March 17, 1521

My men have been sick for more than two months plagued by malnourishment and dehydration. We ate bread which had turned so stale felt like rock and it could only be consumed by grinding into powder. Even then it tasted foul, for the bread was full of worms and it stank of urine of rats that had previously gnawed on it. Other rations have completely depleted, for fiber in our diet we ate any available hide. Even the hide turned hard and inconsumable because of the weathering it received from sun, rain, and wind. They continuously chewed on it or even letting it soak in the salty ocean water then heating it over embers we ate it desperate. For additional meat we have resorted to rats my men have even been selling them amongst themselves for half an ecu per piece. Our water has become impure, having been exposed far too long and has the liquid even has a yellow hue now.

For ninety-eight days we traveled and twenty nine of my men have died due to maladies, one giant, and one Indian of the country Versin; there are only a few healthy men up till now. Now in the Archipelago of San Lazaro we have been given shelter and food by the generous people of Cebu. I hope to replenish our supplies, revive my men, and repair my ships here. We have recently been preaching to these indigenous people of Christianity they seem very compliant with Christianity and seem almost willing to take up our religion. My crew and I are debating whether or not to baptize these people or not.

There also seems to be tension among the tribes here too, I believe that the opposing group called the Mactan have been angry at our interference of their beliefs. Hopefully this disagreement will end in peace and we will soon be on our way to the Spice Islands, or we will have to act in the name of our new found friends.