lunao, who is the chief of this village
of Tanpaca. He is willing and anxious for it and has already embarked
to come to see me. As he is a boy, although he is respected by all,
his uncles Sali and Silonga would not let him do so. They have
hindered him, warning him that he will be hanged. He is importunate
in his desire to come, saying that he has no fear of the Spaniards,
because he has done them no harm; and his father, Dimasanca, was their
friend and paid them tribute, and why should they do him harm? As
his uncles are so much to blame they are keeping him back, thinking
that they cannot receive the mercy that Raxa Mura will, on account
of their treacheries; and that, if he came, they would be lost. If
they could make sure that they would not lose their heads, they would
all be friendly and the island would be pacified. But it is enough
that Raxa Mura should be friendly, wherefore Captain Juan Pacho is
under orders to carry on this negotiation through the mother. If this
plan of mine is not successful and fails, they must be overcome by
want where they now are; for I have them so close pressed and hemmed
in that they are not lords of the land a pace from their fort, and
they will die of hunger, as neither salt nor fish can enter to them,
and their crops have been taken from them on all sides, so they must
either die or surrender. And what makes them more reasonable is, that
three days ago I took a fort at the place where I have the galliot
from Vutil. I have closed the river in such wise that there is no
way to go up or down it, and I have there a captain with twenty-four
soldiers. They were greatly affected by the defeat of Terrenate;
and as they had put their hope in that they lost it thereby as much
as if they had been defeated. Sali and Silonga called a meeting of
all their people and sought their advice as to what to do. All the
timaguas and other chiefs told them that there was nothing to do
but become the friends of the Spaniards and pay them tribute. They
answered that they would not pay tribute, but would fight first,
and they warned them that they should do so. They all answered that
they did not wish to fight with the Spaniards, for it was well known
that that meant to go to death. The advice that their people gave
them was good, but it pleased God that they should choose the worst.

If there had not been such a lack of rowers I should have traveled
by means of two hands and forced their respect. But I ha