Jib

Someday I shall return to the Barrier Islands…

After signaling the sea turtle fishermen to my location it appears my fate has changed. It will take all my charm to get those lads to sail with me to an English port. Too bad for Captain Ortega but he should know never to trust a pirate!

My mind starts to race. I wonder if it would be better if I kept the Caliph’s Tear? This jewel brought madness and despair to one man. I would be doing Captain Fermin Luis Ortega a favor if I took this treasure back to Port Royal and squandered it on fine clothes, drink and women! Now if I can convince the turtlers to go on the account….

To the south I see the small sails of a few turtle fishermen. They are noticeably close to shore. I know that turtle are often called to sandy beaches by the light of the full moon.

The moon has grown full. I imagine in the morning I will discover the Spanish have returned.

The Caliph’s Tear! This jewel was worth madness and a life of solitude for one man over a hundred years ago! It certainly is beautiful.

I remove the box hopeful that I have found the nearly impossible (of course the truly impossible would be to find an honest man engaged in politics but I digress).

Within the dwelling I find that little remains that weather and time has not claimed. But then my eye sees a small box, the kind used for spices or small personal effects.

I discover a crude shelter made of simple dry stone walls set close to the shore yet above the tide. It must have had a roof of palm fronds and bedding of sea grass at one time. I notice ancient fish bones and crab shells. It is barely large enough for a man to lie down in.

A concealed stone covered cove seems out of place on the isle. I keep a weather eye out.

I find a few small pools of rain water to drink. I had hoped to find a cave or cleft that might have been used as a shelter. No luck.

The rocky area around Salt Point offers a wind block. Food is more plentiful but still difficult to obtain. I scale up as high as possible to have a look around.

Salt Point on the southern tip of the Isle of Sleep might be promising. In the morning I move to the south looking for any signs of habitation.

I look to map again and try to guess where the hermit might have built a shelter. He dwelt on the island for a long time.

I explore the sea grass covered dunes. I discover little in the way of food and no water. My time is running out. I do find the remains of a few fire pits. The ash and debris is much too recent to belong to that of the hermit Jacinto of Cordoba. My best guess is that these are created by sea turtle hunters. Bits of bone and shell can be found under the shifting sands.

The island does have a few areas of rocky shoreline often covered with sea grapes that can be eaten when ripe. Birds, lizards and crabs also dwell in the rocky areas.

Long white sand beaches run along the western edge of the island. These would be perfect for a romantic encounter with a raven haired lass and bottle of rum!

The Isle of Sleep appears to have three types of terra. The sand dunes and beach grass which makes up most of the Barrier Islands.

I consult the map and make note of my location on the island. I was unable to find any record as to the hermit’s location so I simply set off and hope for the best!

I take moment to think about how best to approach this task. The island is quite large and I have only a few short days before La Arcelia returns. I doubt Ortega will be merciful if I fail.

Captain Fermin Luis Ortega has four sailors row me in the ships longboat out to the shallows off the coast of Isle of Sleep. They inform me that I have until the full moon to find the jewel or they will turn me over the Spanish officials. Ortega has told me that should I choose to flee the natives will undoubtedly capture me and subject me to a slow death by torture. I have not been given any weapons, tools or food. As I wade to shore I have few choices.

Spanish map with notes by Obadiah Jib

Old Spanish tales mention a hermit who dwelt alone on Isla de Domir, or in English the Isle of Sleep. The old stories are vague about the hermit’s appearance but do mention his odd behavior and apparent constant state of bereavement. Checking over dates and locations I have come to the conclusion that the hermit of Isla de Domir is indeed Jacinto of Cordoba. His sorrow is over the theft of the jewel. Now the question is where to find his hiding spot…

There is a small Spanish presence in this region. We pass a few fishing boats and many crews attempting to catch sea turtles. A few fledgling colonies have also appeared including one at Point John. The wrecked vessels of many nations frequent the numerous sand bars and shallows.

He provides me with study at his plantation in San Domingo and several old maps and texts. My Jesuit teachers would be disappointed that I remember only a little of the Latin they taught me in the seminary. Old Belmiro, the Portuguese navigator who introduced me to his trade, would be slightly more impressed that I can make out the Spanish maps. Though my research and Ortega’s insistence I able to trace the path of the Caliph’s Tear from Cordoba, Spain where it was part of the riches captured during the reconquest to the New World and the Barrier Islands. The Tear was then stolen in Cordoba and seems to disappear from history only to surface again in the possession of a mad man called “Jacinto of Cordoba”. Jacinto traveled with Hernando de Soto in 1539 along with 600 men in 9 ships to the western coast of Terra Florida to claim more lands for Spain. Log books and rumors state that Jacinto fled the expedition and ran into the wild.