opposed this, saying that it was not fitting to his majesty’s service, and that it would stir up the land and set it against us.  As the men of Luzon had put some earth within the cakes of wax that they had sold, in order to cheat us with it; and inasmuch as they, moreover, insisted that the natives should not give anything in exchange for any other kind of trade-goods, but only for tostones, and had uttered many lies and slanders against us—­the soldiers said that this was sufficient to justify the war; and that the war would not be the cause of stirring up the natives, because the latter were not at all well-disposed toward the Moros.  Finally they did not touch the Moros, being persuaded to this by the captain and the officials.  By my instructions, in case they should meet any strange or piratical junk that proved hostile, they returned to the station of the fleet, bringing a small quantity of gold, wax, cinnamon, and other things.  Nevertheless the natives of the island would have sold them a quantity of gold had not the Moros prevented it.

While in the bay of the island of Bohol, I was very anxious about the frigate, since it was to be gone but one week; while twenty-one days had passed, and it was nowhere to be seen.  Meanwhile a prau which I had despatched with two soldiers and the chiefs Cicatuna and Cigala to the island of Cubu to endeavor to ascertain some news concerning it, had returned, bringing no news whatever of its whereabouts.  On Holy Saturday, three hours before daybreak, while we were thus plunged in great anxiety and grief, fearing that our companions might have been lost, captured, or killed, the shout “the frigate! the frigate!” was heard in our fleet.  Turning my glance, I beheld it entering the bay.  Only the Burnei pilot was missing; the others looked well and strong, although they had suffered from hunger.  On arriving, they informed us that the island which they had coasted had a circuit of one hundred and fifty leagues, and that on their return they had passed between it and the opposite coast of Cubu. [100] They reported that this island of Cubu was densely, populated, containing many large villages, and among them were many people inhabiting the coast, and inland many cultivated districts.  The above-mentioned soldiers who went to Cibu in the prau with Cicatuna and Cigala said that the same thing was to be observed on the other coast, and that the port of the town of Cibu admitted of anchorage, and was excellent.  I decided to take the fleet to that island—­a plan I carried out, with the intention of requesting peace and friendship from the natives, and of buying provisions from them at a reasonable cost.  Should they refuse all this I decided to make war upon them—­a step which I considered justifiable in the case of these people; for it was in that same port and town that Magallanes and his fleet were well received.  King Sarriparra and nearly all the natives were baptized, and admitted to our holy faith and evangelical teaching,