{ 469 ) 



belong to it, and who were to be his tributaries. Cortes underftood 

 that the head of the family only was confidered as the vaffal or *♦ vecino," 

 or that one only fhould be counted for each houfe, but the oydor, dodor 

 Quezada who was fent to allot his diflri(5t, infifted that every male 

 adult, mafter or head of family, fon, fervant, or flave, was to be counted 

 in the number, and as there were frequently twelve or fifteen of thofe 

 to one houfe, the Marquis was much difappointed, and feveral lawfuits 

 enfued. The matter was reported to his Majefly, but continued in 

 fufpence for feveral years, during which time the Marquis received his 

 full rents, without any molejftation. He retired to a place upon his 

 eflate named Quernavaca, where he eftablifhed his refidence, never 

 returning to Mexico* 



While Marcos de Aguilar had the government of New Spain, the 

 Marquis del Valle fitted out four fhips at Zacatula. They were well 

 provided, loaded with various articles of merchandize, and commanded 

 by Aivarado de Saavedra, who Vv^ith two hundred and fifty foldiers took 

 his courfe for the Molucca and Spice Iflands, and China. This was by 

 his Majefiy's command, as I can teftify, the royal letters having been 

 (liown to me and many others. He was further ordered to caufe fearch 

 to be made during the courfe of his voyage, for a fquadron which had 

 failed from Caftille for China, under the command of Don Garcia de 

 Loayfa, commander of St. John of Rhodes. At the time that Saave- 

 dra was preparing for his expedition, a vefTel arrived belonging to this 

 fleet, from the pilot and crew of which Saavedra acquired all the infor- 

 mation he wanted, and taking one pilot and two failors from this veflel 

 with him, he fet fail in December, of one thoufand five hundred and 

 twenty feven or twenty eight, and fuftained many misfortunes, hard,- 

 fhips, and lofles, in the way to the Molucca Iflands. I do not know the 

 particulars, but in three years afterwards I met with a failor who had 

 been on board this fleet, and who told me many ftrange and furprifing 

 things of the cities and nations he had feen, during his voyage. Thefe 

 are the countries to which they are now fending expeditions from 



Mexico. 



