morning, some sails were seen at sea, and the master-of-camp, thinking them to be the ships of those who were coming to fight with the Spaniards, despatched a prau to reconnoiter them.  As the prau came near them, these vessels were seen to be tapaques, and the master-of-camp, fearing that the prau might do them harm, called it back by firing a cannon seaward.  The Moros, who were waiting an opportunity for treason—­but had not manifested it because it had not rained as they had expected—­therefore opened the war; and without any warning, fired three cannon-shots, one after another.  One of them pierced the side of the ship, and struck the cast-room, scattering its ashes among the bystanders; the other two shots were high, passing over the ship half-way aft; and one would have killed many men had the aim been a vara [31] lower.  The Moros had begun their treacherous work even before this; for they had seized some of the friendly Indians who had gone there to feast with their friends, had wounded the Indian slave of a soldier, beaten and frightened two or three others, and wounded another soldier with an arrow.  When the effrontery of the Moros was seen, and that they could do us some injury with their artillery, it was decided to attack them. [32] Therefore in the twinkling of an eye, the Spaniards attacked and took the palisade, hurling down the bombardiers with linstock in hand, giving them no chance to fulfil their duties.  After this first artillery had fallen into their hands, they immediately took the town, and set fire to it, on account of its being large.  The Moros abandoned the burning town, for they were unable to resist the attack of the arquebusiers, or rather the will of God, who had ordained it so—­a self evident fact, since for every Spaniard there were a hundred Moros.  The large ship was firing upon a Moro boat with long-bladed oars, which was far up the river.  This vessel was said to have three or four hundred fighting men and rowers on board, with many culverins and large pieces of artillery.  The cannonball struck the water, for the vessel was some distance away, surrounded by more than five hundred Moro praus and other large ships full of armed men, bowmen, and lancers.  All these ships were scattered by the artillery of the large junk.

The town was rapidly burning.  The master-of-camp hurriedly took the artillery from the Moros—­thirteen pieces, small and large.  He took care to protect the vessels of the Chinese, who had been greatly frightened.  He ordered the return of the sails and helms which the Moros had taken away from them; and the Chinese, attaching the helms to their ships as quickly as they could, proceeded to cast anchor near the junk, so that the firing should do them no harm.  The master-of-camp, having captured the enemy’s artillery, fired upon them with their own pieces, while they were fleeing, thus inflicting upon them severe losses, both on land and water.  About one hundred dead were found