made some of the islands of the Filipinas, where they would all meet.  Upon this they again invoked the most sweet name of Jesus, and sailed with favoring breezes until they reached the ninth degree; and then the commander again called an assembly to discuss the voyage.  There they took the latitude, and all the pilots disagreed by as much as a point of the compass, some of them making it two hundred leguas more than the others; and they could agree on neither the latitude nor the daily runs.

Father Urdaneta asserted that the Corales Islands had already been passed, and that they were farther on their journey.  Accordingly he gave orders to make the tenth degree and sail toward the Arrecifes [17] and Matalotes [18] Islands, which are very much farther.  They sailed along this course until January 9, when they discovered land.  They went closer to it, and saw a small island, which was seemingly about three leguas in circumference.  It was covered with trees and cocoa-palms, but as it was surrounded by reefs, they could not anchor at it.  They sailed about the island, and spied a settlement situated among some palms, and some Indiana on the shore.  But they were likewise unable to anchor there, for, on casting their anchor, they found more than fifteen brazas of water.  Finally a small boat was lowered, which contained Father Urdaneta, together with the master-of-camp, Captain Juan de la Isla, and Felipe Salcedo.  They reported on their return that those people were friendly, well disposed, and gentle; that they had no manner of weapon, either defensive or offensive; that they were clad in reed mats, very fine and well finished; and that the island contained many excellent fruits, fish, Castilian fowl, and millet.  They reported also that the Indians were full-bearded.  On this account those islands were called Barbudos.  They did not stop at these islands, or at any of the others that they sighted afterward, where, certainly, our religious would leave portions of their hearts, melted with fire and love for their fellow-creatures, to all of whom they would desire to give a portion of the light that they carried, so that those peoples might be withdrawn from their dense darkness.  But since now they could do no more, they would commend them to God, so that by His goodness He might open the door for them which He was now about to open to the other islands, for those people had been redeemed no less than the others.  In short, they continued to pass those islands, obedient to the orders that they must not stop until they should teach Filipinas.  At those islands it was better ordained that the seminary should be established, so that from that point the light and instruction might spread to the shores of other islands.  Without any doubt, the Filipinas are the best suited for this purpose, as they are near great China, and not far from Japon, Siam, and Camboja, while even the land of India is said to be within sight; and the islands are surrounded by an infinite number of other islands, inhabited by immense multitudes of people.