himself with instructions how he was to proceed, reached the boat and junk, which were exchanging shots.  The junk seeing that the boat contained 10 few men, defied them.  When the second boat arrived it found some of the men wounded, and that the junk had many and well-made arrows and lances, with a culverin and some muskets.  The junk defied the second boat also.  Shouting out in Castilian, “a bordo! a bordo!” ["board! board!”] They grappled it, and on boarding it, one of our soldiers was killed by a lance-thrust in the throat.  Those aboard the junk numbered forty-five soldiers.  Fourteen or fifteen of them jumped into a canoe which they carried on their poop deck, and fled.  Eight or ten of the others were captured alive, and the remainder were killed.  I have been assured that they fought well and bravely in their defense, as was quite apparent; for besides the man they killed, they also wounded more than twenty others of our soldiers.  In the junk were found many white and colored blankets, some damasks, almaizales [99] of silk and cotton, and some figured silk; also iron, tin, sulphur, porcelain, some gold, and many other things.  The junk was taken to the flagship.  Its crew were Burnei Moros.  Their property was returned to them, and what appeared, in our reckoning, its equivalent in articles of barter was given to them, because their capture was not induced by greed.  My chief intent is not to go privateering, but to make treaties and to procure friends, of which I am in great need.  The Burneans were much pleased and satisfied with this liberality displayed toward them, thus showing how fickle they were.

On the same day that the boats went to the junk, I despatched the patache “San Joan” with orders to go to Butuan and sail along its coast, and to find out in what part of this island the cinnamon is gathered, for it grows there.  They were also to look for a suitable port and shore where a settlement could be made.  While the patache went on this mission, I kept the boat of the Burneans and the pilot.  This latter was a man of experience, and versed in different dialects; and he informed me of much regarding this region that I wished to know.  Among other things he told me that, if the Indians of this land avoided this fleet so much, I should not be surprised, because they, had great fear of the name of Castilla.  He said that while we were among these islands no Indian would speak to us; and that the cause for this was that about two years ago, somewhat more or less, some Portuguese from Maluco visited these islands with eight large praus and many natives of Maluco.  Wherever they went they asked for peace and friendship, saying that they were Castilians, and vassals of the king of Castilla; then when the natives felt quite secure in their friendship, they assaulted and robbed them, killing and capturing all that they could.  For this reason the island of Macagua was depopulated, and scarcely any inhabitants