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Updated: September 12, 2025
Pigofetta, the companion of Magalhaens, mentions having seen in 1520 two Sulo pearls in the possession of the Rajah of Borneo as large as pullet eggs. Very large ones, from one to two hundred chaw weight, are at all times to be purchased at Sulo; and there are altogether sold here to the China junks, the Spaniards, &c. more than two laks of dollars worth annually.
His ambition was, he said, to conduct a fleet of stout ships, well armed, through the straits which the Portuguese Magalhaens had discovered more than half a century before, into that Pacific Ocean which he had navigated from east to west, and on which John Oxenham's bark had floated, and he himself had besought Almighty God that he too might sail in an English ship.
When Magalhaens visited it in the year 1520, he saw a rich and populous city, a luxuriant and fertile country, a powerful prince, and a magnificent court: hence the Spaniards hastily concluded that the whole island not only belonged to this prince, but that it was likewise named Borneo. In this error they have been followed by all other European nations.
Rivalry between the crowns of Castile and Portugal Magalhaens, a Portuguese, offers his services to the Emperor Charles the Fifth of Spain, to find a passage through America into the Pacific Associated with Ruy Falero Offer accepted The squadron, consisting of the Trinidad and four other ships, leaves Seville the 10th of August, 1519 Long detained by calms Enters harbour in the Brazils Proceeds farther south Winter season Enters Port Saint Julien Visited by a gigantic native dressed in skins Terror at seeing himself in a mirror Brings off a guanaco Two natives captured Attempt to take two more defeated Natives called Patagons Possession of the country taken for the crown of Spain Mutiny discovered Ringleaders executed One of the squadron wrecked Squadron sails south Entrance to the straits discovered Ships advance through them The crews, alarmed, desire to return Two ships missing Smoke seen Land to south called Tierra del Fuego One of the ships deserts Cape Deseado reached The Pacific appears Squadron steers north-west Two small islands seen Fearful sufferings from hunger The crews attacked by scurvy The Ladrones reached, so-called from thievish natives Some natives killed Island of Good Signs Arrive at the Philippines Natives friendly Anchor off the Island of Mazaqua The Rajah Colamba The Admiral plants a banner with a cross, and invites the natives to worship it Two officers dine with the Rajah, who gets tipsy The ships sail The Rajah accompanies them Reach Zebut Tribute demanded by the Rajah Refused How Magalhaens converted the Rajah and all his people to the Romish faith.
While Mr Winter was also shooting with his bow, thinking to amuse them as Mr Oliver had done, the string broke. Not liking their gestures, the Admiral ordered his party to retreat, covering themselves with their targets, and remembering, probably, how Magalhaens had been slain, ordering them to break all the arrows aimed at them.
It is situated in the latitude of 54° 55' S., longitude 72° 12' W. About four leagues to the east of this cape is a deep inlet, at the entrance of which lies a pretty large island, and some others of less note. Nearly in this situation some charts place a channel leading into the straits of Magalhaens, under the name of straits of Jelouzel.
Now as the latter lies in 65° 22', Cape Virgin-Mary must lie in: 67° 52', which is the longitude I have assigned to it, and which, I have reason to think, cannot be far from the truth. The strait of Magalhaens, and the east coast of Patagonia, are laid down from the observations made by the late English and French navigators.
This store, they hoped, was amply sufficient to carry them on to Mindanao, one of the Philippine Islands, where they had resolved to go. The two largest of these islands are Luconia and Mindanao, on the former of which Magalhaens was killed in his mad attempt to conquer the natives.
But I think it highly probable that the longitude is determined to within a quarter of a degree. Thus the extent of Terra del Fuego from east to west, and consequently that of the straits of Magalhaens, will be found less than most navigators have made it.
The Admiral Magalhaens depended chiefly on the naval skill of thirty of his Portuguese countrymen whom he took with him, as he did likewise on that of Serrano, who had served for many years in India, and for some time at the Moluccas, which islands they hoped to reach from the eastward, instead of their being approached, as before, from the west.
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