1 Translated from Spanish to English by Dominador N. Marcaida Jr. D. Adolfo Puya y Ruiz‘s CAMARINES SUR- Descripcion General de esta Provincia en Luzon (Acompañada de un Plano del Territorio que la Provincia ocupa). Manila:1887 (From http://bdh-rd.bne.es). MR. D. RAMÓN FECED TEMPRADO: My dear friend: No one better than you to whom is so much indebted has to the province of Camarines Sur, that I can dedicate the description of the same which as now I gave you to publish that you received as sample of deference to your knowledge and as proof of the true affection that they profess. Your very devoted S. S. Q. B. S. M. Adolfo Puya. TO THE READER It is known by all that the scarcity of news relating to this archipelago is noticed, not only in this country, but the motherland and abroad. It would be, therefore, of great interest that some of the Spaniards living in these Islands to devote themselves to describe at least the different provinces in which they are based, a work that might one day serve to form an idea, if not exact, approximate at least of what the Archipelago is. Nothing would be difficult, as I said, to those Spaniards that are settled in this or that province, to consolidate themselves respecting the production, industry, commerce, animal husbandry, population, climate, language, geographical and topographical situation of peoples, distances of each other in leagues or kilometers as means to verify the travel and cost of the same, the rates of prices, that would be of interest to the traveler, who arrives in this country without a guide, and without direction that takes you to go to the point of his destination, employment, industry, art or craft. Guided by this end, some time ago published a pamphlet in which I broadly described the province of Cagayan, and later I did the same of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya in Luzon; while these latter two provinces I have not yet published. Encouraged by the good reception that the public, always forgiving, have treated my first booklet, I have decided to publish this work without the claim that it is not without fault, but at least it will be something useful. I will not hide to the reader, that I could say something more about the province that I describe, but keep in mind that it does not attempt to make a masterpiece because it could not, and if only a small reference for the traveler. If any of you who read this booklet notice any imprecision, I would be grateful if you would let me know this, either in writing or by means of the press, on the assurance that it will not offend me but will make me a favor, because my desire is to learn and not to teach.