reception
from the Rajah. It was found to abound in rice, sugar, ginger, hogs,
hens, and other animals. They next touched at Cagayan Sooloo, where
from some of the natives they heard of the large island of Borneo
existing to the west. The inhabitants appeared to possess much gold,
and they used poisoned arrows, which they darted by the force of their
breath through hollow reeds. At their sides they wore daggers
ornamented with precious stones. Magnificent trees were seen on shore,
but no provisions, so greatly required, could be obtained. In
consequence of this, they were so nearly starved that many of the men
proposed landing on one of the islands and establishing themselves there
for life.

On reaching Puluan, however, and finding provisions abundant, they
resolved to continue their voyage. Besides the articles they found at
Mindanao, it produced large figs, sweet potatoes, cocoa-nuts, and
sugar-canes.

The Rajah, as a token of peace, drew some blood out of his left arm, and
marked his body, face, and the top of his tongue with it. The
Spaniards, to win his regard, imitated his example. The people went
perfectly naked, and occupied themselves chiefly in cock-fighting.

The voyagers here first met with arrak, which the natives distil from
rice. Having obtained a pilot, the Spaniards crossed over to the large
island of Borneo, and on the 8th of July they came to an anchor off a
city which was said to contain twenty-five thousand houses. They were
built within high water mark, and raised on posts. When the tide was
full, the people communicated by boats going about from house to house.

Soon after they dropped anchor, the Rajah, who was a Moor, of
considerable power, sent handsome presents on board, and invited the
Captains to visit him.

On landing, the Spaniards found two elephants, covered with silk
trappings, ready to conduct them to his palace. In front of it a feast
had been prepared, consisting of meat, fowl, and fish, placed on the
floor, round which they sat on mats. The natives, after each mouthful,
sipped arrak from porcelain cups, and used golden spoons to eat their
rice. The feast being over, it was announced to the Captains that the
Rajah was ready for them. On their way they passed through a large
saloon, in which were a number of courtiers, and from thence into an
anteroom, where three hundred guards, armed with poniards, were drawn
up. At the farther end of the apartment was a cur