_The Spaniards do depart with the captain Omoncon from
the port of Buliano, and ariue at the firme lande of
China._
[Sidenote: They departed towards China.]
[Sidenote: Their compasses diuided into 12 partes.]
The desire was so much of this father frier Martin de Herrada to be in
China, as well for to preach in it the holy gospel, as also for to see
the wonders that haue beene reported to be in that countrie, that
although he was dispatched by the gouernor and generall of the fielde,
yet he thought that their voyage would be interrupted: and therefore to
see himselfe free from this feare and suspition, so soon as he came vnto
the port of Buliano to the captaine Omoncon, hee requested him with
great vehemencie, that he would straightwayes set saile, for that the
winde serued well for their purpose. Then Omoncon, who desired no other
thing, but thought euery houre that he tarried to be a whole yeare,
commanded forthwith the mariners to make all thinges in a redinesse to
set saile, and to bring home all their ankers, and ride apicke, redie to
depart after midnight: the which was done as hee had commanded. So vppon
a Sunday at the break of day, being 25. of June, they took a Spaniard
souldier into their companie, who was called John de Triana, and vsed
him in their seruice, for that hee was a mariner. So at the same time,
after they had praied vnto God to direct their voyage, they set saile
with a prosperous winde. There was with the friers, souldiers, and men
of seruice, twentie persons, besides the Chinos that were captiues, and
the people of the captaine Omoncon. They were not so soone off from the
coste, but the winde abated and they remained becalmed certaine dayes:
but afterwards they had a lustie gale, that carried them forwards. The
Chinos doo gouerne their ships by a compasse deuided into twelue partes,
and doo vse no sea cardes, but a briefe description of Ruter,[10]
wherewith they doo nauigate or saile: and commonly for the most part
they neuer go out of the sight of land. They maruelled very much when
that it was told them, that comming from Mexico vnto Philippinas, they
were three monethes at the sea and neuer sawe land. So it pleased God,
that although it was verie calme and little winde stirring, that we made
but little way, yet, upon the Sunday following, which was the thirde of
July, we had sight of the land of China: so that we found all our voyage
from the port of Buliano, from whence we departed, vnto the firme land,
to be one hundred and fortie leagues; and twenty leagues before they
came in the sight thereof, they had sounding at three score and tenne,
and fourscore fathome, and so waxed lesse and lesse vntill they came to
the lande, which is the best and surest token they haue to be nigh the
land. In all the time of their voyage, the captain Omoncon with his
companie shewed such great curtesie and friendship to our men, as though
they had been the owners of the saide ship: and at such time as they did
imbarke themselues, he gaue his own cabin y^t was in the sterne to y^e
friers, and vnto Pedro Sarmiento and to Miguel de Loarcha, he gaue
another cabin that was very good, and commanded his company in the ship
that they should respect them more then himselfe; the which was in such
sort, that on a day, at the beginning of their voyage, the fathers
founde them making of sacrifice vnto their idols, and told them that all
which they did was a kinde of mockage, and that they shoulde worshipe
but onely one God: and willed them to doe so no more. Who, onely in
respect of them, did leaue it off, and not vse it after in all the
voyage: whereas before they did vse it euerie day manie times.
[10] More commonly spelt Rutter or Ruttier, a direction book. The word
is derived from "Routier," a road book.
[Sidenote: They leaue the worshiping of one idol to worship another.]
Besides this, they would worshippe the images that the friers did carrie
with them, and kneele vpon their knees with great shew of deuotion; who
nowe hauing sight of the firme lande in so short time, and passed that
small gulfe so quietly, which was wont to bee verie perilous and full of
stormes, they did attribute it vnto the orations of the friers, their
companions and souldiers. The like curtesie was shewed vnto them by
Sinsay, who was the seconde person in the shippe, and hee that did best
vnderstande that nauigation and voyage. So, as they drewe nearer the
land, they might discouer from the sea a verie gallant and well towred
cittie, that was called Tituhul, whereas the king hath continually in
garrison tenne thousande souldiers, and is vnder the gouernement of the
prouince of Chincheo.
So the next day following wee came vnto a watch towre, which was
situated vppon a rocke at the entrie into a bay, who had discouered our
shippe, and knew the standart or flagge to bee the kings: and made a
signe vnto seuen shippes which were on the other side of the point,
which was part of a company ordeined for to keepe and defende the cost,
which were more then foure hundred. Straightwayes the captaine of the
seuen shippes came foorth to knowe what we were, and what chanced shalbe
told you in this chapter following.