Excerpts from First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta
Translated from the accounts of Antonio Pigafetta accompanied by original documents, with notes andintroduction by Lord
Stanley of Alderley.
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 came onto 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 usUrnai, which
is rice, cocos, and many other victuals.
These people became very familiar and friendly with us, and explained many things to using 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 Suluam,
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 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.
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 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 a 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 Zuluan and
Calagan, and when these two kings wish to visit one another they come to hunt in this island where we were. Of these
kings the painted king 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 mass had been said each one did the duty of a Christian,
receiving our Lord. After that the captain had some sword-play by his people, which gave great pleasure to the kings.