I’ve been noticing that the colonists are having trouble communicating with their slaves and the rest of the natives. Not only does everyone speak all one language (English), but the natives are so confused in our society that I am beginning to wonder if they will ever learn the language. 

I’ve decided that this has to change. I called all of our natives and colonists together to the central part of the island. I made a speech to the people in English, and then got the interpreter to say it in the native language after me.  

I told the natives they were to learn the English language since there are problems communicating, and communication is very important in any society. I told them how we were going to start building schools, roads, and railways. I also promised better medical care and police forces.  

Once I was done my speech, everyone returned to their homes while the natives began building schools, roads, and railways. Soon, everyone was enjoying the new roads to walk on and the railways. There was now better medical care and a police force. The natives also had to attend European schools. They were learning English, and all about the European’s ways of life. That way, everyone could communicate through one language without using an interpreter or just pretending they understood one another. The natives were now able to speak English and live like a European! 

I guess this completely changed the natives traditional ways of life – I had insisted that they were not to speak in native language – but at least now things were going my way and everyone could communicate in English. They were basically Europeans in a native body. This is exactly what I wanted!  

And now, I had it all before me. 

Francisco de Almeida