Thread by @wdddy

in july 1602, francois pyrard along with 40 men got shipwrecked on the reefs of baa, fulhadhoo, maldives. this is the story of how the men were saved and their first few weeks

"The ship having half-heeled over ... we all thought the ship must go to the bottom as we could see nothing but heavy waves going over us. After .. dawn ... we sighted some islands"

"We then bethought us to prepare some craft to carry us ... We took spars and rods ... bound together in the manner of large hurdle, and on to that we nailed a number of planks and boards brought up from below."

"We were working at this raft ... until after noon; but all our labour was in vain, as it was impossible to get it over the reef and afloat. This made us loose all courage and hope; ... in addition to this the sea was so tempestuous .. could not have resisted its violence. "

"We perceived a boat approaching us from the island ... the best swimmer ... made for her, begging the men ... to come to our aid; but they would do nothing ... we could not imagine the reason for this inhumanity and barbarism."

"I afterwards found that all persons were strictly prohibited from boarding or approaching a wrecked ship, except by command of the king, or by leave of the nearest king's officers..."

"Next day, 3rd July 1602, we got the [ship] over the reefs... This done we got all on board, taking with us swords, arquebuses (guns), and small pikes, and pulled towards the islands. ... we got a shore at one of the islands called Pouladou [Fuladu, Goidu Atoll]"

"As soon as we reached..., the natives ... would not permit us to land till we were first disarmed... they pulled up our [ship], and took ... things and sent them all to the neighboring islands... i perceived from this first view that they were a spirited and quick-witted race"

"As their island was small... and its inhabitants numbered only 20-25, they had to fear the arrival with arms of a greater number than themselves... make ourselves masters of their island ..., had we known their weakness; but, as I have said they took the right measures."

"Our disembarking we were all led to a building in the middle of the island, where they gave us some fruit, coconuts, and limes... the load of the island called Ybrahim and [Kilage] .. he knew some Portuguese, by means of which he put many questions"

"When we had been in this building for the space of a day they took our mate and two sailors away to the king,... in another island, called Male. Our mate took the piece of scarlet and presented it to the king, and was well received being lodged within the palace."

"The king soon sent this brother-in-law with a goodly number of soldiers in barques to go to our wreck and get from it all he could. This was the brother of the cheif queen, and was entitled Ranabandery (Treasurer) [Takuru-fanu] [Mouhamede]"

"When he came to the island, we were treated better on the occasion of his arrival, and were taken often to the ship to help in getting out the merchandise, baggage, and all the wearing apparel. But they laughed at the advice we gave them for they knew better than we."

"the king's brother-in-law ..., distributed some of us among the surrounding islands ..., and on his return took with him our captain and 5/6 others... king promised to get a ship ready...our captain ... died at Male ... about 6/7 weeks after"