ABSTRACT
Don Sabiniano Manrique was Governor, and gave general satisfaction, tho since never any Governor in all the world did, or will, please all Men there wanted not some who were envious of him and this humane Prudence can never prevent; but an Argument that he govern’d well is, that Commander Francis Enriquez de Losada writ to me in the Year 1666 and I have his Letter still by me, saying that all Men cry’d out for Don Sabiniano, but particularly the Religious Orders. And I never heard that they cry’d out for other Governours. This is a sufficient Commendation and Praise of that worthy Gentleman. Tho his Lordship had promis’d to secure my Passage in the Ship, which was to sail that Year for Acapulco, the dread I have of crossing those Seas, and other Motives, inclin’d me to take passage with Commander Christopher Romero my old Friend. 1 All my Store and Provision amounted to sixty Pieces of Eight, four Tunicks, and two Habits and that I might go the lighter, I left my Cloak with a Friend, tho afterwards I miss’d it and other things. No Voyage upon Sea, even a short one, can be foretold and it is a folly to try to set days to it. 2. We set sail the 14th of February and I own I was presently discourag’d, fearing our Voyage would turn out ill because the Sailors, who in reason ought to live regularly, began to grow loose. 2 About that time the East Winds usually roar’d, but unfortunately 104for us they seem’d to be lock’d up in their Caverns. On the 6th of March we came to Zamboanga [Mindanao], met the Succour ship going to Terranate, they had taken in Rice and Flesh at Oton; their Commander-in-Chief was already dead. The 7th at night we continued our Voyage. The Sail with a sudden gust of Wind threw the best Sailer we had into the Sea, where he perish’d and this misfortune increas’d my fears. During our passage, which is but of sixty Leagues to Macasar (this is otherwise call’d Celebes*) we had very bad Weather, most furious driving Winds, terrible violent Gusts, but not lasting, and what was worst of all, bad Pilots. One morning we found our selves driven in among most frightful Banks and Rocks; I cannot imagine how the Vessel got in among them without being beaten to shivers. We got out of that danger only to run into greater. For four or five days the Weather prov’d very fair till about half an hour after eleven, and when we were to make an Observation, the Sky would be clouded and we disconsolate. The Land lay upon our Larboard-side, sometimes about two Leagues from us, as we afterwards observ’d, but so clouded that we could not discern it. One day we held our course with most fair Wind and Weather and made straight for our Doom for they conceited we were in a great Bay, and discovering Land to the Northward they made to it. The Current was so strong against us, that tho the Wind had freshned very much, we could not make the least way. We were then in a place, from whence in eight days we might have reached at Macasar but my Sins were the cause we did not reach there till the October following. We ran up to that Land, then, as I say, at a venture and it was Holy Saturday, being the last day of March; when we were about founding, our Vessel stuck fast. It is impossible to express the confusion we were all in and what I saw and suffered. All men cry’d out, ‘Strike the Sails’, but none stir’d to do it. I crept into a corner to give my self up into the Hands of God, concluding all was lost. The Ebb show’d we were surrounded with Flats, save only the Channel through which by the special guidance of God we had sailed. There were fourteen fathoms Water at the Stern, and the Head was aground. We labour’d till after midnight, the Weather fortunately being clear and serene. 105The Flood tide return’d, and with great Watching and after much pains taken, the Vessel floated without having taken in any Water. As soon as it was day we sail’d. Good God, what a melancholy Easter we had! For as our Provision grew daily shorter, so our Confusion grew hourly greater. In short, after eight days we found our selves imbay’d, without knowing which way to get to Sea. There were small Vessels plying thereabouts but they took us for Pirats and we them for Robbers: so we fled from one another, and knew not how to find where we were. We had already perceiv’d by the Sun, that we were by our course in two Degrees of North Latitude, which according to our Chart was wrong. We spent eight days more in getting out of that Bay. We plainly discover’d Land ahead, and tho’ the Weather favoured us to make to it, yet the Commander, contrary to the opinion of all Men, resolv’d to anchor there till next day. When we were at dinner he said to me, ‘They all are against me; Is not your Reverence of my opinion that we make over to morrow, it being Saturday?’ I answer’d, ‘Sir, the best time to make over is when God gives us a fair Wind.’ He held his tongue at this but follow’d his own head. 1 The second day of our passage, about three in the afternoon, being the Eve of the Feast of S. Mark, 24 April, the Wind started up at South-West, so strong, that we were forced to run away before it close to the shore tho not knowing what Sands were in the way. That night was one of the worst I have seen upon Sea: the Main-sail flew in shivers, the Yard was spent, the Foremast came by the Board, the Whipstaff broke, and we all took into the Cabin, said the Rosary and Litanys of our Lady, awaiting how it would please God to dispose of us. All the Crew had already made their Confession. After midnight through weariness I fell asleep in a corner and when I wak’d the Wind was fall’n, but the Sea ran very high. We found our selves near the shore, and discover’d the Landmarks, which was no small comfort. We had now been six weeks beating about that place. There we lighted upon that they call the Devil’s Island, and might have made the Kingdom of Totole [Tontoli] had our Men dar’d. The Commander 106resolv’d to come about, and stand back for the Kingdom of Bohol to take in Provisions. 1 When we were half way over, the Wind came about ahead of us, so that we were fain to give way to it and thus we lay cruising in the same place. A second time we made for Bohol, being now almost lost. It was by my Advice that we had tack’d about and the Commander said to me ‘Father, some Angel spoke through your Reverence’s Mouth, for it is most certain we must have perish’d, had the fierce Wind that started up found us where we were the day before.’ We bought some things there, and took aboard an Indian of Manila, now become half Mahometan. He was a great help to us afterwards, being well acquainted with that Coast. Upon Corpus Christi day we anchor’d near Totole, where we found Capt. Navarro, who was bound in another Champan for Macasar as well as we and at this we rejoic’d, but our satisfaction was not lasting as I shall say below. It is well known that in sailing to the East twelve hours are gained, and twelve lost in sailing Westward. According to our reckoning we came to that place upon Corpus Christi day, which is a Thursday, but they that came from Terranate took it for Friday, because betwixt Terranate and India the Portuguese Computation is follow’d. At noon, therefore, we had eaten Meat; but in the Port, where it was reckon’d to be Friday, we that night supp’d upon Fish. So we lost the rest of our Friday for in accordance with the reckoning held in the Port, we considered the following day to be a Saturday. And if we had anchor’d at midnight, we should have had no Friday at all but only a six-day week. As to the Divine Office, tho’ I was not oblig’d to recite all the prayers for Friday, yet, because I had time to spare, I read the Office appoint’d for both Thursday and Friday. 2
