Chapter 1305: Chapter 1305

The summer sun was bright and clear, with a sky so blue without a single cloud in sight, not even the slightest hint of rain. The scenery along the California coast was truly impressive, with the majestic coastline stretching north and south, flanked by towering mountains along the seaside.

The exploration fleet stayed for half a month at the rivermouth valley of the Chumash people, choosing the location of Three Hills Port to set up makeshift shelters made of branches. The priests, with smiles on their faces, gifted the local tribes some shimmering Lake Gems and practical, warm thick cloth. The nearby two small Chumash tribes were also friendly and genuine, joining in the construction of the camp.

Kebao, the First Level Preaching Priest of the kingdom, was stationed at this valley port. His name "Kebao" represents "Wolf in the Woods" and is a commoner surname. Interestingly, the name "Kebao" also connects with the local wildlife along this portion of the Western Sea Coast, where the most common large predators are the prairie coyotes, while the shores are teeming with spotted seals and elephant seals.

To these animals lying on the shoreline, with adorable eyes and oblivious to the danger of arrows, the exploration fleet was quite fond. For these animals provided plentiful sources of precious meat, warm fur, and fatty oils for maintaining weapons and leather armor. Even their bones were fully solar-dried, roasted, dried to brittleness, then crushed and ground into bone meal, used as fertilizer on fields.

"Miki, Priest Kebao has indeed done a commendable job in uniting with the Chumash people."

Exploration Captain Zuwaro stroked his chin, observing from afar as Priest Kebao led a group of Chumash tribespeople, clearing seal bones of residue, roasting them by the bonfire. He watched the exchanges filled with gestures and laughter, listening to Priest Kebao’s shouts, his eyebrows slightly raised.

"What’s Kebao saying?... Saka’apa (saak’apa)? Tek’uut (tek’uut)? Nataan, Na’a’it (nataan na’a’it)?"

Upon hearing this, Miki pondered for a moment, then retrieved a roll of skin paper he carried at all times, which recorded some Chumash vocabulary. He examined it carefully for a while before replying.

"Saka’apa, ’brother.’ Tek’uut, ’fire, use fire to roast’... he must be saying, ’brother, roast these bones with fire.’ As for ’Nataan-Na’a’it’..."

Miki paused briefly, his face also showing confusion.

"Sky? Grandfather?... Heavenly Grandfather?"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro squinted, watching Priest Kebao sincerely and gesturing a Sun Hummingbird, suddenly understanding.

"Oh! He’s praying! So, ’Heavenly Grandfather’... is the Chief Divine?... Brother, roast these bones with fire, Heavenly Grandfather (Chief Divine) bless us!"

After interpreting this phrase, the two exploration captains exchanged glances. Moments later, Exploration Captain Zuwaro burst into laughter, his face showing satisfaction.

"Excellent! Priest Kebao is very adaptable and excels in interacting with the tribespeople! I feel confident leaving here to him!"

"Indeed, you’re right! Zuwaro, we must continue north! According to intelligence, the Great Bay is not far to the north..."

In early June, the exploration fleet departed from Three Hills Port, continuing northward exploration. North Bird Stone Village stationed 50 men, Ipa Tribe stationed 15, Three Hills Port stationed 120, along with two longships... Out of the over 700 explorers, only about 500 remained, with ten longships.

The ten longships continued northward, with tall redwoods appearing on the eastern shores. As some of the tallest trees in the world, these could grow over 100 meters tall! And when these towering trees grew on the sheer cliffs of the coastline, they silently watched the unprecedented longships like ancient natural guardians.

Black eagles and white seagulls rested atop the high redwoods, curiously gazing at the rowing longships below. The cliffs along the shore showed no signs of human life, filled with chittering squirrels, occasionally sighting beautiful white-tailed deer, and sometimes encountering fearsome brown bears. Follow current novᴇls on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

Brown bears are the mightiest predators on the entire Western Sea Coast, perhaps even the whole North American continent. They can reach a height of over two meters and weigh up to half a ton. Most native tribes hold them in awe, keep their distance, and some even engrave them on their totem poles.

"Chief Divine! Such a large bear! It’s enough to feed the entire fleet for a day!"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro stood at the ship’s prow, wide-eyed, locking eyes with a brown bear on the cliff. He quickly estimated that this brown bear was at least four to five times his size.

The brown bear looked down at the small dots on the sea, showing some curiosity towards the "long fishes they’ve never seen before. Its eyesight is slightly better than a human’s, particularly good at long distances and night vision. Its sense of smell and hearing far surpass those of humans.

Soon, it heard the voices from the longship and sniffed the familiar scent of two-legged beasts. Just north of the redwood forest, there’s an oak forest it likes very much. But the oak trees that could bear fruits were occupied by these flocks of two-legged beasts. Having encountered these two-legged beast groups before, it knew that their sharp teeth were long and sharp, not easily provoked.

The brown bear opened its massive mouth, issuing a deep roar from the depths of its throat. It was a warning to the two-legged beasts, declaring its territory. It watched as the "long fishes" slowly departed, their presence gradually dissipating, before retreating into the woods, vanishing from sight.

Encountering a brown bear seemed to be some sort of divine omen. Half a day later, a vast expanse of continuous oak forest appeared along the coastline, with a river flowing from the deep forest, and a Salinan village established by the riverbank. Surrounding the village stood a totem pole of over ten meters tall, carved from sturdy oak wood. The totem pole was etched with a massive oak tree and a brown bear beneath it, signifying the tribe’s name, the Oak Bear Tribe.

The arrival of the exploration fleet made this village of five to six hundred tribespeople extremely tense. All the men in the tribe stood armed with stone spears, carrying spears and hunting bows, ready for combat. The women and children had already retreated into the deep forest to the east.

"It seems that the tribes in this area are not peaceful! They are very vigilant and quick to react, with strong fighting instincts... likely, there are many skirmishes between the tribes!"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro stood at the ship’s prow, observing the sights within the village. The warriors on the ship did not disembark, and the tribal hunters onshore did not initiate an attack either.

After a brief standoff, a Salinan tribal elder stepped forward. He wore a wolf fur hat, with a shirt made of long grass, adorned with vines and animal bones. He was clad in seaskin shorts, with two strings of animal teeth and colorful stone beads. Judging by his clothing, much more elaborate than ordinary tribespeople, he must hold a high position within the tribe. As he approached the coast, he raised a bone staff, loudly questioning the people on the longships.

"Huchum!... Himi!... Naxasla?"

Hearing this, Zuwaro looked at Miki, who helplessly shook his head, indicating he didn’t understand at all. At this time, the translator recruited from the Ypa Great Tribe finally came into play.

"Huchum...is a greeting, it means hello, showing friendliness. Himi... is water, lying in the water. Presumably, it refers to our ship being in the water. As for ’Naxasla’..."

Miki thought for a while, and his face also showed confusion.

"Sky? Grandfather?... Sky Grandfather?"

The exploration captain Zuwaro squinted, watching Priest Kebao, sincerely and animatedly depicting the Sun Hummingbird, and that’s when he realized.

"Ah! He’s praying! So, ’Heavenly Grandfather’... is the Chief Divine?... Brother, roast these bones with fire, Sky Grandfather (Chief Divine) bless us!"

After translating this sentence, the two exploration captains exchanged glances. A moment later, Exploration Captain Zuwaro laughed heartily, looking greatly satisfied.

"Very good! Priest Kebao is very flexible and skilled at dealing with the tribespeople! I’m very confident leaving this place to him!"

"Indeed, you’re right! Zuwaro, we should continue north! According to intelligence, the great bay is not far north..."

In early June, the exploration fleet left Three Hills Port, continuing northwards. The North Bird Stone Village stationed 50 people, the Ypa Tribe stationed 15, and Three Hills Port stationed 120, leaving just over 500 people and ten longships from the original exploration fleet of over 700.

The ten longships continued north, as tall redwoods appeared on the eastern coast. These are some of the tallest trees in the world, growing over a hundred meters tall! Seeing these towering trees growing on the steep cliffs along the coastline, silently watching the unprecedented longships, was like being guarded by ancient natural sentinels.

Black eagles and white seagulls perched on the tall redwoods, peering curiously at the moving longships below. The cliffs on the shore looked devoid of human life, only squirrels chirped, beautiful white-tailed deer occasionally appeared, and fearsome brown bears were sometimes spotted.

The brown bear is the most formidable predator throughout the Western Sea Coast, perhaps even the entire North American continent. They can grow over two meters tall and weigh up to half a ton. Most native tribes hold them in awe, keep their distance, and even carve them on their totem poles.

"Chief Divine! Such a big bear! It could feed the entire fleet for a day!"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro stood at the ship’s prow, wide-eyed, staring at a brown bear on the cliff. He quickly estimated that this brown bear was at least four to five times his size.

The brown bear looked down at the small points on the sea with curiosity at the sight of the never-before-seen "long fish." Its vision was slightly better than humans, especially adept at long-distance and night vision. Its sense of smell and hearing far exceeded humans’.

It soon heard voices from the longship and smelled the familiar scent of two-legged beasts. Just north of the redwood forest, there was an oak grove it really liked. But those oak trees yielding acorns were occupied by these groups of two-legged beasts and knowing the trouble their sharp long teeth could cause.

The brown bear opened its mouth wide, letting out a low growl from deep within its throat. It was a warning to the two-legged creatures, declaring its territory. It watched as the "long fishes" left, their presence gradually dissipating before it turned into the forest, disappearing from view.

After the brown bear encounter, it appeared as if a divine omen. Half a day later, a vast stretch of continuous oak forests appeared along the coastline, a river flowing down from the deep woods, and a Salinan settlement established by the riverside. Inscribed on their totem pole, a giant oak tree and a brown bear beneath it signified the tribe’s name as the Oak Bear Tribe.

The arrival of the exploration fleet caused great tension in the village. Every able-bodied man of the tribe held stone spears, carrying spears and hunting bow, ready to fight. The women and children had already retreated to the deep woods to the east.

"It seems that the tribes here are not at peace! They are very vigilant, react quickly, and have a strong fighting spirit... Conflicts must be common between the different tribes!"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro stood at the prow, observing the scene within the village. The warriors on the ship did not disembark, and the tribal hunters onshore did not initiate an attack.

The two sides stared at each other for a while, and the Salinan Elder onshore raised a bone staff, loudly shouted towards those on the longship. The Salinan hunters onshore also became slightly restless.

Until the Elder shouted again, the translator from the Ypa Great Tribe finally demonstrated his worth.

"Huchum... it’s a greeting, hello, showing friendliness. Himi... is water, in the water. I guess it refers to our ship in the water. And for ’Naxasla’..."

Miki took a while to think, and the elder on shore raised the bone staff again and shouted loudly. The Salinan hunters on the shore, too, were slightly restless. Until the elder shouted again, did the translator finally remember.

"Naxasla... ’peace’, a greeting of peace."

"Peace? Are you sure?"

Just as Deer Worm was about to confirm, the two leaders looked at each other, and he wasn’t a hundred percent certain. But soon, he came up with a solution.

"There’s another word! We can reply with another word!"

"Quick, say it! What is it?"

"K’elqom means ’respect’!"

The Exploration Captain then leapt onto the longship. He met the eyes of the Salinan elder holding the bone staff, and saw that his attire was much more elaborate than that of the tribespeople, indicating his high status in the tribe.

Standing there on the wild and ancient California Western Sea Coast, he greeted loudly with respect.