MAGELLAN COMES TO THE NATIVES. 



249 



change of commodities. The king observed that it was customary 

 for all ships entering his waters to pay tribute, to which the 

 messenger replied that the Spanish admiral was the servant of 

 so powerful a sovereign that he could pay tribute to no one. 

 The king promised to give an answer the next day, and, in the 

 mean time, sent fruit and wine on board the ships. Magellan had 

 brought with him the king of Massana, a neighboring island, 

 and this monarch soon convinced the king of Zubu that, instead 

 of asking tribute, he would be wise to pay it. A treaty of peace 

 and perpetual amity was soon established between his majesty of 

 Spain and his royal brother of Zubu. 



Pigafetta here introduces a ridiculous and incredible story of 

 the conversion of these islands to Christianity by Magellan. It 

 is as follows : — Magellan, being much displeased at learning that 

 parents attaining a certain age in this island were treated dis- 

 respectfully by their children, told them that the Almighty, 

 who created heaven and earth, had strictly commanded children 

 to honor their parents and had threatened with eternal fire those 

 who transgressed this commandment. He added other observa- 

 tions from Holy Writ, which afforded the islanders much pleasure, 

 and inspired them with the desire of being instructed in the true 

 religion. Magellan assured them that before departing he would 

 baptize them all, if they could convince him that they accepted 

 the boon, not through any dread with which he might have in- 

 spired them, or through any expectation of temporal advantage, 

 but from a spontaneous emotion, and of their own will. They 

 convinced him easily of the spontaneity of their feelings, where- 

 upon Magellan wept for joy and embraced them all. Sunday, 

 the 16th of April, was fixed upon for the ceremony. A scaffold 

 was raised and covered with tapestry and branches of palm. A 

 general salute was fired by the squadron. Magellan then told 

 the king that one of the advantages which would accrue to him 

 from embracing Christianity would be that he would be strength- 

 ened, and would more easily overcome his enemies. The king 



