Samuel Champlain (Part 2)

Samuel Champlain sailed on his uncle's ship to Spain. They were hauling Spanish soldiers and war equipment home to Spain at the conclusion of the French Religious Wars. Sam's uncle was an interesting character, part sailor, part merchant, part pirate, part spy. Among the Spanish who safely arrived in Spain was a high ranking officer who had befriended Samuel. Shortly after arriving in Spain, Sam's uncle leased his ship to the Spanish yet again. . . this time to cary merchandise to New Spain and Samuel Champlain was to go along to protect his uncle's interests.

Champlain saw much of the Spainish possessions in the New World. . . and was very taken by the beautiful islands, the exotic plants and animals and the several indian cultures he saw. Many of the indians were enslaved by the Spanish and worked to death. There were also many African slaves . . . also worked to death. The Spanish, did not consider these people to be human beings. Champlain, on the other hand, saw the indigenous people as possessing a highly-developed cultures, some of whom had mastered sciences like astronomy, archetecture, mathematics, writing and government.

Champlain saw Panama, Mexico city, Havana and other cities. He observed and drew detailed maps of harbors, defenses, shoals, channel depths and whatever else he could. Because of his training as a cartagrapher, navagator and artist, his maps were very accurate for his time. Sam was very cautious about recording this sensitive information. If the Spanish discovered his writings and maps, Champlain would be condemned as a spy, possibly torured and surely hanged.