Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1607 - 1143: First Contact Between the Great Lake Bay Tribe and Cuba
"October 24th, the distinguished Expedition Commander led the fleet, leaving Isabela Island, searching for the Cuba Main Island to the southwest, also known as the West Pan Gu Japan recorded by Marco Polo!... The fleet sailed for a day and night, heading southwest for 9 leagues (50 kilometers). Accompanying the ship were 88 Kingdom crew members, plus 10 captured native guides... Almighty protect us! We have over 100 swords, more than 20 matchlock guns, 10 sets of iron armor, two three-pound cannons, enough to conquer a Great Tribe of a thousand natives!... "
"October 25th, the fleet discovered a chain of reef-like small islands in the southwestern sea... The scenery of the small islands was beautiful, yet there was no sign of humans, thus no food supply. The supplies on the ship had always been insufficient. The climate here was hot and humid, and the food obtained from native villages spoiled easily for some unknown reason. Perhaps it was because the natives lacked salt, the food was very bland... Sailed day and night for 14 leagues (77 kilometers)... "
"October 26th, arrived at the small island and stayed overnight. This chain of desolate reef islands comprises seven or eight reef small islands but has no water source or village, hence lacks any value... I named it Arana Island (Arena), meaning 'an island with shallow water'. The name is also a reward for Guard Chief Alana's loyalty!... According to the native guides on the ship, the Cuba Main Island is to the south, taking only a day and a half by canoe to reach... The prosperous West Pan Gu Japan is close at hand!... "
"October 27th, the fleet sailed southwest-south, day and night for 16 leagues (88 kilometers). The crew discovered distant land, a very long and lengthy coastline... Everyone was extremely excited, eager to land immediately! But encountered very heavy rain, which obscured sight of possible reefs along the coast, hence temporarily halted in the deep sea, waiting for the rain to clear... It seems to be the rainy season in this sea area, with very frequent precipitation, and food easily grows moldy... "
"October 28th, we finally arrived at the Cuba Main Island, arrived at the West Pan Gu Japan! This is truly a very large and beautiful island, with no end of the coastline in sight!... According to the native guides, their canoe takes two to three months to circumnavigate the island. On the eastern side of the main island, there is a strong tribe kingdom, likely the legendary Japan... "
"The coast here has many wide rivers leading into the interior. From the coast, the view of the hills is low and continuous, full of lush mountain forest and many bird flocks. All this indicates the vastness of this island... If not for the native guides' description, I might even think this is the continent, the Khitan and Seris! "
"To celebrate reaching land, the Pinta and Nina fired several cannons, also declaring the undeniable majesty of the Castile Kingdom to the tribes on the island! Yes, if encountering the powerful Japan Kingdom, it's a friendly greeting... Next, we will search for the cities on this Great Island, search for the Great Tribe of natives, and furthermore search for expensive gold, spices, and cotton cloth!... "
The sea wind roars, birds soar high. The mountains are lush, the sea and sky azure. A wide and beautiful white sand bay unfolds before the three Castile sailing ships. The bay is so vast it seems it could accommodate all the Sea Ships of the Christ Kingdom. A wide Great River flows out of the bay, at the estuary washing out its clear, light blue freshwater.
"Almighty protect us! The Great River represents freshwater, represents suitable farming land, also implies large tribes and villages!... The fleet ascends along the river, sure to find the Great Tribe of natives! The Great Tribe of natives, unlike those small tribes, cannot escape!..."
Columbus stands at the bow of the Santa Maria, gazing at the grand bay and river not far away. The fleet has been in Cuba for two days. In the past two days, they found a few of the natives' canoes and located a small village with a dozen or so people.
Yet the natives of the Cuba Islands seem very timid, far from the enthusiasm, friendliness, and hospitality of the natives on the Bahamas Islands. Upon seeing the arrival of the fleet, they quickly fled into the depths of the mountain forest with their food, leaving no trace. The fleet has gone a whole week without new food supplies...
"Boom! Boom!..."
"The Pinta fired cannons! The Pinta's lookout discovered the traces of a native tribe! Just to the southwest in the upper reaches of the Great River!... Almighty, it's not clearly visible, but seems like a Great Tribe, a very large area!..." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
The three Castile sailing ships enter the Great River, after only sailing three or four leagues, encountering a suddenly open and wide Lake Bay. This Lake Bay is tens of leagues wide, full of fish and bird flocks, and visible in the shallows are pearl oysters and conch. Clearly, the water products in this area are extremely abundant, very likely producing expensive pearls!
After continuing to sail for several leagues, the lookout at the mast brought news of discovering a large tribe, just twenty to thirty leagues away!...
"Almighty protect us! If there are pearls and dyes produced, then the affluence of this Great Tribe of natives..."
At this thought, Columbus couldn't help but swallow, feeling like a ball of fire was burning in his heart. In the Bahamas Islands, he found that the India natives, although having lots of cotton threads, rarely wore clothes and liked to adorn themselves with various bright and flashy items.
