The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 38, 1674-1683: 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 38, 1674-1683: 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
About 11 a Clock, that same Morning, the Governour of the Island
sent a Letter to Captain Swan, complimenting him for his Present,
and promising to support us with as much Provision, as he could
possibly spare; and as a token of his Gratitude, he sent a Present
of 6 Hogs, of a small sort, most excellent Meat, the best I think,
that ever I eat: They are fed with Coco-nuts, and their Flesh is hard
as Brisket Beef. They were doubtless of that breed in America which
came originally from Spain. He sent also 12 Musk-melons, larger than
ours in England, and as many Water-melons, both sorts here being a
very excellent Fruit; and sent an order to the Indians that lived
in a Village not far from our Ship, to bake every day as much of
the Bread-fruit as we did desire, and to assist us in getting as
many dry Coco-nuts as we would have; which they accordingly did,
and brought off the Bread-Fruit every day hot, as much as we could
eat. After this the Governour sent every day a Canoa or two with Hogs
and Fruit, and desired for the same, Powder, Shot, and Arms; which was
sent according to his request. We had a delicate large English Dog;
which the Governour did desire, and had it given him very freely by
the Captain, though much against the grain of many of his Men, who
had a great value for that Dog. Captain Swan endeavoured to get this
Governour's Letter of Recommendation to some Merchants at Manila,
for he had then a design to go to Fort St. George, [122] and from
thence intended to trade to Manila: but this his design was concealed
from the company. While we lay here, the Acapulco Ship [123] arrived
in sight of the Island, but did not come in the sight of us; for the
Governour sent an Indian Proe, with advice of our being here. Therefore
she stood off to the Southward of the Island, and coming foul of the
same shole that our Bark had run over before, was in great danger of
being lost there, for she struck off her Rudder, and with much ado
got clear; but not till after three days labour For tho' the shole be
so near the Island, and the Indians go off and fish there every day,
yet the Master of the Acapulco Ship, who should (one would think)
know these Parts, was utterly ignorant of it. This their striking on
the shole we heard afterward, when we were on the Coast of Manila;
but these Indians of Guam did speak of her being in sight of the
Island while we lay there, which put our Men in a great heat to go
out after her, but Captain Swan perswaded them out of that humour,
for he was now wholly averse to any hostile action.
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