Official act.  In the port of Biara, which is on the mainland of Dapitan and Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred and two.  The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato.  Whereas Captain Benito Gomez Descobara y Esquivel captured on a little island (or rather on the sea-coast) an Indian, a native of Sanbuangan, who is supposed to be a spy; I command, in order to learn if he is one, and to ascertain about the enemy’s fleet, that his confession be taken; and thus I order it and sign my name.

Juan Juarez Gallinato

By his command: 

Rafael de Sarria, notary

Deposition.  Thereupon, immediately, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the said purveyor-general caused to appear before him the aforesaid Indian, in order to receive his confession, through Agustin de Sepulbeda—­who swore in due form to fulfil the office of interpreter well and faithfully, and administered an oath to the Indian according to the latter’s custom.  He promised to tell the truth, and the following questions were asked of him.  He was asked his name, where he lived, his occupation, his age, and whether he was slave or free; and he replied that his name was Panran, that he was a native of the town of Linpapa (which is near Rabos), that he was a slave of Sumanpie, chief of the said village of Linpapa, and that he was about twenty years old.  This was his answer.

He was asked what ships had gathered and from what nations, and also where they were and for what purpose.  He said that from Maluco there had come fifty vessels—­Terrenatans, Sangils, and Togolandans [56]—­which were brought by Buisan, who is master-of-camp to the one whom they call Captain Lant.  The rest which are going from Mindanao consisted of forty large caracoas and twenty carangailes and bireyes, with one caracoa and two bireyes from Sanbuangan and Tagima.  All these had agreed that, if the Spaniards were in Jolo, they should fall upon them; and that, if they were not there, they should go to plunder in Pintados, Cebu and Oton.  This was his answer.

He was asked where it was said that they were to go.  He said that those who were returning from Oton had agreed to pass through some little islands which are opposite Quipit; and that those going to Cebu were to go from Similon, which is opposite Dapitan; and that they were to return that way.  This was his answer.

When he was asked how he knew this that he had said, he replied that it was generally known and reported among the chiefs of Sanbuangan and among the Lutaos.

He was asked what agreement Liguana had made with the chiefs of Tagima and Sanbuangan, and what he said to them against the Spaniards.  He replied that the aforesaid Liguana had ordered the chiefs and the Lutaos to be assembled together, and in readiness, along with the Mindanaos, against the Spaniards.  This was his answer.