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. 36 



