispose of him and of the soldiers; for they feared lest the Ternatans would make use of the great help that could be sent them by the Chinese; which could be sent much more easily if the matters then being discussed in Castilla were made certain.  It was reported that the Council of State—­having noted that the Filipinas not only did not augment the royal incomes, but were even lessening them, and were the occasion for fruitless expense; and that they were so numerous and so difficult of conservation—­had proposed to King Filipo, our sovereign, to abandon them, and withdraw the Audiencia and presidios that