When the galleon was on the point of sailing for New Spain,
the- Palawan expedition retimied to the port of Cavite, from where the
commander of the expedition informs me that he has made a careful
and exact survey of the Islands of Palawan and Balabak, beginning on
the outward coast, from 9 degrees to Labo. On all that coast he has
only found mangrove swamps and reefs, the inhabitants being hostile to
everj'one and obeying no king; the land is miserably poor; there is no
drinking water from Balabak to Ipolote; the climate is so bad that in
two months and a half 116 men of the expedition died and 200 were
sick, and he finds that all that has been said al)out Palawan is false.
I have also been informed by the Alcalde Mayor of the Kalamians
of the arrival there of one galley, and three feluccas, which had left the
fleet since it sailed from Manila, as the Commander also now reports;
after the galley had been careened and food provided, one felucca sailed
on its course convoying the joanga ^ of the father prior in charge of that
district and two small vessels which had been sent by the Alcalde of
Komboy and had suffered the misfortune of being captured by the Sulu
Moros, most of the people, however, escaping, as explained in the enclosed
letter from the Alcalde.
The commander of the expedition has sent me from Cavite a report
of the councils of war held by him for the purpose of carrying out his
instructions, the most important of which was to take possession of
Palawan and adjacent islands in the name of your Majesty, said islands
having been ceded by the King of Bruney; accordingly, our fleet took
possession of the land with due solenmity, with the express knowledge
and consent of the inhabitants ; I also received a log of the whole route
which seems to have been well kept, with maps and a full explanation
of the examination made of the said islands and the operations in
connection therewith. A new map of the islands is being made, on
account of the errors contained in the former one; as the log and the
report of the commander refer to the new map, which is unfinished, and
I cannot delay the departure of the galleon, I cannot forward a full
report to your Majesty; I wish to make a serious and careful examina-
tion of all that has been done, so as to take such action as may be the
best for the benefit of the Royal service, and to be able to send your
Majesty a full report of the expedition, with my opinion based on a
complete knowledge of the facts. This is all the information I can give
your Majesty for the present.
