The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 2]

1521-I569]

EXPEDITION OF LOAISA

3I

them." November 4, they have news that the Portuguese are fortified in other islands of the archipelago. Negotiations with the Portuguese are detailed
at some length. " The islands having cloves are these:
Terrenate, Tidori, Motil, Maquian, Bachan." A
description of these islands follows, and then the pilot
adds, "All these islands of Maluco and those near
by are... mountainous." March 30, 1528 a
Castilian vessel anchors at Tidore, one of three sent by
Cortes' to seek news of Loaisa. The two others had
been blown from their course five or six days before
reaching the Ladrones. This ship, under command
of Captain Saavedra Ceron, had ransomed three men
of the caravel " Santa Maria del Parral," one of
Loaisa's ships, on an island to the north of Tidore.
These men declare that their ship had been captured
by the natives, the captain and most of the crew
killed, and the remainder made prisoners. The accusation is made that these three men, in company
with others, had themselves killed their captain. The
document closes with various observations as to recent events, and states various needs of the Spaniards.
The governor praises Saavedra, declaring that because of his diligence he is worthy of great rewards.
(No. xiv, pp. 241-313.)
4 Hernar Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico, was born in I485, at
Badajoz, Spain. When a mere boy, he resolved upon a military
career, and in 1504 went to the West Indies, where he took part
in various expeditions, and held some official posts of importance.
During 1519-27, Cortes effected the conquest of Mexico and subjugation of its people. Returning to Spain in triumph (I528), he
received from the emperor titles and lands, and was made captaingeneral of New Spain, an office which he held from 1530 to I541.
He sent Saavedra to search for Loaisa (1527); and in I533 and
I539 sent out expeditions of discovery - the latter, under Ulloa,
ascending the western coast of America to thirty-two degrees north
latitude. Cortes died at Seville, December 2, 1547.