In my last letter I wrote to your Eeverence of the result of the first
attack, which was unfortunate, because the Moros repulsed us, as I told
your Reverence. Not less unfortunate will be the news that I shall now
relate,* which it is yet necessary for me to tell, in order to fulfil my
duty and to remove the clouds arising from rumors and letters that will
go there. I am here and see everything; and there is never a lack of
those who tell many new things and exaggerate matters that are not so
great as they will relate and descant there, where no one can report and
declare what has happened. It is as follows :
Since that attack, we have made two others. The first was with five
mines which we had made, with which we expected to blow up a great part
of those walls. All of the mines were fired, and thinking that they would
cause the same effects as the others our men retired farther than they
ought to have done. Four of the mines exploded, and did not a little
damage among the enemy. They, full of fear, fled down from their posi-
tion; but, as the mines did not make the noise that we expected, we did
not, accordingly, get there in time, as we were quite distant because of our
fear lest the mines do us harm. The Moros retook their position, so
that we were repulsed this time, as we had been the other, with the
death of a captain, while some men were wounded. The fifth mine was
left, and did not explode that time. Hence its mouth was looked for,
and having found it, we tried two days after that to make another
assault. The assault was made after the mine had exploded. That
mine was larger than the others had been, and caused much damage. But
the Moros fortified themselves again, with greater strength than they had
the last two times, and defended themselves in their trenches, which had
been fortified with many stockades and terrepleins, so that we could not
enter. We lost some soldiers on that occasion, who tried to show that they
were bold and valiant. Among them was the sargento-mayor, Melon,
who was struck by a ball which passed through him and carried him off
in two days. May God rest his soul ! Thereupon, we retired to our
posts and endeavored to collect our men and carry away the wounded, who
were many. We liave lost four captains of renown in these three
assaults — namely. Captain Pimienta, Captain Juan Nicolas, Captain Don
Pedro de Mena, and Sargento-mayor Gonzales de C-aseres Melon. Besides
these three assaults, another misfortune happened to us on St. Matthew's
day, which was as follows: Captain Rafael Ome, going with forty-six
men and two hundred Indians to make a garo'^ (as we say here), and
having taken up quarters in a field, where there was a fortified house,
arranged his posts at intervals and ordered his men to he cm their guard.
But since man proposes and God disposes, the posts were either careless,
or God ordained it thus; for suddenly tlie enemy rushed U[)on our men,
who could not unite, as they were by that time scattered through the
forest. The enemy ,^ having caught them off their guard, made a pastime
of it, killing twenty-six men, and carrying off arms, powder, balls and
fuses. I regard that event as the greatest of all our losses. Among those
of our men killed there by the enemy was Captain Lopez Suarez, a fine
soldier. Our men were not disheartened by these reverses, except such
and such men. The governor well sustains the undertaking with [all
his powers of] mind and body. He has surrounded the entire hill with
a stockade and a ditch, and has sown the ground with sharp stakes so that
the enemy may neither receive aid nor sally out from it. At intervals
there are sentry-posts and towers, so close that they almost touch. There
were six barracks along it, so that if any tower should be in need the
soldiers in them could go to its defense. Some of tliem have six men,
others four, and those which have least three men, as a guard. The
enclosure is one league long and surrounds the hill. I do not know
which causes the more wonder, the fort of the jMoros or the enclosure
of the Spaniards which restrains the Moros, so that they issue but seldom,
and then at their peril. We are day by day making gradual advances
Today a rampart was completed which is just even with their stockades,
so that we shall command the hill equally [with the enemy]. God
helping, I hope that we shall reduce their trenches, and then_we shall
advance from better to better. May God aid us; and ^^^J )o minus / cm-
ioilierit civitatem frustra vigilai qui custodit cam}^ Father, prayers and
many of them are needed. Will your Reverence have them said in your
holy college, and excuse me and all of us for w^hat we can not do. I
forward this letter, [hoping] for its good fortune in the holy sacrifices
of your Reverence, etc. Jolo, March 31, 1638. To the father-prior of
Manila.
I would like to be the bearer of this letter, and to fulfd my desires
of seeing your Keverence and all the fathers and brothers of your
Keverence's holy college. That is a proposition for which credit may
be given me, but the time gives space only tx) suffer; and thus do we
have to accommodate ourselves to it, and to check our desires, drawing
strength from weakness. I must content myself with writing, which
would be a pleasant task, if I could do it at my leisure, and not so
hastily as I have made known in certain letters that I liave sent to your
Reverence — not losing or neglecting any occasion at which I could write.
And so that this opportimity should not pass without a letter from me,
I have hastened my pen beyond my usual custom, and have written very
concisely and briefly — although I could write at greater length, and
give account of many tilings which I leave for a better occasion. That
will be when it is the Lord's pleasure for us to see eacli other. More-
over, I have no pleasant news to write, since that which I could write
would all be to the effect that we have not gained this enchanted hill;
and that, at the times when we have tempted fortune, we have retired
with loss of some men and many wounded.
Continuing, then, in the same style as the last letter, I declare that
since the first assault, in which we were driven back with the loss of
Captain Don Pedro Mena Pando, Adjutant Oliva, and Alferez Trigita,
we have made two other assaults. One was on the twenty-fourth of
March, the eve of our Lady of the Assumption. The second was on the
twenty-eighth of the same month. In the first, we trusted to the mines
that had been made, by means of which we expected to make a safe
entrance. We would have made it had our fear of receiving harm from
them matched the little fear of the enemy — who, as barbarians, did not
prepare for flight, although they knew our designs. Of the five mines,
four blew up; and as was seen, and as we afterward learneil here from
some captives, there was a great loss to the enemy. As soon as they
saw the fire, they took to flight; but our men, being at a distance, could
not come up to seize the posts that the enemy abandoned, until very late.
That gave the Moros time to take precautions, so that when we had
come up, it was impossible to gain a single thing which the mines had
given us. On that occasion both sides fought very valiently. The
wounded on our side were not many, and our dead even fewer; among the
later was Captain Pimienta. We were forced to return to our posts
without having gained more than the damage wrought by the mines. The
loss of those people was considerable, while not few of them perished
because of the severity of our fire. But with the opportunity of the
fifth mine which remained (which could not have its effect, because the
fire-channel of the others choked it), the third attack was made inside
of two days, by first setting fire to that mine, and by arranging the
men better than on the day of the previous assault. They were set in
array by the governor, who in person came up to these quarters on that
occasion. They set fire to the mine, and more was accomplished than
on the preceding days. Many of the enemy were killed; but, as the
entrance was so deeply recessed, it could not be forced so freely by us,
for the Moros were able to defend it from us, with so great valor that
we could not take it. Our men fought with so great spirit and courage
that it waB necessary for the leaders to use force with them in order to
get the men to retire, when they saw the so superior force of the enemy.
On that occasion they killed seven of our men, besides wounding many.
Among the latter was Sargento-mayor Melon, who was shot through
the lung by a ball. He died on the second day, to the grief of all this
army. Thereupon his Lordship made his men retire to their quarters,
and commanded that the fort should not be attacked, but that they
should proceed to gain it by the complete blockade of the enemy, as we
are doing. By this method, I think that we shall make an entrance
into the fort. Already we have one bulwark, which we have made level
with their entrenchments; and we are raising our works one and one-
half varas^ above them, so that we are dislodging them with our artillery.
They are retiring to the interior of their fort. By this means we hope
to gain entrance into all their forts; and, once masters of them, I trust
by God's help that we shall conquer their stronghold, and that they will
humble themselves to obey God and the king.
Before those assaults, on St. Matthew's day. Captain Raphael Ome
went out to make a garo, as they say here, and to overrun the country.
In this island the level country is heavily wooded as nearly all of it is
mountainous. He took in his company about fifty men (i.e., Spaniards)
and two hundred Karaga Indians. The captain reached a field, and
having lodged in a fortified house, such as nearly all those houses are
(for those Indians of the mountain, who are called Guimennos,^ build
them for their defense), he placed his sentries and seized the positions
that he judged most dangerous. But since non, est volentis neque
currentis, etc., either because of the great multitude and the wiliness
of the enemy, or (as is more certain) because the sentries were careless,
and the other men asleep, the enemy came suddenly and attacked our
soldiers — with so great fury that they killed twenty-six men, among
whom was Captain Lopez Suarez, a brave soldier. The leader and cap-
tain, Ome, was in great danger. He fought in person with so great valor
that, although run through with a spear, he attacked and defeated his
opponent, laying him dead at his feet. Few of our men aided him, and
many of them retreated immediately, thus allowing the enemy to capture
from us twenty fireanns, with fuses, powder, and balls. That was a
great loss, and it is certain that we have not hitherto had a greater.
And if any loss has occurred, it has been due to the neglect and con-
fidence of the Spaniard.
Today two Basilan Indians came down from the hill to ask for mercy,
and for passage to their own country. They say that they are sent by
the datus in the stronghold who came from that island of Basilan or
Tagima; and that, if permission and pardon were given to them by the
pari [i.e., Corcuera], one hundred and thirty of them would come
down in the morning. We regard this as a trick of that Moro; and,
although it may be as they say, we are taking precautions, and arc
watching for whatever may happen. If they should come, they will be
well received; and that will not be a bad beginning to induce others to
come from the hill. I shall advise your Reverence of such event on the
first occasion. What we know that they are suffering within [the fort]
is the disease of smallpox and discharges of blood, together with great
famine; because we have surrounded the entire hill with ditches and
stockades, set with sharp stakes, which run around it for more than
one and one-half leagues, and within musket-shot [of their fort] is a
sentry-post [garita'] or tower in which three men and three Bantayas are
staying. By that means the enemy cannot enter or go out without
being seen ; and, when they do that, they are given such a bombardment
that scarcely does any one dare to go outside of their walls. The hill
is a beautiful sight, and if it were enjoying holy peace instead of war,
it would be no small matter of entertainment and recreation to survey
the landscape at times. The Moro does not like to see us, and is looking
at us continually from his stronghold and yelling and scoffing at us — as
they say sometimes that the Spaniards are chickens; again, that they
are sibahuyes,*- and again, that they will come to set fire to us all, and
kill us. The Moro is a great rascal and buffoon. I trust in God that
in a little while He will be ready for our thanksgivings [for the defeat
of the Moros]. Will your Reverence urge His servants to aid us with
their sacrifices and prayers. Those, I believe, it will be that must give
us the victory, and that must humble the arrogance of this Mohammedan.
His Lordship is displaying great firmness and patience, as he is so great
a soldier. Already has he almost raised a stone fort on the beach, for
he intends to leave a presidio here, and I think that it will be almost
finished before he leaves. Nothing else occurs to me. Of whatever else
may happen, your Reverence will be advised on the first occasion. If I
have gone to considerable length in this letter, it is because I have known,
one day ahead, of the departure of this champan. I commend myself
many times to the holy pacrificcs of your Kevcrence. This letter will
also serve for our father provincial, etc. Jolo, April 5, one thousand
six hundred and thirty-eight.
The Moro has returned today with a letter from the queen and all
the stronghold, in which they heg pardon and humiliate themselves.
May God grant it, and bring them to His knowledge. 1 shall advise
you of the result. I liear that Datu Ache is dead. If that is so, then
the end has come. Today, the sixth of the above month.
Deo graiias qui dcdit nobis victoriiim per Jesum Christum Dominum
nostrum.^ I have written your Reverence another letter, by way of
Oton, telling you that it was our Ijord's pleasure to give us a joyous
Easter-tide, the beginning of what has happened. His Divine Majesty
has chosen to bestow \ipon us an overflowing blessing, by the reduction
of theee Moros so that they should come, abased and humiliated, to beg
His governor for mercy; for, whether it was the latter's plan to go to
treat for peace at Basilan for their men, or whether they should send
them all, that they might see how the governor viewed their petition, the
following day they came with letters from the queen ^ for Father Pedro
Gutierrez and his Lordship. Therein she begged the father to protect
her, for she wished to come to throw herself at the feet of the hari of
Manila, and to beg his pardon for the obstinacy that they had shown
hitherto. The father answered for his Ix)rdship, in regard to the par-
don, that if they agreed to do what was right, they would be very gladly .
pardoned; but that in regard to their coming it was not time, until
they would humbly give up the arms which they had taken from us,
and the captives, vessels, and holy ornaments; and that, even though
the queen had so great authority, so long as the king did not come, he
must declare and show his willingness to accept what the queen had
written. Accordingly, the king wrote to the same father and to his
Lordship next day, begging the same thing and more earnestly. But
he was not allowed to come — which he urs^ently entreated — until they
should have given up the arms and other things of which they robbed
us. Difficulties arose over this point, as to which of the two things was
to be done first. The Moro declared that he wished to treat first of the
[)eace, and the points on which they were to agree; and therefore it was
necessary to see the hari of Manila first of all. But Don Sebastian, as
he was so experienced in these matters of war (in which Godhas inspired
him with so wise resolutions, and given him even better results) held
firm to his proix)sal8. Two days ])ass(Hl, but at last the king agreed to
the termS; by giving up tlie pieces of ai-tillery which he had captured
from us. There were four iron pieces; and, in place of one which had
burst, one of bronze was requested, which many mines had buried.
Afterward we found the broken piece, by opening the mouth of one of
the mines; and he gave it to us willingly — saying that he had thus
brought the broken piece, and that he ought not for that reason to give
another in its place; and that which had been asked from him had been
bought for forty hamnes of gold at Makassar. In order that the Span-
iards might see what an earnest desire for a ])ermanent peace was in his
hetai-t, and that he was greatly inclined to it, he sent also some muskets,
although few and poor ones. In what i)ertained to the captives, he said
that he would surrender those that he had, but that he could not per-
suade his datus to give up theirs; still he would ask them to give their
captives. At most, he sent eleven Christian captives, counting men,
women, and children. He had already si)ent the holy vessels, for, since
it was so long a time since they had been brought, he had sold them to
the king of Makassar; but he said that he and all his property w^ere
there, to satisfy the Spaniards for any injury that they had received.
The king petitioned his Lordship to allow him to visit him; and his
Lordship granted such permission for Quasimodo Sunday.
The datus [sic] were very angiy that the king was so liberal, and
because he humbled himself so deeply; accordingly, they opposed his
leaving the bill to talk with the governor. They tried to prevent it,
but the king overruled by the reasons which he gave to the datus, and
which father Gregorio Bel in gave to him. His Lordship gave hostages
for the king, and ordered Captain Marquez and Ca])tain Eaphael Onie to
remain as such. They asked for Admiral Don Pedro de Almonte and
two fathers, but that was not granted to them. Finally they were satisfied
with the two said captains, persons of great esteem and worth ; and the
king came down to talk with his Lordship, accompanied by many chief
men. His Lordship received him with such display as he could arrange
at short notice, under a cano])y of damask, and seated on a velvet chair,
with a cushion of the same at his feet. Another cushion was placed at
his side iipon a rug. As the king entered the hall, his Lordship rose
from his seat, and advancing two ste[)s., embraced the Moro king; then
he made him sit down on the cushion that had bi^n pre])ared. Then his
Ijordship also seated himself beside the king in his chair, while at his
right side was his confessor, and at his left stood a captain of the guard
and the sargento-mayor. (irouped behind the confessor were the fathers
who were in the (iuart(»rs on that occasion. There were two Augustinian
Recollects, and one Franciscan EecoUect, and a secular ])riest. Then
came Father Gutierrez, and Father Gregorio Belin. The king requested
permission to rest a little first, for he came, one of his servants fanning
liim {hadendole paypay):, lifting up from time to time the chinina which
he wore — open in front, in order to catch the breeze, and to enable him
to shelter himself from the heat, or to get rid of the fears with which
he had come. His chief men seated themselves after him on that open
floor, a eeat very suitable for such nobility, who esteemed it as a great
favor. Then when the king was rested, or reassurred from his fears, they
began their discourses or hicharas, talking, after the manner of these
people, by the medium of interpreters — namely, Father Juan de Sant
.foseph, an Augustinian Recollect, and Alferez Mathias de Marmolejo,
both good interpreters. The governor set forth his conditions. The
agreement made was: first, that the banners of the king, our sovereign,
were to be hoisted on the stronghold; second, that the men from Basilan
were to be permitted to leave the stronghold and go to their country;
third, that the Macassars and Malays were also to leave and return to
their own lands; and fourth, in order that the first condition might be
fulfilled without the rattle of arms and the shedding of blood, all the
enemy were to come down to our quarters, while the king and queen and
their family could come to that of the governor. The Moro king did not
like this last point; but, as he saw that mattei-s were ill disposed for
his defense, he had to assent to everything. But, before its execution,
he begged his Lordship to communicate the terms with his men and
datus, saying that he would endeavor to get them all to agree to the
fulfilment of what his Lordship ordered ; and that in a day and a half
he would reply and, in what pertained to the other conditions, they would
be immediately executed. This happened, for the Basilans descended in
two days with all their men and families — in all, one hundred and forty-
seven. Some fifty or sixty did not then descend, as they were unable to
do so. The Macassars refused to descend until they received pardon from
his Lordship, and a passport to their own country. Therefore their
captain came to talk with his Lordship, who discussed with him what
was to be done with him and his men. The latter are very humble and
compliant to whatever his Lordship should order. His Lordship an-
swered that he would pardon their insolent and evil actions, and they
could descend with security of life; and that he would give them boats,
so that they could go away. Thereupon the captain, giving a kris as
security that they would come, returned, and immediately began to
bring down his property and men. The Malays came with them, for all
those peoples had united against the Castilians. They are the ones who
have done us mast harm with their firearms, and have furnished quan-
tities of ammunition for all the firearms of the Sulus. At the end of
the time assigned to the king for answering his Ijordship in regard to the
matters w^hich he had discussed with him, he was summoned, in order
that what had been recently concluded might not be hindered, as his
Lordship had many matters to which to attend. If he would not come,
his Lordship was resolved imniediately to continue his bombardment and
fortifications, saying that he would make slaves of all whom he captured.
With this resolution, the queen determined to come to visit his Lord-
ship; and, so saying and doing, she summoned her chair, and had herself
carried down to the quarters of Don Pedro de Almonte, which is the one
located on their hill, and which has given them so much to do. She sent
a message to the governor, begging him to grant her permission, as she
wished to see him. His Lordship sent a message to her, to the eflfect that
he would be veiy glad to see her, and that she would be coming at a
seasonable time. She came to the hall borne on the shoulders of her
men, accompanied by some of her ladies and by her kasis, who was
coming with pale face. She alighted at the door of his Lordship's hall.
He went out to receive her, and with marked indications of friendship
and kindness led her to her seat, which was a cushion of purple velvet;
and his Lordship, seated in his own chair, welcomed her through his
interpreter, Alferez Mathias de Marmolexo. She responded very cour-
teously to the courtesies of the governor; for the Moro woman is very
intelligent, and of great capacity. She did not speak directly to the
interpreters, but through two of her men, one of whom was the kasU;
and often he, without the queen speaking, answered to what was proposed.
The queen petitioned and entreated the governor to desist from entering
the stronghold, for the women, being timid creatures, feared the soldiers
greatly. And if his Lordship was doing it to oblige her and the king
her husband to descend, she said thai: they would descend immediately,
with all their people. Thus did she entreat from him whom his Lordship
represented ; and I desired that she should obtain this favor. His Ijord-
ship answered her that he would do so very willingly; but that he had
an express mandate for it fi. e., to gain the fort] from his king, and
that, if he did not obey it, he would lose his head. ^*I do not wish,"
said Tuan Baluka (for such is the name of the queen), "that the favor
which I petition be at so great a price and danger to your Lordship.
Consequently, will you kindly grant me three days? and in that time I,
the king, and our people will descend without fail." His Lordship
thanked her anew, and added that with this she obliged him to fulfil
strictly what he had promised her. "Indeed," said the queen, "I have
no doubt of it; for, being in the gaze of so many nations that your Lord-
shi[) has to conquer, it is clear that you must fulfil what you have
promised me; for your Lordship's actions toward me would be under-
stood by all to be those that you would have to perform toward all."
This terminated the discussion. His Lordship ordered a collation to be
spread for the queen and her ladies; and then his Lordship retired, so
that they might refresh tluMuselves without any embarrassment. Then,
having dined, the queen returned to her stronghold ^vith the retinue that
she had brought. Before she left the (juarters she was saluted by the
discharge of two large pieces of artillery, which had been made ready for
that purpose. She was greatly pleased by that, and the next day began
to carry out her promises, by sending down a portion of her possessions.
The Makassars and Malays also brought down their property with her,
and immediately embarked. I had written up to this point to this day,
Saturday, the seventeenth of this month of April, hoping for the end of
all these incipient results and expected events regarding this stronghold;
the issue has been such as Me could ex[)cct fnmi Him who has also been
pleased to arrange and bring it to pass. Last night the queen came down
to sleep in our camp or quarters, with some of her ladies. In the morn-
ing she went to report her goo<l treatment to her people; for she was
received with a salute of musketry and large artillery, and a fine repast.
All that has been done to oblige her to encourage her people, for they
were very fearful, to descend immediately. More than two thousand
have now descended, and our banners are flying on the hill, and our
men are fortified on it. May God be praise<l, to whom be a thousand
thanks given; for He, without our knowledge or our expectations, has
disposed this matter thus — blinding this Moro and disheartening him,
so that, having been defeated, he should surrender to our governor, and
give himself up without more bloodshed. We are trying to sefcure Datu
Ache; if we succeed in this, T shall advise you. Now there is nothing
more to say, reverend Father, except to give God the thanks, for He is
the one who has prepared and given this victory to us ; and to b^ all in
your Reverence's holy college to give thanks that the college has had (as
I am very certain) so great a share in the achievements [here]. The
governor is very much pleased and we all regard him in the proper light.
The men are full of courage, and even what was carefully done is now
improved. I am the humble servant of your Reverence whom I pray
that God may preserve as I desire, and to whose sacrifices I earnestly
commend myself. Jolo, April 17, 1638. — Juan de Barrios.
All the Sulus descended, in number about four thousand six hundred,
to the sea. Finding themselves down and outside the enclosure, they
all fled, under cover of a very heavy shower of rain — leaving all their
possessions, in order not to be hindered in their flight. Many mothers
even abandoned their little children. One abandoned to us a little girl
who had received a dagger-stroke, who received the waters of baptism and
immediately died. There is much to say about this, and many thanks to
give to God, of which we shall speak when it pleases God to let us see
each other. Today, the nineteenth of this month of April, 1638. —
Barrios.
The governor sent messages to the king and queen by two kasis,
asking why they had fled. They replied that since all their people had
fled, they had gone after them for very shame, but that they would try
to bring them back and to come, and this was the end of the matter.
The result was exceedingly profitable for our eoldiers and Indians; for
the Sulus, fearful because they thought that, if they became scattered,
they would all be killed, abandoned whatever they were carrying —
quantities of goods, and chests of drawers — which our soldiers sacked.
Above, in the stronghold, they found much plunder. It is believed
that the king and queen will return, but not Datu Ache ; but this is not
considered certain.
Letter from Sanboangan^
pax christi
I am not writing to anyone [else], for the lack of time does not allow
me to do so. Therefore will your Reverence please comnmnicate this to
the father provincial. Father Hernandez Perez, Father Juan de Bueras,
and the father rector of Cavite.
When our men were most disheartened at seeing that the fortress on the
hill was so extensive, and that it was becoming stronger daily; that the
mines and artillery had seemingly made no impression on it; that we
had been repulsed four times; and that our men were falling sick
very rapidly : in order that it might be very evident that it was [all] the
work of God, ambassadors came from the hill to beg his Lordship for
mercy. He received them gladly, and asked them for the artillery that
they had plundered from the Christians, etc. They brought down four
pieces, which they had^ taken from the shipyard, and brought to us some
Christians. Next day, more than one hundred and fifty people from
Basilan descended, who surrendered their arms, and then about fifty
Makassars, who did the same; and all were embarked in the patache.
Next day the king and queen went down and slept in the camp of Don
Sebastian. On the following day (which was the day agreed upon when
all were to descend from the hill), seeing that it was already late, the
king and queen said that they would go to get their people. The gov-
ernor granted them permission, and went to a camp that was located
opposite the gate of the stonghold. All the Sulus descended, carrying
their goods, arms, etc., to the number of about four hundred soldiers, and
more than one thousand five hundred women, children, old men, etc.
They reached the governor's camp and Don Pedro de Francia told the
king that they must surrender their arms. The latter replied that he
would surrender them to none other than to tlie governor. Tliereupon,
they went to summon his Lordship ; but the Sulus, seeing that they were
going to summon him, fled, under a heavy shower that was falling, and
abandoned all their goods. A vast amount of riches, many pieces of
artillery, and versos,'^ falcons, muskets, arquebuses, etc., were found.
The cause of the Moros fleeing was their great fear that they were to
be killed. On our part, since Don Sebastian Hurtado held all their
stronghold, and had left only thirty men in his quarters (in order that
Datu Ache might not escape), and as that number could not resist so
many people, the Suhis were, on the contrary, allowed to go without any
firearms being discharged.
More than two hundred and iifty of the Sulus have died, and they
were perishing in great numbers from dysentery because the women and
children were placed under ground for fear of the balls. That and the
fear of the mines caused their surrender; for it was impossible to take
their fort by assault. The interior strength of that stronghold is so
great that the Spaniards were surprised ; and all recognize that it has been
totally the work of God, and [a result of] the perseverance of Don
Sebastian, who ever said tKat all must die or capture the stronghold.
Somewhat more than two hundred Christian and more than one hundred
Moro women have come from the stronghold during this time. All the
Moro women are fearful. Up to date eighty-three Spaniards have died
from wounds, and many of them from disease.
THE KILLED
Sargento -mayor Melon
Captain Don Petlro de Mena
Captain Don Juan Nicolas
Captain Don Pimienta
Captain Don Lope Suarez
DIED OF DYSENTEBY
Captain Don Are^^ita Martin de Avila
Adjutant Oliba
Adjutant Calderon
Alf^rez Concha
Alf^rez Alonzo Gonzalez
I shall not name others, as they are not so well known, and it will be
known later. Up to date about two hundred Bisayan Indians have died,
most of them from diseases. Don Pedro Cotoan died while en route from
Jolo to Samboanga, in order to take back the Bisayans, who are a most
cowardly race. Those who have done deeds of valor are the Karagas, and
the Sulus tremble at sight of them. Don Pedro Almonte remains as
governor and lieutenant for the captain-general at Samboangan, with one
hundred and fifty Spaniards, as hius been rejmrted. Captain Jines Eos
is to stay as castellan in Jolo with one hundred and eighty men — C^aptain
Sarria being fortified in the stronghold with eighty men, and Jines Eos
on the beach in a stone tower that is already eight stones high, with one
hundred men. Cai)tain Marquez is going to Buaren with fifty Spaniards,
although no succor had been sent to Don Sebastian from Manila. All
that has been supplied to excess is truly wonderful, for the winds have
brought (and it is incredible) many cliampanes, with more than twenty
thousand baskets of rice, innumerable fowls, and pork, veal, beef, and
cheeses from Cebu, which have made a very excellent provision.
They ask for Father Martinez [and] Alexandro at Jolo [and] Father
(/arrion at Buiaon, but without an associate. I say that, following even
to the end of the world, I do not know to what to compare these Moros of
Samboangan. They have paid all their tributes. This is a brief relation.
1 pray your Reverence to pardon me and commend me to (lod, for
indeed what 1 desire is necessary.
