erward they suffered not a little
on land until they reached Manila, where they were well received
and feasted. The priests began to labor, and the brothers, after
ordination, did the same, since they had come for that purpose.

I, who had obtained by entreaty what I could to buy two ornaments
and all that was necessary, returned to my field of labor; so that
I left the convent with a house, church, sacristy, and ornaments,
better than before; and all that was necessary for the house, more
abundantly and fully than before. I also increased its annual income
by more than three hundred pesos.

CHAPTER XLI

_Continuation of the preceding_

Governor Don Fernando de Silva thought that the trade of this country
with China was annually decreasing, because of the Chinese pirates,
who were now very bold, so that the traders could not leave port
without manifest danger to their property and lives. And indeed,
if any came, it was to bring rather people than cloth and the other
things that the country needed. Besides this, since the Chinese had
Portuguese in their country, they could transport their cloth without
so much danger and sell it to the Portuguese. The latter brought it
from Macan to Manila, and sold it there at whatever price they pleased;
for the Spaniards had to export something, as otherwise they could not
live. For their other incomes, acquired through encomiendas--I know
not how they are valued--do not suffice or enrich, and least of all
satisfy. Perhaps the reason is that in collecting them no attention
is paid to what is produced. Besides that, the governor knew that the
Dutch were settled in Hermosa Island, a very large island, which lies
more than two hundred leguas north of Manila. It is called Hermosa
[_i.e._, "Beautiful"] Island because of its fertility. It is quite
near China, although it is inhabited by Indians, like the rest of the
islands. The governor thought that, from that place, the Dutch were
depriving us of the trade; this would mean the destruction of Manila,
which only a lucrative trade could sustain. To remedy all this, he
thought to capture Hermosa Island, and he discussed and conferred
about this plan. The Dominican fathers, influenced by the gain of
souls, encouraged this affair, because of the nearness of the island
to China. As all are dependent on the governor in these regions, no
one dares to contradict him in whatever pleases him; for they fear
his anger upon them, which ofte