governor; except that I shall have them collected and put in the treasury to cover the expenses of this pacification; for thus far I have knowledge of no assent or approval, and therefore I shall treat it as if left to me.  Thus far I have founded no settlement; for, although the situation of Tanpaca is good and healthful, it is far from the sea, so that it takes a fragata five or six days to come up and go down from here.  There is no other site of importance, and from now on until things are more settled it is inexpedient to leave this river; I shall therefore postpone such an enterprise until a better opportunity.

More than thirty pieces of artillery, although small ones, have been won from the enemy, and more than five hundred boats have been defeated and captured; and up to the time of the peace more than eight hundred people have died or been taken captive.

On the twenty-sixth instant the sargento-mayor came down from exploring the great lake.  He found upon it a village of eight hundred people, which immediately surrendered peaceably and paid acknowledgment.  There were no more in that neighborhood.  And as all the people there pay tribute to these people, they denied having any more than a few tinguianes [i.e., hill people].  When they were told to notify the villages, they said that they could not, for they were at war with them; that this was the boundary of their nation; and that it would take a large body of troops.  It could not all be explored on this occasion, because it would take more time than our troops could afford.  It is understood that the people of this district are all farmers, and by nature like the Vizayans; they have much cotton and wax.  This part of the lake is clear, and has a swift current, owing to the strength of the rivers which flow into it, and which have every reason for being populous.  We shall examine it soon; the reason for our not doing so this time was that Silonga knew that the chiefs and principal men of his party wished to go over to our side, paying tribute and obedience unto his Majesty.  Seeing himself deserted on all sides without them, and that they were all leaving him, he came out of Buyahen with a large number of troops and went to the village of Dato Mindum; and there he cut off their path and kept them all hedged in.  The sargento-mayor and the other captains, considering that since he was so bold as to take up a position where he was without fortification, he must have confidence in the number of his troops, and that for some eight days more or less the victories which God has given us up to now should not be spoiled, therefore put off attacking him till they should have a new order from me.  Accordingly today, the twenty-ninth of the said month, I am sending Captain Ruy Gomez with forty soldiers more, and three hundred friendly Indians and more supplies.  He has orders to attack the village.  We should lose much if the troops came down the river without attacking Silonga; the more he has at stake, the more he will lose.  For I know the worth and value of a Spaniard, and it is not a good thing to hazard them without a great deal of consideration.  I hope, God willing, that if the enemy wait they will be badly beaten; and if they flee to the chiefs who wish to go over to our side, that will increase their wish and confirm them in it.