José Luis Alfama, the novice sailor (3rd part)

My real name is José Luis Paricio, but in the expedition I say my name is José Luis de Alfama.

16th March

The battle finally took place the 14th of March. It was, without any doubt, the worst experience of my life. I didn't know how to fight and I was really afraid. S
o, in the middle of the battle, with some small injuries, I ran and hid between some trees, until we finally defeated the Maya-Chontales.

24th of March

Today, we have founded the city of Santa María the Victoria in the place of the battle. It is the first city of the 'New Spain' in America.

26th March

The problems have appeared. Between the natives that work the lands, an epidemic of smallpox has appeared, killing lot of them while, between the spanish people, the disease doesn't elimate anyone. That's not the only problem. Some soldiers have developed the malaria. Our priests are praying for trying to make dissapear all our problems.

17th April

The problems haven`t dissapeared but our captain has decided to continue our voyage through the dense jungle. Sixty soldiers have stayed in the city for trying to pacify the region.

19th April

We have taked course to the city of Cucúa. Our captain wants to discover the great secrets and riches of this great empire. I think we should plan better our next offensive, but the captain is who commands.

Alfeniz Madarroaga's Dairy (2nd part)

The last month has been really hard for all of us. We have had problem with the lack of food. Finally, Cortés had decided to go ashore.

 

When we took land, some days ago, we camp near a city called Potochán.  I don't know why but we are preparing for a battle. Pedro de Alvarado, my close friend, explained me that the idea of Cortés is to rescue some spanish soldiers. I can't understand correctly whats it's happening here. I think there is something more behind this decission. This natives are really friendly. 

Anyway, the last week I have talked to many soldiers and sailors about the disease, but I didn´t find anything useful, only the things I just know. However, I notice that the natives of this land are getting sick with the smallpox and dying faster than the spanish people. I will investigate this events, but now I must prepare myself for healing war bounded. I hope I don't die in this crazy adventure.

HERNAN CORTES' EXPEDITION - Novice sailor

18^th February

Three months have passed from the departure. The last month has been horrible because of the lack of foodstuff. We have eaten things such as sawdust or rats. Some members of the crew have serious stomach ache.

 

24^th February

We are sailing near the coastline to try to fish something, but we don't fish much. The best fish are for the captain and the most important members of the ship. We, the sailors, are a little bit angry. We are hungry and we want to go ashore to eat better.

 

2^nd March

Finally, our captain Hernán Cortés has decided to go ashore and camp near the city of Potochán. This night has been excellent. We have hunted some strange animals, similar to the boars, and we have eaten them.

 

3^rd March

All the expedition has slept really well. All the soldiers have gone to explore the zone. The rest of the expedition hasstayed in the boat waiting for them.

 

11^th March

The soldiers have returned with bad news. They have told us that there is a huge empire and, apparently, they are not pacific people. They have seen human sacrifices and very strange and tall buildings.

 

13^th March

The captain has called up all the expedition. He has decided to attack the city. I have seen the veteran soldiers preparing their weapons and talking about battles. I have never taken part in one and I am really afraid of what is going to happen in the following days.

 

Alejandro Andrés Escorihuela 2ºB

 

"Weird stories", by Pedro de Alvarado.

"WEIRD STORIES"

Pedro de Alvarado

Two weeks ago, anyone could have said that I was mad. But after one of the most interesting conversations with one native man in an inn, I really think that I'm not crazy.

-"A city built in gold" –the disgusting man said. But after some weeks hearing the same story in the inn. Maybe it wasn´t a mistake, or just another story. I paid to that men for the location of that city, and I killed him; exactly, I beat him until his death. Of course, I took my money away from that horrible corpse. The traders are so gullible!

I always kill all the natives that talk about that city, only to be sure that none else listen that story, because I don't want any onlookers. Most of them talked about people naked, just covered with huge pieces of gold, and buildings, taller than a ship, made of gold. Also they talked to me about the women and their jewels. If that Golden City really existed it would be particullary incredible. I have to admit: I love the gold, my secret passion.

Almost, I´m sure that I'm not the only one that had heard the story. In order to protect the secret I have killed twenty four men and women. People say that im cruel and bloody. I just answered that the natives and the portuguese people will burn in hell because of their acts.

So, I'm going to talk with one of my close friends, Hernán Cortés. I'm sure that Cortés is going to preparate a really dangerous expedition to the Centre of this strange territory full of black and brown people. Full of scum. I know, that if I talk to someone my stories, they are going to happen two different things:

-          He will look for that city and I will have to say goodbye to the gold and to the glory.

-      Or he will call me insane, mad, and probably, people will not see me again as the same men that brought them to Cuba. The glorious one, not the cruel conqueror.

So, I'm must say only to Hernan that I want to join to the expedition, because he has the same connection with gold as me. I should kill him in the middle of the voyage, just to be sure. Yes, i´ll kill him.

I must find that city and make it my little secret from all this people. Because propably they will never understand what gold means. Because gold means power. And power is my favorite word after glory.

Now, I'm powerfull. But, what is a powerfull men without his own treasure?

Lydia López Sánchez. 2ºESO C.

My first expedition

 

 

10th of November

 



I am really nervous! Last week, I went to the port of my city for trying to be accepted in Hernan Cortes' Expedition. Since I was a little boy I have wanted to go to America, because I have heard stories about strange cultures and people that speak different languages and I dreamt of knowing more about them.  At the beginning, I thought they were not going to accept me because it is my first time in this kind of expedition and, in fact, I am not a good soldier. However, today when I was at the port, a man has given me a letter that says the following:

 

You have been accepted in Hernan Cortes' Expedition as a sailor.

The departure is the 18 of November. Come to the port early that morning.

You are in the boat of the captain.

I have been accepted! I am very happy but, at the same time, I am a bit scared because I know it is a very dangerous trip. My motivation is that my father would be really proud of me. He always said that he wanted me to be a sailor, as him. My mother would also be proud of me.

 

 

18 th of November

Today is the day of the departure. I have arrived to the port early in the morning, as the letter said, and I have embarked on my boat. After some hours, the 11 boats were full The crew was formed by 518 soldiers, 16 riders, 13 arquebusiers, 32 crossbowmen and 110 sailors.

 

Our boat was the first to leave the port. At the very first moment, all was excellent. There was a very pleasant breeze. After some minutes, I started to be really dizzy. That was horrible. For a moment, I wanted to leave the expedition, but I thought about my parents and I decided to continue in the expedition.

Alejandro Andrés Escorihuela 2ºB

Despair before sailing

 

 

I have spent many months thinking about some people who suffered an strange disease that caused high fever.  After the information that my friend Captain Alvarado told me in his last letter, I have recieved some patients with similar symptoms, but not exactly the same. Unfortunately, I didn`t have much time for investigating, because after a few days, they died. I have realised that the disease is not the same than the one I am looking for. So, I started to think in a way for learning more about it... and here I am, considering that this disease is from Asia or America, or maybe the disease that people call Yellow Fever, but I am not sure at all.  I will become crazy, if I am not capable of discover a solution... I won't give up!

Doctor  Javier Antón 2B