Island of Luban.  Four leagues from the western point of this island, and opposite the bay of Manilla, lies the island of Luban.  It is twenty leagues from Manilla, and has a circumference of about ten leagues.  It has six villages, with a total population of about five hundred Indians.

Close to this island is a smaller one by the same name, with about one hundred inhabitants.  The people are the same as those of Luzon.

Island of Elin.  The island of Elin lies two leagues south from the island of Mindoro.  It is seven leagues in circumference and is inhabited by about two hundred Visayan Indians.

Alcalde-mayor of Vindoro.  These islands—­namely Mindoro, Elin, and Luban—­are under one encomendero, and all have one alcalde-mayor, who holds jurisdiction also over that region of Lucon which begins at Batangas and ends at the province of Camarines, to which region we shall now return.

Islands of the Babayanes.  Opposite the Cagayan River, in the open sea toward China, are seven islands, called Babuyanes.  Because many swine are imported therefrom into the province of Ylocos, and since the word for swine in the Ylocos language is babuyes, the islands have been called by that name.  Of their inhabitants very little is known.

Island of Calamianes.  Returning from Burney and sailing from Manilla twelve leagues beyond the island of Elin, we find the islands of the Calamianes.  These islands being somewhat out of the way, very little is known about them—­that is, about their inhabitants, for only a few villages along the coast have been seen, where the tribute is collected.  The natives of these coast-towns are Pintados; those who live in the mountains are blacks.  A very large quantity of wax is collected there, which is an article of barter for nearly all the other islands.  They lack provisions and clothing.  The most important of the Calamianes islands is Paraguan, which has a circuit of one hundred and fifty leagues.  The other islands are small, and only the following are inhabited:  Tanianao, Binorboran, Cabanga, Bangaan, Caramian (which is also called by another name, Linapacan), Dipayan, and Coron.  In all these islands, only three hundred Indians pay tribute; therefore very little is known about them.  These islands are all under the jurisdiction of the alcalde-mayor of Mindoro, [and pay tribute:  crossed out in MS.] and belong to the royal crown.

Chapter Sixth

Of the inhabitants of the Pintados Islands and their mode of life