They continued their voyage toward the west, until the thirteenth of the above month, on which day land was sighted at eight o’clock in the morning.  That point marks the beginning of the Filipinas Islands, which name was given to all these islands, in the year 42, by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos.  Anchor was cast in a bay forty-five brazas deep.  Then, at the general’s command, the master-of-camp, Father Urdaneta, and some soldiers with them, landed, and went to see whether the island contained any town or people with whom they could talk.  And although they brought report of none of this, they found quite sufficient information next day from some Indians who came to the flagship, who furnished them with the desired information regarding those islands.  The commander received them kindly, and presented to them some small trifles, of little value—­which, however, they esteemed highly, as they were novelties and unknown to them before—­and they went away happy.  When they were going, they were told that they could treat for friendship and alliance with the Spaniards without any fear.  Those Indians, drawn to the Spaniards by both the kindly treatment and the presents given them, talked to their tribesmen.  As a result, the next morning the ships were surrounded by their little boats, all full of Indians of all ages.  Among them were some chiefs, who told the Spaniards that they wished to draw blood with them, as a proof of the constancy with which they would keep the friendship that was to be made with them.  This ceremony consists in drawing some drops of blood, generally from the arms.  These drops they mix together, and afterward mix with a little wine, which is then drunk by the two or more who bled themselves and who wish to contract the friendship.  The commander rejoiced at this, although he refused to draw blood himself, reserving that ceremony for the king, or supreme head of all the islands.  Accordingly the master-of-camp drew blood with them, and then they became seemingly firm friends.  The commander regaled them as well as he was able, and bestowed not less attention on them.  As a result they appeared well pleased, and bound to make similar returns.  They promised to do many favors for the Spaniards in the future.

Through this care, the islanders continued to frequent the vessels fearlessly.  The commander treated them according to their rank, and showed himself kind and affectionate to all.  He believed that he could accomplish more for God and his king by that way than by the din of arms.  As soon as the father prior, Fray Andres Urdaneta, considered them somewhat quiet and less timorous than at first, he began, as a true curator of souls, to tell them the chief purpose of the Spaniards’ coming through so wide and vast seas, ploughing the waters in those vessels of theirs; this he declared to be none other than to give them light, in order that, issuing from the darkness of the ignorance in which they had lived for so many