Shortly after Don Francisco Tello had taken over the governorship,
news was brought of tlie deatli of Esteban Rodriguez de Figiieroa in
Mindanao by Brother (Caspar Gomez of the Society of Jesus. The latter
brought the body for burial in the college of Manila, of which Don Este-
ban was patron. Juan de la Xara wrote that he had charge of affairs,
that he had settled in Tampakan,^ that he intended to continue the
pacification and conquest of the island as should seem most advisable, and
that reenforcements of men and other things should be sent him. It
was learned that he intended to make an ill use of the government, and
would not remain dependent on, and suliordinate to, the governor of the
Philippines; and that he was depriving the heirs of Esteban Rodriguez
of what lawfully belonged to them. It was learned that, in order to make
himself safer in this respect, he was sending his confidants to the town of
Arevalo in Oton where Don Esteban had left his wife, Dona Ana de Osse-
guera, and his two small daughters, with his house and j)roperty, to per-
suade Dofia Ana to marry him. This resolution a])peared injurious in
many respects, and the attempt was made to rectify mattei's. But in
order not to disturb the affairs of Mindanao, the matter was left alone
for the present, until time should show the course to be followed. And
so it happened that when Juan de la Xara left the camp and settlements
of Mindanao, and came hurriedly to Oton to negotiate his marriage in
person — although the widow of Don Esteban had never been favorable to
it — Don Francisco Tello sent men to arrest him. He was brought to
Manila, where he died while his trial was being conducted.
After the imprisonment of Juan de la Xara, Don Francisco Tello
immediately sent (^a])tain Toribio de Miranda to Mindanao, with orders
to take command of the camp and to govern until some one should agree
to continue the enterprise. When he arrived at Mindanao and the
soldiers saw that Juan de la Xara's schemes had been defeated, and that
the latter was a prisoner in Manila, with no lioj)e of returning, they obeyed
Toribio de Miranda and the orders that he brought.
In Manila the governor was considering carefully the necessary meas-
ures for continuing the war, since tlie island of Mindanao was so near
the otlier pacified islands, and the island itself contained some provinces
that professed peace and were a})portioned as encomiendas and had
Spanish magistrates, such as the rivers of Butuan, Dapitan, and Karaga,
so that it was desirable to pacify the whole island and subject it to His
Majesty. The royal treasury was spent and could not l>ear the expense:
and Esteban Rodriguez had bound himself by a legal writ to carry the
war to entire completion at his own expense, in accordance with the terms
of his agreement. The guardian of his children and heirs brought
the matter before the court, and refused to fulfill this obligation on
account of Esteban Rodriguez's <leath. In order not to lose time, for
what had betm commenced had to be continued in one way or another,
the governor decided to prosecute it, drawing the necessarv' funds from
the royal .treasury, either on its own account or on the account of Es-
teban Rodriguez's heirs, if such should be according to law. The gov-
ernor them searched for a person to go to Mindanao, and selected Don
Juan Ronquillo, general of the galleys. The latter was given the neces-
sary reenforcements of men and other things, with which he reached
Mindanao. Tie took command of the Spanish camj) and fleet which he
found in Tam])akan. He confirmed the peace and friendship with the
chiefs and people of Tampakan and Lumagan, restored and set in better
order the Spanish settlement and fort, and began to make preparation
for the war against the ])eople of Bwayan.^ He spent many days in
making a few incursions into their land and attacks on their forts, but
without any notable result, for the enemy were many and all good soldiers,
with plenty of arquebuses and artillery, and had fortified themselves in
a strong position. They had many other fortifications inland and wenl
from one to the other with impunity, whenever they wished, and greatly
harassed the Spaniards, who were little used to so swampy a country.
The latter found themselves short of provisions without the possibility
of getting them in the country on account of the war, inasmuch as the
camp contained many men, both Spaniards and the native servants and
boatmen, and it was not easy at all times to come and go from one
part to another in order to provide necessities.
Meanwhile Don Juan Ronquillo, seeing that the w^ar was advancing
very slowly and with little result, and that the camp was suffering,
drew up a report of it, and sent letters in all haste to Governor Don
Francisco Tello, informing him of the condition of affairs. He wrote
* A careful review of RonquiUo's reports and letters on hia pacification of Mindanao
sliows an evident error in the use of the word Bwayan to signify the settlement or
Htrongbold of the Sultan of Magindanao. Bwayan here, and probably In Flgueroa's report,
too, is used in place of Magindanao. which lay on the site occupied at present by Kotabato.
Bwisan was then the Sultan of Magindanao and headed the opposition to Ronqulllo's
advance up the north branch of the Mindanao River. Sirungan. who la mentioned In
this report, might have been a datu or subdatu of Magindanao, not necessarily Sirungan,
the Raja of Bwayan.
that it would be better to withdraw the camp from Mindanao River, so
that it might not perish; and that a presidio could be established on the
same island in the port of La Caldera, which could be left fortified, in
order not to abandon this enterprise entirely, and so that their friends
of Tampakan and Lumagan might be kept hostile to the people of
Bwayan. Meanwhile he and the rest of the camp and fleet would return
to Manila, if permitted, for whidi he requested the governor to send
him an order quickly. Upon the receipt of this dispatch, Governor Don
Francisco Tello resolved to order Don Juan Konciuillo, since tlie above
was so and the camp could not be maintained, nor the war continued
advantageously, to withdraw with his wliole camp from Mindanao River.
He was first to make a great effort to chastise the enemy in Bwayan,
and tlien to bum the Spanish settlement and fort and go to La Caldera,
fortify it, and leave there a sufficient garrison with artillery, boats,
and provisions for its maintenance and service. Then he was to return
to Manila with the rest of his men, after telling their friends in Tam-
pakan that the Spaniards would shortly retuni to the river better equipped
and in great numbers.
Silonga * and other chiefs of Bwayan were not neglecting their de-
fense, since, among other measures taken, they had sent a chief to Ter-
nate to ask assistance against the Spaniards who had brouglit war into
their homes. Thereupon the King of Ternate dispatched a numerous
fleet of caracoas and other boats to Mindanao with cachils ^ and valiant
soldiers — more than 1,000 fighting men in all — and a quantity of small
artillery, in order to force the Spaniards to break camp and depart, even
could tliey do nothing else. When the news reached Bwayan that this
fleet was coming to their defense and support, they made ready and
prepared to attack the Spaniards, wlio also having heard the same news
were not careless. Consequently the latter turned their attention more
to the main fort, and reduced the number of men in the smaller forts on
Butil ^ River and other posts, nu^uths, and arms of the same river.
These served to strengthen the garriscm of the main fort and the armed
galleys and other smaller craft, in order to use the latter to resist the
expected attack of the enemy. The enemy having gallantly advanced to
the very fort of the Spaniards with all their vessels and men, attacked
and stormed it with great courage and resolution, in order to effect an
entrance. The Spaniards within resisted valiantly, and those outside in
the galleys on the river assisted them so effectively that together, witli
artillery and anpiebuses, and at times in close combat with swords and
kampilan, they made a great slaughter and havoc among the men of
Ternate and those of Bwayan, who were aiding the former. They killed
and woundeil a great number of them and captured almost all tlie cara-
coos and vessels of the enemy, so that very few boats escaped, and they
were pursued and burned by the Spaniards, who made many prisoners
and seized immense booty and many weapons from tlie enemy. As soon
JUS possible after this, the Spaniards turned a^^ainst the settlements and
forts of Bwayan where some of their results were of so great moment
that the enemy, seeing themselves hard pressed and without anyone to
help them, sent messagi»s and j)ro})osals of peace to Don Juan Ronquillo,
which were ended by their rendering recognition and homage, and the
renewal of friendship with tlie people of Tampakan, their ancient enemy.
In order to strengthen the friendship, tliey sealed it by the marriage of
the greatest chief and lord of Bwayan with the daughter of another chief
of Tampakan, called Dungunlibur. Thereu])on the war was apparently
completely ended, pi-ovisions were now to be had, and the Spaniards
with little precaution crossed and went about the country wdierever they
wished. The ])eople of Bwayan promised to dismantle all their forts
immediately, for that was one of tlie conditions of peace. Then the
Spaniards returned to their fort and settlements at Tampakan, whence
Don Juan Ronquillo immediately sent dispatches to Governor Don Fran-
cisco Tello, informing him of the different turn that the enterprise had
taken. In view of the present condition he reijuested the governor to
issue new instructions as to his procedure, saying that he would wait
without making any change, notwithstanding the arrival of the answer
which he expected to his first report, for conditions had now become
so much better than before that the governor's decision would be
different.
The governor had already answered Don Juan Ronquillo's first dis-
patch, as we have said above, when the second dispatch arrived with
news of the successes in Mindanao. Suspicious of the men in the camp
who had constantly shown a desire to return to Manila, and little relish
for the hardships of war, and fearing lest they would return at the
aiTival of the first order, executing that order and abandoning the enter-
prise which had reached such a satisfactory stage; and thinking that it
would be unwise to abandon the river, the governor made haste to send
a second dispatch immediately by various roads, ordering them to pay
no attention to his first orders, but to remain in Mindanao, and that he
w^ould soon send them what was necessary for further operations.
It seems that this message traveled slowly ; for, the first having ar-
rived, they obeyed it without any further delay, and camp was raised
and the country abandoned. To their former enemy of Bwayan they gave
as a reason that the governor of Manila had summoned them; and to
their friends of Tampakan they said that they would leave men in La
Caldera for their security, and that assistance would be sent them from
Manila. This news caused as much sorrow and sadness to the latter
as joy to the people of Bvvayan. Then, after burning their fort and settle-
ment, the Spaniards embarked all their forces as soon as possible, left
the river, and went to La Caldera, 24 leagues fartlier down in tlie direc-
tion of Manila. Having entered port, they built a fortress and left
there a garrison of 100 Spaniards, with some artillery, provisions, and
boats for their use.
At this juncture the governor's second message to (ieneral Don Juan
Ronquillo arrived, to which the latter replied that he was already in La
Caldera, and could not return to the river. Then, without any further
delay, Don Juan Hompiillo went to Manila with the balance of his fleet,
by way of the Provinces of Oton and Panay. The governor, having
heard of his coming, sent to arrest him on the road before he entered the
city, and proceeded against him by law for having withdrawn the camp
and army from Mindanao River, without awaiting the orders he should
have expected after the favorable turn that affairs had taken. Don
Juan Ronquillo was set at liberty on showing a private letter from the
governor, which the latter had sent him separately with the first in-
structions, to the effect that he should return to Manila with his troops
in any event, for they were needed in the Islands for other purposes;
and because of this letter Don Juan had determined not to await the
second order.
[ConcerniDg the pacification of the Island of Mindanao in the year 1600.] ^
In the relation of the last year you will have leanied how occurred
the death, in the pacification of the Island of Mindanao, of Esteban
Rodriguez de Figueroa, who offered to carry out this pacification under
the conditions which he stipulated with Gomez Perez Dasmarinas,
formerly governor of these islands, copies of which were sent to His
Majesty and to Master-of-(^amp Juan de Lajara, formerly of the said
expedition, who succeeded to his place when the camp was abandoned,
and came to Manila. Don Francisco Tello, (xovemor and Captain-Gen-
eral of the said Philippine Islands, who at that time had taken posses-
sion of the government, was considering how to aid and stimulate the
said pacification at the expense of the heirs of Esteban Rodriguez, and
with the agreement of the captains and persons who were long resident
and experienced in war in tlie said islands. Don Juan Ronquillo was
appointed commander of tlie galleys to prosecute the said pacification,
and in the meantime, in order to be present and continue the expedition,
Capt. Tori bio de Miranda was sent forward to encourage and animate
the troops, under orders to keep them in his charge; and in case the
post should be abandoned, and a retreat made to Manila, he should
detain the troops and return to Mindanao. The said Capt. Toribio
de Miranda having arrived at the Island ^ of La Caldera, which lies 40
leagues from the river of Mindanao, there found the whole camp, which
was returning from the said islands. Conformably to the orders which
he had, he turned back and fortified the site where they had first been,
which was on the river, 4 leagues from tlie forts of the enemy. Juan
Ronquillo, having been dispatched to Mindanao, had taken the camp
in his charge, and begim to achieve some success. He achieved a victory
in the battle wliich he fought with the Ternatans, who had entered with
800 men to give aid to the people of Mindanao. Before these successes,
he had written a letter in disparagement of that country (a copy of
which was sent to His Majesty), on account of which, in a council of war
which had been held, tlie (teneral Don Ronquillo had been ordered to
make a last effort againt=t the Mindanaos, doing them all possible
damage. He was then to come to the Island * of La Caldera and there
build a fort, to be garrisoned with a hundred Spanish soldiers, with
artillery, amis, and munitions, and leave them there as a check upon
Temate and Mindanao, in cliarge of a good soldier, one of the captains
of the camp, and with the rest return to Manila. Although Don Juan
Konquillo received this order, after having won considerable victories,
he again wrote that he would not abandon that place, even if such
were the order, because it would not be expedient to retire from the
camp and comply with what had been ordercnl, when he was leaving the
Island of Mindanao already pacificnl, the chiefs, with whom he had used
gentle means, that they might all l>e more contented, having again ren-
dered submission to His Majesty, and likewise as tbe King of Sulu again
rendered obedience and submission. Confiding in this, Capt. Cristobal
Villagra, whom Don Juan Ronquillo had appointed commander of the
garrison of La Caldera, had sent 30 soldiers to the Island of Sulu for
supplies. They found at this time in Jolo a Mindanao chief, an uncle
of the King of Mindanao and a brother-in-law of the King of Sulu,
who had been driven out of Mindanao because he was rebellious. He
treacherously killed 13 Spanish soldiers. When news of this was
brought, Juan Paclio was sent to take tlie troops of La Caklera in charge,
and, when it should seem best to him, to tr}' to inflict punishment with
600 Spaniards; the enemy unfortunately killeil the said Juan Pacho
and 29 Spaniards, the rest of them retiring without any success. This
news having come to the governor, he sent in place of Juan Pacho,
Capt. Toribio de Miranda, a i)ers()n in whom he had entire confidence,
with an order not to attempt any punishment until he had force enough
for it. After this Capt. Toribio de Miranda arrived at La Caldera on
the 2()tli of August, 1509. When the garrison was given into his charge
he put the defensive works in order, and with the anns which he
brought, and those which he found in the fort, he aniied all the troops,
amounting to 114 soldiei-s. As directed by an order of the governor, he
sent a chief of the Pintados [Bisayans] to Mindanao with letters to the
chiefs of the island, in which he informed them that they would be
protectee], favored, and upheld in justice, as vassals of His Majesty,
and that with this object a garrison had been placed in La Caldera; and
that to aid in maintaining it, and in covering the expenses which they
had caused in the war by their disol)e<lience, the largest possible quantity
of tributes would be collected for His Majesty, and that he would send
for them shortly, which had not been done earlier because the Mindanaos
had been so spent and afflictcKl. Having arrived on the 2d of September
at the river of Mindanao, and delivered his dispatch, this chief was
well received, and found the people in tlie settled state in which Gen.
Don Juan Konquillo had left them. Raja Muda, the main chief of
Mindanao, in the name of them all, sent him back on the 15th of the said
montli, offering to give to His Majesty all the tribute which they could
collect.
At tliis time news from the chief captain of Malacca having reached
the governor, to the effect that in the Sunda,^ 150 leagues from that port,
there had been seen a number of English ships, whose designs were not
known; and, a little later, word from tbe commander of the fort of
Maluco that there were at Teniate, witbin the port, two English ships
with 400 men and 50 pieces of artillery; a council of war was held as to
what was best to do. The said council decidcMl to withdraw the garrison
from La Caldera to (V^bu, so that the enemy should not take that place;
and, if they should attemi)t to do damage to that province, they would
find it in a state of defense. Accordingly an order was sent to Capt.
Toribio de Miranda to withdraw with the tr(M)ps, arms, artillery, and
munitions, dismantling the fort ; he was also told that he could return
shortly to the island with more troops and arms, in order to assist in its
defense. On the 9th of September (^apt. Toribio de Miranda arrived at
Cebu, with all the troops, artillery, arms, and munitions; and at the
same time Gen. Don Juan Tello aiTived at CVbu with a hundred men, who
came as reenforcement from tlie city of Manila. Having spent six months
there and commence<l to build a fort of stone, the governor, as they had no
more news of the English referred to, sent an order to the said Don Juan
to come to the city of Manila — which he did with the hundred men,
leaving the Province of Cebu in a prosperous condition, with the troops
which are usually kept there, and those of the garrison of La Caldera.
which in all amounted to 250 Spaniards.
xA.fter all this, in June of KJOO, the governor received news, by way
of ^lalacca, that the ships which had passed to the South Sea belonged
to Dutch merchants, who had come to load with spices in the Maluco
Islands. Having transacted their business, they had returned to their
own countr}' by way of India, without doing any damage to the islands
of the west; it therefore seems that we are safe, notwithstanding the news
received of those enemies.
