a Spanish island not far from Manilla in the East Indies, is called Samar on the side which looks towards the other islands, and Ibabao on that next the ocean. It is like the trunk of a man's body, without head or legs. Its greatest length, from Cape Baliquatton, which, with the point of Manilla, makes the strait of St Bernardino, in 13 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, extends to that of Guignan in 11 degrees towards the south. The other two points, making the greatest breadth of the island, are Cabo de Spirito Santo, or Cape of the Holy Ghost, the high mountains of which are the first discovered by ships from New Spain; and that which lying opposite to Leyte westward, makes another strait, scarce a stone's throw over. The whole compass of the island is about 130 leagues. Between Guignan and Cape Spirito Santo is the port of Borognon, and not far from thence those of Palapa and Catubig, and the little island of Bin, and the coast of Cataran. Vessels from countries not yet discovered are very frequently cast away on the before-mentioned coast of Palapa. Within the straits of St Bernardino, and beyond Baliquatton, is the coast of Samar, on which are the villages of Ibatan, Bangahon, Cathalogan, Paranos, and Calviga. Then follows the strait of St Juanillo, without which, standing eastward, appears the point and little island of Guignan, where the compass of the island ends. It is mountainous and craggy, but fruitful in the few plains there are. The fruits there are much the same as that of Leyte; but there is one particular fruit, called by the Spaniards chicoy, and by the Chinese, who put a great value on it, syzyu, without kernels.