They are retreating and there is no one who can go ahead. They are
sending chiefs from a distance to conduct us peaceably, who wish
to become our friends and pay tribute. On the first of November I
arrived anew at the mouth of this river on the site of Mindanao,
where the fort which belonged to the Spaniards when they took the
country was burned. There was a fleet there of more than sixty ships
and we did not know what people they carried; but, believing that
it was those whom we were awaiting from those islands, I was glad
that they had arrived in so good time, and sent some of the friendly
Indians to reconnoiter them. They said that they were Terrenatans. I
immediately sent Captain Grabiel Gonzalez to make certain who it was,
and on the way he met a caracoa which was on sentinel duty. Some
arquebus-shots were exchanged, and without any injury he came back
with the information. There were at this time in the whole camp,
provisions for not more than nine days; and the munitions were so
far spent that, having no matches, the soldiers were going about with
fire-brands in their hands--for the few matches and balls which they
had, had been taken by the troops who were outside harvesting the
grain. We had to consider that as soon as we sent to call them back
we were lost; for if the rice were not cut we should have nothing to
live on. Likewise, on the other hand, I saw the great injury which I
should suffer if the enemy should fortify themselves where they were
working. It would cost me a great deal to dislodge them, and besides
there was the risk which was run of losing the communication with
your city; for we had to enter boldly into the enemy's country,
as one of the boats of the friendly Indians from Zanboanga had
done. Finally, as the evil of the want of food was most pressing,
and as without food we could neither go back nor forward, I resolved
to reënforce the pass of Vutil, so that the enemy could not pass that
way and join with the people of Buyahen. The troops who were acting as