The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 33, 1519-1522: 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 — John Shaqi
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 33, 1519-1522: 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 centuryPigafetta, Antonio
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 33, 1519-1522: 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
Pigafetta, Antonio
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
to him is due the earliest description of their manners and customs and
the earliest specimens of their language. The two captured giants are
placed in separate vessels, but unfortunately both die ere reaching the
end of the journey, one in the deserting ship “San Antonio,” and
the other in Magalhães’s own ship, the “Trinidad.”
During the five months at that port “many things happened there.”
Shortly after entering the port, the most critical moment of all
Magalhães’s life comes, and one which he has perhaps, dreaded from
the beginning of the expedition. This is the mutiny headed by Juan de
Cartagena, captain of one of the vessels, and other malcontents, who
hate Magalhães because he is a Portuguese. The latter, however, proves
equal to the emergency, and by his prompt action and the punishments
tempered by mercy that he inflicts, quiets the trouble. João Serrão,
captain of the “Santiago” is sent to explore the coast, but is
shipwrecked, although all the crew are saved. Their rescue (not well
told by Pigafetta) is a thrilling and arduous matter, and calls into
play the endurance of men already tried by misfortune and buffetings
with Nature.
With the fleet reduced to four vessels, the mariners leave port St.
Julian and proceeding along the coast, anchor at the river of Sardines,
where stormy weather threatens a disastrous end to the expedition. A
stay of two months is made, during which the ships are enabled to lay
in a good supply of provisions, wood, and water. Before leaving that
river, the crews (for Magalhães looks after the spiritual welfare of
his men) confess and take communion. Then resuming the voyage, the
great object of the first half of the expedition is attained, namely,
the discovery of the strait, which occurs October 21, 1520. “That
strait is one hundred and ten leguas ... long, and it is one-half legua
broad, more or less.” Its discovery is due to the indomitable energy
and endurance of Magalhães, and his certain knowledge (probably
overstated by Pigafetta) of its existence. Continuing, Pigafetta
briefly narrates the passage through the strait, and the desertion of
the “San Antonio,” which returns to Spain, after putting the
captain, Alvaro de Mesquita, a relative of Magalhães, in irons; for
the pilot, a Portuguese named Esteban Gomez, is jealous of Magalhães,
as the latter’s expedition has destroyed ambitious plans of his own.
The other three ships, leaving letters and signals in the strait, in
case the “San Antonio” tries to regain them, proceeds on its way,
debouching from the strait November 28. Then begins a long voyage over
the trackless Pacific “in truth ... very pacific;” and the three
ships sail on steadily for three and two-thirds months without being
able to reprovision. To the horrors of famine are added the sufferings
of the dread scurvy. Pigafetta, whose curiosity is always alert and
active, and who remains well, diverts himself with talking to the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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