come separated from the
rest of their fleet by a storm. They were bound from India to the
Moluccas, and thence to Amboina to take vengeance upon the natives
for various depredations. After a mutual salute with the artillery,
the Portuguese vessels withdrew. Each carried about thirty-five or
forty Portuguese soldiers and crews of Indians from Malabar. Legazpi
despatched the same captain with a letter to the Portuguese captain,
Melo, expressing his regret that they had not stopped to accept
his hospitality, because "at this port they would have been well
received and aided with whatever was necessary for their voyage; for
his majesty's command was that, wherever he should meet Portuguese,
he should give them every protection and aid." He sent presents of
food and wine, etc., to the Portuguese, who expressed their thanks
verbally, saying "they had no paper or ink." They promised to do
no wrong to the natives, at the request of Goyti, "because they
were vassals of his majesty, and our friends." A comet seen next day
"nearly above the town of Zebu," was taken by the soldiers as an omen
of war and bloodshed. Affairs with the natives continued to improve
steadily, and several chiefs came to offer themselves as vassals to
the governor, promising to pay tribute. The Moro interpreter, his wife,
and one child received baptism, a conversion that was of great moment
because this Moro had much influence with the natives. The ship "San
Geronimo" was judged totally unseaworthy; and, in a council called by
Legazpi to consider the question, it was decided to take the ship to
pieces, and to construct a smaller vessel from what could be saved
of it. The carpenters and others having made an examination of the
vessel announced that it was so rotten that no smaller vessel could
be made from it. Legazpi ordered also a large frigate to be built,
as there was a great necessity for it to bring provisions to the
settlement. The deaths of the Mexican Indian and a sailor and the
sickness of several others, were attributed to poison, and Legazpi
called Tupas to strict account, telling him that his treatment of the
Spaniards was the reverse of what was to be expected for such good
treatment on their part. Finally it was discovered that a woman had
poisoned wine that had been sold to these men. She was executed, after
having made a full confession and embraced the Christian religion. In
consequence a stringent order was issued by the governor that no on