ey found one such between
Panay and another island. They passed Tandaya and Cabalian during their
ten days' cruise, and the fleet, in consequence of their report sailed
to the latter place. The treacherous conduct of the Portuguese to both
Spaniards and natives is discovered. "The general determined to go
to Betuan, which is a very rich island, whence much gold is brought,"
and anchor was cast before Bohol, from which place Legazpi despatched
Juan de la Isla to explore westward, and Martin de Goyti eastward A
small boat was despatched under Rodriguez "to discover some islands
that could be seen from here. We went in the frigate, fifteen men
and one Indian, who knew the language, the pilot of a junk captured
by the master-of-camp and Captain Martin de Goete." This detachment
coasted among various islands, among them Licoyon and Binglas. [65]
They were blown out of their course by a storm. A _prau_ was sighted,
but its occupants took flight, ran their vessel ashore, and hid on
the island. The Spaniards went to the _prau_, and found therein
a "little Indian girl of about three years, very pretty. She was
hanging over the edge of the _prau_ with her body in the water, and
screaming. When we came and wished to take her, she slipped into the
water and would wellnigh have drowned, had not one of our men leaped
in after her." Shortly after this a battle with other natives was
averted only by the wind blowing off the covering to their two pieces
of artillery, at sight of which the natives fled in confusion and hid
themselves. The inhabitants showed themselves hostile at all points and
the Spaniards had several narrow escapes on this island of Negros. From
here they crossed to the island of Cebu. "This Cibuy is a fine island,
about sixty leagues in circumference and thickly populated.... We found
fourteen or fifteen villages on its sea-coast.... We did not dare to
go ashore, although we were in need of food." The detachment returned
to the fleet after twenty days, although they had been ordered only
to cruise during six. The natives and two soldiers sent to look for
these men had missed them by going to the opposite side of the island
from that where Rodriguez had been The fleet set sail for Cebu, where
after landing they found the village deserted. Legazpi ordered that
each mess of four soldiers should take one house and the rest of the
houses be destroyed. Everything was removed from the houses before
any were destroyed. The gen