sailed to this town, reaching it on the same day. Friendship was made
with the natives in accordance with their special blood ceremonies
[55] in such cases. Some boats, sent out next day under command of
the master-of-camp, discovered the strait separating this island
from Panay. The usual trouble was experienced by Legazpi in securing
provisions, and it was necessary to despatch Goyti to the shore to
take what was needed, but with orders not to harm the natives. Next
day Legazpi sent to the shore what was considered the equivalent of
the food thus taken, in beads and other articles, by a native who was
on his vessel. The general learned from hostages aboard his ship the
names of many of the islands. On the ninth of March the fleet set sail
for Mazagua, being guided by one of these hostages. Failing to meet
here the hoped-for friendship, they determined to go to the island of
Camiguinin, [56] first setting free all the hostages, giving them back
their canoe, provisioning it for three days, and giving many presents
of clothes to them, in order by this liberality to contract a lasting
friendship. On the eleventh of March the coast of this island was
reached. This island "is very thickly wooded." The natives, as usual,
fled. On the fourteenth the fleet set sail for Butuan in Mindanao,
but owing to contrary winds, they were not able to sail that day
beyond Bohol. The _patache_ "San Juan" was despatched to Butuan from
this place, to try to make peace with its king and the people; and the
captain of this vessel was ordered to treat well any junks he might
meet from "China or Borneo, and other parts." The Malayan interpreter,
Geronimo Pacheco, was sent in this vessel, and they were ordered
to obtain as much information as possible in regard to trade. The
time given them for this expedition was twenty-five days. News being
received that a large sail had been seen, the master-of-camp was sent
in a small boat to investigate. Two days later he returned, reporting
that the junk was from Borneo, and that he had fought with it "for it