The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 | Page 4

these evils do not annoy the natives,

among whom the standard of morality is exceedingly low. They
worship their ancestors and the Devil, whom they invoke through their
priests (who are usually women). Legazpi administers justice to all,
protects the natives from wrong, and treats them with kindness and
liberality. The head chief's niece is baptized, and soon afterward
marries one of Legazpi's ship-men, a Greek; and other natives also are
converted. The Spaniards aid the Cebuans against their enemies, and
thus gain great prestige among all the islands. They find the Moros
keen traders, and through them obtain abundance of provisions; the
Moros also induce their countrymen in the northern islands to come to
Cebú for trade. An attempt to reduce Matan fails, except in irritating its
people. A dangerous mutiny in the Spanish camp is discovered and the
ringleaders are hanged. The Spaniards experience much difficulty in
procuring food, and are continually deceived and duped by the natives,
"who have no idea of honor," even among themselves. Several
expeditions are sent out to obtain food, and this opportunity is seized
by some malcontents to arouse another mutiny, which ends as did the
former. On October 15, 1566, a ship from New Spain arrives at Cebu,
sent to aid Legazpi, but its voyage is a record of hardships, mutinies,
deaths, and other calamities; it arrives in so rotten a condition that no
smaller vessel could be made from it. A number of men die from
"eating too much cinnamon." Portuguese ships prowl about, to discover
what the Spaniards are doing, and the infant colony is threatened (July,
1567) with an attack by them.
A petition (probably written in 1566), signed by the Spanish officials in
the Philippines, asks for more priests there, more soldiers and muskets
("so that if the natives will not be converted otherwise, they may be
compelled to it by force of arms"), rewards for Legazpi, exemptions
from taxes for all engaged in the expedition, grants of land, monopoly
of trade, etc. A separate petition, by Legazpi, asks the, king for various
privileges, dignities, and grants. Still other requests are made (probably
in 1568) by hit son Melchor, who claims that Legazpi had spent all his
fortune in the service of Spain, without receiving any reward therefor.
Certain documents illustrative of this history of Legazpi's enterprise in
1565 are given in full. An interesting document--first published (in
Latin) at Manila in 1901, but never before, we think, in English--is the
official warrant of the Augustinian authorities in Mexico establishing

the first branch of their order in the Philippines (1564). It was found
among the archives of the Augustinian convent at Culhuacan, Mexico;
and is communicated to us in an English translation made by Rev. T. C.
Middleton, of Villanova College. The other documents are: the act of
taking possession of Çibabao (February 15); a proclamation that all
gold taken from the burial-places of the natives must be declared to the
authorities (May 16); several letters written (May 27 and 29, and June 1)
by Legazpi and other officials to the king; a letter (May 28) from the
officials to the Audiencia at Mexico, with a list of supplies needed at
Cebu. To these is added a specially valuable and interesting
document--hitherto unpublished, we believe--Legazpi's own relation of
his voyage to the Philippines, and of affairs there up to the departure of
the "San Pedro" for New Spain. As might be expected, he relates many
things not found, or not clearly expressed, in the accounts given by his
subordinates.
Next is presented (in both original text and English translation) a
document of especial bibliographical interest--Copia de vna carta
venida de Sevilla a Miguel Salvador de Valencia. It is the earliest
printed account of Legazpi's expedition, and was published at
Barcelona in 1566. But one copy of this pamphlet is supposed to be
extant; it is at present owned in Barcelona. It outlines the main
achievements of the expedition, but makes extravagant and
highly-colored statements regarding the islands and their people.
In a group of letters from Legazpi (July, 1567, and June 26, 1568)
mention is made of various interesting matters connected with the early
days of the settlement on Cebú Island, and the resources and commerce
of the archipelago. He asks again that the king will aid his faithful
subjects who have begun a colony there; no assistance has been
received since their arrival there, and they are in great need of
everything. The Portuguese are jealous of any Spanish control in the
Philippines, and already threaten the infant colony. He sends (1568) a
considerable amount of cinnamon to Spain, and could send much more
if he had goods to trade therefor with the natives. Legazpi advises that
small ships be built at the Philippines, with which to prosecute