natives. These are Igorrotes, of whose appearance and customs some
mention is made. As they are pagans, and lukewarm even in idolatry,
it will be easy to make Christians of them. There is great reason to
believe that the Igorrote country abounds in gold. To this account
are appended several others bearing on this subject. One of these
relates the circumstances which induced Dasmariñas to explore Tuy;
another is a copy of the warrant and instructions given to him by
his father the governor. These are followed by a curious document,
apparently written by Vega on behalf of himself and others interested
in the conquest of Tuy and the Igorrote gold country, and addressed to
some high official in Spain--perhaps Lerma, the favorite of Felipe
 III. It contains further stipulations, in matters affecting the
interests of these parties. A suitable reward shall be given, in the
form of small shares in the galleon's cargo, to the officers and men
who serve in the expedition to Tuy; and these must be used only in
certain specified ways. These promoters ask for authority to appoint
the officers and soldiers necessary as garrisons in the conquered
country, and to fix the pay of these men, which shall be provided from
the royal treasury. If they have important despatches to send to Spain,
they wish to send them directly from the Pacific coast of Luzon, rather
than via Manila. If they shall succeed in pacifying those barbarous
tribes, they expect permission to allot those natives in encomiendas,
at their own pleasure. They also ask for commutation of the royal fifth
of gold to one tenth. Still another list of stipulations is given,
also over Vega's signature. The promoters of the Tuy scheme demand that
answer be made to it by return mail; otherwise, they will be released
from all obligations. The cost of this conquest should be borne by
the royal treasury. Vega commends himself and his associate--some man
of affairs--as heads for this enterprise, and urges that the royal
sanction be speedily given to it. The boundaries of the province of