The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 27 of 55: 1636-37; 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 27 of 55: 1636-37; 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
In the gulf of La Silanga we met with a very severe and dangerous
tempest, of which we rid ourselves by exorcisms and sacred relics,
as is our way in dealing with things evidently planned by the evil
one. Here Nicolas Gonçalez waited with eight caracoas to tow the
champans through La Silanga, which is a strait of the sea two leguas
long, between the great island of Mindanao and another and small
island. His Lordship, with four of the caracoas, went to Punta de
Flechas, so called from the ceremony and superstition of the Moros in
shooting arrows at one of its rocks when they are returning to their
own country, to show their thankfulness to Mahomet. Here we remained
for two days, awaiting the vessels of the fleet; during this time I
said mass on shore, having beforehand uttered tremendous conjurations
against the evil one, as holy Mother Church is wont to do, with her
exorcisms, holy water, etc. Then our people burned all the arrows,
of infinite number, that were fixed on that headland, with a thousand
other things--articles of food, such as fish, eggs, etc.--which,
as a sign of their devotion, they are wont to leave fastened to the
rock with black pegs. We set up a number of crosses in different
places, and then the name of the place was solemnly changed to Punta
de San Sebastian, in order that that saint, with his holy arrows,
might complete the destruction of those infernal and accursed ones
which for so many years have vexed us. The name was given also in
commemoration of the fact that Don Sebastian [_i.e._, Corcuera]
has been the first governor to cast anchor here and to round this
cape; besides this, the marvelous fall of this rock in the night
when Nicolas Gonçalez fought within sight of it, we all attribute
to this saint, who desired to give to Don Sebastian pledges for the
glorious campaign of Mindanao, since only that part of the rock fell
which faced toward Mindanao--as we all saw with wonder. While we were
here, a light vessel came from the enemy to reconnoiter our fleet;
our falua gave chase, but, being very far away, could not overtake
it. We, however, encountered a small boat containing four of our
Indian captives who had fled from the enemy; they informed us that
several Javanese ships were on the point of departure from Mindanao,
laden with Christian slaves. I confess to your Reverence that this was
not news to his Lordship, but he was cut to the heart by the misery
of so many souls, and he at once decided to sail night and day in
order to overtake the ships. This holy zeal was the sole and true
reason for his pushing on without halt till he came up with them,
instead of waiting for his fleet; and he was well rewarded by Heaven
with so fortunate a victory, as your Reverence will see.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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