Christopher and Cosmas

Christopher and Cosmas (the English sources mention the Christopher first name, but it is probable that its first name of baptism has in fact be Cristobal . In the same way, Cosmas is sometimes called Cosme .) sailors Japanese was two, known only under their Christian names Christian, which are known to have travelled on the Pacific Ocean on a Spanish Galion in 1587, then later accompanied the English navigator Thomas Cavendish in England, with the Brésil and on the South Atlantic, where they disappear at the time of the shipwreck of his ship in 1592.

Western accounts

Crossing of the Pacific on a Spanish galleon

They are mentioned for the first time by the navigator Francis Pretty, in the report of Richard Hakluyt of the voyages of Cavendish. He writes that the November 4th 1587, Cavendish, then 32 years old, intercepts using its two vessels (the Desire , 120 barrels, and the Content , 60 barrels) a Spanish galleon of Manila named Santa Anna off the coast of California (with Bernabe Bay, with a few 20 miles in the east of Cabo San Lucas.) Cavendish unloads the crew on the shore, takes the rich person cargo and puts fire at the ship. However, it takes on board with him several members of the crew of the galleon for his future voyages. In particular, it takes in its crew two young Japanese

The sixth day of November, we went in a port which is called by the Spaniards Puerto Seguro. There, the whole of the group of Spaniards, in all 190 people, was left on the shore But before its departure, it took in this large ship two young men born in Japan, who could write and read their own language|Richard Hakluyt, Voyages and Discoveries: Principal Navigations, Voyages, Adulterate & Discoveries off the English Nation, Voyage off Thomas Cavendish round the whole earth , p. 287, ISBN 0-14-043073-3. Also Francis Pretty, admirable And prosperous voyage off the Worshipfull Master Thomas Candish off Trimley… , in Hakluyt Voyages , vol. 8, Everyman' S Library, London, 1907, p.237.　Also Hakluyt' S Voyages , published by Richard Davis, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1981, p. 559.

The Christopher, oldest, has approximately 20 years, and Cosmas 16. Both are described as being very able.

Among Spanish left on the shore the explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno is, who will play later a big role in the development of the relations between the News-Spain and Japan.

Indian Oceans and the Atlantic and voyage in England

Cavendish carries on its road while crossing the oceans Pacifique and Indien until the England. The two Japanese accompany it during all this tour, and remain probably three years in England, insofar as they are mentioned thereafter during the following mission of Cavendish towards the South Atlantic, not in Voyages of Hakluyt, but in the writings of Samuel Purchas (“ admirable The adventures and strange fortunes off Master Antonie Knivet, which went with Master Thomas Candish in his second voyage to the South Sea. 1591 ”).

The Southern Brazil and Pacific

Cavendish leaves indeed Plymouth for the Brésil in August 1591, in a voyage where it will leave the life. Parchas describes the role taken by the two young Japanese in the hanging of a Portuguese which sailed with them on the ship:

The two Japanese that Cavendish had brought back of its first voyage plotted to kill a poor Portuguese in the following way (they have it in fact denounced with the Admiral by jealousy): As the Admiral was sat at table for his dinner, the two Japanese came to his cabin, speaking with high voice so that everyone hears them, explaining that the sailing Portuguese with them was a traitor, who had to them with many recoveries to flee in Brazil. And that he had said to them that, if God allowed the desire of the Admiral to conquer the town of Santos, he would guide them towards the South Seas, where they could obtain a considerable reward in exchange of information. Following this denunciation, the poor Portuguese was hung.)| admirable The adventures and strange fortunes off Master Antonie Knivet, which went with Master Thomas Candish in his second voyage to the South Sea. 1591 , in Hakluytus Posthumus gold Parchas His Pilgrimes, Vol.16, New York: AMS Near, 1965, pages 178-179.

Christopher appears later in the newspapers of Knivet:

Our departure of England until our arrival with Santos, I maintained a very friendly relation with the Christopher Japanese. This is because it had a so interesting personal history. The Indian and myself became very intimate one with the other, and we did not hide anything one with the other. As I relied on him for a long time, I spoke to him about the gold which I had found under the bed of a monk the attack of Santos. He as spoke to me about gold as he had found. We decided to share our currency into two, with the grace of God. After four days, when came the moment to leave, he says to me that the season was not good to sail, and that we should hide our currency with ground and to leave it there. I was convinced and gave my agreement so that it recommended. Secretly, we decided that, the day when we were supposed to leave, it would go to ground in a canoe with gold, and would hide it with ground. This morning, I gave him all my money, and he promised to me that he would return in the two hours. I waited five hours during, and I believed that I was going to have to wait for the remainder of my life. It occurred finally that it had already returned on the boat. The things turned well, I recovered my currency, but our friendship was finished as from this day|Ibid, pages 183-184.

In this passage, it is difficult to determine if Christopher really tries to steal the gold of Kniver, or if it is about a misunderstanding.

Starting from this point, Christopher and Cosmas are mentioned more in no source than it is. Cavendish and its ship the Lester avoid little a disaster in the Magellan Strait. While turning over to the Brazil, they face of the Portuguese in a battle where the majority of the men of Cavendish are killed. Cavendish takes along the Lester through the Ocean towards the island Sainte-Hélène, but its ship disappears then. Christopher and Cosmas probably died during these events.

Other Japanese travellers

Christopher and Cosmas represent the first Japanese mention travelling through the Pacific. They illustrate the participation of the Japanese sailors in the transpacific trade of the galleons of Manila, but also the will of the ships of the time to take on their board sailors of various nationalities.

Many voyages will follow theirs during the next century. Between 1598 and 1640, Shuinsen will traverse the Pacific for the Asian trade, and of the embassies on Japanese ships of Western style will be sent to the America S, under the direction of Shōsuke Tanaka in 1610 and of Tsunenaga Hasekura in 1614.

Finally, after the first contacts with the Occident in 1543, the Japanese acquire the transoceanic talents of voyages and European naval construction, before losing them with the closing of the country (Sakoku) in 1640.

While sailing to the Magellan Strait, Christopher and Cosmas were close to being the first Japanese to buckle the first Circumnavigation sphere. That will not finally arrive before 1837 with the voyages of Otokichi.

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