Our soldiers have fortified themselves there excellently.  However, at the beginning, the land tried them, for many died, and they suffered great wretchedness and hardships—­eating even dogs and rats, also grubs, and unknown herbs, because they soon finished the provisions which they had brought with them, and others had not arrived from Manila, as I shall relate later.  But afterwards they got along very well, for many ships came from Great China with many presents and food.  The climate is very fine, and like that of Nueva Espana.  It has its winter and summer quite temperate, and has many fruits such as we have in our Espana—­as for instance, pears and peaches, which are indications that it is as fine a country as is reported.  We have also heard that wheat is harvested.  The soldiers found skins of lions and tigers; and although there were none of those animals, as there are none in Filipinas, they had no lack of the skins.  They sent to summon the Indians, some of whom came.  They won them by means of caresses and presents, so that they continue to come.  They are not driven from our fort; and they even delivered two infants to us for baptism, and others are petitioning it.  There is great need of learning their language.  They bring some food, which they exchange for jars, gems, agate, and silver, which they know thoroughly, and whose value they esteem.  They have no headman or chief who governs them, but each village governs itself, and some villages have war with others.

The joy received in Manila at the news of the island of Hermosa was exuberant.  At that time Don Juan Nino came to govern.  He was unable to send them help at the right season [for sailing]; consequently, after it had sailed, the ship put back and was detained for more than four months in a port of this island.  It sailed again, and again took refuge at Macan, whence they tried to make the voyage for the third time.  They had so severe a storm that they lost their rudder, and reached the coast of China.  After great danger and opposition from the Chinese of that region, they refitted, and finally made our port in the island of Hermosa, where they arrived April 29, 1627, and were received with the joy that can be imagined.  They left there the supplies they had brought, and returned to Manila.

The governor sent to Macan to ask for a mestizo, Salvator Diaz, who was in the fort of the Dutch and who escaped from them.  He has also prohibited vessels from sailing to China which pass near the establishment of the Dutch on the island of Hermosa.  It is inferred from that that he is thinking of attacking the fort of the Dutch.

The persecution of the missionaries in Japon has daily been assuming greater fury, and the doors are daily being shut more closely on the religious.  It has been ordered under penalty of death, and of being burned with their merchandise and ships, that no ship sail from Manila to Japon.  Accordingly, one ship which sailed last year and which they had not notified of the edict, they notified and ordered to return immediately to Manila, without allowing anyone to disembark, or to buy or sell anything—­keeping them, on the contrary, shut up on the ship and guarded.  The Japanese made a law that no Japanese could leave or enter the kingdom unless he first forswore our holy faith, etc.