the condemned men begged for mercy they became slaves.  Accordingly, after they were sentenced the culprit might choose between death and slavery.  If the man slain were a chief, the entire village where he was slain must, when that was proved, become slaves, those who were most guilty being first put to death.  If the murderers were private persons only, three or four of the most guilty were put to death, without any resource in mercy; and the rest, with their children, became slaves.

When any person entered the house of a chief by night, against the will of the owner, he incurred the death penalty.  It was their custom that when such an offender was caught he was first tortured, to ascertain whether any other chief had sent him.  If he confessed that he had been thus sent, he was punished by enslavement; and he who had sent him incurred the death penalty, but might be released therefrom by paying a certain amount of gold for the crime.

He who committed adultery was, if he were one of the chiefs, punished with death; the same penalty was inflicted upon any man who was caught with the concubine of a chief.  Similarly, the husband might kill the adulterer, if caught in the act.  If perchance he escaped by flight, he was condemned to pay a fine in money; and until this was done there was enmity between the two families concerned.  The same law was in force among the timaguas.

This relation was written by order of the governor of these islands.

Miguel de Loarca of the town of Arevalo.

was also one of the first, among those who came to these islands, who showed any curiosity regarding these matters; and therefore I consider this a reliable and true account.

[Endorsed at end:  “A memoir regarding the peculiarities of these islands, written in obedience to a decree of his Majesty.  To the royal Council of the Indies.”]

[Endorsed on outside wrapper:  “Relation of the Filipinas Islands, their discovery, the Spanish settlements, the usages and customs of the natives, their religion, etc.; written, in virtue of a royal decree, by Miguel de Loarca, a citizen of the town of Arevalo, one of the earliest conquerors and settlers.” A similar endorsement is written on the inside cover of the MS.]

LETTER FROM DOMINGO DE SALAZAR TO FELIPE II

Royal Catholic Majesty: 

After having written the letters and memoranda which are going to your Majesty, there came some neighboring Indians to this city, who begged me to make known to your Majesty the contents of their testimonial.  A few days afterward I told certain of them that they should decide what they wished, and that I would write to your Majesty concerning them—­as your Majesty is a most Christian king who considers well their interests, and has commanded that they be well-treated, and will order punishment for those who maltreat them.