Wojciech (Albert) Męciński, 1598-1643, was a Polish Jesuit priest determined to preach in Japan, despite knowing there were dangers en route to Japan, and even graver danger once he arrived.
In June of 1636, he boarded a ship sailing from Malacca to Japan through Macau. Unfortunately, his ship was seized by the Dutch near Hainan island and he was taken to Taiwan and kept there for 6 months.
At first the Dutch told them they would soon be released, but ended up forcing the captives to herd cows. Męciński used his medical knowledge to cure illnesses of his fellow captives, and once the word spread, he even cured the son of the Gouverneur van Formosa, which would have been either Hans Putmans or Johan van der Burg. That’s when he received better treatment in Fermosa, which was how he spelt it. A Dutch pastor asked Męciński to stay, which he replied “I won’t stay even if you give me the whole of Holland.”
The captives were finally free to go when a Japanese merchant ship en route to Batavia made a stop, and they were dropped off at Manila. From Manila, Męciński made his way to Cochinchina and boarded a Portuguese ship to Macau. The Dutch also tried to seize that ship, but this time Męciński’s ship was able to escape.
While in Macau, Męciński sent 14 letter back to Romanum Societatis Iesu headquarters in Rome. In a January 3 1638 letter to Muzio Vitelleschi, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Męciński described his experiences in Taiwan. That record is now known as Insulae Formosae descriptio, which was originally in Latin, and has since been translated to Polish, Italian, English and Chinese.
Took me a second to realize that’s English.
The island Formosa lyeth in the Latitude of 22 degrees, it is situated between the Kingdomes of China and Giappone; before you come thither you must passe by a great number of islands named Liqueu;the length of this island is 150 miles, the breadth 75.
The Hollanders have there a fort placed in a sandy vale, under which lyeth the Port, which is encompassed with bankes of sand, and if it were not distinguished and secured by certain posts set up in the water, the entrance would be very difficult even to those of the Countrie. On the other side of the island towards the East, the Spanyards have a fort, distant from that of the Hollanders 90 miles by sea, and by land 45, as is reported. The soyle of the island is so fruitfull, that is produceth grasse nine or ten palmes high (a palme is nine inches, English measure) where the Hollanders feed their cattell. There is so great abundance of stagges, that it feemeth incredible to him that hath not seen it. Father Albertus Miceschi, (who lived there in the condition of a slave) relateth, that, riding to the next woods with leave from the Governour, to gather some medicinall hearbes, he saw by the way so great a multutude of stagges, that he judged them to be the herds belonging to the people of the Country, dispersed up and downe the fields, till coming neerer he found with his eyes the contrary. There are so many of those Animals called Alces or Elkes, the which, I did hitherto beleeve, were only to be found in Lutuania and the adjancent Countries. There are also many other Animals wholly differering from ours, and altogether strange to us. It is the likest Country to Europe of all India; it enjoyeth an healthfull ayre, and cold, like ours. It produceth some spices, but not in great plentyl as Petter in the woods, and Cynamon on the mountaines, & camphire trees of a notable bignesse, China roots, and Salsapariglia, in great quantitie. There are also gold mines, but the Hollanders have not yet open’d them.
The people of the Countrie weare no manner of cloathes; neverthelesse both men and women doe cover that, which in all the India’s useth to be hidden from fight, by the instinct of nature. They dwell in the round houses made with Bulrishes of feverall colours, beautifull to behold a farre off. Their ordinary food is stagges flesh as fat as porke; and rice; of which also they make very strong wine. Most of them doe turne Protestants by the perswasion of the Holland Ministers, and live verteously. They are tall and active of body, so fleet in running that they are able to single out, and run downe a Stagge in their hunting. Their Lords doe weare a Crowne of dead mens skulls, stitched together and embellished with silke; and these are the heads of their enemies killed by themselves. Their King weareth two wings of various feathers upon his head; others crowne themselves with apples of gold, others make themselves hornes of a certaine straw, made up with Bufolo’s haire. They gird themselves also about with a girdle of young Bulrushes curiously woven. They carry hanging at their breast two Tortoises and a woodden mallet, which serve them in stead of a drum. There is likewise another Island neere to it, inhabited by fierce savage people, who kill, whosoever goeth thither. The above named father Miceschi saw one of them taken by the Hollanders, who was fifteen palmes high, as it seemed to him.
If there are typoes, I apologize, but at this point I can’t tell between a typo and original Shakespearean period spelling anymore…
Męciński eventually made it to Japan in August of 1642. He was quickly captured by the local lord, imprisoned, and tortured by hanging upside down in a cave for 5 months. He died on March 23, 1643.
