After leaving the Tagus estuary under clear skies, the "Rubber Dream" sails away from the Portuguese coast, leaving behind the green hills and church towers of Lisboa. The sailors, now used to the rhythm of the waves, adjust the large white sails to capture the strong winds of the trade winds.
The ship moves forward quietly, its bow cuts through the light waves in a graceful, almost hypnotic movement. The waters sparkle in the sunlight, their golden glow creating a contrast to the dark hull of the Rubber Dream."
On board, the sailors take advantage of this moment of calm: one adjusts a lazy sail, another scans the horizon in search of the first traces of an island, each attentive to the sounds of this new ship straight out of the yards.
Conversations become lighter too, laughter erupts as someone tells an exaggerated storm story, and Joao, standing by the rudder, satisfied watches the crew get down to all these activities.
This respite is precious, a moment of harmony between the ship and the ocean, before the challenges of the road come to claim their price.
Already Joao feels the need to test the ship's cruising performance and orders the knot calculations
"Get out of the loch line! We're going to test the race."
The sailors immediately set off into action, knowing that the evaluation of knots makes it possible to measure the performance and precise navigation of the ship.
The long rope is retrieved marked with several knots, while Joao pulls out the 30-second hourglass.
Diogo was interested in the case: "I bet 9 knots for 200 reals" attention more than 20 seconds?
"10 knots!" Joao says to him
For those who do not know these "directors of the company, that the captain participates causes astonishment!
The others looked at each other, friends did not participate!
10 knots almost 11.
"Ha favorable conditions!!" announces pietro... "
"Go for the crew: 400 reals, a cruzado gentlemen! A cruzados for the bonus! We're harnessing ourselves and we're staying on course until the Azores!" announces Joao loudly to the whole crew, "before heading to the cabin to take notes on the map.
During the first 4 days, life on board:
The crew set to work, each playing their role with precision: ropes were checked, provisions were inspected, and fresh water supplies were closely monitored.
Life on the ship is organized in a harmony of discipline and necessity: sailors sometimes sing to punctuate their tasks, and in the evening, tales of past adventures warm hearts over frugal meals.
Merchants, on the other hand, spend their days carefully cataloguing goods in their logbooks. Among the crates stored in the hold were carefully packed bales of wool, barrels of fragrant olive oil, and iron tools destined for distant settlements.
4 days later
The silhouette of the island of Terceira is revealed on the horizon.
The bay of Angra do Heroísmo, with its calm and deep waters, offers a welcome refuge. The Rubber Deam drops anchor as the harbour bells ring, announcing the arrival of a new merchant ship.
The crew goes ashore in a mixture of excitement and relief, the new ship is excellent.
Sailors enjoy a few free hours to stroll through Angra's cobbled alleys, stopping at taverns where local wine flows freely and other sailors' travel stories mingle with laughter.
Meanwhile, merchants are actively negotiating: they barter their bales of wool and jars of oil for local products such as dried fish, smoked cheeses, and tropical fruits.
Some also bought spices recently landed by a ship from the Indies: black pepper, cinnamon, and even a little rare nutmeg, intended for the elite of Salvador.
But this port was not only a place of trade: it was also a cultural crossroads where Europeans, Africans, and even a few navigators from the Asian colonies met.
Conversations are lively, and news about sea routes, potential storms, or pirate dangers are exchanged in an electric atmosphere.
A fortiori, the route decided by Joao is not pustular of pirates in gangs that could have caused problems.
________
After a few days of stopover, the Rubber Dream is back at sea, its holds now adding many fresh citrus fruits and some exotic ingredients that Joao added.
The sailors hoist the sails vigorously, their eyes turned towards the horizon. João consults his nautical charts by the light of a lantern, tracing the route that will lead them to the next chapter of their expedition: the Bay of Salvador, in the effervescence of the Brazilian colonies.
The winds pick up and the ship glides through the waves, taking with it the dreams and ambitions of its travelers.
Every man on board knows that this voyage will be full of discoveries and opportunities, but also of challenges, because the oceans keep their secrets and dangers.
_______
L'culinary art on board or the peregrinations of Vasco the Cook
In the darkness of the lower deck, near the barrels of fresh water and bags of salt, the chef Mastro Vasco is busy with his daily task. With limited resources, he transforms ordinary ingredients into dishes that warm the weary souls of the crew.
That day, he decided to concoct a stew based on dried peas, with a piece of salted meat and a handful of dried herbs that he keeps preciously in a small wooden box.
"A good stew can calm a storm in a sailor's heart," he often says, juggling his utensils on his rickety little stove.
Vasco is not only the cook, but also an outstanding storyteller. Every evening, after the meal, the sailors sit around him to listen to his stories.
That evening, as the stars light up the calm sea, he tells the story of a lost ship, haunted by the spirit of a former cook who, it is said, refused to share his precious saffron.
Laughter erupts, with some sailors swearing they heard moans at the bottom of the holds, as Vasco, with a mischievous wink, returns to his cauldrons.
When a sailor falls ill, the crew again turns to Mastro Vasco. Having learned some simple remedies from his herbalist grandmother, he prepares a decoction made from dried lemon and ginger.
"It chases away seasickness and makes the legs stronger than a captain's," he jokes as he hands a steaming cup to the patient, under the approving gaze of the ship's doctor. Vasco has this art of combining the role of caretaker and cook, earning the respect and affection of all.
On a day of flat calm, Vasco decides to experiment. Having recovered a few overripe bananas, these fruits with always too many seeds from a cargo destined for Salvador, he fried them in a pan with a little raw sugar. The sweet scent invades the ship, attracting hungry sailors.
When they taste his "deep-sea dessert", an emotional silence falls. "Maybe one day we'll call them 'Vasco bananas,'" he laughs, as the captain orders a second portion.
________
The daily life of the sailors on board.
The day begins even before the sun rises on the horizon. Lying on his narrow bunk, Simao, a robust sailor, stretches limply, his muscles aching from the previous day's tasks.
The hold exudes a mixed smell of damp wood, tar and salt. The subdued light of the lantern flickers with the movements of the ship, and the first sounds of the deck are already filtering through the planks.
Simao stands up, his mind still numb, and grabs his old, worn coat before going on deck.
On deck, Simao joins a few comrades for the first task of the day: caulking the hull.
Armed with his mallet and caulking iron, he begins to carefully drive tar mixed with fibers between the wooden planks to make them watertight. Sweat is already beading on his forehead as the sun begins to illuminate the waves.
Every blow is precise, every movement vital to keep the ship in good condition, because a hull that takes on water can condemn the entire crew.
Once the hull has been inspected, he tackles the rigging. Ropes worn by moisture and friction are carefully greased with a mixture of oil and tallow, ensuring their flexibility and preventing them from breaking during manoeuvres.
The veils, tarnished and weighed down by salt, are rubbed with a cloth soaked in fresh water to clean them and preserve their solidity.
Every move is methodical, as the condition of the rigging determines the speed and safety of the ship.
Simao then joined the sailors at the foot of the masts. The master ordered the square sails to be adjusted to catch more wind.
Simao and his comrades hoist the sails by pulling on the ropes, their calloused hands sliding over the rough hemp. The orders resound:
"To port!" "Higher!" Each sailor executes his task with a precision worthy of a mechanical ballet.
At noon, Simao finally allows himself a short break.
Sitting near the railing, he eats a hard biscuit dipped in a little warm soup, prepared by the cook Vasco.
The wind is blowing gently... He relishes this rare moment of calm, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
In the afternoon, Simao is on guard near the helm. He scans the ocean, observing the color of the waves and the movements of the clouds.
Any signal of a change in wind or an unknown vessel could alert the crew.
His sharp eye detects a distant shadow, but it is only a school of dolphins, which amuses the sailors for a few moments.
As the sun sets, Simao helps clean the deck, sweeping away salt residue and consolidating order on board.
Then, over a meagre dinner, he joins his classmates to share stories and songs. Simao recounts a past adventure in the Caribbean, where his ship had faced a storm so terrible that he had vowed never to set sail again – one sentence did not look like it, the air of the ocean seemed to be calling him.
______
And what about injuries?
The ship's doctor and also naturalist Mateo, a calm and meticulous man, gets up early in his small cabin near the hold.
Although cramped, this cabin is a sanctuary for him: a table strewn with bottles of medicinal herbs, carefully folded bandages, and an old European medicine book.
Matéo starts his day by inspecting the sailors who have complained of ailments or injuries the day before.
He examines a young moss suffering from sunburns, applies an aloe-based ointment, and recommends a hat to protect his fragile skin.
By mid-morning, the bridge is bustling. During a sail manoeuvre, a sailor stumbles and cuts his leg deeply on a tapered rope.
Alerted, Mateo intervened quickly: he cleaned the wound with salt water – a common practice at the time – before sewing it back together with a rudimentary thread and a needle that he always kept within reach.
His gestures are precise, his face serene; He knows that every wound can become critical if it becomes infected at sea.
After treatment, he goes down to the hold, where he inspects the provisions and drinking water. He knows that moldy food and dirty water are the silent enemies of the crew.
He examines the barrels, detecting a suspicious smell in one of them; he ordered his immediate replacement.
In addition, he checks that each sailor consumes a piece of lemon or a dried orange daily, a precaution against scurvy. - this disease, due to the lack of vitamin C, was known but the causes remained unknown, an empirical study had observed that citrus fruits were essential -
Mateo takes advantage of the quiet moments to immerse himself in his studies. On his desk, he leafs through a medical manuscript he acquired shortly before leaving Lisboa, looking for new remedies for fevers and stomach aches.
His mind was curious: he wrote down in a diary his observations on the tropical plants seen in Salvador, hoping that they could enrich his pharmacopoeia.
In the evening, Mateo mingles with the crew. Over dinner, he listens to sailors' stories of their past injuries: a broken leg in a storm or a snakebite in the colonies. With a discreet smile, he slips in a few precautionary tips to avoid new incidents. Sailors respect this man who, although often silent, embodies their survival at sea.
At night, an alarm broke out: a sailor was suffering from acute stomach pains. Mateo is immediately awake. In the flickering light of a lantern, he prepares an infusion of dried herbs and administers a decoction of ginger and mint. He monitors the patient until the symptoms subside, ensuring that everyone calms down.
________
Rui, the rich ship's master!
At dawn, when the first rays of sunshine brush against the sails of the ship, Rui is already up. He walks the deck with the confident gait of one who knows every plank, every rope, every mast, every crew member.
For Rui, the ship is not just a way to cross the ocean: it is a living entity that must be maintained and respected, and this one is a little boy.
His loud but measured voice echoes as he dispenses orders:
"You, inspect the rigging! And you, check the stocks of rope in the hold!"
Every sailor knows that it is better to carry out Rui's instructions diligently. Not because he is cruel, but because his determined gaze is capable of detecting the slightest negligence.
The captain can steer, but Rui is the one who makes it all work.
In the afternoon, while the crew is busy hoisting the sails to catch favourable winds, Rui stops to observe.
He notices a young boy pulling on the wrong rope, the effort visible on his face. With a patience tinged with firmness, Rui approaches:
"That's not how we do it. Look: your hands must slip like this, otherwise you will hurt yourself. Try again."
The boy obeys, and Rui nods his head in silent approval before continuing the inspections.
Later, Rui goes down to the hold. There, in a humid and dark atmosphere, he supervises the repairs of the equipment.
He examines a damaged rigging harness, rubbing it between his rough fingers.
"Good for a week, but then we'll have to find a new one," he whispers to a sailor.
Next to it, a bucket of tar bubbles gently; a sailor uses it to caulk a barrel, but Rui quickly intervenes:
"Not too much, otherwise the wood will burst under the sun!" His expertise is flawless, and no one dares to challenge his decisions.
In the evening, after a long day, Rui allows himself a rare moment of respite. Sitting near the railing, a flask of rum in his hand, he contemplates the immensity of the ocean.
At his side, a younger sailor asks him:
Rui is not a man of great speeches, but his actions speak for him. With his authoritative calm and unrivalled know-how, he is the one who ensures that the Rubber Dream crosses the waves without fail.
_______
"Hahahahahahahahaah!!! 15 knots" Joao is exulting at this record.
12 days later.
According to the calculations after recounting the speeds and daily updates with the help of the compass, Joao feels that the Rubber Dream is at the level of Salvador de bahia. After having crossed the doldrums without any problems.
Joao ordered a course to the west.
7 days later, after having sailed a little along the coast, other boats began to appear, only Portuguese colors, Salvador de Bahia was very close.
We hear the cries of the lookouts: "Land in sight!" As the port of Salvador appears on the horizon, the men adjust the sails to slow down the ship and sail precisely in the bay.
The crew exclaimed with joy on March 17, 1653: only 25 days since they left Lisboa, and already arrived in Salvador!!
A total of 23 days of sailing and 2 days in Perreira for the pleasure of the captain, a record for each of the sailors.
On deck, the boatswain, Rui, and director, organizes the maneuvers. The ropes are ready, and a small boat is lowered to guide the ship through the shallow waters.
The smells of warm earth, burnt wood, and tropical fruits reach the nostrils of sailors, promising a new world.
The ship finally docks. A crowd of locals, merchants and middlemen waited on the quays. The sailors descend the rope ladder one by one, tired but relieved. Doctor Mateo monitors the weakest ones to make sure they readjust to dry land after the crossing.
Captain João disembarks last, a sealed letter in hand, ready to meet with the local authorities, whom he has put at the top of his list of visits.
The ship's hold is opened, revealing its goods: muskets, cannons, ammunition, and powder, the Brazilian dockers begin to load the goods onto carts, while Vasco, the cook, comes down with a smile: he is already dreaming of buying tropical fruits to enhance his meals.
Salvador de Bahia, with its lively streets, its whitewashed houses and its church, become like the heart of the world for some sailors.
_______
Under the imposing roof of the colonial palace, decorated with frescoes and precious woods, João Carrasca is ushered into the large audience hall.
The governor, an imposing man named Dom Manuel Vasconcelos, sits behind a large table, surrounded by advisors and a few officers.
João carries with him a letter sealed by the King of Portugal, asking for a sesmaria: a grant of land for cultivation and farming, according to the directives of the crown.
With assured calm, João hands the letter to the governor. The latter receives it with curiosity, but his gaze becomes really interested when João mentions the gift of armament he is bringing: muskets, ammunition, cannons, and a large quantity of powder.
João explained that this equipment was a mark of loyalty to the crown and a support to strengthen the defense of Salvador, and to support the offensive on Recife.
Dom Manuel Vasconcelos, although apparently calm, felt his mind come alive. These weapons could be exactly what his colleague, Francisco Barreto, governor of Olinda, would need to retake Recife, then under Dutch occupation.
He quickly thought that strengthening his ties with Francisco and participating in a reconquest of Recife would be a major strategic victory, consolidating his own power and impressing the crown.
While listening to João, he feigns a slight indifference, but asks direct questions:
"Are these muskets in good condition? How long can the powder be kept in this climate?"
João was surprised by the attitude of this "work for", he probably has to fart and sniff the smell of his farts with delight more than to take care of the colony. He therefore informs him:
"About 100 muskets and a little powder are for the defense of Salvador, all are rrecently made in Lisboa, the rest is to kick the Dutch out of Brazil, and therefore intended for Sehnor Barreto wherever he may be at the moment"
He paused for a moment to confront the governor's gaze, moreover – wondering if there was going to be an unfortunate powder accident for a few moments, he took out a rubber bag filled with powder, about 1 kg, that he had taken with him, letting it appear to the eyes of the governor who looked at the almost transparent satchel with a little leather around intrigued.
"It's a material that comes from Brazil," Joao pointed to the rubber, he slowly articulated his sentence, "Complete waterproof: in your opinion, what is the state of the powder? Maybe you want a demosntration"
The "work for" probably wasn't going to make their lives easy to get out of it, so he might as well cut that stupid governor from the beginning, a risky maneuver, but it doesn't matter.
Although the royal letter recommended a sesmaria for João, the governor knew that he had some latitude in his interpretation. He decides to test João: "These lands you are asking for..." they are vast and rich. What benefits will you bring to the crown?"
As expected from a "work for", always more benefits, they want the blessing of the almighty, in order to serve their nature as stupid chimpanzee, ha....
"And your pragmatism, governor?" retorts Joao, in a tone more and more disgusted by this "work for" which would like to be a "it's the others who work for me and not the other way around", typical of a total slave who ignores it, much more slave, according to Joao's theory, than any slave he intends to buy for his plantations.
The governor looked attentively at Joao in turn, Joao began to devise an assassination plan... Looked at the governor with eyes black with rage
The governor asked:
"You are not like any of the merchants I have met so far: you are still young, you are only 23 years old, and you do not have the polite education of young merchants."
"Do you know many merchants who can arrive with so much equipment in their holds, a recommendation for a sesmaria from the crown and without being a rich heir?"
The governor weighed with great attention the words of Joao Carrasca reassessing his approach
"No, indeed not."
"Then you already have enough to understand."
"Have you been buccaneering in Asia?"
"In a way and also... A tax levy on the Dutch in Asia and the Spanish... elsewhere... before arriving in Lisboa and getting the trouble to meet you"
This "work for" was a bit stupid, he decided that he knows everything in the universe, and didn't inquire further, like a rabbid dog knowing his place in the pack.
" Well it's for what exactly that sesmaria ?" evaded the govenror, diverting the discussion direction
" Trees , rubber trees more accuretly, and if you can give more, adding a sugar cane plantation isn't out of the question. "