Chapter II: Preface

I have been asked to write a story of Ferdinand Magellan, the value of whose discoveries has received a new interpretation in the development of the South Temperate Zone of America, and in the ceding of the Philippine Islands to the United States. The works of Lord Stanley and of Guillemard furnish comprehensive histories of the intrepid discoverer of the South Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Islands; but there would seem to be room for a short, picturesque story of Magellan's adventures, such as might be read by family lamps and in schools.

To attempt to write such a story is more than a pleasure, for the study of Magellan reveals a character high above his age; a man unselfish and true, who was filled with a passion for discovery, and who sought the welfare of humanity and the glory of the Cross rather than wealth or fame. Among great discoverers he has left a character well-nigh ideal. The incidents of his life are not only honorable, but usually have the color of chivalry.

His voyages, as pictured by his companion Pigafetta, the historian, give us our first view of the interesting native inhabitants of the South Temperate Zone and of the Pacific archipelagoes, and his adventures with the giants of Patagonia and with the natives of the Ladrone Islands, read almost like stories of Sinbad the Sailor. The simple record of his adventures is in itself a storybook.

Magellan, from his usually high and unselfish character, as well as for the lasting influence of what he did as shown in the new developments of civilization, merits a place among household heroes; and it is in this purpose and spirit I have undertaken a simple sympathetic interpretation of his most noble and fruitful life. I have tried to put into the form of a story the events whose harvests now appear after nearly four hundred years, and to picture truthfully a beautiful and inspiring character. To the narrative of his lone lantern I have added some tales of the Philippines.

H. BUTTERWORTH.

28 WORCESTER STREET, BOSTON, MASS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I.--A STRANGE ROYAL ORDER 1

II.--FRIENDS WITH A PURPOSE 9

III.--PRINCE HENRY THE NAVIGATOR AND VASCO DA GAMA 15

IV.--THE ENTHUSIASTS CARRY THEIR PLANS TO THE KING 24

V.--ABOUT THE HAPPY ITALIAN WHO WISHED TO SEE THE
WORLD.--BEAUTIFUL SEVILLE! 38

VI.--ENEMIES.--ESTEBAN GORMEZ 43

VII.--"MAROONED" 52

VIII.--"THE WONDERS OF NEW LANDS."--PIGAFETTA'S TALES OF
HIS ADVENTURES WITH MAGELLAN.--THE STORY OF "THE
FOUNTAIN TREE."--"ST ELMO'S FIRE" 60

IX.--PINEAPPLES, POTATOES, VERY OLD PEOPLE 70

X.--THE FIRST GIANT.--THE ISLANDS OF GEESE AND
GOSLINGS.--THE DANCING GIANTS 76

XI.--CAPTURING A GIANT.--MAGELLAN'S DECISION 84

XII.--THE MUTINY AT PORT JULIAN.--THE STRAITS.--1519 91

XIII.--"THE ADMIRAL WAS MAD!" 99

XIV.--THE PACIFIC.--THE DEATH OF THE GIANTS 103

XV.--WELCOME TO THE PHILIPPINES! 108

XVI.--THE VISIT OF THE KING.--PIGAFETTA VISITS THE KING 116

XVII.--EASTER SUNDAY.--MAGELLAN PLANTS THE CROSS 122

XVIII.--CHRISTIANITY AND TRADE ESTABLISHED.--THE
BAPTISM OF THE QUEEN 129

XIX.--HALCYON DAYS 136

XX.--THE DEATH OF MAGELLAN 139

XXI.--THE SPICE ISLANDS.--WONDERFUL BIRDS.--CLOVES,
CINNAMON, NUTMEGS, GINGER.--THE SHIPS OVERLOADED 144

XXII.--MESQUITA IN PRISON 157

XXIII.--STRANGE STORIES.--THE WISE OLD WOMEN.--THE
WALKING LEAVES.--THE HAUNTED SANDALWOOD TREES.--THE
EMPEROR OF CHINA.--THE LITTLE BOY AND THE GIANT BIRD 161

XXIV.--THE LOST DAY 173

XXV.--IN THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF VICTORY.--PIGAFETTA 176

SUPPLEMENTAL 182

LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

FACING
PAGE

Magellan planting the Cross in the Philippine Islands _Frontispiece_

Lisbon, from the south bank of the Tagus 4

Ferdinand Magellan 6

"He is a renegade. His arms must come down!" 18

Barcelona 34

Night after night the ships followed Magellan's lantern 55

Interior of the Alcazar of Seville 60

The dancing giant 80

Mount Mayon, on the Island of Luzon 125

The death of Magellan 142

Pigafetta presenting the history of the voyage to the
King of Spain 179

Map of the Philippine Islands 187

Native houses in Manila 190

Hong Kong 202

Iloilo 206

Boats on the River Pasig 218

THE STORY OF MAGELLAN.