The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 17 of 55: 1609-1616; 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 17 of 55: 1609-1616; 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
Almost four hundred persons went ashore--that is, all except
some twenty-five or thirty, who were drowned in the course of the
voyage. After a time the sea washed ashore some pieces of gorgoran,
[40] satin, and velvet. Those who had gotten away with less clothing
wrapped these about their bodies, while they made sandals from bits
of silk, like those of leather worn by shepherds in Espana, because
of the sharp rocks upon which they were walking barefoot. They found
two Japanese in some fields, and were greatly comforted thereby;
for they imagined that land to be a desert islet without any food,
upon which fortune had cast them to die. However, they would have
had not a little mercy from God if they had been able to die after
confessing at leisure. The Japanese guided them to a town near by,
where they were given some rice for their support. There most of them
were kept carefully guarded for many days. The chief Japanese continued
to take charge of all the silk that could be saved, but did not give
it up until an edict therefor was granted to the Spaniards by the
king. Consequently some of it was given to them; but the Japanese
rebought it at what prices they wished, paying for it very impure
silver. Consequently the Spaniards were scarce able to get fifty
thousand pesos in current Castilian money for it; although it is
regarded as certain that if all that could have been saved had been
delivered to the Spaniards, and they had sold it at a just price,
they would have received five hundred thousand pesos beyond all
doubt. Although General Juan de Esguerra tried to negotiate with the
king for the return of some forty boxes which were held by one of the
Japanese lords, he failed to do so. On the contrary, the counselors
advised him to be content with what had been returned, unless he
wished to keep nothing. In short they are pagans, who believe in only
the law of might, and do not keep faith and friendship more than they
think advisable. Governor Don Rodrigo de Bivero visited the king in
his court at Suronga. The king received him and treated him with great
honor, and gave him one thousand taels as a concession. Each tael is
worth ten reals when made into money. The general gave this money to
the people to provide for their journey to Nangasaqui, whence many
have come to this city [_i.e._, Manila]. Don Rodrigo de Bivero and
Father Montes continued their voyage in the ship "Santa Ana," which
was in Bungo. The Japanese came very near attacking it, but they say
that they did not do so because such action was not expedient; for
they had injured their trade with Macao, by attacking the galleon en
route from that city to Japon with silk, until they had to burn it,
with the loss of eight hundred thousand taels; and they would curtail
their trade with this country and suffer great lack of silk.
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