The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 298 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 298 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55.
Upon this witness going down the river with another relative of his, named Sicollao, they met a Spaniard named Diego Martin, and joined a large house which was there, and below the said river, said to be the house of a son of the said king of Borney.  This house contained a large and well-finished piece of artillery, and a number of culverins, frecones, and other offensive arms.  Advancing toward the houses where it was reported that the old king of Borney lived, near the said house, they saw a large galley with more than twenty-four benches on each side.  It contained a large swivel-gun and another smaller piece, both loaded, and having on them some quinas, [25] which appeared to be the arms of the king of Portugal, and each one furnished with two handles.  The said galley contained also four other culverins mounted in the place where the cargo is stored; and the galley carried a quantity of ammunition for the said pieces.  Some four or five galleots of sixteen or eighteen benches each were found also, with many falcons, and culverins, and one of them with a half sacre. [26] After disembarking, the said governor entered a house reported to be that of the old king of Borney.  There he found a large gourd filled with papers, among which were three letters—­two written in the characters and language of Borney, one bearing a signature, namely, “Don Leonis Pereyra Martin Ferreyras;” the third was written in Portuguese, beginning, “Noble and honored king of Borneo.”  It was dated at Ebora, March seven, one thousand five hundred and seventy-three, and bore a signature, namely, “El Rey” ["The King"].  By order of his Lordship, I, the said notary, took possession of the said letters.  The said governor went also by land to a house, wherein was kept the gunpowder.  He found there eighteen Bornean jars filled with powder, twenty-four filled with saltpeter, and many loaves of sulphur; more than five hundred lances and conpites, with which the said natives shoot; many shields, pikes with iron heads, a great quantity of small and large iron balls of many kinds, and many arrows; and two or three jars of poisonous herbs.  Also at the door of the said arsenal was a piece of artillery, a broken swivel-gun (also bearing the arms of the king of Portugal), with its large handles; four other fresones, large and long, with four chambers; two cannon-cases for artillery, one very large and without any piece; and a stone ball, slightly thicker than a man’s body.  Another large house, said to belong to Indian chiefs and captains, was entered.  A number of culverins and some gunpowder were found there.  Then the said governor went to the mosque located in the said town, where he found a large chair, upon which, they say, sat the preacher who expounded the doctrine of Mahoma to the said Borneans.  Near this chair was a block of marble containing painted and gilded pictures of idols.  This and the said chair the governor ordered taken from the said mosque,
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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.