Log of Juan de Bermudez
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An extract from the journal of Juan de Bermudez, written during his second explorative expedition, on behalf of King Charles I of Spain:
1st February, 1515: Today, wonderful news! My patron Don Domingo has obtained funding for another journey of exploration across the sea. I am given to understand that this time it is the most holy King and Emperor Charles himself who takes an interest in our venture, mightily enthused by reports of gold and silver found in great quantities in the new lands to the west.
I take with me Jorge de Vega, my navigator from my first expedition, two of my wife’s cousins, Ramon and Jorge Javier, both youths eager for glory. I pray their expectations of a sea-voyage will not be too rudely shattered by the long passage we expect across the ocean. At the insistence of the Mother Church, we also travel with Raul Salazar, a brother from the Dominican house at Cadiz. I pray for his understanding of the sometimes coarse manners of sailors!
de Vega says he hopes this new expedition ends better than our voyage along the coast of Africa, but he forgets both that the weather was cruelly against us and the crew mutinous almost from the day we left port. I am full of hopes, and eager to take ship and depart.
10th February, 1515: I have christened my new ship Sancto Brendan, which failed to impress de Vega and irritated brother Salazar, but Irish or no, the saint travelled far in safety over unknown waters, and it is to be hoped he will watch over our voyage as well.
We depart tomorrow, may Almighty God and all His saints go with us.
Then follows a lengthy description of de Bermudez’ crossing of the Atlantic, in which both disease, lack of fresh water, and discontent among the crew threatened the expedition. The mood of the journal changes considerably when de Bermudez reaches land.
17th May, 1515: Land sighted at last! Sent Jorge Javier and Tomas Jimenez ashore with a forage party to search for fresh water and other consumables. Brother Salazar insisted on going with them, also the friar was apparently not much impressed with his first experience of the new world, in this case a quite small and desolate island populated by birds, lizards, and hordes of biting flies and gnats.
God be praised, though, that water was found, along with some sweet fruits that pleased the crew and raised spirits. We have come safe across the great ocean, and can now begin the true work of our expedition in earnest.
3rd June, 1515: My exploration of the many islands in these waters is made both complicated and dangerous by the myriad shoals and reefs that make any approach towards land an undertaking of considerable hazard, and de Vega despairs of creating an accurate Ruttier or Chart of these waters. Our efforts would be greatly aided by a local guide, as the natives we have observed travel about easily enough in their primitive craft, but they also avoid our ship and ignore our hails, most likely because, as brother Salazar suggests, they do not have a civilized tongue.
Tomas Jimenez is sick with a great fever, which I pray does not spread to the rest of the crew.
9th June, 1515: A near disaster last night, from which only the grace of Our Lady, St. Nicholas and St. James, and the watchfulness of Ibanez our helmsman, saved us. Last night the Sancto Brendan drifted perilously close to a sand-bar we had not previously observed, and would have run aground had not Ibanez seen the breakers in the darkness and ordered a change of course. It is not to be expected that the ship could have been easily extricated from a grounding, nor necessary repairs performed, with the resources available to us here.
10th June, 1515: de Vega, Ramon Javier, and a troop of sailors went ashore in a launch to procure for us a guide who knows these waters. I was uncertain that this was wise, since although the natives we have observed do appear peaceful, to antagonize them would be a great risk. Still they went, and brought back a man who they insist volunteered to help us. In truth I doubt their story, since the wretch is by all appearances terrified and understands nothing that is said to him, but I suppose they are right and that we must have a guide.
22nd June, 1515: de Vega’s gamble of obtaining a guide appears to be bearing fruit, as we have had no new accidents and make fair progress. The man has learned some Spanish from Brother Salazar – thanks be that we have a man of education aboard. Our friar insisted on baptizing him, giving him the name of Juan. Lord knows what he made of that, but I suppose his soul has been saved for Christ even if his mind is somewhat confused. In any event, he seems content enough to assist us, now that he understands that he is not to be killed or put to torment.
Jimenez still clings to life, although he is wracked with great sweats and chills, and sadly delirious, mumbling to himself wild fantasies of angels and fire from the heavens. I try to keep him apart from the rest of the crew, out of fear both of contagion and that his ravings may unsettle the others. However, he was a popular man and his friends are often by his bedside, and I sometimes hear his imaginings being discussed. Brother Salazar tells me this is only because men’s minds are often turned to God by peril and uncertainty, and yet I remain somewhat concerned.
10th July, 1515: We have been among these islands for weeks now, and although with Juan’s help we have had good success at charting them, in truth all we have seen so far are miserable rocks in the ocean, lacking even trees worth cutting for timber. Brother Salazar and I have tried many times to explain to Juan that we must find land of value, worth mining or at least farming, if our expedition is to succeed. God knows if he truly understands, for although his Spanish is much improved, his directions lead us to barren spits of land and little more.
12th July, 1515: de Vega and Ramon Javier have been arguing for two days now that we should seize more natives for questioning, if we are to find the riches of these parts. I cannot think that this is wise, both because we had assured Juan that we meant his people no harm, and because in truth I am concerned that if the natives were stirred up that we might find ourselves overwhelmed. Some few of our sailors agreed with them, and so after considering my position, I have taken action.
Today I ordered Ibanez to steer us out across an expanse of open water, in the hopes of both preserving the peace and reaching more fruitful territory, as Juan tells us there are many archipelagos in these waters. There was some grumbling among the crew at sailing out of sight of land again, but at least I shall not find myself at war on the far side of God’s creation.
19th July, 1515: After two false hopes, we have sighted land again, and the crew’s spirits were much restored to see that we have, God be praised, found land of significant size and apparent worth at last! These islands are much larger than others we have seen, with rich vegetation and suitable harbouring-places. We are full of hope that, at the least, a strong port might be established here, to aid in bringing the rule of his Majesty to these lands.
Juan tells us that we must avoid the islands completely, and I confess it galls me greatly that he evidently has known of their position all along and yet would not bring us here. He says, with his crude Spanish, that this is a place reserved for the end of time, and according to the stories of his people the an army from beneath the earth and another from the skies will come here to fight. Brother Salazar agrees with me that our purpose here is God’s work, and that we must not be deterred by superstitious imaginings. Juan insists that any man who walks on this land will be accursed. I asked him if this curse could truly be worse than another week of salt fish and ship's biscuits, and the crew was much pleased at my jest. I will lead the first shore party tomorrow morning.
23rd July, 1515: We have made several visits ashore over the past days and found much that encourages me. The islands are home to many birds with spectacular plumage, small game animals, and the soil appears rich and well-suited to cultivation. I believe a colony could thrive in this place, and become a valued outpost for trade and a base for further explorations.
Despite Juan’s continued misgivings, we have met with no misfortunes whatsoever. Indeed, Tomas Jimenez’ fever is much improved, and Brother Salazar believes he will soon be able to return to duty. In addition, we have seen tracks and other signs that some natives do dwell on the islands, so Juan’s claim that the islands are somehow forbidden is clearly nonsense.
25th July, 1515: With continued success in our exploration of the islands, I thought the feast of Santiago Matamoros a fit day to move most of our men ashore to the camp we have established, leaving a watch of sailors to tend to the Sancto Brendan until we are ready to continue our journeys.
Tomas Jimenez has thrown off his illness and is restored to strength, although he says little now. Brother Salazar says this is sometimes the consequence of a severe illness, but in any case Jimenez appears perfectly calm and content, if prone to wandering, both inside and outside of camp, at all hours.
We have concluded, after an absence of two days, that Juan has left us, though whether he has fled to the interior of the island, as de Vega believes, or across the ocean, as Ibanez suggests, I cannot say. Certainly we have seen the natives of this part of the world craft a boat out of little more than a tree trunk, so it is not impossible his superstitious fears drove him to flee the islands. A few weeks ago, Juan’s departure would have been a sore blow, but at the moment we do not need a guide, since we expect to remain at these islands for some time. When we are ready to depart, I hope to have found a new guide from the elusive peoples who live here, hopefully recruited by more gentle means than were used to press Juan into service.
Tomorrow we begin our exploration of the interior of the largest island. We are full of hope and eager to discover its mysteries.
