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after they had withdrawn, he would come to treat of friendship and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. The master-of-camp ordered that the
cannon amidship on the large vessel be fired, although not to increase
their fright. The review had not yet ended when a Moro came with sixty
gold taels, which he gave to the master-of-camp--asking him not to
be offended if the gift were not brought quickly, because the people
had dispersed through fear, and therefore it could not be collected so
soon; but he promised that they would raise the amount to four hundred
taels. The master-of-camp received this gold, and had it placed in a
small box, the key of which he gave to the Moro, telling him to keep
it until the promise was fulfilled; but to consider that after treason
nothing could be more blameworthy than falsehood. The Moro salaamed
low, and said that he would not lie, and that they would fulfil their
promise, little by little. And so they did, for, on that same day,
four more messengers came with gold; and all entreated and begged the
master-of-camp not to be offended at the delay, if there should be