to do so with greater freedom, abandoned astern some eight small boats boats—­a matter of small importance.  Our fleet continued to pursue them, but they put so much strength into their rowing that they distanced our men.  Their craft are extremely swift, and have two prows, so that it is unnecessary to turn about in order to flee.  The night descended, and the enemy escaped, to the great grief of our men.  They, seeing the so great disaster that was happening to us, and that the enemy had gone away making a jest of us, sent Father Fabricio Sarsali of our Society from the city of Cebu with orders to go to Manila to inform the governor, and get permission from him to go to seek the enemy in their own country.  For that purpose they needed food, some silver, and some soldiers, besides those that they had there.  The father came, negotiated successfully, and all that he requested was given him; and they were ordered to go to punish the Joloan enemy.  However they were not to approach a strong fort that the Joloans had on a hill on top of a steep rock, as that was a very dangerous undertaking, where twice in former years the Spaniards had been defeated.  Accordingly, the capture of that fort required a greater force and a more favorable opportunity.  The father returned with his despatch.  The caracoas of the island of Oton and those of Cebu were prepared, which formed, as it were, two squadrons.  Many other caracoas of volunteer Indian chiefs joined them, so that all together they numbered thirty or forty.  About two hundred Spaniards and more than one thousand six hundred Indians embarked in them.  On April 22, they reached the beach of the island of Jolo.  At one o’clock of the day, the commander landed one hundred Spaniards and a number of Indians, leaving the other men behind for the defense of the fleet so that it might come to no hurt.  They espied a flourishing settlement, of which they had hitherto had no information; for the king and his men live on top of the hill, for greater safety.  But, being desirous of enjoying trade and commerce with other kingdoms, they had built that city.  Between it and us was the river.  Seeing that this matter was one of quickness and determination, they immediately crossed the river, part in boats, but the majority in water up to their waists.  They attacked the settlement, and although the Joloans tried to resist, they were unable; accordingly, they retired, and our men entered the settlement and sacked it.  It contained quantities of gold, cloth, and other things, especially in the palaces of the king, which were very rich and beautiful, and curiously carved, as was also the mosque.  That island is inhabited by Moros.  Our men captured three versos and two falcons, one hundred and fifty muskets and arquebuses, and a flag which the enemy had captured from us in the shipyard.  They esteemed the flag very highly, as they had captured it from Spaniards.  The Spaniards set fire to the settlement and to a village of Lutaos, who are fishermen, as