/ 
Chap. I. George Anson, Efcp, 377 
fidered as the bell fituated Place for Trade in the Eaft 
Indies , or perhaps in the Univerfe. The Commodities of 
this Ifland are Iron, Steel, Gold, but not very fine ; Wax, 
Rice, Sago, Saffron, &'c. to "Which we may add a vail 
Quantity of Deer-fkin, and Buffelo-hides, which, by the 
Help of the Chinefe , they fend yearly to Japan. The City 
of Manila , which is wonderfully well feated in the Lati- 
tude of 14 0 if North, is the Seat of an Archbiftiop, and 
of the Viceroy *, and they both live here in the utmofl: 
Splendor. The City itfelf is large and populous ; the 
Streets wide and handfome ; the public Buildings very 
magnificent ; the Suburb of the Chinefe is very large, and 
full of People, who are very induftrious, and carry on a 
prodigious Trade, notwithstanding the Spaniards harafs 
them with heavy Impofitions. The Port is one of the 
f bell in the World, being at once extremely fafe, and very 
capacious, at the fame time that it is fo well fituated as to 
command equally the Trade both of the Eafi and IV eft 
Indies. 
There is another Advantage, which the Spaniards poffefs 
and improve here beyond any thing they do in other Parts 
of their Dominions ; and that is, abundance of fine Tim- 
ber, fit for Ship-building, and which is employed in the 
Conftrudtion of thofe vaft Galleons which carry on the 
Trade between this Port and Acapulco. It is likewife cer- 
tain, that the Spaniards build other Velfels here for their 
Eaft India Trade ; and, though it muft be granted, that 
they do not make the utmofl Ufe that might be made of 
thefe Advantages, yet it cannot be denied, that they make 
more Ufe of them here, than in any other Parts of their 
Dominions. They admit Mohammedans and Chinefe to 
trade here, though they are no-where more precife in the 
Exclufion of Europeans . The Mohammedans are allowed 
the Exercife of their Religion; but the Chinefe are forced 
to counterfeit Chriflianity, which they will do very dexter- 
oufly, to promote their Commerce. This is the bright 
Side of the Prolpect ; but, perhaps, it may not be arnifs 
to view it a little in the Shade. The Ifland of Luconia is 
very large •, fome fay, not lefs than four hundred Leagues 
in Circumference, and, at the fame time, is extremely 
populous. The Spaniards are poffeffed only of the Coafl, 
and have not more determined Enemies in the World than 
the Inhabitants of the inland Parts, who, as they are 
equally adtive and warlike, give them a great deal of 
Trouble, fortifying all the Entrances into their Country with 
a fort of Retrenchments made of Bamboos, or fplit Canes, 
which defend them from the Attacks of the Spaniards , and 
yet leave them fecret Paffages, by which they fally out, 
and make dreadful Excurfions. 
There have been likewife many civil Commotions even 
In the Spanifto Settlements, owing chiefly to the Oppref- 
fions of their Viceroy, or Captain-General, and to the 
Intrigues of the Clergy. In the Year 1719 the latter 
ftirred up the People againft the Viceroy, who had behaved 
very ill in his Government, and adtually killed him in his 
Palace. It is therefore eafy to judge, why the Spaniards 
are fo apprehenfive of Europeans carrying on any Com- 
merce here, fince they are equally in Danger from the 
Natives on the one hand, and from the Difcontents of their 
own People on the other. Y et, in fpite of all their Care, 
the Portuguefe (hare in the rich Commerce of this Ifland, 
and the Spaniards were frequently forced to employ them 
in military and maritime Affairs, for which they are much 
fitter than their own People. But thofe they moll dread 
are the Dutch ; And, it is for this Reafon ; that, though 
Nutmegs and Cloves actually grow here, as well as Pepper 
.and other Spices, yet neither the Spaniards , nor the In- 
habitants, take any Care to cultivate them, merely from 
the Apprehenfion of its tempting their Neighbours to ex- 
tend their Conquefts on this Side. It is very true, that the 
Dutch can fcarce draw together a Force fufficient to 
execute fuch a Defign, but they know fo well how to 
excite the Indian ' Nations againft each other, and, by their 
Affiftance, have brought about elfewhere fuch furprifing 
Revolutions, that it would be certainly a dangerous thing 
to provoke them, by interfering, in any Degree, with 
that darling Article of their Indian Commerce, the Mono- 
poly of thefe Spices. But to proceed with our Voyage. 
Numb. 25. 
On the 9th of July in the Afternoon, being then within 
Sight of the Coaft of China, they difcovered a Sail ; to 
which they gave Chace, fending for all their People from 
on board the Centurion * s Prize, excepting the Captain and 
nine Men, who had likewife Orders to quit her in cafe of 
an Engagement. The next Morning they faw her again, 
when fhe appeared to be a large Ship under French Co- 
lours. They continued the Chace all that Day, and the 
next Morning, but, finding they did not gain much upon, 
her, and, confidering they had not Water for above three 
Days, and fo great a Number of Prifoners to guard, they 
refolved to profecute their Voyage to Macao. On the 1 xth 
in the Afternoon, a Boat came on board them with two 
Chinefe Pilots, one of which v/as taken on board the Cen- 
turion, and the other lent on board the Prize. The next 
Day feveral Boats came off from Macao , in order to tow 
them into the Road, where they anchored in fix Fathom 
Water, the City bearing South- weft, at the Diftance of 
about two Leagues : When the Boats that had towed them 
in returned, they fentafhore by them fevenly of their Spanifto 
Prifoners, whom they fet at Liberty. 
31. As the Commodore had before experienced many 
Inconveniencies from lying a confiderable time in the Road 
of Macao, he was refolved not to remain there, but to pro- 
ceed through the Clufter of Elands, that lie in that Gulph, 
to the River of Canton, or, as the Chinefe call it, Quang-tong ; 
which accordingly he did, and anchored, on the 14th of 
July, off an Ifland, which is called the Ifland of Fygers, at 
the Mouth of the Harbour. On the 1 5th, the Commo- 
dore fent a Lieutenant, with nineteen Men, in his Barge, 
up to the City, with a Letter addreffed to the Viceroy, 
acquainting him with the Reafons which obliged him to 
enter his Port, intimating his Defign to pay him a Vifit, 
and defiring a Supply of Provifions and Stores. On the 
1 6th, two French Ships entered the Road ; upon which, 
the Commodore put his own Ship, and his Prize, in a 
proper Pofture to receive them, in cafe they had adled as 
Enemies ; but, upon his fending his Pinnace on board, 
they affured the Officer who commanded her, that there 
was no War declared between the two Crowns when they 
left France , which was about the Middle cf Dece?nber. 
On the 17th, they moored in the Mouth o S Aft a?tg- tong 
River, at the fame time that the Harrington Eaft Indiaman 
came to an Anchor there, and faluted them with twenty-one 
Guns ; which Compliment they returned with nineteen. 
The next Morning the Lieutenant returned in the Barge, 
and brought with him a Supyly of frefh Provifions, but 
no Licence for proceeding up the River, as was expe&ed ; 
and from him the Commodore received Notice, that a 
Mandarin, of confiderable Rank, would be very quickly 
fent from the Vice-King, to acquaint him with the Refo- 
lutions he had taken in reference to his Letter. 
Upon this, every thing was put in order for the Re- 
ception of this Chinefe Officer, who arrived on the 20th, 
attended by twelve Chiampans. He defired that the Com- 
modore would fpare the Ceremony of faluting him, becaufe 
his Guns being large, the Noife would difturb him ex- 
tremely. He affured him, that the Vice-King would take 
very kindly a Vifit from him and the Captain of the 
other Ship ; prefented him with aLicence for a daily Supply 
of frefh Provifions *, but intimated, at the fame time, that 
the ufual Duties, according to the Size and Meafurement 
of his Ship, would be expefted, as they made no Di- 
ftindtion in China between Merchantmen and Kings Ships. 
The Commodore replied, that the King of Great Britain ’s 
Ships of War were never treated on a Level with trading 
Veflels in any Port ; and that he was ablblutely reftrained, 
by his Inftrudlions, from paying any Acknowledgment for 
Leave to anchor in any Harbour whatever. The Man- 
darin behaved very civilly and politely, feemed to be 
extremely well • fatisfied with the Reception he met with, 
and promifed, at his Departure, to haften the Licence for 
proceeding up the River ; for want of which, they had 
not hitherto been able to pafs the Bar. On the 2 2d, they 
fent more of their Prifoners on ftiore. 
On the 24th, two Dutch Ships anchored near them from 
Batavia ; and the next Day arrived a thirds which faluted 
them with fifteen Guns j to which they returned thirteen. 
4 Y On 
