ILLUSTRATIONS


Map of China and East Indies (original in colors), in _Voyage
ofte Schipvaert_, by Jan Huygen van Linschoten (Amstelredam,
M. D. XCVI), p. 22; photographic facsimile, from copy in
Boston Public Library. 90, 91
Title-page of _Relacion de las Islas Filipinas_, by Pedro
Chirino, S.J. (Roma, M. DC. IV); photographic facsimile,
from copy in library of Harvard University. 171




PREFACE


The general documents contained in this volume cover the years 1601-03;
they are followed by Chirino's _Relacion_, which was published in 1604,
but the events related therein end in 1602. The two notable occurrences
in this period are the great fire, and the Chinese revolt in Manila
in the year 1603--the latter ending in the slaughter or expulsion
of almost all the Chinese in the islands. Pirates are still raiding
the shores of the northern islands; but the available forces of the
colonial government are diverted to the assistance of an expedition
from India which attempts (but unsuccessfully) to drive the Dutch
from the Spice Islands. Commercial difficulties still affect the
prosperity of the islands, caused mainly by the unauthorized share of
Mexican speculators in the profitable trade between the Philippines