Antonio Pigafetta describes them as being tattooed and covered in gold ornaments, an indication that they are allies of the pintados of the Lakanate of Lawan.

The explorer Ruy López de Villalobos headed an expedition to Surigao in 1543, an attempt at subjugation which failed because of the resistance of the natives.

At that time the island of Mindanao was given the name Caesarea Caroli, in honor of Carlos I of Spain.

In 1622, the arrival of the Recollect missionaries in Tandag commenced the establishment of permanent mission in Surigao.

By the end of the Spanish rule in 1897, Agusan had been organized as a single politico-military comandancia named "Butuan", within the administrative jurisdiction of District of Surigao.