If the natives of Mindanao or of any other place shall give tribute according to the above, you shall act according to the usual custom in these islands—­namely, you shall take one-half and place it to the account of his Majesty, while the other half shall be distributed among the soldiers.  Given ut supra.

Doctor Francisco de Sande

Before me: 

Alonso Beltran, his Majesty’s notary

(I delivered a copy of these instructions to Captain Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa, so that he should observe and keep the orders therein set forth.  I certify thereto at this time.  Father Fray Martin de Rada, to whom his Lordship communicated it, said that it was well arranged.

Alonso Beltran, his Majesty’s notary)

In the city of Manila, on the fifth day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the said governor, in order to verify the above, summoned to his presence an Indian, who through the interpreter Juan Vicente declared himself to be one Matelin Magat Buxa Amat, a native of Bayan.  Without taking the oath, he promised to tell the truth as far as he knew it, and in what was asked him.  Being asked that he tell and declare who killed Martin, an Indian who was taking some letters to the king of Borney the past year, seventy-eight, and the reason therefor, he made the following declaration and deposition.  This witness has resided in the said island of Borney from childhood, more than forty years.  When the said governor was near the port of the bay of Borney with a fleet, this witness and many other Moros went, at command of the king of Borney, to fight with the Spaniards.  He noticed that the battle was waged for some time, for this witness was one of those taken as captain of a vessel, until he and the other Moros fled.  But this witness did not see the said Martin, who was carrying the said letters, killed.  He knows, however, that a Moro named Sidata killed him with a dagger-thrust in the neck by order of the said king of Borney.  The wife of this witness buried the said Martin, for he was a relative of this witness.  She buried him in front of the house of this witness where their relatives are buried.  When this witness returned to Borney, he learned of the said Martin’s death, and that he was buried, and who had killed him.  Also this witness found in the prison of the king of Borney, in the middle of the said river, the other Indian, Magat, the companion of the said Martin, who had been entrusted with the said letters.  He was a prisoner in the said prison, and had a chain about his neck, and his hands bound with reeds; and they had taken from him the gold chains that he wore on his neck.  This witness knows that this said gold was taken by Panguilan Salalila, and afterward the king took it.  The said Panguilan Salalila is the uncle of the king of Borney.  The said Salalila and many other Moros fought in the fleet of the said king of Borney, in defense of the said port—­for