Today, August 14, I learned that thirteen Macasars and Basilas,
of those who had been sold as slaves, had fled in a small boat,
and that they had been furnished with arms. Some suspected that the
Lascars aided them. A few days before, six of them had fled, but they
were captured and brought to this port by the Indians of Maragondon.
At the end of September Nuestra Senora del Rosario [i.e., our Lady
of the Rosary] was robbed. Only three jewels were taken from her--a
diamond of the value of one thousand two hundred pesos; a cross of
smaller diamonds; and a gold rosary. The holy image was found in a
prostrate condition. It is said that there are some indications of
the robber. A portion of the robe was found in the possession of a
soldier; but he says that he found it on the ground, and it has been
impossible to prove anything else.
In the beginning of October came a despatch from Sanboangan, in which
it is declared that although the Spaniards tried to constrain Cachil
Moncay to make his men pay the tribute, he replied that he would
not do so, but that he would take arms and declare war. In fact,
he retired to the mountains and took captive Father Francisco Angel;
but another chief, his opponent, had the boldness to take the father
from him and deliver him to the Spaniards.
We are advised from Jolo that many of our men have been killed; and
that the islanders who have remained there have suffered great famine,
and consequently, an epidemic and plague is feared. It is also said
that Panguian a cachil, together with Dato Ache, has retreated with
almost all the brave men of Jolo to the island of Tabitabi, [27]
where they have fortified another hill, and are preparing ships to
go out to pillage our tributaries. The king and queen are in Jolo
without anyone paying any attention to them; and Panguian Cachil is
trying to make himself king of the Joloans.
Three ships left this port for Macan: the Macan patache, on the
thirteenth of October; on the fourteenth, that from Camboja; and on
the sixteenth, that which came from India. It has to return here to
collect its goods which it left here [for sale] on commission [fiada],
and will go hence to Goa.
October 26, a champan from Sanboangan arrived, in which was Father
Gregorio Belin, seeking the reformation that is especially demanded
by affairs in Jolo, whose commandant [28] has prevented many good
results and been the cause of many evils, by his bad government and
scandalous conduct. Don Sebastian [Hurtado de Corcuera] removed him,
as he was already well informed of what has taken place there. Father
Pedro Gutierrez informs us about Mindanao in a letter which he writes
to the father provincial, as follows.