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Sep 23, 1534
Day at Sea
We have been at sea for 30 days, we think, and it hasn't gone real well. Rationining started as soon as we left the England. Hunger is a real problem, and some of the food is already spoiled. We are kept at three biscuits a day, and only two peices of jerky. We sleep on the deck without any cushions, and some of the men are quite sea sick. I can't sleep at night because the scurrying rats keep me awake. -
Nov 8, 1534
Port in San Juan
Today I was lucky enough to be in the 23 man landing party to San Juan. It is a Spanish port on the island of Puerto Rico. We brought with us sugar and wine to trade for gold. The gold mines are prosperous here, and we were lucky to get a good haul from the natives. They are kind enough. The city is heavily guarded and it makes the crew uneasy... -
Dec 30, 1534
Day at Sea
It is winter time, but it hardly seems so. It is so hot here that we sweat all day and sweat all night. We replentished food in San Juan, so that doesn't seem quite as much an issue. However, a disease is spreading among the crew. Many men are hurling and getting rashes and fevers. I fear for them and for me. The captain is not so kind to us either. Some of the healthy men are planning a mutiny, but I am not sure it is our place to overule the captain... -
Jan 22, 1535
Port Royale
We landed in Port Royale today. It is like a peice of England was taken right from the motherland, and placed in the Carribean. We had to trade away some of the gold from San Juan. They had good offers on it here, and they gave us food, spices, and a bit of money for a drink in the local taverns. The pubs here are the best! Several of the men got very drunk, and started rambling the streets, barely able to stand! We must set off again tomorrow, so we figure we must enjoy happiness now. -
Feb 19, 1535
Day at Sea
The group of crew members went forward with their mutiny plans. I'm afraid they lost and all of them were thrown over the deck and into the sea. I believe some of them were probably eaten, some probably drowned, and some probably swam for miles and became too exhausted. I can't believe the thing the captain has done, but he is justified in it. The food is, as always, very crummy and of poor quality. I just want to be home, back in England. I miss my old life, my family, a warm house... -
Jun 9, 1535
Port in Guadeloupe
I was again part of the landing party, but today to the French port of Guadeloupe. With us, we simply brought sugar and salt. We hoped they would be generous to us, because we had nothing. They were! The natives loved our arrival and supplied us with coffee, cocoa, pineapples, and pomegranates! We ate and drank for hours before loading teh ships with these goods and heading off again. On our way out, we saw a rather large Spanish Galleon. We think it might have attacked after we departed. -
Jul 25, 1535
Day at Sea
The sun is scorching us all. The men on deck are burnt, and the ropes leave burns and scrapes too. Calluses are forming on all of our hands, and we are cut and bleeding from the harsh equipment. Along with being burned by the sun, it makes us sweat out our ears! It's presence is always in the sky, and it shines in our eyes. I may return home a charred, bloody, blind man... -
Sep 2, 1535
Venezuela!!
We docked in the prosperous city of Caracas! We did not have anything to trade but what little money we had left. we were blessed by their giving us vegetables and cocoa beans for out shillings. There will be no coins for loose spending this time. But our cargo room is full of cocoa now, and I think we can mix it with our flour and water. Hopefully the mixture will taste better that way. -
Oct 31, 1535
Night at Sea
I am glad, for a moment, that the air does not get colder in the winter here. Blessed are we to be alive. there was a huge storm. The wind was wailing and bashing against the boat. The rain never ceased, and the waves were monsters of the deep, come to swallow us up. Our boat was almost lost, but we held her together. The sunlight and calm seas have never made me so grateful before. -
Dec 13, 1535
Maracaibo
Meat. This city is full of Meat! The natives were tough, but we traded almost all of our cocoa to get our hands on some good meat. All the lads are going to be so happy when we return from land. We will eat well for once on this journey, and we will celebrate with fiddles and dancing and wine.
