death; the same penalty was inflicted upon any man who was caught
with the concubine of a chief. Similarly, the husband might kill the
adulterer, if caught in the act. If perchance he escaped by flight,
he was condemned to pay a fine in money; and until this was done
there was enmity between the two families concerned. The same law
was in force among the timaguas.

This relation was written by order of the governor of these islands.

_Miguel de Loarca_
of the town of Arevalo.

was also one of the first, among those who came to these islands,
who showed any curiosity regarding these matters; and therefore I
consider this a reliable and true account.

[_Endorsed at end_: "A memoir regarding the peculiarities of these
islands, written in obedience to a decree of his Majesty. To the
royal Council of the Indies."]

[_Endorsed on outside wrapper_: "Relation of the Filipinas Islands,
their discovery, the Spanish settlements, the usages and customs
of the natives, their religion, etc.; written, in virtue of a royal
decree, by Miguel de Loarca, a citizen of the town of Arevalo, one
of the earliest conquerors and settlers." _A similar endorsement is
written on the inside cover of the MS_.]

LETTER FROM DOMINGO DE SALAZAR TO FELIPE II

Royal Catholic Majesty:

After having written the letters and memoranda which are going to your
Majesty, there came some neighboring Indians to this city, who begged
me to make known to your Majesty the contents of their testimonial. A
few days afterward I told certain of them that they should decide
what they wished, and that I would write to your Majesty concerning
them--as your Majesty is a most Christian king who considers well
their interests, and has commanded that they be well-treated, and
will order punishment for those who maltreat them.

On the same day, some of the most prominent Indians came, and with
them more than forty others from the neighboring villages. They asked
from me the things that I have stated elsewhere; and I certify to your
Majesty that, if all that they said could be written in this account,
it would be but little shorter than the other one which I am sending
to your Majesty. Without doubt it would break your Majesty's heart if
you could see them as they are, and how pitiable are their appearance
and the things that they relate.

Another day there came chiefs from other villages to say the same
and much more. Today ten or twelve chiefs have co