The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 02 of 55: 1521-1569; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 02 of 55: 1521-1569; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
the fourteenth, they passed islands which Urdaneta declared to be
the Jardines of Villalobos. The pilots ridiculed this assertion,
saying that they were much farther on their course. In a general
council on the seventeenth the best course to the Philippines was
discussed, as it was advisable to avoid entering at the hunger-point
of Villalobos. It was agreed to sail along the thirteenth degree,
in which course Urdaneta declared they must meet the Ladrones. On the
twenty-second of January land was sighted which the pilots declared
to be the Philippines, but which Urdaneta said might be the Ladrones,
which he afterwards affirmed to be the case from the lateen-sails
of the native boats, "which the inhabitants of the Filipinas do not
make." The pilots continued to ridicule him, but Urdaneta's reasoning
was correct. The fleet was surrounded by a multitude of boats, whose
occupants, all talking at once, invited them with word and sign to
land, offering refreshment. Some knives, scissors, beads, a mirror,
and other articles were given to the occupants of the nearest canoe. On
the following Tuesday the vessels succeeded in finding an anchorage,
and the instructions as to behavior on land were carefully enjoined
on all the men. [49] They were immediately surrounded by the canoes
of the natives, the occupants of which brought many kinds of food,
but in very small quantity. They would not enter the vessels although
asked to do so by Legazpi, "who showed them much love and affection,
and looked upon them as friends." They sold their food for such things
as playing cards, little bits of cloth, etc. "The father prior talked
with them, using the few words of their language that he remembered,
especially counting up to ten, whereat they manifested great pleasure;
and one of them mentioned the name Gonzalo, which as the father prior
said, was the name of a Spaniard who had been found in one of those
islands, which was called Goam." The natives signed to them to enter
their villages, where they would find food in abundance. "And all the
canoes, and those in them, had their arms, which consisted of shields,
bundles of throwing-sticks, slings, and egg-shaped stones.... They
leave the body quite uncovered. They are tall, robust, well built,
and apparently of great strength. The women, too, are very tall,
and wear only a cord tied about the waist, and to the cord they
hang some grass or leaves from the trees, whereby they cover the
shameful parts. Some cover the latter also with mats made from
palm-leaves. All the rest of the body is uncovered. Both men and
women wear their hair, which is of a yellowish color, loose and long,
gathering it up behind the head." Their canoes are "very neatly and
well made, sewed together with cord, and finished with a white or
orange-colored bitumen, in place of pitch. They are very light, and
the natives sail in them with their lateen sails made of palm-mats,
with so much swiftness against the wind or with a side wind that it
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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