The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898—Volume 34 of 55, 1519-1522; 1280-1605: 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 34 of 55, 1519-1522; 1280-1605: 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
Portuguese off the scent, they are given two boatloads of rice for
their merchandise. They are surprised to find themselves out one day in
their reckoning, a fact that puzzles Pigafetta, until he finds out the
reason later, for he has been most sedulous in setting down the record
of each day. The boat with thirteen men returns once more, but the
secret leaks out in part, and the ship with only eighteen Europeans
(for twenty-one men, counting Europeans and Malays, have died since
leaving Timur, part of whom have been executed for their crimes),
hastily departs to avoid capture. On Saturday, September 6, the ship
enters San Lucar, with most of its crew sick, and on Monday, September
8, they are anchored once more at Seville. Next day, the men visit two
famous shrines in procession to give thanks for their return.
Pigafetta, still restless, goes to Valladolid, where he presents a book
to Cárlos I; to Portugal and France, where he tells his wonderful
experiences; and finally to Venice in Italy, where he proposes to pass
the remainder of his days.
Especially valuable to the student in Philippiniana is the short
description of the Philippines by Chao Ju-kua, who probably wrote in
the thirteenth century, more than a century before the first European
discovery. Chao Ju-kua’s information seems to have been obtained
personally from Chinese traders to the Philippines, and although very
imperfect and all too short, one can identify almost certainly the
islands of Luzón, Mindoro, Mindanao, Paragua, and the Visayas. The
people are slightly described; and various products of the islands are
given and trading methods described. The existence in the first-named
island of small statues of Buddha is interesting and probably points to
a long-continued intercourse between Chinese and Filipinos.
Guido de Lavezaris writes to Felipe II (May 30, 1565), referring
briefly to his participation in the Villalobos expedition, and his
subsequent journey to Spain to give information thereof; also his
participation in a Florida exploration expedition under Tristan de
Arellano. After aiding in the preparation of Legazpi’s fleet, he
sails with it as treasurer. He asks royal reward in behalf of his
services in introducing the ginger plant, which has thriven so
abundantly, into Nueva España; of which he has been cheated by
Francisco de Mendoca who had promised to negotiate it for him.
Legazpi’s expedition has reached the Philippines in sixty-four days,
and the Spaniards are now settled at Cebú, the best center of all that
region, first reaching that island April 27, 1565. Samples of gold,
wax, and cinnamon are sent to Spain; and supplies are urgently
requested for entrance must be effected by force of arms.
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