The above relations follow the fragments of certain old papers that have been found, and the narratives of persons acquainted with these matters.  From them one can easily infer the lack of care among those who have ruled the country, to know the truth concerning the Ygolotes; but in no event would that have been work lost.  On the contrary, according to the opinion of many men who have lived a long time in the country, it is regarded as very probable that a wealth of gold would have been discovered, like the silver of Potosi. [55] The same is true of Tuy, even if no other wealth should be attained beyond the inestimable one of having reduced to the faith of Christ a province so vast, and which is said to number more than 100,000 souls; that would be a most lofty and divine work and one accompanied by great temporal advantage.

After having reached this point in the present relation, I saw the men who made the test of the earth brought from the Ygolotes.  They were two men sent by Joan Pacheco from Tuy to Don Gonzalo Ronquillo.  They tried to deceive the latter by bringing some bars of very fine gold, which they said was taken from the mines which had been discovered.  Some doubt having been expressed at this, the governor had the metal or earth pulverized in their presence, and had the said men make the test.  Being ignorant of that business, they did not obtain a grain of gold.  On being urged, they said that those bars had truly been obtained from the Indians of the mines of the Ygolotes; accordingly, they did not come from the earth that had been brought.  Thereupon Juan Pacheco came, without any clearer explanations, which sufficiently demonstrates his lack of intelligence, since he was unable, in so long a time, to catch any Indians in order to talk with them.  If the Indians descended to the plain daily, as they do at present, for food, as would seem necessary, they could have caught many of them; for, as above stated, the natives resort to Pangasinan, as to a market or fair.  Given in Passi, July three, one thousand six hundred and nine.

Doctor Juan Manuel de la Vega

Relation of how Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, governor of the Philipinas, heard that the province of Tuy was unexplored, which induced him to undertake its exploration; and his authorization to his son, Don Luis Perez, to make the said exploration.

Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas learned from certain religious of the Order of St. Augustine that this island of Luzon, where is located the capital of all the islands—­namely, the city of Manila—­was not yet completely explored or conquered, as it was suspected that the interior contained hostile and very valiant Indians; that the country was exceedingly productive, temperate, and fertile, and contained many cattle; that it was called the province of Tuy, and was contiguous on one side, as was imagined, to the farthest territory of the Sanvales [i.e., Zambales], and on the other to the source of the river flowing