it, in addition to his own comfort, which was found there with advantages.  Accordingly, when he had prepared his fleet of caracoas—­the most suitable war-vessel in the islands—­they set sail with them after two o’clock at night, with oar and sail, taking advantage of the weather.  At five in the afternoon, they reached land and made port, where the men ate, and took what wood and water were necessary.  These boats have bamboo counter-balances at the side, whereby it appears that they sail more securely; for the canes, being large and hollow, have great sustaining power.  It has happened that a sea-going caracoa has kept continually above water during a hurricane, until driven by the waves upon some island; and, as there are so many islands, they cannot fail to strike one.  The Indians embarked very willingly with the adelantado, for their greatest pleasure consists in cutting off a head.  And they desired all the others to be subjects, since they were; and that no one should escape the fire, but that the law should be universal.  Besides, the Bisayans were generally at war with the inhabitants of Manila—­who were now Moros, through contact with Borney, and captured the former, since they were men of greater valor; and now the Bisayans wished to prove whether they could use their swords and cutlasses against them under the protection of Castilla.  Father Fray Diego de Herrera went with the adelantado.  He seemed tireless, and wished only at one stroke to take everything for God, whose zeal moved him.

They arrived, then, at that island, after reducing to their service on the way, all the islands in their path.  These are not few, such as those of Masbate, Sibuyan or Sigan, Bantong, Romblon, Marinduque, and Mindoro.  The island of Manila is as large as I have already stated.  Access to it is obtained through [a bay with] two entrances, which are caused by an island between them, called Mariveles.  There is a corregidor there, whose only duty is to set fires on the highest part of the island. [41] These are seen from Manila, and give notice of what is passing, in accordance with the signals that the governor has made or given.  A Chinese vessel is signaled by one fire; one from Macan by two; one from India by three; and one from Castilla by four.  Both entrances are navigable, for both are very deep.  Then the entrance expands into the most beautiful bay that I think the world possesses; for it is more than forty leguas in circumference. [42] Anchorage can be found in all parts of it, and its maximum depth is not over forty brazas.  The bottom is sand and mud, without a single pebble.  A marvelous number of rivers and creeks empty into the bay, which cause the latter to be more frequented.  It is so filled with fish that, although so great a town is fed by them, it never begs alms outside.  When the vendavals blow, the weather is terrific; for they come from the sea, and the waves sweep in from the sea, and become so violent that ships cannot navigate without great danger.