NAME: ASIBAL, KRIZLEN FRANZIEN EBREO

GE 102: Readings in Philippine History

Content and Contextual Analysis of Selected Primary Sources

Pre-reading Activity
Background of the Author

While-reading activity
Content Analysis of the Important Historical Information Found in the Document

Post reading activity

Contribution and Relevance of the Document in Understanding the Grand Narrative of
Philippine History
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Relevance of the Document to the Present Time

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Submitted by:

Aguilar, Lanz Hendrix P.

Almarez, Lovely Joy D.
Asunto, Shayne Gerard B.
Asibal, Krizlen Franzein E.
Bayer, Niño A.
Bicol, Chrisdaryll B.
Cabatay, Erika Grace M.
Caparas, Jade Lorenz B.
Gabi, Mark Aaron S.
Gerobin, Janero S.
Matela, Lhance Cedrick
Valencia, Kyle Nichole G.

Readings 1: (Travelogue) Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage Around the World

Saturday, the 16th of March, 1521, we arrived at daybreak in sight of a high
island, three hundred leagues distant from the before-mentioned Thieves’ Island. This
isle is named Zamal. The next day the captain-general wished to land at another
uninhabited island near the first, to be in greater security and to take water, also to
repose there a few days. He set up their two tents on shore for the sick, and had a sow
killed for them.
````Monday, the 18th of March, after dinner, he saw a boat come toward us with
nine men in it: upon which a captain-general ordered that no one should move or speak
without his permission. When these people had come into this island towards us,
immediately principal one amongst them went towards the captain-general with
demonstration of being very joyous at our arrival. Five of the most showy of them
remained with us, the other who remained with boat went to call some men who were
fishing, and afterwards all of them came together. The captain seeing that these people
were reasonable, ordered food and drink to be given them, and he gave them some red
caps, looking glasses, combs, bells, ivory, and other things. When these people saw the
politeness of the captain, they presented some fish, and a vessel of palm wine, which
they call in their language Uraca; figs more than a foot long, and other smaller and of a
better savour, and two cochos. At the time, they had nothing to give him, and they made
signs to us with their hands that four days they would bring us Umai, which is rice,
cocos, and many other victuals.
To explain the kind of fruits above-named it must be known that the one which
they call cochi, is the fruit which the palm trees bear. And as we have bread, wine, oil,
and vinegar, proceeding from different kinds, so these people have those things
proceeding from these palm trees only. It must be said that wine proceeds from the said
palm trees in the following manner. They make a hole at the summit of the tree as far as
its heart, which is named palmito, from which a liquor comes out in drops down the tree,
like white must, which is sweet, but with somewhat of bitter. They have canes as thick
as the leg, in which they draw off this liquor, and they fasten them to the tree from the
evening till next morning, and from the morning to the evening, because this liquor
comes little by little. This palm produces a fruit named cocho, which is as large as the
head, or thereabouts: its first husk is green, and two fingers in thickness, in it they find
certain threads, with which they make the cords for fastening their boats. Under this
husk there is another very hard, and ticker than that of a walnut. They burn this second
rind, and make with it a powder which is useful to them. Under this rind there is a white
marrow of a finger’s thickness, which they eat fresh with meat and fish, as we do bread,
and it has the taste an almond, and if anyone dried it he might bread of it. From the
middle of this marrow there comes out a clear sweet water, and very cordial, which,
when it has rested a little, and settled, congeals, and becomes like an apple. When they
wish to make oil they take this fruit, the coco, and let it get rotten, and they corrupt this
marrow in the water, then they boil it, and it becomes oil in the manner of butter. When
they want to make vinegar, they let the water in the cocoa-nut get bad, and they put in
the sun, when it turns to vinegar like white wine. From this fruit milk also can be made,
as we experienced, for we scraped this marrow and then put it with its water, and
passed it trough a cloth, and thus is was milk like that of goals. This kind of palm tree is
like the date-palm, but not so rugged. Two of these trees can maintain a family of ten
persons: but they do not draw wine as above-mentioned always from one tree, but draw
from one for eight days, and from the other as long. For it they did not, otherwise the
trees would dry up. In this manner they last a hundred years.
These people became very familiar and friendly with us, and explained many
things to us in their language, and told us the names of some islands which we saw with
our eyes before us. *The island where they dwelt is called Zuluam, and it is not large.*
As they were sufficiently agreeable and conversible we had great pleasure with them.
The captain seeing that they were of this good condition, to do them greater honour
conducted them to the ship, and showed them all his goods, that is to say, cloves,
cinnamon, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, mace, gold and all that as in the ship. He also had
some shots fired with his artillery, at which they were so much afraid that they wished to
jump from the ship into the sea. They made signs that the things which the captain had
shown them grew there where we were going. When they wished to leave us, they took
leave of the captain and of us with very good manners and gracefulness, promising us
to come back to see us. The island we were at was named Humunu; nevertheless,
because we found there two springs of very fresh water we named it the Watering Place
of good signs, and because we found here the first signs of gold. There is much white
coral to be found here, and large trees which bear fruit smaller than an almond, and
which are like pines. There were also many palm trees both good and bad. In this place
there were many circumjacent islands, on which account we named them the
archipelago of St. Lazarus, because we stayed there on the day and feast of St.
Lazarus. This region and archipelago is in ten degrees north latitude, and a hundred
and sixty-one degrees longitude from the line of demarcation.
Friday, the 22nd of March , the above-mentioned people, who had promised us to
return,
came about midday, with two boats laden with the said fruit cochi, sweet oranges, a
vessel
of palm wine, and a cock, to give us to understand that they had poultry in their country,
so that we bought all the they brought. The lord of this people was old, and had his face
painted, and had gold rings suspended to his ears, which they name Schione, and the
others had many bracelets and rings of gold on their arms, with a wrapper of linen round
their head. We remained at this place eight days: the captain went there every day to
see
his sick men, whom he had placed on this island to refresh them: and he gave them
himself every day the water of this said fruit the cocho, which comforted them much.
Near this isle is another where there are a kind of people who wear holes in their ears
so large than they can pass their arms through them; these people are Caphre, that is
to say, Gentiles, and they go naked, except that round their middles they wear cloth
made of the bark of trees. But there are some of the more remarkable of them who wear
cotton stuff, and at the end of it there is some work of silk with a needle. These people
are tawny, fat, and painted, and they anoint themselves with the oil of coco nuts and
sesame, to preserve them from the sun and the wind. Their hair is very black and long,
reaching to the waist, and they carry small daggers and knives, ornamented with gold,
and many other things, such as darts, harpoons, and nets to fish, like …….., and their
boats are like ours.
The Monday of Passion week, the 25th of March, and feats of our Lady, in the
afternoon, and being ready to depart from this place, I went to the side of our ship to fish
and putting my feet on a spar to go down to the store room, my feet slipped, because it
had rained, and I fell into the sea without any one seeing me, and being near drowning
by luck I found at my left hand the sheet of the large sail which was in the sea, I caught
hold of it and began to cry out till they came to help and pick me up with the boat. I was
assisted not by my merits, but by the mercy and grace of the fountain of pity. That same
day we took the course between west and southwest, and passed amidst four small
islands, that is to say, Cenalo, Huinanghar, Ibusson, and Abarien.
Thursday , the 28th of March, having seen the night before fire upon an island, at the
morning we came to anchor at this island; where we saw a small boat which they call
Boloto, with eight men inside, which approached the ship of the captain-general. Then a
slaves of the captain’s, who was from Sumatra, otherwise named Traprobana, spoke
from afar to these people, who understood his talk, and came near to the side of the
ship, but they withdrew immediately, and would not enter the ship from fear of us. So
the captain seeing that they would not trust to us showed them a red cap, and other
things, which he had tied and placed on a little plank, and the people in the boat took
them immediately and joyously, and then returned to advise their king. Two hours
afterwards, or thereabouts, we saw come two long boats, which they call Ballanghai, full
of men. In the largest of them was their king sitting under an awning of mats; when they
were near the ship of the captain-general, the said slave spoke to the king, who
understood him well, because in these countries the kings know more languages than
the common people. Then the king ordered some of his people to go to the captain’s
ship, whilst he would not move from his boat, which was near enough to us. This was
done, and when his people returned to the boat, he went away at once. The captain
gave good entertainment to the men who came to his ship, and gave them all sorts of
things, on which account the king wished to give the captain a rather large bar of solid
gold, and a chest full of ginger. However, the captain thanked him very much but would
not accept the present. After that, when it was late, we went with the ships near to the
houses and adobe of the king.
The next day which was Good Friday, the captain sent on shore the before-
mentioned slave, who was our interpreter, to the king beg him to give him for money
some provisions for his ships, sending him word that he had not come to his country as
an enemy, but as a friend. The king on hearing this came with seven or eight men in a
boat, and entered the ship, and embraced the captain, and gave him three china dishes
covered with leaves full of rice, and two dorades, which are rather large fish, and of the
sort above-mentioned, and he gave him several other things. The captain gave this king
a robe of red and yellow cloth, made in the Turkish fashion, and a very fine red cap, and
to his people he gave to some of them knives, and to others mirrors. After that
refreshments were served up to them. The captain told the king through the said
interpreter, that he wished to be with him, cassi cassi, that is to say, brothers. To which
the king answered that he desire to be the same towards him. After that the captain
showed him cloths of different colours, linen, coral, and much other merchandise, and
all the artillery, of which he had some pieces fried before him, at which the king was
much astonished; after that the captain had one of his soldiers armed with white
armour, and place him in the midst of three comrades, who stuck him with swords and
daggers. The king thought this very strange, and the captain told him, through the
interpreter, that a man thus in white armour was worth a hundred of his men; he
answered that it was true; he was further informed that there where in each ship two
hundred like that man.
After that the captain showed him a great number of swords, cuirasses, and
helmets, and made of two of the men play with their swords before the king; he then
showed him the sea chart and the ship compass, and informed him how he had found
the strait to come there, and of the time which he had spent in coming also of the time
he had been without seeing any land, at which the king was astonished. At the end the
captain asked if he would be pleased that two of his people should go with him to the
places where they lived, to see some of the things of his country. This the king granted,
and I went with another. When I had landed, the king raised his hands to the sky, and
turned to us two, and we did the
same as he did; after that he took me by the hand, and one of his principal people took
my companion, and led us under a place covered with canes, where there was a
ballanghai, that is to say, a boat, eighty feet long or thereabouts, resembling a fusta. We
set with the king upon its poop, always conversing with him by signs, and his people
stood up around us, with their swords, spears, and bucklers. Then the king ordered to
be brought a dish of pig’s flesh and wine. Their fashion of drinking is in this wise, they
first raise their hands to heaven, then take the drinking vessel in their right hand, and
extend the left hand closed towards the people. This king did, and presented to me his
fist, so that I thought that he wanted to strike me; I did the same thing towards him; so
with this ceremony, and other signs of friendships, we banqueted, and afterwards
supped with him. I ate flesh on Good Friday, not being able to do otherwise, and before
the hour of supper, I gave several things to the king, which I had brought. There I wrote
down several things as they name them in their language, and when the king and the
other saw me write, and I told them their manner of speech, they were all astonished.
When the hour for supper and come, they brought two large china dishes, of which one
was full of rice, and the other of pig’s flesh, with its broth and sauce. We supped with
the same signs and ceremonies, and then went to the king’s place, which was made a
built like a hay grange, covered with fig and palm leaves. It was built on great timbers
high above the ground, and it was necessary to go up steps and ladders to it. Then the
king made us sit on a cane mat, with our legs doubled as was the custom; after half an
hour there was brought a dish of fish roast in pieces, and ginger fresh gathered that
moment, and some wine.
The eldest son of the king, who was the prince, came where we were, and the
king told him to sit down near us, which he did; then two dishes were brought, one of
fish, with its sauce, and the other of rice, and this was done for us to eat with the prince.
My companion enjoyed the food and drink so much that he got drunk. They use for
candles or torches the gum of a tree which is named Anime, wrapped up in leaves of
palms of fig trees. The king made a sign that he wished to go to rest, and left with us the
prince, with whom we slept on a cane mat, with some cushions and pillows of leaves.
Next morning the king came and took me by the hand, and so we went to the place
where we had supped, to breakfast, but the boat came to fetch us. The king, before we
went away, was very gay, and kissed hour hands, and we kissed his. There came with
us a brother of his, the king of another island, accompanied by three men. The captain-
general detained him to dine with us, and we gave him several things. In the island
belonging to the king who came to the ship there are mines of gold, which they find in
pieces as big as a walnut or an egg, by seeking in the ground. All the vessels which he
makes use of are made of it, and also some parts of his house, which was well fitted up
according to the custom of the country, and he was the handsomest man that we saw
among these nations. He had very black hair coming down to his shoulders, with silk
cloth on his head, and two large gold rings
hanging from his ears, he had a cloth of cotton worked with silk, which covered him from
the waist to the knees, at his side he wore a dagger, with a long handle which was all of
gold its sheath was of carved wood. Besides he carried upon him scents of storax and
benzoin. He was tawny and painted all over. The island of this king is named Zaluan
and Calagan, and when this two kings wish to visit one another they come to hunt in this
island where we were. Of these kings the painted kings is called Raia Calambu, and the
other Raia Siani. On Sunday, the last day of March, and feast of Easter, the captain
sent the chaplain ashore early to say mass, and the interpreter went with him to tell the
king that they were not coming on shore to dine with him, but only to hear the mass.
The king hearing that sent two dead pigs.
When it was time for saying mass, the captain went ashore with fifty men, not
with their arms, but only with their swords, and dressed as well as each one was able to
dress, and before the boats reached the shore our ships fired six cannon shots as a
sign of peace. At our landing the two kings were there, and received our captain in a
friendly manner, and placed him between them, and then we went to the place prepared
for saying mass, which was not far from the shore. Before the mass began the captain
threw a quantity of musk rose water on those two kings, and when the offertory of the
mass came, the two kings went to kiss the cross like us, but they offered nothing, and at
the elevation of the body of our Lord they were kneeling like us, and adored our Lord
with joined hands. The ships fired all their artillery at the elevation of the body of our
Lord. After that the captain had some sword-play by his people, which gave great
pleasure to the kings. Then he had across brought, with the nails and crown, to which
the kings made reverence, and the captain had them told that these things which he
showed them were the sign of the emperor his lord and master, from whom he had
charge and commandment to place it in it all places where he might go or pass by. He
told them that he wished to place it in their country for their profit, because if there came
afterwards any ships from Spain to those islands, on seeing this cross, they would know
that he had been there, and therefore they would not cause them any displeasure to
their persons nor their goods; and if they took any of their people, on showing them this
sign, they would at once let them go. Besides this, the captain told them that it was
necessary that this cross should be placed on the summit of the highest mountain in
their country, so that seeing it every day they might adore it, and that if they did thus,
neither thunder, lightning, nor the tempest could do them hurt. The kings thanked the
captain, and said they would do it willingly. Then he asked whether they were Moors or
Gentiles, and in what they believed. They answered that they did not perform any other
adoration, but only joined their hands, looking up to heaven, and that they called their
God, Aba.
Hearing this, the captain was very joyful, on seeing that, the first king raised his
hands to the sky and said that he wished it were possible for him to be able to show the
affection which he felt towards him. The interpreter asked him for what reason there
was so little to eat in that place, to which the king replied that he did not reside in the
place except when he came to hunt and to see his brother, but that he lived in another
island where he had all his family. Then the captain asked him if he had any enemies
who made war upon him, and that if he had any he would go and defeat them with his
men and ships, to put them under his obedience. The king thanked him, and answered
that there were two islands the inhabitant of which were is enemies; however, that for
the present is was not the time to attack them. The captain therefore said to him that if
God permitted him to return another time to this country, he would bring so many men
that he would put them by force under his obedience. Then he bade the interpreter tell
them that he was going away to dine, and after that he would return to place the cross
on the summit of the mountain.
 The two kings said they were content, and on that they embraced the captain,
and he separated from them. (“First Voyage Round the World/Pigafetta’s Account of
Magellan’s Voyage – Wikisource, the free online library,” n.d.)