Captain's Log, Part 1: China
Generously donated to the government by direct descendants of Captain Sevaanam, Captain of the First Eastward Expedition.
Day 1: Sunny
Today we left Anuradhapura amidst cheering and fanfare. While I am excited to see many new people and places, I fear that I will never return home to my wife and my son, Oliveanthan. Then again, Oliveanthan is mostly grown-up, and his quiet but pleasant presence will bring him far in life. Personal thoughts aside, we sailed through calm waters all day. Rations and morale are high.
Day 32: Slightly Cloudy
Today, the crew met a group of seminomadic peoples living opposite several days of the easternmost shores of India. The area that they reside in is called Pagan. We traded a bit and stayed there for the night. A real bed has never felt so good...
Day 57: Boiling Hot
For the past few days, we have been camping in a group of straits the natives call "Malacca". The abundance of small islands like Sri Lanka and the climate remind most of us of home. As a result, many of us are feeling quite homesick, including myself. Oh, do I miss (the name is illegible through tears) and Oliveanthan. If only my family could be here...
Day 84: Ominously Cloudy
Today, we arrived in a very distant land called "China". The natives are settled in cities much like ours, and practice a lifestyle of farming. Technologically, they are on pace or more advanced than us, and their technological sophistication never ceases to amaze me. While they look and speak very differently than any other civilization we know, the Chinese have many things in common with us. Oh, it is raining hard now. I must stop now to prevent this from getting wet.
Day 98: Windy
After 2 weeks of staying with the Chinese, we are finally departing to the north. For the past 2 weeks, we have enjoyed nearly everything. The food was amazing, and there was no cow in anything. The Chinese empire is massive, and their territory stretches more extensively than both our empire and the Maurya empire combined. Not only that, but their territory is overflowing with various resources that are being used by the Chinese. Their roads are organized enough that we were even allowed to send mail back home! We saw various dyes, felt the softness of silk, and enjoyed eating bananas, pigs, and clams, which are kinds of food that we had never heard of beforehand. The Chinese people are also very friendly and welcoming. There are two major religions in China, Confucianism and Taoism, and both are very different from Indian religions. While Buddhism has a small presence in the port we are staying at, its influence is not as widespread as the two previously mentioned. The Chinese also have a very strong military, and have built a Great Wall stretching across northern China to repel the savage Barbarians that plague them. Now, the winds are picking up, and I must direct the usage of the sails...
On a brief side note, I have redone my Babylon game, and for all of you that were angry or sad to see the story die, I will be starting up a new thread sometime tomorrow. Thanks!