Second point.  In order to return from those islands to Espana, it will be advisable to come but lightly laden, and well provided with arms, in order to withstand any encounter with the enemy; and that they follow the same route that is taken by the Dutch, or by the fleets of Portugal, for by no other route can the voyage be made so quickly as by that route—­considering that, if one wishes to come by way of Nueva Espana (which is the shortest course except that by the Cape of Buena Esperanca), the voyage from Manila to Acapulco will last five or six months, even with favorable weather.  Arrived there it is necessary to cross from one sea to the other over one hundred and sixty leguas of very bad road, and then to sail for another three months before reaching Espana; and the vessels must wait from January, the time when they arrive from Philipinas, until June, when they embark for Espana.  In all more than thirteen months will be spent in the voyage.  In case that one should prefer to come not by way of Nueva Espana, but by the Strait of Magallanes or that of Mayre, the delay is equal or greater, and the food will of necessity spoil and the men die; for the food of Manila, as that is a hot country, very soon spoils and rots.

Third point.  The voyages from Manila to Terrenate are three hundred leguas, or a trifle more or less; and those from Manila to Malaca a trifle more than four hundred.

Fourth point.  The seasons required for those voyages are as follows:  To go from Espana to Philippinas it is advisable to sail from Espana after the sun passes the equator in the direction of the Tropic of Capricorn, namely, from September twenty-third on; for, since one must mount to thirty-five degrees of latitude in the southern hemisphere, it is advisable to be in that hemisphere when the sun by its presence has put to flight the furies of the winds of those seas, since even with that care that Cape of Buena Esperanca bears the reputation of a stormy headland:  In order to return, one would better, for the same reasons, sail from Manila during the time when the sun is still in the southern hemisphere, if he has to double the Cape.

The suitable time to sail from Manila to Terrenate is when the winds in those seas are blowing from the north (because Manila lies almost due north of Terrenate), namely, during November and December.  The same season is suitable to sail to Malaca, as Manila lies almost due northeast of Malaca.  For that voyage the brisas that set in in January are also favorable.  The return trips from Maluco and Malaca to Manila are during the season of the winds from the south and the vendavals, which generally begin, the winds from the south by the middle of May on, and the vendavals during June, July, and August, etc.

I petition your Majesty to deign to honor this humble service as such, by the benignity of your royal sight, so that I may gain strength to serve you to the measure of my desires.