A fire broke out in Cavite at this juncture, and almost all the Spanish houses were burned.  The fire nearly caught in the house where the powder was stored, a circumstance that placed the people in the utmost danger.  Not one was bold enough to try to remedy matters, for they all feared lest they be burned, until the governor personally set to work.  Then, incited by his example, a considerable number of people began to drag the barrels to the seashore in order to throw them into the sea, if the fire came near it.  By this means the powder was preserved, the loss of which would have been felt keenly, besides the damage that would have resulted from its explosion.

Maluco was also in need of help, and could get it nowhere else except from this country.  Accordingly the master-of-camp, Azcueta, was ordered to enroll some men in Oton; and two galleys and several smaller vessels, carrying money and other supplies important for the succor of that stronghold, went from Manila.  All this, although necessary, meant a decrease of these islands’ resources.  The two galleys, both of which were new, returned from Oton.  One had been launched shortly before the arrival of the Dutch, and the other not long after.  On this return voyage, the flagship was in great danger of being lost, because the crew of rowers attempted to mutiny.  This would have been done, had not a Japanese revealed the plot which they were conspiring.  Thereupon the guilty were punished, and suitable precautions taken.  The consort was more unfortunate.  The Chinese and Japanese convicts conspired to mutiny; and although those nations are like cats and dogs, they were very much in concord on this occasion.  They selected as the most appropriate time for their treason the hour for the siesta, when, as it was daytime, the Spaniards slept with less caution.  They first aimed at the head, by striking Captain Cardoso (who was resting soundly and carelessly) with an ax, which made him awake in the other life.  The blow was given by a Chinaman whom he had favored.  After him some fifty convicts, who were freed from prison, began to work destruction among the other Spaniards with whatever they could seize, and set out to kill them all—­that is, all who were not of the above nationalities.  The Spaniards were unarmed, all except the sergeant of the company, who had a sword and executed considerable damage with it, killing many.  He was accompanied and encouraged by another Spaniard who wielded with both hands the ladle belonging to a piece of artillery.  Finally, the sergeant having impaled a furious Sangley, or Chinaman, on his sword, the latter was so cramped by the wound that, not having time to withdraw the weapon the sergeant was compelled to leave it sticking in the body, and jump into the water, where he saved himself by swimming.  Some others availed themselves of the same plan, while some took the galley’s small boat.  Thus some few escaped, to bear the unfortunate news.  It caused universal and great sorrow, as happening