When arriving at San Lucar, Cano wrote to the king of Spain, giving him a summary of the voyage. When Charles V received Cano's letter, he responded immediately, congratulating the captain and the crew of the Victoria on their remarkable achievement. Cano provided a harsh indictment of his former chief, Ferdinand Magellan, for his dictatorial treatment of officers, his foolhardiness, his recalcitrance and harshness. On the contrary, Pigafetta, a nobleman, who recorded daily events throughout the voyage in full details, and who accompanied Magellan to the battle of Mactan, paid eloquent tribute to him. He presented his journal to the king, and the copies of his journal have become the most valuable source for understanding the voyage of Magellan.
The human cost of Magellan's expedition was horrendous. The small profit realized from the sale of the Victoria's cargo could never be construed as a reasonable return on investment. The route to the west that he discovered would never again be used for any purpose. Yet, for all these failures, Magellan's voyage represents a triumph of the human spirit. For this and for its contribution to man's knowledge of the true size of this world and the extent of its oceans, his achievement stands unparalleled in history. Truly, his achievement stands unparalleled in human history.
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