In this river of Bato was found some green pepper [25] growing on trees as small as shrubs, with their clusters like agias.  Here they learned that the town of Mindoro, which is the capital of that island, was five leagues from Bato, and that three more Chinese ships were there.  They also heard that the Moros of Mindoro had made great preparations for its defense, and had provided themselves with a large number of culverins, arrows, and other offensive weapons, and were intrenched in a very strong fort.  In consideration of this, and the fact that the Spaniards in this country have always desired to come in conflict with people who do not flee from them, they decided to proceed immediately to that island—­although the natives of the river of Bato offered them peace, and promised to pay them two hundred gold taels [26] (the equivalent of two thousand pesos de minas in Spanish reckoning), if they would remain there a few days.  The master-of-camp assured them of peace, and, telling them to have the money ready upon his return, set out for the port of Mindoro.  Departing from the river of Baco in the morning, the Spaniards arrived, by noon, at the town of Mindoro, which is an excellent though poorly-sheltered seaport.  The harbor has only one entrance.  Its waters beat against a hill which is the first and the smallest of a chain of three hills overlooking the port.  The other two hills are very craggy and thus form a defense to the pass for the natives.  Many armed Moros appeared on the first hill—­bowmen, lancers, and some gunners, linstocks in hand.  All along the hillside stood a large number of culverins.  The foot of the hill was fortified by a stone wall over fourteen feet thick.  The Moros were well attired after their fashion, and wore showy head-dresses, of many colors, turned back over their heads.  Many of them were beating drums, blowing horns made from shells, and ringing bells.  The number of men was quite large.

The master-of-camp arrived with his ship, ahead of the oared praus.  When the first prau arrived, he embarked in it with the chief notary, Hernando Rriquel, the interpreter, and a recently-converted Moro, who served as guide.  With only these men, and one soldier armed with a shield, the master-of-camp advanced toward the Moro fort.  He reached the foot of the hill, without allowing any others to follow him; and, being unable to proceed any further on account of its steepness, he summoned from above two Moros, to treat for peace.  There seemed to be a difference of opinion among the Moros, as was gathered from their demeanor, for some made gestures of war, and others of peace, some of them even going so far as to throw a few stones and level the culverins.  On the whole, they were not very anxious to fight.  Meanwhile, the master-of-camp was so near them that they could have spit on him.  All the Spaniards had already disembarked, and stood at an arquebuse-shot from the master-of-camp.  The latter was so anxious to