MANILLA. 
281 
Portuguese that had been given to all whom they believed had any 
intention to interfere in their spice trade. The squadron touched at 
Amboina, where Villalobos died, an event which caused the breaking 
up of the expedition; and the few Spaniards that remained embarked in 
the Portuguese vessels to return home. 
The fifth and last expedition was ordered by Philip II. to be sent 
from Mexico, when under the government of Don Luis de Velasco, for 
the final conquest and settlement of the Philippines. With this expe¬ 
dition was sent Andres Urdaneta, a friar, whose reputation stood very 
high as a cosmographer : he had belonged to the ill-fated expedition of 
Loaisa. This was the largest that had yet been fitted out for this pur¬ 
pose, numbering five vessels and about four hundred men. The com¬ 
mand of it was intrusted to Segaspi, under whom it sailed from the port 
of Natividad, on the 21st of November, 1564, and upon whom was 
conferred the title of governor and adelantado of the conquered lands, 
with the fullest powers. On the 13th of February, 1565, he arrived at 
the island of Tandaya, one of the Philippines: from thence he went to 
Leyte; there he obtained the son of a powerful chief as a guide, 
through whom he established peace with several of the native rulers, 
who thereafter aided the expedition with all the means in their power. 
At Bohol they built the first church. There he met and made peace 
with a chief of Luzon, with whom he went to that island. 
He now (April 1565) took possession of all the island in the name 
of the crown of Spain, and became their first governor. In this con¬ 
quest, motives different from those which governed them on the 
American continent, seemed to have influenced the Spaniards. Instead 
of carrying on a cruel war against the natives, they here pursued the 
policy of encouraging and fostering their industry. Whether they felt 
that this policy was necessary for the success of their undertaking, or 
were influenced by the religious fathers who were with them, is 
uncertain; but their measures seem to have been dictated by a desire 
to promote peace and secure the welfare of the inhabitants. There 
may be another cause for this course of action, namely, the absence of 
the precious metals, which held out no inducement to those thirsting 
for inordinate gain. This may have had its weight in exempting the 
expedition in its outfit from the presence of those avaricious spirits 
which had accompanied other Spanish expeditions, and been the means 
of marking their progress with excessive tyranny, bloodshed, and 
violence. It is evident to one who visits the Philippines that some other 
power besides the sword has been at work in them; the natives are 
amalgamated with the Spaniards, and all seem disposed to cultivate 
the land and foster civilization. None of the feeling that grows out of 
vol. v. Y 2 36 
