FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD

Whoever has the willpower to undertake a journey across oceans begets the one entity desired.
The development of Portuguese maritime empire, apparent scientific and technological
advancement, European attraction to Asia’s wealth and spices, incited Spain to expend for an
expedition. Subsequently, Spain along with other European nations engaged in discovering and
taking possessions of lands beyond the continent.
The period of discovery and expansionism began in the 15th century, henceforth from Europe
came to the East huge vessels loaded with merchandize and men under a command to discover
and covet lands in the east. This was an eventuality which adjoined people and nations and
such encounter had far-reaching consequences until 19th century.
The Philippine Island in 1521 has been “rediscovered” by the Spanish commissioned authority,
Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator who gained confidence and support from the
monarchy of Spain. This information on rediscovery which the world is cognizant of is
attributable to an Italian chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta. The details of the world’s first
circumnavigation were accurately recorded in his journal. This chronicle serves as the lens
through which the voyage and circumnavigation of the world can be apprehended with
certainty. It specifically furnishes important details on the discovery of the islands and people
inhabiting the place, these people were to be the Filipinos’ great ancestors who lived peacefully
and with abundance in the area. The comprehension of the cultural life of these people was
made possible through the chronicle of Pigafetta.
The narrative of the voyage which is a translation by Lord Stanley of Alderley is presented
below. However, only the necessary and important details of the narrative were taken based on
what is useful for the students. In brief, the narrative as it was written, commenced with the
description of the preparation for the voyage, the captain and his men, the dates as to when it
left Spain, the time when oceans were crossed like the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian
Ocean. In particular, Pigafetta wrote appertaining to the description of the different places he
had seen, the people he met and their distinct and interesting culture. The historic voyage
began in 1519 and was successfully completed in 1522.
ANTONIO PIGAFETTA, Patrician of Vicenza, and Knight of Rhodes, to the very illustrious and very
excellent LORD PHILIP DE VILLIERS LISLEADEN, the famous Grand Master of Rhodes, his most
respected Lord
Since there are several curious persons (very illustrious and very reverend lord) who not only
are pleased to listen to and learn the great and wonderful things which God has permitted me
to see and suffer in the long and perilous navigation, which I have performed (and which is
written hereafter), but also they desire to learn the methods and fashions of the road which I
have taken in order to go thither, [and who do] not grant firm belief to the end unless they are
first well advised and assured of the commencement. Therefore, my lord, it will please you to
hear that finding myself in Spain in the year of the Nativity of our Lord, one thousand five
hundred and nineteen, at the court of the most serene king of the Romans, with the reverend
lord, Mons. Francis Cheregato, then apostolic proto-notary, and ambassador of the Pope Leon
the Tenth, who, through his virtue, afterwards arrived at the bishoprick of Aprutino and the
principality of Theramo, and knowing both by the reading of many books and by the report of
many lettered and well-informed persons who conversed with the said proto-notary, the very
great and awful things of the ocean, I deliberated, with the favour of the Emperor and the
above-named lord, to experiment and go and see with my eyes a part of those things. By which
means I could satisfy the desire of the said lords, and mine own also. So that it might be said
that I had performed the said voyage, and seen well with my eyes the things hereafter written…
Finally (very illustrious lord), after all provisions had been made, and the vessels were in order,
the captain-general, a discreet and virtuous man, careful of his honor, would not commence his
voyage without first making some good and wholesome ordinances, such as it is the good
custom to make for those who go to sea. Nevertheless, he did not entirely declare the voyage
which he was going to make, so that his men should not from amazement and fear be unwilling
to accompany him on so long a voyage, as he had undertaken in his intention. Considering the
great and impetuous storms which are on the ocean sea, where I wished to go; and for another
reason also, that is to say that the masters and captains of the other ships of his company did
not love him: of this I do not know the reason, except by cause of his, the captain-general, being
Portuguese, and they were Spaniards or Castilians, who for a long time have been in rivalry and
ill will with one another. Notwithstanding this all were obedient to him. He made his ordinances
such as those which follow, so that during the storms at sea, which often come on by night and
day, his ships should not go away and separate from one another. These ordinances he
published and made over in writing to each master of the ships, and commanded them to be
observed and inviolably kept, unless there were great and legitimate excuses, and appearance
of not having been able to do otherwise…
Tuesday, the 20th September of the said year, we set sail from St. Lucar, making the course of
the south-west otherwise named Labeiche; and on the twenty-sixth of the said month, we
arrived at an island of great Canaria, named Teneriphe, which is in twenty-eight degrees
latitude; there we remained three days and a half to take in provisions and other things which
were wanted. After that we set sail thence and came to a port named Monterose, where we
sojourned two days to supply ourselves with pitch, which is a thing necessary for ships. It is to
be known that among the other isles which are at the said great Canaria, there is one, where
not a drop of water is to be found proceeding from a fountain or a river, only once a day at the
hour of midday, there descends a cloud from the sky which envelops a large tree which is in this
island, and it falls upon the leaves of the tree, and a great abundance of water distils from these
leaves, so that at the foot of the tree there is so large a quantity of water that it seems as if
there was an ever-running fountain. The men who inhabit this place are satisfied with this
water; also, the animals, both domestic and wild, drink of it…
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 there two
tents on shore for the sick, and had a sow killed for them.
Monday, the 18th of March, after dinner, we saw a boat come towards us with nine men in it:
upon which the captain-general ordered that no one should move or speak without his
permission. When these people had come into this island towards us, immediately the principal
one amongst them went towards the captain-general with demonstrations of being very joyous
at our arrival. Five of the most showy of them remained with us, the others who remained with
the 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 others
smaller and of a better savour, and two cochos. At that time they had nothing to give him, and
they made signs to us with their hands that in 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...
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 conversable we had great pleasure with them. The captain seeing that they were
of this good condition, to do them greater honor 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
was 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 that they brought. The lord of these 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 that 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 done
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...
The Monday of Passion week, the 25th of March, and feast 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 slave 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 abode 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 to 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 desired 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 fired before him, at which the king was much astonished;
after that the captain had one of his soldiers armed with white armour, and placed him in the
midst of three comrades, who struck 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
were in each ship two hundred like that man. After that the captain showed him a great number
of swords, cuirasses, and helmets, and made 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…
This kind of people are gentle, and go naked, and are painted. They wear a piece of cloth made
from a tree, like a linen cloth, round their body to cover their natural parts: they are great
drinkers. The women are dressed in tree cloth from their waists downwards; their hair is black,
and reaches down to the ground; they wear certain gold rings in their ears. These people chew
most of their time a fruit which they call areca, which is something of the shape of a pear; they
cut it in four quarters, and after they have chewed it for a long time, they spit it out, from which
afterwards they have their mouths very red. They find themselves the better from the use of
this fruit because it refreshes them much, for this country is very hot, so that they could not live
without it. In this island there is a great quantity of dogs, cats, pigs, fowls, and goats, rice,
ginger, cocos, figs, oranges, lemons, millet, wax, and gold mines. This island is in nine degrees
and two-thirds north latitude, and one hundred and sixty-two longitudes from the line of
demarcation: it is twenty-five leagues distant from the other island where we found the two
fountains of fresh water. This island is named Mazzava.
We remained seven days in this place; then we took the tack of Maestral, passing through the
midst of five isles, that is to say, Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, and Satighan. In this island of
Satighan is a kind of bird called Barbastigly, which are as large as eagles. Of these we killed only
one, because it was late. We ate it, and it had the taste of a fowl. There are also in this island
doves, tortoises, parrots, and certain black birds as large as a fowl, with a long tail. They lay eggs
as large as those of a goose. These they put a good arm's length under the sand in the sun,
where they are hatched by the great heat which the heated sand gives out; and when these
birds are hatched, they push up the sand and come out. These eggs are good to eat. From this
island of Mazzabua to that of Satighan there are twenty leagues, and on leaving Satighan we
went by the west; but the King of Mazzabua could not follow us; therefore, we waited for him
near three islands, that is to say. Polo, Ticobon, and Pozzon. When the king arrived, he was
much astonished at our navigation, the captain-general bade him come on board his ship with
some of his principal people, at which they were much pleased. Thus, we went to Zzubu, which
is fifteen leagues off from Satighan.
Sunday, the 7th of April, about midday, we entered the port of Zzubu, having passed by many
villages. There we saw many houses which were built on trees. On approaching the principal
town, the captain-general commanded all his ships to hang out their flags. Then we lowered the
sails in the fashion in which they are struck when going to fight, and he had all the artillery fired,
at which the people of this place were greatly frightened. The captain sent a young man whom
he had brought up,[172] with the interpreter to the king of this island Zzubu. These having
come to the town, found a great number of people and their king with them, all alarmed by the
artillery which had been fired. But the interpreter reassured them, saying that it was the fashion
and custom to fire artillery when they arrived at ports, to show signs of peace and friendship;
and also, to do more honor to the king of the country, they had fired all the artillery. The king
and all his people were reassured. He then bade one of his principal men ask what we were
seeking. The interpreter answered him that his master was captain of the greatest king in the
world, and that he was going by the command of the said sovereign to discover the Molucca
islands. However, on account of what he had heard where he had passed, and especially from
the King of Mazzava, of his courtesy and good fame, he had wished to pass by his country to
visit him, and also to obtain some refreshment of victuals for his merchandise.
…

Tuesday morning following the King of Mazzava, with the Moor, came to the ship, and saluted
the captain on behalf of the King of Zzubu, and said that the king was preparing a quantity of
provisions, as much as he could, to make a present of to him, and that after dinner he would
send two of his nephews, with others of his principal people, to make peace with him. Then the
captain had one of his men armed with his own armour, and told him that all of us would fight
armed in that manner, at which the Moorish merchant was rather astonished; but the captain
told him not to be afraid, and that our arms were soft to our friends and rough to our enemies;
and that as a cloth wipes away the sweat from a man, so our arms destroy the enemies of our
faith. The captain said this to the Moor, because he was more intelligent than the others, and
for him to relate it all to the King of Zzubu.
We turned backwards, passing between the island of Cagayan and the port of Cipit, taking a
course east and a quarter south-east, to seek the islands of Maluco. We passed between certain
little mountains, around which we found many weeds, although there was there a great depth.
Passing between these islets it seemed that we were in another sea.
Having left Cipit to the east, we saw to the west two islands called Zolo and Taghima, near which
islands pearls are found. The two pearls of the King of Burné, of which I have spoken, were
found there, and this is the manner in which he obtained them, according to the account which
was given me of it. The King of Burné married a daughter of the King of Zolo, who told him that
her father had these two big pearls. He desired to have them, and decided on getting them by
any means, and one night he set out with five hundred prahus full of armed men, and went to
Zolo, and took the king with his two sons, and brought them to Burné, and did not restore them
to liberty until they gave him the two pearls.
Continuing our course east and a quarter north-east we passed near two inhabited places called
Cavit and Subanin, and passed near an island called Monoripa, ten leagues distant from the
before-mentioned islets. The inhabitants of this island always live in their vessels, and have no
houses on shore. In these two districts of Cavit and Subanin, which are situated in the same
island as that in which are Butuan and Calagan, the best cinnamon of any grows. If we could
have remained here only two days, we could have laden the ships with it; but we did not wish to
lose time, but to profit by the favourable wind, for we had to double a cape and some islets
which were around it. Wherefore, remaining under sail, we made a little barter, and obtained
seventeen pounds of cinnamon for two big knives, which we had taken from the Governor of
Pulaoan.
Having seen the cinnamon tree, I can give some description of it. It is a small tree, not more
than three or four cubits high, and of the thickness of a man's finger, and it has not got more
than three or four little branches. Its leaf is like that of the laurel. The cinnamon for use which
comes to us, is its bark, which is gathered twice in the year. Its wood and leaves when they are
green have the taste and force of the bark itself. Here it is called Cainmana, since cain means
wood and mana sweet.

Having set the head of the ship to north-east, we made for a large city called Maingdanao,
situated in the same island in which are Butuan and Calagan, in order to get precise information
of the position of Maluco. Following this course, we took possession of a bignaday, a vessel
similar to a prahu, and being obliged to have recourse to force and violence, we killed seven out
of eighteen men who formed the crew. These men were better made and more robust than all
those we had seen hitherto, and they were all chief men of Mindanao. There was among them a
brother of the king who said that he well knew where Maluco was. Afterwards, following his
indications, we left the north-east course which we held, and took a south-east course. We were
then in 6° 7' N. latitude and thirty leagues distant from Cavit.
Making for the south-east we found four islands, named Ciboco, Birabam Batolac, Sarangani,
and Candigar. Saturday, the 26th of October, about nightfall, whilst coasting the island of
Birabam Batolac, we met with a very great storm, before which we lowered all our sails, and
betook ourselves to prayer. Then our three saints appeared upon the masts and dispersed the
darkness. St. Elmo stood for more than two hours at the mainmast head like a flame. St.
Nicholas at the head of the foremast, and St. Clara on the mizenmast. In gratitude for their
assistance, we promised a share to each of the saints, and we gave to each an offering…
At last, when it pleased Heaven, on Saturday the 6th of September of the year 1522, we entered
the bay of San Lucar; and of sixty men who composed our crew when we left Maluco, we were
reduced to only eighteen, and these for the most part sick. Of the others, some died of hunger,
some had run away at the island of Timor, and some had been condemned to death for their
crimes.
From the day when we left this bay of San Lucar until our return thither, we reckoned that we
had run more than fourteen thousand four hundred and sixty leagues, and we had completed
going round the earth from East to West.
Monday the 8th of September, we cast anchor near the mole of Seville, and discharged all the
artillery. Tuesday, we all went in shirts and barefoot, with a taper in our hands to visit the shrine
of St. Maria of Victory, and of St. Maria de Antigua.
Then, leaving Seville, I went to Valladolid, where I presented to his Sacred Majesty Don Carlos,
neither gold nor silver, but things much more precious in the eyes of so great a Sovereign. I
presented to him among other things, a book written by my hand of all the things that had
occurred day by day in our voyage. I departed thence as I was best able, and went to Portugal,
and related to King John the things which I had seen. Returning through Spain, I came to France,
where I presented a few things from the other hemisphere to Madam the Regent, mother of
the most Christian King Don Francis. Afterwards, I turned towards Italy, where I established for
ever my abode, and devoted my leisure and vigils to the very illustrious and noble lord, Philip de
Villiers Lisleadam, the very worthy grand master of Rhodes.
The Chevalier, ANTONIO PIGAFETTA