that the vessel would go to La Canela for water, being unable to make the river because of the winds.  After taking in water they left port, and the next night the Chinese crew mutinied, and killed the Spaniards.  The Chinese had been disarmed, and committed the deed with clubs and wooden hatchets.  Ronquillo asserts that all possible care had been taken.  The vessel carried the bulk of their provisions, clothing, tow, and some ammunition.  In spite of this loss the expedition had been very successful.  Upon reaching the river whence he writes, he spent five days in repairs upon the fleet; and then, after completing the fort of Tampaca (modern Tabaca) and storing the ammunition and food in it, he ascended the river, leaving a guard of thirty-four men under Sargento-mayor Diego de Chaves, one of whose legs had been cut off.  The force which went up the river numbered two hundred and thirty, including sailors and gunners.  The enemy retired behind some parapets as soon as the artillery opened upon them, and brought some artillery to bear on the flagship (one of the galleys), but could not retard the Spanish advance.  Continuing, Ronquillo writes:]

I answered their fire with so great readiness that I forced them to withdraw their artillery.  But, as if they were goblins, they remained here behind a bush or a tree, firing at us, without being seen.  Thus did they keep us busy until one o’clock at night.  I remained three days without landing, awaiting the arrival of Lumaquan—­a chief of the tingues [i.e., hill-people], the best Indian of this island, and our best friend—­and five hundred Indians, who were coming to aid us.  On the very day of his arrival I landed in the following order.  I formed a square of twelve ranks of thirteen men each, closing front, side, and rear guards with halberds and pikes.  There were two captains in the van-guard, one in the rear-guard, and two at the sides, so that, wherever the enemy should attack, the soldiers could, by facing about, fight without at all breaking ranks.  I detailed two files of forty arquebusiers and two captains to go ahead to discover ambushes.  Under cover of their arquebuses went the pioneers to clear the way.  As I heard, according to reports, that the enemy would halt upon this day, I went ashore and marched straight forward at the head of the squadron, at times going through the ranks to see if anything was needed.  Upon that day, we busied ourselves until sunset in clearing the way as fully as great toil and diligence would allow, without the square being thrown into any confusion, or any man falling out.  But as we could not come in sight of the fort, I returned to pass the night in the fleet, for until the road should be open and known, and its distance, I did not care to land my artillery, as I had so few men.  Besides those who were clearing the path, I had no men to fire the artillery.  Immediately on the following day I continued my plans in the same order.  As one of my legs pained me, because of a fall backward two