There's more to the 17th century Italian traveler's Marinduque mention

 

Giovanni Francesco Careri, Seventeenth century Italian adventurer and traveler

Just going back to Careri’s 1696 (1697 in his book), mention of Marinduque in his journal, (link here) the feature writer in the South China Morning Post took fancy on the episode. 

Thanks to him for the rare feature, lest we might not have known about it at all, but apparently he added some embellishments in interpreting Careri's account. 

In Marinduque, the galleon with Careri aboard, sent a champan to Marinduque for some fresh provisions. But the galleon did get loads of it after all, courtesy of "the Jesuits from that Parish", contrary to what was written that the champan returned to the galleon empty-handed.

How did I find out?

Curious, I decided to look for the original text of the adventurer and traveler Careri’s 'A Voyage Round the World', as there could be more to that. Indeed there's more and the relevant text is reproduced here.

Of course, we’re lucky to have been made aware of such an encounter with Marinduque by a world traveler in those forgotten years. But with the new information from Careri’s original work, new curiosities are in fact raised. 

He specified the location of the galleon in question which was "between the islands of Banton and Point of Marinduque which was on our left".

We find that after 8 days the champan they sent returned from Marinduque "loaded with refreshments given them by the Jesuits of that Parish". 

Now, which Marinduque parish could that be, as there were three towns already established in the island at that time. The Jesuits have indeed taken over the island and they "stayed and founded three towns: Boac, Sta. Cruz and Gasang, with a smaller settlement or visita attached to the last named."

I already have established the location of this mysterious visita of Mahanguin in an earlier blog, this is in southern Marinduque, but by now that name has been completely forgotten (Link). Now we have a record of a direct interaction for fresh provisions between a galleon and a visita in a particular site. It has further implications.

Readings from the past is exciting.

Antique Marinduque map with Mahanguin, P. Vandermaelen

From: A Voyage Round the World, Book III, page 480: 

"Tuesday 15^th, before Day we passed between the islands of Banton and Point of Marinduque, which was on our left. This island abounds in Fruit, and very nourishing Roots; as also in wild Boars, Deer, Buffalos, and other Creature; and therefore we sent the Chiampan thither before us to get fresh Provisions. Near the point of Marinduque is a small Island, like that at Banton, called Botonsillo, or little Button; behind which is another called Simara, inhabited by Civilized Indians, as Banton is…

"… Having coasted along the Island of Ticao all Night, on Saturday 21^st, in the Morning, two Hours after Sunrising, we came to an Anchor in the Port of St. Hyacinthus, opposite to Sursegon. The Alcalde Mayor, or chief Magistrate of Alvay, came Aboard on Sunday 22d, and brought the Captain a Present of 20 Hogs, 500 Hens, and a great deal of Fruit.

"Monday 23d, the Chiampan came from Marinduque loaded with Refreshments given them by the Jesuits of that Parish, for the Fathers John Grigoven, Antony Borgia, and Peter Antony Martinez, who were Aboard us Bound for New Spain; one to stay there, the other to go to Rome for the Affairs of the Mission…"