The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 278 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 278 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55.

According to the men of Balayan the enmity between these towns was because a Balayan vessel, on its return from Manilla, laden with merchandise, was driven by stormy weather on that coast of Tulay, and the natives showed them so excellent hospitality that, instead of helping and receiving them kindly, as neighbors should, they stole the goods of the Balayans and killed two of them, setting their heads on stakes.  Similar sights were noticed by the Spaniards in these towns, which still exhibited the cruelty of the deed.

This coast is called Tulay.  It has broad shoals and for this reason, as well as for the keen desire of all our men to set foot in Manilla, they remained there only one night.  Therefore at dawn they set out for the town called Menilla, which according to report was quite near.  They sailed along the coast, noting many bays and ports.  There were some towns along the shore, whose inhabitants and citizens had sought other shelter, taking away the best of their possessions.  The oared vessels came to shore, to see what these towns contained; but, finding no people, they sailed on.  The large vessel was sailing about a league from the coast.  Here they met some small boats, which the natives call tapaques.  They were laden with provisions, rice, and salted sardines without the heads, resembling those which are found in Espana.  The soldiers of the praus took away a quantity of rice from the Moros, who did not defend themselves.  The latter were allowed to depart in freedom, with their vessels.  There were some who did defend themselves, and wounded two Spaniards and killed one of the friendly Indians who accompanied us.  The master-of-camp, as he was sailing in the large vessel, was unable to put a stop to these disorders, for they were occurring in his absence.  When he learned of this, and that the Moro ships were coming from the bay of Menilla laden with provisions, he cast anchor in a small port; and there, calling together all the praus, censured the men for their disorderly conduct, ordering them not to depart from his ship from that time on.

The next morning, having heard from a Moro captured in one of the tapaques that the town of Menilla was very near, all the vessels and praus set sail, taking the captured Moro as guide.  In the afternoon they came in sight of a very large bay, which formed a wide gulf.  It resembled a narrow sea with its entrance at that point; but the guides affirmed that the land was one, and so it proved to be when we entered the bay.  We had taken with us from Panae a Moro, a native of the town of Menilla, who has had intercourse with Spaniards for many years and is well known among them; for, when the camp was in Zebu, he always came to sell them provisions.  Before the master-of-camp started on this expedition from Panay, this Moro, and his wife and one son, had become Christians.  He left his wife in Panay, and accompanied the master-of-camp as interpreter. 

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.