hole number of
hands on her return is usually little short of six hundred, all which are
easily provided for by reason of the small stowage necessary for the
silver.

The galleon being thus fitted for her return, the captain, on leaving the
port of Acapulco, steers for the latitude of 13 or 14 degrees, and runs
on that parallel till he gets sight of the island of Guam, one of the
Ladrones. The captain is told in his instructions that, to prevent his
passing the Ladrones in the dark, there are orders given that thorough
all the month of June fires shall be lighted every night on the highest
part of Guam and Rota, and kept in till the morning. At Guam there is a
small Spanish garrison, purposely intended to secure that place for the
refreshment of the galleon and to yield her all the assistance in their
power. However, the danger of the road at Guam is so great, that though
the galleon is ordered to call there, yet she rarely stays above a day or
two, but getting her water and refreshments on board as soon as possible,
she steers away directly for Cape Espiritu Santo, on the island of
Samal.*

TELEGRAPHY BY BEACON.

Here the captain is again ordered to look out for signals, and he is told
that sentinels will be posted, not only on that cape, but likewise in
Catanduanas, Butusan, Birriborongo, and on the island of Batan. These
sentinels are instructed to make a fire when they discover the ship,
which the captain is carefully to observe; for if after this first fire
is extinguished he perceives that four or more are lighted up again, he
is then to conclude that there are enemies on the coast, and on this he
is immediately to endeavour to speak with the sentinel on shore, and to
procure from him more particular intelligence of their force and of the
station they cruise in, pursuant to which he is to regulate his conduct,
and to endeavour to gain some secure port amongst those islands without
coming in sight of the enemy; and in case he should be discovered when in
port, and should be apprehensive of an attack, he is then to land his
treasure and to take some of his artillery on shore for its defence, not
neglecting to send frequent and particular accounts to the city of
Manila of all that passes. But if after the first fire on shore the
captain observes that two others only are made by the sentinels, he is
then to conclude that there is nothing to fear, and he is to pursue his
course without interruption, and to make the