Dirk Anthony Ballendorf: Professor of History and Micronesian Studies -
University of Guam

Said Ballendorf..."Someone said, history is a story of something that never happened told by a person that was never there."

Saturday, 6 March, was Discovery Day here on Guam, the 483rd anniversary of Magellan's stop at Guam in 1521. "It was the greatest sea voyage ever made in the world," said in studio guest Dirk Ballendorf appearing in the March 10th broadcast of Rlene"Live" on K57 Radio.

"The voyage was completed against great odds and controversial from the start," said the professor. History has proven how controversial that journey was with a Pacific twist to the notorious journey. It eventually cost Magellan his life.
 

Magellan was a Portuguese who changed his citizenship to become Spanish and sailed for King Carlos I of Spain who later became Carlos V, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

The University of Guam Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC) historian said, "In 1519, Magellan set out to sea from Civille with five ships and headed down the cost of Africa to the Cape Verde Islands; the narrowest point in the Atlantic and crossed there and headed down the east coast of South America."

At the time the world was lit only by fire, (candles and torches) but there was great contention over the ability to travel the vast ocean. The concept of circumnutating the world meant "Europeans had to have money to outfit expeditions; ... marine architects to design vessels; and a supply of young adventurous males willing to undertake a voyage that would put their lives on the line," said our guest. He pointed out that women also made the voyages although he qualified that their services were not maritime related. Ballendorf speculates (italics ours) that they were probably Indonesian woman, and mentioned, "There were three women aboard when the voyage returned to Spain." Their names not noteworthy.

Ballendorf's interview reveals many highlights of Magellan's voyage. Putting down the first mutiny with the assistance of family members; Magellan ordered the beheading of two of the "'leading perpetrators' of the mutiny as soon as they were discovered," said Ballendorf and impressed upon the significance of Magellan's order. "He had their heads on spikes as an example to the others." The frustration of the men was a result of the government cheating them out of inadequate supplies and pay only to be discovered after departure.

Commemorating Discovery Day in Guam is an event that elicits mixed feelings to some individuals of Chamorro decent. For others its merriment and opportunity to carnival. The diverse opinions are more controversial than was the value and importance of the voyage at the beginning. Magellan's arrival at Guahan was an important highlight of the journey because he had underestimated the expanse and doldrums of the Pacific Ocean.

The Chamorros, were an eager people to interact with an uncommon passing ship, quickly boarded and took much of the ship's iron and Captain's skiff.
 

Dirk Anthony Ballendorf
Professor of History and Micronesian Studies University of Guam Mangilao, Guam 96923 USA

Phone: (671) 735-2154
Fax:   (671) 734-7403

Email: ballendo@uog9.uog.edu

 Interaction with the Chamorros led to a cultural misunderstanding and eventually a legendary battle resulting in the dubbing of the island as the Isla de Ladrones (island of thieves.)

It is the latter reasoning that individuals continue to defend the Chamorro action through cultural attitudes and tradition. Valuable exchange of resources was justified. Magellan's crew got needed provisions and the Chamorro people took what they needed, metal. The bias however is not justified when one attempts to associate Magellan's reference practical when assessing government administration of Guam by Chamorros.

The 1521 exchange was a no victory; but to the historian and the future go the spoils.