Magellan’s death in the Philippines
The story of Ferdinand Magellan is one of the most adventurous stories ever told in human history. He was an adventurous explorer from Portugal and his expeditions included the East Indies in the early 1500s (Briney par. 7). Magellan took adventurous risks during his voyages and nobody could match his willingness to do the unthinkable.
In 1520, he led a flotilla of ships with 270 crew members on board from the port of Spain with a mission to find a waterway round the Americas (“History: Magellan killed in the Philippines” par. 4). In this journey, he did not know what lay ahead beyond the shores. He assumed that the journey would be short and that he would cross the west pacific easily to reach the Spice Islands (“History: Magellan killed in the Philippines” par. 4).
On their way, the crew experienced a lot of hardship having to put up with starvation, unprecedented diseases, and mutiny (“History: Magellan killed in the Philippines” par. 6). Unfortunately, Magellan did not realize his goal since he lost his life on the way. During one of their confrontations with the natives on an island in the Philippines, his life was cut short. However, the remaining crewmembers soldered on and they successfully completed the mission. However, the five-ship convoy had been reduced to two ships since the rest were destroyed during the confrontation with the natives.
The two ships returned home loaded with cloves even though the Portuguese captured one of the ships (“History: Magellan killed in the Philippines” par. 7). Only one of the five ships returned home although three years from the day of departure the captured ship returned as well (“History: Magellan killed in the Philippines” par. 7).
Captain Cook’s death in Hawaii
Captain Cook was a surveyor in the royal navy and in 1778, he made his first trip to the Hawaiian Islands (“State Library: The Death of Cook” par.3). The Hawaiians were very hospitable to the captain and his crew. He received a warm welcome, as the native remained fascinated by the European’s iron ships (“State Library: The Death of Cook” par.3). It is alleged that his sailors traded iron nails for sex with the natives. Captain Cook and his crew left the islands and headed to North Atlantic to the pacific (“State Library: The Death of Cook” par.3). In their second return to the Hawaiian Islands, the reception was different.
Their point of entry was the Kealakekua Bay, which was considered the sacred harbor (“State Library: The Death of Cook” par.4). This time, they were received as gods. Since they had arrived during the celebratory period dedicated to Lono the sacred harbor, they were honored. However, this change when one of the crew members died and the natives realized that these were mere mortals just like them.
In 1779, the British sailors began their journey home but the journey was not successful due to the rough seas (“State Library: The Death of Cook” par.4). This forced the captain and his crew to return to Hawaii where they were received by hurling rocks from the Hawaiians. The locals stole a small cutter vessel, which triggered the confrontation that led to Captain Cook’s death. Talks to negotiate the retrieval of the vessel were halted when a Hawaiian chief was shot dead and the angry natives descended on the captain’s crew (“State Library: The Death of Cook” par.5).
Captain Cook’s crew was overwhelmed by the angry mob. The captain himself died during the mob confrontation in the Hawaii islands although a few of his members managed to escape to safety. Therefore, Captain Cook was killed by the angry mob that was hurling stones on his convoy (“State Library: The Death of Cook” par.5).
Works Cited
Briney, Amanda. Ferdinand Magellan Biography of Ferdinand Magellan. 2014. Web.
History: Magellan killed in the Philippines 1521. Web.
State Library: The Death of Cook 2014. Web.