ds of Spanish. They wished
to send word to Tandaya and to buy provisions, but the natives, though
good promisers, were tardy doers. Goyti was sent in search of Tandaya,
while the general took possession of the island near which the ships
were anchored. The latter, attempting to ascend to the native village,
encountered the hostility of the people. Government here was in
"districts like communal towns, each district having a chief. We could
not ascertain whether they had any great chief or lord." Goyti returned
in ten days with news that he had found a large river which he was
told was Tandaya. As they explored the coasts they were followed by the
natives, who took every occasion of displaying their hostility. He had
passed a large settlement called Cabalian. There was a good anchorage
here, but no port; "and the Indians of Cabalian had golden jewels,
and had many swine and Castilian hens which were near the shore and
which could be seen from the boat." On the fifth of March the fleet
sailed to this town, reaching it on the same day. Friendship was made
with the natives in accordance with their special blood ceremonies
[55] in such cases. Some boats, sent out next day under command of
the master-of-camp, discovered the strait separating this island
from Panay. The usual trouble was experienced by Legazpi in securing
provisions, and it was necessary to despatch Goyti to the shore to
take what was needed, but with orders not to harm the natives. Next
day Legazpi sent to the shore what was considered the equivalent of
the food thus taken, in beads and other articles, by a native who was
on his vessel. The general learned from hostages aboard his ship the
names of many of the islands. On the ninth of March the fleet set sail
for Mazagua, being guided by one of these hostages. Failing to meet
here the hoped-for friendship, they determined to go to the island of
Camiguinin, [56] first setting free all the hostages, giving them back
their canoe, provisioning it for three days, and giving many presents
of clothes to them, in order by this liberality to contract a lasting
friendship. On the eleventh of March the coast of this island was
reached. This island "is very thickly wooded." The natives, as usual,
fled. On the fourteenth the fleet set sail for Butuan in Mindanao,
but owing to contrary winds, they were not able to sail that day
beyond Bohol. The _patache_ "San Juan" was despatched to Butuan from
this place, to try to make p