[15] _i.e._, "because the said fathers are not qualified in sufficient
number," and "in the distribution of the said offices."

[16] In the manuscript that we follow the letter of March 31 is given
second, while that of April 5 is given first; we have arranged them
chronologically.

[17] Garo: probably the same as _garita_; a fortified outpost?

[18] The translation of this passage seems to be, "If God fights
against a city, he who guards it watches in vain." The difficulty
lies in "_a custodierit_," which we translate as "fights against."

[19] Sulu, the chief island of the group of that name, has an area
of 333 square miles. It contains numerous mountains, some of them
nearly 3,000 feet high; and their slopes are covered with magnificent
forests. Of the ancient town of Sulu (the residence of the "sultan"),
on the southern shore, hardly a trace remains; the present town of that
name was built by the Spaniards in 1878, and is modern in style. See
_U. S. Gazetteer of Philippines_, pp. 842-850.

[20] "Four groups having different customs may be distinguished
among the inhabitants of the archipelago: the Guimbajanos, or
inhabitants of the mountains, who are the indigenes; the Malay and
Visayan slaves, whose descendants have intermarried; the Samales,
an inferior race, though not slaves; the true Moros, who trace
their origin from the Mohammedan invaders, and who dominate the
other inhabitants." "Physically the Sulu natives are superior to
the ordinary Malay type, and, according to Streeter, are a strange
mixture of villainy and nobility." (_U. S. Gazetteer_, pp. 845, 846.)

[21] _Babui_, in their language, signifies "pig;" apparently they
called the Spaniards "swine," as expressing the acme of contempt for
their besiegers.

[22] "Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ."

[23] Combes says (_Hist. Mindanao_, Retana's ed., col. 264) that
this queen, named Tuambaloca, was a native of Basilan, and that she
had acquired such ascendency over her husband that the government of
Jolo was entirely in her hands. This statement explains the presence
of the Basilan men in the Joloan stronghold.

[24] Kris, a dagger or poniard, the universal weapon of all the
civilized inhabitants of the archipelago, and of a hundred different
forms. Men of all ranks wear this weapon; and those of rank, when full
dressed, wear two and even four. (Crawfurd's _Dict. Ind. Islands_,
p.202.)

At the Louisian