e that country. Such a
change would disturb everything, for the king loves them on account
of their poverty and charity. If they did so, we should return to
the former days of uneasiness.

Captain Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa set forth on the first of last
April on the expedition for the pacification of Mindanao, with about
fifty sail, large and small, two hundred and fourteen Spaniards, one
thousand five hundred armed Indians, and a good store of artillery,
ammunition, and supplies. In a week's time he came to the mouth of
the river of Mindanao. The king and his people had retired twenty-five
leguas up the river to a village named Buhayen, where they fortified
themselves. Governor Esteban Rodriguez followed them with the fleet,
and landed the majority of the troops, whereupon an engagement took
place there. The governor went with a few troops to arrange for an
agreement, and an armed Indian assailed him. The captain received so
severe a cut on the head with a carmpilan that he became unconscious
and died within thirty hours, without having declared a successor to
the government. The camp and fleet were fortified in a convenient
place and a city was founded, which was called Murcia. The cabildo
thereof elected as governor Captain Juan de Laxara, a captain of
infantry of this camp, who had accompanied Estevan Rodriguez and the
troops here assigned to the latter, and whom Estevan Rodriguez had
appointed submaster-of-camp. He is in the said city, fortifying it,
and claims to carry on the government thereof without being subject
to this or any other, for he is a bold man. He asks aid, and it will
be sent in due time. In the meanwhile steps are being taken to mollify
him so that he will come to reason and not become petulant, on account
of the inconveniences which might arise therefrom to the service of
your Majesty, and the peace and welfare of this state. Since there
is doubt as to what will happen, it will be even more desirable than
when Estevan Rodriguez was living that your Majesty now give definite
commands in respect to this matter. The said island of Mindanao is
very large and rich, and is inhabited by many people. There is a steady
increase in the number of those who submit to the sway of your Majesty,
in addition to those already pacified. It is the first of these islands
to recognize your Majesty, and is the most important for their security
and the conquest of Maluco and other countries. By the papers which
th