The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 10 of 55: 1597-1599; 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 Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 10 of 55: 1597-1599; 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 Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
laden with munitions and supplies for the fortress at Malaca, went
ashore near Chanpan, and many Christians, who were on the vessel,
were captured. The king of Jor [Johore] being at war with Malaca about
five years ago, the said king of Chanpan sent him aid, and otherwise
assisted him considerably; so that with the assistance which the
said king of Chanpan lent him, they put many Portuguese and other
Christians to death. Captain Francisco de Villegas being at Chanpan,
with a ship and some men, the king made them embark upon his own
ships to rob and plunder with him. They went to Canboja, where they
captured a large number of people, because when the latter saw bands
of Portuguese coming, they thought that they were friends. The king
is an obstacle to both trade and general commerce, for quite commonly
he is wont to coast with his fleet, along Cochinchina and Canboja,
doing considerable damage to the merchants going from Canboja and
Çian to trade, to Malaca and other neighboring places--as Patan and
China, for instance--without sparing anyone whom he meets. The said
king of Chanpan is guilty every year of murdering many of the people
of his own land, to possess himself of their bile, in order to bathe
in it. The latter the witness has heard from people who were captives
there, and who saw him commit these and many other abominations. He
has also heard it said that when any noble or chief dies, the king
orders some women to be burnt alive, with terrible cruelty, with the
body of the deceased; for, according to their religion, the dead are
burnt. Lastly it was about a year ago, when Gregorio de Vargas and
his companion Blas Ruiz escaped from Chanpan to Canboja; they said
that their ship had been stolen from them in Chanpan, with all their
property aboard it. Their captors even ordered no food to be given to
them. Considering all the above, it is the opinion of this witness,
that it will be a great service to God and his Majesty, to attack
the said king of Chanpan, and put a stop to so great abominations and
tyrannies as he ordinarily practices, since he is in the path of all
the vessels going to those coasts--where he has seized a large quantity
of artillery and arms from those lost there. All that he has said,
this witness has heard from persons who had been captives there, and
he affirms it to be true and the extent of his knowledge, according
to the oath which he has sworn. He has no other information. His age
is thirty-four.
Signed, _Diego Veloso_
Before me:
_Jhoan de Cuellar_
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