[26] A small vessel used as a tender to carry messages between larger vessels.
[27] The Philippine Islands, Blair and Robertson, XXVIII, pp. 41–63.
[28] In the manuscript that we follow the letter of March 31 is given second, while that of April 5 is given first; we have arranged them chronologically.
[29] Garo: probably the same as garita; a fortified outpost.
[30] The translation of this passage seems to be, “If God fights against a city, he who guards it watches in vain.” The difficulty lies in “a custodierit,” which we translate as “fights against.”
[31] A Spanish measure of length which is about equal to 1 yard, English measure.
[32] The Gimbahans or Sulus of the interior mountains.
[33] Babui, in their language, signifies “pig”; apparently they called the Spaniards “swine,” as expressing the acme of contempt for their besiegers.
[34] “Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
[35] Combés says (Hist. Mindanao, Reana’s ed., column 264) that this queen, named Tuan Baluka, was a native of Basilan, and that she had acquired such ascendancy over her husband that the government of Sulu was entirely in her hands. This statement explains the presence of the Basilan men in the Sulu stronghold.