After committing numerous minor robberies, “The Ladrones now prepared to attack a town with a formidable force, collected in row-boats from the different vessels.  They sent a messenger to the town, demanding a tribute of ten thousand dollars annually, saying, if these terms were not complied with, they would land, destroy the town, and murder all the inhabitants:  which they would certainly have done, had the town laid in a more advantageous situation for their purpose; but being placed out of the reach of their shot, they allowed them to come to terms.  The inhabitants agreed to pay six thousand dollars, which they were to collect by the time of our return down the river.  This finesse had the desired effect, for during our absence they mounted a few guns on a hill, which commanded the passage, and gave us in lieu of the dollars, a warm salute on our return.

“October the 1st, the fleet weighed in the night, dropped by the tide up the river, and anchored very quietly before a town surrounded by a thick wood.  Early in the morning the Ladrones assembled in row-boats, and landed; then gave a shout, and rushed into the town, sword in hand.  The inhabitants fled to the adjacent hills, in numbers apparently superior to the Ladrones.  We may easily imagine to ourselves the horror with which these miserable people must be seized, on being obliged to leave their homes, and everything dear to them.  It was a most melancholy sight to see women in tears, clasping their infants in their arms, and imploring mercy for them from those brutal robbers!  The old and the sick, who were unable to fly, or make resistance, were either made prisoners or most inhumanly butchered!  The boats continued passing and repassing from the junks to the shore, in quick succession, laden with booty, and the men besmeared with blood!  Two hundred and fifty women and several children, were made prisoners, and sent on board different vessels.  They were unable to escape with the men, owing to that abominable practice of cramping their feet; several of them were not able to move without assistance.  In fact, they might all be said to totter, rather than walk.  Twenty of these poor women were sent on board the vessel I was in; they were hauled on board by the hair, and treated in a most savage manner.  When the chief came on board, he questioned them respecting the circumstances of their friends, and demanded ransoms accordingly, from six thousand to six hundred dollars each.  He ordered them a berth on deck, at the after part of the vessel, where they had nothing to shelter them from the weather, which at this time was very variable—­the days excessively hot, and the nights cold, with heavy rains.  The town being plundered of everything valuable, it was set on fire, and reduced to ashes by the morning.  The fleet remained here three days, negotiating for the ransom of the prisoners, and plundering the fish-tanks and gardens.  During all this time, the Chinese never ventured from the hills, though there were frequently not more than a hundred Ladrones on shore at a time, and I am sure the people on the hills exceeded ten times that number.