River Cagayan.  Cagayan is a river of great volume, although its bar forms shallows.  At high tide the bar has two brazas of water, and at low tide one.  On its banks are large settlements with a population of more than thirty thousand.  The people gather a great quantity of rice, and keep many swine.  They have also some gold, although there are no gold mines.  Their trade is carried on with the men of Ylocos.  This region is unwholesome, especially when the north wind prevails.

Islands of Mandato and Buyon.  On the opposite coast, near the island of Lucon, are two inhabited islets, called Mandato and Buyon respectively, each one about five leagues in circumference, settled by Moros, on account of their lying so near the island of Lucon opposite the bay of Manila. [Marginal note: “The island of Lucon curves from the city of Manilla, where the change in direction begins, to the river of Cagayan.”]

Island of Marinduque.  Between the island of Banton and that of Lucon, four leagues from the former and five from the latter, lies the island of Marinduque.  It is about twenty-six leagues in circumference, and eight leagues wide, and contains about one thousand men.  Capul and this island are under the charge of one encomendero.  The Indians are Pintados, although under the jurisdiction of neither Cubu, Arevalo, nor Camarines.

Chapter Fifth

Which treats of the province of Ylocos

Island of Luzon, continued.  Going out of the bay of Manilla, and sailing north toward the province of Ylocos, first comes the province of the Cambales.  This province has about one thousand men, who are like the Chichimecos of Nueva Espana.  Their customs are much like those of the Moros; they differ from the latter in their dress.  These people wear short trousers, and short-sleeved jackets shaped to fit [the neck:  crossed out in MS.], which resemble the saltambarca. [12] On the middle of the breast, and on the shoulders, they wear a badge resembling a cross, fashioned in different colors.  Some of them cut only half of their hair—­namely, from the brow to the crown of the head.  The villages of this province which are known are Marayomo, Pinahuyu, Mahaban, Buanguin, Tuguy, Polo, Bongalon, Dalayap, Cabatogan, and Bacol.  It is the custom among this people to punish murderers by boring a hole through the crown of the head and taking out the brains.

Province of Bulinao.  Next comes Bulinao, also inhabited by Cambales; but the province belongs to his Majesty.  It has a population of about four hundred peaceful Indians, besides many more who live among the mountains.  The latter are a warlike people, whose only delight and satisfaction is in waging war and in cutting off one another’s heads, which they hang up in their houses.  The man who can display the most heads in his house is he who is most respected and feared by all.  They cultivate the land although only in small tracts.  They are like the Chichimecos of Nueva Espana, who cannot be subdued—­except that the villages of Bulinao, as I have said, contain about four hundred Indians who are pacified.  These people recognize a God in heaven; but in times of trouble and sickness they invoke their dead and their ancestors, like the people of Visaya.