The King Of Messana, Who Was A Potent Prince, Went Ashore To Confer With
The King Of Zubut, Who In The End Became Almost Ready To Pay Tribute
Instead Of Demanding It; But Magellan Only Asked Liberty To Trade, Which
Was Readily Granted.
Magellan persuaded the king and his principal
people to become Christians, which they did after some religious
conferences, and were all afterwards baptised.
This example spread over
the whole island, so that in eight days the whole inhabitants became
Christians, except those of one village of idolaters, who absolutely
refused. The Spaniards therefore burnt this village, and erected a cross
on its ruins.[12]
[Footnote 12: This incredible story has been considerably abridged on
the present occasion, and is too absurd to merit any commentary. - E.]
The people of this island deal justly with each other, having the use of
weights and measures. Their houses are of timber, raised high in the air
on posts, so that they ascend to them by ladders. They told us of a
certain sea-fowl in this country, called Lughan, about the size of a
crow, which the whales sometimes swallow alive, in consequence of which
their hearts are eaten by this bird; and many whales are killed in this
manner, the bird being afterwards found alive in the carcase of the
whale. The Spaniards drove a most advantageous trade at this place,
receiving from the natives ten pesos of gold, of a ducat and a half
each, in exchange for fourteen pounds of iron; and procured abundance of
provisions for mere trifles.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 31 of 825
Words from 8199 to 8460
of 224764
