If the said monsoon ceases, and the ships are caught
inside the bay, as a general thing another wind, the brisa, begins to
blow, so that they are detained. Consequently, when they make the said
voyage, and reach the neighborhood of Japon, it is already September
or October. Accordingly it is necessary to run great risks, and they
must suffer many storms, with which the ships lose their rigging,
are wrecked, or have to put into port in distress. If they proceed
on their course, inasmuch as they encounter the rigor of winter, and
because of their high altitude and their departure from a warm land,
many men die; their gums decay and their teeth fall out. [98] If so
great severity is not exercised, this matter will not be remedied.
_Item_: The ships sail very unevenly, and heavily laden, so that
one-half the ship's stores are left above decks; and as the sailors are
unable to attend to necessary duties or to move about in the ships,
in the first storm the stores are all carried into the sea; and the
men left without necessary food, especially live fowls, which means
their very life. On account of their heavy cargoes they are unable
to set all sail or to resist squalls, so that they founder, put into
port in distress, are wrecked, or are long delayed on the voyage.
Again they often sail poorly repaired, because of the fault of the
shore-master [_patron de ribera_] who has charge of them. It is
necessary to remove him from that post; but, although the city has
tried to do so, it has been unable to secure redress.
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