Sugbu,
the pilot and master of the ship died. Even to this circumstance
can one ascribe its good fortune, as a ship governed by so great
a religious. Setting sail, then, with the vendaval, within a short
time they reached the outside of the channel. The ships sailing from
Manila do not do this, and are much delayed, because they must run
a greater distance within the channel and among more islands. This
is not the least danger of the vessels in sailing from the bay of
Manila. They need the brisa or east wind; but when the shoals of Silay
are reached, they need the vendaval. But, when they sail, they usually
go at the height of the vendaval, and many times the ships encounter
great danger, and lose their anchors, and are even wrecked. This does
not happen in Sugbu. But they leave port with the vendaval, and get
clear of the islands, and in less than twenty hours reach the Spanish
sea. They pursue their course with the same vendaval, which brings
them to the Ladrones Islands. At this point navigation is difficult,
for east winds prevail here, which take vessels going to Nueva Espana
by the bow. Hence, it is necessary to present the side of the vessel
to their fury, and to look for north winds. Thus they go forging
their way until they reach thirty, thirty-six, or forty degrees,
and one has gone as high as fifty degrees. There northwest and north
winds are generally blowing, and with these they descend to the coast
of Nueva Espana. In those latitudes great cold is suffered. By the
above account the difficulty of this voyage will be realized, for
in sailing from Sugbu, which lies in twelve degrees, or from Manila,
in thirteen degrees, to Acapulco, in seventeen degrees, a deviation
so disproportional as ascending to thirty-four or forty degrees is
made. On account of this difference in temperatures, very many of
the crew fall sick, die, and endure very great hardship, since the
voyages are necessarily long; hence we can say that they make the
voyage twice over. In passing, will be declared how deserving of
thanks from their state were our religious, and what great service
they performed for their two Majesties--the divine and the human--in
discovering, with so much toil, this course, which had been impossible
hitherto. In addition, not less were their exploits in the islands,
in planting the faith therein. Many religious, moved by their zeal,
have made these journeys two or three times. Many men died on this
voyage, chiefly