Account of the First Journey Around the World

• At the dawn on Saturday, March 16, 1521, we came upon a high land at a distance of three hundred leagues from the island of Ladroni- an island named Zamal (Samar). The following day, the captain-general desired to land in another island that was uninhabited and lay to the right of the above-mentioned island, in order to be more secure and to get water and to have some rest. He had two tents set up on the shore for the sick and had a sow killed for them.
• On Monday afternoon, March 18, we saw a boat coming towards us with nine men in it. Therefore, the captain-general ordered that no one should move or say a word without his permission. When those men reached the shore, their chief went immediately to the captain-general, giving signs of joy because of our arrival.
• The captain-general, seeing that they are reasonable men, ordered food to be set before them, and gave them red caps, mirrors, combs, bells, ivory, bocasine, and other things. When they saw the captain's courtesy, they presented fish, a jar of palm wine which they called uruca (arrack), figs more than one palm long (bananas), and others which was smaller and delicate, and two coconuts. They had nothing else then but made signs with their hands that they would bring umay or rice, coconut and other article of food within four days.
• Coconuts are the fruit of the palm tree. Just as we have bread, wine, oil and vinegar so those people get everything from that tree. They get wine in the following manner. They bore a hole into the heart of the said palm at the top called palmito, from which distils a liquor which resembles white mist. That liquor is sweet but somewhat tart, and (is gathered) in canes (of bamboo) as thick as the leg and thicker. They fasten the bamboo to the tree at evening for the morning, and in morning for the evening.
• From the account of Pigafetta, it is clear that one of the most important sources of living of the natives is the palm trees (niyog). In addition, the Spaniards were probably amazed how the natives used efficiently the palm tree, from the meat to the husk of the coconut. Aside from the resourcefulness of the natives, Pigafetta describe how the natives of Zuluan behave and keep their promise. Also, he mentioned the presence of gold and white corals.
• The island where we were is called Humunu (now Homonhon) but in as much as we found two springs there of the clearest water, we called it Acquada da li buoni Segnialli ("the watering-place of Good Signs"), for there were the first signs of gold which we found in those districts. We found a great quantity of white coral there, and large trees with fruit a trifle smaller than the almond and resembling pine seeds. There are also many plam trees some are good and some are bad.
• There are many islands in that district, and therefore we called them the archipelago of San Lazaro, as they were discovered on the Sunday of St. Lazarus.
• At noon on Friday, March 22, those men came as they had promised us in two boats with coconuts, sweet oranges, a jar of palm wine and a cock, in order to show us that there were fowls in that district. They exhibited great pleasure in seeing us. We purchased all those articles from them. Their seignior was an old man who was painted (tattooed).
• On the afternoon of holy Monday, March 25, we shaped our course towards the west southwest between four islands namely Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson and Abarien (probably Dinagat, Cabugan, Gibuson and Manicani). On Thursday morning, we had seen a fire on an island the night before, we anchored near it. We saw a small boat which the natives called boloto (baroto) with eight men in it, approaching the flagship. A slave belonging to the captain- general who was a native of Zamatra (Sumatra), which was formerly called Taprobana, spoke to them.
• They received them very gladly, and went away quickly to advise their king. About two hours later we saw two balanghai coming. They are large boats and are so called.
• Next day, holy Friday, the captain-general sent his slave, who acted as our interpreter, ashore in a small boat to ask the king if he has any food to have carried to the ships, and to say that they would be satisfied with us, for he (and his men) had come to the island as friends and not as enemies.
• When those kings wished to see one another, they both went to hunt in that island where we were. The name of the king is Raia Columbo, and the second Raia Siqui.
• On the morning of Sunday (last of March and Easter Sunday), Magellan asked the interpreter to inform the king that they will land not to dine with him but to say a mass. After learning this, the king sent two swine. After the mass, Magellan arranged a fencing tournament and after witnessing this, the kings were very impressed. After the dinner, they went (with the kings) to the highest summit to place the cross.
• When we reached the summit, the captain-general told them he esteemed highly having sweated for them, for since the cross was there, it could not be of great use to them. On asking them which port was the best to get food, they replied that there were three, namely, Ceylon, Zubu, and Calagham (Leyte, Cebu and Caraga districts in Mindanao)but Zubu was the largest and the one with most trade.
• Pigafetta observed that the natives give so much importance to knives
• According to the Laws of Luwaran (selections from old Arabic law), "If a person borrows an ax or a button, and the ax is broken or the button lost while being used for the purpose for which it was loaned, and not on account of carelessness, the lost article shall not be replaced. But if the ax is used at a place overhanging the water or is used to cut a stock of bamboo without being well tied or fastened, and is lost, it shall then be replaced."
• Pigafetta also observed the women are clothed, according to him, 'their women are clad in tree cloth from their waist down, and their hair is black and reaches to the ground. They have holes pierced in their ears which are filled with gold. "He also mentioned how the people love to chew a fruit called areca. Accordingly, "they cut the fruit into four parts and wrap it in leaves of their tree which they call betre (betel). They mixed it in lime, and when they have chewed it thoroughly, they spit it out.