Since the vessels are laden in the time of vendaval season, and the distance from Manila to Cavite—­the port—­is two leguas eastward, the crossing is very dangerous during the vendaval, and great misfortunes have occurred, both to property and to life, without the governors being able to remedy it—­or rather, caring to do so, for they could easily remedy it.  But let us leave their government, which does not concern us.  The settlement, then most flourishing, was located where the city of Manila is situated, namely, at the mouth of the Pasig River where it empties into the sea, and on the south side of it.  On the north side is located another settlement, which formerly was very large, and even now is not small; for what it lacks in Tagals, it makes up in Chinese Christians, and those who have settled there.  It is called Tondo, [43] and our convent there is a very handsome building, being entirely of cut stone.  The convent contains the equipage of the father provincials, who have gone there to live.  This seems well advised, because they do not stay in Manila, nor can they stay there; and by this method they save themselves innumerable inconveniences and importunities.  Besides, whenever necessary, they can reach Manila very quickly by taking a boat just outside the court of the church and descending a salt-water stream; then they cross the Pasig River—­all this in less than one-half hour—­and disembark at the very gate of Santo Domingo.  Our adelantado thought rightly that the conflict with those Moros must cost much blood, as the latter were aided by many other towns—­both along the coast, and up along the river—­which endure unto this day, still as flourishing and numerous as before.  Already these peoples had been informed of events in Sugbu, of the victory over the Portuguese, and the subjection of the other islands.  It seemed a difficult thing for them to stem the tide, and to kick against the pricks; and accordingly, they came to regard as well that which—­according as affairs were going, with wind and tide in favor of the adelantado—­they should have considered as ill.

The greatest chiefs of that country then were the old Raja, Raja Soliman, and Lacandola.  These men, as they already observed the pernicious worship of Mahoma, imitated Mahometan names, as well as their customs.  On the part of the Spaniards, their coming thither and the advantages that the natives could derive therefrom were proposed.  These would not be few, since they would enjoy entire peace, whereby all their affairs would prosper. Fiat pax in virtute tua et abundantia. [44] The principal thing would be, that they would be freed from the error of the law under which they were living; for the only true law, and way of salvation, was the law of the Christians.  That law those religious whom the Spaniards brought there would teach them.  The religious had come with only this object, and time would prove the truth.  All this was very easy for them, but in what pertains