Port of San Julian. Winter Quarters. June 1520.
As I feared, the attack Carvalho led was a grave mistake. He forced two of our captives to take him and fifteen heavily armed men to their village. After locating the wives of the two Indians still imprisoned on our ships, the Portuguese navigator decided to spend the night there.
His captives lay quietly until morning, when all at once they leapt up and escaped. Carvalho's men fired after them but harmed no one. We, on the other hand, suffered a casualty. One of the men under Carvalho's command was struck by a poisoned arrow and died. After this, the pilot quickly retreated back to the safety of the fleet.
This isn't the first time Carvalho's incompetence has nearly caused disaster.
The New Continent. November - December 1519
On November 29, 1519, the lookouts finally sighted the coast of the New Continent.
Magellan allowed the Concepcion to lead the fleet along the coast as her navigator, the conspirator Carvalho, had sailed these waters before. Eight years ago, he had traveled to this land on a Portuguese merchant vessel. According to the pilot, his ship had sailed into a bay where the Portuguese met friendly natives who had abundant fruits, vegetables, fish and game. Magellan agreed that this bay, called Guanabara11 by Carvalho, would make an excellent port where the fleet could rest.
Despite Carvalho's assurance that he knew these waters, his carelessness nearly brought about a calamity. Apparently, he was unaware of a strong inshore current between two capes, called São Tomé and Frio, and led the fleet too close to the shore on the approach. Without the alertness of the fleet navigator Gomes aboard the Trinidad, the whole fleet would have been run onto the rocks of the coast.
-----
Shortly after this close call, on December 13, we sailed into a paradise! Fortunately, Carvalho had been right about this place. It was a harbor unlike any other in the world. The fleet passed an imposing rounded mountain and dropped anchor in seven fathoms. Thick forests stretched as far as we could see except for where the golden beaches met the azure waters of the bay.
We had hardly arrived when a flotilla of canoes surrounded our ships. Carvalho assured everyone that they were friendly and that he had, in fact, lived with these people for four years.
We were all anxious to go ashore and sample the pleasures of this land. Magellan was willing to allow the shore leave, but let us go with a warning. "The Pope has given this land to Portugal and we are trespassing. I will allow no harm to come to this land or its people. We have come in peace and will depart in peace."
-----
I met Antonio soon after I stepped on the beach. He was carrying a notebook and was furiously scribbling descriptions of the Indians that surrounded us. He was so involved with this that he hardly greeted me.
Taking note of Antonio's interest, Carvalho walked to where we were standing. "Our arrival has provoked a great deal of excitement," he explained to us. "The natives have told me that they have been suffering from a drought and we arrived with the rain they needed."
Antonio looked up from his writing, suddenly interested. "You can speak to them?"
"Of course! I lived in this harbor for four years."
"Tell me about them."
I leaned against a tree while the navigator regaled my friend with stories of these people.
"They are cannibals, you know," Carvalho said at length, "but not because they like the taste of human flesh. It is their custom. It started when an old woman of these people's only son was killed by their enemies. Days later, her friends brought her an enemy captive and remembering her son's death, she flew at him in rage and bit his shoulder. The captive escaped and told his people his captors had tried to eat him. Ever since, when one side captures an enemy, they are eaten."
It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. The Indians moving among us on the beach were hardly what I could call dangerous cannibals and I was fairly sure Carvalho was just spinning a yarn for my friend. Antonio was writing everything down with great interest and asking many questions. He would have gladly stayed there the rest of the day satisfying his curiosity, but a pretty young native woman and a small child drew Carvalho's attention away from the Italian.
The girl spoke to the navigator softly and pulled the boy in front of her. Carvalho smiled at them and motioned for them both to follow him.
Antonio and I looked at each other and without a word, followed the trio up the beach toward the place where Magellan himself had landed.
"Admiral, may I have a word with you?" Carvalho called as he approached.
Magellan turned toward the pilot. "Yes Senhor Carvalho?"
"Captain, you were aware that I lived with these people some years ago and I just learned that I have a son." The navigator pulled the little boy into view. "I would like, with your permission, to take the boy and his mother with me aboard my ship."
The Captain General considered for a moment. "I will allow your son to go along as the ship's cabin boy, but you know that I cannot permit a woman to come with us. This voyage will be long and dangerous. I won't allow even one woman to threaten the expedition. She must stay here."
The navigator was obviously annoyed with this but responded, "Yes Captain General."
-----
The next few days were bliss. The natives were very friendly and often bartered with us. Antonio made some particularly fine bargains. He traded a small pair of scissors for enough fish to feed ten of us and exchanged a single playing card for five fowls and it was the native who thought he had cheated my friend.
But soon my attention was turned to darker matters.
-----
As I had expected, placing Cartegena in my uncle's care was almost the same as letting him retain his former position. The "prisoner" had the run of the ship and all were afraid to defy his command.
Things only became worse when we landed. Luis and Cartegena immediately began plotting against Magellan again. Luis even brought Cartegena ashore secretly to meet with their confederates.
I was always mindful of the two and followed after them to a secret rendezvous place. After watching the other conspirators gather, I went in search of an ally of my own. Antonio was useless in this situation. He was actually surprised when I told him of Cartegena's original imprisonment. He must have slept through that whole episode. I also couldn't approach the Admiral directly without alerting my uncle and the other would-be mutineers.
So I bided my time and waited for an opportunity to present itself. It wasn't long in coming though even I was surprised by its source.
-----
The easygoing attitude of the native girls was proving a real discipline problem. Despite the Captain General's attempts to keep order, which included holding Mass ashore twice during our stay, things were degenerating into a debauched orgy. Even some of the officers, who should have tried to maintain a semblance of command, joined in.
Duarte Barbosa, Magellan's own brother-in-law left his post aboard the Trinidad for three days and nights. The Admiral was so infuriated he dispatched a squad of soldiers to arrest Barbosa and had him clapped in irons.
In all this excitement, I was finally able to warn Magellan through the same confidant as before...Enrique. He came ashore with the soldiers, but remained behind when Barbosa was dragged back to the flagship. Now my only problem was how to speak to him without drawing to much attention.
The arrest had drawn quite a crowd of curious spectators on the beach. I carefully picked my way through the masses toward my target. I stepped beside Enrique and said in a conversational tone, "The sea is getting rough again. It might be wise to seek shelter." Enrique gave me a curious look and I tried to tell him with my gaze that I wished to speak to him.
"Yes. I will make a note of that," he replied in the same manner.
I walked away slowly and went into the cover of the jungle to wait and see if Enrique had understood. I waited...and waited. I had just concluded that I needed to come up with a new plan when a hand fell on my shoulder. I jumped up and turned defensively. Enrique quickly put out his hand to silence me. I could hardly believe his stealth. He could move more quietly than the spotted yellow cats that lived in those very forests.
"What is going on that you must take such precautions to speak to me, Senhor?"
One word was enough of a reply. "Cartegena."
Enrique's eyes grew large as I explained about the secret meetings on shore whose purpose was to depose and perhaps murder Magellan.
"I knew it was a mistake to appoint Antonio de Coca to be the San Antonio's captain!" Enrique exclaimed angrily. "He is another 'nephew' of our friend Bishop Fonseca."
"Why did Magellan choose him to be captain if he knew he was his enemy?"
Enrique shrugged, "Even I don't always understand my master. Perhaps he hoped to make peace with his adversaries, but I don't know for certain. The real question is what should we do about Cartegena and his conspirators?"
"I can show you where they are meeting so you can inform the Admiral," I offered.
"Why don't we simply inform my master now?" Enrique asked. "Why all of this secrecy?"
I looked away. "I don't want them to know it was me who informed Magellan of their activities. Besides, I'll be more useful if I remain anonymous. I will then be able to continue watching them."
Enrique moved so he could look me in the eye again. "I don't understand you. Are you not a Spaniard and even a relative of Captain Mendoza? And yet you help us. Why?"
I couldn't keep from being a bit surprised. "How do you know that? How do you know that I am related to Luis de Mendoza?"
He looked at me incredulously. "You share the same name and even have similar looks. A great mind isn't needed to figure it out." He smiled. "I also heard something about it from Senhor Pigafetta." I made a mental note to tell Antonio to keep my private information to himself the next time I saw him. Enrique puzzled by my silence, grew serious again. "You still haven't answered my question."
Why do I help them and fight Luis? Perhaps it is because Magellan reminds me of the father I lost. Or maybe it is simply my way of getting revenge on the uncle who should have been my ally and not my enemy. I gathered my thoughts as best I could and replied, "My reasons are my own. It is partly because of the oath I swore in Seville, partly for other reasons. Does it really matter? Let it suffice that I am helping you and your master."
He held my gaze a moment longer and then shrugged. "As you wish. I will keep your secret. Time is passing and I must get back to the Trinidad to warn Magellan." He stood up and looked down at me. "You should leave too."
I nodded. "Gracias, Enrique."
He shook his head. "It is I who should thank you."
-----
The Admiral didn't waste anytime in moving against the conspirators. He was furious that Luis and Antonio de Coca had disobeyed his commands. The soldiers were again dispatched and I can only imagine the looks of surprise of the mutineers when they were arrested. Cartegena, Coca, Luis and their allies were brought to the beach where Magellan himself confronted them. I was careful to remain in the background, but could see and hear all that was taking place.
Magellan spoke first. "I have been too lenient with you, Juan de Cartegena. I allow you to remain at liberty instead of throwing you into the brig where you belong and you repay me with more treachery!"
Cartagena's reply was cool and calm, but his eyes burned with hate. "My friends you see here," he nodded at those who had been arrested with him, "merely took pity on me and allowed me to join in the pleasures here on shore. Is that a crime or a betrayal of trust, Captain General?"
Magellan calmed himself and answered with equal frigid ease. "You must really think me to be a fool, if you expect me to believe that. I know that you were plotting to remove me from command."
"Where, may I ask, did you receive such information? I'm afraid your source was mistaken!" Cartegena's smooth surface was beginning to fracture.
"You may not ask and I trust my source far more than you." With that, the Captain General turned to his attention to the other conspirators. "Obviously my faith in you, Antonio de Coca, was misplaced. Coca, you no longer command the San Antonio and I will appoint your replacement later. Luis de Mendoza, Cartegena is no longer in your custody and I warn you not to associate with him again." He looked at their other companions. "The rest of you would do well to follow that advice as well."
Magellan once again turned his piecing gaze on their leader. "Cartegena, I would be well within the law to have you executed. But, since you seem to enjoy the 'pleasures here on shore' so much, you may remain here. You will be marooned." Magellan followed this surprising announcement by addressing the crew in a loud voice. "Discipline has become a farce since we dropped anchor here. Espinosa!" he called.
The captain of the guard stepped up smartly. "Here, Captain."
"Round up the men and clear the ships of Indians," Magellan ordered. "We will continue south as soon as everything is in readiness."
The crowd murmured angrily at having their shore leave cut short, but no one would take on the Admiral when he was in this temper. Espinosa issued a series of orders to his soldiers and they moved off. The crew began to disperse, still grumbling. I remained where I was and continued to observe the events unfolding before me.
Captain Serrano stepped foreword to speak to Magellan. "Captain General, I ask you to reconsider your decision concerning Cartegena."
Magellan gave Serrano an appraising look and replied, "I heeded your words once before and look what has been the result. More treachery. Cartegena does not deserve another chance."
"I agree, Captain, but it is not for his sake that I speak."
Magellan turned to face the other captain. "Then for whose sake do you speak?"
"For yours, Sir," Serrano asserted. "Cartegena was appointed to his position by the King and he has powerful allies at court. You should take care, Admiral."
"I will consider what you have said Captain Serrano." With that, Magellan went back to the Trinidad.
I too considered what Serrano had said and couldn't help but wonder what his true intentions were. As I stood pondering these questions, Antonio strolled up behind me, still scribbling in that infernal notebook. Finishing a sentence, he looked up and asked perplexed, "Has something happened?"
-----
Not long after I returned to the Victoria that night, I learned of Magellan's decision regarding the captaincy of the San Antonio. His choice was startling. He appointed his own kinsman, Álarvo de Mesquita, who know less than Cartegena about sailing and was only a supernuminaryp22 on the Trinidad.
And that was not the worst of it. The Admiral also transferred Estevão Gomez from his position as navigator of the fleet aboard the flagship to serve the novice Captain Mesquita. Although it was undeniable that Mesquita was loyal to the Captain General, it was also rumored that Gomes had expected to be appointed to the position. Magellan had no reason to trust Gomes, who had desired command of the whole fleet and had even petitioned the King, but naming him to this new role aboard the San Antonio would undoubtedly be seen as a demotion, adding insult to injury. The final blow was that Magellan relented and allowed Cartegena to remain with the fleet. This time Quesada would be his keeper aboard the Concepcion.
The situation was quickly going from bad to worse.
-----
By Christmas Eve, the fleet was ready to sail again. The longboats towed our ships from the shelter of the bay and we celebrated the Feast of the Nativity on board.
On the morning of the 27 of December, we began to sail with a fair wind from the north. The fleet headed west-southwest under full sail.
-----
We sailed past coastal mountains and several islands. After a fortnight, Magellan began searching for Cape Santa Mariá.33 At midday on January 11, we emerged from a squall and saw three hills on a low coast, which was the marker of Cape Santa Mariá. The Captain General then knew that we had sailed across the Line of Demarcation. The land to the south could legitimately be claimed for Spain. We no longer had to be concerned about encounters with Portuguese vessels and could now explore every promising inlet for passage to the great western sea.
The Victoria, along with the Santiago, led the way as we were the smallest ships in the fleet and the least likely to be grounded in the unfamiliar waters.
We suffered from frequent, bitter cold storms. We were forced to take refuge in a huge inlet that seemed to stretch indefinitely to the west. It was soon evident that Magellan believed this to be the Paso we sought, but after two weeks of fruitless searching it became clear the inlet was in fact the estuary of a great river.44
This was a tremendous blow to the Captain General. But his disappointment had to be kept secret from the captains and crew for it would be very dangerous for them to know the information he had was inaccurate.
Again, we were forced to sail south.
-----
The coasts became more barren and desolate the farther south we sailed. The skies grew ever darker and winter for these latitudes was approaching. Unless we found the strait soon, we would have only two options: return to Spain or establish winter quarters.
We all thought of the paradise we had left only two months before as we looked at the hostile landscape and watched its strange animals, flightless black geese and giant sea wolves.55
On February 24, we sighted another possible pass, but our scouts returned with only the bodies of slaughtered sea wolves and not the hoped for news.
Farther and farther south we sailed along the gloomy coast, beneath ominous skies. The storms only increased and many of the men and officers begged Magellan to return to Guanabara where we could take on fresh supplies and repair the ships. The Admiral would not consent to this and all in the fleet knew that a sheltered anchorage must be found where we could spend the winter.
On March 31, 1520, the day before Easter Sunday, we entered a bay, which Magellan named in honor of Saint Julian. After the scouts brought back a favorable report, the fleet anchored in the inner harbor.
The crews grew more dissatisfied and resentful. Many said that "this insane Portuguese" would lead us only to an icy death. All of this was made worse when the Captain General announced that rations would be cut in half to preserve the wine and biscuit until we sailed again in the spring. The officers and crew were outraged and every ship sent deputations to the Trinidad. I managed to join the group being sent from the Victoria and watched my uncle Luis and the other captains carefully.
Magellan listened to the grievances and made a bold reply. "We will not suffer from hunger and cold. Fish and shellfish are abundant here and we will find game in the hills near the coast. There is fresh water and plenty of firewood. We will build shelters and work sheds ashore so we can work and rest in warmth and comfort. By spring, our ships will be repaired and ready to continue on our journey to the Spice Islands, a paradise that will make the attractions of the lands we have left pale in comparison. Do not fear to travel farther south. Do not the men of northern Europe make long voyages at even higher latitudes?"
"I prize my honor above all else and would rather die than return to Spain before completing the task we have pledged our lives to." I don't know why but my blood ran cold at these words. "If necessary, I will sail as far south as 75º or until we reach polar ice." The Admiral met the eyes of each of the men that had gathered together. "The men of Castile are renowned the world over for their strength, courage and resourcefulness. Will you quail before a few snowflakes and go scurrying back to Spain like beaten dogs with their tails between their legs!"
The crewmen were stirred back to courage by Magellan's words, but it was clear the captains were not impressed. The men began to return to their own ships. Magellan addressed the commanders of his fleet one more time, formally inviting them to attend Mass with him on Easter Sunday and to later dine with him in his cabin. They didn't respond.
I saw that Luis did not return to the Victoria with his crew. Instead, he joined Quesada and those going to the Concepcion.
I knew trouble was brewing again and that it would be worse than anything before.
-----
Early Easter Sunday, April 1, 1520, Magellan summoned all hands but deck watches ashore to attend Mass, but Luis and Quesada defied the orders and remained aboard their ships. Later that night, no one attended the Admiral's dinner save his cousin, Álarvo de Mesquita.
I knew without a doubt the day would not dawn before blood was spilt. And I would be caught in the middle.
1Author's Notes
We modern folk know this place as Rio de Janeiro.
2 Basically just an observer not expected to help with duties aboard ship except in an emergency.
3 Punta del Este on the coast of Uruguay
4 Rio de la Plata
5 Penguins and sea lions