He had taken with him his brother, who was likewise a native of Menilla.  When we entered the bay, these men advised the master-of-camp not to cast anchor before the town of Menilla itself, for the coast was treacherous, and to enter the river it was necessary to wait for high tide.  They advised him to anchor in a small sheltered port, two leagues from the port of Menilla; and thence to send word to Raxa [29] Soliman, the greatest chief of all that country, with whom the terms of peace and friendship were to be made, and whose opinion was to be heeded.

The master-of-camp found this advice good, and felt at ease about the port; for he had been fretting over the possibility of finding shelter in all that bay, which, because it was so large and spacious, seemed almost harborless.  Therefore we sailed straight to the harbor pointed out by the guides, reaching it two hours before nightfall.  The land all around this bay, in the part where we anchored, and which the guides declared to be the port of Menilla, was really marvelous.  It appeared to be tilled and cultivated.  The slopes were smooth, and had but little herbage.  In fact, so excellent indications have not been seen in this land, as were seen there.  After the master-of-camp cast anchor in the small port, the praus and the frigate arrived there.  On that day it was decided to send to Raxa Soliman, lord of Menilla, to request peace and friendship; and that the man appointed for this should be the brother of Mehomete, the converted Moro.  It was decided that the captive Moro and a Cafre [30] interpreter should go to examine the port and its position, as well as to sound the mouth of the river.  These men departed the next morning, two hours before daybreak.  Before leaving the ships, Mehomate’s brother, who had been married in Menilla, said that he would be able to bring back an answer on the same day, as he intended to rest at his own house.  The master-of-camp was so desirous of making peaceful terms with the town of Menilla that, although hasty by nature and disposition, he patiently waited there for three days after the Moro’s departure.  The Moro returned with another man, his uncle, who was said to be a servant of the king of Menilla.  He had been sent to act as ambassador, with certain other Moros who accompanied him.  He tried to make us understand, with high-sounding words, that his master was a most magnificent lord.  After a great show of authority and many pauses, he finally declared that the king of Menilla wished to be the friend of the Spaniards, and that he would be pleased to have them settle in his land, as they had done in Cubu and Panay.  The master-of-camp answered, through the interpreters, that he was much pleased to consider the king of Menilla as a friend of the Spaniards, since his only aim in coming was that of offering them peace and friendship.  He also added that to carry out these wishes it was necessary for them to see each other.  He therefore