Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 226 Target: Port of Suez ([-])

The transaction between the two parties was completed on the same day.After the deal was concluded, the East Coast people once again commissioned Sergio to help hire two Portuguese three-masted sailing ships to transport the people and goods purchased by the East Coast people.

Three cargo ships loaded with more than 800 women and children, 20 camels, and some East African cattle, ivory, rhinoceros horn and other special products, under the escort of the high-speed cruiser "Super Brave", set sail on March 1639, 3. Leaving Mozambique Island, head south via the Fort in the River and return to Dongfang Port.

After this part of the fleet returned, the remaining battleship "Free Trade" and the armed transport ship "Galicia Flying Fish" also left Mozambique Island after a few days of rest and turned to the north. At this time, they were under the control of the Portuguese. Next, Zanzibar and Mombasa will call in Hong Kong for business visits.

To be honest, the two places are currently in chaos.Many local residents Swahili (Arabs and blacks mixed) combined with some dangerous elements from Oman to attack everywhere to resist the Portuguese colonial rule.The weak Portuguese colonial army was exhausted and could not effectively control the situation along the East African coast—especially the area north of Cape Delgado.So that anyone with a discerning eye can see that if the Portuguese don't take strong measures, maybe their local rule will not last too long.

After lingering in Zanzibar and Mombasa for more than a month, the two ships of the Exploration Fleet unanchored and set sail on May 5, left the port of Mombasa, crossed the equator northward, and entered the northern Indian Ocean region.At this time, the southwest monsoon prevails in the northern Indian Ocean, and the circulation of the entire ocean is also clockwise. Therefore, it is smooth wind and smooth water to go northeast along the coast of Somalia into the Gulf of Aden.

It took only ten days, that is, on the morning of May 1639, 5, the exploration fleet of the East Coast Republic arrived in the Djibouti area near Tadjoura Bay.At this time, it was early summer in Djibouti, and the temperature was as high as 20 degrees. Lieutenant Guo Zili, commander of the exploration fleet, ordered Lieutenant Ji Wen to take a group of sailors to row to the shore in two small boats.

At this time, they docked in Tajula Bay outside Gebert Lake.Looking from the boat to the shore, you can see a desolate yellow sand scene, no plants, no rivers, barren and drought are the main colors here.Only the uplifted mountains in the distance have some green embellishments, and perhaps only the mountains can have so few clear springs to provide the source of life for this arid land.

"It's so desolate, there is no sign of life activity at all." Second Lieutenant Ji Wen, wearing the navy's summer short-sleeved lieutenant's uniform, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a frown, "Also, it's really hot here. , I feel like I'm about to be scorched. By the way, are there really humans living on this land?"

Second Lieutenant Juan looked around after him, and then replied: "Maybe I can answer your question. Yes, there are humans living here, I'm sure! Look, your front right, what is that?"

Ji Wen turned around and saw two shirtless aboriginal blacks poking their heads behind a boulder, and a group of dirty sheep behind them.

Seeing the two natives holding iron spears in their hands, the sailor behind Given subconsciously took the rifle off his shoulder.

"No, don't be so nervous." Ji Wen held down the sailor behind him who was about to move, and said, "Maybe they don't have any malicious intentions. We will build a stronghold here in the future. I think the construction team brothers who will come here to build the port at that time Surely you don't want a malicious neighbor. Well, Juan, let's go up and try to make contact with him. You two, put away your guns and bring some goods, yes, a small knife like that."

Two naval ensigns led eight sailors and walked towards the two indigenous herdsmen.These natives seem to have come into contact with some outsiders, perhaps Arabs or Ottomans. In short, they are not very hostile to strangers. Although they are slightly defensive, it can be seen that they are still willing to communicate with outsiders.

"Hello, Djiboutians." Ji Wen cautiously approached the two natives, and said in a soft voice as much as possible: "Well, maybe you don't understand what I'm saying, but I want to know where there is a water source nearby."

After speaking, Ji Wen took off the leather water bag around his waist, shook the water in it, and then pointed to the surrounding desert and distant mountains.

Maybe these two Djibouti natives are really smart, or other outsiders have asked him about the same thing before. In short, he easily understood what Ji Wen meant, and then pointed to the majestic mountains behind him, saying Ji Li Gua said a lot.While speaking, he was also good at making water flow gestures, accompanied by certain onomatopoeia.

"Well, you're really smart." Ji Wen smiled, then boldly patted the native's bare shoulders, and said, "Well, now to express my thanks, I'll invite you to drink one of our own Drinks, Harry, come here, and get this new friend a man's drink—the Daqu in the River."

Harry McKinley replied in response. He took out a bottle of Hezhong Daqu in a dark glass bottle from the cabin of the boat, pulled out the cork, stepped forward quickly, and handed it to an aborigine in front of him.

Harry McKinley was an Irish immigrant who escaped from Fort Good Hope a few months ago.At that time, his brother fled northward in the cold winter rain with him, feverish, seeking help from the people on the east coast.After all, he deserved his life, and they ran into the supply convoy of the East Coast people not long after they set off.The two brothers were well taken care of in the supply convoy, and then Harry survived with good physical fitness and the Lord's favor, and now he has wholeheartedly joined the East Coasters.

When the expedition fleet was replenishing at Fort in the River this time, some sailors on the ship fell ill and temporarily stayed there to recuperate. Out of the mentality of taking care of fellow Irishmen, Second Lieutenant Ji Wen persuaded Lieutenant Guo Zili to recruit Harry McKinley to "Free Trade" Battleship HMS, serving as an apprentice sailor.Harry had learned a little of the basics of sailing in Ireland and England, so he had done well as a midshipman, and had gained the boatswain's approval.It can be said that he has no other problems except that he is not very fluent in Chinese. As long as he passes the future Chinese culture test, he can be transferred to an official sailor immediately and receive a salary of six yuan a month and a salary of three yuan. sea ​​allowance.

The two aborigines looked at each other, and finally one of them took a sip from the bottle, and the expression on his face was as wonderful as it was.

Ji Wen, Juan and others laughed out loud.Seeing this group of strangers laughing, the two natives also grinned silly, and even the dirty goats behind them bleated a few times.

"It seems that we have initially won the approval of these natives." On the battleship anchored on the sea, Guo Zili took back the telescope in his hand, and then ordered to the bosun: "Bosun, immediately send senior sailors to take a small boat to measure the water depth ahead. We will continue to pass through the waterway between the two capes in the afternoon or tomorrow. I still want to enjoy the scenery of Gebert Lake."

The boatswain saluted and obeyed, and quickly went down to dispatch his men.

The dazzling sunlight continued to scorch the earth, and even the deck of the ship was slightly hot from the sun.The sailors fetched buckets of seawater from the sea and began cleaning the deck.After spending two hours, Second Lieutenant Ji Wen and others who communicated with the natives finally returned to the battleship "Free Trade". They also came back with ten goats, which they used ten skinning knives from the two It was exchanged by Djiboutians to improve the lives of the crew.

"Sir, the Djiboutians told me to go ashore from here and go north. There are many mountain streams in the mountains, which can replenish us with sufficient fresh water. Maybe this is the only place we can replenish fresh water. , other places are completely barren, not even a blade of grass grows." Second Lieutenant Ji Wen, who was sweating profusely, reported to Guo Zilihui.

Guo Zili nodded, noncommittal.In his heart, this place is too close to the open sea, so it is actually not suitable for choosing as a naval port.Only Lake Gerbert, surrounded by two sharply raised headlands, is an ideal place for a naval fleet to be stationed.Because as long as the people on the east coast build fortresses on the two promontories, they can easily block the narrow waterway into the lake and ensure the safety of the fleet moored in the lake.Moreover, more importantly, according to the data of later generations, Lake Asal, which is separated from Lake Gebert by a small piece of land, has abundant potash reserves, which is a great fortune.If the port is built in the lake, it will also be easier for the people on the east coast to control it better.

"I will consider it." Guo Zili said, "At present, the sailors are measuring the water depth and marking the waterway in the waterway ahead. Maybe we can enter the inner lake tomorrow. If possible, I still want to build the naval port in the lake. Because it's safer that way."

Ji Wen nodded and said nothing.

In the evening, the sailors who went to measure the channel finally returned.They used inflatable skin bags to mark a wide enough waterway around the waterway, which meant that the exploration fleet could sail into that inner lake.

In the early morning of May 5, two ships of the exploration fleet sailed into the calm Gebert Lake one by one, and sent people ashore to land in the mountains in the southeast of the lake.The sailors who landed managed to find some creeks, springs, etc. in the mountains, and also found traces of a seasonal river.

This is exciting news, because it means that the basic needs of human survival can be provided here, and the navy can completely set up a supply port with a small number of people stationed here.Perhaps the only bad news is that the lake near the mountains is not deep enough, which requires people on the east coast to build a longer trestle here to be able to moor ships with deeper drafts.

On that day, sailors from the east coast buried a stone tablet on the shore to announce the arrival of the people from the east coast.After mooring in Gebert Lake for one night, the exploration fleet set sail again against the rising sun on May 5, heading for the end of the operation—the port of Suez.

(End of this chapter)