Northward from this jurisdiction begins the bishopric of Nueva Segovia, starting from the province of Pangasinan, where end the Combales and the province of Ilocos—­wherein are situated the mountains of the Idolotes [sic], and where are so rich mines, as I have explained.  They are all Christians.  The Dominican religious minister to the province of Pangasinan, and the Augustinians to that of Ilocos.  Farthest to the north lies the province of Nueva Segovia, which is administered by Dominican friars.  These three provinces are very fertile and well peopled, and to the north of this district there are several islands called Vabuianos, where the Indians raise swine of remarkable size.  Throughout the whole island [of Luzon] there are many wild swine.  They are not fierce, like those in Espana, and accordingly are easily killed.  There is a great number of large, fierce wild buffaloes.  They are killed with muskets, and on one occasion they were unable to bring down a buffalo with twelve musketshots.  If the man who is shooting misses, and does not get quickly under cover, he will be killed.  The Indians catch them as we do partridges here, and it is a remarkable thing, wherefore I shall now explain it.  They make a very strong stockaded enclosure [corral], and on either side of the gate they move out, carrying with them palm leaves of a certain kind, touching one another.  They keep spreading out the line until it is about a quarter of a legua long, more or less.  When they find a herd, for the animals go many together, they frighten and follow them, and, driving them along, continue with shouts; and as they are running and striking with the said leaves, the buffaloes will not pass through the line of men if they are excited.  Thus little by little they enter into the narrowest part until they are compelled to enter into the gate of the enclosure, which is then barred.  There the Indians, by their devices, catch the animals one by one, tie them, and put them each one in a small enclosure of strong stakes so narrow that they cannot turn around, so that they have no chance to struggle.  There they keep them without food for a fortnight, until they are so feeble and thin that they cannot stand.  Then an Indian comes with a wisp of hay, and although angry, they needs must eat; and within twenty days they are so tame with the person who gives them food, that they let themselves be scratched.  Iron rings are put in their noses, and they are led anywhere with a rope, like a beast of burden.  I have seen one of these buffaloes with a negro who had fed him, seated on his head, and he played with the negro like a dog, but was a lion for those whom he did not know.  This jurisdiction is fifty leguas long on the sea side.  The interior of the island remains unpacified, as it consists of the said mountains.  The bishopric of Las Camarinas [sic] is the most easterly on this island, and extends more than sixty leguas, including several adjacent islands, such as Burias, Ticao, Capul, and Catanduanes.  There are many nutmeg trees in this bishopric, the fruit of which no one gathers.  There is in this province a spring from which flows hot water, and if anything is placed in it it turns to stone. [52]