The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55: 1569-1576; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55: 1569-1576; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
The master-of-camp arrived with his ship, ahead of the oared
_praus_. When the first _prau_ arrived, he embarked in it
with the chief notary, Hernando Rriquel, the interpreter, and a
recently-converted Moro, who served as guide. With only these men, and
one soldier armed with a shield, the master-of-camp advanced toward
the Moro fort. He reached the foot of the hill, without allowing any
others to follow him; and, being unable to proceed any further on
account of its steepness, he summoned from above two Moros, to treat
for peace. There seemed to be a difference of opinion among the Moros,
as was gathered from their demeanor, for some made gestures of war,
and others of peace, some of them even going so far as to throw a
few stones and level the culverins. On the whole, they were not very
anxious to fight. Meanwhile, the master-of-camp was so near them that
they could have spit on him. All the Spaniards had already disembarked,
and stood at an arquebuse-shot from the master-of-camp. The latter was
so anxious to win over those Moros and gain their confidence, because
they exhibited fear, that he wished to climb the hill on all fours
to reach them; but his companions dissuaded him from this. At this
time Captain Juan de Salzedo, the sergeant-major, the high constable,
and the ensign-major, came up; and the master-of-camp, the captain,
and the officials were assembled there, with but one soldier, for the
master-of-camp would not allow the others to advance. The Moros having
seen the peaceful attitude of our people, one of them descended the
hill, almost on all fours. Our Moro guide advanced toward him; but,
on account of the great steepness of the hill, he had to be helped
up by the other Moro. After they had seen and recognized each other,
and after the customary embrace and kiss, they descended to the
master-of-camp. The latter told the Moro who had come down, through
the interpreter, that he need not fear; for he had not come to harm
them, but to seek their friendship. The Moro carried the message to
the others upon the hill, and a chief came down; and, upon reaching
the master-of-camp, said that he and all the town wished to be his
friends, and to help the Spaniards with whatever they possessed. The
master-of-camp answered that the proposition was acceptable; whereupon
the Moro chief asked him to withdraw from that place--saying that,
after they had withdrawn, he would come to treat of friendship and
of what was to be given. The master-of-camp, in order to please him,
agreed to this; and told the chief that he was going to review his men,
and that he should not be offended when he should hear arquebuse-shots
and the noise of artillery. Accordingly, he withdrew to the place where
his men were drawn up in order, and there a fine review took place--the
company closing ranks in such perfect order that both the friendly
Indians (who came with us, to the number of five or six hundred) and
the Moros were greatly frightened.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account