Chapter 1338: Chapter 1338

"Chief Divine bless! Brothers from afar, of course we believe you!..."

Exploration Captain Zuwaro smiled, looking around at the smoked meat racks, drying racks, and the salt pits dug up, readily agreeing.

"Guided by the prophecy of Divine Revelation, we meet across thousands of miles! Brothers of the Whale tribe, won’t you invite us to the tribe’s hearth for a warm drink?"

"Ah? ... Sure! Friends, brothers!..."

Hearing this, the old Hunter Whale Sea thought for a moment, also showing a joyful smile. The most update n0vels are published on novel⁂fire.net

"Come! Let’s build a bonfire and have a good chat! By the way, I also have some prepared blueberry juniper tea, perfect for entertaining guests!..."

Night fell, and the bonfire was lit. Everyone sat around the hearth, full from fresh whale meat and rich fish soup, their bodies warming up. Then, the old Hunter Whale Sea brewed a pot of the tribe’s traditional herbal tea, with blueberries and juniper leaves, native to the Northern Land, tasting sour and sweet with a hint of herbal fragrance.

At that time, blueberries were still a specialty of North America, widely used as anti-inflammatory herbs by the Northern Land tribes. Juniper leaves were used to treat colds and coughs, combating the chilling climate.

Miki the Scholar drank the herbal tea, observing the still busy tribespeople, and glanced at the carefully stored peculiar small drum, curiously asking.

"Respected old Hunter, this peculiar small drum seems to make a low whale call... how is it made?"

"Haha! Ancestor Spirit bless! This is our Whale tribe’s Ancestral Whale inheritance, the ancestral craftsmanship we rely on for a living..."

The old Hunter Whale Sea chuckled, taking out the wooden drum from his waist, gently tapping it for a while. The distant, long whale call echoed throughout the village, traveling far.

"However, it’s no secret! This is an Ancestral Spirit Wooden Drum, made from wood and a whale’s throat pouch, mimicking the whale’s sound cavity... Our ancestors made many, we made many, but only a few are truly effective at attracting whales! Those are the blessings of the Ancestral Whale, not something easily made!..."

Hearing this, Miki the Scholar touched his nose, thoughtfully. This drum that mimics whales must contain some secret of Divine Revelation, though it seems the Maca people are only partially aware...

Beside him, Zuwaro pondered for a while before asking the question most concerning the fleet.

"Praise the Divine! Your Whale tribe hunts at sea, surely you’ve ventured far, possibly to the Northwest and Southeast coasts, right? ... What are those directions like? How is the hydrological climate in winter?"

"Eh? The Northwest and Southeast coasts?"

The old Hunter Whale Sea gave Zuwaro a puzzled look, then confidently laughed.

"Ha! Ancestors bear witness! You, a Shaman from the South on a longship, ask of the Northwest coast, other tribes might not know! But since you ask us, the Whale tribe, I do know!..."

"Beyond the cape and strait, heading to the Northwest coast... it appears full of mountains, a narrow fringe of land, but actually... it’s a Great Island! A long, narrow Great Island stretching thousands of miles!... On its east side, separated by a narrow strait and rivers, lies the true continent..."

"And the island’s climate, the eastern coast sees snowy mountains from the mainland, very cold, much colder. While the western coast, shielded by mountains, is warmer, with warm springs throughout the year..."

The Great Island spoken of by the old Hunter Whale Sea is the 11th largest island in North America, known later as Vancouver Island. The eastern shore is cold and snowy, while the western shore is relatively warm, featuring beautiful forested beaches and even geothermal hot springs to fend off the cold waves...

"Ah? A Great Island in the Northwest? Cold east, warm west?..."

Hearing this, Miki the Scholar was slightly stunned, then asked.

"Are there tribes on this island? Where does its northwest end lead?"

"Of course! Every land in the Northern Land has settled or migratory tribes! However, the further north you go, the smaller and less populous the tribes become! On this island, especially the western side, there are a few Seaside Tribes, each about a hundred people... Oh! They call themselves island folk, ’Snuneymuxw’, the Snaw-Naw-As people."

Speaking of this, the old Hunter Whale Sea smiled confidently and said.

"However, when it comes to fishing skills, our Whale tribe is the best! The islanders in the north are just more adept at the Far North’s cold climate and know the Northern sea’s climate to avoid sudden storms, only fishing and ice fishing in winter..."

"Snaw-Naw-As people... island folk?... Adapt to the Far North climate, evade storms, able to ice fish..."

Exploration Captain Zuwaro captured these key words, firmly remembering them. The further north the fleet traveled, the harsher and more unpredictable the climate and hydrology would become. At this time, under the enlightenment of Your Majesty, they must learn from the Northern tribes the skills to survive in the Northern Land to traverse the terrifying latter half of the journey. The best way, of course, was to coax someone onto the ship!...

Thinking of this, Zuwaro stroked his chin, looking at the old Hunter Whale Sea capable of translation, contemplating various ideas to get someone aboard... After a while, he pursed his lips, smiling warmly as he asked.

"Praise Chief Divine! It’s wonderful to meet a brave seafarer like you!... By the way! We receive prophetic guidance, hearing that in the southeastern big bay, there’s a warm climate, suitable for settlement, and fertile bay lands... What is it like there?"

"Hmm? The Prophet’s guidance? A big bay? Fertile lands?..."

Listening to the translation, the old Hunter thought for a while, somewhat unsurely asking.

"Along the coast, heading east four to five hundred miles, there is indeed a big bay, a very large big bay!... As for the fertile bay land you’ve mentioned, whether it’s the plains under the northern bay or the lake-dotted southern bay? ... I’ve rowed to both these bays. They’re all warm climates, suitable for settlement, where pumpkins and beans can be grown in abundance... These two bay areas are dream fertile lands sought after by countless Northern tribes over a thousand miles!..."

At this, the old Hunter smiled, also showing longing. In later times, the North Bay area is around Vancouver in Canada, surrounded by mountains and sea, a warm valley. The South Bay area, on the other hand, is around the lake-filled bay of Seattle, likewise sheltered by eastern mountains, with plenty of lakes and fertile land.

However, such rare, plantable warm fertile lands, in the cold, harsh Northern Land, symbolize something every tribe understands!... The continuous struggle over these two fertile lands has lasted for hundreds, even thousands of years, never ceasing!

The old Hunter deeply observed Zuwaro for a moment, then smiled meaningfully.

"Shaman from the longship, your tribe’s Prophet is powerful, with accurate prophecies! The fertile bay lands are indeed as you described, suitable for settlement..."

"The climate there is warm, impervious to cold waves, able to cultivate pumpkins and beans, even harvest some corn. The fish harvest, especially in the lakes of the southern bay, is plentiful... And where there’s food, there are certainly tribes! In this harsh Northern Land, the more stable and abundant the food production, the stronger the tribes that appear!"

"So, whether it’s the North Bay or the South Bay, these territories coveted by countless tribes, are occupied by several, even dozens, of thousand-strong Great Tribes! The battles among these tribes are far fiercer than those of other tribes, as they are more warlike..."

"Friends from the longship! Your warriors are powerful, your spears and axes indeed sharp, your bows very strong, your armor robust... But there are simply too few of you!... If you wish to settle in the two eastern bays, you must be well-prepared... my advice would be not to go there! Especially not with so few people!..."

"Ancestors bear witness! The Prophet of your tribe, with immense power, and accurate prophecies! The fertile bay land is indeed as you described, suitable for settlement..."

"The bay area’s climate is warm, immune to cold waves, and capable of growing pumpkins and beans, even yielding some corn. That area’s fish catch, especially in the lakes of South Bay, is plentiful, with very fertile land. These two bay areas are coveted fertile lands, yearned for by thousands of tribes in the Northern regions over thousands of miles!"

However, such rare, cultivable fertile lands in a cold, deadly Northern Land indeed mean a lot, and no tribe is unaware! ... And the struggles and fights surrounding these two fertile lands have continued for hundreds, even thousands of years, never stopping!

The old Hunter took a deep breath and continued, confidently.

"Forefathers bear witness! You who have been endowed with prophecies of the Divine, truly understand well! The fertile bay land is as you say! Suitable for settlement..."

"Its climate is warm, it can’t be easily chilled by cold fronts, pumpkins and beans can be grown, even corn can be harvested. The fish catch there is notable, especially in the southern bay’s lakes, where the land is particularly fertile and abundant..."

"However, such a desirable warm fertile land, in a cold and deadly Northern Land, is something no tribe is unaware of! Even so, the struggles and battles among the numerous tribes for these fertile lands have gone on for hundreds, even thousands, of years without cease!"

"Ancestor witness! Your tribe’s Prophet, with great Mana, has prophesized accurately! The fertile bay land is indeed as you described, suitable for settlement..."

"But, in both the North Bay and the South Bay, these lands long yearned by countless tribes have been occupied by several, even a dozen, thousand-strong Great Tribes! The strife among these tribes is far fiercer than that of other places’ tribes, as they are more warlike..."

"Your tribe’s warriors are brave, your Spears and Axes are indeed sharp, your Bow and Arrow very powerful, and Armor very resilient... but your numbers are few! ... If you wish to settle in the two eastern bays, you must be well-prepared... and my advice would be not to go! Don’t go when you are few!..."

"Ancestors bear witness! Those greedy Great Tribes around the bays will undoubtedly target your ship and people, unlike us or other friendly tribes. They will think of devouring both your ship and people, just as they forced our Makah ancestors to migrate!"...