The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 24 of 55: 1630-34; 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 24 of 55: 1630-34; 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
There we moored, that stormy
night. As soon as we reached the islet, the vendaval began to blow
again, so that it would seem that the north wind had blown only for
that. The third was in the same river of Ibahay. While ascending it
when it had a very large strong current (for it is a furious river),
it overturned my little boat, and drew me under; but, although I
did not know how to swim, the water was drawn from under me, and I
remained on the surface of the water, in such manner that I did not
sink beyond my girdle. And thus, with half my body out of the water,
the current carried me a long distance. The Indians were following
me in all haste with the little boat, supporting it with their hands;
and, when it overtook me, I climbed on top of it, overturned as it was,
and in that manner they dragged me ashore. From there I went to the
village, passing through streams as deep as my waist, or even to the
shoulders, and many times even up to the throat, at the imminent risk
of attack by crocodiles, and of life, and health; for I did not dare
enter the boat again. The fourth was in Laglag, when I was going on
horseback to the visitas of that district. The road was so close to
the edge of the river that it could not be followed without risk. The
rest of the country was so rough that it could not be penetrated. I
was going carefully, but the horse knew little of the reins, and
made a misstep and fell into the river--from so high a precipice that
surely, had there not been much water in the river at that time, we
had broken all our bones. But it was deep and had a strong current,
so that when we fell into it we sank. The horse reached the shore
immediately by swimming. The current carried me above water for a
very great distance, until I seized some reed-grass by which I was
able to reach the shore, where I thanked God for so many mercies. The
fifth was by falling into the Dumangas River from a little boat. The
above one of the ship is the sixth. I have left untold countless
other dangers, while on the sea so many times--now from enemies, now
from the weather. The seventh time is the loss of Sugbu, after the
burning of that city and convent. It is not little to tell what the
missionaries suffer here; but, as they are caused by works for God,
His [Divine] Majesty aids us with His help and protection, when by
any other means it seems impossible to save one's life on account of
the enemies and hardships that surround a religious on all sides. May
thanks be given to His [Divine] Majesty for all. Amen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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