| 1 |
Where do you come from? Are you from Spain too? Which ever country you hail from, I am sure we can become friends. Come, I will show you around my farm. |
| 2 |
I grow here some crops, and breed mainly pigs. However, it’s not as prosperous as I hoped. I have made quite a few debts already. If you could lend me some money, I will surely return it. |
| 3 |
You are very kind to help me repay the debts. I assure you I will pay it all off to you together with the interests. If you and your men have time, I could also use help with the work around the farm. |
| 4 |
Actually, I am an explorer. I have little experiences with farming, maybe that’s why my farming adventure is not very successful. Enough talking. Now let’s repair the pig shed before the pigs run away. |
| 5 |
I spoke to my investors today. Seems the interest has increased my debt to ridiculous heights. I don’t even have money for food now. I will have to disappear from here. |
| 6 |
You are a captain, you say? I would never endanger you by hiding on your ship. And I have already found the perfect escape route. But I will have to hide in a barrel. |
| 7 |
Leave the pigs some grapes, they love them. It shall be my goodbye gift for them. But I can’t leave my Leoncico here. I hope you found a barrel big enough for me and my dog. |
| 8 |
I am lucky I got to the continent at all. When captain Ensico discovered me, he wanted to leave me stranded. But the situation here looks dangerous. You better keep your men close. |
| 9 |
Mr. Pizarro, the supervisor of this colony, says they were constantly attacked by the native tribes. I hope you have some weapons. I worry that we can expect another attack soon. |
| 10 |
This was the third attack in two days. We need to leave this place. I suggest we move westward to the jungle. If we tell Ensico and Pizarro that there is gold, they will surely want to go there. |
| 11 |
They agreed to move the settlement where I suggested. We should start packing now. You take care of the food supplies and I will help with the building and farming tools. |
| 12 |
Of course there is a clan living here too. There must be at least 500 native warriors. But don’t worry, I am sure we will defeat them. If you don’t want to fight, ready the material for the houses. |
| 13 |
But we are no cruel monsters, so let the captives go. They know now how dangerous we are, so they will avoid us. Now we can open a bottle of wine and celebrate our victory. |
| 14 |
This place here is ideal for a new settlement. You have already brought some stone, but we will need wood too. A new settlement deserves a new name and it shall be Santa Maria. |
| 15 |
We have found some golden ornaments in the village of the natives. The men are like crazy looking for more gold. If you want some of it, you should send your sailors searching too. |
| 16 |
Have you found some gold? You know we must share it between each other? So that everyone in the settlement gets his part. I hope you understand that. |
| 17 |
Seems the people really like me. They choose me to be their governor. The thing I want to concentrate on is exploration. But with so many native tribes here, we will need to be well armed. |
| 18 |
I want to make a large feast for the whole settlement to thank them for choosing me as the new governor. Help me prepare some food. I am not a good cook, nor hunter or fisherman. |
| 19 |
Before we leave to explore the land, let’s plant the grape vine near the settlement. The earth is rich and fertile here. It should grow well. I can't wait to taste the fruits already. |
| 20 |
The local chieftain Careta wants to become our ally. He promises to supply us with food if we help them rebuild their houses, which were destroyed in the battle. That’s not a bad deal. |
| 21 |
Careta told us about another sea to the south across the land. We can sail down the river. It will make the crossing easier. But our ships are not made to sail shallow rivers. We need new ones. |
| 22 |
I wrote a letter to the king of Spain asking for more men. We will need more soldiers to guard the land we have already won. And some carpenters and builders to build a shipyard. |
| 23 |
Don’t take me for a greedy man, but gold is power. We need it to spread Spain’s influence around the world. You wouldn’t keep it just for yourself, if you found some, right? |
| 24 |
The natives told us that there is so much gold in the land to the south that the people eat from golden plates. Let’s hurry up with the building of ships and shipyard, so we can go there soon. |
| 25 |
We are setting off soon. Careta’s men will join us. They know this land and will guide us through the jungle. Let’s have a tasty meal before we get underway. |
| 26 |
We are entering a territory of a dangerous clan. It’s not wise to underestimate these warriors. Be ready to anchor the boats when they attack, it would be no use to try and flee. We must fight. |
| 27 |
That was a tough fight. We lost a lot of men, but we must go on. Careta said when we cross this mountain range, we will see the south sea. Let’s drink something before we go on. |
| 28 |
We found a lot of pearls in the last village. The natives say they come from the isles in the bay. We had to leave our boats upstream, so we need to build new ones to reach the islands. |
| 29 |
Send your men to look for more pearls. If we can’t find gold, pearls are good too. But be ready to meet the natives. These are densely inhabited lands. |
| 30 |
We have obviously lost the way. Which fool thought the pearl clams will be inside the forest? Try asking the locals to tell us how to get back to the beach. Some gold might make them friendly. |
| 31 |
At last we are back at the seashore. Let’s return to the mainland. It’s time I claimed this sea for the Spanish kingdom. We will leave there a text etched in stone, which will mark our discovery. |
| 32 |
Now it’s time to return to Santa Maria. I want to take a different route back to explore more area. We should plan the way back during dinner, so we can get on the road tomorrow. |
| 33 |
Let’s delve into the jungle again. Watch out for the poisonous snakes. One bite and you are dead. It’s best to just cut off their head with your sword, before they get to strike. |
| 34 |
It seems the settlement flourished while we were gone. Our soldiers have protected it, the crops are growing well, even the first harvest was plentiful. Let’s taste the fruits of our labor. |
| 35 |
We must send a ship with the news of our discovery to the king together with a part of the treasure. Is one of the ships ready for a voyage across the ocean? |
| 36 |
I need you here to help me around the settlement and with further exploration of the land. But send some reliable men with the treasure back to Spain. We don’t want it to get lost on the way. |
| 37 |
Have you loaded a part of your treasure on the ship? We must give the crown one fifth of everything we obtain here. That’s the deal. We can still keep quite a lot, you won’t become poor. |
| 38 |
Now, that the ship is on it’s way to Spain, we can concentrate on improving the settlement. Once the winter is over, I plan to go exploring once again. We should finish the rebuilding until then. |
| 39 |
Ships from Spain have arrived. They bring the men and supplies I requested from the king. Let’s prepare a dinner for them and have a talk with their leader Mr. Avila. He brings some news. |
| 40 |
The news were bad. Avila is here to replace me as the new governor. Someone has complained about me and convinced the king that I am trying to make a fortune for myself. Pour me some wine. |
| 41 |
People like me here. Avila won’t have it easy trying to command them. And I certainly won’t help him. Not after he took away all my weapons to prevent a mutiny. How am I to go exploring now? |
| 42 |
There are just too many people here. We need to find a new location for another settlement. I asked the new governor for his leave to go exploring. I hope you and your men are coming too. |
| 43 |
This cedar wood is perfect for shipbuilding. We will sail along the coast and look out for a convenient place for a settlement. I want to avoid the jungle if I can. |
| 44 |
We have been exploring for many days, but haven't found a safe place for a settlement. I even conceded to going through the jungle. I don't want to get back empty handed, let's look for some gold at least. |
| 45 |
I always prefer making friends with the natives to fighting them. But that is not always an option. On this expedition it goes wrong all the time. I think I am bleeding, I need some rest and food. |
| 46 |
We need to return. The natives are following us. I have lost too many men, we can’t face them anymore. Try to start a stone avalanche on the hill nearby. That should stop them. |
| 47 |
At last we are back in the settlement. I will need some time to heal my wounds, but I have already planned the next expedition. But first, bring me some wine to calm my nerves. |
| 48 |
I want to explore the South Sea next. Who knows what riches are waiting there for us. I already send a ship to Cuba to recruit the men stationed there, but we will probably need more. |
| 49 |
The last expedition proved how dangerous these lands can be. We must be prepared for more attacks by the locals. This time I am not going to let them get the better of us. |
| 50 |
The new governor would not approve this expedition after what happened the last time. You must buy all the supplies we will need. Nobody can suspect that I am preparing to leave. |
| 51 |
The governor found out about the expedition, and now wants to lock me up in a wooden cage. How could he have found out? It was not from you, was it? |
| 52 |
Where did the governor get so much wood for the cage so quickly? You did not help him, I hope. Fortunately, our bishop persuaded him not to lock me up. Let’s eat something, I am starving. |
| 53 |
It won’t be easy to go exploring now, but don’t think I gave up. I must go help with the house repairs as the governor commanded, but meanwhile I will think of a new plan. |
| 54 |
I will drink with the governor tonight. After he falls asleep we will get onto the boats and leave unseen. In the morning his head will hurt so much he won’t think about looking for me. |
| 55 |
Good that I have such a high tolerance for wine. Still I had to drink quite a lot till the governor passed out. Help me get on the boat. I hope all our men are ready to set off. |
| 56 |
Chain the remaining boats to the pier so they can’t go after us. That will win us some more time. Let’s hope they decide not to pursue us at all after finding the chained boats. |
| 57 |
When we get down the river, we will need to build new ships to explore the sea. These boats are not made for the open water. Look, if you can spot the cedar trees along the river as we pass by. |
| 58 |
We met Mr. Pizarro in the jungle. It was he who locked me up. Again he accuses me of conspiring against our king and taking all the gold for myself. Just bring me some food for now. |
| 59 |
Don’t worry, I will be fine. They have to release me soon. These accusations are ridiculous. But you can try to bribe them so they let me go sooner. |
| 60 |
I am sure all will end well. But I will understand if you leave now. It would be stupid to let them lock us up both. So good luck, captain. And be careful on your further explorations. |
| Final |
Thank you, captain! It was a pleasure working with you. As a token of my gratitude, I give you my favorite ship. |
VASCO NÚÑEZ DE BALBOA
2,395,000
115
1,024,000
859,000
718,500
540,000
2,106,000
1,500
750