undertaking this expedition, but so secretly that he declared it to no
one, until, in the year ninety-three, seeing that the preparations for
his intention appeared sufficient, he declared his purpose, and made
ready to set out in person, with more than nine hundred Spaniards and
two hundred sail, counting galleys, galliots, frigates, vireys, and
other craft. He left the war affairs of Manila and of the islands, with
a few troops--although insufficient for the city's defense--in charge
of Diego Ronquillo, his master-of-camp; and those of administration
and justice to Licentiate Pedro de Rojas. He also sent his son, Don
Luys Dasmarinas, forward with the rest of the fleet, as his lieutenant
in the office of captain-general, to the provinces of Pintados, whence
they were to sail; while he himself remained in Manila making his final
preparations and arming a galley of twenty-eight benches, in which he
was to sail. This galley he manned with good Chinese rowers, with pay,
[43] whom, in order to win their good will, he would not allow to be
chained, and even winked at their carrying certain weapons. About
forty Spaniards embarked on the galley, and the galley itself was
accompanied by a few frigates and smaller vessels, in which private
individuals embarked. The governor sailed from the port of Cabit,
in the month of October, one thousand five hundred and ninety-three,
for the provinces of Pintados, where they were to join the fleet which
was awaiting them there, and to proceed to Maluco. In the afternoon of
the second day of the voyage, they reached the island of Caca, [44]
twenty-four leguas from Manila, and close to the coast of the same
island of Luzon, at a place called Punta del Acufre [Sulphur Point],
where there is a strong head wind. The galley tried to round this
point by rowing, but being unable to make any headway until the wind
should drop, they anchored and spread an awning, and stayed there that
night. Some of the vessels sailing with the galley went in closer to
the shore in sight of the galley, and awaited it there.