Recently, I have sailed around the Cape of Good Hope with 21 ships, just as I had planned. However, an event I hadn’t planned on was destroying Mombasa. Before that, I took up residence in Cochin. I had entered the fierce wars with Indian and South Asian kingdoms in order to build up a spice trade for Portugal; and eventually executed a treaty with Malacca. I’m glad about all of the success I’ve completed for Portugal, yet I really do despise war. Somehow, I feel that killing people kills a part of me. The spice trade, however, is doing well for Portugal. Portugal now has spices that they have never had before. I’m sure that Portuguese all around the world are thanking me for my success. I sometimes wish I was still home in Lisbon, but now is not the time to be home. I’m currently on the east coast of Africa, and soon to be exploring further. Going home now would just make the journey around Africa even longer and more tiring, and that is something I do not require! 

A big day is coming up tomorrow. I best be off to get some rest before the exploration of Africa. Wonder what I’m going to discover? What’s going to happen?

Francisco de Almeida

 A picture of the war.