win over those Moros and gain their confidence, because
they exhibited fear, that he wished to climb the hill
on all fours to reach them; but his companions dissuaded
him from this. At this time Captain Juan de Salzedo,
the sergeant-major, the high constable, and the ensign-major,
came up; and the master-of-camp, the captain, and
the officials were assembled there, with but one soldier,
for the master-of-camp would not allow the others
to advance. The Moros having seen the peaceful
attitude of our people, one of them descended the
hill, almost on all fours. Our Moro guide advanced
toward him; but, on account of the great steepness
of the hill, he had to be helped up by the other Moro.
After they had seen and recognized each other, and
after the customary embrace and kiss, they descended
to the master-of-camp. The latter told the Moro
who had come down, through the interpreter, that he
need not fear; for he had not come to harm them, but
to seek their friendship. The Moro carried the
message to the others upon the hill, and a chief came
down; and, upon reaching the master-of-camp, said
that he and all the town wished to be his friends,
and to help the Spaniards with whatever they possessed.
The master-of-camp answered that the proposition was
acceptable; whereupon the Moro chief asked him to
withdraw from that place—saying that, after
they had withdrawn, he would come to treat of friendship
and of what was to be given. The master-of-camp,
in order to please him, agreed to this; and told the
chief that he was going to review his men, and that
he should not be offended when he should hear arquebuse-shots
and the noise of artillery. Accordingly, he withdrew
to the place where his men were drawn up in order,
and there a fine review took place—the
company closing ranks in such perfect order that both
the friendly Indians (who came with us, to the number
of five or six hundred) and the Moros were greatly
frightened. The master-of-camp ordered that the
cannon amidship on the large vessel be fired, although
not to increase their fright. The review had
not yet ended when a Moro came with sixty gold taels,
which he gave to the master-of-camp—asking
him not to be offended if the gift were not brought
quickly, because the people had dispersed through
fear, and therefore it could not be collected so soon;
but he promised that they would raise the amount to
four hundred taels. The master-of-camp received
this gold, and had it placed in a small box, the key
of which he gave to the Moro, telling him to keep
it until the promise was fulfilled; but to consider
that after treason nothing could be more blameworthy
than falsehood. The Moro salaamed low, and said
that he would not lie, and that they would fulfil their
promise, little by little. And so they did, for,
on that same day, four more messengers came with gold;
and all entreated and begged the master-of-camp not
to be offended at the delay, if there should be any.
With these flatteries and promises the Moros detained