has at stake, the more he will lose. For I know the worth and value of
a Spaniard, and it is not a good thing to hazard them without a great
deal of consideration. I hope, God willing, that if the enemy wait they
will be badly beaten; and if they flee to the chiefs who wish to go
over to our side, that will increase their wish and confirm them in it.

Thus far no fragata or other ship has arrived except that of the
sargento-mayor which I sent back from here, and even if this had
remained in Zebu, it might have brought word from the lord governor
regarding the prosecution of this business. He comes here with no
more knowledge than we have; the only thing of which he leaves us
in no doubt is that he comes without the means to pay or succor
these poor troops. If this be true, I am much astonished at it;
and it appears to me that this is afflicting them too much and will
give them an occasion to make trouble and rebel some day, taking one
of the galleys and the artillery and going where they list, as has
already been done in two cases. In the one case a barangay and four
soldiers mutinied and went away, no one knows where. Although they
took an officer, he had no power to prevent them, for they rose in arms
against him. The best that he could do was to have them put him ashore
and in this way he came back to this fort. The three soldiers who were
posted on the galliot which was at Vutil conspired and took the small
boat and fled. Your Grace may see, from the eve of the feast, what
sort of feast-day may be expected, especially from troops suffering
privation and hunger, who do not leave their arms day or night,
working for others and receiving no pay. With so small a ration of
rice they are ill sustained for any length of time; for the little
meat and fish which was sent was so insignificant and arrived in so
damaged a condition that there is not enough for eight days. Finally,
on this ground of pay they would be justified in mutiny. They are