Emma Helen Blair's compilation provides a detailed account of the Philippines during the 17th century, chronicling the arrival of the Spanish and the colonization of the islands. Based on primary sources, Blair's work is both informative and entertaining, covering topics from daily life to political conflicts. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Philippines, as well as the history of colonialism in general. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.