Pinal, are opened and secured through the efforts of Juan de Zamudio
who is sent to China for saltpeter and metals, although with great and
vindictive opposition from the Portuguese, who fear the loss of their
own trade at Macao. At El Pinal the survivors of two of Luis Perez's
three ships meet with Juan de Zamudio, after suffering great storms,
hardships, and wrecks. The same favor is extended him by the Chinese
as to Zamudio, but the Portuguese show their hostility to him also,
imprisoning the men sent by him to Macao to ask for help, and even
attempting force against him. Both Zamudio and a messenger from Luis
Perez carry news of the latter's disaster to Manila, whereupon a ship
and supplies are sent him with orders to return to Manila. Hernando
de los Rios Coronel, sent to Canton by Luis Perez to negotiate with
the Chinese, writes from that city to Dr. Morga concerning China and
the possibility, desirability, and advantages of the Chinese trade in
China instead of Manila, and the opposition of the Portuguese. China
he describes as a country "full of rivers and towns, and without
a palmo of ground left lying idle." Meanwhile the third vessel of
Luis Perez's fleet, commanded by Luis Ortiz, reaches Camboja, where
he and his companions join the Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese
already there. This small force, which is eyed askance by the Malay
leaders and others envious of, and hostile to them on account of their
prowess and their influence with the weak king, is further increased
by Captain Juan de Mendoza Gamboa and Fray Juan Maldonado, a learned
Dominican, and their men. The former, having obtained permission to
go on a trading expedition to Siam, for which he is given letters of
embassy, is also entrusted to convey certain supplies to Don Luis
at Camboja, where he fails to find him. Maldonado is sent by his
order as a companion to Don Luis. This addition to their forces is
welcomed by the Spaniards in Camboja, and they refuse to let them
depart until hearing definite news of Luis Perez. The arrival of