Page 383
An.1687
They cruise off Manila.
While we were here there was a Canoa with 4 Indians came from Manila. They were very shie of us a while; but at last, hearing us speak Spanish, they came to us, and told us, that they were go- ing to a Frier, that liv'd at an Indian Village to- wards the S. E. end of the Island. They told us also, that the Harbour of Manila is seldom or ne- ver without 20 or 30 Sail of Vessels, most Chinese, some Portuguese, and some few the Spaniards have of their own. They said that when they had done their business with the Frier they would return to Manila, and hoped to be back again at this place in 4 days time. We told them, that we came for a Trade with the Spaniards at Manila, and should be glad if they would carry a Letter to some Merchant there, which they promised to do. But this was only a pretence of ours, to get out of them what intelligence we could as to their Shipping, Strength, and the like, under colour of seeking a Trade: for our business was to pillage. Now if we had really designed to have traded here, this was as fair an op- portunity as Men could have desired: for these men could have brought us to the Frier that they were going to, and a small Present to him would have engaged him to do any kindness for us in the way of Trade: for the Spanish Governors do not allow of it, and we must Trade by stealth.
The 21st day we went from hence with the wind at E. N. E. a small gale. The 23d day in the morning we were fair by the S. E. end of the Island Luconia, the place that had been so long de- fired by us. We presently saw a Sail coming from the Northward, and making after her, we took her in 2 hours time. She was a Spanish Bark, that came from a place called Pangasanam, a small Town on the N. end of Luconia, as they told us; probably the fame with Pongassinay, which lies on a Bay at the N. W. side of the Island. She was bound to Manila, but