as it was a lighter and better vessel than the "San Pablo." Nine days
after their departure the canoe returned without news of the Spaniards
sent to Cebú, which caused Legazpi great anxiety. That same night,
however, these men returned alive and well, but the Moro pilot had
been treacherously killed by some natives, while bathing in a river
of the island of Negros. They had not anchored at Cebú, because of
the violence of the tides about it. They had coasted about Negros and
Cebú, and reported a large population and a plentiful food supply on
the latter island. A council having been called it was determined that
the fleet should go to Cebú, without delay, in order that they might
make a settlement and despatch the "San Pedro" before the rainy season
set in. Therefore on Easter Day the fleet set sail for this island,
distant from Bohol fifteen or sixteen leagues. Being delayed by calms
and contrary winds and the tides they did not reach their destination
until the twenty-seventh and thirtieth of April. In conformity with the
opinion that it was allowable to fight with the inhabitants of this
island if they refused food and would not make a true friendship and
peace--inasmuch as their chiefs had been baptized, and had afterward
apostatized, and had treated Magalháes treacherously--Legazpi,
after meeting with expressions of hostility and defiance, sent a
party ashore to take the island. The natives immediately fled, and
the soldiers were unable to find any of them on disembarking. "Their
weapons are long sharp iron lances, throwing-sticks, shields, small
daggers, wooden corselets, corded breastplates, a few bows and arrows,
and culverins." About one hundred houses were burned, the fire having
started from an accidental shot from one of the vessels, or having
been lit purposely by the natives. The soldiers were quartered in the
houses remaining after the fire. "There was found a marvelous thing,
namely, a child Jesus like those of Flanders, in its little pine
cradle and its little loose shirt, such as come from those parts,