The first voyage round the world, by Magellan : $b translated from the accounts of Pigafetta, and other contemporary writersPigafetta, Antonio
History
The first voyage round the world, by Magellan : $b translated from the accounts of Pigafetta, and other contemporary writers
Pigafetta, Antonio
Magalhães, Fernão de, -1521; Voyages around the world -- Early works to 1800
The captain-general, who had informed the king and all those who
had been baptised of the obligation they were under of burning their
idols, which they had promised to do, seeing that they retained them
and made them offerings of meat, reproved them severely for it. They
thought to excuse themselves sufficiently by saying that they did not
do that now on their own account, but for a sick person, for the idols
to restore him his health. This sick man was a brother of the prince,
and was reputed to be the most valiant and wise man in the island, and
his illness was so severe that for four days he had not spoken. Having
heard this, the captain, seized with zeal for religion, said that if
they had a true faith in Jesus Christ, they should burn all the idols,
and the sick man should be baptised, and he would be immediately cured,
of which he was so certain that he consented to lose his head if the
miracle did not take place. The king promised that all this should be
done, because he truly believed in Jesus Christ. Then we arranged, with
all the pomp that was possible, a procession from the place to the
house of the sick man. We went there, and indeed found him unable to
speak or to move. We baptised him, with two of his wives and ten girls.
The captain then asked him how he felt, and he at once spoke, and said
that by the grace of Our Lord he was well enough. This great miracle
was done under our eyes. The captain, on hearing him speak, gave great
thanks to God. He gave him a refreshing drink to take, and afterwards
sent to his house a mattress, two sheets, a covering of yellow wool,
and a cushion, and he continued to send him, until he was quite well,
refreshing drinks of almonds, rosewater, rosoglio, and some sweet
preserves.
On the fifth day the convalescent rose from his bed, and as soon as
he could walk, he had burned, in the presence of the king and of all
the people, an idol which some old women had concealed in his house.
He also caused to be destroyed several temples constructed on the sea
shore, in which people were accustomed to eat the meat offered to
the idols. The inhabitants applauded this, and, shouting “Castile,
Castile,” helped to throw them down, and declared that if God gave them
life they would burn all the idols they could find, even if they were
in the king’s own house.
These idols are made of wood, they are concave or hollowed out behind,
they have the arms and legs spread out, and the feet turned upwards;
they have a large face, with four very large teeth like those of a wild
boar, and they are all painted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account