large and high, while the praus were so small and low that they hardly reached to the first pillar of the enemy’s ships.  But the goodly aim of the arquebusiers was so effective that the Chinese did not leave their shelter, and the Spaniards were thus enabled to board their ships and take possession of them.  There were about eighty Chinese on board the two ships; about twenty were killed in the affray.  The soldiers searched the cabins in which the Chinese kept their most valuable goods, and there they found silk, both woven and in skeins; gold thread, musk, gilded porcelain bowls, pieces of cotton cloth, gilded water-jugs, and other curious articles—­although not in a large quantity, considering the size of the ships.  The decks of both vessels were full of earthen jars and crockery; large porcelain vases, plates, and bowls; and some fine porcelain jars, which they call sinoratas.  They also found iron, copper, steel, and a small quantity of wax which the Chinese had bought.  Captain Juan de Salzedo arrived with the rear-guard of the praus, after the soldiers had already placed in safety the goods taken from the Chinese ships.  He was not at all pleased with the havoc made among the Chinese.  The master-of-camp, Martin de Goite, who had remained behind with the large ship, showed much more displeasure, when he heard of the occurrence.  As soon as he was able to cast anchor with the junk in the river of Bato (the name of the place where the Chinese vessels were found), he made all haste to make them understand that he was sorry for their misfortune, and that they had done wrong in sallying forth against the Spaniards.  Nevertheless, he said he would give them, besides their freedom, a ship, in which they might return to their own country without any hindrance—­besides whatever was necessary for their voyage.  This was highly appreciated by the Chinese, who, being very humble people, knelt down with loud utterances of joy.

After this proposal had been made clear to the Chinese, and gladly accepted by them, the master-of-camp entrusted the chief notary, Hernando Rriquel, with the repairing of one of the ships—­ordering him to have the hatchway taken out, and to send all that the ship contained to the port of Panay.  Seeing that the sails, masts, and rigging of the vessels were so different from ours that none of his men had any knowledge of them, the master-of-camp thought best to ask the Chinese to send three or four of their sailors with the junk to Panay, in company with some friendly Moros of Lucon, who were with the Spaniards.  The Chinese very willingly agreed to that, and provided the required men.  Thus the ship was despatched with twelve Lucon Moros, four Chinese, and four Spanish soldiers of the guard.