he black squadron, and proceeded
many miles up a wide and beautiful river, passing several ruins of
villages that had been destroyed by the black squadron. On the 17th, the
fleet anchored abreast four mud batteries, which defended a town, so
entirely surrounded with wood that it was impossible to form any idea of
its size. The weather was very hazy, with hard squalls of rain. The
Ladrones remained perfectly quiet for two days. On the third day the
forts commenced a brisk fire for several hours: the Ladrones did not
return a single shot, but weighed in the night and dropped down the
river.

The reasons they gave for not attacking the town, or returning the fire,
were that Joss had not promised them success. They are very
superstitious, and consult their idol on all occasions. If his omens are
good, they will undertake the most daring enterprizes.

The fleet now anchored opposite the ruins of the town where the women
had been made prisoners. Here we remained five or six days, during
which time about a hundred of the women were ransomed; the remainder
were offered for sale amongst the Ladrones, for forty dollars each. The
woman is considered the lawful wife of the purchaser, who would be put
to death if he discarded her. Several of them leaped overboard and
drowned themselves, rather than submit to such infamous degradation.

The fleet then weighed and made sail down the river, to receive the
ransom from the town before mentioned. As we passed the hill, they fired
several shots at us, but without effect. The Ladrones were much
exasperated, and determined to revenge themselves; they dropped out of
reach of their shot, and anchored. Every junk sent about a hundred men
each on shore, to cut paddy, and destroy their orange-groves, which was
most effectually performed for several miles down the river. During our
stay here, they received information of nine boats lying up a creek,
laden with paddy; boats were immediately dispatched after them.

Next morning these boats were brought to the fleet; ten or twelve men
were taken in them. As these had made no resistance, the chief said he
would allow them to become Ladrones, if they agreed to take the usual
oaths before Joss. Three or four of them refused to comply, for which
they were punished in the following cruel manner: their hands were tied
behind their back, a rope from the mast-head rove through their arms,
and hoisted three or four feet from the deck, and five or six men