apparent by those of Cebu, who were friendly to the
inhabitants of Mandam, robbing and sacking that town,
when its people fled from the raiders of Baybay.
The master-of-camp having returned from his expedition
among the friendly villages, set out for Baybay, under
guidance of Simaquio. This latter guided them,
not to the chief city, where the prisoners from Mandam
had been taken, but to the small and unimportant village
of Caramucua, which was found deserted. At the
town of Calabazan the Spaniards were duped by the
few natives found there, who claimed to be natives
of Cebu, and asked the invaders to wait two days and
they would bring the chiefs of this town to make peace
and friendship. The two days having elapsed,
and no natives appearing, the Spaniards marched inland,
being deserted by all the natives of Cebu, who said
that “these were their friends, from which it
was quite apparent that they were all hand in glove
with one another.” A three or four leagues’
march resulted only in the killing of a few hogs,
the firing of the native huts, and the capture and
hanging of several natives. The only salutary
result of the expedition was the return of a number
of the inhabitants of Cebu who had migrated to Baybay
because they did not wish to acknowledge the Spanish
rule; asking pardon of Legazpi, these natives of Cebu
were permitted to return, but the same favor was denied
those from Matan and Gavi. Legazpi’s policy
was always to treat the people of Cebu with more than
fairness, in order to retain their friendship, although
he was fully aware of their duplicity toward him.
Numerous expeditions in search of food were organized.
The master-of-camp with seventy men, and accompanied
by Juan de la Isla and the king’s factor was
despatched to the coasts of Butuan in search of sago,
whence they returned after a long delay, and after
they were half given up as lost; having failed to obtain
provisions at Butuan, the commander of the expedition
had gone on farther, over-staying his limit of forty
days. On his return he brought more than one
thousand fanegas [74] of rice. He brought
cheering news of the friendliness of the natives,
and of the taking possession in the king’s name
of “Vindanao [Mindanao], and the coast of Botuan,
Negros, and Panay.” Another expedition under
command of Goyti was despatched to Negros with additional
orders to procure news of the former expedition, but
his quest was useless. Meanwhile a messenger
brought word that the master-of-camp was going to Panay,
and would return as soon as possible. Before
the return of the master-of-camp, Goyti was sent on
another expedition to the coasts of Cabalian and Abuyo,
taking with him sixty men. He was successful,
sending back several boat-loads of rice, and news
that the people of these districts were friendly,—although
not much confidence could be placed in their friendship,
for only a league from Cabalian five of his men had
been treacherously murdered, and another time two more