yed so
long, and that he could not come to Maluco now, because of bad weather,
thinking that he would have returned, they went to try issues with
him at Manila. On reaching the island of Mindanao, they learned of
his death from the Indians. They made a compact with the latter that
each side should go to destroy the islands, even as far as the city of
Manila. The Mindanaos set out with a fleet that they had prepared, of
seventy caracoas, which resemble galliots. They anchored with them in
the province of Camarines, where they had heard that one ship and two
pataches were being built for your Majesty. They killed and captured
about thirty Spaniards and many Indians, set fire to the ships, and
pillaged whatever they could lay hands on. That disaster, which was
very great, was the result of neglecting to send there fifty picked
soldiers to guard the shipyard. The chiefs of those caracoas divided
into two parties because of disputes between them. One party went
toward Manila in search of the Dutch. The other went to the island of
Panay. Captain Don Diego de Quinones, who was stationed in that island
as commandant and captain of the Pintados Islands, hearing of this,
sent Captain Lazaro de Torres with seven caracoas in pursuit of them;
he defeated them, and captured four caracoas. The rest took to the
open sea in flight, and, those vessels being small, all of the men
were drowned; for no news that they have reached their country has
been heard here since.

That island of Mindanao is the farthest of the Filipinas Islands,
and is about twenty leguas from Cibu. That part that faces Cibu
is pacified, and the Indians pay tribute, and there are a number
of Christians. The entire island formerly rendered homage to your
Majesty. It extends east and west, being somewhat inclined to
the northeast and southwest. It is more than three hundred leguas
in circumference. The southern part lies in six degrees of north
latitude. It has many gold mines, as those say who have seen them,
although they are but little worked, and many cinnamon trees and
much civet.

Captain Estevan Rodriquez de Figueroa went to pacify it in 1596 at his
own cost, with the title of governor and captain-general of the island
conceded by your Majesty. But he was so unfortunate that, the first
time when he set foot on land, he was killed by an Indian concealed in
ambush. Captain Juan de la Xara, who was master-of-camp, continued the
enterprise; but as he, like his ma