The aid of food and ammunition was sent to the forts which we have in the Malucas Islands this year, as usual.  Three pataches went, under the command of a valiant soldier, Captain Francisco Hernandez.  The Dutch had received a very large and well-equipped ship, with which they were waiting to capture our relief expedition.  The two pataches easily escaped, and sought the protection of our forts.  But the ship in which the said Captain Francisco Hernandez was, seeing that it could not escape, courageously went to attack the [Dutch] ship.  When that was seen from our fort of Terrenate, the galley was despatched to the aid of our ship.  The latter grappled with the hostile vessel and fought so courageously, that its men were about to enter the latter, when, the Dutch firing a piece, it struck in the powder which had been brought up on deck for the fight.  Thereupon our vessel caught fire, and the men took to the water, and reached the shore, which was near, by swimming.  The galley, which through fear of the powder of our ship which was blown up, had approached very near the enemy’s ship, was capsized by all the men going to one side.  Consequently, all its men took to the water in order to escape by swimming.  Thus the enemy were victorious, although more of their men were killed than of ours.  They tried to take the galley, notwithstanding its condition, but it sank in a few moments.  That was a great misfortune.  The enemy were triumphant, and made much ado about the outcome.

The Camucones are certain robbers who live on the sea, and constantly infest our seas of Filipinas; they came this year, as they have done in others.  A small fleet of our caracoas—­vessels that look like galleys, although they are smaller and weaker—­went out to attack them from the island of Oton.  Our vessels captured three of the enemy’s caracoas, while four others grounded on the beach.  The latter were burned by our Indians, and the Camucones who disembarked were killed.  Therefore, we are free from that canaille for this year, and they nave done us but little harm.  A large hostile caracoa was discovered on the coast of the city of Cebu.  The Spaniards went out to it and, having overtaken it, its people instead of surrendering and delivering up themselves, received our men with a volley of stones which they cast from certain slings, and showers of spears.  When our men saw that the enemy would not easily come to terms, they attacked and killed them.  Only six of them were left alive, who with the prize and boat were taken to the said city of Cebu, where the attempt was made to ascertain their purpose and from what land they came.  But it was impossible to ascertain anything, for they understood none of the languages spoken here, although there are so many.  They were thought to be people who had been blown from some island. [50] They were naked, and had no firearms, nor even weapons of iron.  Their ship had no nails, and a chisel that was found was made of bone.  They ate lice with a good grace—­by that propensity, being people of good taste.  Some thought them to be from an island more distant than Borney; for the inhabitants of that island eat lice, and the fat ones with especial liking.