appointment as governor of those islands.”  The present to the governor is delivered to Lavezares.  “Among the rich things brought, the greatest was that brought by father Fray Martin de Rada, and a thing of great importance and value in those times—­namely, a description of the great kingdom of China, its provinces, its boundaries, its religion, its wealth, its civilization, its amusements, and everything that human curiosity is desirous of knowing, of which until then there was no account.  This was the account caused to be printed by father Fray Jeronimo Roman, of our order, in the second edition of his Republicas del mundo, which was published by Bishop Fray Pedro de Mendoza, [90] in his book on that kingdom.”]

[On the return trip of the Chinese captains, a second embassy of priests, Agustin de Alburquerque and Martin de Rada, accompany them.  But the captains are dissatisfied with the presents received; and this, together with the news of the escape of Limahon, determines them to abandon the fathers.  Accordingly the latter are left destitute in the country of the hostile Zambales, but fortunately make their way back to Manila, where they are welcomed with rejoicing.  Somewhat later (1580) an embassy of three priests is appointed by the king of Spain, consisting of the Augustinians Juan Gonzales de Mendoza—­then bishop of Popayan, Peru, and later bishop of Lipari, in the kingdom of Naples—­Francisco de Ortega, and Jeronimo Marin, to go to China.  The avowed object of the embassy is to open the door to commerce, and carry the faith to China.  The first remains in Spain.  The advice of Marin is followed and the embassy is not sent.]

Chapter XXIII

Of the election, in the islands, of father Fray Agustin de Alburquerque

It appears that now the provinces of Filipinas were gathering greater strength, for, while they were being colonized, the increasing trade and the relations with Mejico were excellent; the religious were increasing, in the temporal and spiritual, throughout the province, which was obtaining many and good laborers; and convents were being built.  That of Manila and that of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, in particular, were laying their foundations, in order to erect stone buildings; for, however strong wooden supports may be, yet with the lapse of time they finally decay and become useless.  This does not happen so quickly with what is made of stone, which lasts much longer and opposes the inclemencies of the weather.

At first we used to make our houses in the manner of the inhabitants of the country themselves; for, in short, they know more of their climate, as they have more experience therein, and God gave them more adequate knowledge of the products of the islands, so that they might make use of them.  The islands are by nature very damp.  If one digs down two palmos he finds water.  Therefore, humanly speaking, it is impossible to make cellars as in Espana, or to