a well where the men
came to drink. The crime was immediately discovered, and so no harm was
done. We have made friends with them again, and we continue as before.

With six galleons the Dutch came to the Solor Islands, which are
near the Malucas, where the Portuguese have a fort. They landed more
than six hundred of their men and more than one thousand Moros of the
country, who also came in their ships. The Portuguese, who numbered
perhaps thirty soldiers, defended themselves so well that they killed
over seventy Dutch and many Moros, while many were wounded.

Another Portuguese captain, who went out to sea with some vessels,
captured some of the little galliots of the Moros and some Dutch
lanchas. They retired at this loss, the Portuguese remaining
victorious.

A Dutch ship went aground on a shoal on the island of Jolos, near
these Philipinas Islands. Being seen by the Indians and natives of
that land, the latter attacked them, and put them all to the sword,
leaving only the captain alive for the ransom that they can get for
him. For two years there have been such droughts in the Malucas Islands
that many clove-trees have been destroyed, causing a great famine.

In the beginning of February of this year, 621, nine hostile ships
arrived in the bay of Manila, five Dutch and four English, who seized
the passage by which enter the ships of all these islands from Japan,
China, Macan, Maluco, and India. The commander of this fleet was an
Englishman, according to the agreement between them. They sighted our
forts and saw how few ships we had to oppose to them; thereupon they
sailed in as if on their own seas and in a safe port. The greatest
resistance which could be made against this enemy was to take care
that they did not seize any of the China ships aboard of which much of
our wealth comes to these islands. So two ships were despatched with
all haste to the coast of China, in order to inform them of the enemy,
and warn them not to sail at such a time that they would fall into the
hands of the enemy. They did not arrive in time, so that some of the
vessels had sailed, three of which were captured by the enemy. These
were of little value, but two of some importance were taken. One
of them was sighted by a small patache belonging to the Dutch, who
were under difficulties in attacking it, because the Chinese after
their manner of fighting--with caldrons of melted sugar, and stones,
and clubs--defended themselves so well