December 19th, 1491

The Moors have finally barred the way to India and China, according to recent news. I'll be the
one to open a new route to Asia now that the spice trade has come to a halt. Asia, according
to Marco Polo, is the richest kingdom, brimming with gold and spices. The roof tops are also
composed of gold. There were only two known routes to the distant land. The oceans, by
sailing across the African continent, or by land, but the Turks have barred all Christians from
entering. But there is a third option: I can start a new spice trade route by traveling west
across the ocean. I don't believe the west is limitless. A barren wasteland where you will
vanish into oblivion In a week, I shall demonstrate that the west can be traversed, and that the
planet is not as flat as we were led to believe. I want to see for myself if the edge of the globe
isn't guarded by demons. Traveling across the west, according to Toscanelli's estimations,
would take around 105 days. Proof that the distance is less than 600 leagues. The waters are
proof that sailing is a good idea.

December 28th, 1491

Today, I'll pay a visit to the institution to assure all of these men that the west is not only
conceivable, but also desirable. I'll be the one to make the delivery. The one who sets sail for
the west to establish an empire!

December 29th, 1491

They were both laughing. They laughed, because they don't want to hear the truth! They're as
obstinate as a mule. They wouldn't believe it if I told them the west could be crossed. They
mock the concept that spice trading could take place over such a long distance. They doubt
the reasoning and calculations because they don't believe I'll convey God's message, that I'm
not the chosen one.

I'm writing this article in a state of penance, a vow of silence, because I had a fit of wrath
when thinking on myself and was thus put down by a group of individuals.

Nonetheless, I met a really unusual man who promised to get me to the queen by various
means. He also indicated that he and I were alike, and that he would like to assist me on my
journey to the west. Perhaps she will listen to me and allow me to travel to the New Land.

January 2nd, 1492

Because fortune has it that today is the same day that the Moorish stronghold in Granada
falls, I shall be meeting the queen in a few minutes to discuss the expedition.

The queen appeared to be opposed to the idea of going west. She stated that she is unable to
disregard the council's decision. Ultimately, the queen stated that she might make her
decision. Despite the fact that the journey will be pricey, they have nothing to lose but
everything to gain. That is, in my opinion, a fantastic deal for them.

January 25th, 1492

I was invited to the palace today to talk about the new land contract. Regardless, I'll take care
of it.

Ridicolo! The deal was based solely on greed! Nothing but a suicide agreement. I told his
excellency, "No." I will not be the one to put mine and the men's lives at danger by sailing
while they benefit. He replies no, he says he isn't in a position to bargain. That I am
overconfident! I have some reservations about his eminence. "And you've never been
ambitious?" I asked. Which prompted him to threaten that if I refused to accept his proposal,
he would locate another man to take my place? As I walked away, I responded that if his
excellency could find another man willing to sign such a pact, I, Christopher Columbus, would
become a monk.

They summoned me back in, much to my surprise, to finally negotiate the terms and
conditions of my travel. They demanded that I return with gold and spices, as promised, and
that the country have beneficial resources.

I told my wife today that the council and the queen had agreed to my request, and that I, a
commoner and a foreigner, would be embarking on the voyage to the new continent. I told her
she didn't have to wait, but she argues that I don't have any authority over her actions and
that she will be waiting for me when I return. I'll have to say goodbye to my cherished family at
some point.

July 15th, 1492

No, I tell myself, I have to tell them, but if what they hear is what they fear, I have to keep it
hidden. My love, my friends, my believers, and the kingdom were all betrayed by me. The
journey is going to take longer than expected. For all I know, it could be twice the distance,
but I will not be deterred. I'm afraid that if I tell them, they'll stop following; so, I must keep it a
secret; the truth must be kept exclusively to myself, and only to myself. Please, Lord, forgive
me.

August 3rd, 1492

We marched early in the morning, carrying torches and provisions. Food, water, and cattle
were loaded onto the ships by the men. Cotton, rubber, steel, armament, armor, and a variety
of other items were in high demand in trade with the Chinese and the Indies.
Unfortunately, I must bid my famiglia farewell; this may be the last time I see them for all I
know. I kissed my sweetheart farewell and stepped aboard.

Early in the morning, we marched with torches and food. The workers loaded food, water, and
cattle aboard the ships. In trade with the Chinese and the Indies, cotton, rubber, steel,
armament, armor, and a range of other products were in high demand.
Unfortunately, I must say my goodbyes to my famiglia; for all I know, this may be the last time
I see them. I kissed my sweetheart goodbye and boarded the ship.

August 6th, 1492

As we continue to sail, the wind and waves crash on the ship's bottom. Up on the main deck,
crew members have kept up the pace, working tirelessly to keep the fore mast steady and the
sails intact. Four to three men scale the shrouds, with some ascending to the crow's nest,
seemingly gazing off into the sunset, out to the boundless horizon. The guys below the main
deck were relaxing in the crew quarters, awaiting their night shifts.

When night fell, the guys began to build fires and prepare their meals. Some were napping,
some were eating vegetables, and some were sleeping beneath the deck. I, for one, was
navigating the stars as usual, which must have given me the appearance of a lunatic.

I heard a knock on my door last night while resting in the captain's quarter. On behalf of the
men, Mendes aboard the Pinta questioned me about how I knew where we were going since
we last saw land. As I handed him the quadrant, I explained to him that the North Star is what
directs us, and that we must keep parallel to the numbers it has given us. We would be 600
leagues behind if we made a minor error. He then asked how I knew land was parallel to the
numbers, to which I replied, "I don't." As the night progressed, we laughed as we drifted
across the sea into what we thought was 'oblivion.'

August 17th, 1492

We haven't seen land in two weeks, and the employees are sweating profusely on the deck
due to the extreme heat. Since realizing that we need to save fresh water for drinking, not
bathing, they insisted on bathing in sea water, with salt and sweat crystallizing on their backs.

When darkness falls again, I track the stars, and I hear the men eating and singing once
more. Morals, I suppose, are something that everyone should have. For several days now, I,
for one, have been deprived of sleep. We are around 125 leagues from where we first started,
according to the projected markings along the path we sailed. I'm hoping we'll see land soon,
and I'm hoping the men atop the shroud and nest will shout and exult when they do. May God
bless our souls.

September 14th, 1492

I rotated the hour glass as the compass guided me, and the men shouted out the marks as I
wrote them down, 346 marls, that's where we are.

The men's facial hair got thicker as the stenches from afar lingered for days, necessitating the
ship's cleaning. I emphasized with the other captain the importance of keeping the ship clean
in order to avoid disease. The remaining biscuits, veggies, meat, and water had consumed
roughly half of the supplies. I'm hoping we'll get on land with enough food and gold.

October 1st, 1492

The men have noted and yelled the numbers as the day has begun and the heat is scorching
hot. 629 leagues, they stated. We've traveled far beyond the distance I promised them. Men
were aware of the slowly dwindling resources, as I had predicted. The wind current has
ceased, the sails are no longer up, we are disemboweling from any movement, and we are
slowly drifting again after many days.

Captain Pinzon wanted to be taken overseas, and I knew what he was thinking. I was under
the deck in the storage room, before entering the captain's quarter to avoid the heat.

He addressed me with harsh words and expressions, accusing me of lying to him and leading
him astray, for all I can tell him is that we must move forward, that the land is close. He called
me a lunatic and said we had to go back and forth, but that is insanity! Our water sources are
nearly depleted, and our food is as nasty as a rotten apple. No, I told him, we had to keep
sailing till the end. He claims that we are about to have a mutiny, that we are preparing to
slaughter each other over resources such as animals. He also instructs me to confront the
men and tell them myself. I'm sorry I didn't warn these men and my followers that the journey
would be long, because we hadn't budgeted for a nine-week journey.

They peered at me as I came up to the main deck, yearning for an answer. Alonzo claims that
this journey is cursed, that God has abandoned us, and that we have embarked on it with
greed and selfishness. I declare that we are not cursed as I look at him, who has rashes,
sweat, and salt on his face and body. I'm not sure if crossing this ocean is against God's plan,
but I am convinced that we must not lose trust in God and in ourselves. People will talk about
the bravery of the men who cross the ocean in the future, and we will be able to tell them that
I, Christopher Columbus, was on the Pinta, the Nia, and the Santa Maria at the time. That
they were the only ones on board the ship at all hours of the day and night! As I passionately
described those worlds, a gust of wind blew into the main mast and hoisted the sail; the men
became silent for a brief moment, but as soon as they saw the sail spread, as if the wind had
blown trust back into their souls, they resumed their duties. We can't afford to lose our grip on
the current we're riding. Oh, how fortunate I was.

October 2nd, 1492

Another day passes with little sign of progress; the workers, as usual, are straining
themselves to exhaustion. I checked on the crew's hygienic conditions, as I am aware of the
disease they may contract. The supplies are nearly depleted. But we must not be
discouraged. We must make our way to the land.

October 3rd, 1492

Two men died yesterday while sleeping outside the Pinta and one outside the Santa Maria.
They were said to have died of an unexplained ailment. The crew's morale begins to dwindle
gradually. I can only hope that the land is not far away.

October 11th, 1492

Today was the same as any other day; we'd traveled over 600 leagues and had yet to see any
land; it was the night, however, that things abruptly altered. Four men on the deck spotted
insects, pests that were not on board the ship when we departed, as I was looking at the sky
and using a nocturnal to determine the approach of midnight. It seemed impossible, but what
if, what if we were close to the promised land, the New World? I wonder whether these are the
insects that live in the next planet. A mist engulfs us in the middle of the night as the insects
flew into the flames. The team, ready for anything and desperate for help, stared into the mist.

October 12th, 1492

The men stared blankly into space, still enthralled by the mist. As I type, I realize it must be
land, and that mist can only refer to a mixture of water and wet soil.

When the sun eventually rises in the morning, the fog is lifted by the morning breeze. A land
of plants and trees, as well as a ferocious landscape, was exposed. The instant a crew on the
shroud hollered at the land, we finally set sight on the land we'd been hunting for, I knew I'd
found it.

As if they had never seen land before, the men were shouting, applauding, and dancing.
Despite our admiration for the island's beauty, we gathered our equipment and flags and
waited until noon to approach the island.

We had to board smaller boats because the Santa Maria was not equipped to navigate the
shallow water. We maneuver ourselves toward the crashing sea with a sword on my waist and
flags held by my guys. I could no longer tolerate being on shore after seeing the flawless
sand, so I leapt into the ocean ahead of the boat and stepped toward the new land. I could
only think of freedom as my boots soaked up to the coast. The men collapsed to my knees,
ecstatic that they were finally standing on solid ground.

I claim it and name it San Salvador by the grace of God, in the name of the majesty of Castile
of Aragon, and with all the power vested in me!

The troops and I marched into the infected bush as the Cabin boy banged the drum and the
flag remained in hand. Some guys reported seeing something slithering between the leaves
as they crept into the shade of the territorial plants; I suppose it was a snake, perhaps a huge
one. We had to cut our way through thick vines and bushes because almost every inch of the
land is covered with greenery. This land appears to be teeming with creatures of unimaginable
size, shape, and color. On this island, birds, snakes, and insects appear to be the most
common. I find the climate here to be extremely humid and warm. The woodland floor is
overshadowed by trees as tall as a building. We came upon a tiny river. We followed the river
in the hopes of discovering civilization. We're going to set up camp tonight.

October 15th, 1492

We marched further and deeper into the land in pursuit of such a place. One of our cabin lads,
who was often banging on the drum, had strayed ahead, but he abruptly stopped. As we
approached behind the youngster, a group of indigenous males appeared in front of him. They
point their rifles at us, as if we are animals or creatures from another world. They arrived with
sharpened sticks and a bow, and many of them emerged perfectly disguised from the
riverbanks. I urged the men to draw their swords and muskets and stand their ground since
we didn't want any problems.

Two human-looking guys approached the youngster and me and began poking around,
enthralled by the fabric of our clothes and the steels we wield, such as swords and armor.
These folks have surrounded us without recognizing it, interested about who we are. They
pushed us forward to this man, who welcomed us into his settlement, which was composed of
dried leaves and wood. We laughed and rested as if we had returned home. I inquired about
their culture, but they appeared to speak a strange foreign language. For the time being, may
our people maintain a positive relationship.

October 17th, 1492

These indigenous folks come and go as nude as God intended us to be. Their skin was as
dark as tar, and their faces were covered with blood. Their hair is spread to the sides, and
most males have long hair, however others have short hair. Their heads are shaved bald on
top, creating a grey plain. They dangle metal from their necks or pierce their noses with it.
They dress their bottom half in bizarre plant-based clothing. Their thoughts appear to be
inquisitive and odd all of the time, as if they are unthinking and easily persuaded. They appear
afraid and timid at first, but once the dust settles, they reveal their guilelessness and honesty.
Despite their well-built physique and archaic weaponry, they are nevertheless afraid of
strange items. They see god as if he is one with nature, as if he is present in every leaf, stone,
and object in their environment. This land might easily be developed into an empire by the
kingdom.

October 21th, 1492

I believe we have discovered the Garden of Eden. Surely, this was the state of the earth at the
dawn of time. The locals will be persuaded to our way of life via persuasion rather than
coercion. No man, I feel, will ever experience these places in the same way we do for the first
time. There will be no savages when we arrive in peace and honor. As if they were your own
family, treat them as such. Respect their religion, because pillaging will result in whippings
and sword rapeds.

November 14th, 1492

The indigenous taught us about a plant they called "tobacco." It was enjoyable for the males
who were afflicted by the heady smells. However, the villagers contracted an unknown
sickness and died yesterday while swarming near the livestock we brought from Spain. We
tell the indigenous to keep away from our animals because we fear the animal is carrying an
illness for which the natives lack the protective skin.

November 26th, 1492

When I was writing in my journal today, I encountered an interested native, and it must have
sparked his interest. His name was pronounced U-ta-pan, and he was interested in the
artwork I was working on, so I offered it to him. When I noticed the accessories dangling from
his neck, I inquired about where he acquired them. I asked him to show me where it is the
next day, and he gladly replied, 'Cuba.' We walked to the shore, and Utapan pointed to a
patch of land off in the distance. I imagined the spices and gold on that island as the water
rose and the sound of the running river grew louder.

November 27th, 1492

They pointed to the island where the metals were obtained as we invited the Indians to board
the ships and sail. As a result, we set sail.

We advanced in land towards the mountains after running ashore and fired our muskets into
the air, indicating the ships that we would be here for a few hours. Utapan expressly stated
that the metal is in the river, yet we were saturated by the rain and weather as we walked. It's
no wonder that vegetation was dense here as well. We set up camp immediately.

Mendez, together with a few other men and I, sift through the rivers in search of the metal.
One of the men came up to us, claiming to have discovered gold, but it was no good; it
appeared that our efforts had been in vain, so we decided to retreat. Pinzon had been acting
strangely, almost as if he were ill, but we had to move on.

We kept marching saturated in muds and filth as the rain continued to pour down, no matter
how cold it was.

We buried one of our own today, after he was bitten by the devil, a snake that leapt onto
Alonzo. We left as we mourned his passing. Utapan made no attempt to assist the man, as
though he understood that the only remedy for a snake bite is death, and that death is
prevalent on these islands.

December 5th, 1492

With Alonzo's death, I'm reminded of how ancient we are on these islands, and how much we
still have to learn. The residents of each island welcome us with tremendous charity and trust;
our appearance has led to us being mistaken for gods, and we are treated as such. Despite
the Indians' cooperation, we have not discovered gold in large quantities, with the exception of
a few objects given to us as a supposed symbol of submission.

Pinzon had collapsed on the shores of Hispaniola when we arrived today, and it was most
likely due to the weather. We took him to the native, and the chieftain appears to agree to look
after Pinzon. Pinzon lay motionless, drowsy, as they fed him medicine and chanted.

That night, I expressed my gratitude to the chieftain for his hospitality and requested that he
treat the men who would be left behind to construct a fort out of the Santa Maria's wreckage. I
assure him that we will return, and that many others will join us. "Why?" he responded. I
attempted to persuade them not to warn the natives, but they refused to believe me, claiming
that they already knew my people were wanting their riches and women. They were still
enraged when they departed. I sat there, thinking to myself, "Is this the place we were looking
for?" while the guys retrieved the golden artifact they had presented.

December 25th, 1492

Pinzon is sick, ravaged by an illness that won't leave him alone. We must return to Spain; 39
strong soldiers have agreed to remain behind and construct a fort. It's called Navidad since
it's Christmas.

On our boats, we make our way towards the ships. After 5 months, I have yet to see any
evidence of a civilization that matches Marco Polo's description, including no cities, bridges,
or temples with gold-plated roofs. I'm still not sure where the mainland is, but I know it's there.
My ships aren't carrying the spices and gold that I expected. But this land bewitched my
senses and my soul, and all I can think about is returning to this wild area, this uncharted
Eden; here is a chance for a fresh start.

January 16th, 1493

As we left the bay of San Salvador, along with a couple of natives, artifacts, creatures, herbs,
and plants. We once again sail towards the sea, looking back upon the island, vanishing
before the horizon. I thought to myself one last time, that one day, I will set sail again, back to
the New world.