received by them from the Cambales.  They approached that country, which had never before been entered, by six routes; and although they were troubled by the roughness of the roads and the large brambles, they hid themselves and destroyed all the food and the crops which were either harvested or growing.  In that region those whom they killed and took captive amount, men and women, to more than two thousand five hundred; and from the men taken the captains and soldiers gave me about four hundred Sambales.  I have utilized them for your Majesty’s service on the galleys, where they are learning to row.  Many have been reduced by famine, and have formed settlements where they were ordered to do so.  As it was the rainy season, and the troops were dying, I commanded them to withdraw, leaving garrisons at convenient points, and well provisioned, in order that they might overrun the country and destroy their rice and grain.  I believe that, because of this, these people will not revolt again nor raise any disturbance.  On the contrary, I think that in due time they will be pacified thoroughly.  The relation of what was done, accompanies this letter.

All of Cagayan has been as quiet as Manila for many days and months.  Tributes are being collected from the encomiendas that remained to be pacified and subdued.  A memorandum of encomiendas and villages explored lately, with an account of the discovery of Tuy, accompanies this letter.

I enclose, with the duplicate, also the relation of the late exploration of Tuy, in which I stated that my son Don Luis would remain there, in order to make another entrance of not less importance, of which I had a reliable report and account.  It happened that, having gone upon this errand, and having arrived with the soldiers that he was taking to the province of Ylocos, through which he had to pass, he was taken ill, in the month of October, with attacks of fever.  This sickness was very severe, and he came here to be treated; and, although he is doing well, he has not entirely recovered his strength.  Almost all the soldiers fell sick at the same time, as that district is at that season very unhealthful.  Captain Don Alonso de Sotomayor died, as well as some of the soldiers there.  Others were brought to the city sick, and so the expedition had to be abandoned until a more favorable opportunity.

On account of these expeditions and pacifications, and because their country is not very healthful (and particularly so this year), both for Spaniards and Indians, a number of the soldiers have died, so that, from the total of four hundred, I have but two hundred left.  And although this fort, in its present condition, can be defended by a much smaller force than formerly, yet without it, there would be no safe position.  Since Espana is at such a distance, when reenforcements arrive half of the former troops will have died.  If in any one year (as has happened) there should fail to be a ship from Castilla, it is