to it that when
we return they shall not be oppressed in any way, in order to compel
them to give the whole tribute. They shall give only what they are
willing to, because we have furnished them no instruction; nor have
we effected a settlement, as I expected--because of the few people
we have, on account of the death of many of them, and because I am
deliberating whether I should make a settlement in Tuy itself, as
it is the capital, or at place thirty or forty leagues from Cagayan,
up the river, opposite Tuy, and midway between Cagayan and Tuy. This
year we shall go thither, and and I hope, with God's help, to found
the settlement and attain the success that is desirable. As I had to
encounter the Zambales, who were attacking me, everything could not be
done. The land there is very fertile, and the climate more temperate
than this. The Indians are robust, intelligent, and energetic. All
the houses are large and quite well constructed. The villages contain
about five hundred or more inhabitants. Two crops of rice are gathered,
one being irrigated, and the other allowed to grow by itself. The
land contains deer, buffaloes, swine, goats, poultry, anise, ginger,
cotton, and many wild fruits. The people display more politeness and
good manners than all the others. They have places set apart where
they discuss public matters. They say that public affairs must not be
discussed in the houses with women. When asked if they had enemies,
they answered, "Yes, we would have them if we would leave our land
to commit depredations. But we are not like you Castilians, who rob
everywhere." They recognize no king among themselves, nor any other
sovereignty than to have a chief in each village, who is over all, and
whom all of that one village alone recognize. I trust, God helping,
that this plan may be fully carried out this year. Sealed at Manila,
June 1, 1592.

Two Letters from Dasmarinas to Felipe II

Sire:

Immediately upon my arrival last year, I wrote your Majesty what
I observed in the disposition of the licentiate Pedro de Rrojas,
my counselor--in the little while in which I could study him--that
he was very fond of his own opinion, and of meddling with what did
not concern him. This resulted from his office, since he wished to
reduce everything pertaining to war and administration to justice. I
also stated that he considered his commission and mine as identical,
with no distinction between them; and that I thought