Historical Butuan (part 3)

The ancient vessel then was about 15 to 18 meters in length as mentioned in Pigafetta's account in their 1521 voyage when Magellan?s voyage reached the Philippine shores.

In 1977, local Butuan historian Adolfo Busa Sanchez wrote in his book "1521 Limasawa" that the "balanghai" is more of a royal family boat. It is large enough to house the entire family of a datu or rajah.

"It can be converted into a warboat and it has a capacity of from 25 to 30 passengers or warriors. It is a kind of a boat about 15 to 17 meters long, built on its sides like a wine cask, with strips of timber planks fastened by strong wooden dowels. This boat is so constructed that it can be utilized to easily navigate along narrow waterway such as rivers and big stream, and it could also be used as a fishing boat in the open sea during fair weather."

(to be continued)