The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-21

and the next day set sail. and with him.
to the wonder of the warriors who had
hocked to his standard, were his two
wives. Their hair was braided closely to
their heads, on which were Moro helmets
upon their arms were so many bracelets
that they looked like armor, and upon
their breasts and backs were armored
pieces from Jolo, which are proof against
spear and arrow. Nipa made a fine SOL
der, quick, erect and skilIful in fencing;
but Sepa lowered over all excepting Tin
dig. The warriors wondered when they
saw that the wives were as skillful as
they themselves in all matters of war
and Of the sea-
They steered along the coast, and at
Marlcuban met a Chinese fleet of three
merchantmen. Two tried to escape, but
one stood its, ground and fought They
fought bravely, but with little skill TIN
dig and his warriors boarded the ship
and soon killed or captured all the crew.
He then set sail and overlook the two
fug1tfves, and with his three CAPTURES
returned to his native village. The spoil
was divided according to the law of the
sea, and each WARRIOR went his way,
happy with success, and only too eager
to enlist under the leadership Of Tindig
and the two women.
That week the people of the village
elected Tindig their chief, and the sui
tan Of Cavite, not long after, sent him
presents and asked him to become his
friend and ally. Among the presents
was war prahu, larger, stronger ana
handsomer than any which had hereto
tore been known in Batangas, from Ba-
layan to Malabrigo.
In the spoil of the ships was armor,
both Moro and Chinese, powder and ter
r1ble stone shot. Among the captivrs
were men of many nations, majority
OF whom were glad 20 become members
of TindigS crews. At Nipa's suggestion
ne bought another prahu. and when the
southwest monsoon starred he had three
OF the best warships that ever sailed the
Luzon seas. He sent out the war call
and this time he had more warriors an
swer than he could use. From Bala-
yam fifty strong men came iii their own
prahu, and from Pico came sixty in a
still larger vessel. When he had Sc
lected his men, provisioned the ships,
and armed all who were poorly supplied
with weapons, he found himself the
commander of a fleet of five ships and
$50 stanch pirates.
This time they set different course.
They went northward and coaJted Ba-
taan, and farther on skirted the beautiful
shores of Zambales and then to the north
west intercepted the Chinese ships that
carry camphor, sandal wood, and prec-
ious medicines from Formosa in return
for silver weapons, silk and jewels. The
cruise lasted well into the autumn, and
many were the haps and mishaps. Trey
encountered several typhoors AMI los.
the prahu which had made up for this
by capturing some twelve ships.
It was late in the season when the
fleet came home. News had reached the
land of the Homecoming, ami the
shores were crowded with people as they
approached the beach. Then there was
a welcome such as amazed the oldest
warriors on board. Not alone the peo-
pie of the Batangas shores. but warEi rs
and elders from Lira and Calamba, from
Taal and Lughaug were there to do
Tindig honor There was a great coun-
Gil held at which Tindig was made the
king of South Batangas. and the people
set to work and that winter built MIN q
palace of stone and wood, of which the
ruins are pointed out today.
The spoil was so large that after divid-
ing according to the law of the sea,
there was enough left Ito Tindig, Nipa,
and Sepa, who came in for officers
shares, to make presents to every elder
and warrior who had come to take part
in the catapusan. More honors flowed
In. Brave pirates came from 1mbang,
Colo, Martinique and Calapan, and
swore fealty to Tindig and became his
vassals. He bought or built ten more
prahus, and in due season had fleet
of twenty war ships that belonged to
him in person, and twenty more that
belonged to his vassals and allies. Five
thousand warriors owed him allegiance.
and his wealth was greater than that
of many of the rich kings Of the north.