It happened while I was prior of Passi in the Bisayas, an encomienda belonging to his Majesty, that some Indians had been drafted from that district to man a fleet which was being built.  Some of the poor wretches, on the return from the expedition, desirous of returning to their homes—­seeing that after so long an absence they were detained for other private works, now by this Spaniard and now by that one, who seized them—­fled.  For the Indian acts without counsel, as he lacks understanding.  Very often, after having worked one month, and when, within one or two days, they would be exchanged, they run away—­thus giving occasion to seek and punish them, and losing their wages, and abandoning the axes with which they were working.  It appeared to a gentleman who was chief commander and lieutenant-governor in Ylong-ylong, a port of Panay, an infringement of his rights that the Indians should flee.  Therefore, he sent two soldiers to look for them, at the cost of the poor wretches.  They came to the place where I was, and told me why they came.  I replied to them that they could look for them immediately.  They seized the governor, [117] and wandered for three days amid the hills and valleys, stupidly, as if the Indians would appear; for not only those Indians, but the peaceful ones had abandoned their houses, and fled to the mountains.  They returned, worn out after three days, without a single Indian.  The Spaniard who acted as leader put the wretched governor, holding in his hands his Majesty’s rod of justice, in the stocks; and there he beat him at his pleasure, now with a club, and now with his dagger.  Thereupon the Indian began to cry out so loudly that I heard his cries in the convent.  As 1 was about to go down, his relatives with tears informed me of what was being done.  I went alone to the government house, for my companion was on a visit, this being the eve of the feast of the Holy Spirit in 1623.  I began to ascend and to reprimand the soldier and to tell him that he had no authority to put that governor in the stocks, nor to maltreat him.  Then the soldier pointed his sword at my breast, and gave me a very impudent message from the commandant.  Among other things, he told me that he would send for me and bind me with double shackles.  I laughed, brushed aside the sword, went to the stocks, and took my Indian, all covered with his own blood, and so ill-used that even yet he knows no well day, but is constantly ailing and dispirited, and in a bed.  Next morning, they took the governor away, saying that the commandant would condemn him to the galleys, as if he were the cause of the Indians fleeing.  Fearful of the case, I went down the river, and talked with the commandant.  After talking with him, he returned the Indian to me.  Since then 1 have received innumerable favors from him there, which I shall not name, as they are not of interest.  Nevertheless, the Indian spent more than six taels of gold, or more than forty granos, in the journey.