DESCRIPTION OF FORT NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PILAR AT SAMBOANGAN This fort is in the town of Samboangan, [13] a separate jurisdiction with a chief magistrate, who is the governor of this military post. It is situated in the great island of Mindanao, near the promontory which is called Punta de la Caldera, in 7° 4' north latitude, and 160° 30' east longitude; [14] it is distant from the capital, Manila, 134 1/2 leguas south by east, and four degrees to the east. This fort is constructed of stone and mortar, with a terreplein, at the entrance of the town, on the sea-shore; the beach surrounds it on the eastern and southern sides, along which it has also, externally, a palisade. On the western side, where the gate is, it has a marsh for a moat; and on the northern side, which faces the dwellings, it has an artificial moat. Its shape is that of a rectangle, with four full bastions--three with straight flanks, and one with an orillon; it has a circuit of 820 feet, and in it are enclosed the necessary buildings, as the plan shows. The town has its own special fortifications; for on the eastern side it has a long curtain of palisades, in the midst of which there is a semicircular platform, which defends it. On the northern side there is a long curtain of stone and mortar, flanked at the east by a bastion with orillon, called Santa Cathalina; and at the west by a cavalier of rectangular shape, called Santa Barbara. This curtain has its palisade, which ends on the western side of this town, at some distance from the said cavalier; and the rest of this said side has some marshes for defense. The said wall and curtain of this town is surrounded by a canal, full of water, ten or twelve feet wide; and it connects with the said marshes. The arms, supplies, and soldiers with which this military post is maintained and defended are stated in the following lists: Arms and supplies of this post 24 bronze cannons, of caliber 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12. 1 bronze culverin, caliber 4. 1 mortar of the same, caliber 18. 45 iron cannons, calibers 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 18. 17 stone-mortars of the same [material], calibers 3 and 4. 58 chambers. 8 blunderbusses, 5 of bronze and 3 of iron. 11 pinzotes. 253 guns, muskets, and arquebuses. 698 grenades, loaded and unloaded. 1 pair of pistols. 2 short carbines [terzerolas]. 8,407 lead and iron balls, suitable for the artillery. 39,104 lead balls, for the arquebuses, guns, and muskets. 500 arrobas of gunpowder, as regular supply. Other weapons, for hand use, minor supplies, and all the rest that is necessary for handling [the artillery], are enumerated in a separate certified statement by the royal officials. Military force in the post of Samboangan