On The 5th Of March They Took
Several Barks, Which Were Going To Collect The Tribute Paid By The
Adjacent Places To The City Of Manilla.
They had now intelligence of a
fleet of twelve ships and four gallies, manned by 2000 Spaniards besides
Indians, Chinese, and Japanese, sent from Manilla to drive the Dutch
from the Moluccas, and to reduce these islands under the dominion of
Spain.
On this news they discharged all their prisoners, and resolved to
go in pursuit of the Manilla fleet.
The 11th March they got into a labyrinth of islands, whence they knew
not how to get out, but their Spanish pilot carried them safe through
next day. The 14th they anchored all night before the island of Paney,
by reason of the shoals; and on the 18th they sailed close past the
island of Mindanao. The 19th they came again close to the shore, and
brought provisions from the islanders at a cheap rate. They reached Cape
Cudera on the 20th, where the Spaniards usually water on their voyages
to the Moluccas. Till the 23d, having a perfect calm, they made no
progress except with the tide; and when between Mindanao and Tagano
they were stopt by an adverse current. The people here professed great
enmity against the Spaniards, and offered to assist the Dutch with fifty
of their vessels against that nation. The 27th they passed the island of
Sanguin, and came on the 29th to Ternate, in which island the Dutch
possessed the town of Macia, where they were made most welcome by
their countrymen.
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