[...] commanded him to be kind to the natives [...]
What a nice suggestion.
[...] and convert them to Christianity.
Oh. Never mind.
[...] he had tried to convince some of the locals that he was a deity [...]
Well, par for the course then. Anyway, I think all this new knowledge is making my nose tickle.... aaa... achoo! !sneeze
Bless you (for the sneeze).