Enrique El Negro

Chapter 1

Enrique History- Enrique El Negro starts in the future with the kids calling out to a very old Yabon asking him to tell them his story. His story begins with Yabon as a young boy with a father who refused to pay tribute to his greedy brother Datu Lakan. Yabons father and his followers come up with a plan to get rid of Datu Lakan and let Yabons father take his place as Datu but their plan is quickly discovered. Little did they know that they had a spy among them who was loyal only to gold so he told Datu Lakan of their plan to get rid of him. Luckily, a nursemaid heard their conversation through the thin walls and she sent her grandson to tell Yabons father to leave the island as quickly as possible or he and his followers would be killed. They then leave the island right after they are told this. When they get far from the island Yabon hears a feint warning cry of the limokon bird. Yabon then asks his father if Datu Lakan would really have killed them and he replied, Yes with sorrow in his eyes.

Actual History- In the Enrique History, it states that there was a spy who was loyal only to the gold when in fact during the pre-colonial time the natives in the Philippines did not have so much precious ores or stones. It also states that the cry of the limokon bird was a warning cry but no such bird exists in real life.

Comparison- In real life, only the datu owned small amounts of valuable ores or gems in the pre-colonial Philippine. In the book it states that there was a spy loyal to gold which would mean that the Datu had enough gold so that he could give it away. Also, in the book the cry of the limokon bird was considered a warning but in real life, the limokon bird does not exist except in stories or legends.

Chapter 2

Enrique History- After escaping the island Yabon had been out in the sea in their balangays for several days. They had fish to eat and they saw a white turtle which they praised but didnt catch. Days east from Yabons island home, their balangays were attacked by pirates. All those who werent killed were captured as slaves. Among his whole family Yabon was the only one alive. His mother and his sisters jumped off the boat because they preferred death by drowning while his father tried fighting the pirates but he failed. While on the pirates ship, he and the other captured were treated very badly. They drank stale water and they were fed bits of molding yam. By the time he had reached the slave market, he had a gaping wound on his ankle.

Actual History- During that time such pirates who would capture people to sell as slaves did exist. The natives of the Philippines also used balangays as their boats and the kampilan and the baladaw were real weapons used by the natives.

Comparison- Most details in this chapter like the pirates, the balangay, and the weapons were very exact when compared to real life.

Chapter 3

Enrique History- This chapter in the book is all about Yabons experience of being a slave and how he was treated as one. It starts out with them arriving on the island of Malaka where they were all brought immediately on foot to the slave market. They were each tied up in the waist and they were treated even worse than the cows that were in the pen behind them. While tied up, Yabon would always try to find an opportunity to escape and he tried it by clinging to the side of the largest cow and it wouldve of worked if the herd had not separated. After several days, Yabon was finally sold to a Portuguese captain who went by the name of Fernao de Magalhaes.

Actual History- Most places, events, and characters in this chapter are actually real such as the island of Malaka, the practice of pirates capturing people to sell as slaves, and the Portuguese captain Fernao de Magalhaes.

Comparison- There is not much to compare in this chapter because of the fact that most things here are exactly how they were a long time ago in the real world.

Chapter 4

Enrique History- Yabon and his new master Fernao Magalhaes sail from Malaka to Portugal. Magalhaes gives Yabon his new Christian name, Enrique. He then boards the huge galleon of the Spaniards and while sleeping he dreams of his father standing on the prow of the balangay looking at the sea. While on the ship he was treated badly by the other sailors and he was given different jobs as a slave such as watching the meat that was being hung on the rails and making sure that the sharks wouldnt be able to reach it. Several weeks out of Malaka, pirates attempt to raid their galleon. Magalhaes then orders his men to prepare the cannons and to fire them when the pirates get close. After several shots the pirate ship was out of sight and only one sailor was lost. They sail for three months and arrive at Portugal.

Actual History- The galleon in real life is almost exactly how it was described in the book. Life as a sailor in the book was also like the life of a sailor in real life. They had to endure the constant rocking of the ship and the dark cabins below the deck. They were always on the lookout for any dangers such as pirates and they had to do different jobs everyday like watching the sea or guarding the food supplies.

Comparison- In this chapter the focus is how Enrique adapts to life on the sea and all the details in the book are quite accurate when you compare them to real life. The descriptions of the galleons, the dangers they faced, and the hardships they had to endure as sailors were almost identical when you compare them to how it was in real life.

Chapter 5

Enrique History- Once they arrived in Portugal and docked at the port of Lisbon, Enrique was very amazed at what he saw because it was all very new to him. Many new things were introduced like the caravels which were boats built for speed, the smell of spices, and the horse that pulled the carriage. Once they arrived at the house he saw even more things like the patio, the caideras for sitting, and the mesas for eating. Portugal to Enrique was a very cold place so he had to dress like the Spaniards. In his masters house, he met his wife Dona Beatriz and their young son Rodrigo. Dona Beatriz could not understand as to why her husband treated Enrique as another human being. They then go to the king and queen of Portugal to tell of his plan to sail around the world to the Spice Islands but they refused because saying that the world was round was considered going against the teachings of the church. Magalhaes who was disappointed planned to propose his plan to the Spanish king but as a soldier of the Portuguese army, he had to go to Morocco to get rid of pirates.

Actual History- Everything that was introduced to Enrique was really in Portugal during that time such as the furniture, the houses, the boats, and the horses. The thing that isnt real is the description of the Portuguese king and queen.

Comparison- If you compare the old Portugal in the book to real life, most of the descriptions of the things that were there meet up to the way that they were in real life making this chapter quite exact. Even with all these correct details there are probably an equal amount of things that are historical fiction like the description of the king and queen or Magalhaes saying that he knew of a secret route when in fact, there was no such thing as the secret route.

Chapter 6

Enrique History- The chapter starts out with the return of Enriques master, Fernao de Magalhaes and the problem in Morocco solved. Magalhaes arrived in one piece but he had a badly wounded knee that would cause him to limp for the rest of his life. A few days after the arrival of Magalhaes, they prepared for their visit to the Spanish court. After five long years, they finally sail to Spain with Ruy Faleiro. Magalhaes made sure that the Spanish king Rey Carlos I would be quickly convinced of the secret route to the West that would allow the Spanish ships to sail in peace to the Spice Islands. The Spanish King accepted his plan and he made Magalhaes commander and Ruy Faleiro Co-commander. He then gave them five galleons which were named Trinidad, Victoria, San Antonio, Concepcion, and Santiago. He ordered the hidalgos or nobles to volunteer their brave young sons as soldiers for the voyage. The Spanish King made sure that they were well equipped for the voyage to the Spice Islands.

Actual History- Like the book says, the names of the five galleons were all correct and Magalhaes was really made commander and he had Ruy Faleiro as co-commander. The injury in his leg is also true but the Portuguese thought that he was only faking his injury.

Comparison- When you compare the details in the book, youll see that most of it is correct and the only thing they missed out was the fact that the Portuguese thought that Magalhaes was only faking the knee injury.

Chapter 7

Enrique History- They sailed from the port of Sanlucar de Barrameda in Cadiz. Enrique was with Magalhaes on the ship Trinidad and he was introduced to the tools that sailors used such as the compass, the hourglass, the astrolabe, and communication through blinking lanterns. On the voyage with them was the Venetian chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta. When not busy with ship duties Pigafetta would ask Enrique about things in his language. Aside from Magalhaes and Pigafetta his only friend was the captains page Juan. From Cadiz they sailed to the Canary Islands to gather pitch for the ships. For two months they sailed southwestward until they reached the island called Sta. Lucia where they anchored their ships. While sailing, three ships planned a mutiny against them but they were quickly found out and Magalhaes hung one captain and left one stranded on a deserted island as punishment leaving only four ships for the voyage. While sailing they experience many hardships such as lack of food and water supplies or heat and these two problems took the lives of many sailors. After several months, Magalhaes demonstrated his anger by burning the huts in the Island of Thieves because they stole everything in the Trinidad that wasnt tied down.

Actual History- All these problems they faced like lack of supplies and heat actually happened and it really did cost many lives. The mutiny planned by the three ships also happened and the tools used by Magalhaes are also real.

Comparison- If you remove from the story the fictional events like Enriques experiences, this chapter would be very accurate when compared to real life. The time between the finding of islands was very realistic and the tools really were used by Magalhaes and many other sailors.

Chapter 8

Enrique History- After sailing for almost two years, they arrive at what Magalhaes thinks is the first of the Spice Islands. While they dock, they are approached by men on balangays and Enrique realizes that they spoke the same language as him. Enrique asks the Datu if they could stay on the island named Homonhon to rest and gather food and he accepts his request. After their much needed rest, they once again set sail, continuing on the southwesterly course until they reached another island. There, they were approached by a baroto, which was a smaller boat than a balangay. Enrique tries convincing them that they came in peace but they were confused because Enrique could speak their language but he was dressed like a Spaniard. Shortly after the baroto sailed away, two balangays approached their ship and the Datu was in one of the ships. To prove that they came in peace, Magalhaes allowed the datu whose name was Kalamba and his men to board the ship and have a look around. The Datu allowed them to dock in his island Limasawa and there, they were treated with the greatest of hospitality.

Actual History- There is proof that Magalhaes really visited the two islands of Homonhon and Limasawa. The proof also shows that in these places, they introduced new things to the natives of the Philippines.

Comparison- These two islands were really in the route of Captain Fernao de Magalhaes and evidence shows that in these places, he first made extended contact with the natives of the Philippines.

Chapter 9

Enrique History- After weeks of rest, they set sail for the bigger island of Sugbu. Upon seeing the coast of Sugbu, Magalhaes ordered his men to fire the cannons at the island. Magalhaes then ordered Enrique to go with his foster son to island and find the datu. Once they found the datu who was named Humabon, Enrique lied that the cannons were a sign of peace and he believed him so he allowed the landings of the Spaniards. During the landings, the frayles attempted to convert the village priests, the babaylanes. Humabon and Magalhaes make a blood compact which made them both blood brothers. Humabon and his wife Humamay were both Christianized on the request of Magalhaes and in exchange, he would have to conquer the island of Maktan for him.

Actual History- While the Spaniards were in the Philippines, they really reached the island of Sugbu where they met Datu Humabon. Like in most islands, they tried to convert the natives to Christians but for it to work he had to make a blood compact with the Datu and he also had to conquer the nearby island of Maktan

Comparison- Although most events in the book really happened, there are no records of Magalhaes actually firing his cannons at the island of Sugbu just to trick the Datu that it was a sign of peace and friendship.

Chapter 10

Enrique History- Lapu Lapu was the Datu of the island Maktan and he didnt like the pale visitors. Magalhaes talked to Enrique about his dreams and visions of the expeditions. He dreamed that three ships would be full of gold and spices, and the king would appoint him as governor general of the Mollucas. Magalhaes promised the officers that they would all go home a rich man. Unfortunately, Magalhaes craved for power and led him to do unjust things. He disapproved of the Mangayaws or raids that collected slaves. These raids were mostly done to prove the strength of the clans and the successful raiders were often treated as local heroes and sung about. Enriques favorite song was about Datu Sumanga. Magalhaes then commited even more mistakes. His mistake was to ask Lapu-Lapu to pay tribute to the Spanish king and to recognize Datu Humabon as the stronger Datu. Lapu-Lapu denies this request leaving an angry Magalhaes whose next plan was to threaten them.

Actual History- The things that were actually real were the Mangayaws or the raids to collect slaves and Lapu-Lapu was the actual Datu of Maktan. The things that werent real were Datu Sumanga and the fact that there wasnt any gold in Maktan.

Comparison- The song of Datu Sumanga is not actually real and the gold Magalhaes was looking for wasnt there in real life.

Chapter 11

Enrique History- Magalhaes and his troops sailed in the Victoria and while sailing Enrique sees a white turtle and clearly remembers the last time he saw it. Magalhaes and his soldiers were dressed for war but the ship could not come any closer because of the shallow reefs. The village in Maktan seemed deserted but they knew that they were just hiding and waiting for them. As they were nearing Maktan, Enrique was told to shout, Surrender or I will burn your houses and your precious coconut trees. When the natives heard what he said they all charged at the Spaniards from behind the houses. While the battle was going on Enrique was hacking at the legs of the Spaniards who were about to burn the houses but he still couldnt stop them from doing so. Once their houses were burnt the natives seemed to fight even harder. During the battle LapuLapus soldiers started firing poisoned arrows while the Spaniards were countering with their muskets which didnt at all prove effective. Enrique sees Magalhaes get hit by an arrow in the leg and he gets hit on the cheek by a kampilan. As soon as the Spaniards saw Magalhaes they all fled back to the ship and a confused Enrique went along with them.

Actual History- In the book it says that the boats couldnt get close because of shallow reefs but it was because of the low tides. The details that are real are the facts that the Spanish really were outnumbered, their weapons were proved useless, Magalhaes really got killed, and Pigafetta really survived.

Comparison- If you compare the battle in the book to real life, most of it was described like it really happened. They were outnumbered, their cannons and muskets were useless, and they really lost their leader Magalhaes.

Chapter 12

Enrique History- The remaining Spaniards fled back to the island of Homonhon. They ask Datu Humabon for the body of Magalhaes and his jewelry. Humabon refuses and instead invites them all to a farewell feast. The Spaniards accepted it and during the feast they ate so much food and got so drunk that they werent prepared for the warriors of Humabon who jumped out of the walls and killed all the Spaniards at the feast. The remaining Spaniards who werent at the feast fled back to Spain while Enrique stayed behind. Upon realizing that he was in the area of his birthplace he then became the first person to go around the globe.

Actual History- The Spaniards did actually ask for the body of Magalhaes but they didnt ask directly and they didnt attend any feast.

Comparison- Instead of asking directly for the body of Magalhaes and attending the feast, they went straight back to Spain and they asked for his body only through messages.