ubmissive had the Rajahs of Mazagua and Zebut become, that they now
willingly paid tribute to the Spaniards, supplying them abundantly with
provisions, and treating them with the greatest hospitality whenever
they came on shore. The satisfaction of the Admiral was still further
increased by hearing that the Moluccas, of which he had come in search,
were to be found at no great distance to the southward.

Not far from Zebut lies the island of Matan, the Rajah of which, though
willing to pay every courtesy to the strangers, declined to acknowledge
the sovereignty of the Emperor, or to pay him tribute.

This so incensed the Admiral, that he resolved forthwith to reduce the
refractory Rajah to obedience, notwithstanding that he was warned of the
power of his foe, who possessed an army of six or seven thousand men,
and although naked like the rest of the inhabitants, were furnished with
bows, arrows, darts, and javelins.

Juan Serrano and other officers implored him not to go, but he persisted
in his design, laughing at the notion that naked savages could contend
with Spaniards wearing coats of mail and helmets. The Admiral set out
with fifty of his men thus caparisoned, accompanied by his ally, the
Rajah of Zebut, whose services, however, he declined, bidding him wait
in his boats to witness the fight and the certain defeat of their foes.
On reaching the shore, the Admiral landed, on the 27th of April, 1521,
and at once, with his muskets and crossbows, attacked the enemy, who
were drawn up to receive him. The natives were brave fellows, and
though some fell, others came on, soon learning to despise the slight
effect produced by the bolts of the crossbows and the shots from the
ill-constructed firearms of their invaders.

Perceiving that the Spaniards' heads were cased in iron, but that the
lower part of their bodies were exposed, they took aim at their legs,
and many were thus severely wounded. The Admiral, seeing a village near
at hand, and fancying that by destroying it the enemy would be overawed,
sent a part of his men to burn it down. This they did, but being set
upon by an overwhelming force, two were killed, while the rest were
compelled to retreat.

In the meantime, another body of savages attacking the Admiral and his
remaining followers--now reduced to seven or eight men--he himself was
wounded in the leg by an arrow, and he was repeatedly struck on the head
by stones. Twice his helmet was knocked off, a