Page 308
An.1686
Philippine Islands. Isle of St. John.
and Towns on several of the Islands, and Padres or Priests to instruct the native Indians, from whom they get their Gold.
The Spanish Inhabitants, of the smaller Islands especially, would willingly trade with us if the Go- vernment was not so severe against it ; for they have no goods but what are brought from Manilo at an extraordinary dear rate. I am of the opini- on, that if any of our Nations would seek a trade with them, they would not lose their labour; ifor the Spaniards can and will Smuggle (as our Sea-men call Trading by stealth) as well as any Nation that I know; and our Jamaicans are to their profit sen- sible enough of it. And I have been informed, that Captain Goodlud of London, in a Voyage which he made from Mindanao to China, touch'd at some of these Islands, and was civilly treated by the Spa- niards, who bought some of his Commodities, giv- ing him a very good price for the same.
There are about 12 or 14 more large Islands ly- ing to the Southwards of Luconia ; most of which, as I said before, are inhabited by the Spaniards. Be- sides these there are an infinite number of small Islands of no account, and even the great Islands, many of them, are without Names; or at least so variously set down, that I find the same Islands named by divers Names.
The Island St. John and Mindanao are the Southern- most of all these Islands, and are the only Islands in all this Range that are not subject to the Spani- ards.
St. Johns Island is on the East side of the Minda- nao, and distant from it 3 or 4 leagues. It is in lat. about 7 or 8 North. This Island is in length about 38 leagues, stretching N. N. W. and S. S. E. and it is in breadth about 24 leagues, in the middle of the Island. The Northermoft end is broader, and the Southermost is narrower: This Island is of a good