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
We were told that at a cape of this island near to a river there are
men who are rather hairy, great warriors, and good archers, armed
with swords a span broad. When they make an enemy prisoner they eat
his heart only, and they eat it raw with the juice of oranges or
lemons.[360] This cape is called Benaian.[361]
Making for the south-east we found four islands, named Ciboco, Birabam
Batolac, Sarangani, and Candigar. Saturday, the 26th of October, about
nightfall, whilst coasting the island of Birabam Batolac, we met with
a very great storm, before which we lowered all our sails, and betook
ourselves to prayer. Then our three saints appeared upon the masts and
dispersed the darkness. St. Elmo stood for more than two hours at the
mainmast head like a flame. St. Nicholas at the head of the foremast,
and St. Clara on the mizenmast. In gratitude for their assistance we
promised a slave to each of the saints, and we gave to each an offering.
Continuing our voyage we entered a port between the two islands
Sarangani and Candigar, and cast anchor to the east, near a village of
Sarangani, where pearls and gold are found. This port is in 5° 9´ N.
latitude, and fifty leagues from Cavit. The inhabitants are Gentiles
and go naked like the others.
Having remained here a day we compelled by force two pilots to
come with us to show us the way to Maluco. We were directed to take
a south-south-west course, and passed between eight islands partly
inhabited, partly uninhabited, which formed a kind of street. These
were named Cheava, Caviao, Cabiao Camanuca, Cabaluzao, Cheai, Lipan,
and Nuza. At the end of these we reached an island which was very
beautiful, named Sanghir.[362] But having a contrary wind, which did
not allow us to double the cape, we tacked about backwards and forwards
near it.
On this occasion, profiting by the darkness of the night, one of the
pilots whom we had caught at Sarangani, and with him the brother of the
king of Mindanao with his little son, escaped by swimming and reached
that island; but we learned later that the son not being able to hold
on well to his father’s shoulders, was drowned.
Seeing that it was impossible to double the head of this island we
passed below it, where we saw many small islands. This large island
has four kings whose names are Raja Matandatu, Raja Laga, Raja Bapti,
and Raja Parabu. These are Gentiles. It is in 3° 30´ N. latitude and
twenty-seven leagues from Sarangani.
Continuing our course in the same direction we passed near five
islands named Cheoma, Carachita, Para, Zangalura, and Cian.[363] This
last is ten leagues distant from Sanghir. In this island there is a
rather high mountain, but not one of great extent. Its king is named
Raja Ponto. We came next to the island Paghinzara,[364] which has three
high mountains, and in it the king is Raja Babintan. We saw at twelve
leagues to the east of Paghinzara another island, Talant, and also two
islands, not large but inhabited, called Zoar and Mean.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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