on the Dutch and cut off the heads of all, except
one or two who escaped by swimming. This humbled the pride of the
Dutch and dispirited their men. As soon as the Chinese landed their
men they attacked the eminence, where the Dutch had a fort called
Chiacam garrisoned with sixty soldiers; but it surrendered on the third
day, and the Chinese used the Dutchmen for handling the artillery,
assigning them to various stations. In the harbor they burned three
ships and boarded one; and such was the fear that filled the hearts
of the timid of falling into the hands of so bloody and savage an
enemy, that twelve Dutch fugitives with other people went to him
[as those who surrendered] with five brigantines which the [Dutch]
fort had employed for many purposes.

The Chinese began their enterprise with as much fury as if they
had lacked time for the attacks of their batteries; but in their
assurance and the manner of their encampment they acted as if
time were of no importance, since it was the chief enemy of the
besieged. Palmo by palmo they steadily gained the [surrounding]
country, carrying with them branches, and baskets [of earth], until
they established themselves near the fortifications of the Dutch;
and during the ten months while the siege lasted they did not cease
firing all their artillery, night or day. In another direction an
innumerable throng of laborers were continually at work cultivating
the soil, as if they were already its owners; and before the fort
surrendered, the Chinese were already enjoying the produce of their
farming. For the proud corsair went [to Hermosa] so confident in his
strength that among the 500 champans which he took with him for this
enterprise many went loaded with plows, seeds, and the other things
used in cultivating land with innumerable workmen who were set aside
for this service alone. Consequently, while he fought he peopled and
cultivated the island without any one being able to prevent him; and,
as he is so rich, he carried a great quantity of cloth, in order to
attract the poor natives and bring them over to his side, in which
he has succeeded.

Only one other engagement was a success for the Dutch, who undertook,
when the Chinese first encamped, to bombard them with all their cannon
at once; and, having thus demolished their huts and fortifications,
the Dutch made a bold sortie, spiked six of the enemy's cannon,
cut to pieces the garrison, 3,000 in number, and were carrying away
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