Fantastic voyage; Dennis Tunstall is fascinated by a tale of pioneering heroism on a literally global scale.

Byline: Dennis Tunstall

IN September 1522, a badly battered ship was towed to her mooring in Seville harbour. Barely afloat with her pumps continuously working, this unique ship had the town a buzz with talk.

Despite her small size -85 tons -and looking more like a wreck than a hero, this ship had accomplished what no other ship before her had -circumnavigated the globe.

Her crew were in a bad way, some hardly able to stand and reduced to only 18 men but they had completed what was arguably the greatest voyage of all time and what was more, they had made it pay. The hold was crammed with cargo from the Spice Islands and each survivor was worth a fortune from the riches of the East.

Laurence Bergreen's book Over The Edge of the World tells the story of the voyage conceived and undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan on behalf of Charles 1st of Spain.

King Charles provided him with five ships and in August 1519 he left Spain for South America but supplies soon ran short and men began to succumb to the hideous scourge of scurvy. Magellan crossed to the coast of South America and began to search southwards for the passage he believed would allow him past the barrier of the American continent.

The jealousies and rivalries which had simmered since their voyage boiled over and Magellan had his first,but not last,open mutiny. Acting decisively he retook the rebel ships, tortured and executed the ringleaders and marooned two,one a priest,in the wilderness ashore.

In October success crowned their efforts and the straits which now bear Magellan's name were found. The accomplishment is acknowledged as the greatest single feat of seamanship in the history of maritime exploration. 98 days of easy sailing now followed but men were dying of scurvy and starvation. The remaining supplies were rotten and filthy. Bilge rats,if caught were a luxury item and the mariners even ate the leather hide fixings on the ships rigging but,in a dreadful state, they finally landed on what is now the island of Guam.

The sailors must have thought they had reached paradise. Food a plenty soon had them recovering but on April 27 1521Magellan and his men were overwhelmed and murdered by a local army.

More by good luck than judgement the survivors found the Spice Islands, theTrinidad leaking badly trying to make it back across the Pacific to Central America. Half -The trials, tribulations and tremendous success of the first ever voyage around the world make a heroic tale stirringly told in Laurence Bergreen's page-turning offeringway, starving and dying of scurvy, they gave up and sailed back.

They were captured by their old enemy, thePortugese, stripped and finally wrecked in a gale.

The last survivor,Victoria, struggled on until,on September 6,1522, this fantastic voyage ended.

Over the Edge of the World, by Laurence Bergreen,Harper Collins, pounds 25.