The Songs of Strife

12 OFFERINGS

On the second day in the island of Zubu, Magalhaes sent one of his men to get the chronicler and their tribute to the rajah. Delcano, Barboza's pilot and second in command, went with them to natives' village. After a short trek, they arrived and gathered inside an open hut near a narrow river just at the edge of the village.

"So, this is Zubu," Delcano said as he sat on the bamboo floor. It wasn't the most comfortable place to sit in but the ventilation made things bearable.

"Yes, master," Mallaca replied, passing the tray of 'basi' wine.

"What was the village's name again?"

"Singhapala Mavolo, master Delcano. It means the lion city of Mavolo."

"Ah, yes..." Delcano drank the cup in his hand in one gulp and made a face. "These people know how to make a drink." He raised the empty cup and smiled.

"You... you better try their palm wine then, master." Mallaca offered the clay jug to Delcano with a smile. "Master Barboza and other men drank this yesterday and they're still reeling with their hangovers." Both men laughed.

"Sure," Delcano said as he poured himself a cup from the jug. "So what did we miss? Anything interesting happening here?"

"Well, nothing much. The... the man talking to master Pigafetta is Datu Zullah." Mallaca pointed to the hooked nosed man next to the chronicler. "He is one of the chief of Opon Matan, the island we passed going here. A very hospitable fellow...much like the rajah himself. Good-natured, all of them."

"Opon? Is that the little island where Giant Siagu went?" He drank the cup of palm wine and gave a grimace.

"Yes, master."

"So, there's other savage tribes there?"

Mallaca nodded. "Four chiefs and ten or so tribes."

Delacano offered his cup to Mallaca to be refilled. "And who's that?" He indicated the man sitting on the velvet cushions on a bamboo dais with the Captain General. The fat man with Magalhaes was very animated, pointing at the countless carved idols beside them, knocking one or two in the process.

Magalhaes turned at their direction and waved at Mallaca.

"He is Rajah Humabara, the regent of this island," he said to Delcano. He stood up. "Master, may I excuse myself? The Captain General beckons me."

"Go, go I can handle myself," replied the thick browed sailor as he poured himself another drink from the jug.

Mallaca went to Magalhaes, who walked side by side with the corpulent regent a dozen yards away from the enticing water of the river. He stopped and bowed down to show respect to both men. Magalhaes replied with a smile.

"Mallaca, do translate what I say to the honorable Rajah," Magalhaes said.

"Yes, lord."

Magalhaes cleared his throat and started. "We give our offerings to you great king of Zubu not for fear, but because of great affection. And because we are true Christian knights." He pointed to four chest filled with assorted things, glinting and glimmering in the sun. "We wish to be the instruments of great Spain's benevolence. We wish to be your allies. Your friends." Mallaca translated it all with ease.

Rajah Humabara nodded and gave a curt smile. "I wholeheartedly accept it," he said.

After hearing the translation from Mallaca, Fernao de Magalhaes smiled .

Humabara turned and signaled the two men to follow him as he walked on. "I have enjoyed you fantastic tales, captain. And I would also like to return the favor myself. So, I and my queen would like to become the great Christians that you often speak of. It would truly be an honor if you let us join you. And as a gesture of peace, I have ordered my men to get you the supplies you asked yesterday. Three days from now my men will have gathered enough goods to fill one of your ship with the victuals you need."