ere so different from ours that none of his
men had any knowledge of them, the master-of-camp thought best to ask
the Chinese to send three or four of their sailors with the junk to
Panay, in company with some friendly Moros of Lucon, who were with the
Spaniards. The Chinese very willingly agreed to that, and provided the
required men. Thus the ship was despatched with twelve Lucon Moros,
four Chinese, and four Spanish soldiers of the guard.

In this river of Bato was found some green pepper [25] growing on trees
as small as shrubs, with their clusters like agias. Here they learned
that the town of Mindoro, which is the capital of that island, was five
leagues from Bato, and that three more Chinese ships were there. They
also heard that the Moros of Mindoro had made great preparations
for its defense, and had provided themselves with a large number of
culverins, arrows, and other offensive weapons, and were intrenched
in a very strong fort. In consideration of this, and the fact that the
Spaniards in this country have always desired to come in conflict with
people who do not flee from them, they decided to proceed immediately
to that island--although the natives of the river of Bato offered
them peace, and promised to pay them two hundred gold _taels_ [26]
(the equivalent of two thousand _pesos de minas_ in Spanish reckoning),
if they would remain there a few days. The master-of-camp assured them
of peace, and, telling them to have the money ready upon his return,
set out for the port of Mindoro. Departing from the river of Baco in
the morning, the Spaniards arrived, by noon, at the town of Mindoro,
which is an excellent though poorly-sheltered seaport. The harbor has
only one entrance. Its waters beat against a hill which is the first
and the smallest of a chain of three hills overlooking the port. The
other two hills are very craggy and thus form a defense to the pass
for the natives. Many armed Moros appeared on the first hill--bowmen,
lancers, and some gunners, linstocks in hand. All along the hillside
stood a large number of culverins. The foot of the hill was fortified
by a stone wall over fourteen feet thick. The Moros were well attired
after their fashion, and wore showy head-dresses, of many colors,
turned back over their heads. Many of them were beating drums,
blowing horns made from shells, and ringing bells. The number of men
was quite large.

The master-of-camp arrived with his ship, ahead of the oared
_p