CHAPTER XI.ANNO DOM. 1750.The Administration of the Marquis of Obando.Don Francisco Joseph de Obando, a native of Caceres, in Estremadura, had arrived in the South Sea with a squadron, and was in Lima when the great earthquake happened, by which Callao was swallowed up. On this occasion his exertions obtained the King’s favour, and he was nominated Governor of Manila. He then passed over to Mexico, where he married Doña Barbara Ribadeneyra, and accompanied by her embarked for the Philippines, the government of which he took possession of in the month of July, 1750.The Archbishop, on his arrival, presented him with the King’s despatches, in which his Majesty charged him with the expulsion of the Chinese. A council was summoned in order to discuss the measure, when a difference of opinion arose on the subject, which terminated in totally frustrating the good intentions of his Majesty in respect to the Chinese, notwithstanding the prejudice these his dominions suffered by them. The Archbishop claimed the right of sitting on the left hand of the Governor, on the government seat, and which he was not disposed to accede to; and he claimed likewise the same honours from the officers commanding the guard when he entered the palace, or passed through the gates of the city. These points of etiquette alone were of sufficient importance to suspend the execution of the orders of expulsion of the Chinese from the Philippines. The council was consulted on this controversy,when both points were decided in favour of the Archbishop.The Royal Audience had likewise a misunderstanding with the Governor, in consequence of his having, on his own authority, given the command of Cavite Castle,ad interim, to Don Domingo Nebra; this appointment being, in point of regularity, always given by the consent of, and after duly consulting the Royal Audience, conformable to his Majesty’s orders. The Governor did not deny this royal order, but alleged, in his own justification, that he could not find any person so well qualified as Nebra for constructing such vessels as were requisite for the commerce of Acapulco, and the defence of the islands against the Moors; that Nebra was seventy years of age, and could not be compelled to undertake the charge of constructing vessels unless he chose it; and that he would by no means accept theemployment, if there were any interference of the Royal Audience, because, in such case, he would be obliged to reside at Cavite. An extraordinary case like the present ought not to be subjected to common rules, and he had determined according to what appeared to him most conducive to the interest of his Majesty’s service. The Royal Audience, in reply, made its representations and protests, but finding that the power of the Governor preponderated, they yielded up the point in the mean time, and appealed to his Majesty. Notwithstanding the science of Nebra, however, of which the Governor boasted so much, the ship Pilar, which he careened before her departure for Acapulco, disappeared at sea, and nothing has ever been heard of her since. Another dispute, which made considerable noise, took place at this time in Manila: a lady who had taken the veil in the nunnery of Santa Catalina, under the name Madre Cecilia, had fallen inlove with Don Francisco Figueroa, and the vacant seat of government being at that time filled by Señor Arrechedera, Figueroa presented himself to the proper officer, requiring that the profession of Madre Cecilia might be annulled. The Vicar General, not desirous of having any controversies with the Dominican Friars, of whose order the Governor was, advised Figueroa, on this occasion, to say nothing on the subject for the present, but wait a more favourable conjuncture for his pretensions. As soon as the Señor Obando arrived, conceiving that the reason which induced him to refrain no longer existed, he presented himself to the Archbishop, requesting, as he had done before, that the Vicar General should annul the nun’s vows. His Excellency ordered that she should be lodged in the Santa Potenciana; the Dominicans opposed it most strenuously, and appealed to the superior government; but not finding themselves supported in thistribunal, they gave up the point, and delivered her over to the Vicar General, who was charged with the care of her. The cause mean time went on, and the Archbishop decreed, after mature deliberation, that the sanctuary of Santa Catalina being by his Majesty prohibited from being converted into a convent, the Madre Cecilia, who had there made her profession, could not be properly considered a religieuse, and that her profession, therefore, was null and void. The Dominicans appealed to the delegate, who was the Bishop of Zebu; the appeal was admitted, but permission was given her to marry. In order to follow up this appeal, with alacrity, a dignified clergyman was ordered to be despatched, who was capable of opposing the pretensions of Cecilia with effect, for it was concluded that to act otherwise would be to dishonour the sanctuary of Santa Catalina; but this gentleman not being disposed to take charge of so unpleasant a suit, pretended ill health. There was noother of that description in the Philippine Islands to whom they could have recourse, in consequence of which they laid the cause before the Archbishop of Mexico, who received it, and cited the Madre Cecilia to appear before his tribunal, ordering her to be sent to Mexico to answer the plea, and receive sentence.As the appeal, however, was not allowed to operate to the suspension of matrimony, Cecilia contracted marriage, and with her husband embarked for Mexico, where it was decided that the marriage should be considered as valid, and of course the profession declared to be annulled. This decision having reached the council of the Indies, it was ordered that the sanctuary of Santa Catalina should be abolished, on the decease of all the religious then existing in it, which, however, was not observed, the Dominicans having obtained a reversal of the order.The Governor having received information of new depredations committed by theMoors in the Bisaya provinces, determined to fit out an efficient force, which might not only attain this object, but likewise re-establish the throne of Jolo in Don Fernando Alimudin, who had been unjustly deprived of it, and whom he had found, on his arrival at Manila, converted to Christianity.On this last point, indeed, there was a diversity of opinion, for many thought that his fidelity could not be relied on, and that the very first opportunity which offered he would be guilty of treachery, as his ancestors had been. It was, however, determined in favour of the expatriated King, and he was conducted to Jolo in the Admiral’s ship of the squadron, which sailed from Cavite, under the command of Colonel Quian, who was charged with both commissions. The squadron arrived at Zamboanga, with the exception of the Admiral’s ship, which not appearing, and that the monsoon might not be lost, or time allowedto the Moors to fortify themselves, the armament sailed from that port on the 13th of June, 1751, and on the 20th came to anchor in the harbour of Jolo, one mile distant from the fortification of the enemy. The attack was immediately commenced, and so panic-struck were the Moorish commanders, that they directly entered into a treaty, and signed an instrument, binding themselves to obedience to the King, and to conduct themselves as faithful subjects, and also engaging to deliver up to the Spaniards all the captive Christians which might be then in the island. With this treaty the Colonel returned in nine days to Zamboanga, carrying with him two sampans with Chinese, whom he found there acting as merchants, and whom he made prisoners, under the pretext that they had sold a cannon to the Joloese, our enemies, with whom we had just made peace. The Admiral’s ship had been delayed by a storm, and was detained in Calapanrepairing the rudder, which was the occasion of his not arriving at Zamboanga until the 25th of July, but the King of Jolo, impatient at such delay, embarked, accompanied by two carracoas, and had arrived twelve days before.Notwithstanding his diligence, the Governor of Zamboanga entertained much doubt of his fidelity, and having taken charge of two letters, one of which he had written, by order of the Governor of Manila, to the King of Mindanao, and the one letter being in the vulgar tongue, and the other in Arabic, a language which he had acquired in Batavia, where he had been some time, it excited a curiosity to know what the King had said in that language so totally in disuse in our islands. Accordingly a person was procured to translate the letter, and the contents were found to be, that he (the King) had written the other letter in obedience to the commands of the Governor of Manila, andthat he could not do otherwise than obey, as he was in the power of a stranger.To the suspicion attached to this was added another circumstance: a brother of his, named Asin, together with the chiefs of Jolo, who had capitulated with the Colonel, and agreed to receive their King, and deliver up the Christian captives, paid a visit to Zamboanga, and in addition to their bringing with them no captives whatever, they were charged with having introduced arms to surprise the government. The Governor, upon the strength of this charge, immediately confined the King, together with Asin, and those who accompanied him: his house was searched, but only a few arms were found, quite insufficient to induce a belief that he intended any thing against the government; but many other effects were found concealed in his prison, and various informations andmemorandawhich he had sent to the Moors, justified the suspicions entertained of him.In corroboration of all this, the Admiral and two passengers declared, that the King was on very bad terms with the Manila people, of whom he had received so many attentions and services, and that on all occasions he manifested his ingratitude. That he had said the new Governor detained him prisoner; that he had given no proofs of being a Christian, for he slept every night with his concubines; that he never heard mass; and that he even stripped off the crosses from the rosaries of the family he resided with; and, lastly, that he had become an apostate, by making a Mahometan sacrifice at Calapan, where he had killed a goat, divided it into twelve portions, with many superstitious ceremonies, and distributed it to his companions to eat, by way of celebrating the passover.The Governor of Zamboanga communicated these proceedings to the government at Manila, requesting instructionsfor the regulation of his conduct in respect to the seizure of the Sultan and his family; and the result was an order for his being sent to Manila with all his people. War was likewise immediately declared against the Joloese. Letters of marque and reprisal were granted to whomever might apply for them, and all prize-money was given up arising from captures, together with the liberty of detaining the persons of their prisoners as slaves. So firm, indeed, was the determination of our government to exterminate the Moors, that a general absolution was conceded to all those who should present themselves to serve against them. The armament at Zamboanga, under the command of the Colonel, was reinforced, and a second expedition was undertaken to Jolo, still more unfortunate in its results than the first: for having attempted to disembark in that island, they were received by the Moors with so much spirit, that they were obligedto retire with considerable loss, and with great disgrace and ignominy to the Spanish arms.The haughty Bantilan, who governed the kingdom of Jolo in the absence of his brother, proud of the victory he had obtained against the Spaniards, began to treat with the inhabitants of Mindanao, to induce them to break with us, and molest us as much as in their power: and he persuaded all the pirates among those islands to exert themselves against the Spaniards, representing them as conquered, and in great dread of his arms. The consequence was, that the seas were covered with Moorish armaments, which spread desolation in every quarter.Nothing was heard of but the robberies, burnings, captures of ships, imprisonments, and insults which our provinces experienced from the Moors. So that Señor Obando was resolved to proceed in person against them, and endeavour to removethe dreadful evils to which we were exposed.His Majesty had given orders that an establishment should be formed in the island of Paragua, to shut out the pirates from that quarter, in the same manner as they were from Zamboanga. To proceed with due regularity in this respect, the governor despatched an ambassador to the King of Borneo, to induce him to cede to us the claim he held to part of that island, which, being granted, a squadron was sent there to erect the proposed station, and to cruize against the Moors, who infested the islands. He was desirous of taking the command of this expedition in person, and consulted the Royal Audience on the subject, who were of opinion that it would not be proper to expose himself, and that, by confiding it to some other person, and sending an engineer to make the necessary arrangements for forming the establishment in the island of Paragua, every thing mightbe done which the public good required. In conformity to this advice he named Don Antonio Fabea to the command of this expedition, who proceeded from Port Cavite with eleven sail of armed vessels, taking with him Don Manuel Aguirre, who went as governor of the proposed new establishment. He received orders in passing by Igolote, in the same island, to dislodge the Moors, who were the only possessors of that part of it; but here, sickness prevailing to a great extent in the armament, they merely took possession of the island, and returned to Manila, leaving behind them two hundred and seventy dead, and bringing many more invalids in the squadron. The King of Jolo had by this time arrived at Manila, and was imprisoned in the fort of Saint Jago, to the great satisfaction of all those who had opposed his baptism, and who always doubted his fidelity; but he obtained permission from the Governor for his daughter, Fatima,who was also a prisoner with him, to go to Jolo, and to carry letters to his brother, and other principal persons, in order to bring about a peace with the Spaniards; and for this indulgence he bound himself to deliver up fifty captive Christians. The princess fulfilled the engagement, brought over the fifty captives, and induced her uncle, Bantilan, to send an ambassador to Manila, to treat on all matters relative to her father. This envoy brought powers to negociate in concert with the King for peace with the Governor; and in confirmation of such powers, he bound himself to observe whatever terms were acceded to by them.It was accordingly stipulated with the King and the Ambassador, that the Moors of Jolo should deliver up all the Christian captives who might be found in the island. That they should return all the arms they had taken from the Spaniards, and the ornaments of which they had pillaged the churches; and in order to have the treatyratified, liberty was granted to one of the chief officers, who was confined with the King, to go to Jolo in company with the ambassador whom Bantilan had sent over. The Governor put very little confidence either in the promises or the treaty of the Moors, for they have never observed them, but have broken them with the same facility with which they made them. He therefore fitted out a strong squadron to compel them by force to a due observation of their engagements, as it was not otherwise to be expected.His precautions were not in vain, for in the very same year of 1754, the greatest irruption took place which these islanders ever made into the Philippines. They entered with fire and sword in all directions, murdering the religious orders, Indians and Spaniards, burning and robbing towns, and making prisoners of thousands of Christians, not only in the islands near to Jolo, but in all our dominions, even theprovinces in the immediate neighbourhood of Manila.The fleet sailed which had been prepared to oppose them; but before any thing could be done, the four years of Obando’s government expired. His successor arrived, and the Marquis left these islands in the most deplorable situation in which they were ever known. The causes of these evils were either his own ill management, the incapacity of those he employed, or, perhaps, misfortune. What we are certain of is, that the period of his residence here was most calamitous. Yet, we must say, he had many great difficulties to encounter.The following year he embarked in the galleon Santissima Trinidad for Acapulco, and died on his passage, without ever reaching New Spain.
CHAPTER XI.ANNO DOM. 1750.The Administration of the Marquis of Obando.Don Francisco Joseph de Obando, a native of Caceres, in Estremadura, had arrived in the South Sea with a squadron, and was in Lima when the great earthquake happened, by which Callao was swallowed up. On this occasion his exertions obtained the King’s favour, and he was nominated Governor of Manila. He then passed over to Mexico, where he married Doña Barbara Ribadeneyra, and accompanied by her embarked for the Philippines, the government of which he took possession of in the month of July, 1750.The Archbishop, on his arrival, presented him with the King’s despatches, in which his Majesty charged him with the expulsion of the Chinese. A council was summoned in order to discuss the measure, when a difference of opinion arose on the subject, which terminated in totally frustrating the good intentions of his Majesty in respect to the Chinese, notwithstanding the prejudice these his dominions suffered by them. The Archbishop claimed the right of sitting on the left hand of the Governor, on the government seat, and which he was not disposed to accede to; and he claimed likewise the same honours from the officers commanding the guard when he entered the palace, or passed through the gates of the city. These points of etiquette alone were of sufficient importance to suspend the execution of the orders of expulsion of the Chinese from the Philippines. The council was consulted on this controversy,when both points were decided in favour of the Archbishop.The Royal Audience had likewise a misunderstanding with the Governor, in consequence of his having, on his own authority, given the command of Cavite Castle,ad interim, to Don Domingo Nebra; this appointment being, in point of regularity, always given by the consent of, and after duly consulting the Royal Audience, conformable to his Majesty’s orders. The Governor did not deny this royal order, but alleged, in his own justification, that he could not find any person so well qualified as Nebra for constructing such vessels as were requisite for the commerce of Acapulco, and the defence of the islands against the Moors; that Nebra was seventy years of age, and could not be compelled to undertake the charge of constructing vessels unless he chose it; and that he would by no means accept theemployment, if there were any interference of the Royal Audience, because, in such case, he would be obliged to reside at Cavite. An extraordinary case like the present ought not to be subjected to common rules, and he had determined according to what appeared to him most conducive to the interest of his Majesty’s service. The Royal Audience, in reply, made its representations and protests, but finding that the power of the Governor preponderated, they yielded up the point in the mean time, and appealed to his Majesty. Notwithstanding the science of Nebra, however, of which the Governor boasted so much, the ship Pilar, which he careened before her departure for Acapulco, disappeared at sea, and nothing has ever been heard of her since. Another dispute, which made considerable noise, took place at this time in Manila: a lady who had taken the veil in the nunnery of Santa Catalina, under the name Madre Cecilia, had fallen inlove with Don Francisco Figueroa, and the vacant seat of government being at that time filled by Señor Arrechedera, Figueroa presented himself to the proper officer, requiring that the profession of Madre Cecilia might be annulled. The Vicar General, not desirous of having any controversies with the Dominican Friars, of whose order the Governor was, advised Figueroa, on this occasion, to say nothing on the subject for the present, but wait a more favourable conjuncture for his pretensions. As soon as the Señor Obando arrived, conceiving that the reason which induced him to refrain no longer existed, he presented himself to the Archbishop, requesting, as he had done before, that the Vicar General should annul the nun’s vows. His Excellency ordered that she should be lodged in the Santa Potenciana; the Dominicans opposed it most strenuously, and appealed to the superior government; but not finding themselves supported in thistribunal, they gave up the point, and delivered her over to the Vicar General, who was charged with the care of her. The cause mean time went on, and the Archbishop decreed, after mature deliberation, that the sanctuary of Santa Catalina being by his Majesty prohibited from being converted into a convent, the Madre Cecilia, who had there made her profession, could not be properly considered a religieuse, and that her profession, therefore, was null and void. The Dominicans appealed to the delegate, who was the Bishop of Zebu; the appeal was admitted, but permission was given her to marry. In order to follow up this appeal, with alacrity, a dignified clergyman was ordered to be despatched, who was capable of opposing the pretensions of Cecilia with effect, for it was concluded that to act otherwise would be to dishonour the sanctuary of Santa Catalina; but this gentleman not being disposed to take charge of so unpleasant a suit, pretended ill health. There was noother of that description in the Philippine Islands to whom they could have recourse, in consequence of which they laid the cause before the Archbishop of Mexico, who received it, and cited the Madre Cecilia to appear before his tribunal, ordering her to be sent to Mexico to answer the plea, and receive sentence.As the appeal, however, was not allowed to operate to the suspension of matrimony, Cecilia contracted marriage, and with her husband embarked for Mexico, where it was decided that the marriage should be considered as valid, and of course the profession declared to be annulled. This decision having reached the council of the Indies, it was ordered that the sanctuary of Santa Catalina should be abolished, on the decease of all the religious then existing in it, which, however, was not observed, the Dominicans having obtained a reversal of the order.The Governor having received information of new depredations committed by theMoors in the Bisaya provinces, determined to fit out an efficient force, which might not only attain this object, but likewise re-establish the throne of Jolo in Don Fernando Alimudin, who had been unjustly deprived of it, and whom he had found, on his arrival at Manila, converted to Christianity.On this last point, indeed, there was a diversity of opinion, for many thought that his fidelity could not be relied on, and that the very first opportunity which offered he would be guilty of treachery, as his ancestors had been. It was, however, determined in favour of the expatriated King, and he was conducted to Jolo in the Admiral’s ship of the squadron, which sailed from Cavite, under the command of Colonel Quian, who was charged with both commissions. The squadron arrived at Zamboanga, with the exception of the Admiral’s ship, which not appearing, and that the monsoon might not be lost, or time allowedto the Moors to fortify themselves, the armament sailed from that port on the 13th of June, 1751, and on the 20th came to anchor in the harbour of Jolo, one mile distant from the fortification of the enemy. The attack was immediately commenced, and so panic-struck were the Moorish commanders, that they directly entered into a treaty, and signed an instrument, binding themselves to obedience to the King, and to conduct themselves as faithful subjects, and also engaging to deliver up to the Spaniards all the captive Christians which might be then in the island. With this treaty the Colonel returned in nine days to Zamboanga, carrying with him two sampans with Chinese, whom he found there acting as merchants, and whom he made prisoners, under the pretext that they had sold a cannon to the Joloese, our enemies, with whom we had just made peace. The Admiral’s ship had been delayed by a storm, and was detained in Calapanrepairing the rudder, which was the occasion of his not arriving at Zamboanga until the 25th of July, but the King of Jolo, impatient at such delay, embarked, accompanied by two carracoas, and had arrived twelve days before.Notwithstanding his diligence, the Governor of Zamboanga entertained much doubt of his fidelity, and having taken charge of two letters, one of which he had written, by order of the Governor of Manila, to the King of Mindanao, and the one letter being in the vulgar tongue, and the other in Arabic, a language which he had acquired in Batavia, where he had been some time, it excited a curiosity to know what the King had said in that language so totally in disuse in our islands. Accordingly a person was procured to translate the letter, and the contents were found to be, that he (the King) had written the other letter in obedience to the commands of the Governor of Manila, andthat he could not do otherwise than obey, as he was in the power of a stranger.To the suspicion attached to this was added another circumstance: a brother of his, named Asin, together with the chiefs of Jolo, who had capitulated with the Colonel, and agreed to receive their King, and deliver up the Christian captives, paid a visit to Zamboanga, and in addition to their bringing with them no captives whatever, they were charged with having introduced arms to surprise the government. The Governor, upon the strength of this charge, immediately confined the King, together with Asin, and those who accompanied him: his house was searched, but only a few arms were found, quite insufficient to induce a belief that he intended any thing against the government; but many other effects were found concealed in his prison, and various informations andmemorandawhich he had sent to the Moors, justified the suspicions entertained of him.In corroboration of all this, the Admiral and two passengers declared, that the King was on very bad terms with the Manila people, of whom he had received so many attentions and services, and that on all occasions he manifested his ingratitude. That he had said the new Governor detained him prisoner; that he had given no proofs of being a Christian, for he slept every night with his concubines; that he never heard mass; and that he even stripped off the crosses from the rosaries of the family he resided with; and, lastly, that he had become an apostate, by making a Mahometan sacrifice at Calapan, where he had killed a goat, divided it into twelve portions, with many superstitious ceremonies, and distributed it to his companions to eat, by way of celebrating the passover.The Governor of Zamboanga communicated these proceedings to the government at Manila, requesting instructionsfor the regulation of his conduct in respect to the seizure of the Sultan and his family; and the result was an order for his being sent to Manila with all his people. War was likewise immediately declared against the Joloese. Letters of marque and reprisal were granted to whomever might apply for them, and all prize-money was given up arising from captures, together with the liberty of detaining the persons of their prisoners as slaves. So firm, indeed, was the determination of our government to exterminate the Moors, that a general absolution was conceded to all those who should present themselves to serve against them. The armament at Zamboanga, under the command of the Colonel, was reinforced, and a second expedition was undertaken to Jolo, still more unfortunate in its results than the first: for having attempted to disembark in that island, they were received by the Moors with so much spirit, that they were obligedto retire with considerable loss, and with great disgrace and ignominy to the Spanish arms.The haughty Bantilan, who governed the kingdom of Jolo in the absence of his brother, proud of the victory he had obtained against the Spaniards, began to treat with the inhabitants of Mindanao, to induce them to break with us, and molest us as much as in their power: and he persuaded all the pirates among those islands to exert themselves against the Spaniards, representing them as conquered, and in great dread of his arms. The consequence was, that the seas were covered with Moorish armaments, which spread desolation in every quarter.Nothing was heard of but the robberies, burnings, captures of ships, imprisonments, and insults which our provinces experienced from the Moors. So that Señor Obando was resolved to proceed in person against them, and endeavour to removethe dreadful evils to which we were exposed.His Majesty had given orders that an establishment should be formed in the island of Paragua, to shut out the pirates from that quarter, in the same manner as they were from Zamboanga. To proceed with due regularity in this respect, the governor despatched an ambassador to the King of Borneo, to induce him to cede to us the claim he held to part of that island, which, being granted, a squadron was sent there to erect the proposed station, and to cruize against the Moors, who infested the islands. He was desirous of taking the command of this expedition in person, and consulted the Royal Audience on the subject, who were of opinion that it would not be proper to expose himself, and that, by confiding it to some other person, and sending an engineer to make the necessary arrangements for forming the establishment in the island of Paragua, every thing mightbe done which the public good required. In conformity to this advice he named Don Antonio Fabea to the command of this expedition, who proceeded from Port Cavite with eleven sail of armed vessels, taking with him Don Manuel Aguirre, who went as governor of the proposed new establishment. He received orders in passing by Igolote, in the same island, to dislodge the Moors, who were the only possessors of that part of it; but here, sickness prevailing to a great extent in the armament, they merely took possession of the island, and returned to Manila, leaving behind them two hundred and seventy dead, and bringing many more invalids in the squadron. The King of Jolo had by this time arrived at Manila, and was imprisoned in the fort of Saint Jago, to the great satisfaction of all those who had opposed his baptism, and who always doubted his fidelity; but he obtained permission from the Governor for his daughter, Fatima,who was also a prisoner with him, to go to Jolo, and to carry letters to his brother, and other principal persons, in order to bring about a peace with the Spaniards; and for this indulgence he bound himself to deliver up fifty captive Christians. The princess fulfilled the engagement, brought over the fifty captives, and induced her uncle, Bantilan, to send an ambassador to Manila, to treat on all matters relative to her father. This envoy brought powers to negociate in concert with the King for peace with the Governor; and in confirmation of such powers, he bound himself to observe whatever terms were acceded to by them.It was accordingly stipulated with the King and the Ambassador, that the Moors of Jolo should deliver up all the Christian captives who might be found in the island. That they should return all the arms they had taken from the Spaniards, and the ornaments of which they had pillaged the churches; and in order to have the treatyratified, liberty was granted to one of the chief officers, who was confined with the King, to go to Jolo in company with the ambassador whom Bantilan had sent over. The Governor put very little confidence either in the promises or the treaty of the Moors, for they have never observed them, but have broken them with the same facility with which they made them. He therefore fitted out a strong squadron to compel them by force to a due observation of their engagements, as it was not otherwise to be expected.His precautions were not in vain, for in the very same year of 1754, the greatest irruption took place which these islanders ever made into the Philippines. They entered with fire and sword in all directions, murdering the religious orders, Indians and Spaniards, burning and robbing towns, and making prisoners of thousands of Christians, not only in the islands near to Jolo, but in all our dominions, even theprovinces in the immediate neighbourhood of Manila.The fleet sailed which had been prepared to oppose them; but before any thing could be done, the four years of Obando’s government expired. His successor arrived, and the Marquis left these islands in the most deplorable situation in which they were ever known. The causes of these evils were either his own ill management, the incapacity of those he employed, or, perhaps, misfortune. What we are certain of is, that the period of his residence here was most calamitous. Yet, we must say, he had many great difficulties to encounter.The following year he embarked in the galleon Santissima Trinidad for Acapulco, and died on his passage, without ever reaching New Spain.
CHAPTER XI.ANNO DOM. 1750.The Administration of the Marquis of Obando.
The Administration of the Marquis of Obando.
The Administration of the Marquis of Obando.
Don Francisco Joseph de Obando, a native of Caceres, in Estremadura, had arrived in the South Sea with a squadron, and was in Lima when the great earthquake happened, by which Callao was swallowed up. On this occasion his exertions obtained the King’s favour, and he was nominated Governor of Manila. He then passed over to Mexico, where he married Doña Barbara Ribadeneyra, and accompanied by her embarked for the Philippines, the government of which he took possession of in the month of July, 1750.The Archbishop, on his arrival, presented him with the King’s despatches, in which his Majesty charged him with the expulsion of the Chinese. A council was summoned in order to discuss the measure, when a difference of opinion arose on the subject, which terminated in totally frustrating the good intentions of his Majesty in respect to the Chinese, notwithstanding the prejudice these his dominions suffered by them. The Archbishop claimed the right of sitting on the left hand of the Governor, on the government seat, and which he was not disposed to accede to; and he claimed likewise the same honours from the officers commanding the guard when he entered the palace, or passed through the gates of the city. These points of etiquette alone were of sufficient importance to suspend the execution of the orders of expulsion of the Chinese from the Philippines. The council was consulted on this controversy,when both points were decided in favour of the Archbishop.The Royal Audience had likewise a misunderstanding with the Governor, in consequence of his having, on his own authority, given the command of Cavite Castle,ad interim, to Don Domingo Nebra; this appointment being, in point of regularity, always given by the consent of, and after duly consulting the Royal Audience, conformable to his Majesty’s orders. The Governor did not deny this royal order, but alleged, in his own justification, that he could not find any person so well qualified as Nebra for constructing such vessels as were requisite for the commerce of Acapulco, and the defence of the islands against the Moors; that Nebra was seventy years of age, and could not be compelled to undertake the charge of constructing vessels unless he chose it; and that he would by no means accept theemployment, if there were any interference of the Royal Audience, because, in such case, he would be obliged to reside at Cavite. An extraordinary case like the present ought not to be subjected to common rules, and he had determined according to what appeared to him most conducive to the interest of his Majesty’s service. The Royal Audience, in reply, made its representations and protests, but finding that the power of the Governor preponderated, they yielded up the point in the mean time, and appealed to his Majesty. Notwithstanding the science of Nebra, however, of which the Governor boasted so much, the ship Pilar, which he careened before her departure for Acapulco, disappeared at sea, and nothing has ever been heard of her since. Another dispute, which made considerable noise, took place at this time in Manila: a lady who had taken the veil in the nunnery of Santa Catalina, under the name Madre Cecilia, had fallen inlove with Don Francisco Figueroa, and the vacant seat of government being at that time filled by Señor Arrechedera, Figueroa presented himself to the proper officer, requiring that the profession of Madre Cecilia might be annulled. The Vicar General, not desirous of having any controversies with the Dominican Friars, of whose order the Governor was, advised Figueroa, on this occasion, to say nothing on the subject for the present, but wait a more favourable conjuncture for his pretensions. As soon as the Señor Obando arrived, conceiving that the reason which induced him to refrain no longer existed, he presented himself to the Archbishop, requesting, as he had done before, that the Vicar General should annul the nun’s vows. His Excellency ordered that she should be lodged in the Santa Potenciana; the Dominicans opposed it most strenuously, and appealed to the superior government; but not finding themselves supported in thistribunal, they gave up the point, and delivered her over to the Vicar General, who was charged with the care of her. The cause mean time went on, and the Archbishop decreed, after mature deliberation, that the sanctuary of Santa Catalina being by his Majesty prohibited from being converted into a convent, the Madre Cecilia, who had there made her profession, could not be properly considered a religieuse, and that her profession, therefore, was null and void. The Dominicans appealed to the delegate, who was the Bishop of Zebu; the appeal was admitted, but permission was given her to marry. In order to follow up this appeal, with alacrity, a dignified clergyman was ordered to be despatched, who was capable of opposing the pretensions of Cecilia with effect, for it was concluded that to act otherwise would be to dishonour the sanctuary of Santa Catalina; but this gentleman not being disposed to take charge of so unpleasant a suit, pretended ill health. There was noother of that description in the Philippine Islands to whom they could have recourse, in consequence of which they laid the cause before the Archbishop of Mexico, who received it, and cited the Madre Cecilia to appear before his tribunal, ordering her to be sent to Mexico to answer the plea, and receive sentence.As the appeal, however, was not allowed to operate to the suspension of matrimony, Cecilia contracted marriage, and with her husband embarked for Mexico, where it was decided that the marriage should be considered as valid, and of course the profession declared to be annulled. This decision having reached the council of the Indies, it was ordered that the sanctuary of Santa Catalina should be abolished, on the decease of all the religious then existing in it, which, however, was not observed, the Dominicans having obtained a reversal of the order.The Governor having received information of new depredations committed by theMoors in the Bisaya provinces, determined to fit out an efficient force, which might not only attain this object, but likewise re-establish the throne of Jolo in Don Fernando Alimudin, who had been unjustly deprived of it, and whom he had found, on his arrival at Manila, converted to Christianity.On this last point, indeed, there was a diversity of opinion, for many thought that his fidelity could not be relied on, and that the very first opportunity which offered he would be guilty of treachery, as his ancestors had been. It was, however, determined in favour of the expatriated King, and he was conducted to Jolo in the Admiral’s ship of the squadron, which sailed from Cavite, under the command of Colonel Quian, who was charged with both commissions. The squadron arrived at Zamboanga, with the exception of the Admiral’s ship, which not appearing, and that the monsoon might not be lost, or time allowedto the Moors to fortify themselves, the armament sailed from that port on the 13th of June, 1751, and on the 20th came to anchor in the harbour of Jolo, one mile distant from the fortification of the enemy. The attack was immediately commenced, and so panic-struck were the Moorish commanders, that they directly entered into a treaty, and signed an instrument, binding themselves to obedience to the King, and to conduct themselves as faithful subjects, and also engaging to deliver up to the Spaniards all the captive Christians which might be then in the island. With this treaty the Colonel returned in nine days to Zamboanga, carrying with him two sampans with Chinese, whom he found there acting as merchants, and whom he made prisoners, under the pretext that they had sold a cannon to the Joloese, our enemies, with whom we had just made peace. The Admiral’s ship had been delayed by a storm, and was detained in Calapanrepairing the rudder, which was the occasion of his not arriving at Zamboanga until the 25th of July, but the King of Jolo, impatient at such delay, embarked, accompanied by two carracoas, and had arrived twelve days before.Notwithstanding his diligence, the Governor of Zamboanga entertained much doubt of his fidelity, and having taken charge of two letters, one of which he had written, by order of the Governor of Manila, to the King of Mindanao, and the one letter being in the vulgar tongue, and the other in Arabic, a language which he had acquired in Batavia, where he had been some time, it excited a curiosity to know what the King had said in that language so totally in disuse in our islands. Accordingly a person was procured to translate the letter, and the contents were found to be, that he (the King) had written the other letter in obedience to the commands of the Governor of Manila, andthat he could not do otherwise than obey, as he was in the power of a stranger.To the suspicion attached to this was added another circumstance: a brother of his, named Asin, together with the chiefs of Jolo, who had capitulated with the Colonel, and agreed to receive their King, and deliver up the Christian captives, paid a visit to Zamboanga, and in addition to their bringing with them no captives whatever, they were charged with having introduced arms to surprise the government. The Governor, upon the strength of this charge, immediately confined the King, together with Asin, and those who accompanied him: his house was searched, but only a few arms were found, quite insufficient to induce a belief that he intended any thing against the government; but many other effects were found concealed in his prison, and various informations andmemorandawhich he had sent to the Moors, justified the suspicions entertained of him.In corroboration of all this, the Admiral and two passengers declared, that the King was on very bad terms with the Manila people, of whom he had received so many attentions and services, and that on all occasions he manifested his ingratitude. That he had said the new Governor detained him prisoner; that he had given no proofs of being a Christian, for he slept every night with his concubines; that he never heard mass; and that he even stripped off the crosses from the rosaries of the family he resided with; and, lastly, that he had become an apostate, by making a Mahometan sacrifice at Calapan, where he had killed a goat, divided it into twelve portions, with many superstitious ceremonies, and distributed it to his companions to eat, by way of celebrating the passover.The Governor of Zamboanga communicated these proceedings to the government at Manila, requesting instructionsfor the regulation of his conduct in respect to the seizure of the Sultan and his family; and the result was an order for his being sent to Manila with all his people. War was likewise immediately declared against the Joloese. Letters of marque and reprisal were granted to whomever might apply for them, and all prize-money was given up arising from captures, together with the liberty of detaining the persons of their prisoners as slaves. So firm, indeed, was the determination of our government to exterminate the Moors, that a general absolution was conceded to all those who should present themselves to serve against them. The armament at Zamboanga, under the command of the Colonel, was reinforced, and a second expedition was undertaken to Jolo, still more unfortunate in its results than the first: for having attempted to disembark in that island, they were received by the Moors with so much spirit, that they were obligedto retire with considerable loss, and with great disgrace and ignominy to the Spanish arms.The haughty Bantilan, who governed the kingdom of Jolo in the absence of his brother, proud of the victory he had obtained against the Spaniards, began to treat with the inhabitants of Mindanao, to induce them to break with us, and molest us as much as in their power: and he persuaded all the pirates among those islands to exert themselves against the Spaniards, representing them as conquered, and in great dread of his arms. The consequence was, that the seas were covered with Moorish armaments, which spread desolation in every quarter.Nothing was heard of but the robberies, burnings, captures of ships, imprisonments, and insults which our provinces experienced from the Moors. So that Señor Obando was resolved to proceed in person against them, and endeavour to removethe dreadful evils to which we were exposed.His Majesty had given orders that an establishment should be formed in the island of Paragua, to shut out the pirates from that quarter, in the same manner as they were from Zamboanga. To proceed with due regularity in this respect, the governor despatched an ambassador to the King of Borneo, to induce him to cede to us the claim he held to part of that island, which, being granted, a squadron was sent there to erect the proposed station, and to cruize against the Moors, who infested the islands. He was desirous of taking the command of this expedition in person, and consulted the Royal Audience on the subject, who were of opinion that it would not be proper to expose himself, and that, by confiding it to some other person, and sending an engineer to make the necessary arrangements for forming the establishment in the island of Paragua, every thing mightbe done which the public good required. In conformity to this advice he named Don Antonio Fabea to the command of this expedition, who proceeded from Port Cavite with eleven sail of armed vessels, taking with him Don Manuel Aguirre, who went as governor of the proposed new establishment. He received orders in passing by Igolote, in the same island, to dislodge the Moors, who were the only possessors of that part of it; but here, sickness prevailing to a great extent in the armament, they merely took possession of the island, and returned to Manila, leaving behind them two hundred and seventy dead, and bringing many more invalids in the squadron. The King of Jolo had by this time arrived at Manila, and was imprisoned in the fort of Saint Jago, to the great satisfaction of all those who had opposed his baptism, and who always doubted his fidelity; but he obtained permission from the Governor for his daughter, Fatima,who was also a prisoner with him, to go to Jolo, and to carry letters to his brother, and other principal persons, in order to bring about a peace with the Spaniards; and for this indulgence he bound himself to deliver up fifty captive Christians. The princess fulfilled the engagement, brought over the fifty captives, and induced her uncle, Bantilan, to send an ambassador to Manila, to treat on all matters relative to her father. This envoy brought powers to negociate in concert with the King for peace with the Governor; and in confirmation of such powers, he bound himself to observe whatever terms were acceded to by them.It was accordingly stipulated with the King and the Ambassador, that the Moors of Jolo should deliver up all the Christian captives who might be found in the island. That they should return all the arms they had taken from the Spaniards, and the ornaments of which they had pillaged the churches; and in order to have the treatyratified, liberty was granted to one of the chief officers, who was confined with the King, to go to Jolo in company with the ambassador whom Bantilan had sent over. The Governor put very little confidence either in the promises or the treaty of the Moors, for they have never observed them, but have broken them with the same facility with which they made them. He therefore fitted out a strong squadron to compel them by force to a due observation of their engagements, as it was not otherwise to be expected.His precautions were not in vain, for in the very same year of 1754, the greatest irruption took place which these islanders ever made into the Philippines. They entered with fire and sword in all directions, murdering the religious orders, Indians and Spaniards, burning and robbing towns, and making prisoners of thousands of Christians, not only in the islands near to Jolo, but in all our dominions, even theprovinces in the immediate neighbourhood of Manila.The fleet sailed which had been prepared to oppose them; but before any thing could be done, the four years of Obando’s government expired. His successor arrived, and the Marquis left these islands in the most deplorable situation in which they were ever known. The causes of these evils were either his own ill management, the incapacity of those he employed, or, perhaps, misfortune. What we are certain of is, that the period of his residence here was most calamitous. Yet, we must say, he had many great difficulties to encounter.The following year he embarked in the galleon Santissima Trinidad for Acapulco, and died on his passage, without ever reaching New Spain.
Don Francisco Joseph de Obando, a native of Caceres, in Estremadura, had arrived in the South Sea with a squadron, and was in Lima when the great earthquake happened, by which Callao was swallowed up. On this occasion his exertions obtained the King’s favour, and he was nominated Governor of Manila. He then passed over to Mexico, where he married Doña Barbara Ribadeneyra, and accompanied by her embarked for the Philippines, the government of which he took possession of in the month of July, 1750.The Archbishop, on his arrival, presented him with the King’s despatches, in which his Majesty charged him with the expulsion of the Chinese. A council was summoned in order to discuss the measure, when a difference of opinion arose on the subject, which terminated in totally frustrating the good intentions of his Majesty in respect to the Chinese, notwithstanding the prejudice these his dominions suffered by them. The Archbishop claimed the right of sitting on the left hand of the Governor, on the government seat, and which he was not disposed to accede to; and he claimed likewise the same honours from the officers commanding the guard when he entered the palace, or passed through the gates of the city. These points of etiquette alone were of sufficient importance to suspend the execution of the orders of expulsion of the Chinese from the Philippines. The council was consulted on this controversy,when both points were decided in favour of the Archbishop.
The Royal Audience had likewise a misunderstanding with the Governor, in consequence of his having, on his own authority, given the command of Cavite Castle,ad interim, to Don Domingo Nebra; this appointment being, in point of regularity, always given by the consent of, and after duly consulting the Royal Audience, conformable to his Majesty’s orders. The Governor did not deny this royal order, but alleged, in his own justification, that he could not find any person so well qualified as Nebra for constructing such vessels as were requisite for the commerce of Acapulco, and the defence of the islands against the Moors; that Nebra was seventy years of age, and could not be compelled to undertake the charge of constructing vessels unless he chose it; and that he would by no means accept theemployment, if there were any interference of the Royal Audience, because, in such case, he would be obliged to reside at Cavite. An extraordinary case like the present ought not to be subjected to common rules, and he had determined according to what appeared to him most conducive to the interest of his Majesty’s service. The Royal Audience, in reply, made its representations and protests, but finding that the power of the Governor preponderated, they yielded up the point in the mean time, and appealed to his Majesty. Notwithstanding the science of Nebra, however, of which the Governor boasted so much, the ship Pilar, which he careened before her departure for Acapulco, disappeared at sea, and nothing has ever been heard of her since. Another dispute, which made considerable noise, took place at this time in Manila: a lady who had taken the veil in the nunnery of Santa Catalina, under the name Madre Cecilia, had fallen inlove with Don Francisco Figueroa, and the vacant seat of government being at that time filled by Señor Arrechedera, Figueroa presented himself to the proper officer, requiring that the profession of Madre Cecilia might be annulled. The Vicar General, not desirous of having any controversies with the Dominican Friars, of whose order the Governor was, advised Figueroa, on this occasion, to say nothing on the subject for the present, but wait a more favourable conjuncture for his pretensions. As soon as the Señor Obando arrived, conceiving that the reason which induced him to refrain no longer existed, he presented himself to the Archbishop, requesting, as he had done before, that the Vicar General should annul the nun’s vows. His Excellency ordered that she should be lodged in the Santa Potenciana; the Dominicans opposed it most strenuously, and appealed to the superior government; but not finding themselves supported in thistribunal, they gave up the point, and delivered her over to the Vicar General, who was charged with the care of her. The cause mean time went on, and the Archbishop decreed, after mature deliberation, that the sanctuary of Santa Catalina being by his Majesty prohibited from being converted into a convent, the Madre Cecilia, who had there made her profession, could not be properly considered a religieuse, and that her profession, therefore, was null and void. The Dominicans appealed to the delegate, who was the Bishop of Zebu; the appeal was admitted, but permission was given her to marry. In order to follow up this appeal, with alacrity, a dignified clergyman was ordered to be despatched, who was capable of opposing the pretensions of Cecilia with effect, for it was concluded that to act otherwise would be to dishonour the sanctuary of Santa Catalina; but this gentleman not being disposed to take charge of so unpleasant a suit, pretended ill health. There was noother of that description in the Philippine Islands to whom they could have recourse, in consequence of which they laid the cause before the Archbishop of Mexico, who received it, and cited the Madre Cecilia to appear before his tribunal, ordering her to be sent to Mexico to answer the plea, and receive sentence.
As the appeal, however, was not allowed to operate to the suspension of matrimony, Cecilia contracted marriage, and with her husband embarked for Mexico, where it was decided that the marriage should be considered as valid, and of course the profession declared to be annulled. This decision having reached the council of the Indies, it was ordered that the sanctuary of Santa Catalina should be abolished, on the decease of all the religious then existing in it, which, however, was not observed, the Dominicans having obtained a reversal of the order.
The Governor having received information of new depredations committed by theMoors in the Bisaya provinces, determined to fit out an efficient force, which might not only attain this object, but likewise re-establish the throne of Jolo in Don Fernando Alimudin, who had been unjustly deprived of it, and whom he had found, on his arrival at Manila, converted to Christianity.
On this last point, indeed, there was a diversity of opinion, for many thought that his fidelity could not be relied on, and that the very first opportunity which offered he would be guilty of treachery, as his ancestors had been. It was, however, determined in favour of the expatriated King, and he was conducted to Jolo in the Admiral’s ship of the squadron, which sailed from Cavite, under the command of Colonel Quian, who was charged with both commissions. The squadron arrived at Zamboanga, with the exception of the Admiral’s ship, which not appearing, and that the monsoon might not be lost, or time allowedto the Moors to fortify themselves, the armament sailed from that port on the 13th of June, 1751, and on the 20th came to anchor in the harbour of Jolo, one mile distant from the fortification of the enemy. The attack was immediately commenced, and so panic-struck were the Moorish commanders, that they directly entered into a treaty, and signed an instrument, binding themselves to obedience to the King, and to conduct themselves as faithful subjects, and also engaging to deliver up to the Spaniards all the captive Christians which might be then in the island. With this treaty the Colonel returned in nine days to Zamboanga, carrying with him two sampans with Chinese, whom he found there acting as merchants, and whom he made prisoners, under the pretext that they had sold a cannon to the Joloese, our enemies, with whom we had just made peace. The Admiral’s ship had been delayed by a storm, and was detained in Calapanrepairing the rudder, which was the occasion of his not arriving at Zamboanga until the 25th of July, but the King of Jolo, impatient at such delay, embarked, accompanied by two carracoas, and had arrived twelve days before.
Notwithstanding his diligence, the Governor of Zamboanga entertained much doubt of his fidelity, and having taken charge of two letters, one of which he had written, by order of the Governor of Manila, to the King of Mindanao, and the one letter being in the vulgar tongue, and the other in Arabic, a language which he had acquired in Batavia, where he had been some time, it excited a curiosity to know what the King had said in that language so totally in disuse in our islands. Accordingly a person was procured to translate the letter, and the contents were found to be, that he (the King) had written the other letter in obedience to the commands of the Governor of Manila, andthat he could not do otherwise than obey, as he was in the power of a stranger.
To the suspicion attached to this was added another circumstance: a brother of his, named Asin, together with the chiefs of Jolo, who had capitulated with the Colonel, and agreed to receive their King, and deliver up the Christian captives, paid a visit to Zamboanga, and in addition to their bringing with them no captives whatever, they were charged with having introduced arms to surprise the government. The Governor, upon the strength of this charge, immediately confined the King, together with Asin, and those who accompanied him: his house was searched, but only a few arms were found, quite insufficient to induce a belief that he intended any thing against the government; but many other effects were found concealed in his prison, and various informations andmemorandawhich he had sent to the Moors, justified the suspicions entertained of him.In corroboration of all this, the Admiral and two passengers declared, that the King was on very bad terms with the Manila people, of whom he had received so many attentions and services, and that on all occasions he manifested his ingratitude. That he had said the new Governor detained him prisoner; that he had given no proofs of being a Christian, for he slept every night with his concubines; that he never heard mass; and that he even stripped off the crosses from the rosaries of the family he resided with; and, lastly, that he had become an apostate, by making a Mahometan sacrifice at Calapan, where he had killed a goat, divided it into twelve portions, with many superstitious ceremonies, and distributed it to his companions to eat, by way of celebrating the passover.
The Governor of Zamboanga communicated these proceedings to the government at Manila, requesting instructionsfor the regulation of his conduct in respect to the seizure of the Sultan and his family; and the result was an order for his being sent to Manila with all his people. War was likewise immediately declared against the Joloese. Letters of marque and reprisal were granted to whomever might apply for them, and all prize-money was given up arising from captures, together with the liberty of detaining the persons of their prisoners as slaves. So firm, indeed, was the determination of our government to exterminate the Moors, that a general absolution was conceded to all those who should present themselves to serve against them. The armament at Zamboanga, under the command of the Colonel, was reinforced, and a second expedition was undertaken to Jolo, still more unfortunate in its results than the first: for having attempted to disembark in that island, they were received by the Moors with so much spirit, that they were obligedto retire with considerable loss, and with great disgrace and ignominy to the Spanish arms.
The haughty Bantilan, who governed the kingdom of Jolo in the absence of his brother, proud of the victory he had obtained against the Spaniards, began to treat with the inhabitants of Mindanao, to induce them to break with us, and molest us as much as in their power: and he persuaded all the pirates among those islands to exert themselves against the Spaniards, representing them as conquered, and in great dread of his arms. The consequence was, that the seas were covered with Moorish armaments, which spread desolation in every quarter.
Nothing was heard of but the robberies, burnings, captures of ships, imprisonments, and insults which our provinces experienced from the Moors. So that Señor Obando was resolved to proceed in person against them, and endeavour to removethe dreadful evils to which we were exposed.
His Majesty had given orders that an establishment should be formed in the island of Paragua, to shut out the pirates from that quarter, in the same manner as they were from Zamboanga. To proceed with due regularity in this respect, the governor despatched an ambassador to the King of Borneo, to induce him to cede to us the claim he held to part of that island, which, being granted, a squadron was sent there to erect the proposed station, and to cruize against the Moors, who infested the islands. He was desirous of taking the command of this expedition in person, and consulted the Royal Audience on the subject, who were of opinion that it would not be proper to expose himself, and that, by confiding it to some other person, and sending an engineer to make the necessary arrangements for forming the establishment in the island of Paragua, every thing mightbe done which the public good required. In conformity to this advice he named Don Antonio Fabea to the command of this expedition, who proceeded from Port Cavite with eleven sail of armed vessels, taking with him Don Manuel Aguirre, who went as governor of the proposed new establishment. He received orders in passing by Igolote, in the same island, to dislodge the Moors, who were the only possessors of that part of it; but here, sickness prevailing to a great extent in the armament, they merely took possession of the island, and returned to Manila, leaving behind them two hundred and seventy dead, and bringing many more invalids in the squadron. The King of Jolo had by this time arrived at Manila, and was imprisoned in the fort of Saint Jago, to the great satisfaction of all those who had opposed his baptism, and who always doubted his fidelity; but he obtained permission from the Governor for his daughter, Fatima,who was also a prisoner with him, to go to Jolo, and to carry letters to his brother, and other principal persons, in order to bring about a peace with the Spaniards; and for this indulgence he bound himself to deliver up fifty captive Christians. The princess fulfilled the engagement, brought over the fifty captives, and induced her uncle, Bantilan, to send an ambassador to Manila, to treat on all matters relative to her father. This envoy brought powers to negociate in concert with the King for peace with the Governor; and in confirmation of such powers, he bound himself to observe whatever terms were acceded to by them.
It was accordingly stipulated with the King and the Ambassador, that the Moors of Jolo should deliver up all the Christian captives who might be found in the island. That they should return all the arms they had taken from the Spaniards, and the ornaments of which they had pillaged the churches; and in order to have the treatyratified, liberty was granted to one of the chief officers, who was confined with the King, to go to Jolo in company with the ambassador whom Bantilan had sent over. The Governor put very little confidence either in the promises or the treaty of the Moors, for they have never observed them, but have broken them with the same facility with which they made them. He therefore fitted out a strong squadron to compel them by force to a due observation of their engagements, as it was not otherwise to be expected.
His precautions were not in vain, for in the very same year of 1754, the greatest irruption took place which these islanders ever made into the Philippines. They entered with fire and sword in all directions, murdering the religious orders, Indians and Spaniards, burning and robbing towns, and making prisoners of thousands of Christians, not only in the islands near to Jolo, but in all our dominions, even theprovinces in the immediate neighbourhood of Manila.
The fleet sailed which had been prepared to oppose them; but before any thing could be done, the four years of Obando’s government expired. His successor arrived, and the Marquis left these islands in the most deplorable situation in which they were ever known. The causes of these evils were either his own ill management, the incapacity of those he employed, or, perhaps, misfortune. What we are certain of is, that the period of his residence here was most calamitous. Yet, we must say, he had many great difficulties to encounter.
The following year he embarked in the galleon Santissima Trinidad for Acapulco, and died on his passage, without ever reaching New Spain.