The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 | Page 6

de Oro and Rica de Plata (afterward
found to be fabulous) instead of Monterey; and orders Velasco to see
that a port and settlement be established there, the enterprise to be
conducted by Sebastian Vizcaino. Another decree (May 3, 1609) states
that, as Velasco has not carried out this order, and advices have been
received that the said exploration and settlement should be made from
the Philippines, the king decides upon this latter measure, and the
enterprise is to be placed in the hands of the governor of the islands.
Letters from the king (May 26 and July 29) to Juan de Silva, the new

governor of the islands, direct him not to allow the Indians to pay their
tributes in personal services, and to inform the king regarding the
proposal of the Dominicans to found a college in the islands.
Explorations have been made at different times along the Rio Grande
de Cagayán, in the northern part of Luzon. An account of these, with
later information, is compiled by Juan Manuel de la Vega (July 3,
1609). He gives a brief summary of the efforts made by Lavezaris,
Vera, and Dasmariñas to bring this province under Spanish control. The
third of these (July, 1591), under the command of Luis Dasmariñas, is
the first effective expedition to the valley of the Rio Grande. He secures
the submission of various native villages, and treats the natives with
great leniency. A few weeks later, Francisco de Mendoca follows on
the route, and finds the Indians hostile, refusing even to sell him food.
Not finding Dasmariñas (the main object of his expedition), he follows
the Rio Grande to the city of Nueva Segovia, thus ending his journey.
In November of the same year, Pedro Sid goes with some soldiers to
Tuy, and now finds the natives friendly. He finds gold among them,
which they tell him is brought from the country of Igorrotes. He makes
some further explorations, and receives submission from all the chiefs
whom he encounters. Three years later, Luis Dasmariñas sends Toribio
de Miranda (October, 1594), with soldiers and friars, to explore further
and to pacify the province of Tuy. The natives are apparently peaceable,
but several instances of treachery occur, and the Spaniards are obliged
to be on their guard continually. As in the other accounts, mention is
made of each village visited, in succession, and various interesting
details are related. At Anit the houses are decorated with the heads of
men and of animals; "such was their custom". At Bantal Miranda builds
a fort, and requires hostages from some hostile or treacherous chiefs. At
Agulan the little children are wearing golden necklaces of good quality,
"good enough to be worn in Madrid". At Tuguey and some other
villages the natives resist the entrance of the Spaniards, but are terrified
at the sound of firearms, and quickly yield submission. Retracing their
route, the Spaniards find that the villages which they had left in peace
are now revolting; they seize the chief who has most disturbed the
people, and send him to Manila. The governor feasts him there, and
sends him back to his own village, apparently well pleased with the
Spaniards. Miranda searches for gold-mines, but cannot find them; and

finally, sick and discouraged, as also are his friars, returns to Manila.
Captain Clavijo is sent to search for the mines, but is compelled to
retreat, being assaulted by more than a thousand Indians. In 1607 many
chiefs from Tuy come to Manila and offer their submission to the
Spaniards; but the Audiencia take no interest in the matter, and pass it
by. Later, those chiefs send requests to Manila for protection and
religious instruction. The richness and fertility of their country is
described; and an interesting account is given of the gold-mines in the
adjacent mountains, and the primitive mining operations conducted by
the natives. These are Igorrotes, of whose appearance and customs
some mention is made. As they are pagans, and lukewarm even in
idolatry, it will be easy to make Christians of them. There is great
reason to believe that the Igorrote country abounds in gold. To this
account are appended several others bearing on this subject. One of
these relates the circumstances which induced Dasmariñas to explore
Tuy; another is a copy of the warrant and instructions given to him by
his father the governor. These are followed by a curious document,
apparently written by Vega on behalf of himself and others interested in
the conquest of Tuy and the Igorrote gold country, and addressed to
some high official in Spain--perhaps Lerma, the favorite of Felipe III.
It contains further stipulations, in matters affecting the interests of these
parties. A suitable reward shall be given, in the form of small shares in
the galleon's cargo,