seguera] tried also
to learn who had remained, whether they had a famine, as reported. He
was told that not more than one hundred and forty Indians remained
and that, they were suffering a most severe famine. He ordered them
to bring the piece that was said to be inland. In three hours they
brought one to him, and he brought it hither in his fragata. It
seems to be of about twelve or thirteen quintals' weight. Thinking
that they were lying in regard to the people and their poverty,
he insisted upon asking them for the tribute, telling them that
everyone who becomes his Majesty's vassal, pays that recognition,
as a return for his Majesty's expenses in his fleets. They showed
so great poverty, and were so little able to give anything, that,
although he had the chiefs on his vessel and sent them to notify all
the Indians of the land that they must bring tribute in three days,
not forty Indians came with tribute--and that was in dishes, cloth,
and articles of but little worth. The chiefs told him to go ashore
and see for himself that there were no more people. Consequently he
bargained with an Indian, a timagua of the said island (the one who
had owned the said cannon), as he learned that the Indian had traded
for it with others; and gave back to them the fifty-seven tributes
given them by the captain. Then he returned to the fleet. This was
his declaration, and he affixed his signature thereto. Witnesses,
Juan Davila and Francisco Gomez.

_Gabriel de Ribera_
_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_

Before me:

_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet

Thereupon, upon this said day, Pedro de Oseguera declared before
the said captain that the said Indians of Jolo had given, in token
of tribute, forty-three tributes, consisting of two tacs of gold,
nineteen pieces of colored medrinaque, and eight tributes in dishes,
a total of forty-three--besides the fifty-seven that were taken on
account for the piece. The full total is one hundred, and he delivered
them to the the captain. Witnesses, the above-named persons.

_Gabriel de Ribera_
_Pedro Brizeno de Oseguera_

Before me:

_Benito de Mendiola_, notary of the fleet

In the town of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, on the eighth day of
the month of May, of the said year, the said captain said that,
inasmuch as his Lordship, the governor of these islands, ordered in
the instructions given him for the said expedition that one-half
of the tributes be given to his Grace's soldiers and th