known.  The entire province lies along the coast, and has fine rivers, which descend from the mountains.  When the north winds blow, the province is considered very unhealthful.  It produces rice in abundance, and all the native fruits, besides some of Castilla, such as oranges, grapes, figs, etc.  The houses are all built of wood, and therefore liable to many fires, so that scarcely a year passes when some convent does not burn.  Now they have begun to roof the houses with stone, that is, tile.  This was begun by father Fray Francisco de Mercado, [128] who has often been prior of Ilaoag—­which has more than one thousand five hundred Indians—­and at other times vicar-provincial of the same province. [129]

This province is considered to have a great advantage over the others; for when the Chinese arrive late, and cannot anchor or go to Manila, they enter some port or river of Ilocos.  On that account this province is well supplied with necessaries, at very reasonable prices.  Traders are wont to go there from Manila in order to buy, and then take their purchases to Manila with the north wind or brisa.  Ships from Macau and India are accustomed also to anchor in these ports, this depending upon what time they come and all this is of advantage to this district.

A great quantity of gold has been, and is, obtained from the province; not that the province yields it, but the Igorrotes bring it down from the mountains.  They are light-complexioned Indians, but more unconquerable than what we have said of Zambales and Negrillos.  When peaceful they bring down gold, which they extract there from their mines; and they exchange it for cattle, which those along the coast own.  They trade also for abnormally large and completely white swine—­never have I seen them of such size in Espana.  They also take away blankets, which the people in Ilocos make of excellent quality, from cotton, which is produced in abundance.  But when the Igorrotes are hostile, the same is suffered as at Pampanga, and even more.  For then those mountaineers come down to hunt heads, in which they take great pride.  This is a remarkable inclination of all these Indians, for they are all bloodthirsty.  Ours labored much in this province, as will be seen.

The father provincial established religious for the second time in the districts near Passi in Bisayas.  We have said enough of this in its place, and I refer to that.

Likewise the fathers of the definitorio established resident fathers in Malate.  This is only one short half-legua from Manila, and consists of but one street, along which are three parish churches.  The first is Santiago [130] and is built of stone.  It is excellent, and was ordered to be built by Don Juan de Silva, governor of these islands.  All the Spaniards who live outside the city of Manila—­who, I believe, number more than those who live within—­attend this church.  These Spaniards are all poor folk, and married to native, mestiza, or negro women.