In this and the succeeding volume, we present various documents
(notably the Relation of Antonio Pigafetta) which could not be obtained
in season for publication in regular chronological order, and which it
has seemed advisable to insert as addenda at this point.
With the present volume is begun the publication of Antonio
Pigafetta’s relation of the first circumnavigation of the world—the
greatest single achievement in all the history of sea exploration and
discovery. Written by a participant of the expedition, Pigafetta’s
relation has a greater value than any other narrative of the voyage.
Its great value and the fact that it has never been adequately
presented to the English-speaking public have induced the editors to
insert this relation in the present series both in the original Italian
(rigidly adhering to and preserving all the peculiarities of the
original manuscript) and in English translation. This relation is
especially valuable for its descriptions of the various peoples,
countries, and products, of Oriental seas, and for its vocabularies, as
well as for its account of the first circumnavigation. From its very
nature, the relation has called for an unusual amount of annotation,
which has been drawn freely from various sources: chiefly Mosto’s
annotations in his publication of Pigafetta’s relation in Part V,
volume iii, of the Raccolta di documenti e studi, published by the
Royal Columbian Commission of the fourth centenary of the discovery of
America under the auspices of the Minister of Public Instruction (Roma,
1894); Navarrete’s Col. de viages, iv (Madrid, 1837); various
publications of the Hakluyt Society; and F. H. H. Guillemard’s Life
of Ferdinand Magellan (New York, 1891). The publication of the original
Italian and the English, page for page, renders it necessary to place
the annotations at the end of the volume instead of in footnote as
hitherto. The various charts of the Italian manuscript are all
presented in facsimile in the course of the work. In order that the
various peculiarities of the manuscript might be preserved, it has been
necessary to specially design and cast certain characters that appear
in Pigafetta’s narrative. None of these characters have been
reproduced by Mosto, who also writes out all abbreviations. Throughout
we have aimed to present the document as it exists in the Biblioteca
Ambrosiana (even to the spacing of words) with the exception that
paragraphs in the manuscript begin with a hanging indention and usually
end with a series of dots and dashes. A brief synopsis of the relation
follows.
After a brief dedication to the grand master of the Hospitaler knights
of Rhodes or Malta, as they were called later, and of which order he is
a member, Pigafetta relates that, being at Barcelona in 1519 with the
papal legate, he first hears of the expedition about to set out under
Magalhães. Being desirous of seeing the world, he gains permission to
accompany the expedition, and soon joins the fleet at Seville, whence
it is to depart. Magalhães, as a wise commander, issues his
instructions to the various commanders of the vessels ere port is left,
so that they may keep together in the unknown seas before them, and
that they may act in harmony.
Setting sail from Seville on August 10, 1519, the fleet of five small
vessels starts on its long journey amid salvos of artillery. At the
mouth of the Guadalquivir, San Lucar de Barrameda, they anchor until
September 20, when setting sail once more, they make for the Canaries,
which are reached September 26. There they reprovision and taking their
departure on October 3, coast southward along Africa amid alternating
calms and violent storms (cheered however by the welcome apparition of
St. Elmo’s fire, which promises them safety), until they cross the
line. Thereupon taking a general westerly course, the cape of St.
Augustine on the Brazilian coast is soon sighted. The fresh provisions,
so essential to sea voyages, are procured on the coast of Brazil, where
occurs the first communication with the natives, with whom wonderful
bargains are made. Those Indians, cannibals though they be, and whom
Pigafetta describes briefly (not failing to inscribe some of their
language) receive the mariners hospitably, and thinking that the latter
are come to remain among them, build them a house. But after a stay of
eighteen days, the sails are again trimmed toward the south, and
descending the coast, Magalhães anchors next at the Rio de la Plata
which had formerly proved so disastrous to Juan de Solis and his men.
Unable here to hold converse with the anthropophagous natives, who flee
at their approach, the fleet retakes its course, anchoring at two
islands where many sea-wolves and penguins are taken, and thus fresh
food obtained. The next anchorage is at the famous Bay of St. Julian
along the desolate Patagonian coast, where for five months they winter.
For two months not an individual is seen, but one day they gain their
first sight of the Patagonians, whose huge bulk strikes all with
surprise, and who are held as giants. Amicable relations are entered
into with various of these wandering Indians, and finally Magalhães,
with the taste for the wonderful that characterized his period, as
strongly, or more strongly than our own, determines to capture two of
them to take back to Spain as novelties. His ruse is successful, but an
attempt to induce the wife of one of the Indians to go to the ship
fails. Very interesting are these giants to the curious Pigafetta, and
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
Patagonian, who is finally baptized, but who is one of those to die. In
the vast stretch from the strait to the Ladrones (first seen by them of
all Europeans), only two islands, both desert, are sighted, and those,
since they are unable to find anchorage there, are called the
“Unfortunate Isles.” Pigafetta mentions the southern constellation
Crux and the star clouds since called after Magalhães. His
geographical information, as one might expect, is not always accurate,
for he places Cipangu (Japan) in the open Pacific. Thoughts of relief
that come upon sighting various islands (which they called the Ladrones
because of the thievishness of the inhabitants) are quickly dissipated
by the hostility there encountered. So bold are these natives (whose
appearance, life, and customs, Pigafetta describes briefly), that they
even steal the ship’s boat from the stern of the “Trinidad,” thus
necessitating a raid into one of the islands, where some of the natives
are killed, and some houses burned, but the boat recovered.
On March 16, 1521, the first of the Philippines (by them called the
archipelago of San Lazaro) to be seen by Europeans, is sighted. Anchor
is cast at a small desert island called Humunu, (but which the mariners
call “The watering-place of good signs” because the first traces of
gold are found there), near Samar, where two tents are quickly set up
for the sick, whom Magalhães himself tends with solicitude. March 18,
they gain their first acquaintance with the natives, who prove
hospitable, and promise fresh provisions. These are brought on the
twenty-second of March, and the Europeans have their first sight of a
tattooed Visayan chief, who, as well as his men, is decked out in gold
ornaments. After a week’s stay, the ships again set sail, Pigafetta
almost coming to an untimely end by slipping over the side of the
vessel while fishing, but happily saved by the aid of “that fount of
mercy,” the Virgin.
March 28, anchor is cast at the island of Limasaua (Mazava), where
Enrique, the Malaccan slave of Magalhães, serves as interpreter.
Amicable relations are speedily entered into and confirmed by the
Malayan rite of blood brotherhood. The king of Limasaua, and his
brother, the king of certain districts in Mindanao, prove most helpful,
and are completely won over by a judicious presentation of gifts.
Greatly are the natives impressed by the power of the new comers, as
seen in the artillery and armor, and their astonishment is increased
when Magalhães relates his course to their islands and the discovery
of the strait.
On Good Friday, Pigafetta and a companion visit the natives ashore,
where they spend the night in the king’s palace, a typical Visayan
house raised aloft on supports and thatched with nipa. Here the various
ceremonies that he witnesses impress Pigafetta, and his companion, cast
in coarser mould than he, becomes intoxicated. Pigafetta, always
interested in the language of the new peoples whom he meets, writes
down certain of their words, whereat they are greatly astonished. He
records that he “ate meat on Holy Friday, for I could not help
myself.” On Easter Sunday, the natives are deeply impressed by the
mass that is celebrated ashore, and the cross which is planted in the
highest part of the island, and which they promise to adore.
The limited amount of food in Limasaua, which is used only as a place
of recreation by the two kings, who go there to visit one another and
hunt, leads Magalhães to seek a more abundant harbor. Among the places
pointed out where food is abundant is the island of Cebú, and there
Magalhães determines to go, “for so did his unhappy fate will.”
After a seven days’ stay at Limasaua, the course is laid to Cebú
under the pilotage of the king of Limasaua, who is finally taken aboard
the “Trinidad” as his vessel is unable to keep up with the
swifter-moving European vessels. Entering the port of Cebú on April 7,
amid the thunder of their guns, the settlement is thrown into
consternation, but the Malaccan being sent ashore reassures them of his
master’s good intentions, whom he proclaims to be a “captain of the
greatest king and prince in the world,” who “was going to discover
Malucho,” but hearing of the great fame of the king of Cebú, wishes
trade with him. The king of Cebú is willing to accord friendship to
the Europeans, but asks a tribute, as it is the custom for all visitors
to pay it to him. But no tribute will be paid him, asserts Enrique, and
the king, at the advice of a Moro merchant who has heard of the deeds
of the Portuguese along Malacca and the Indian coast, and confuses the
strangers with them, until undeceived by Enrique (who declares them to
be much greater than the Portuguese), expresses his willingness to make
friendship with Magalhães. With the help of the friendly king of
Limasaua, peace is made according to Malay rites, and gifts exchanged.
Magalhães, deeply religious, in common with many of his age, early
seeks to lure the natives of Cebú to holy baptism, by presenting to
them its most attractive side, and promising the king if he becomes a
Christian, a suit of armor; but they must become willing converts, and
not for the hope of gain or for fear. The peace is more firmly cemented
by the visit of Pigafetta and a companion to the king, where they
witness ceremonies similar to those of Limasaua, and where gifts are
bestowed upon the king and some others. They also visit the house of
the prince apparent, where they hear their first concert of Visayan
music and see a native dance. On the following Wednesday two of the
crew are buried ashore on consecrated ground with as much pomp as
possible.
Trading is instituted by carrying a quantity of merchandise ashore, the
safety of which is assured by the king. Those people are found to have
weights and measures for their trading; and besides their gongs, a
flute-like instrument. Their houses are entered by ladders. On Friday
begins the trading, gold being given for metals and large articles, and
food for the smaller wares. The good bargains obtained by the
Europeans, would have been materially less and the trade spoiled
forever had it not been for Magalhães’s watchfulness, for so eager
are the men at the sight of the gold, that they would have given almost
anything for it. On the following Sunday, the king and his chief men,
and the queen and many women, are baptized and given European names,
and ere the week closes all the Cebuans have become Christians, as well
as some from neighboring islands. The queen at her earnest request, is
given a small image of the Christ child, the same afterward recovered
by Legazpi, and still held in the greatest of reverence at Cebú. The
opposition of certain chiefs to the king of Cebú is satisfactorily
ended by the inducements and threats of Magalhães. The latter swears
to be faithful in his friendship with the natives, who likewise swear
allegiance to the king of Spain. However, the natives are loath to
destroy their idols, according to their promise, and Magalhães finds
them still sacrificing to them for the cure of sickness. Substituting
therefore the assurance that the new faith will work a cure, in lieu of
which he offers his head, the sick man (who is the prince’s brother
and the bravest and wisest man in the island) is miraculously cured.
Thereupon many idols are burned amid great demonstrations. Vivid
descriptions are given of the people and their customs and ceremonies,
especially those of sacrifice and mourning.
April 20, a chief from the neighboring island of Mactan sends a small
present to Magalhães, with the request to aid him with a boat load of
men against the chief Cilapulapu, who refuses allegiance to Spain.
Magalhães in his ardor, and notwithstanding the remonstrances of his
friends, leads three boat loads of men (sixty in all) to the island,
where having ordered the king of Cebú to be a witness of the battle
only, he engages the natives. Disastrous indeed does that day prove,
for beset by multitudes of foes, the Europeans are compelled to
retreat, and the retreat becomes a rout, the personal bravery of
Magalhães and a few of his closest friends only saving the men from
almost complete massacre. Recognizing the leader, the natives make
their greatest efforts against him, and finally he is killed while knee
deep in the water, but after all the others are saved. Pigafetta’s
lament is tragic and sorrowful; they “killed our mirror, our light,
our comfort, and our true guide.” Insolent in their victory, the
natives refuse to give up the body of the slain leader at the request
of the king of Cebú. The Europeans stunned by the loss of their
leader, withdraw their merchandise and guards to the ship, and make
preparations for departure. Duarte Barbosa and João de Serrão are
chosen leaders. The second act in the drama follows speedily. The slave
Enrique, enraged at a severe reprimand and threats by Barbosa,
conspires with the king of Cebú; with the result that twenty-six men,
including both of the leaders, are murdered at a banquet on May 1, to
which the king invites them. João Carvalho, deaf to the entreaties of
João Serrão, his comrade, and anxious to become leader, sails away
leaving him to his death. Pigafetta names the products of Cebú, and
gives a valuable vocabulary of Visayan words, most of which are still
in use by those people.
By mutual consent, the three vessels proceed to Bohol, where the
“Concepcion” is burned, as there are too few men left to work all
three ships; although its supplies and all else possible are
transferred to the “Victoria” and “Trinidad.” Then, cruising
along, they put in at Mindanao where Pigafetta goes ashore alone, after
the king has made blood friendship at the ships. There they hear of
Luzón, where the Chinese trade annually. Departing from Mindanao, they
anchor at Cagayan Sulu, a penal settlement for Borneo, where the
blowpipe and poisoned arrows are used, and the daggers adorned with
gold. The next anchorage is at Paragua, although before reaching that
island, the men have been tempted to abandon the ships because of
hunger. There the rice is cooked under the fire in bamboos and is
better than that cooked in earthen pots. Those people raise fighting
cocks and bet on their favorite birds. Ten leagues from Paragua is the
great island of Borneo, whither the ships next go, and anchor at the
city of Brunei, which is built over the water, and contains twenty-five
thousand fires. Hospitably received by eight chiefs who visit the
ships, they enter into relations with the Borneans. Seven men go as
ambassadors to visit the king, and bear presents to him and the chief
men. Here some of the grandeurs of an oriental court are spread before
their eyes, which Pigafetta briefly describes. The strangers are
graciously given permission to take on fresh supplies of food, water,
and wood, and to trade at pleasure. Later actions of the Borneans cause
the men of the ships to fear treachery, and forestalling any action by
that people, they attack a number of junks near them, and capture four.
Among the captives is the son of the king of Luzón, who is the chief
captain in Borneo, and whom Carvalho allows to escape, without
consulting the others, for a large sum of gold. His action in so doing
reacts on himself, for the king refuses to allow two men who were
ashore and Carvalho’s own son (born of a native woman in Brazil) to
return to the ships, and they are left behind. The Borneans and their
junks are described. They use porcelain dishes which are made from a
fine white clay that is buried under ground for fifty years in order to
refine it, and inherited from father to son. Camphor is obtained there,
and the island is so large that it can be circumnavigated by a prau
only in three months’ time.
On leaving Borneo, a number of prisoners from the captured junks are
kept, among them three women whom Carvalho ostensibly retains as
presents for the queen of Spain, but in reality for himself. Happily
escaping from the point on which one of the ships has become grounded,
and the fear of explosion from a candle which is snuffed into a barrel
of powder, the ships anchor at a point of Borneo, where for forty-two
days, the men are busied in repairing, calking, and furnishing the
vessels. The journey is resumed back toward Paragua, the governor of a
district of that island being captured on the way; with whom, however,
they enter into friendly relations. Thence the ships cruise along
between Cagayan, Joló, and Mindanao, capturing a native boat from
Maingdanao of the latter island, from the captive occupants of which
they learn news of the Moluccas. Pushing on amid stormy weather, they
anchor at the island of Sarangani, just south of Mindanao; and thence
proceed in a generally southerly direction amid many islands until the
Moluccas are reached, and they enter the harbor of Tidore on Friday,
November 8, 1521, after twenty-seven months, less two days, since their
departure from Spain.
At Tidore a warm welcome awaits them from the king, who is a powerful
astrologer and has been expecting their arrival. He promises them as
many cloves as they wish, even offering to go outside his island,
contrary to the practice of kings, to provide them the sooner; in
return for his services hoping for their aid in his designs for power
in the Moluccas, especially against the king of Ternate. There they
learn that Francisco Serrão, the great friend of Magalhães, has
perished some eight months previously from poison administered by the
king of Tidore, whom he had visited, because he had aided the king of
Ternate against Tidore. This Serrão, says Pigafetta, was the cause of
Magalhães undertaking his expedition, and he had been in the Moluccas
for ten years, for so long ago had Portugal discovered those islands.
The efforts of the Ternatans to gain the new strangers fail, for they
are already pledged to the king of Tidore. On November 12, a house is
built ashore and on the thirteenth the merchandise is carried there,
among it being that captured with the various junks at and near Borneo.
The sailors are somewhat careless of their bargains for they are in
haste to return to Spain. The king continues his kindness, and to humor
him, as he is a Mahometan, all the swine in the boats are killed. This
relation will be concluded in Vol. XXXIV.