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
When it was day, whilst breakfast was being prepared, I went to take
a turn in the island, and entered several houses, constructed like
those of the neighbouring islands; I saw there a good many utensils
of gold, but very little victuals. I returned to the king’s house,
and we breakfasted with rice and fish. I succeeded in making the king
understand by signs, that I should like to see the queen; and he made
a sign to me that he was content, and we set out together to the top
of a hill, under which her house was placed. I entered the house and
made her an obeisance, she did likewise to me. I sat down by the side
of her; she was weaving a palm mat to sleep upon. Throughout her house
were seen porcelain vases suspended to the walls, and four metal
timbals, of which one was very large, another of middle size, and two
small ones, and she amused herself by playing on them. There were many
male and female slaves for her service. We asked leave and returned to
the king’s house, who immediately ordered a refreshment of sugar canes.
After midday, as I wished to return to the ships, the king, with
the other chief men of the island, desired to accompany me in the
same _balangai_, going by the same river; on its right bank I saw on
an eminence three men hanging to a tree, the branches of which had
been cut off. I asked of the king what those unhappy people were, he
answered me that they were malefactors and thieves. These people go
naked like their neighbours. In this island are found pigs, goats,
fowls, rice, ginger, find other things which were common to the islands
named before. That which is most abundant is gold. They showed me
certain valleys, making signs that there was more gold there than hairs
on the head, but that as they had not iron to dig it out, it required
great labour to acquire it, and which they did not choose to undergo.
The king is named Raja Calanao.
This part of the island called Chipit is the same land as Butuan and
Calagan, it passes above Bohol, and borders on Massava. Its port is
good enough; it is in 8° N. latitude, and 167° of longitude from the
line of demarcation; it is fifty leagues distance from Zubu. Towards
the North-west is the island of Lozon,[333] which is at two days’
distance; a large island, to which come to trade every year six or
eight junks of the people called Lequii.[334]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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