I am putting these forts into as good a condition
of defense as is possible with the few men that I have. For never
were there fewer Spaniards in these islands; since, if occasion should
arise, I have not twenty men with whom I could reenforce any fortress,
without creating a notable scarcity in the others. It cannot be less,
since last year only thirty soldiers came, whom I brought; while in
the two companies of this year have come forty-six. A like number of
sick and crippled men have gone to that city [of Manila]; while there
are others here who have died; and many are sick, who with more reason
would be occupying the hospital than the sentry-boxes, were not the
necessity so pressing. Although, thanks to God, as they are provided
with food, they get along reasonably well on the little clothing that
has come, yet I am continually having their garments patched. Thus
everything possible is being done to encourage and please them, and
I think they are in that condition. I have, glory to God, as I wrote
to your Lordship, rice in the magazines to last until the end of next
April, with the precautions that I am taking, making use of that which
came from Macasar. My greatest cause for anxiety at present is my lack
of a galley or two in order to oppose to those that they say that the
enemy is bringing; for I have nothing but one rotten galliot--and that
without crew, as I have written--which is the vessel that I seized
from Pedro Alvarez de Abreo.
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