Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen

Author:Laurence Bergreen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins e-books
Published: 2019-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter X

The Final Battle

Are those her ribs through which the Sun

Did peer, as through a grate?

And is that Woman all her crew?

Is that a DEATH? and are there two?

Is DEATH that woman’s mate?

As the Armada de Molucca approached the sandy, palm-shaded shores of Cebu, the crew members could see that the island was home to the most prosperous people they had encountered so far on the voyage. They watched village after village emerge as if by magic from the obscurity of the jungle; the inhabitants looked placid and well fed and not particularly startled by the strange ships. Their huts, rising on stilts in groups of five or six, resembled homesteads or even small estates. Overhead, tall palm trees blotted out the sky and cast wide swaths of shade. In front, extending from the water’s edge, fishing lines crisscrossed the shallow water, and, a little farther from land, speedy proas, some powered by brightly colored sails, others by paddle, traveled out to greet the arriving fleet. No longer did the men of the armada have to contend with nomadic giants or wandering tribes living at the end of the world. Here was civilization, or at least a semblance thereof. “At noon on Sunday, April 7,” Pigafetta recorded, “we entered the port of Cebu, passing by many villages, where we saw many houses built upon logs. On approaching the city, the Captain General ordered the ships to unfurl their banners. The sails were lowered and arranged as if for battle, and all the artillery was fired, an action which caused a great deal of fear to those people.”

Once the ships dropped anchor, Magellan dispatched his illegitimate son, Cristóvão Rebêlo, “as ambassador to the King of Cebu,” along with the slave Enrique to serve as an interpreter. Arriving on land, Rebêlo and Enrique “found a vast crowd of people together with the king, all of whom had been frightened by the mortars.” To reassure the distraught inhabitants, Enrique explained that it was the fleet’s custom to discharge their weapons “when entering such places, as a sign of peace and friendship.” His words had their intended effect, and soon the local chieftain was asking what he could do for them.

Enrique stepped forward again and announced that his captain owed allegiance to the “greatest king and prince in the world, and that he was going to discover the Moluccas.” His captain had decided to pass this way “because of the good report which he had of him from the king of Limasawa and to buy food.” Impressed, the king welcomed the visitors, but he advised, “It was their custom for all ships that entered their ports to pay tribute.” Only four days before, a junk from Siam “laden with gold and slaves” had called on the island and paid its tribute. To back up his story, the king produced an Arab merchant from Siam who had remained behind. The merchant explained that it was necessary to pay tribute to the local rulers in exchange for safe passage, and he urged Magellan to follow his example.

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