the Chinese boats and to try to capture one or more of them—­especially the big ones, so that he might be able with them to obstruct the bar of the river.  He also sent Captain Ribera with twenty-eight men and some Indians by land, so that, at the same time when the captains were examining the river in their ships the former could assault the fort, in order to divert the people in it, and to enable those on the river to seize the said vessels.  The plan for the enterprise failed, but success came in an unexpected manner; for it pleased God that, when the Spanish ships discovered the Chinese, thirty-five Chinese vessels were setting out to look for supplies for the corsair.  As they were sailing along quite free from care, they caught sight of the Spaniards, and turned about and fled.  It happened that, as the Spaniards pursued them, firing their arquebuses, the Chinese ships almost ran aground; whereupon all the men jumped overboard and fled to the fort, abandoning their ships.  The same thing occurred to the sailors of the other fleet, so that in a moment the entire fleet was captured, together with all it contained; but it was thoughtlessly fired, and was entirely burned.

23.  By this time, about ten o’clock in the morning, they began fighting in the fort under Captain Grabiel de Ribera, and had already forced an entrance.  When Captain Chaves heard them from the ships, he went to their assistance, where he was joined immediately by Captain Chacon.  They succeeded in reaching the first fort, capturing more than one hundred women and children after killing many of the men.  At this time they set fire to the fort, claiming afterward that it was done by the Indians.  This was a great mistake, for the wind blew the flames in the faces of the Spaniards, hurting them very much.  Some of the soldiers remained to rob the fort.  The master-of-camp did not go to their assistance with reenforcements—­although the captains say that they notified him that, as they were doing so little on account of the fire, the Chinese were commencing to make repairs.  As night was approaching, it was necessary for the captains to retire, leaving the fort which they had gained.  If reenforcements of those who had remained in camp with the master-of-camp had come up then, they would have captured all the enemy.  It is said that the Chinese were hurrying from the other side of the fort, on their way to the hills.

24.  When Captains Chaves and Chacon left the ships, all were burning; for either the soldiers or the Indians, it is not known why, set fire to them, so that, in a moment, they were all ablaze.

25.  On account of the great rejoicing over the unexpected victory, they overlooked the matter of keeping some of the ships both to bar up the river, and because they were large and well-equipped, particularly the flagship of the corsair.  The success requisite in this affair failed through a lack of system in such an occurrence, as might be expected in fighting with barbarous people. Item, the master-of-camp was lacking in quickness in coming to the rescue upon hearing the firing on shore, so that at least Captain Ribera’s force, so small, might not be swept away. Item, sentinels were lacking, as well as detachments of men to serve as reenforcements for the sake of security, and to furnish aid on occasions like the above.