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
that this continent should be called that of the Southern Pole. But it
was not so easy as I have said; for not till the last day of March of
the following year did they reach a bay, to which they gave the name
of Saint Julian. Here they found the Antarctic Pole star 49⅕ degrees
above their horizon, both by the altitude and declination of the sun
from the Equinoctial, and also by the altitude of the Antarctic (Pole
star) itself. This star our sailors generally make use of more than
of any other. They state also that the longitude was 56 deg. west of
the Fortunate Isles. For, as the ancient cosmographers, and specially
Ptolemy, reckoned the longitude from the Fortunate Islands eastward
to Catigara at 180 deg., so our men, sailing as far as they could
westward also, began to reckon another 180 deg. westward to Catigara,
as was right. Yet our sailors seem to me rather to be mistaken in the
calculation of the longitudes (of distances?) than to have fixed them
with any certainty, because in so long a voyage, and being so distant
from the land, they cannot fix and determine any marks or signs for the
longitude. Still I think that these accounts, whatever they be, should
not be cast aside, but rather accepted till more certain information be
discovered.
This Gulf of Saint Julian seemed very great, and had the appearance
of a channel. Wherefore Admiral Magellan ordered two ships to explore
the Gulf and anchored the rest outside. After two days, information was
brought to him that the Gulf was full of shoals, and did not extend
far inland. Our men, on their way back, saw some Indians picking up
shell-fish on the shore; for they call the natives of all unknown lands
Indians. They were of extraordinary height, that is to say, about ten
spans, were clothed in the skins of wild beasts, and seemed darker than
would be expected from the situation of the country. When some of our
men went on shore to them and showed them bells and pictures painted on
paper, they began a hoarse chant and an unintelligible song, dancing
round our men, and, in order to astonish them, they passed arrows
a cubit and a half long down their throats to the bottom of their
stomachs, and without being sick. And forthwith drawing them out again,
they seemed to rejoice greatly, as having shown their bravery by this
exploit.
At last three came as ambassadors, and prayed our men, by certain
signs, to go further inland with them, as if they would receive them
with all hospitality. Magellan sent seven men, well armed, with them,
to investigate as carefully as possible both country and people. When
they had gone with them about seven miles inland, they came to a thick
and pathless wood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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