The Bolivian Diary by Ernesto «Che» Guevara Read Free Book Online Page A

ravine. There are a few pages missing, pages that have not yet reached our hands; but they correspond to dates on which nothing of any importance happened, and therefore do not alter the content of the diary in any way. 3
    Although the document itself offers not the slightest doubt as to its authenticity, all photocopies have been subjected to a rigorous examination to establish not only their authenticity but also to check on any possible alteration, no matter how slight. The dates were compared with the diary of one of the surviving guerrilla fighters; both documents coincided in every aspect. Detailed testimony of the other surviving guerrilla fighters, who were witnesses to each of the events, also contributed to establishing the document’s authenticity. In short, it has been established with absolute certainty that all the photocopies were faithful copies of Che’s diary.
    It was a laborious job to decipher the small and difficult handwriting, a task that was carried out with the tireless assistance of his compañera, Aleida March.
    The diary will be published almost simultaneously in France by the publishing house of François Maspero; in Italy by Feltrinelli publishers; in the Federal Republic of Germany by Trikont Verlag; in the United States by Ramparts magazine; in France, a Spanish edition, by Ediciones Ruedo Ibérico; in Chile by the magazine Punto Final ; in Mexico by Editorial Siglo XXI; and in other countries.
    Hasta la victoria siempre! [Ever onward to victory]
    Written for the first authorized edition of Che’s The Bolivian Diary
published in July 1968.

    1 .Ernesto Che Guevara, Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War, (Melbourne & New York: Ocean Press, 2006).
    2 .Ernesto Che Guevara, Che Guevara Reader, (Melbourne & New York: Ocean Press, 2003).
    3 .These pages are now incorporated in this edition.

NOVEMBER 1966
November 7
    Today begins a new phase. We arrived at the farm at night. The trip went quite well. After we got to Cochabamba, conveniently disguised, Pachungo and I made some contacts and then traveled by jeep for two days, in two vehicles.
    As we approached the farm, we stopped and continued in only one vehicle to avoid arousing the suspicion of the neighboring landowner, 1 who is muttering that our business must be devoted to manufacturing cocaine. Oddly enough, the ineffable Tumaini is apparently identified as the chemist of our group. On discovering my identity on the way to the farm during the second trip, Bigotes almost drove into a ditch, leaving the jeep nearly hanging over it. We walked about 20 kilometers, reaching the farm after midnight, where there are three workers from the [Bolivian Communist] party. 2
    Bigotes indicated he was ready to work with us, whatever the party does, but he is loyal to Monje, whom he respects andseems to like. According to him, Rodolfo is similarly disposed, as is Coco, but we should try to get the party to join the struggle. I asked him to help us and to refrain from mentioning anything to the party until the arrival of Monje, who is on a trip to Bulgaria; he agreed to both things.
November 8
    We spent the day in the undergrowth by the creek, barely 100 meters from the house. We were pestered by yaguasas 3 that were very annoying even though they do not bite. So far, there have been yaguasas, jejéns, 4 mosquitoes, mariguís, 5 and ticks.
    Bigotes got his jeep out with the help of Algarañaz and went to buy a few things, such as pigs and chickens.
    I was thinking of writing down the latest developments, but I will leave that for next week, when we expect the second group to arrive.
November 9
    An uneventful day. With Tumaini, we explored the area following the course of the Ñacahuazú River (in reality, a creek), 6 but we did not find its source. It runs through a steep gully that is apparently mostly deserted. With appropriate discipline, we could be there for some time.
    In the afternoon, heavy rain forced us to leave