Portuguese - Diary Of Da Gama's 1St Voyage, 1497

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[Anonymous, "Roteiro da Viagem de Vasco da Gama em MCCCCXCVII," ed. Alexandre Herculano and the Baron do Castello de Paiva (Lisbon: Imprensa Nacional, 1861).

Earliest known manuscript, c. 1500-1550:

Ms. 804, Biblioteca Pública Municipal do Porto, also available online:

http://arquivodigital.cm-porto.pt/Conteudos/Conteudos_BPMP/MS-804/MS-804.htm (accessed 15 Sept. 2014).]

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[Anonymous, "Em nome de Deus: The Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama to India, 1497-1499," trans. Glenn J. Ames (Leiden: Brill, 2009).]

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Em nome de Deus, Amem.

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In the Name of God, Amen.

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Na era de mill CCCCLXLVII mandou ell Rey Dom Manuell, o primeiro deste nome em Portugall, a descobrir, quatro navios, os quaees hiam em busca da espeçiaria, dos quaees navios hia por capitam moor Vasco da Grama, e dos outros d’uum delles Paullo da Gama seu irmãoo, e d’outro Nicollao Coelho.

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In the year 1497 the king Dom Manuel, the first of that name in Portugal, despatched four ships to make discoveries and search for spices. Vasco da Gama went as Captain major of these ships, Paulo da Gama his brother commanded one of them, and Nicolau Coelho another.

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[The Atlantic: From Lisbon to the Cape of Good Hope]

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Partimos de Restello huum sabado, que eram oyto dias do mês de julho da dita era de 1497, noso caminho, que Deus noso senhor leixe acabar em seu serviço. Amem.

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We departed from Restello on a Saturday, the 8th day of July 1497, and began our voyage, which Our Lord God permit us to accomplish in his service, Amen.

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Primeiramente chegámos ao sabado séguinte á vista das Canárias, e esa noute pasámos a julavento de Lançerote, e a noute seguynte amanhecemos com a Terra Alta, omde fezemos pescaria obra de duas oras, e loguo esta noute em anouteçendo eramos através do rrio do Ouro.

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We arrived first the following Saturday [15 July] in view of the Canaries, and that night we passed to the lee of Lancerote. The following night [16 July] we made Terra Alta at dawn, where we fished for two hours. That evening at dusk we found ourselves off the Rio do Ouro.

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E foi de noute tamanha a çarraçam que se perdeo Paullo da Gama de toda a frota per huum cabo e pello outro o capitam moor. E depois que amanheçeo nom ouvemos vista delle, nem dos outros navios, e nós fezemos o caminho das Ilhas do Cabo Verde como tinhamos ordenado, que quem se perdese que se seguise esta rrota.

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That night, the fog was so thick that Paulo da Gama lost sight of both the Captain major and the other ships. And even after day break [17 July] we caught sight of neither him nor the other vessels. So we shaped a course for the Cape Verde Islands, as we had been ordered to do, stating that in case we became separated we should follow this route.

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Ao domingo seguinte em amanhecendo ouvemos vista da Ilha do Sall, e loguo dii a huuma ora ouvemos vista de tres navios, os quaees fomos demandar, e achámos a naoo dos mantimentos e Nicollao Coelho, e Bertolameu Diz que hia em nosa companhia até a Mina, os quaees tambem tinham perdidos o capitam moor. E depois de sermos juntos, seguimos nosa rrota, e faleceunos o vento, e andámos [p.2] em calmaria até a quarta feira pella manham. E aas dez oras do dia ouvemos vista do capitam moor avante nós obra de cinquo legoas, e sobre a tarde nos viemos a falar com muita alegria, onde tirámos muitas bombardas e tanjemos trombetas, e tudo com muito prazer pollo termos achado.

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On the following Sunday [23 July] at dawn we caught sight of the Ilha do Sal. After another hour we sighted three ships, which we hailed. We found them to be the store ship and those of Nicolau Coelho and Bartolomeu Dias, who stayed in our company as far as Mina. They too had been separated from the Captain major. After joining up, we continued on our route. But we lost the wind, and were becalmed until Wednesday morning [26 July]. At ten o’clock, we sighted the Captain major, some five leagues ahead of us, and by evening succeeded in hailing him with great excitement. We celebrated finding him by firing off our bombards and sounding the trumpets with much pleasure.

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E ao outro dia que era quinta feira chegámos á Ilha de Samtiago, onde pousámos na praya de Santa Maria com mmto prazer e folgar, e aly tomámos carnes e augoa e lenha, e corregendo as vergas dos navios porque nos era necesario.

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The following day, a Thursday [27 July], we reached the Ilha de Santiago, where we joyfully anchored off the beach of Santa Maria. From there we loaded meat, water, and wood, and did much needed repairs to our yards.

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[From Santiago to the Bay of Saint Helena]

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E huuma quynta feira eram tres dias d’agosto partimos em leste, e hindo huum dia com sull quebrou a verga ao capitam moor, e foy em XVIII dias d’agosto, e seria isto CC legoas da Ilha de Samtiaguo, e pairámos com o traquete e papafigo dous dias e huuma noute, e em XXII do dito mês hindo na volta do mar ao sull e a quarta do sudueste, achámos muitas aves feitas como garções, e quando vêo a noute tiravam contra o susoeste muito rrigas como aves que hiam pera terra, e neste mesmo dia vimos huuma baléa, e isto bem oytocentas legoas em mar.

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On a Thursday, the third of August, we departed sailing in an easterly direction. One day, heading south, the Captain major’s main yard broke. This happened on the 18th of August, about 200 leagues from the Ilha de Santiago. We then lay to under foresail and lower mainsail for 2 days and a night. On the 22nd of that month, sailing S by SW, we saw many birds resembling herons. As night approached, they flew vigorously to the SSE, like birds heading for land. On this same day we saw a whale, some 800 leagues out to sea.

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A vinte e sete dias do mês d’outubro vespora de Sam-Simam e Judas, que hera sêsta feira, achámos muitas baléas, e huumas que se chamam quoquas, e lobos marinhos.

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On the eve of St. Simon and St. Jude, Friday, the 27th of October, we saw many whales, some called quoquas [cachalots] and seals.

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Huuma quarta feira primeiro dia do mês de novembro, que foy dia de Todos os Santos, achámos muitos signaees de terra, os quaees eram huuns golfãos que naçem ao lomgo da costa.

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On Wednesday, the 1st of November, All Saint’s Day, we discerned many signs of land, among them gulf-weed which grows along the coast.

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Aos quatro dias do dito mês, sabado ante manhan duas oras, achámos fundo de cemto e dez braças ao mais, e ás nove oras do dia ouvemos vista de terra, e emtam nos ajuntámos todos e salvámos o capitam moor com muitas bandeiras e estemdartes [p.3] e bombardas e todos vistidos de festa, e em este mesmo dia virámos bem junto com terra na volta do mar, porém nom ouvemos conhecimento da terra.

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On the 4th of that same month [November], a Saturday, two hours before daybreak, we took soundings of 110 fathoms. At 9 o’clock we sighted land. We all drew together and saluted the Captain major, with many flags, standards, and firing our bombards. All of us dressed in our finest clothes. That same day, we tacked to come close to land but since we could not identify it we again stood out to sea.

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[Saint Helena Bay]

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Á terça feira viemos na volta da terra e ouvemos vista d’uuma terra baixa e que tinha huuma grande baýa. O capitam moor mandou Pero d’Alanquer no batell a ssumdar se achava bom pouso, pello qual a achou muito boa e limpa e abrigada de todollos vemtos, soomente de noroeste e ella jaz leste e oeste, aa quall poseram nome Santa Ellena.

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On Tuesday [7 November] we returned to shore and saw low lying land which contained a large bay. The Captain major sent Pedro d’Alenquer in a boat to take soundings to find a good anchorage. He found the bay to be very good and clean and sheltered from all winds, save those from the NW, as lies east and west. We named this bay Santa Helena.

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Á quarta feira lançámos amquora na dita baýa, onde estivemos oyto dias alimpiado os navios e corregendo as vellas e tomando lenha.

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On Wednesday [8 November] we dropped anchor in this bay, where we remained for 8 days, careening the ships, mending the sails, and taking on wood.

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A quatro legoas desta amgra pera o sueste jaz huum rio que vem de dentro do sartãoo, que he em boca huum tiro de pedra, e d’altura duas e tres braças de qualquer anguoa, e chamase o rrio de Samtiaguo.

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Four leagues from this anchorage to the SE a river coming from the interior enters the bay. It is about a stone’s throw across at the mouth, and from 2-3 fathoms deep at all stages of the tide. We called it the rio de Santiago [today the Berg River].

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Nesta terra ha homens baços, que nom comem senam lobos marinhos e baléas e carne de gazellas e rraizes d’ervas, e andam cubertos com pelles e trazem huumas baynhas em suas naturas. E as suas armas sam huums cornos tostados metidos em huumas varas d’azambujo e tem muytos cãees como os de Portugall, e asy mesmo ladram. As avees desta terra sam asy mesmo como as de Portugall, corvos marinhos, guayvotas, rrollas e cotovias, e outras muitas avees, e a terra he muito sadia e tenperada e de boas ervas. [p.4]

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In this land the inhabitants are tawny colored. They eat only seals and whales and the meat of gazelles and the roots of plants. They dress in skins, and wear sheaths over their natural parts. Their weapons are poles of olive wood to which a horn, browned in the fire, is attached. They have many dogs like those in Portugal, which bark the same as well. The birds of this land are also like those in Portugal: cormorants, gulls, turtle doves, crested larks, and many others. The country has a healthy and temperate climate and good vegetation.

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Ao outro dia depois de termos pousado, que foy á quinta feira, saimos em terra com o capitam moor e tomámos huum homem daquelles, o qual era pequeno de corpo e se parecia com Samcho Mixiaa, e andava apanhando mell na charnequa, porque as abelhas naquella terra o fazem ao pee das moutas, e levámollo á naoo do capitam moor, o quall o pôs comsigo aa mesa, e de todo o que nós comiamos comia elle.

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On the day after we anchored, that is to say Thursday [9 November], we went to shore with the Captain major. We captured one of the men of that land, who was small of stature like Sancho Mexia. He had been gathering honey in the sandy waste, because the bees of this country deposit their honey at the foot of the mounds around the bushes. We brought him to the Captain major’s ship, and placed him at the table and whatever we ate he ate as well.

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E ao outro dia o capitam moor o vistiu muito bem e o mandou poer em terra.

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On the following day [10 November] the Captain major had him well dressed and sent ashore.

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E ao outro dia seguinte vieram quatorze ou XV delles aquy onde tinhamos os navios. E o capitam moor foy em terra e amostroulhes muitas mercadorias pera saber se avia naquella terra alguuma daquelles cousas, e as mercadarias eram canella e cravo e aljofar e ouro e asy outras cousas, e elles nam entenderam nauquellas mercadarias nada como homens que nunca as viram, pollo quall o capitam moor lhes deu cascavés e anés d’estanho. E isto ffoy á sesta feira. E iso mesmo ao sabado seguinte.

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On the following day [11 November], 14 or 15 of them came to where we had anchored our ships. The Captain major landed and showed them a wide variety of merchandise in order to find out if such things were found in their country. These products included cinnamon, cloves, seed pearls, gold, and many other things. But they had no knowledge whatsoever of such goods, and acted like men who had never seen them before. They were consequently given round bells and tin rings by the Captain major. These events transpired on a Friday [10 November]; and the same thing took place on Saturday [11 November] as well.

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E ao dominguo vieram obra de quorenta ou cinquoenta delles, e nós depois de jantámos saimos em terra e com ceitis que levavamos rresgatámos conchas que elles traziam nas orelhas que pareciam prateadas, e rrabos de reposas que traziam metidos em huuns páoos com que abanavam ao rrosto; onde eu rresgatey huuma baynha que huum delles trazia em sua natura per hum ceitill. Pollo quall nos parecia que elles prezavam cobre, porque elles mesmos traziam huumas comtinhas delle nas orelhas. [p.5]

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On Sunday [12 November] about 40 or 50 of them appeared. After dining we landed and exchanged the çeitils we carried for shells which they wore as ornaments in their ears, and which appeared as if they had been plated, and foxtails attached to a handle, with which they fanned their faces. At that time, I purchased a sheath that one of them wore over his member for 1 çeitil; by which it appeared to us that they highly valued copper, indeed they wore small beads of it in their ears.

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Este mesmo dia huum Fernam Velloso que hia com o capitam moor sedejava muito hiir com elles a suas casas pera saber de que maneira viviam e que comiem ou que vida hera a sua. E pedio pro merçê ao capitam moor que lhe dese licença para ir com elles a suas casas, e o capitam, vendose emportunando delle que o nom leixava senam que lhe dese a licença, o leixou ir com elles, e nós tornámanos ao navio do capitam moor a cear, e elle se foy com os ditos negros. E tanto que elles de nós foram apartados tomaram huum lobo marinho e foramse ao pee d’uuma serra em huuma charnequa e asaream o lobo marinho e deram delle ao Fernam Velloso que hiia com elles e das rraizes das ervas que elles comiam. E acabando de comer disseramlhe que se viese pera os navios, e nom quiseram que fose com elles.

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That same day Fernão Velloso who was with the Captain major greatly desired to accompany them to their houses in order to find out how they lived, what they ate, and what their life was like. He asked permission from the Captain major to give him license to go with them. The Captain yielded to his importunities, and allowed him to accompany them to their houses. We returned to the Captain major’s ship for supper, while he went with the blacks. Soon after they left us, they captured a seal. When they came to the foot of a hill on a moor they roasted the seal. They gave some of it to Fernão Velloso who was still with them, and some of the plant’s roots which they ate as well. After finishing this meal they told him that he should return to the ships; as they did not wish him to go further with them.

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E o dito Fernam Velloso como vêo em direito dos navios começou loguo de chamar, e elles ficaram mitidos pelo mato, e nós estavamos ainda ceando, e quando ho ouvimos leixaram loguo os capitãees de comer e nós outros com elles, e metemonos na barca á veella, e os negros começaram de correr ao lomgo da praya, e foram tam prestes com o dito Fernam Velloso como nós. Em nós o querendo rrecolher elles nos começaram a tirar com huumas azagayas que traziam, omde foy ferido o capitam moor e tres ou quatro homens. E isto por que nos fiavamos delles, parecendonos que heram homens de pequeno coraçam e que nom se astreveriam [p.6] a cometer o que depois fezeram, pollo quall hiamos despracebidos d’armas. Emtão nos rrecolhemos aos navios.

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When Fernão Velloso came abreast of the ships he began to shout, while they remained in the bush. Meanwhile, we were still at supper. But when we heard him, the captains stopped eating at once, and the rest of us as well. We promptly embarked in a sailing boat, and the blacks began to run along the beach, and they came up on Fernão Velloso just as we did. As we tried to get him into the boat, they began to throw the assegais they carried, and the Captain major and 3 or 4 others were wounded. This all happened because we trusted them. For it seemed to us that they were men of little courage and that they would never dare to do what they had done. Because of this we had gone ashore without weapons. We then returned to the ships.

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[Doubling the Cape of Good Hope]

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E tanto que tevemos nosos navios aparelhados e linpos e lenha tomada nos partimos desta terra huuma quinta feira pella manham, que era XVI dias de novenbro, nom sabendo nós quanto eramos do cabo de Boa Esperança, salvo Pero d’Alanquer dizia que ao mais que podiamos ser seriam trinta legoas a rree do cabo, e o porque se elle nam afirmava era porque partira huum dia pella manham do cabo, e que de noute pasara per ally com vento á popa, e isso mesmo á yda foram de larguo, e por estes respeitos nom eram em conhecimento domde eramos. Pollo qual fomos em a volta do mar com sull susueste, e ao sabado á tarde ouvemos vista do dito cabo de Boa Esperença,

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As soon as we had prepared and careened our ships and taken on wood, we departed from this place, on the morning of Thursday, the 16th of November. We did not know exactly how far we were from the Cape of Good Hope, save for Pero de Alenquer saying that at most we were 30 leagues abaft the Cape. But he could not be sure. Because on his return voyage [with Dias] he left the Cape in the morning and had passed by there with the wind astern, while on the outward voyage he had stayed out to sea. He was thus unable to recognize exactly where we were. We therefore stood out to sea toward the SSW, and Saturday evening [18 November] we beheld the Cape of Good Hope.

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e em este dia mesmo virámos em a volta do mar, e de noute virámos em a volta da terra. E ao domingo pella manham, que foram dezanove dias do mês de novembro, fomos outra vez com o cabo, e nam o podémos dobrar porque o vento era susueste e o dito cabo jaz nordeste sudueste, e em este dia mesmo virámos em a volta do mar, e á noute da segunda veira viemos em a volta da terra. E á quarta feira ao mêo dia pasámos pello dito cabo ao longo do costa com vento á popa.

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On that same day we again stood out to sea, returning to land during the night. Sunday morning, the 19th of November, we once more made for the Cape. But again, we were unable to double it, since the wind was SSE while the Cape lies NE–SW. That day we again stood out to sea, returning to land on Monday night. Finally, at noon on Wednesday we passed by the Cape with the wind astern. We then cruised along the coast.

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E junto com este cabo de Boa Esperança ao sull jaz huuma amgra muito grande que emtra pella terra bem seis legoas e em boca averá bem outras tantas.

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Close to this Cape of Good Hope to the south lies a vast bay, six leagues wide at its mouth, which enters another six into the land.

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[The Bay of São Brás]

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Em vinte e cinquo dias do dito mês de novenbro, huum sabado á tarde, dia de Santa Caterina, entrámos em a angra de [p.7] Sam Brás, onde estevemos treze dias, porque nesta amgra desfezemos a naoo que levava os mantimentos e os rrecolhemos aos navios.

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Saturday evening, the 25th of November, the day of St. Catherine, we entered the bay of São Brás. We remained there for 13 days, since we broke up the ship which carried our provisions and divided them up among the other ships.

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Á sesta feira seguinte, estando nós aimda na dita amgra de Sam Brás, vieram obra de novemta homens baços d’arte daquelles de Santa Elena, e andavam delles ao lomguo da praya, e delles ficavam pellos outeyros. E nós estavamos todos ou a mayor parte de nós a este tempo na naoo do capitam moor. E como os vimos fomos em terra em os batés, os quaes levavamos mui bem armados, e como fomos junto com terra o capitam moor lhes lançava cascavés na praya fóra, e elles os tomavam, e nam soomente tomavam os que lhes lançavam, mas vinham por elles a tomalos da mãoo ao capitam moor, do que nós ficámos muito maravilhados, porque quando Bertolameu Diz aqii esteve elles fogiam delle e nom lhe tomavam nenhuma cousa daquellas que lhes elle dava, mas antes huum dia, em elles tomando agoa em huuma aguada que aquy estaa muyto boa á beira do mar, elles lha defendiam ás pedradas de cima de huum outeiro que está sobre esta anguada, e Bertolameu Diz lhes tirou com huuma bésta e matou huum delles. E ao que posémos nom fogirem de nós foy que nos pareceo que ouveram novas dos da amgra de Santa Ellena, onde nós primeiro estevemos, que sam de huuma terra aa outra sesenta legoas per mar, como nós eramos homens que nom faziamos mall, mas antes devamos do noso.

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The following Friday [1 December], while still in the bay of São Brás about 90 tawny colored men resembling those at St. Helena Bay appeared. Some walked along the beach, while the others remained up on the hills. All, or at least most of us, were at that time on the Captain major’s ship. As soon as we saw them, we went ashore in the boats, which were well armed. As we approached shore, the Captain major threw little round bells on the beach, and they picked them up. They not only took the ones he threw them, but they even approached us and took some from the Captain major’s hands. This act surprised us greatly. Because when Bartomoleu Dias was here, they fled from him and would not take any of the things he tried to give them. Moreover, when he was taking water from a watering hole, which is very good here and close to the beach, they sought to prevent this. They pelted him with stones from atop a hill overlooking that spot. Bartolomeu Dias shot at them with a crossbow and killed one of them. And so we assumed that they did not flee from us because they had heard news from the bay of St. Helena, where we had been earlier, which is only sixty leagues from place to place by sea, saying that we were men who would not do harm and that we even gave away things which were ours.

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E o capitam moor nom quys aquy sair em terra, porque [p.8] esta honde os negros estavam era huum mato grande, e mudoulhe o posto, e fomos pousar a outro lugar descoberto e alii saýo, e acenámos aos negros que fosem pera honde nós hiamos, e elles foram. E o capitam moor com os outros capitãees sayram em terra com gente armada honde hiam alguuns com béstas. E o capitam moor lhes mandou emtam que se apartasem e que viesem huum ou dous delles, e isto per açenos. E áquelles que vieram o capitam lhes deu casquavés e barretes vermelhos, e elles nos davam manilhas de marfim que traziam nos braços, porque nesta terra, segundo nos parece, haa muitos alifantes, e nós achavamos o estravo delles bem a caram d’aguada honde elles vinham a beber.

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The Captain major did not want to disembark at this spot, because there was much bush where the blacks were waiting. Instead he proceeded to an open part of the beach, and landed there. We then signaled the blacks to approach us, and this they did. The Captain major and the other captains had landed with armed men, some of whom carried crossbows. By signs, the Captain major ordered them to disperse, and to approach him only alone or in pairs. To those who approached, he gave small bells and red caps. In return they gave us ivory bracelets, which they wore on their arms. Because of this, it appears to us that there are many elephants in this country. We even found some of their dung close to the watering hole where they had come to drink.

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Ao sabado vieram obra de duzemtos negros antre grandes e pequenos, e traziam obra de doze rreses antre boyes e vacas, e quatro ou cinquo carneiros, e nós como os vìmos fomos loguo em terra. E elles começaram logo de tanjer quatro ou cinquo frautas, e huuns tangiam alto e outros baixo, em maneira de concertavam muito bem pera negros de que se nom espera musica, e balhavam como negros. E o capitam moor mandou tanjer as trombetas, e nós em os batés balhavamos, e o capitam moor tambem de volta comnosco; e depois de acabada a festa nos fomos em terra onde da outra vez, e alii resgatamos huum boy negro por tres manyalhas, o qual jantámos ao domingo, e era muito gordo, e a carne delle era saborosa como a de Portugall.

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On Saturday [2 December] about 200 blacks, both young and old, appeared. They brought about a dozen livestock, both oxen and cows, and 4 or 5 sheep. As soon as we saw them, we went to shore. They promptly began to play 4 or 5 flutes. Some played high notes and others low, this making a very agreeable harmony for blacks, from whom we did not expect such music, and they danced in the style of blacks as well. The Captain major then ordered the trumpets to be played, and we, in the boats, danced. The Captain major did so as well when he rejoined us. After the festivity ended, we landed again where we had earlier been, and bought a black ox for 3 bracelets, which we dined off on Sunday. He was very fat, and his meat as delicious as the beef in Portugal.

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Ao domingo vieram outros tantos, e traziam as molheres com- [p.9] suygo e moços pequenos, e as moheres estavam em cima de huum alto perto do mar, e traziam muitos boys e vacas, e poseranse em dous lugares ao longo do mar, e tanjiam e balhavam como ao sabado. E o costume destes homens he os moços ficarem no mato com as armas; e os homens vyeram a fallar comnosco, e traziam huuns paos curtos nas mãoos e huuns rrabos de rraposas mettidos em huuns paos com os quaees abanam o rrosto. E nós estando asy á falla por açenos, vimos amdar antre o mato os moços agachados e traziam as armas nas mãos.

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On Sunday [3 December] many others came, bringing their women and little boys with them. The women stayed on the top of a hill, close to the sea, and they brought many oxen and cows. Having gathered on two spots on the beach, they played music and danced as on Saturday. It is the custom among these people for the young men to remain in the bush with their weapons. The older men came to converse with us, and they carried short sticks in their hands with fox tails attached to them, with which they fan their faces. While thus conversing with them we saw the young men crouching in the bush holding weapons in their hands.

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E o capitam moor mandou huum homem, que se chama Martim Affonso, que já andára em Manycongo, fóra, e deulhe manilhas que rresgatase huum boy. E elles, depois que teveram as manilhas, tomaram o pella mãoo e foramlhe mostrar a augada dizendo que, porque lhes tomaramos nós a auguoa? E começaram de lançar os boys pera o mato. E o capitam moor quando isto viu mandou a nós outros que nos rrecolhesemos e tambem que se acolhese o dito Martim Affonso, isto porque lhe pareceo que elles hordenavam alguuma treiçam. Emtam depois de rrecolhidos nos fomos onde da primeira estevemos, e elles foram depós nós. E o capitam mandou que saysemos em terra com lanças e azagayas e béstas armadas e nosos gibanetes vistidos, e isto mais pera lhes mostrarmos que eramos poderosos pera lhes fazer mall e que lho nam queriamos fazer. Elles quando isto viram começaram de se ajuntar e correr huuns pera os outros, e o capitam, por nom dar azo pera se mater delles alguuns, mandou que se rrecolhesem todos aos batés, e depois que fomos todos rrecolhidos, por lhes dar a emtender que lhes poderyamos fazer mall e que lho nam queriamos fazer, mandou que se tirasem duas bombardas que estavam na [p.10] popa da barca. E elles estavam todos asemtados na praya junto com ho mato, e quando ouviram desfechar as bombardas começaram de fugir tam rrijo pero o mato que as pelles com que andavam cubertos e as armas lhes ficavam, e depois que foram em o mato tornaram dous por ellas, e nisto começaram de se ajuntar e fugir pera çima de huuma serra, e levavam o gado ante sy.

Back 36

The Captain major then ordered a man called Martim Afonso, who had formerly been in Manicongo [the kingdom of Kongo], to advance. He then gave him [Afonso] bracelets with which to buy an ox. After they had taken the bracelets, they took him by the hand, and pointed at the watering hole, asking him: why we took away their water? And they began to drive the oxen toward the bush. The Captain major, who saw this, order us to gather together. He also ordered Martim Afonso to return to us, since it seemed to him that they were organizing some treachery. After drawing together, we proceeded [in our boats] to the place where we had first been, and they followed us. The Captain then ordered us to land with lances, assegais, and strung crossbows, wearing our breastplates. He did this because he wanted to show them that we were powerful and could do them harm, although we had no desire to do so. When they saw this, they began to gather themselves and run to and fro. The Captain, in order to avoid killing any of them by chance, ordered the boats to draw together. To prove that we were able to do them harm, although we did not wish to do so, he then ordered two bombards to be fired from the poop of the long boat. By then, they were all seated on the beach, close to the bush. When they heard the discharge of the bombards, they began to flee so quickly toward the bush that in their flight they dropped the skins with which they were covered and their weapons. After this, they began to gather together and flee for the top of a hill, driving their cattle ahead of them.

Front 37

Os boys desta terra sam muito grandes como os d’Alamtejo e muito gordos a maravilha e muito mansos e sam capados e delles nom tem cornos. E os negros háquelles que sam mais gordos trazemlhes huumas albardas d’atabua asy como os de Castella e huuns paoos asy como andas em cima d’albarda, e amdam em cima delles, e aquelles que elles querem resgatar metemlhes huum paoo de esteva pellas vemtãas e trazenos por alii.

Back 37

The oxen of this land are very large, like those of the Alentejo, and wonderfully fat, and very tame. They are geldings, and do not have horns. On the fattest ones, the blacks place a packsaddle made of reeds, as it is done in Castile. On this saddle they place a type of litter made of sticks, on which they ride. To those that they wish to sell, they put a stick through their nostrils, and thus lead them about.

Front 38

Em esta amgra está huum ilheo em mar tres tiros de beesta, e em este ilheo ha muitos lobos marinhos, e delles sam tam grandes como usos muito grandes, e sam muito temerosos, e tem muito grandes dentes, e vem-se aos homens, e nenhuma lança por força que leve os nom pode ferir, e outros mais pequenos, e outros muito pequeninos, e os grandes dam urros como leões, e os pequeninos como cabritos. E aquy fomos huum dia a folgar e vimos antre grandes e pequenos obra de tres mill, e tiravamoslhes do mar com as bombardas. E neste ilhéo ha huumas aves que sam tamanhas como patos e nam voam porque nom tem penas nas aas, e chamamlhes fotylicayos, e matámos delles quantos quisemos, as quaees ave azurram como asnos.

Back 38

In this bay there is an island about three bowshots from land. On this island there are many seals. Some are as big as large bears, and they are very fearsome. They have large tusks, and attack men; and no lance however hard it is thrown can wound them. Others are smaller and still others very small indeed. While the big ones roar like lions, the small ones cry like goats. One day to amuse ourselves, we went to this island and saw about 3000 of them, both large and small. We fired among them with our bombards from the sea. On this island there are also birds, as big as ducks, but they cannot fly, because they do not have feathers on their wings. They are called fortilicaios [blackfooted or jackass penguins], and we killed as many of them as we liked. These birds bray like asses.

Front 39

Estando nesta angra de Sam Brás tomando agoa, huuma [p.11] quarta feira posemos huuma cruz e huum padram em a dita amgra de Sam Brás, a qual cruz fezemos de huuma mezena, e era muito alta.

Back 39

On a Wednesday [6 December] while taking on water in this bay of S. Brás we erected a cross and a stone pillar. The cross was made out of a mizzen-mast and very high.

Front 40

E á quinta feira seguinte, estando nós pera partir da dita angra, vimos obra de dez ou XII negros, os quaees ante que nós d’alii partissemos derribaram asy a cruz como o padram.

Back 40

On the following Thursday [7 December] as we were about to set sail from the bay, we saw about 10 or 12 blacks, who even before we had departed from there, tore down both the cross and the pillar.

Front 41

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Back 41

[From São Brás to Malindi]

Front 42

Depois de termos todo o que nos era neçessario partimos daquy, e em este mesmo dia tornámos a pousar duas legoas domde partiramos, porque ho vento era calma.

Back 42

Having taken on board everything that was necessary, we departed from there. That day the wind was calm so we made only 2 leagues before anchoring.

Front 43

Á sesta feira, dia de Nossa Senhora da Comcepçam pella manham, démos nossas vellas e seguymos noso caminho. E á terça feira seguinte, que era vespora de Santa Luzia, ouvemos huuma grande tormenta, e corremos á popa com o traquete muito baixo, e neste rroota perdemos Nicollao Coelho, e em este dia pella manham quando vêo ao sol posto viram-o da gavea a rree de nós quatro ou çinquo legoas, e pareceunos que elle nos vira; fezemos foroes e estevemos a corda. E acabando-se o quarto primeiro elle vêo ter comnosco, nam porque elle nos tevese visto de dia, mas porque o vento era pella bolina e nom podia al fazer senam viir ter na nosa esteira.

Back 43

Friday morning, the day of the Immaculate Conception [8 December], we again set sail and resumed our course. On Tuesday [12 December], the eve of Sta. Lucia, we encountered a great storm. So we ran before a following wind with the foresail much lowered. On this course we lost sight of Nicolau Coelho. But on this same day, just as the sun was setting, we spied him from the mainsail top, four or five leagues astern, and it seemed that he had seen us as well. We then put up signal lights and lay to. By the end of the first watch [at midnight] he had come up with us, not because he had seen us during the day but because the wind being light, he could do nothing else but follow in our wake.

Front 44

Á sesta pella manham ouvemos vista de terra he onde se chamam os Ilheos Chãoos, os quaees estam alèm do ilheo da Cruz çinquo legoas, e d’amgra de Sam Brás ao dito ilheo da Cruz ha sesenta legoas, e outras tantas ha do cabo de Boa Esperança há amgra de Sam Brás. E dos Ilheos Chãos ao derradeiro padram que Bertolameu Diz pôs outras çinquo legoas, e do padram ao [p.12] rio do Iffante ha quinze legoas.

Back 44

Friday morning [15 December] we sighted land. This land is called the Ilhéus Chãos [Flat Islands - today the Bird Island group], five leagues from the Ilhéu da Cruz [Cross Island]. From the bay of S. Brás to the Ilhéu da Cruz is 60 leagues, the same as it is from the Cape of Good Hope to the bay of S. Brás. From the Ilhéus Chãos to the last stone pillar erected by Bartolomeu Dias is another five leagues; and from the pillar to the Rio do Infante is 15 leagues.

Front 45

Ao sabado seguynte pasámos pelo derradeiro padram, e asy como nós hiamos ao lomgo da costa asy começaram de ir correndo em terra dous homeens ao longuo da praya comtra onde nós hiamos. E esta terra he muito graciosa e bem asentada, e aquy vimos andar em terra muito gado, e quanto mais pera diante tamto mais a terra era milhor e de mais altos arvoredos.

Back 45

On Saturday [16 December] we passed this last stone pillar [Kwaaihoek]; and as we sailed along the coast, 2 men began to run along the beach in the opposite direction. This country is very charming and well settled. We saw many livestock here and the further we advanced the better the land and the higher the trees became.

Front 46

A noute seguinte estevemos á corda, por quanto eramos tanto avante como o rrio do Iffante, que era a derradeira terra que Bertolameu Diz descobrio, e ao dia seguinte fomos com vento á popa prelongando a costa até oras de vespora, que nos saltou o vento ao levante, e fezemos na volta do mar, e andámos com huuma volta ao mar e outra á terra até a terça feira acerqua do soll posto, que nos tornou o vento ao ponente, pollo quall estevemos aquella noute á corda pera ao outro dia hirmos rreconhecer a terra onde ou em que parajem eramos. E quando vêo a manham fomos de frecha á terra, e achámonos ás dez oras do dia com o ilheo da Cruz, que era a rree do que nós faziamos sesenta legoas. E isto causaram as correntes que aquy sam grandes,

Back 46

The following night we lay to, since we were already beyond the Rio do Infante [Great Fish River], which was the last land discovered by Bartolomeu Dias. The next day, we sailed along the coast until vespers with the wind behind us. When the wind shifted to the east, we stood out to sea. And thus we kept tacking until Tuesday at sunset when the wind again veered to the west. We lay to that night, so that on the next day we might recognize the coast and find out where we were. And when the day broke, we made directly for land. At 10 o’clock in the morning we found ourselves once more at the Ilhéu da Cruz, that is to say 60 leagues behind our previous position. This was due to the currents which are very strong here.

Front 47

e em este mesmo dia tornámos a pasar a carreira que já tinhamos pasada com muito vento á popa que nos durou tres ou quatro dias, onde rronpemos as correntes a que nós aviamos grande medo nom nos leixar aver aquillo que desejavamos. E daquelle dia em diante quis Deus por sua misericordia que nós fosemos avamte e nom a rree: praza a elle que asy seja sempre.

Back 47

That same day, we returned to the course we had already attempted, with a strong wind behind us, which held for three or four days. We thereby broke free of the currents which we had greatly feared might not allow us to achieve what we all desired. Henceforth, it pleased God in His Mercy to allow us to make steady headway, and not be driven back. May it please Him that is always be thus.

Front 48

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Back 48

[The Natal Coast, the Rio do Cobre, and the Terra da Boa Gente]

Front 49

Dia de Natall, que foy a vinte cinquo dias do mês de dezembro, tinhamos descuberto per costa setemta legoas. Em este dia, [p.13] depois de termos jantado, em metendo huuma moneta, achámos o masto com huuma braça, a quall fenda abria e cerrava. Pollo quall o rremendámos com brandaees até que fosemos tomar porto abrigado omde o corregesemos.

Back 49

By Christmas Day, the 25th of December, we had discovered 70 leagues of coast. On that day, after dinner, when setting a studding sail, we discovered the mast had a crack a couple of yards below the top, and the crack opened and shut. We patched it with backstays, until we could reach a sheltered port where we could properly repair it.

Front 50

E á quinta feira pousámos ao longo da costa, onde tomámos muito pescado, e quando vêo ao soll posto tornámos a dar nossas vellas e seguir noso caminho, e aquy nos ficou huuma amquora, que nos quebrou huum calabrete com que estavamos ao mar.

Back 50

On Thursday [28 December] we anchored near shore and caught many fish. At sunset we set sail and continued our course. At that place we lost an anchor as the mooring rope snapped as we were putting to sea.

Front 51

E d’aquy andámos tanto pello mar sem tomarmos porto que nam tinhamos já agoa que bebesemos nem faziamos já de comer senam com aguoa salgada, e pera noso beber nom nos davam senam huum quartilho, de maneira que nos era necesario de tomarmos porto.

Back 51

From there we sailed so far out to sea, without touching any port, that we soon had no water that we could drink. In order to eat, we had to cook in salt water. Our daily ration of water in fact was reduced to a quartilho. It therefore became necessary to make for port.

Front 52

E sendo huuma quinta feira, que era dez dias de janeiro, ouvemos vista de huum rrio pequeno, e aquy pousámos ao longo da costa. E ao outro dia fomos em os batés em terra, honde achámos muitos homeens e molheres negros, e sam de gramdes corpos, e huum senhor antre elles.

Back 52

On Thursday, the 11th of January, we sighted a small river [the Inharrime], and we anchored here near the coast. The next day [12 January] we went close to shore in our boats. We found many black men and women. They were tall people and a chief was among them.

Front 53

E o capitam moor mandou sair em terra huum Martim Affonso, que andou em Manicongo muito tempo, e outro homem com elle. E elles lhes fezeram gasalhado. E o capitam mandou áquelle senhor huuma jaqueta e huumas calças vermelhas e huuma carapuça e huuma manilha. E elle dise que qualquer cousa que ouvese em sua terra que nos fose necesaria que nolla daria de mui boa vontade. E isto emtendia o dito Martim Affonso: e aquella noute foy o dito Martim Affonso e o outro com aquelle senhor a dormir a suas casas, e nós tornámonos pera nosos navios. E indo aquelle senhor pello caminho vistio aquillo que lhe deram, e dizia aaquelles que ho [p.14] vinham rreceber com muito comtentamento: « vedes o que me deram? » e elles batiamlhe as palmas por cortesia e isto fezeram por tres ou quatro vezes até que chegou á aldêa, onde andou per todo o logar asy vistido como hia até que se meteo dentro em casa, e mandou agasalhar aos dous homens que hiam com elle em hum cerrado e alii lhes mandou papas de milho, que ha muito naquella terra, e huuma galinha como as de Portugall. E toda aquella noute vieram muitos homens e molheres a vellos, e quando vêo a manham o senhor os foy ver e lhes dise que se viesem, e mandou dous outros, homens com elles, e deulhes galinhas pera o capitam moor, dizendolhes elle que hia amostrar aquillo que lhe deram a huum grande senhor que elles tinham, e segundo nos parecia que sería o rrey daquella terra, e quando chegaram ao porto onde os barquos estavam já vinham com elles bem duzentos homens que vinham a vellos.

Back 53

The Captain major ordered Martim Afonso, who had been in Manicongo for a long time, and another man, to land. They received our men hospitably. The Captain consequently sent the chief a jacket, a pair of red pantaloons, a cap, and a bracelet. In reply, he said that we were welcome to anything in his country of which we had need, and that he would give it with much pleasure. At least, this is how Martim Afonso understood him. That night, Martim Afonso and his companion accompanied the chief to sleep in his village, while we returned to our ships. On the road, the chief dressed in the garments he had been given. He said, with much contentment, to those who came out to receive him: “Look, what has been given to me?!” And they clapped their hands as a sign of courtesy, three or four times until he arrived at the village. There, he paraded around the whole of the place, thus dressed up until he retired to his house. He ordered the two men who accompanied him sheltered in a compound. There, they were given a porridge of millet, which is plentiful in this country, and a chicken like those in Portugal. All that night many men and women came to see them. When morning came [13 January], the chief visited them, and asked them to return [to the ships]. He ordered two men to escort them. He also gave them chickens for the Captain major, telling them that he would show what he had been given to a great chief that they have, whom it seems to us must be the king of that country. When they reached the landing place where the boats waited for them, they were accompanied by at least two hundred men who had come to see them.

Front 54

Esta terra, segundo nos pareceo, he muito povoada, e ha nella muitos senhores, e as molheres nos parecia que eram mais que os homens, porque onde vinham vinte homens vinham quorenta molheres. E as casas desta terra sam de palha, e as armas desta jemte sam arcos muito grandes e frechas e azagayas de ferro. E ha nesta terra, segundo nos pareçeo, muito cobre, o qual trazem nas pernas e pellos braços e pellos cabellos rretorcidos. Iso mesmo ha nesta terra estanho, que elles trazem n’huumas guarniçõees de punhaees, e as baynhas delles sam de marfim. E a jemte desta terra préza muito pano de linho, e nos davam muito deste cobre por camisas, se lhas nós quiseramos dar. Esta jemte traz huumas cabaças grandes em que levam do mar pera o sertãoo agoa salgada, e deitam-a em huumas poças na terra e fazem della sall.

Back 54

This country, it appears to us, is very densely populated. There are many chiefs here. The women, it seems, were more numerous than the men. Because when twenty men came, forty women would appear. The houses are made of straw. Their arms include long bows and arrows and short spears with iron blades. Copper seems to be plentiful here, since the people wear it on their legs and arms, and in their braided hair. Tin is also found in this country, as they use it on the hilts of their daggers; and the sheaths are made of ivory. The people of this country greatly prize linen cloth; as they gave us much copper in exchange for shirts, if we desired it. These people have dried gourds in which they carry sea water to the interior, where they place it in pools, and thus obtain salt.

Front 55

Aquy estevemos cinquo dias tomando agoa, a quall nos a- [p,15] caretavam aos batés aquelles que nos vinham a ver. Nom tomámos agoa quamto nós quiseramos, porque o vemto nos yguava de viagem.

Back 55

We remained here for five days taking on water, which our visitors brought to the boats. But we did not take on as much water as we would have liked, as the wind favored continuing our voyage.

Front 56

E nós estavamos amquorados ao lomguo da costa no rrollo do mar: e a esta terra posemos nome de Terra da Boa Jente, e ao rrio do Cobre.

Back 56

While we were anchored here along the coast, we were exposed to the swell of the sea. We called this country the Terra de Boa Gente [“Land of Good People”] and the river do Cobre [“of Copper”].

Front 57

Huuma segunda feira hindo pello mar ouvemos vista de huuma terra muito baixa e de huums arvoredos muito altos e juntos, e indo asy nesta rróta vimos huum rrio larguo em boca, e porque era necesario saber e conhecer omde eramos, pousámos, e huuma quinta feira á noute emtrámos, estando já o navio Berrio dês do outro dia, que foram oyto dias por andar de Janeiro.

Back 57

On Monday [22 January], while at sea, we sighted a low coast thickly wooded with tall trees. Continuing on this course we saw the mouth of a broad river [the Quelimane]. Since it was necessary to discover where we were, we dropped anchor. On Thursday night [25 January] we entered [the river’s mouth]. The Berrio was already there, having entered the previous day [24 January], that is to say eight days before the end of January.

Front 58

Esta terra he muito baxa e alagadiça, e he de grandes arvoredos, os quaees dam muitas frutas de muitas maneiras, e os homens desta terra comem dellas.

Back 58

This land is very low lying and marshy, with tall trees, which yield an abundance of many types of fruits, which the inhabitants eat.

Front 59

Esta gente he negra, e sam homens de boons corpos, andam nús, soomente trazem huuns panos d’algodam pequenos com que cobrem suas vergonhas, e os senhores desta terra trazem estes panos maiores. E as molheres moças, que nesta terra parecem bem, trazem os beiços furados por tres lugares, e alii lhes trazem huuns pedaços d’estanho retroçydos. E esta jemte folgava muito comnosco, e nos traziam aos navios diso que tinham em almadias que elles tem. E nós iso mesmo hiamos há sua aldêa a tomar agoa.

Back 59

These people are black and well proportioned. They go naked, wearing only a piece of cotton cloth to cover their privates, and the chiefs wear larger pieces of cloth. The young women are good looking. Their lips are pierced in three places, and they wear bits of twisted tin there. These people took great pleasure in us, and in almadias [Arabic المعدية, a raft-boat made of logs, canes or reeds, here used for dugout canoes] brought us what they had. For our part, we went to their village to procure water.

Front 60

Depois de aver dous ou tres dias que aquy estavamos vieram dous senhores desta terra a vernos, os quaees eram tam alterados, que nom prezavam cousa que lhes desem, e huum delles trazia huuma touca posta na cabeça com huuns vivos lavrados de seda, e o outro trazia huuma carapuça de çatim verde. Iso mesmo vinha em [p.16] sua companhia huum touca posta na cabeça com huuns vivos lavrados de seda, e o outro trazia huuma carapuça de çatim verde. Iso mesmo vinha em sua companhia huum mancebo, que, segundo elles acenavam, era d’outra terra d’ii lonje, e dizia que já vira navios grandes como aquelles que nós levavamos, com os quaees signaees nós folgavamos muito, porque nos parecia que nos hiamos chegando pera onde desejavamos. E estes fidalgos mandaram fazer em terra ao longo do rrio par dos navios huumas ramadas em que esteveram obra de sete dias,

Back 60

When we had been there two or three days, two chiefs came to see us. But they were so haughty that they valued nothing that we gave them. One of them wore a toque with a fringe embroidered in silk, and the other wore a cap of green satin. In their company came a young man, who, according to their signs, was from a distant land. He said that he had already seen large ships like those that carried us. These indications greatly gladdened us, since it seemed as if we were approaching the place we desired to go. These chiefs ordered some huts built on the river bank close to the ships; in which they stayed for about seven days.

Front 61

onde cada dia mandavam aos navios rresgatar panos, os quaees traziam huumas marcas d’almagra, e depois que se emfadaram d’estar alii se foram em almadias pello rrio acima. E nós estevemos neste rrio trinta e dous dias, em os quaees tomámos agoa e alimpámos os navios e corregeram ao Rrafaell o masto, e aquy nos adoceram muitos homens que lhes imchavam os pees e as mãos e lhes creciam as gingivas tanto sobre os dentes que os homens nom podiam comer,

Back 61

From there they daily sent to our ships clothes which bore a mark of red ochre to barter. After they tired of being there, they departed in their almadias for the upper part of the river. We stayed in this river for thirty two days. During that time we took on water, careened the ships, and repaired the mast of the Rafael. Many of our men took ill here, their feet and hands swelling, and their gums growing so much over their teeth, that these men could not eat.

Front 62

e aquy posemos huum padram, ao quall poseram nome o padram de Sam Rrafaell, e isto porque ele o levava, e ao rrio dos Boons Signaees.

Back 62

Here, we also erected a stone pillar. We named it the “Pillar of St. Raphael,” because it had been brought here in that ship; and to the river [we gave the name] dos Bons Sinais [“the River of Good Signs”].

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Back 63

[From the Rio dos Bons Sinais to Mozambique]

Front 64

Daquy nos partimos huum sabado que eram vinte e quatro dias do mês de fevereiro e fomos aquelle dia na volta do mar, e a noute seguinte em leste por nos arredarmos da costa a quall era muito graçiosa de vista. E ao domingo fomos ao nordeste, e quando vêo a oras de vespora vimos estar tres ylhas em o mar e eram pequenas, e as duas sam de grandes arvoredos e a outra he calva e pequena mais que as outras, e de huuma aa outra averá quatro legoas, e porque era noute vyrámos na volta do mar e de noute pasámos por ellas.

Back 64

On Saturday the 24th of February we left this place; and gained the open sea that day. During the night we headed east to move away from the coast, which was very pleasing to look upon. On Sunday [25 February] we headed NE, and at vesper time we saw three small islands, out to sea [Primeira Islands]. Two were covered with tall tress, while the third was smaller and more barren than the others; and from one to the other was four leagues. Because it was dark, we returned to the open sea. That night we passed by them.

Front 65

E ao outro dia fomos noso caminho, e andámos seis dias pello maar, porque ás noutes pairavamos.

Back 65

The next day [26 February] we continued on our route, and sailed for six days at sea; lying to at night.

Front 66

E huuma quinta feira, que foy o primeiro dia do mês de março, á tarde ouvemos vista das ylhas e terra que se ao diante segue. [p.17] E porque era tarde virámos na volta do mar e pairámos até pella manham. E emtam viemos emtrar em a terra syguinte.

Back 66

On Thursday, the 1st of March in the evening, we sighted islands and the mainland, but because it was late, we again stood out to sea and lay to until morning. We then approached the land whose description follows.

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[Mozambique]

Front 68

Á sesta feira pella manham, indo Nicollao Coelho por dentro daquella amgra errou o canall e achou baixo, e em virando pera os outros navios que vinham detrás viram viir huuns barcos á vélla de dentro daquella ylha da povoaçam, o qual foy com muito prazer a salvar o capitão moor e a seu irmão. E nós nos leixámos ir naquella volta do maar pera avermos de vyr pousar, e nós quanto mais andavamos quanto mais nos elles seguyam capeandonos que aguardasemos. E nós em pousando na lagoa daquella ilha domde vinha o barco, chegaram a nós sete ou oyto daquelles barcos e almadias, os quaees vinham tamjendo huuns anafiis que elles traziam, dizendonos que fosemos pera dentro e que se nós quisesemos que elles nos meteriam em o porto, os quaees emtraram em os navios e comeram e beberam diso que nós comiamos, e depois que se emfadaram [p.18] foramse,

Back 68

On Friday morning [2 March], Nicolau Coelho while attempting to enter the bay, mistook the channel and struck a sand bar. While putting about toward the other ships, which were following him, he noticed some sailing boats approaching from a settlement on this island. They were coming out in order to salute the Captain major and his brother with much pleasure. As for ourselves, we tacked in order to find a good anchorage. But the more we continued on this course, the more they followed, signaling to us that we should wait for them. As we were dropping anchor in the roadstead of the island from which these boats had come, seven or eight of these boats and almadias approached us. The people in them played the anafis [Arabic النفير , a short wooden horn] they carried, telling us that we should proceed further into the bay and that, if we wished, they would take us into the port. Those who came aboard our ships ate and drank what we did, and after they got their fill, they departed.

Front 69

e os capitãees ouveram por conselho que emtrasem em esta amgra pera saberem o trato desta gemte, e que Nicollao Coelho fose primeiro com o seu navio a somdar a barra, e que se fose pera emtrrar que emtrariam. E imdo Nicollao Coelho pera emtrar foy dar na pomta daquella ilha e quebrou o governalho, e asy como deu asy saýo pera o alto, e eu era alii com elle. E tanto que saimos pera o alto amanhámos nosas vellas e deitámos as anquoras dous tiros de bésta da povoaçam.

Back 69

The captains had the opinion that we should enter this bay, in order to determine what sort of people we had to deal with. Nicolau Coelho would go first with his ship to sound the bar at the entrance. If it were possible to enter, the others would follow him. As Nicolau Coelho prepared to enter, he ran aground on the point of the island and broke his rudder. But as soon as he hit, he managed to free himself and regain deep water. I was there with him. As soon as we made deep water we struck our sails and dropped anchor two bowshots from the town.

Front 70

Os homens desta terra sam rruyvos e de boons corpos e da seita de Mafamede e falam como mouros, e as suas vestiduras sam de panos de linho e d’algodam muito delgados e de muitas cores de listras, e sam rricos e lavrados, e todos trazem toucas nas cabeças com vivos de seda lavrados com fio d’ouro, e sam mercadores e tratam com mouros brancos, dos quaees estavam aquy em este logar quatro navios delles que traziam ouro prata e cravo e pimente e gingivre e anés de prata com muitas perllas e aljofar e rrobins, e iso mesmo todas estas cousas trazem os homens desta terra. E ao que nos pereçia, segundo elles diziam, que todas estas cousas vinham aquy de carreto e que aquelles mouros o traziam, salvo o ouro, e que pera diante pera onde nós hiamos avia muito, e que as pedras e o aljofar e especiaria era tanta que nam era necessario rresgatalla mas apanhala aos cestos. E isto tudo emtendia huum marinheiro que o captiam moor levava, o qual fora já cativo de mouros e portanto emtendia estes que aquy achámos.

Back 70

The people of this country have a ruddy complexion and are well made. They are of the Mohammedan sect, and speak like Moors. Their robes are of fine linens and cotton stuffs, very fine, of many colors and stripes, and of rich and elaborate workmanship. They all wear toques on their heads, with silk borders embroidered in gold. They are merchants and trade with white Moors, four of whose vessels were here in port, laden with gold, silver, cloth, cloves, pepper, ginger, and silver rings with many pearls, seed pearls, and rubies. All of these articles are used by the people of this country. We understood them to say that all these things, with the exception of gold, are shipped here, and that the Moors bring them. Further on, where we are headed, they abound, and the precious stones, pearls, and spices are so plentiful that there was no need to purchase them, but merely pick them up in baskets. All of this we learned from a sailor the Captain major had with him, who formerly had been a captive of the Moors, and therefore understood the language of those whom we found here.

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E mais diseram os ditos mouros que aviamos, que neste caminho que levavamos achariamos muitos baixos, e que tambem achariamos muitas cidades ao longo do mar e que aviamos de ir topar com huuma ilha [p.19] em que estavam ametade mouros e ametade christãos, os quaees christãoos tinham guerra com os mouros, e que em esta ilha avia muita rriquesa.

Back 71

These same Moors also told us that along the route we were following, we would encounter many shoals; and cities along the coast. And that we would come across an island in which one half of the population are Moors and the other half Christians; and these Christians are at war with the Moors, and that this island is very wealthy.

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Mais nos diseram que Prestes Joham estava d’alii perto e que tinha muitas cidades ao lomgo do mar, e que os moradores dellas era grandes mercadores e tinham grandes naoos, mas o Preste Joham estava muito dentro pello sartãoo, e quem nom podiam lá ir senam em camelos: os quaees mouros traziam aquy huuns dous christãoos imdeos cativos, e estas cousas e outras muitas diziam estes mouros do que eramos tam ledos que com prazer choravamos, e rrogavamos a Deus que lhe aprouvese de nos dar saude pera que visemos o que todos desejavamos.

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Moreover, we were told that Prester John resided not far from this place, and that he controlled many cities along the coast. The inhabitants of those cities were great merchants and possessed great ships; but Prester John himself resided far inland and that one could only go there on camels. These Moors also brought two Indian Christians here with them. These things, and many others which the Moors told us; made us so happy that, with much joy, we cried and begged God that he grant us health so that we might behold what we all desired.

Front 73

Em este lugar e ilha que chamão Moncobiquy estava huum senhor a que elles chamavam Colyytam que era como visorrey, o qual vêo aos nosos navios por muitas vezes com outros seus que com elle vinham. E o capitam lhe dava mui bem de comer, e lhe fez hum serviço de chapeos e marlotas e corraees e outras cousas muitas. E elle era tam alterado que desprezava quanto lhe davam, e pedia que lhe desem escralata, e nós nom ha levavamos, mas diso que tinhamos diso lhe davamos.

Back 73

In this place and island, called Mozambique, there resided a chief [al-Sharīf Muḥammad b. Sharīf al-ʿAlawī of Mozambique] that they call sultan, who is like a vice-roy. He often came to our ships, accompanied by his retainers. The Captain gave him many good things to eat and made him a present of hats, marlotas [Arabic ملّوطة < Gk. μαλλωτή, a short, hooded cloak made of wool or silk], coral, and many other things. But he was so proud that he scorned everything we gave him; and he asked instead for scarlet cloth which we had not brought. But we gave him samples of all the things we had.

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O capitam moor lhe deu huum dia huum comvite, o qual foy de muitos figos e comservas, e lhe pedio que lhe dese dous pilotos que fosem comnosco, e elle dise que sy, comtanto que hos comtentasem, e o capitam moor lhes deu trinta meticaes d’ouro e duas marlotas a cada huum, e foy com condiçam que daquelle dia que elles isto rreçebesem que se quisesem [p.20] sair fóra que ficase huum delles sempre em o navio, do quall elles foram mui comtentes.

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One day, the Captain major made him a present of many figs and preserves, and asked that he provide two pilots to accompany us. He agreed provided that we satisfied their demands. The Captain major gave them each thirty meticais [Arabic مثقال] of gold and two marlotas; on the condition that from the day on which they received this payment, if they desired to go ashore, one of them would always remain aboard ship. They were very pleased with these terms.

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E huum sabado, que foram a dez dias do mês de março, partimos, e viemos pousar huuma legoa em maar junto com huuma ilha, pera que ao domingo disesem misa, e se confesasem e comungasem os que quisesem.

Back 75

On a Saturday, which was the 10th day of March, we departed and anchored a league out to sea, close to an island [Goa Island / Watólofu] where on Sunday mass was celebrated and those who wished confessed and took communion.

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Huum daquelles pillotos ficava em a ilha, e depois que pousámos armámos dous batés pera avermos d’iir por elle, em os quaees batés em huum delles hia o capitam moor e em o outro Nicollao Coelho. E elles asy imdo sairam a elles cimquo ou seis barcos com muita gente, os quaees traziam arcos com suas frechas muito compridas e tavolachinhas, e capeavamlhes que se tornasem pera a villa. E o capitam mor, quando vio aquillo, prendeo o pilloto que levava comsigo, e mandou que tirasem com as bombardas áquelles que vinham nos barcos. E Paulo da Gama que ficava em os navios pera que se fose alguma couse que fose em dos a socorrer, o quall, como ouvio as bombardas, fezse á vella em o navio Berrio, e os mouros, como já d’antes fogisem, quando vieram ir o navio á vella fogiram muito mais, e acolheram-se a terra ante que a elles chegase o Berrio, e asy nos tornámos ao pouso.

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One of the pilots remained on the [main] island [Island of Mozambique] and after we had anchored, we armed two boats to go and search for him. The Captain major went in one of these boats and Nicolau Coelho in the other. As they were proceeding, five or six boats came out to meet them, with many men aboard armed with bows and long arrows and bucklers, and signaled them that they were to return to town [with them]. The Captain major, when he saw this, seized the pilot that he brought with him, and ordered the bombards to fire at the men coming out at them in the boats. Paulo da Gama, had remained with the ships, so that in case of need he could provide assistance. When he heard the bombards, he set sail in the Berrio. The Moors, who were already fleeing, when they saw the ship under sail fled even faster, and reached shelter on shore before the Berrio reached them. We therefore returned to our anchorage.

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E ao domingo disémos nosa misa em a ilha debaixo de huum arvoredo muito alto. E depois de dita a misa nos viemos pera as náos, e loguo nos fezemos á vella e começámos de seguir nosa via com muitas galinhas e muitas cabras e pombas que aquy rresgatámos por huumas comtinhas amarellas de vidro.

Back 77

On Sunday we celebrated mass on the island beneath a very tall tree. After mass, we returned to our ships, and at once set sail following our course, with many chickens, goats, and pigeons, that we bartered for here in exchange for small glass beads.

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As náoos desta terra sam grandes e sem cubertas e nam tem pregadura e andam apertadas com tamiça, e isso mesmo os barcos, e suas vellas são esteiras de palma, e os marinheiros dellas tem agulhas genoiscas per que se rregem [p.21] e quadrantes e cartas de marear.

Back 78

The ships of this land are of good size and without decks. They do not have nails, and are held together by coir rope, as are the smaller boats. Their sails are made of palm matting and their mariners have Genoese needles [compasses], by which they steer, quadrants, and nautical charts.

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As palmeiras desta terra dam huum frutu tam grande como mellõees, e o miollo de dentro he o que comem, e sabe como junça avellanada, e tambem ha hii pipinos e mellõees muitos, os quaees nos traziam a rresgatar.

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The palm trees of this land yield a fruit as large as melons, and the pulp inside is eaten, and tastes like nutty sedge [i.e. coconuts]. There are also many cucumbers and melons, which they brought to us to barter.

Front 80

Naquelle dia que Nicollao Coelho emtrou o senhor que em esta veio ao navio com muita gente, e elle o agasalhou muito bem e lhe deu huum capuz vermelho, e o senhor a elle huumas contas pretas que elle trazia por que rreza, as quaees lhe deu por seguro, e pedio o batel a Nicolao Coelho pera se ir nelle, e elle lho deu. E depois que foy em terra levou comsigo a sua casa aquelles que hiam com elle e os comvidou e depois lhes mandou que se viesem, e mandou a Nicolao Coelho um pote de tamaras pisadas as quaees tinham conserva de cravos e cominhos. E asy depois mandou ao capitam moor muitas cousas. E isto foy emquanto lhe parecia que nós eramos turcos ou mouros de alguuma outra parte, porque elles nos perguntavam que se vinhamos de Torquia, e que lhes mostrasemos os arcos de nosa terra e os livros de nosa ley. E depois que souberam que nós eramos christãoos ordenaram de nos tomarem e matarem á treiçam, mas o pilloto seu que comnosco levavamos nos descobrio todo o que elles hordenavam de fazer contra nós se o poderam poer em obra.

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On the day [2 March] Nicolau Coelho entered the port, the Lord of this [place] came aboard his ship with a large retinue. He was well received, and Coelho gave him a red hood, and the Lord gave him some black beads that he used when he prayed, which he gave him as a guarantee. He then asked Nicolau Coelho for the use of his ship’s boat to take him to shore, and Coelho granted this request. After landing, he invited those who had accompanied him to his residence. He then dismissed them, and sent Nicolau Coelho a jar of pressed dates made into a preserve with cloves and cumin. Afterwards, he sent many things to the Captain Major. All of this transpired when he thought we were Turks or Moors from some other land. For indeed they asked us if we came from Turkey, and that we show them bows of our land and our books of law. But after they learned that we were Christians, they arranged to seize us and kill us by treachery. But the pilot, whom we took with us, revealed everything they had planned to do against us, if they were able.

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Á terça feira vimos huuma terra, a qual tinha estes momtes [p.22] alèm de huuma pomta, a quall pomta ao lomgo da costa tem huum arvoredo alto que parecem urmeiros e sam rralos. E esta terra será do lugar donde partimos ao mais XX legoas,

Back 81

On Tuesday [13 March] we sighted land, beyond a point, which had high mountains. This point, extending out from the coast, was sparsely covered with tall trees resembling elms; and this land was more than twenty leagues from our starting point.

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e aquy amdámos em calmarias a terça feira e quarta. E a noute seguinte fomos em a volta do mar com vento levante pouco, e quando vêo a manham achámonos a ree de Mamcobiquy quatro legoas, e aquelle dia andámos até a tarde e pousámos junto com a ilha onde nos dyseram misa o domingo d’amte pasado, e alii estevemos oyto dias esperando por tempo.

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We remained becalmed here on Tuesday and Wednesday [13-14 March]. The following night we tacked with a light easterly breeze. And when morning came [15 March], we found ourselves four leagues abaft [behind] Mozambique. On that day we made way until evening and anchored close to the island where we had celebrated mass the previous Sunday [11 March]. We remained there for eight days waiting for a favorable wind.

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E neste mêo tempo nos mandou dizer o rrey de Mamcobiquy que queria fazer paz comnosco e ser noso amigo, e desta paz foy embaxador huum mouro branco que era Xarife, que quer dizer creligo, o quall era huum grande bebado.

Back 83

During this respite, the king of Mozambique sent word to us that he wanted to make peace with us and be our friend. To negotiate this peace he sent as ambassador, a white Moor who was a sharīf, that is to say a clergyman, who was also a great drunkard.

[Note: Arabic sharīf means lit. "noble," "high born"; the equation here to "clergyman" may or may not have been correct.]

Front 84

E estando nós aquy vêo huum mouro com huum minino seu filho e meteose em huum navio dos nosos dizendo que se queria ir comnosco porque era de junto com Meca, e viera aquy a Momcobiquy por pilloto de huuma naoo desta terra.

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While we were here, a Moor appeared with a young boy, his son, and came aboard one of our ships. He said that he wanted to go with us, as he was from near Mecca and had come to Mozambique as the pilot of a ship from that land.

Front 85

E porquanto nos nom acudia tempo, nos foy necesario emtrarmos em o porto de Momcobiquy a tomar agoa que nos era necesaria, a qual estava da outra parte da terra firme, da qual agoa bebem os da ilha por hii nom aver outra senam se for salgada.

Back 85

Since the winds still did not favor us, it became necessary to enter the port of Mozambique to take on water, of which we had need. The watering place is located on the mainland; and this is the water that they drink on the island, because all the water found there is brackish.

Front 86

Huuma quinta feira emtrámos em o dito porto, e como foy noute lançámos os batés fóra, e como foy mêa noute o capitam moor e Nicollao Coelho e alguns de nósoutros fomos a ver onde estava a augoa, e levámos comnosco o pilloto mouro, o quall andava mais pera fogir, se podera, que pera nos mostrar onde estava agoa. E se emlheou em tal maneira, que nunca nos soube amostrar onde era, on nam quys, e nisto andámos até que a- [p.23] manhaçeo. Emtam nos tornámos pera os navios,

Back 86

On Thursday [22 March] we entered the port. As it grew dark we lowered the boats. At midnight, the Captain major and Nicolau Coelho, accompanied by some of us, went in search of the watering place. We took the Moorish pilot with us, who acted more like he wanted to flee, if he had the chance, than to show us where the water was found. Consequently he was not able to show us where it was, or [perhaps] he never intended to. Nevertheless, we continued our search until dawn. We then returned to the ships.

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e quando vêo a tarde tornámos outra vez lá com o mesmo piloto; e nós junto com ha auguada, andavam ao longuo da praya obra de vinte delles escaramuçando com azagayas nas mãoos pera nos averem de defender a agoa, e o capitam moor lhes mandou tirar tres bombardadas pera que nos desem logar pera avermos de saltar fóra. E asy como nós fomos fóra elles se embranharam em o mato, e nós tomámos quanta agoa quesemos, e quando nos rrecolhemos era acerquà do soll posto, e achámos huum negro do pilloto Joham de Coimbra fogido.

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That evening [23 March] we returned once more to the mainland with the same pilot. On approaching the watering place, we saw about twenty of them on the beach, fanning out, with assegais in their hands, preparing to defend the watering place against us. The Captain major then ordered three bombards fired at them so that we might land. Having made our landing, they fled into the bush. We took as much water as we desired; and when we gathered to depart it was nearly sunset. We then confirmed that a black belonging to João de Coimbra had fled.

Front 88

Ao sabado, que foram vinte e quatro dias do mês de março, vespora de Nosa Senhora, e era pella manham, vêo huum Mouro em direito dos navios a dizer que se quisemos agoa que fosemos por ella, dando a emtender que llá estava quem nos faria tornar. E o capitam moor, como vio isto, determinou que fosemos, pera lhes mostrarmos como lhes podiamos fazer mall se quisesemos, polo quall logo, com os batés armados e bombardas nas popas delles, nos fomos á aldêa, e os mouros tinham fectas paliçadas muito bastas, e muito taboado basto, atado em maneira que os que estavam detrás delle nam os podyamos ver, e elles andavam ao longo da praia com tavollachinhas, azagaias, agomias, e arcos e fundas, com que nos tiravam ás pedras. Mas nós com as bombardas lhes faziamos tal companhia que lhes comvêo leixar a praya, e meterem-se na palhiçada que tynham fecta, a qual lhes fazia mais dapno que proveito, e nisto estevemos obra de tres oras. E alii vimos dous homens mortos, huum que matámos [p.24] na praya, e outro dentro em a estacada. E depois de estarmos delles emfadadosm viemonos a jantar aos navios, e elles começaram logo de fugir e acarretar fato em almadias pera huuma aldêa que está da outra banda.

Back 88

On Saturday morning, the 24th of March, the eve of the day of Our Lady, a Moor came alongside our ships. He told us that if we wanted water, we could go and search for it, giving us to understand that if we did we would meet with something which would make us turn back. The Captain major, when he heard this, resolved that we would in fact go there, in order to show them that we could do them harm, if we desired it. For this reason, with our boats armed with bombards placed in the sterns, we promptly made for the village. The Moors had made very solid palisades, of lashed planks, bound tightly together, so that those behind it could not be seen. They were walking along the beach armed with bucklers, assegais, curved daggers, bows, and slings, with which they flung stones at us. But with our bombards, we made it so hot for them that they abandoned the beach. They then placed themselves behind the palisade they had made, which did them more harm than good. We thus occupied ourselves for three hours. During this time, we saw two men killed, one of them on the beach, the other behind the palisade. After we tired of this work, we retired to dine aboard our ships, and they soon began to flee carrying their chattel in almadias heading for a village on the mainland.

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E nós depois que jamtámos fomos com os batés a ver se podiamos tomar alguns delles pera por elles avermos os dous christãoos ymdios que tinham cativos e o negro que nos alii fugira, pollo quall fomos depós huuma almadia do xarife que hia carregada de fato e outra que levava quatro negros, a quall tomou Paullo da Gama, e que vinha carregada de fato como foram em terra fugiram todos e leyxaram a almadia á costa, aquella e outra que achámos ao longo do mar; e os negros que hali tomámos trouxemollos aos navios. E nas almadias achámos muitos panos d’algodam finos e seiras de palma e huuma talha vidrada de manteiga e arredomas de vidraço com augoas e livros de sua ley e huum cofre com muitas meadas d’algodam e huuma rrede iso mesmo d’algodam e muitos seirõees chêos de milho. E todas estas cousas que se alii tomaram o capitam moor as deu aaquelles marinheiros que se alii acharam com elle e com os outros capitãees, salvo os livros, que elle guardou pera mostrar a ElRey.

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After we had dined, we went out in our boats to see if we might capture some of them, whom we wanted to exchange for the two Indian Christians, who they held in captivity and the black who had fled from us. With this in mind, we chased an almadia belonging to the sharif, which was loaded with his chattel, and another that carried four blacks. Paulo da Gama captured this one; while the one loaded with chattel reached shore. The crew then fled abandoning the almadia. We took this one and others that we found left along the shore. The blacks were taken to our ships. In the almadias, we found fine cotton cloth, baskets made of palm fronds, a glazed vase containing butter, glass phials with scented water; books of their law; a chest filled with cotton skeins; a net, also made of cotton; and many small baskets filled with millet. All the things that we took there, the Captain major gave to the sailors who were with him and to the other captains, except for the books which he kept to show to the king.

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E ao domingo seguinte fomos tomar agoa, e á segunda feira fomos ante a villa com os batés armados, e os mouros ficvam de detrás as casas, porque nom ousavam de vir á praya: e depois que lhes tirámos com as bombardas nos viemos pera os navios,

Back 90

On Sunday [25 March] we took on water. On Monday [26 March] we cruised by the village in armed boats, and the Moors remained behind their houses, not daring to venture onto the beach. After having fired a few bombards at them we returned to our ships.

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-

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[Mozambique to the Shoals of São Rafael]

Front 92

e á terça feira nos partimos d’ante a villa e viemos a pousar junto com os Ilheos de Sam Jorje, honde estevemos ainda tres dias esperando que nos dése Deus tempo,

Back 92

On Tuesday [27 March] we departed from the town, and anchored close to the islets of São Jorge [Goa Island / Watólofu], where we remained for three days, hoping that God would grant us a favorable wind.

Front 93

e á quinta feira, [p.25] que foram vimte e nove dias do dito mês, nos partimos dos ditos Ilheos, e porque o vento era pouco, quando vêo ao sabado pella manham, que foram XXX dias do dito mês, eramos vinte e oyto legoas dos ditos Ilheos. No dito dia pella manham, donde tornaramos a rree com as correntes que eram grandes.

Back 93

On Thursday, the 29th of March, we departed from these islets. But because the wind was light, from then until Saturday morning, the 31st of that month, we made only twenty eight leagues. That morning, we were once more abreast of the land of the Moors, where we had previously been forced back by the very powerful currents found there.

Front 94

Ao domingo, primeiro dia do mês d’abrill, fomos com huumas ilhas que estam bem apar da terra, e á primeira das ditas ilhas poseram nome a Ilha do Açoutado, porque ao sabado á tarde o pilloto mouro que comnosco levavamos mintio ao capitam, dizendolhe que estas ilhas eram terra firme, e por esta mintira que lhe dise o mandou açoutar. As naos desta terra navegam antre a terra e estas ilhas, e vam por quatro braças e nós fomos a maar dellas. Estas ilhas sam muitas e muito juntas, e sam povoadas.

Back 94

Sunday, the 1st day of April, we came upon some islands [the Quirimbas Islands] very close to the mainland. To the first of these islands we gave the name ilha do Açoutado [island of the flogged one] because on Saturday afternoon, the Moorish pilot, that we carried with us, lied to the Captain. He told him that these islands were the mainland, and for this lie the captain ordered him flogged. Ships of this land sail between the mainland and these islands, where the water is four fathoms, but we kept to seaward of them. There are many of these islands, and they are so close together, that we were not able to distinguish one from the others. They are inhabited.

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E á segunda feira ouvemos vista de outras ilhas que estam em mar cinquo legoas.

Back 95

On Monday [2 April] we sighted other islands five leagues out to sea.

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Á quarta feira, que foram quatro dias d’abrill, démos as vellas e fomos ao noroeste, e ante de mêo dia ouvemos vista de huuma terra grosa e duas ilhas junto com ella, e esta terra tem derredor de sy muitos baixos. E tanto que fomos juntos com ella, que os pillotos a rreconheceram, diseram que ha hilha dos christãos ficava a rree de nós tres legoas, e emtam trabalhámos todo o dia pera ver se a podyamos cobrar, e porque o ponente era muito nom a podémos cobrar. Emtam ouveram os capitãees por comselho que arribasemos pera huuma cidade que estava quatro jornadas de nós, a qual cidade se chama Mombaça.

Back 96

On Wednesday, the 4th of April, we made sail and headed NW. Before noon we sighted an extensive land, and two islands close to it; and this land has vast shoals surrounding it. As soon as we came close enough for the pilots to recognize it; they told us that an island [Kilwa] inhabited by Christians lay three leagues behind us. And so we labored all day in order to see if we might return there. But because the west wind was so strong we could not head back. After this, the Captains thought it best that we make for a city that was four days ahead of us, called Mombasa.

Front 97

Esta ilha era huuma pera que nós vinhamos, a qual os pillotos que traziamos diziam que era de christãos, e emtam arribámos já tarde com muito vento, e acerqua da noute vimos huuma ilha mui grande que nos demorava ao norte, na qual ilha nos diziam [p.26] os pillotos mouros que levavamos que havia huuma villa de christãoos e outra de mouros. Esta noute seguinte fomos na volta do maar, e quando vêo pella manham nom vimos terra; emtam fezemos caminho de noroeste, e quando vêo a tarde vimos terra.

Back 97

This island was one that we had come in search of, which the pilots we carried said was inhabited by Christians. So we made way although it was already late and the wind was very strong. At nightfall we sighted a very large island [Mafia] which lay to the north of us, the Moorish pilots aboard told us that on the island there were two towns, one of Christians, the other of Moors. That night we stood out to sea, and when the day broke, we could not see land. And so we followed a course to the NW and in the evening we again sighted land.

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[From the Shoals of São Rafael to Mombasa]

Front 99

E esta noute seguinte fezemos o caminho ao norte e a quarta de noroeste, e no quarto d’alva fezemollo ao nornoroeste. E indo asy com vento tendente, duas oras ante manham, deu o navio Sam Rrafaell em sequo em huuns baixos que estam da terra firme duas legoas, e como deu em sequo bradou aos outros que vinham detrás, os quaees tanto que ouviram os brados pousaram delle huum tiro de bombarda, e lançaram os batés fora,

Back 99

The following night we shaped a course to the N by NW, but during the morning watch we shifted it to the NNW. Sailing thus before a favorable wind, two hours before dawn the S. Rafael ran aground on a shoal about two leagues from the mainland. As the Rafael touched bottom, the vessels following her were warned by shouts, so that as soon as they heard them, they anchored about a gunshot from her, and lowered their boats.

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e como foy baixa mar ficou o navio de todo em seco, e com os batés lançaram muitas amquoras ao maar, e como vêo a maré do dia, que foy prea-maar, sayo o navio, com que todos folgámos muito.

Back 100

But as it was soon low tide, the Rafael remained high and dry. With the help of the boats they dropped many anchors at sea; and as the tide rose during the day, and reached its highest point, the ship floated, and with this we all rejoiced.

Front 101

Em a terra firme, em direito destas baixas, está huuma serrania muito alta e fermosa, á qual seranya poseram nome as Serras de Sam Rrafaell, e ás baixas iso mesmo.

Back 101

On the mainland, facing these shoals, there rises a very high and beautiful mountain range [the Usambara Mountains]; which we called the serras de São Rafael. We gave the same name to the shoals.

Front 102

Estando o navio em seco vieram duas almadias a elle e a nós, as quaees trouxeram muitas laranjas muito boas, milhores que has de Portugall, e ficaram em o navio dous mouros, que foram ao outro dia comnosco a huuma cidade que se chama Mombaça.

Back 102

While the ship was high and dry, two almadias approached us. These boats brought sweet, fine, oranges, better than those in Portugal. Two Moors remained on board the ship, and accompanied us the next day to a city, which is called Mombasa.

Front 103

Ao sabado pella manham, que foram a sete dias do dito mês, vespora de Rramos, fomos ao longo da costa e vimos huumas ilhas, que estavam a mar da terra firme quinze legoas e bojavam seis legoas em comprido, em as quaees ilhas ha muitos mastos, com que emmasteam as naoos daquella terra, e sam [p.27] todas povoadas de mouros;

Back 103

On Saturday morning, the 7th of that month, and the eve of Palm Sunday, we cruised along the coast and saw some islands [Pemba Island, in fact only one island]. They were about fifteen leagues out to sea from the mainland, and six leagues lengthwise on average. On these islands there are many trees suitable for masts, and so they outfit their ships with masts from these islands. They are all inhabited by Moors.

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[Mombasa]

Front 105

e ao soll posto fomos pousar defronte da dita cidade de Mombaça, e nam emtrámos em o porto: e em nós chegando vêo a nós huuma zavra carregada de mouros, e davante da cidade estavam muitas naoos todas embandeiradas com seus estandartes. E nós, por lhes termos companhia, fezemos outro tanto e mais aos nosos navios, que nos nom falecia senam jente que nam tynhamos, porque ainda esa pouca que tinhamos era muito doente. E alii pousámos com muito prazer, parecendonos que ao outro dia yryamos ouvir misa em terra com os christãoos, que nos diziam que aquy avia, e que estavam apartados sobre sy dos mouros, e que tinham alquaide seu.

Back 105

As sunset approached [7 April] we dropped anchor in front of the city of Mombasa but did not enter the port. As soon as we arrived, a zarva [Arabic زورق , skiff] came out to us, filled with Moors. In front of the city there were many ships all dressed with their standards [Note: It was the eve of 15 Shaʿbān that day, a holy day in the Muslim calendar]. Not wishing to be outdone, we did the same to our ships, and even more, for we wanted for nothing save men, for even the few that we had were very ill. We anchored here with much pleasure, since it seemed to us that the next day we would go ashore to hear mass with the Christians, which they had told us lived here, in a quarter separate from the Moors with their own alcaide [Arabic القائد , used in Portugal as the title for a governor of a fortress or province; da Gama's father was the alcaide-mor of Sines].

Front 106

Os pillotos que nós levavamos diziam que em esta ilha de Mombaça estavam e viviam mouros e christãoos, e que vivyam apartados huns dos outros, e que cada huns tinham seu senhor, e que como nós aquy chegasemos, que elles nos fariam muita honra e que nos levariam pera suas casas. E isto era dito pollo que elles desejavam de fazer, que nam por ser asy. Aquella noute seguinte á mêa noute vieram em huuma zavra obra de cem homes todos com tarçados e tavolachinhas, e como chegaram onde o capitam mor estava, quiseram emtrar com as armas, e elle nam quis, e nam emtraram mais de quatro ou cinquo dos mais honrados delles, e esteveram obra de duas horas comnosco, e emtam se foram, e o que nos pareçeo desta vinda foy que elles vinham pera verem se poderiam tomar alguum destes navios.

Back 106

The pilots, who accompanied us, told us that on this island of Mombasa both Moors and Christians resided, and that they lived separate from one another. Each of them had their own Lord, and that upon our arrival here, they would receive us with much honor and take us to their houses. But they said this for their own reasons, and not because it was true. That night, at midnight, a zarva approached us with about one hundred men aboard, all armed with cutlasses and bucklers. When they arrived at the Captain major’s ship they all wanted to board her thus armed, but he would not permit it. Only four or five of the most distinguished of them were permitted aboard, and they stayed there about two hours and then departed. It seemed to us that they paid this visit merely to see if they might capture one of our ships.

Front 107

Ao dominguo de Rramos mandou o rey de Mombaça [p.28] ao capitam moor huum carneiro e muitas laranjas e cidrões e canas d’açuquar, e mandou-lhe huum anell por seguro; e que se quisese entrar que lhe daria todo o que lhes fezesse mester; e vieram dous homens muito alvos, que diziam que eram christãoos, e a nós asy nollo pareçia, com este presente. E o capitam moor lhe mandou huum rramall de coraees, e mandou-lhe dizer que ao outro dia hiria pera dentro, e em este dia mesmo ficaram no navio do capitam quatro mouros dos mais honrados.

Back 107

On Palm Sunday [8 April] the king of Mombasa sent the Captain major a sheep, and many oranges, citrons, and sugar cane. He also sent a ring as a pledge of safety, informing him that if he desired he might enter the port and be supplied with all he had need of. This present was brought to us by two men, very fair skinned, who said they were Christians, and to us this seemed to be the case. The Captain in turn sent him a string of coral beads, informing him that he intended to enter the port the following day. On the same day four Moors of distinction visited the Captain major’s ship.

Front 108

E o capitam mandou dous homens ao rey desta cidade pera mais comfirmar suas pazes, os quaees, como foram em terra, foy loguo muita gente com elles até a porta do paço, e antes que chegasem ao rrey pasaram por quatro portas onde estavam quatro porteiros, cada huum a sua porta, os quaees estavam com seuhos cutellos nus nas mãoos. E quando chegaram ao rey elle lhes fez muito gasalhado, e lhes mandou amostrar toda a cidade, os quaees foram ter a casa de dous mercadores christãoos, e elles mostraram a estes dous mercadores christãoos, e elles mostraram a estes dous homens huuma carta em que adoravam, em a qual estava debuxado o Espirito Santo. E depois de tudo visto, o rrey mandou mostras de cravo e pimenta e gingivre e de triguo tremês ao capitam, e que disto poderiamos carregar.

Back 108

The Captain then sent two men to the king of this city in order to confirm these peaceful overtures. These men, as soon as they landed, were followed by a crowd as far as the gate of the palace. Before they reached the king, they passed through four doors, each guarded by a doorkeeper with a drawn cutlass in his hands. And when they reached the king, he received them hospitably, and ordered that they be shown the entire city. In doing so, they were taken to the house of two Christian merchants; who showed them a card which they worshipped, on which there was a depiction of the Holy Ghost. After seeing all, the king ordered samples of cloves, pepper, ginger, and sorghum sent with them to show the Captain, saying that he could load these articles.

Front 109

Á terça feira, em alevantando as amquoras pera ir pera dentro, o navio do capitam moor nom quis virar, e hiia em quu que estava por popa. E emtam tornámos a lançar as ancoras: e em os navios estavam mouros comnosco, os quaees, depois que viram que nom hiamos, rrecolheram-se em huuma zavra, e hindo já por popa, os pillotos que vieram de Momcobiquy comnosco lançaramse á augoa, e os da zavra os tomaram. E como foy noute o capitam pingou dous mouros [p.29] dos que traziamos, que lhe disesem se tinham treiçam ordenada, os quaees diseram que como foramos dentro, que tinham ordenado de nos tomar e se vimgarem do que fezeramos em Momcobiquy, e estando pera pingarem outro, com as mãoos atadas deitou-se ao maar, e o outro se lamçou no quarto d’alva.

Back 109

On Tuesday [10 April] in weighing anchor to enter the port the Captain major’s ship could not come around, as its stern was facing land. So we again dropped anchor. When the Moors who were aboard our ships saw that we were not getting underway, they placed themselves in a zarva already tied to our stern, and the pilots who had come with us from Mozambique, jumped into the water, and were picked up by the men in the zarva. As night was approaching, the Captain tortured two Moors whom we still had on board by dropping drops of boiling oil on their skin, so that they would reveal any treachery against us. They said that orders had been given to capture us as soon as we entered the port, to avenge what we had done in Mozambique. As the torture was being applied a second time one of the Moors, even though his hands were tied, cast himself into the sea, and the other did the same during the morning watch.

Front 110

Em esta noute seguinte, á mêa noute, vieram duas almadias com muitos homens, os quaees se lançaram a nado, e as almadias ficaram de largo e se foram ao navio Berrio, e outros vieram ao Rafaell. E os que foram ao Berrio começaram de picar o cabre, e os que estavam vigiando cuidaram que eram toninhas, e depois que os conheceram bradaram aos outros navios, e outros estavam já pegados nas cadêas da enxarcia de traquete do Rafaell, e como foram sintidos callaramse e deceram abaixo e fogiram. Estas e muitas outras maldades ordenavam estes perros; mas Noso Senhor nom quis que se lhes desem a bem, porque nom criam nelle.

Back 110

That night around midnight two almadias with many men in them approached. The men entered the water and began swimming, while the almadias stood off. Some of these men headed for the Berrio, while others came towards the Rafael. Those who swam to the Berrio began to cut its mooring cable. The men who were standing watch at first thought they were porpoises. But after they became aware of their mistake, they shouted to the other vessels. Other swimmers had already taken hold of the foresail rigging of the Rafael. As they were now discovered, they silently slipped down and fled. These and many other evil acts were arranged against us by these dogs. But Our Lord did not allow them to succeed, because they did not believe in him.

Front 111

Este cidade he grande e está asemtada em huum alto onde bate o mar, e he porto onde emtram muitos navios cada dia, e tem aa emtrada huum padram, e tem a villa junto com ho mar huuma fortalleza baixa. E os que foram em terra nos diseram que viram andar pella villa muitos homes presos com ferros, e estes segundo nos parecia deviam de ser christãoos, porque os christãoos nesta terra tem guerra com os mouros.

Back 111

This city is large and established on high ground washed by the sea. Many ships enter its port each day. At its entrance there is a pillar, and a low lying fortress close to the sea. Those who went ashore told us that in the town they had seen many men in irons. These it seemed to us, must be Christians, because the Christians in this land are at war with the Moors.

Front 112

Os christãoos que estam nesta cidade sam como estantes mercadores, os quaees sam muito sogeitos, porque nom fazem mais que o que lhes ho rrey mouro manda. [p.30]

Back 112

The Christians in this city are resident merchants, who are held in much subjugation, since they cannot do more than what is ordered by the Moorish king.

Front 113

Quis Deus por sua misericordia que como fomos junto com esta cidade logo todollos doentes que traziamos foram sãoos, porque esta terra he de muito bons arres.

Back 113

It pleased God, in his mercy, that as soon as we arrived at this city, all our sick recovered their health, because the climate of this place is very good.

Front 114

Estevemos ainda a quarta e quinta feira depois de termos conhecida a malicia e treyçam que estes perros quiseram pôr em obra comtra nós.

Back 114

Even after we discussed the malice and treachery that these dogs wished to undertake against us, we still remained here on Wednesday and Thursday [11 and 12 April].

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[From Mombasa to Malindi]

Front 116

E partimos pella manham d’aly com pouco vento, e viemos pousar de Monbaça obra de oyto legoas junto com terra. E em amanhecendo vimos dous barcos a julavemto de nós em mar obra de tres legoas, pollo qual loguo arribámos contra elles pera os avermos de tomar, porque desejavamos de aver pillotos que nos levasam onde nós desejavamos. E quando vêo a oras de vespora fomos com huum dos ditos barcos e tomámollo, e outro se nos acolheo a terra, e naquelle que tomámos achámos dezasete homes e ouro e prata e muito milho e mantimento e huma moça, molher de huum homem velho, mouro honrrado que hii vinha. E tanto que nós chegámos junto com elles todos se lançaram ao mar, e nós hos andámos tomando com os batés.

Back 116

We departed in the morning [13 April] from there, with a light wind and anchored about eight leagues from Mombasa close to shore. At daybreak [14 April] we saw two boats about three leagues to the leeward at sea. We set off after them at once, in order to capture them, since we wanted to procure pilots who could take us where we desired to go. At vesper time we came up on one of the boats and we captured it. But the other escaped us heading toward land. In the one that we captured, we found seventeen men, gold, silver, much millet, other provisions, and a young woman, who was the wife of an old Moor of distinction, who was traveling here. As soon as we came up on them, they all threw themselves into the sea, but we picked them up from our boats.

Front 117

Neste mesmo dia ao soll-posto lançámos anquora em direito de huum logar que se chama Milinde, o qual está de Mombaça trinta legoas, e de Mombaça ha esta villa de Milindes ha estes logares que se seguem: primeiramente Benapa, e Toça, e Nuguo-quioniete.

Back 117

That same day at sunset we dropped anchor off a place called Malindi, which is thirty leagues from Mombasa. Between Mombasa and this town of Malindi there are the following places: first Benapa, Toca, and Nuguo-Quinica [Mtwapa, Takaungu and Kilifi].

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[Malindi]

Front 119

Ao dia de Pascoa nos diseram estes mouros que tinhamos cativos que em a dita villa de Milindes estavam quatro navios de christãoos, os quaees eram indios, e que, se os quisesemos alii levar, que dariam por sy pilotos christãoos [p.31] e todo o que nos fezese mester, asy de carnes, augoa, lenha e outras cousas; e o capitam moor que muito desejava aver pillotos daquella terra, depois de termos tratado este partido com estes mouros, fomos pousar da villa mêa legoa de terra, e os da villa nunca ousaram de viir aos navios, porque estavam já avisados e sabiam que tomaramos huma barca com os mouros.

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On Easter Sunday [15 April] the Moors we had captured in the boat told us that at this city of Malindi there were four Christian ships, which were from India. They said that if it pleased us to take them there, they would provide Christian pilots in their place, and everything of which he had need, including meat, water, wood, and other things. The Captain major, who greatly desired to have pilots from that land, after having discussed this proposal with these Moors, dropped anchor off the town a half league from shore. The inhabitants of the town however never dared to come to our ships because they had already been warned and knew that we had captured a boat and taken Moorish prisoners.

Front 120

Á segunda feira pella manham mandou o capitam moor poor aquelle mouro velho em huma baixa que está defronte da villa, e alii vêo huma almadia por elle, o qual mouro foy dizer a elrey o que o capitam queria e como folgaria de fazer paz com elle. E depois de jamtar vêo ho mouro em huma zabra, em a qual o rrey daquella villa mandou hum seu cavaleiro e hum xarife, e mandou tres carneiros, e mandou dizer ao capitam que elle folgaria de antre elles aver paz e estarem bem, e que se lhe conprise alguma cousa de sua terra que lho daria com mui boa vontade, asy os pilotos como qualquer outra cousa. E o capitam moor lhe mandou dizer que ao outro dia hiria pera dentro do porto, e mandoulhe loguo pollos mesegeiros huum balandráo e dous rramaees de coraees e tres baçias e huum chapeo e cascavés e dous lambés.

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On Monday morning [16 April], the Captain major had the old Moor taken to a sandbank in front of the town. There, an almadia came for him. The Moor went to inform the king of the Captain major’s wishes, that he greatly desired to make peace with him. After dinner the Moor returned in a zarva, in which the king had sent one of his cavaliers and a sharif, and three sheep as well. Through them, he told the captain that he would rejoice to make peace and have friendly relations with us; and that if he required anything from his land, he would give it with much good will, whether pilots or anything else. The Captain major thereupon sent word that he intended to enter the port the following day. By these messengers he sent the king a long hood, two strings of coral, three hand wash basins, a hat, little bells, and two pieces of lambel [a type of striped cotton cloth].

Front 121

Loguo aa terça feira nos chegámos mais pera junto da villa, e elrey mandou ao capitam seis carneiros e muitos cravos e cominhos e gingivre e noz nozcada e pimenta, e mandoulhe dizer que ha quarta feira se queria ver com elle no mar; que elle iria na sua zavra, e que fose elle no seu batell. [p.32]

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Early on Tuesday [17 April] we approached nearer to the town. The king sent the Captain six sheep, and good quantities of cloves, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, and pepper. He also sent word that Wednesday, if he desired to have a meeting with him at sea, he would come out in his zarva, and the Captain major could meet with him in his ship’s boat.

[Note: “The king” was in fact his son Prince ‘Alī, then serving as regent for the elderly Sultan Wajraj of Malindi].

Front 122

Á quarta feira depois de jantar vêo elrey em huma zavra, e vêo junto dos navios, e o capitam saýo em o seu batell muito bem corregido, e como chegou onde elrey estava logo se o dito rrey meteo com elle, e alii pasaram muitas palavras e boas, entre as quaees foram estas: Dizendo elrey ao capitam que lhe rrogava que fose com elle a sua casa folgar, e que elle hiria dentro aos seus navios, e o capitam lhe dise que nom trazia licença de seu senhor pera sair em terra, e que se em terra saise que daria de sy maa conta a quem o llá mandara. E o rrey rrespondeo que se elle aos seus navios fose que conta darya de sy ao seu povo, os que diriam? E preguntou como avia nome o noso rrey, e mandou o escrepver, e dise que se nós por aquy tornasemos que elle mandaria huum embaixador ou escrepveria.

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On Wednesday [18 April] after dinner, the king came up close to our ships in a zarva. The Captain then embarked in his boat which was very well outfitted. When he reached the spot where the king was, the king promptly placed himself alongside him. Many kind words were then exchanged between them. Among them were these: the king invited the Captain to come with him to his house to rest, after which he would visit our ships. The Captain told him that he did not have permission from his Lord to go on land, and that, if he did, a bad report would be given of him. The king responded that if he came to our ships, what account could he give of himself to his people, and what would they say about him? He asked for the name of our king, and that it be written down for him. He also said that if we returned here he would send an ambassador, or write a letter to him.

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E depois de terem falado cada huum o que queria, mandou o capitam por todos os mouros que tinhamos cativos e deulhos todos, do qual elle foy mui contente, e dise que mais prezava aquillo que lhe darem huuma villa. E o rrey andou folgando de rredor dos navios, donde lhe tiravam muitas bombardas e elle folgava muito de as ver tirar, e nisto andaram obra de tres oras, e quando se foy leixou no navio huum seu filho e hum seu xarife, e foram com elle a sua casa dous homens dos nosos, os quaees elle mesmo pedio que queria que fosem ver os seus paços, e mais dise ao capitam que pois elle nam queria ir a terra que fose ao outro dia, e que andase ao lomgo da terra, e que elle mandaria cavalgar seus cavaleiros.

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After each had said everything they wished to say, the Captain sent for the Moors that he had taken prisoner. He then gave them all over to the king, which pleased him greatly, saying that it gave him more pleasure than if he had been given a town. Much pleased, the king walked around our ships, where many bombards were fired and he greatly enjoyed seeing them shot off . We spent three hours in this fashion. When the king departed he left one of his sons, and a sharif aboard our ships. He took two of our men to shore; who he desired to show his palaces. Moreover he told the captain that, because he did not wish to go to shore, he would return on the following day to the beach, where he would order his horsemen to demonstrate their skills.

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Estas sam as cousas que ho rrey trazia: Primeiramente huma opa de damasco forrada de çatim verde e huuma [p.33] touca na cabeça muyto rrica e duas cadeiras d’arrame com seus coxins e hum toldo de çatim crimisym, o qual toldo era rredondo e andava posto em hum pao. E trazia huum homem velho por paje, o qual trazia huum traçado que tinha a baynha de prata, e muitos anafis e duas bozinas de marfim d’altura de huum homem, e eram muito lavradas, e tanjiam-se por huum buraco que tem no mêo, as quaees bozinas concertam com os anafis no tanjer.

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These are the things that the king wore and brought with him: Firstly: a damask robe, trimmed with green satin, and a very rich toque on his head, and two bronze chairs with cushions and a round sunshade of crimson satin attached to a wooden pole. An old man attended him as his page, carrying a short sword in a silver sheath and trumpet players, and two ivory horns as tall as a man, and richly carved, these were played by blowing in a hole they had in the middle. These horns made a pleasing harmony when played with the trumpets.

Front 125

Á quinta feira foy o capitam moor e Nicolao Coelho nos batés com bombardas nas popas, e foram ao longo da villa. Em terra andavam muitos homens e antr’elles dous a cavallo escaramuçando e folgando muito, quanto ao que elles mostravam. E alii tomaram elrey de huuma escada de pedra nos seus paços em humas andas e trouxeram o ao batel onde o capitam estava. Alii tornou a pidir ao capitam que fose em terra, porque tinha huum pay entrevado que folgaria de o ver, e que elles e os seus filhos yriam estar nos seus navios, do que se o capitam escusou.

Back 125

On Thursday [19 April] the Captain major and Nicolau Coelho cruised along the shore in front of the town in their long boats with bombards placed in their sterns. There were many people lining the shore, among them two horsemen, skirmishing with each other, and greatly enjoying themselves. The king was carried in one of his palanquins down the stone steps of his palace to the side of the Captain’s boat. He again asked the captain to come ashore, because he had a crippled father who wished to see him, and that he and his sons would go aboard the ships as hostages. But the Captain again excused himself.

Front 126

Aquy achámos quatro naoos de christãoos da Imdia, os quaees a primeira vez que vieram ao navio de Paullo da Gama, onde o capitam moor estava, alii lhe mostraram huum retavollo em que estava Nossa Senhora com Jhesu Christo nos braços ao pee da cruz e os apostollos. E os indios quando viram este retavollo lançavam-se no cham, os quaees em quanto aquy estevemos vinham fazer suas oraçõees. E traziam cravos e pimenta e outras cousas que offereciam.

Back 126

Here we found four ships of Indian Christians. The first time they came aboard Paulo da Gama’s ship, where the Captain was, they were shown an altarpiece, with Our Lady at the base of a cross holding Jesus Christ in her arms, and the apostles around her. The Indians, when they saw this altarpiece, prostrated themselves before it; and as long as we were there, they came to make their prayers and brought offerings of cloves, pepper, and other things.

Front 127

Estes indios sam homens baços, e trazem poucas rroupas, e trazem grandes barbas e os cabellos da cabeça muito longos, [p.34] e trazem-os trançados, e nam comem carne de boy, segundo elles diziam, e a sua linguajem he estremada da dos mouros, e alguns delles sabem alguma pouca d’arravia polla continoa comunicaçam que tem com elles.

Back 127

These Indians are tawny men; and wear but little clothing. They wear long beards and very long hair which they braid. They told us that they do not eat beef. Their language is different from that of the Moors, but some of them know a little Arabic since they have constant interchange with them.

Front 128

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Back 128

[Note: It is significant that at least at the outset, both Vasco da Gama and the author believed that the Hindus they encountered on the voyage were indeed “Christians.” It is not clear if their Muslim prisoners described them as such, or if the Portuguese in seeking to find Christians “beyond the land of the Moors” simply decided that since they were certainly not Muslim they were potential co-religionists. While it is possible that these ships carried St. Thomas Christians from Kerala their refusal to eat beef suggests otherwise.]

Front 129

Aquelle dia que o capitam mor foy andar nos batés por junto da villa tiraram das naos dos christãoos indios muitas bombardas, e alevantavam as mãoos quando os viam pasar dizendo todos com muita alegria Christe Christe. E este dia pidiram elles licença a elrey pera lhes deixar fazer de noute festa a nós outros. E como vêo a noute fezeram muita festa e tiraram muitas bombardas e lançavam foguetes e davam grandes gritas.

Back 129

On the day when the Captain went up to the town in his boats, these Indian Christians fired many bombards from their ships; and they raised their hands when they saw him pass by, all of them shouting with much joy “Christ, Christ!” On this day, they asked the king for permission to give us a night fete. And when night came; they heartily celebrated, and fired off many bombards, sent up rockets, and raised loud shouts.

Front 130

Mais diseram estes imdios ao capitam moor que nom fose em terra, e que se nam fiase dos seus tanjères, porque nom diziam com os coraçõees nem com as vomtades.

Back 130

Moreover, these Indians told the Captain major not to go ashore, and that he should not trust their displays since they came neither from the heart nor good will.

Front 131

Ao dominguo seguinte, que foram vinte e dous dias do mês d’abrill, vêo a zavra d’elrey a bordo onde vinha huum seu pryvado, porque avia já dous dias que nom vieram aos navios, do quall o capitam lançou mãoo, e mandou dizer a elrey que lhe mandase os pillotos que lhe tinha promettido. E como foy o rrecado, elrey lhe mandou loguo hum piloto christão, e o capitam deixou logo ir aquelle fidalguo que elle tinha rreteudo no navio. E folgámos muito com o pilloto christão que nos elrey mandou.

Back 131

On the following Sunday, the 22nd of April, a zarva belonging to the king brought out one of his confidential servants. But because two days had already passed without visitors from shore, the Captain had him seized and sent word to the king that he required the pilots that he had been promised. When he received this message, the king sent a Christian pilot, and the Captain allowed the gentleman whom he had detained on the ship, to go. We were very pleased with this Christian pilot that the king had sent us.

Front 132

Aquy soubemos como aquella ilha, que nos diseram em Mocombiquy que era de christãos, he huma ilha onde está o mesmo rrey de Mocombiquy, a quall he ametade de mouros e ametade de christãos. E nesta ilha ha muito aljofar, e o nome da ilha he Quyluee, e aquy desejaram os pilotos mouros de nos levar, e nós tambem o desejavamos, por nos [p.35]

pareçer que era asy como elles diziam.

Back 132

We learned at this time that the island, of which we had heard in Mozambique as being inhabited by Christians, is in fact an island where the same king of Mozambique rules, and half of it belongs to the Moors and the other half to Christians. On this island there are many seed pearls. The name of the island is Quiloa [Kilwa]. It was here that the Moorish pilots wanted to take us, and we also wished to go there, for we believed that it was as they had described it.

Front 133

Esta villa de Milynde está em huma angra e está assemtada ao lomguo de huma praya, a quall villa se quer pareçer com Alcouchete, e as casas sam altas e muy bem cayadas e tem mutias janellas, e tem ao lomgo delle da banda do sartão que está apegado com as casas, huum palmeirall muto grande, e toda a terra derredor sam lavoyras de milho e outros legumes.

Back 133

This town of Malindi lies on a bay, and extends along the beach. The town may be likened to Alcochete. The houses are high and very well whitewashed, and they have many windows. Along the inland side of the town, which is tightly packed with houses, there is a large palm grove; and the surrounding lands are planted with millet and other vegetables.

Front 134

Aquy estevemos davante esta villa nove dias, e em estes nove dias sempre se faziam em terra festas e muitas escaramuças a pee, e avia aquy muitos tanjères.

Back 134

We remained in front of this town for nine days, and all during these nine days we had fetes, sham skirmishes on foot, and many musical performances.

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Back 135

[Malindi to Calicut]

Front 136

Á terça feira, que foram vinte e quatro do dito mês, nos partimos d’aquy com ho pilloto que nos elrey deu pera huuma cidade que se chama Qualecut, da quall cidade elrey tinha notiçia, e fomos em leste demandala.

Back 136

On Tuesday, which was the 24th of this month, we departed from here, with the pilot the king had given us. We made for a city called Calicut, on which the king had information, and headed east in search of it.

Front 137

E aquy he a costa de norte e sull, por quanto a terra aquy faz huuma muito grande emseada e estreito, em a quall emseada, segundo nós tinhamos noticia, ha muitas cidades de christãos e mouros, e huma cidade que se chama Quambaya, e seiscentas ilhas sabidas, e honde está o Mar Ruyvo e a casa de Meca.

Back 137

The coast runs north and south, since the land there encloses a great bay [the Arabian Sea] and strait [Bab-el-Mandeb]. According to what we were told, in this bay there are many cities of Christians and Moors, including one called Cambay, and six hundred known islands, and within it the Red Sea and the house of Mecca.

Front 138

E ao dominguo seguinte ouvemos vista do norte, o qual avia muito que leixaramos de ver,

Back 138

The following Sunday [29 April] we again saw the North Star, which we had not seen for a long time.

Front 139

e huma sesta feira, que foram XVII dias de mayo, vimos huuma terra alta, a qual avia vinte e tres dias que nom viramos terra, vindo sempre em estes dias com vento á popa, que ao menos que podyamos andar em esta travesa seriam seiscentas legoas.

Back 139

On a Friday, which was the 18th day of May, we sighted lofty mountains [Mt. Eli], it having been twenty three days without seeing land. During all these days we sailed with the wind behind us, so that the shortest distance we could have covered on this crossing was six hundred leagues.

Front 140

E averia de nós a terra, ao tempo que a vimos, oyto legoas, e aly lançaram o prumo e a- [p.36] charam quorenta e cinquo braças, he aquella noute fezemos o caminho ao susueste por nos arredarmos da costa, e ao outro dia viemolla demandar e nom nos chegámos tanto a ella que o piloto podése aver prefeito conhecimento da terra, isto pollos muitos chuyveiros e trovoadas que faziam em esta terra nesta travesa e costa por que navegavamos. E ao dominguo fomos juntos com huumas montanhas, as quaees estam sobre a cidade de Calecut, e chegámonos tanto a ellas até que o pilloto que levavamos as conheceo e nos dise que aquella era a terra honde nós desejavamos d’ir. E em este dia á tarde fomos pousar abaixo desta cidade de Calecut duas legoas, e isto porque ao pilloto pareçeo por huma villa que alii estava, a que chamam Capua, que era Calecut, e abaixo desta villa está outra que se chama Pandarramy, e pousámos ao longuo da costa obra de huma legoa e mêa da terra.

Back 140

We found ourselves eight leagues from land, when we first sighted it. We launched the lead and found forty five fathoms. That same night we shaped a course to the SSW to move away from the coast. The next day [19 May], we again approached the land. But we could not come close enough to it due to heavy rain and thunderstorms which prevailed for our pilot to be able to fix our exact location as we sailed along the coast. On Sunday [20 May] we found ourselves close to some mountains [the Western Ghats], as high as we had ever seen, which are close to the city of Calicut. And when we were near enough to them for the pilot with us to recognize them, he told us that this was the country where we desired to go. On this day, in the afternoon, we anchored two leagues to the north of the city. We did so because our pilot mistook a town found there called Capua [Kappatt or Kappattangadi] for Calicut. North of this town is another one called Pandarane [Pantalayini-Kollam], and we anchored along the coast about a league and a half from shore.

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Back 141

[Calicut]

Front 142

E depois que asy estevemos pousados vieram de terra a nós quatro barcos, os quaees vinham por saber que jente eramos, e nos diseram e amostraram Calecut.

Back 142

After we anchored, four boats appeared from shore. They came out in order to find out who we were. We told them and they pointed out Calicut to us.

Front 143

E ao outro dia iso mesmo vieram estes barcos aos nossos navios, e o capitam moor mandou huum dos degradados a Calecut, e aquelles com que elle hia levarano honde estavam dous mouros de Tunez que sabiam fallar castellano e januês,

Back 143

On the following day [21 May], these same boats came alongside our ships again. The Captain major sent one of the convict-exiles to Calicut; and those with whom he went took him to a place where there were two Moors from Tunis, who knew how to speak Castilian and Genoese.

Front 144

e a primeira salva que lhe deram foy esta que se ao diante segue:

Al diabro que te doo: quem traxo aquà?

e preguntaram-lhe que vinhamos buscar tam lonje, e elle lhe rrespondeo:

vimos buscar christãos e especiaria.

Elles lhe disseram:

porque nom manda quà elrey de Castella e elrey de França e a senhoria de Veneza?

e elle lhe rrespondeu que elrey de Portugall nom queria consentir que elles quà mandasem, [p.37] e elles diseram que fazia bem.

Emtam o agasalharam e deramlhe de comer pam triguo com mell, e depois que comeo vêose pera os navios e vêo com elle huum daquelles mouros, o quall tanto que foy em os navios começou de dizer estas palavras:

boena vemtura, boena ventura: muitos rrobis, muitas esmeraldas: muitas graças devês de dar a Deus por vos trazer a terra honde ha tanta rriquesa.

Back 144

The first greeting they gave him, was this that follows:

“The Devil take thee! What brought you hither?”

They asked him what he sought so far from home and he answered them:

“We come in search of Christians and spices.”

And they said to him:

“Why does not the king of Castile, the king of France, or the Signoria of Venice send [men] here?”

And he answered them that the king of Portugal would not consent to their sending [anyone] here. And they said that he had done well.

Then they welcomed him and gave him wheat bread with honey to eat; and after he ate, he returned to the ships. One of the Moors came with him, who, as soon as he was aboard the ships, began to say these words:

“A lucky venture! A lucky venture! Plenty of rubies, plenty of emeralds, many thanks you owe to God for bringing you to a country where there are such riches!”

Front 145

Era pera nós isto tanto espanto, que ouviamos falar e nam o criamos que homem ouvesse tam longe de Portugall que nos emtendese nossa falla.

Back 145

For us, this was truly amazing, that we were hearing him speak and we could not believe it: that men found so far from Portugal could understand our language.

Front 146

Esta cidade de Calecut he de de christãoos, os quaees sam homens baços e andam delles com barbas grandes e os cabellos da cabeça compridos, e outros trazem as cabeças rrapadas e outros trosquyadas, e trazem em a moleira huuns topetes por signall que sam christãos, e nas barbas bigodes, e trazem as orelhas furadas e nos buracos dellas muito ouro, e andam nuus da çinta pera çima, e pera baixo trazem huuns panos d’algodam muito delgados, e estes que asy andam vistidos sam os mais honrrados, que os outros trazense como podem.

Back 146

This city of Calicut is inhabited by Christians. The men have tawny complexions, and some of them have big beards and long hair, while others shave their heads and other clip it short. On the top of their heads they retain a tuft of hair as a sign that they are Christians, and also wear moustaches, and they piece their ears and in the holes wear much gold. They go naked above the waist: and below it wear pieces of very fine cotton cloth. Those who go thus clothed are the most respectable; the others wearing whatever they are able.

Front 147

As molheres desta terra em geerall sam fêas e de pequenos corpos, e trazem ao pescoço muitas joias d’ouro, e pellos braços muitas manilhas e nos dedos dos pés trazem anés com pedras rriquas.

Back 147

Generally the women of this country are ugly and short in stature, and wear much gold jewelry around their necks, and many bracelets on their arms; and on their toes they wear rings set with precious stones.

Front 148

Toda esta jente he de boa condiçam e sam maviosos, quamto ao que parecem, e sam homens que segundo a primeira façe sabem pouco, e sam muito cobiçosos.

Back 148

All of these people are of good status and appear agreeable. They are men that, at first sight appear to know little and seem very covetous.

Front 149

Ao tempo que nós chegámos a esta cidade de Calecut elrey estava della quinze legoas, e o capitam moor mandou lá [p.38] dous homeens, pellos quaees lhe mandou dizer que huum embaixador d’elrey de Portugall estava alii, e que trazia cartas delle, e que se elle mandase, que elle lh’as levaria lá honde elle estava.

Back 149

At the time when we arrived at this city of Calicut, the king was fifteen leagues away. The Captain major sent two men there, with a message from him stating that an ambassador from the king of Portugal had arrived, and that he carried letters from him; and, if he desired it, he would carry them to where the king was.

Front 150

O quall rey, como vio o dito rrequado do captiam, fez mercê aos dous homes que lho deram de panos muito boons. E mandou-lhe dizer que elle fose mui bem vindo, e que loguo se vinha a Qualecut, como de fecto loguo partio com muita jente depós sy.

Back 150

The king, when he received the Captain’s message, gave a gift of very fine cloth to the two men who carried it to him. He also sent word to the Captain bidding him welcome, and [saying] that he would soon return to Calicut. In fact, he soon departed with a large retinue.

Front 151

E mandounos per estes dous homes huum piloto que nos levase a huum logar que se chama Pandarany abaixo donde pousaramos da primeira, que agora estavamos davante a cidade de Calecut, por que alii estava bom porto, e que alii nos amarrasemos, porque ally honde estavamos era mao porto e de pedra, como de fecto era asy, e que era costume que os navios que vinham a esta terra pousasem alii por estarem seguros. E o capitam, visto este rrecado d’elrey e como nom estavamos bem, mandou que désemos logo a nosas vellas, e fomos a pousar em aquelle porto. E nam fomos tanto dentro como o pilloto que nos elrey mandou quisera.

Back 151

He also sent us, with our two men, a pilot who had orders to bring us to a place called Pandarane, below the place where we had first anchored (at this time we were actually in front of the city of Calicut). There was a good anchorage there, where we should moor the ships, especially since where we were had a bad anchorage with a stony bottom. In fact, this was true. Moreover, it was customary for ships which came to this country to anchor there, for the sake of safety. The Captain, in light of this message from the king, and the fact that we were not well anchored, ordered that we set sail. And we went to anchor at that port [27 May]. But we did not anchor as close to the shore as the king’s pilot desired.

Front 152

E depois de estarmos assentados e amarrados no dito porto, vêo rrecado ao capitam mor d’elrey como estava já alii na çidade, e mandou hum homem que se chama Bale, o qual he como alquaide, que elle de contino traz consiguo duzentos homens armados de espadas e adargas, aaquella villa de Pandarim pera aver d’ir com o capitam mor onde elrey ficava e outros homens honrrados. E aquelle dia que o rrecado vêo era tarde e o capitam nam quis hir.

Back 152

After we were secured and moored at that place, a message came for the Captain major, from the king, as he was already in the city. The king also sent a man, whom they call bale [Arabic والي ; the later Portuguese chronicles call this man a catual, Hindi कोतवाल / کوتوال ], (who is like an alcaide and always attended by two hundred men armed with swords and shields) to Pandarane, along with other men of distinction in order to conduct the Captain major to where the king awaited him. As it was late that day when the message arrived, the Captain did not wish to go.

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[First Audience with the Samorin]

Front 154

E ao outro dia pella manham que foy huma segunda feira vinte e oito dias do mês de mayo, foy o capitam a falar a elrey, e levou comsygo dos seus treze homens, [p.39] dos quaees eu fuy huum delles. E todos hiamos muito bem ataviados e levavamos bombardas nos batés e trombetas e muitas bandeiras, e tanto que o capitam foy em terra estava aquelle alquayde com muitos homens consiguo armados, e delles sem armas, os quaees rreceberam o capitam com muito prazer e gasalhado, como homens que folgavam de nos ver. E elles loguo ao presente sam homes carregados, porque trazem aquellas armas nuas nas mãos. Alii trouxeram ao capitam mor humas andas d’omeens em que os onrrados custumam em aquella terra d’andar, e alguns mercadores se as querem ter pagam por ello a elrey certa cousa. E o capitam se pôs n’ellas, e levavano seis homens a rrevezes, e partimos com toda aquella jente depós nós caminho de Qualecut, e daquy fomos a outra villa que se chama Capua. Alii apousentaram o capitam moor em casa de huum homem honrrado, e mandaram fazer de comer pera nós outros, o quall foy arroz com muita manteiga, e muito bom pescado cozido. E o capitam nom quis alii comer, e depois que nós outros comemos foy o capitam mor embarcar a hum rrio que alii hia junto, o qual vay antre o mar e a terra firme ao lomguo da costa. E as barquas em que embarquámos eram duas, as quaees estavam liadas pera que podesemos ir juntos, afóra outras muitas barcas em que hia outra muita gente. Da que hia por terra nam diguo nada, que era infindisima, a quall vinha toda a nos ver, e por este rrio hiriamos obra d’uuma legoa, onde vimos muitas naoos grossas e grandes, as quaees estavam varadas em seco por rrespeito do porto que alii nom ha.

Back 154

On the following morning, which was Monday, the 28th of May, the Captain set out to speak with the king. He took with him, of his, thirteen men, of whom I was one. We all departed in our best attire, and carried bombards in our boats, and trumpets and many flags. As soon as the Captain landed, he was received by the alcaide, accompanied by many men; some armed, others not. They received the captain with much pleasure and hospitality, as if they were pleased to see us. Even though, at the outset, they appeared threatening, because they carried drawn swords in their hands. They provided the Captain major with a palanquin, in which men of distinction are accustomed to travel in this country; and some merchants as well, who if they want one, must pay for the privilege. The Captain entered the palanquin, which was carried by six men taking turns. And we departed, attended by all these people on the road to Calicut. From here [Pandarane] we went through another town called Capua. There, the Captain major was given a respite at the house of a man, and we were given something to eat; which was rice, with much butter, and very good boiled fish. But the Captain did not wish to eat there. After we had eaten, the Captain major embarked on a river, which was close by, and flows between the sea and the mainland, along the coast [the Elattur River]. The two boats in which we embarked were tied together so that we could proceed together. Beyond the many other boats in which the numerous other men embarked; of those going along the banks, I will not say anything. Their number was infinite, and they had all come to see us. We proceeded on that river for about a league; where we saw many large and stout ships, which were beached along its banks, since there is no port here.

Front 155

E depois de desembarquámos o capitam moor tornou ás suas andas e fomos noso caminho onde a jemte era tanta que nos vinha a ver que nom tinha conto. E asy como as [p.40] molheres saýam das casas com os filhos nos braços asy se hiam depós nós.

Back 155

After we had disembarked, the Captain major returned to his palanquin, and we continued along our route. There were so many people, who had come to see us, that we could not count them. Even the women came out of their houses, with children in their arms, and followed us.

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Back 156

[A ‘Christian’ Church]

Front 157

Aquy nos levaram a huma grande igreja, em a quall estavam estas cousas seguintes:

Back 157

Here [Calicut] they took us to a large church in which we found the following things:

Front 158

Primeiramente ho corpo da igreja he da grandura d’uum mosteiro, toda lavrada de quantaria, telhada de ladrilho, e tinha á porta principall hum padram d’arame d’altura de hum masto, e em cima deste padram está huuma ave que parece gallo, e outro padram d’altura de huum omem e muito groso. E em o meio do corpo da igreja está huum coruchéo todo de quanto, e tinha huma porta quanto huum homem cabia, e huma escada de pedra per que sobiam ha esta porta, a quall porta hera d’arame, e dentro estava huuma ymagem pequena, a quall elles diziam que era Nosa Senhora, e diante da porta principall da igreja ao lomgo da parede estavam sete campãas pequenas. Aquy fez o capitam mor oraçam e nós outros com elle,

Back 158

First, the body of the church is a large as a monastery; all built of hewn stone, and roofed with tiles. The main doorway had a bronze pillar, as high as a mast. On top of this pillar sat a bird, apparently a cock, and another pillar as high as a man, and very stout. In the center of the body of the church is a round chapel, all of hewn stone, which had a bronze door wide enough for a man to fit through, and stone steps leading up to it. And inside this chapel was a small image, which they said represented Our Lady. In front of the main doorway along the walls, were seven small bells. Here [in the church] the Captain major said his prayers, and we with him.

Front 159

e nós nom emtrámos dentro em esta capella, porque seu costume he nom emtrar nella senam homens certos que servem as igrejas, aos quaees elles chamam quafees. Estes quafees trazem humas linhas per çima do onbro lançadas (e onbro he ho esquerdo) e por debaixo do onbro do braço direito asy como trazem os creligos d’avangelhos a estolla. Estes nos lançaram agoa benta; dam hum barro branco que os christãos desta terra acostumam de poonr em as testas e nos peitos e derredor do pescoço e em os buchos dos braços. Todo esta çerimonia fezeram ao capitam, e lhe davam aquelle barro que posése, e o capitam o tomou e o deu a guardar dando a emtemder que depois o pomria.

Back 159

We did not enter this chapel, because their custom is that only certain men, who serve the churches may enter. These men are called “quafees”. These quafees wore some threads over the shoulder (the left shoulder) and under the shoulder of the right arm, as our evangelical clergy wear the stole. They threw holy water over us and gave us white ashes which the Christians of this country are in the habit of putting on their foreheads, breasts, around the neck and their upper arms. They performed this entire ceremony on the Captain, and gave him the ashes to put on. The Captain took them, and gave them to someone to watch over, giving them to understand that he would put them on later.

Front 160

E outros muitos santos estavam pintados pellas parredes da igreja, os quaes tinham diademoas, e a sua pimtura hera em diversa maneira, porque os dentes eram tam grandes que saýam da boca huma po- [p.41] legada, e cada santo tinha quatro e çinquo braços, e abaixo desta igreja estava hum gram tanque lavrado de quantaria asy como outros muitos que pello caminho tinhamos visto.

Back 160

Many, many other saints were painted on the walls of the church, wearing crowns. But their painting was in a different style, because their teeth were so large that they protruded an inch from their mouths, and each saint had four or five arms. Below this church there was a large masonry tank, similar to many others we had seen along the road.

Front 161

E d’aquy nos fomos, e á emtrada da cidade nos levaram a outra a quall tinha estas mesmas cousas açima comtadas. Aquy rrecreceo a gente muito que nos vinha ver, que nom cabia pello caminho, e depois que fomos por esta rrua huum grande pedaço meteram o capitam em huuma casa e tambem nós outros com elle, por rrespeito da jente que era muita.

Back 161

And from there, we departed. At the entrance to the city we were taken to another [church], which had the same things as described above. Here the crowd that came to see us grew so dense, that we could hardly continue on by that road. After going along this street a bit, they put the Captain in a house, and we others with him, because of this huge crowd.

Front 162

Aquy mandou elrey hum irmãoo do baile, o quall era senhor nesta terra, o qual vinha pera ir com o capitam, e trazia muitos tambores e anafis e charamelas e huma espingarda, a qual hia tirando amte nós, e asy levaram o capitam com muito acatamento, tanto e mais do que se podia em Espanha fazer a hum rrey.

Back 162

The king then sent a brother of the bale, who was a great Lord in this country. He came here to accompany the Captain. He brought many men beating drums, and blowing on anafils, and thin flutes, and a matchlock, that was fired off before us. And thus they conducted the Captain with much respect, even more than is shown in Spain to a king.

Front 163

E a jemte era tanta que nom tinha conto, e os telhados e casas eram todos chêos, afóra a que comnosco hia de rroldam, amtre a quall jemte hiriam ao menos dous mil homens d’armas.

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The crowd was so great that one could not count it, and the roofs and houses were totally filled. Excluding those surrounding us; among this number there were at least two thousand armed men.

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E quanto mais nos chegavamos pera os paços onde elrey estava tamto mais jemte rrecrecia. E tanto que chegámos ao paço vieramse pera o capitam homes muito homrràdos e grandes senhores, afóra outros muitos que já hiam com elle, e seria huuma ora de soll. Quando chegámos aos paços emtrámos por huma porta a hum terreiro muito grande, e ante que chegasemos á porta onde ElRey estava pasámos quatro portas, as quaees pasámos per força dando muitas pancades á jente, e quando chegámos á derradeira porta onde elrey estava saýo de dentro huum velho, home baixo de corpo, o quall he como bispo, e o rrey se rrege por elle nas coussas da [p.42] igreja, o quall abraçou o capitam há emtrada desta porta, e á emtrada della se fyriram homens, e nós emtrámos com muita força.

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And the closer we came to reaching the king’s palace, the greater the crowd grew. When we arrived at the palace, men of distinction and great Lords came out to meet the captain, and joined the many others that were already accompanying him. It was an hour before sunset when we reached the palace. We entered by a gate into a great courtyard. Before we reached the place where the king was, we passed through four doors, which we had to force our way through, giving many blows to the people. When we reached the final door, behind which was the king, a short old man came out, whose position was like that of a bishop, and who governs for the king in religious matters. He embraced the Captain at the entrance of this door. Several men were wounded, and we only entered this door by using much force.

Front 165

Elrey estava em huum patim lançado de costas em huuma camilha, a qual tinha estas cousas: hum pano de veludo verde debaixo, e em çima huum colcham muito bom, e em cima do colcham huum pano d’algodam muito alvo e delgado, mais que nenhum de linho, e tambem tinha almofadas deste theor. E tinha á mãoo escequerda huma copa d’ouro muito grande d’altura de hum pote de mêo almude, e era de largura de dous parmos na boca, a quall era muito grosa ao parecer, na qual talha lançava bagaço de humas ervas que os homens desta terra comem pella calma, a qual erva chamam atambor; e da banda dirreita estava hum bacio d’ouro quanto hum homem podése abranjer com os braços, em o quall estavam aquellas ervas, e muitos agomís de prata, e o céo de çima era todo dourado.

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The king [Mānavikraman Rāja, the Sāmūthiri raja of Calicut] was in a small court, reclining on a couch, which had these things: A cloth of green velvet below, and on it a very good mattress; and covering that a sheet of very fine and delicate cotton cloth, finer than any linen, it also had cushions of the same fashion. He held, in his left hand, a very large golden cup, with the height of a half almude jug, and the width of two palms at its mouth, and it appeared very heavy. Into this cup he threw the husks of a certain herb which the men of this country chew for its calming effect, which they call atambor [Arabic التنبول < Skt. ताम्बूलम् , betel]. On his right side stood a basin of gold, so large that a man might just encircle it with his arms, in which these herbs were kept, and many silver jugs, and the canopy above was all gilt.

Front 166

E asy como o capitam emtrou fez sua rreverença segundo costume daquella terra, a qual he ajuntar as mãoos e alevantalas pera o çéo, como acostumam os christãoos alevantar a Deus, e asy como as alevantam abremas e çarram os punhos mui asynha. E elle acenou ao capitam com a mão derreita que se fose pera debaixo daquelle çerrado onde elle estava; porèm o capitam nam chegava a elle, porque o costume da terra he nom chegar nenhum homem hao rey, salvo chegava a elle huum seu privado que lhe estava dando aquellas ervas, e quando algum homem lhe falla tem a mãoo ante a boca e estaa arredado. Asy como acenou ao capitam, olhou pera nós outros, e mandou que nos asentasemos em hum poyall perto delle, [p.43] em lugar que nos via elle estar, e mandou nos dar agoa ás mãos, e mandou trazer huma fruyta que he fecta como melõees, salvo que de fóra sam crespos, mas de dentro sam doces, e tambem nos mandou trazer outra fruyta que sam como figos e sabe muito bem, e tinhamos homes que nollos estavam aparando, e elrey estava olhando como nós comiamos, e estava-se rryndo pera nós, e falava com aquelle seu privado que estava á sua ylharga dando-lhe a comer aquellas ervas.

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Upon entering, the Captain paid his respects, according to the customs of this country, which was by putting his hands together, and raising them toward heaven, as is done by Christians when addressing God; and then as they lift them by opening and closing the fists very rapidly. The king gestured to the Captain with his right hand, to come underneath the enclosure where he was sitting. However, the Captain did not approach him, because it is the custom of this country that no man may approach the king, save only the servant who hands him the herbs. And, when anyone addresses him, he must hold his hand before his mouth, and keep his distance. As he beckoned to the Captain, the king looked at the rest of us, and ordered us to be seated on a stone bench near him, where he could see us. He then ordered that we should be given water for our hands, and that fruit be brought to us. One type resembled a melon, except that the outside was rough, but the inside was sweet. Another fruit, which resembled a fig, tasted very nice; and there were men who cut them for us. The king watched while we were eating, and smiled at us. Then he spoke with his servant who was by his side giving him these herbs to chew.

Front 167

E depois disto olhou ao capitam, que estava asentado defronte, e dise que faláse com aquelles homes com que estava, que eram muito honrrados, e que lhes disése o que elle quisése, e que elles lho diriam. Respondeo o capitam mor que elle era embaixador d’elrey de Portugall, e que lhe trazia huuma embaixada, e que ha nom avia de dar, salvo a elle. Dise elrey que era muito bem, e logo o mandou levar dentro a huma camara, e como foy dentro, elrey se alevantou donde estava e se foy pera o capitam mor, e nós ficámos em aquelle logar. Isto serria alii junto com os soll posto; e asy como elrey se alevantou, foy loguo hum homem velho que estava dentro naquelle patim e alevantou a camilha, e a baixella ficou alii. Elrey como foy onde estava o capitam lançou se em outra camilha em que estavam muitos panos lavrados d’ouro, e fez pregunta ao capitam: que era o que queria?

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After this, he looked over at the Captain, who was seated facing him. He told him that he could address the courtiers present, who were men of much distinction, and that he could tell them whatsoever he wished, and that they would repeat it to him. The Captain major replied that he was the ambassador from the king of Portugal, and that he was the bearer of a message, which he could only share with him [the king.] The king said this was fine, and immediately ordered that he be brought to an inner chamber. Once he had entered, the king rose from where he was seated, and joined the Captain. We remained where we were. All of this happened around sunset. As soon as the king rose, one old man who was in the courtyard, took away the couch, but the plate remained there. The king, when he joined the Captain, threw himself onto another couch, on which there was much fabric embroidered in gold, and asked the Captain a question: “What is it you want?”

Front 168

E o capitam lhe dise como era embaixador de huum rey de Portugall, o quall era senhor de muita terra e era muito rrico de todas as cousas mais que nenhum rey daquellas partes, [p.44] e que avia sesenta anos que os reys seus anteçessores mandavam cada ano navios a descobrir contra aquelas partes, por quanto sabiam que em aquellas partes avia rreis christãos como elles, e que por este rrespeito mandavam a descobrir esta terra, e nam porque lhes fose necesario ouro nem prata, porque tinham tamto em avondança que lhes nom era necessario avello desta terra; os quaes capitaeens hiam e handavam em um ano e dous até que lhes falecia o mantimento, e sem acharem nada se tornavam pera Portugall. E que agora huum rre que se chamava Dom Manuell lhe mandara fazer estes tres navios e o mandara por capitam mor delles, e lhe disera que elle se nom tornase pera Portugall até que lhe nam descobrise este rrey dos christãoos, e que se se tornáse que lhe mandaria cortar a cabeça, e que se o acháse que lhe dése duas cartas, as quaes cartas lhe elle daria ao outro dia, e que asy lhe manda dizer por palavra que elle era seu irmão a amiguo.

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The Captain told him he was the ambassador of the king of Portugal, who was Lord of many lands, and exceedingly rich in all things, more than any king in these parts. And that for sixty years the kings, his ancestors, had sent out ships each year to make discoveries in the direction of these parts, as they knew that like themselves, there were Christian kings here. And for this reason they ordered this land to be discovered, and not because they needed either gold or silver, since they possessed these things in such abundance that it was not necessary to procure them from this land. These captains embarked and traveled for a year or two, until their provisions ran out, and without finding anything, they returned to Portugal. Now there was a king, who was called D. Manuel, who had ordered these three ships built, and who had appointed him Captain Major of them; and who instructed him not to return to Portugal, until he had discovered the king of the Christians. If he returned sooner, he would order his head cut off. And if he found him, he should give him two letters, which he would give him the following day. Moreover he had been ordered to inform him, by word of mouth, that he [D. Manuel] desired to be his brother and friend.

Front 169

ElRey rrespondeo a isto e dise que elle fose bem vindo, e que asy o avia elle por irmão e amigo, e que elle lhe mandaria embaixadores a Portugall com elle, dizendo o capitam que asy lho pedia de merçêe, por quanto elle nom ousaria pareçer presente elrey seu senhor se nom leváse alguns homens de sua terra.

Back 169

The king then replied to this, saying that he was welcome, and that on his part he considered him a brother and a friend. He said that he would send ambassadors to Portugal with him; the Captain saying likewise he would ask this favor, seeing that he would not dare to present himself before the king his Lord, if he did not present some men of this country.

Front 170

Estas e outras muitas cousas pasáram ambos dentro naquella camara, e por quanto era já muito noute elrey lhe dise que « com quem queria, elle pousar, se com christãos, se com mouros? » E o capitam lhe rrespondeo que nem com christãos nem com mouros, e que lhe pedia por mercê que lhe mandase dar huma pousada sobre sy em que nom estevése ninguem. E elrey lhe dise que asy o mandaria: e nisto se despedio o capitam delRey, e vêo ter comnosco onde estavamos lançados, em huma varanda onde estava hum grande castiçall d’arame que nos alumeava, e isto seriam já bem [p.45] quatro oras da noute.

Back 170

These and many other things passed between the two in this chamber. As it was already late in the night, the king asked: “With whom do you wish to lodge? With Christians, or with Moors?” And the Captain replied, neither with Christians nor with Moors, and asked as a favor that he be given lodging by himself where no one else would be present. The king said that he would order it so. With this, the Captain took leave of the king, and came to be with us, where we then were, on a veranda, illuminated by a large bronze candlestick. By then easily four hours of the night had already passed.

Front 171

Emtam nos fomos todos com o capitam caminho da pousada e hiam comnosco muita gente imfinda, e a aguoa da chuva era tanta que as rruas hiana chêas, e o capitam hia ás costas de seys homes e andámos tanto pella cidade que o capitam se emfadou de andar e se aqueixou com hum mouro honrrado que he feitor delRey, o qual hia com elle pera o apousentar. E o mouro o levou a sua casa a huum terreiro que estava dentro nella, em o quall estava hum estrado cuberto de ladrilho, em que estavam muitas alquatifas estemdidas e dous castiçaees daquelles delrey muito grandes, e estavam açesos em çima delles huns candieiros grandes de ferro com azeite ou manteiga, e estavam quatro matullas em cada candieiro, as quaes davam grande lume, e estes mesmos candieiros costumam elles trazer por tochas.

Back 171

So all of us went with the Captain on the road to our lodgings, and a countless crowd accompanied us. And the rain poured down so heavily, that the streets ran with water! The Captain traveled on the back of six men [in a palanquin]; and we walked so far through the city that the Captain grew tired of the journey, and complained to a Moor of distinction, the king’s factor, who was accompanying him to his lodgings. The Moor then took him to his own house, entering a courtyard within it; in which there was a veranda roofed with tiles, on which many carpets had been spread, and two candlesticks, like those of the king; very large; and at the top of these were large iron lamps alight, fueled with oil or butter. There were four wicks for each lamp, which therefore produced much light; and these same lamps are used instead of torches.

Front 172

E aquelle mouro fez trazer alii huum cavallo pera o capitam ir á pousada, e vinha sem sella. E o capitam nam quis cavalgar, e fomosnos caminho da pousada, em a qual estavam já quando chegámos çertos homens dos nossos com a cama do capitam e outro muito fato que ho capitam levava de que avia de fazer serviço a elrey.

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This same Moor had a horse brought for the captain to ride to his lodgings; but it came without a saddle, and the Captain did not wish to mount it. We then started on the way to the lodgings. When we arrived, we found some of our men [from the ships] already there, with the Captain’s bed and other things which he had brought to present to the king.

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[Presents for the Samorin]

Front 174

E á terça feira tinha o capytam estas cousas pera mandar a elrey: a saber, doze lambés, e quatro capuzes de gram, e seis chapeeos, e quatro rramaees de corall, e hum fardo de bacias em que avia seis peças, e huuma quaixa d’açuquare, e quatro barris chêos, dous d’azeite e dous de mell. E porque aquy he costume de nom levar ao rrey nenhuma cousa que primeiro o nam façam saber áquelle mouro seu feytor e depois ao bayle, e como o capitam lho fez a saber, vieram [p.46] a começaram se de rrir daquelle serviço, dizendo que nom era aquillo nada pera mandar a elrey; que o mais prove mercador que vinha de Meca ou dos indios lhe dava mais que aquyllo, e que se lhe queria fazer serviço que lhe mandáse alguum ouro, porque elrey nom avia de tomar aquilo. E o capitam vendo isto asy ouve menencoria, e disse que nom trazia ouro e mais que nom era mercador, mas que era embaixador, e que d’aquyllo que trazia daquylo lhe dava, o qual era do seu e nam do delrey; que quando elrey de Portugall lâ tornásse a mandar que emtam lhe mandaria outras muitas cousas e muito mais rriquas; que se elrey Camolim aquillo nom quisese que elle o tornaria pera os navios; e elles diseram que lho nom aviam de levar, nem comsemtir que lho levasem. E depois que se foram, vinham mouros daquelles tratantes, e todos desprezavam aquelle serviço que o capitam queria mandar ao elrey.

Back 174

On Tuesday [29 May] the Captain had these things prepared to send to the king, namely: twelve pieces of lambel, four scarlet hoods, six hats, four strings of coral, a bundle of hand wash basins, in which there were six, a case of sugar, and four full barrels, two with oil and two with honey. Because here it is the custom not to bring the king anything without the prior knowledge of the Moor, his factor, and then of the bale, the Captain made known his intentions to them. They came and began to laugh at these presents, saying that they were not fit to send to the king, that the poorest merchant from Mecca or any other part of India, would give more than this. [They said] if he wanted to make such a present he should send some gold, as the king would not accept such things. The Captain, when he heard this, became melancholy. He replied that he did not bring any gold, and that he was no merchant, but an ambassador. He told them of that which he brought, he would give, which was his gift, and not that of his king. If and when the king of Portugal ordered him to return, he would provide him with many other things, and far richer presents. If the Samorin king would not accept these things, he would send them back to the ships. They declared that they would not dispatch these presents, nor consent to him forwarding them on his own.

Front 175

Ho capitam, visto sua determinaçam em como nom podya já mandar aquillo, disse que pois elles nom queriam que elle mandáse este serviço a elrey, que elle lhe queria hir falar e que se queria viir pera seus navios, e elles dyseram que era bem, e que aguardase asy hum pouco, e que loguo se tornariam pera elle, e que emtam yryam com elle ao paço. E o capitam esperou todo aquelle dia aguardando por elles, e elles nunca mais tornáram. E estando o capitam asy apasionado de se ver antre homens tam freimaticos e de tam pouca certeza, quisera se ir ao paço sem elles, porèm ouve por milhor comselho esperar até o outro dia. E nós contudo nom leixavamos de nos desemfadar, e quamtavamos e bailavamos ás trombetas, e tomavamos muito prazer.

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The Captain, seeing their determination not to send his presents, said that, as they would not allow him to send them to the king, he wished to go and speak with him, and then return to his ships. They replied that this was fine. If he would wait a short time, they would go negotiate a bit, and return for him soon to accompany him to the palace. The Captain remained for the rest of that day, waiting, but they never returned. The Captain was therefore irritated to find himself among men who were so phlegmatic and unreliable. He intended to go himself to the palace without them; however, he decided on further reflection to wait until the following day. Nevertheless, we did not despair. Instead we diverted ourselves, singing, and dancing to the sound of the trumpets, and we enjoyed ourselves greatly.

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[A Second Audience with the Samorin]

Front 177

E quando vêo a quarta feira pella manham vieram os mouros e leváram o capitam ao paço [p.47] e nós outros com elle, e em o paço andava muita gente armada, e o capitam esteve com aquelles que ho leváram grandes quatro oras a huma porta que lhes nom abriam, até que elrey lhes mandou dizer que fosem pera dentro, e nom leváse comsyguo mais de dous homens, que vise elle quaees queria levar comsyguo. E o capitam dise que queria que emtráse com elle Fernam Martinz, o que sabía falar, e o seu escripvam, pareçendo a elle e a nós outros aquella apartaçam que nom era boa.

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When Wednesday morning [30 May] came, the Moors returned and brought the captain to the palace, and we others with him. The palace was crowded with armed men. The Captain waited with those who brought him for four long hours outside a door which they would not open. Finally, the king sent word that he might enter, but he could not bring more than two men with him; whom he might select to accompany him. The Captain said that he wished to enter with Fernão Martins, who knew how to speak [Arabic], and his scribe. It seemed to him and to us as well, that this separation portended no good.

Front 178

E elle como foy presente elrey, diselhe que elle esperara a terça feira que ho fose ver, e o capitam lhe dise como viera cansado do caminho, que por este rrespeito o nam viera ver. Tornou elrey a dizer que elle lhe disera como era de hum rreino muito rrico e que lhe nom trouxera, e que asy lhe disera que lhe trazia huma carta, e que nom lha dava. Respondeo a isto o capitam que elle lhe nam trouxera nada, porque elle nam vinha senam a ver e descobrir, e que quando quá tornasem outros navios elle veria o que lhe traziam, e que quanto á carta, que lhe elle disera que lhe trazia, que era verdade e que logo lha daria.

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When he entered, the king told him that he had waited on Tuesday thinking he was going to see him. The Captain replied that he had tired on the road, and for this reason had not come to see him. The king then said: that he said he came from a very rich kingdom and yet had brought nothing of value; and that he had also said that he brought a letter, but he had not presented it. To this, the Captain responded that he had brought nothing, because he had come for nothing save to discover, and that, when they returned with other ships, then he would see what they brought him. As for the letter which he had told him he had brought, this was true, and he would deliver it at once.

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E dise entam elrey: que era o que elle vinha descobrir, pedras ou homens? Que pois vinha descobrir homens como dizia, porque nom trazia alguma cousa? E mais que lhe diseram que elle trazia huma Santa Maria d’ouro. Dise o capitam que a Santa Maria que elle trazia nom era d’ouro, e que ainda que fora d’ouro que elle lha nom dera, por quanto ella o trazia pello maar e o trouxera a sua terra. Dise emtam elrey que lhe dése a carta que trazia. Dise o capitam que lhe pedia por mercê, porquanto os mouros lhe queriam [p.48] mall e nam aviam de dizer senam o contrario, que mandáse chamar hum christam que soubése fallar arravia dos mouros. Dise elrey que era mui bem, e loguo mandou chamar hum mancebo pequeno de corpo que chamavam Quaram; e dise o capitam que trazia duas cartas, huma era escripta em sua linguajem e a outra em mourisco, e que a que vinha em linguajem que elle a emtendia muito bem, e que sabia que vinha muito boa, e que a outra elle nom ha emtendia, e que asy como podia viir bem, asy podia viir alguma cousa errada; e porque o christam nom sabia ler mourisco tomáram quatro mouros a carta e leramna antre sy e depois vieram a ler ante elrey, da qual carta elrey ficou comtente,

Back 179

Then king then asked: what is it that you have come to discover, stones or men? If he came to discover men, as he said, why had he brought nothing? Moreover, he had been told that he carried a Santa Maria made of gold! The Captain said that the Santa Maria, which he brought, was not made of gold, and that even if she were made of gold, he would not part with her, as she had guided him across the ocean, and would guide him back to his own country. The king then asked for the letter that he carried. The Captain said that he would beg him for a favor, as the Moors wished him harm and would misinterpret him: that he order a Christian called for who knew how to speak the Arabic of the Moors. The king said this was fine, and at once he sent for a young man, short in stature, who they called “Quaram.” The Captain then stated that he carried two letters: one was written in his language, and the other, in the Moorish one. The one in his own language he understood very well, and he knew that its contents would prove acceptable, but he could not understand the other. Thus it might be good, or it could contain something erroneous. And because the Christian was not able to read Moorish, four Moors took the letter and read it among themselves, and then came to read it before the king; who was happy with its contents.

Front 180

e preguntou ao capytam que mercadorias avia em sua terra. Dise o capitam que avia muito trigo, muitos panos, muito ferro, muito arrame, e asy dise outras muitas. Elrey lhe preguntou se trazia alguma mercadoria. Dise que trazia de todas as cousas hum pouco pera amostra, e que lhe dése elle liçença que viese aos navios pera a mandar pôr fora, e que ficariam na pousada quatro ou çinquo homens. Dise elrey que nam, que elle se fose emboora, que leváse todos os seus homeens comsyguo, e que mandáse amarrar mui bem seus navios, e que trouxése sua mercadoria em terra, e que ha vendêse o milhor que podése. E depois do capitam se despidir d’elrey vêose pera a pousada e nós outros com elle, e porque era já tarde nom se ocupou o capitam de partir.

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He asked the Captain what kind of merchandise was to be found in his country. The Captain said that there was much wheat, cloth, iron, bronze, and many other things. The king then asked him if he brought any merchandise with him. He replied that he brought a little of each of these things as samples, and that if given permission he would return to the ships and order it landed. Meanwhile four or five men would remain at the lodgings. But the king said no. Instead, he might go and take all his men with him, and he should order his ships moored securely, and he should land his merchandise, and sell it at the best price he could. After the Captain took his leave of the king, he returned to his lodgings, and we all accompanied him. As it was already late, the Captain did not concern himself with departing that night.

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[Return and Detention at Pandarane]

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E quando vêo a quinta feira pella manham trouxeram ao capitam hum cavallo sem sella, e o capitam nom quis hir em elle, e dise que lhe trouxesem hum cavallo da terra, que sam as andas, porque nom avia de [p.49] cavalgar em cavallo sem sella. Emtam o leváram a casa de hum mercador muito rrico que se chama Guzerate, o quall mandou fazer prestes humas daquellas andas; e como foram prestes partio logo o capitam nellas com muita gente caminho de Pandarani onde estavam os navios, e nós outros nom podémos aturar depòs elle e ficámos muito detrás. E nós hindo asy chegou o baille e pasou por nós, e chegou honde hia o capitam, e nós outros errámos o caminho e fomos muito por dentro do sartam. E aquelle baile mandou hum homem depós nós que nos emcaminhou. E quando chegámos a Pandarany achámos o capitam dentro em hum estaoo, dos quaees avia muitos per estes caminhos pera os pasajeiros e caminhantes se acolherem das chuvas.

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When Thursday morning came [31 May], they brought the Captain a horse without a saddle. The Captain refused to ride it, and asked that they bring a horse of the country, that is to say a palanquin, because he would not mount a horse without a saddle. And so he was taken to the house of a very wealthy merchant, by the name of Guzerate [i.e. he was a Gujarati], who ordered one of these palanquins readied. When it was prepared, the Captain departed in it at once. He was accompanied by many men on the road to Pandarane, where our ships were anchored. But we others not being able to keep up with him, fell a good deal behind. As we were thus proceeding, the bale came up and passed by us, to join the Captain ahead. We lost our way and wandered far inland; but the bale sent a man after us, who put us on the right road. When we reached Pandarane, we found the Captain irritated, and inside a rest house, of which there are many along these roads, where the travelers and pedestrians shelter themselves from the rains.

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Estava com o dito capitam o baile e outra muita gente, e como nós chegámos dise o capitam ao baille que lhe mandase dar huma almadia pera hirmos pera os navios, e elle com os outros diseram que era já tarde, como de fecto era já soll-posto, e que ao outro dia se iria. E o capitam lhes dise que se lha emtam nom desem que se tornaria a elrey, porque elle o mandáva vir aos navios, e que elles o queriam deter, e que aquillo era mall fecto sendo elle christãoo como elles. E vendo elles como o capitam avia menencoria diseramlhe que fose, e que lhe dariam trinta almadias se tamtas fosem necesarias. Emtam nos leváram ao lomguo da praya, e o capytam parecendolhe aquillo mall mandou diante tres homens o que se achasem os batés dos navios e hii estevése seu irmãoo, que se escondêse. Foram elles e nam acháram nada, e tornáram-se, e nós leváramnos por outro cabo, e nom nos podémos emcontrar.

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The bale and many other men were with the Captain. Upon our arrival, the Captain asked the bale to provide an almadia, so we might go out to our ships. He and the others said that as it was already late (in fact the sun had already set), and that he should go the next day. The Captain told them that if they did not provide it, he would return to the king, who had ordered him taken back to the ships, and that instead they wanted to detain him. This was badly done, seeing he was a Christian like them. When they saw that the Captain had become displeased, they told him he could depart, and that they would give him thirty almadias, if that many were needed. They then took us along the beach; and the Captain, believing that they had some evil design, sent three men ahead. He told them that if they found the ship’s boats and his brother there that he should hide himself. They went and found nothing and turned back. But as they took us in a different direction, we were not able to come across each other.

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Emtam nos leváram [p.50] a casa de hum mouro, porque isto hera já muito noite, e como alii chegámos elles diseram que queriam hir em busca dos tres homens que nom tornáram mais a nós, e como se elles foram mandou o capitam conprar muita galinhas e muito arroz, e comemos ainda que estavamos muito quansados d’andar todo aquelle dia.

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As it was already late in the night, they then took us to the house of a Moor. When we arrived there, they told us that they wished to go in search of the three men, who had not yet returned to us. While they were gone, the Captain ordered many chickens and much rice purchased, and we ate, even though we were very tired from walking for the entire day.

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E elles dêsque se foram nunca mais tornáram senam pella manham, dizendo o capitam que lhe parecia aquella jente de boa condiçam, porque aquillo que lhes fezeram de os nom leixarem hir o outro dia á noute o fezeram por lhes pareçer que lhes faziam niso boa obra, ainda que por outra parte tinhamos todos delles má sospeiçam, e nos parecyam mall pello que tinhamos já pasados os outros dias em Calecut. E quando ao outro dia elles vieram dise o capitam que lhe desem barquas em que fose a seus navios, e elles começáram todos a mormurar huns contra os outros, e diseram que mandáse trazer seus navios mais pera junto com terra, e que emtam hiria a seus navios. Dyse o capitam que se elle mandáse vir os navios que pareçeria a seu irmãoo que o tinham preso, e que por força lhe faziam fazer aquillo, e que emtam alevantaria as vellas e que se hiria pera Portugall. Diseram elles que se elle nom mandáse trazer os navios junto com terra que nom avia d’ir a elles d’outra maneira: dise emtam o capitam que elrey Camolim o mandara vir pera seus navios, e que pois elles o nam queriam leixar hir asy como o elrey mandara, que elle se tornaria a elle, e que elle era christam como elle, e que se elle o nam leixáse hir e quisese que elle estevése em sua terra que elle folgaria [p.51] muito. Elles diseram que sy, que fose, porèm nom davam a iso logar, porque as portas d’onde estavamos foram loguo todas cerradas, e muyta jente d’armas dentro que nos guardava, em maneira que nenhum de nós saýa fóra que nom fosem com elle muitos homens.

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Those who had gone out to search [for the three men], only returned in the morning [1 June]. The Captain said that it now seemed that they were well intentioned. Because that which they had done, in not allowing us to depart the previous night, they did because it seemed to them that they were doing us a good service. On the other hand, despite this, we all harbored ill suspicions toward them, and their actions seemed evil to us based on what had happened to us during the past days in Calicut. During the day when they returned, the Captain again asked that they provide boats to take us to the ships. They all began to whisper among themselves, and said that he should order his ships to come closer to shore, and that then he could go out to his ships. The Captain replied that if he ordered the ships to approach, it would seem to his brother that they had taken him prisoner, and that he had been compelled to give this order. His brother would then hoist the sails and go back to Portugal. They said that if he did not order the ships to come closer to shore, he would not be permitted to go out to them in any fashion. The Captain then said that the Samorin king had ordered him back to his ships but they would not permit him to go, as the king had ordered. Therefore, he should return to the king, since he was a Christian like him. If the king did not permit him to go, and wanted him to remain in his country, he would remain with much pleasure. They said yes, that he could go. However, they did not give him the opportunity to do so. All the doors where we were being held were immediately closed, and many armed men came inside to guard us, so that none of us could go outside without being accompanied by many guards.

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E depois tornáram a cometer que lhes desemos as vellas e os governalhos: dise emtam o capitam que lhes nam avia de dar nenhuma daquellas cousas, pois elrey Camolim o mandara vir pera seus navios sem nenhuma condiçam; que fezesem elles o que quisesem delle, que elle nom lhes avia de dar nada.

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These men later returned to propose that we give them our sails and rudders. The Captain declared that he would give up none of these things. As the Samorin king had ordered that he should return to his ships without any conditions; they could do to him whatever they wanted, but he would give up nothing to them.

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Estando o capitam e nós outros todos muito tristes no coraçam, ainda que de fóra mostravamos que nam tinhamos aquillo em conta que elles faziam, dise o capitam que pois já ho nom leixáram hir aos navios, que leixasem hir aquelles seus homens que morriam alii de fame. E elles diseram que estevesem, que se moriam de fame que se composesem, que eles nom davam por iso nada. E nós estando asy, veeo hum daquelles homes que se de nós perdera o outro dia á noute, e dise ao capitam como Nicolao Coelho estava desd’o outro dia á noute com os batés em terra esperando por elle. E o capitam como soube isto mandou loguo hum homem o mais secretamente que se pode mandar, e isto como muita astucia, porque tinhamos sobre nós muitas guardas, e que disése a Nicolao Coelho que logo se partise dalii e se fose pera os navios, e que se posesem a bom rrecado; o qual rrecado como chegou a [p.52] Nycollao Coelho partio-se muito aa presa, e elle em se partindo foram avisados os que nos guardavam, e muito depresa esquypáram muitas almaadias e foram depós elle hum pedaço, e quando viram que os nam podyam tomar tornáramse onde estava o capitam, e diseramlhe que escrepvêse huma carta a seu irmão que chegáse mais a terra os navios, e que se viese mais pera dentro do porto. Dise o capitam que hera muito comtente, mas que elle nom ho avia de fazer, e se o quisese e consentise em o fazer, que os que com elle vinham nom ho aviam de consentir nem quereriam morrer, e elles lhe diseram que pera que era aquillo? que bem sabiam elles que se o elle mandáse que se faria o que elle quisese.

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The Captain and the rest of us felt very downhearted, even if outwardly we appeared not to notice what they had done to us. The Captain said that, as they had already refused him permission to go out to the ships, they should [at least] permit his men to do so as they would die from hunger there. They said that we would remain. That if we died from hunger then we must resign ourselves to it; as they cared nothing about that! While thus detained, one of the men whom we had missed the night before appeared, and told the Captain that Nicolau Coelho had been with the ship’s boats on shore since the previous night, waiting for him. The Captain, when he learned this, at once sent a man off , as secretly as he could manage and with much cunning, because we had many guards all around us, [with orders] that he should tell Nicolau Coelho that he should return to the ships as quickly as possible and put them in a secure place. When this message reached Nicolau Coelho, he departed forthwith. But as he was leaving, our guards were informed of what was going on. At once they launched many almadias and chased after him for a short distance. When they saw that they could not overtake him, they returned to where the Captain was, and they asked him to write a letter to his brother, telling him to bring the ships closer to shore, and that he come further inside the port. The Captain said he was quite willing to do this, but that he [Paulo da Gama] would not do this, that even if he was willing and consented, those who were with him, not willing to die, would not consent to do so. They replied to him how could this be so, since they well knew, that any order he gave, would be carried out.

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O capitam nom queria mandar vir os navios pera dentro do porto, porque pareçya e a nósoutros tambem, que como elles fosem dentro que elles os poderiam tomar, e que os [sic] mantariam a elle primeiramente e a nós que já estavamos rreteudos sô seu poder.

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The Captain did not wish to order the ships to come inside the port because it seemed to him, and to us as well, that as soon as they came inside, that they would be captured, and they would kill us, him first, then us who were already detained under their power.

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Todo este dia estevemos mitidos nesta agoyna, como tendes visto, e quando vêo a noute esteve muito mais gente comnosco que nom quiseram que andasemos por hum cerrado em que estavamos, e metêramnos em hum patim ladrilhado e cerquáramnos de muita gente imfinda, e nós em mêo delles, esperando nós que ao outro dia nos apartasem huns dos outros ou que fezesem de nós outra alguma cousa, segundo viamos que elles estavam imdin- [p.53] ados contra nós; porèm nós comtudo nom leixámos de cear muito bem diso que se achou pella villa. Esta noute nos guardariam mais de çem homens todos armados de espadas e bisarmas e escudos e arcos e frechas, e tinham tal maneira que se dormiam huns os outros vigiavam, e asy se revezáram toda a noute.

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All this day passed with us in the midst of this anguish, as you have seen. When night came, many more people surrounded us. They did not allow us to walk in the compound where we were kept, but instead put us in a tiled court. There, they surrounded us with many men, placing us in the middle of them. On the following day, we expected that we would be separated from each other, or that they would do us some other harm, as we could see that they were furious with us. All the same, we did not fail to make a good supper from things found in the village. That night more than one hundred men guarded us, all of them armed with swords, two edged battle axes, shields, and bows and arrows. They also set a watch. While some slept, others kept guard, and thus they took turns throughout the night.

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E quando vêo ao outro dia, que era hum sabado dous dias do mês de junho, vieram estes senhores pella manham, e vinham jaa com milhor sembrante, dizendo que pois o capitam disera a elrey que elle trazia sua mercadaria a terra que ha mandáse tirar, porquanto o costume daquella terra era que quaeesquer navios que a ella vinham punham loguo sua mercadaria em terra, e iso mesmo a gente toda, e que até que a mercadaria nom fose toda vendida que o mercador nom tornava mais ao navio. Dise o capitam que sy; que elle escrepveria a seu irmão que lha mandáse, e elles diseram que era bem, e que como viese a mercadaria que ho leixariam loguo ir pera seus navios: escrepveo loguo o capitam a seu irmão que lhe mandáse certas cousas, o quall as mandou loguo. E elles tanto que as viram o leixáram loguo ir pera os navios, e ficáram dous homens com ella em terra; da quall cousa folgámos todos mui muito, e démos muitas graças a Noso Senhor por nos tirar d’antre taees homes em que nom cabe nenhuma rrezam como se fosem bestas, [p.54] porque bem sabiamos que como o capitam fose nos navios, que ainda que outrem ficáse que nom lhes haviam de fazer nenhuma cousa: o qual como foy nos navios nom quis mais mandar nenhuma mercadaria por entam.

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And when the following day dawned, which was a Saturday, the 2nd day of June, these gentlemen returned in the morning. They appeared with a better countenance, saying that as the Captain had informed the king that he would land his merchandise, that he should order this done. Especially since the custom of this country was that any ship which arrived landed its merchandise at once, and even its crew, and that until all the merchandise had been sold, the merchants would not return to their ships. The Captain replied yes, that he would write to his brother to see it done. They said that this was well and good, and that as soon as the merchandise was landed, they would at once allow him to go to his ships. The Captain immediately wrote back to his brother to send certain things; which he dispatched at once. As soon as they saw this, they allowed him [Vasco da Gama] to go at once to the ships. Two men remained on shore with the things which had been landed. At this, we all rejoiced greatly and gave many thanks to Our Lord God for extricating us from such men, completely without reason, as if they were beasts. Because we well knew that once the Captain was onboard the ships, even though others remained, nothing would happen to them. As soon as he was on the ships, he ordered that he did not wish any more merchandise landed.

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[Portuguese Merchandise at Pandarane]

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E d’aly a cinquo dias mandou o capitam dizer a elrey como ho elle mandara vyr pera seus navios, e que nom ho queseram leixar certos seus, e que o deteveram no caminho hum dia e huma noute, e que elle tinha já posto a mercadaria em terra como lhe mandára, e que os mouros vinham aly que lha abatiam; que vise elle o que mandava niso, porque elle nom lhe dava da mercadaria nada, porèm que estava elle e os navios a seu serviço. Mandou logo dizer elrey como aquelles que aquillo fezeram eram maoos christãoos, e que elle os castigaria. E mandou logo sete ou oyto mercadores a ver a mercadaria e que a comprasem á sua vontade. E mais mandou aly hum homem honrrado com ho feytor que estivese aly, e que se chegáse algum mouro que ho matasem sem por ello averem nenhuma pena.

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Five days later [7 June] the Captain sent word to the king that although he had ordered him straight back to his ships, certain of his people had not permitted him to go. Instead they had detained him on the road for a day and a night. He had already landed his merchandise as he had been ordered, but the Moors had only come there to belittle it. He also said that he looked forward to what he [the king] would order in this matter. Although he placed no value on the merchandise; he and his ships were nevertheless at his service. The king at once sent word that those who acted thus were bad Christians, and that he would punish them. He soon sent seven or eight merchants to inspect the merchandise, and to buy it if they desired. He also sent a man of quality with the factor, who was already there, and said, that if any Moor went there, they might kill him without the fear of punishment.

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Estes mercadores que elrey aquy mandou estiveram neste logar obra d’oyto dias, e em vez de mercarem abatiam a mercadaria. Os mouros nom vieram mais aa casa domde estava esta mercadoria, d’onde nos elles vieram a querer mall em tal maneira que como quallquer de nós hia em terra por lhes pareçer que niso nos anojavam cospiam no cham e diziam « Portugal, Portugal: » ainda que elles de principio loguo buscaram [p.55] maneira como nos tomasem todos e nos matasem,

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These merchants, whom the king sent, remained in this place for about eight days. But instead of buying, they belittled the merchandise. The Moors no longer came to the house where the merchandise was; but they still wished us ill, in such a way, that whenever we went ashore, they acted as if we (sickened them), spitting on the ground, and saying “Portugal! Portugal!” Moreover, from the very beginning, they sought a way to capture us and kill us all.

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e quando o capitam vio que a mercadaria nom estava em logar que se vendêse, fello logo saber a elrey e como a queria mandar a Calecut, que vyse elle o que mandava. Tanto que elrey vio este rrecado do capitam mandou loguao o baille que tomáse muita gente que ha podése toda levar ás costas, e que logo se laváse a Calecut, e que ha pagasem á sua custa, dizendo que nenhuma cousa d’elrey de Portugal nom avia de fazer despesa em sua terra. E todo isto hera com fundamento de nos fazer algum mall pela maa emformaçam que já de nós tinha, que eramos huns ladrõees e que andavamos a furtar, porèm elle fez tudo isto na maneira que tendes visto.

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When the Captain found that the merchandise was not at a place where it would sell, he promptly made this known to the king, and [his] desire to send it to Calicut; asking that he permit this. As soon as the king heard this message from the Captain, he at once ordered the bale to assemble many men who could carry all this on their backs to Calicut. He instructed that this transfer would be paid at his expense, saying that nothing belonging to the king of Portugal would incur expenses in his country. And all this was done with the motive of doing us harm, due to the bad report that he had already received on us: that we were thieves who went about to steal. All the same, he did all this in the manner I have shown.

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[Portuguese Merchandise at Calicut]

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A hum domingo, que foy dia de Sam Joham Bautista, que foram a vinte e quatro do mês de junho, foy a mercadaria pera Calecut, e estando asy lá a dita marcadaria ordenou o capitam que toda a jente fose a Calecut nesta maneira: que fose de cada navio seu homem, e como aquelles viesem que fosem outros, e desta maneira poderiam ir ver a cidade, e cada hum conpraria o que quisese, os quaees quando hiam pello caminho rrecebiam de toda a jemte christãa muito gasalhado, folgando muyto todos quando algum hia a sua casa a comer ou dormir, e de todo o que tinham lhe davam com muyto boa vontade. E iso mesmo vinham muitos homens aos navios vender pescado por pam, e rreçebiam de nós muyto boa companhia, e outros muytos vinham com os fylhos e moços pequenos, e o capitam [p.56] lhes mandava dar de comer. Todo isto se fazia por fazermos paz e amizade com elles, e que disesem de nós bem e nam mall. E destes eram tantos, que nos aborreciam, que muytas vezes era noute çerrada e nam os podiamos botar fóra dos navios, e isto causa a muyta gente que ha nesta terra e os mantimentos sam muyto poucos, e se alguma vez se açertava que alguns homens dos nossos hiam correger algumas velas, e lavavam biscouto pera comerem, eram tantos sobre elles, asy de moços pequenos como homens grandes, que lho tomavam da mãoo, emfim nom comiam delle nada.

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On Sunday, the day of St. John the Baptist, which was the 24th of June, the merchandise left for Calicut. Once the merchandise was there, the Captain ordered that all his men should go visit Calicut, in this manner: that each ship should send a man ashore, and, when he returned, another would go. In this way all of us would be able to go and see the city, and each one would be able to buy what they wanted. Our men, when they went along the road, were received by all the Christians with much hospitality, greatly rejoicing when one of them entered their house, to eat or sleep; and they gave them freely of all they had, with much good will. At the same time, many men came to the ships to sell fish in exchange for bread, and they received a warm welcome from us. Many others came with their sons, and little children, and the Captain ordered that they should be fed. All this was done so that we could make peace and amity with them, and so that they would speak well of us not evil. There were so many of these visitors that they began to annoy us. Many times it was fully dark, and we were still not able to put them off the ships. This was due to the multitude of people who live in this country and the scarcity of food for them. One time it even happened that some of our men were mending some sails and took biscuits with them to eat. So many people surrounded them, both small children and grown men, that they took the biscuits out of their hands, and in the end, they had none to eat.

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Foram todos os que eramos nos navios, como vos tenho dito, dous e dous e tres e tres, e cada hum levava diso que tinham, asy de manilhas e rroupa de vistir e estanho e camisas, cada huum asy como ho tinha, e vendiam, posto que nom venderam tam bem como nós esperavamos que valesem as cousas á nossa chegada de Moncobiquy, que huma camysa muyto delgada, que em Portugall vall trezentos rreis, davam aquy por dous fanôes, que valem em esta terra trinta rreis, porèm a estima de trinta rreis nesta terra he grande; e asy como faziam barato das camyzas asy o faziam das outras cousas por levarem alguna cousa desta terra por amostra. E compravam diso que vendiam pela villa, asy cravo como canella e pedras finas, e depois de ter asy cada hum comprado o que queria vinha se pera os navios sem lhe nynguem dizer nenhuma cousa. E visto o capitam como esta gente hera tam boa determinou em esta terra leixar hum feitor com a me- [p.57] rcadaria e hum escripvam com elle e certos homens outros.

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All of us on board ship went ashore, as I have told you, in twos and threes. Each one taking things we had, bracelets, clothes, tin, shirts; each one in this way taking what they had and selling it. Even though they did not sell them as lucratively as we had hoped, based on the value of these things, upon our arrival in Mozambique. A very fine shirt, that in Portugal fetches 300 reis, is worth here only two fanões, which is worth only thirty reais; yet the value of thirty reais here is great. As we sold shirts cheaply, so we sold other things, in order to take some things away from this country if only as samples. They purchased goods which are sold in this city, including cloves, cinnamon, and precious stones. After each had purchased what they wanted, they came back to the ships, without anyone saying anything to them. When the Captain saw that the people here were so well disposed, he decided to leave a factor with merchandise ashore, along with a clerk and certain other men.

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[Diogo Dias Sent as Envoy to the Samorin]

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E chegando se o tempo para nos partirmos, o capitam-mor mandou hum serviço d’alanbares a elrey e tambem lhe mandou coraees e outras cousas muitas, e mandoulhe dizer que elle se queria vyr pera Portugall, se queria elle mandar alguns homens a elrey de Portugal? e que elle leixaria aly hum feitor e hum escripvam com outros certos homens com a mercadaria, e que lhe mandava aquelle serviço, e que pedia que elle mandáse a elrey seu senhor hum bagar de canella e outro de cravo e asy de quallquer outra especiaria que quisese por amostra, e que ho feitor faria dinheiro e que le pagaria se elle quisese.

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When the time for our departure arrived, the Captain major sent as a gift some amber to the king, along with coral, and many other things. He ordered that the king be told that he wished to depart for Portugal, [and ask] if he desired to send any envoys to the king of Portugal. He said that would leave behind a factor and a clerk with merchandise, at his service. And that he would ask him [the Samorin] to send the king, his Lord, a bahar of cinnamon, and another or cloves, and samples of other spices that he saw fit; and that the factor would make money and could pay for them, if he desired it.

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Depois que este rrecado do capitam chegou honde elrey estava, primeyro que lhe podése falar se pasáram quatro dias, e quando o que este rrecado levava emtrou honde elrey estava elle o olhou com máoo sembrante e lhe pergumtou que queria, e elle lhe deu o rrecado do capitam na maneira açima escripto, e como lhe mandava aquelle serviço. Dise elrey que aquillo que lhe levava que ho desem ao feitor e nom ho quis ver. E dise que disesem ao capitam que pois se queria hir que lhe dése seiscentos xarifes e que se fose emboora, e que asy era o custume daquella terra e dos que a ella vinham. Dise emtam Diogo Diz, que levava este rrecado, que elle tornaria com aquella rreposta ao capitam. E asy como elle partio partíram certos homens com elle, e como foram na casa onde estava a mercadaria em Calecut meteram [p.58] homens dentro com elles que os guardavam que nom saisem, e asy mesmo mandáram loguo apregoar por toda a cidade que nenhuma barca nom fose a boordo dos navios.

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After this message from the Captain reached the king, he waited four days before he would speak with the messenger. And when the messenger who carried it entered the place where the king was, he eyed him with a harsh look and asked him what he wanted. The messenger gave him the Captain’s message in the manner written above, and then referred to the present which had been sent. The king said that what he brought should be given to his factor, and that he did not wish to see it. He also stated that the Captain should be informed that since he wished to depart, he should pay him six hundred xerafins and that then he might go, that this was the custom of the country and of those who came to it. Diogo Dias, who carried this message, thereupon answered that he would return with this reply to the Captain. And as he left, certain men departed with him. When they arrived at the house in Calicut where the merchandise was stored, they put a number of men inside with him, who watched over it, so that none of it could be sent away. In any case orders were soon given to proclaim throughout the city that no boats could approach our ships.

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E asy como elles viram que estavam presos, mandáram hum moço negro que com elles estava, que fose ver ao longo da costa se acharia quem o trouxése aos navios, e que disése como eram presos por mandado delrey. E elle foyse ao cabo da cidade onde moravam huuna pescadores, e hum delles o trouxe por tres fanôes, e isto porque a noute se comesava a cerrar e nos os podiam ver da cidade, e asy como o poseram a bordo logo se partio sem fazer mais tardança; e isto foy a huma segunda feira, que eram treze dias do mês d’agosto de 1498.

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And as soon as they [Dias and his companions] saw they were prisoners, they promptly sent a young black, who was with them, along the coast, to see if he could find someone to take him to the ships, and relate that they were prisoners by order of the king. He went to the outskirts of the city where some fishermen lived, and one of them brought him on payment of three fanões. He did this because night had begun to fall and they could not be seen from the city. And as soon as he put him on-board, he departed without any delay. This took place on a Monday, which was the 13th day of the month of August 1498.

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Na quall nova todos fomos tristes por vermos huuns homens nas mãoos de seus imygos, e asy pello grande desaviamento que isto dava a nossa partida, e asy mesmo o sentymos por hum rrey christão nos fazer tanta perraria, ao qual homem dava do seu, e d’outra parte nom lhe punhamos tanta culpa como era rrezam porque sabiamos çerto que os mouros que aquy estavam, que eram mercadores de Meca e d’outras muitas partes, que nos conheciam, lhes pesava muito comnosco, e estes diziam a elrey como nós eramos ladrões, e que como quer que começasemos de navegar por esta terra que nenhum navio de Meca nem de Quambaya nem dos Imgros nem d’outra parte nom viriam mais a sua terra, do que elle nom averia proveito nenhuum, e que nós nom lhe avíamos de dar nada, mas antes lhe aviamos de tomar, [p.59] e que por aquy podia sua terra ser destroida; e sobre dizerem isto peitavam mui muito que nos tomáse e matáse, que nom podesemos tornar a Portugall.

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This news made us sad because we saw some of our men in the hands of our enemies: and likewise due to the great impediment this created for our departure, and even more, we grieved that a Christian king would do us such an ill turn, which this man did to his own! On the other hand we did not hold him as culpable as seemed reasonable, because we well knew that the Moors here, who were merchants from Mecca, and elsewhere, who knew us, were greatly displeased by us. They had told the king that we were thieves, and that just as soon as we began to navigate to this country, that no more ships from Mecca, nor Cambay, nor Singros [Hormuz], nor from any other port, would come again to this land, from which he would derive no profit whatever. [They said] that we had nothing to give him, but rather we would only take things from him, and by this his country would be destroyed. And as well as saying this, they offered him very rich bribes to capture and kill us, so that we would not be able to return to Portugal.

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A quall cousa os capitãees souberam por hum da terra que lhe descobrio o que estava hordenado, dizendo aos capitãees que nom saisem fóra dos navios em terra, principallmente ao capitam mor. E afóra ho este mouro dizer, o diseram, dous christãos que se os capitães fosem em terra que lhes aviam de cortar as cabeças porque asy o fazia elrey aos que vinham á sua e lhe nom davam ouro.

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The captains learned all this from a Moor of the country, who revealed what had been ordered, warning the captains, and especially the Captain major, against leaving the ships and going to shore. Apart from what this Moor said, two Christians told us, that if the Captains went ashore their heads would be cut off, as this was what the king did to those who came to his [country], and did not give him gold.

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Estando nós asy, ao outro dia seguinte nom vêo barca nenhuma abordo dos navios, e ao outro dia vêo huma almadia com quatro moços, os quaes traziam pedras finas a vender, o que nos pareçeo que vinham por mandado dos mouros mais que pera vender pedras, e isto por ver se lhes faziam alguma cousa; mas o capitam lhes fez gasalhado e escrepveo por elles huma carta aos que estavam em terra. Quando elles víram que lhes nom faziam nada, vinham cada dia muitos mercadores, e outros que nom eram mercadores, que vinham a ver, e todos rrecebiam muito gasalhado de nós, e lhes davamos de comer.

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Finding ourselves thus, on the following day [14 August] no boats came out to the ships. On the day after that [15 August] an almadia came out with four young men, who brought precious stones to sell. But it appeared to us that they came by order of the Moors, more than to sell stones, in order to see if we would do anything to them. But the Captain made them welcome, and wrote a letter for them to carry to his men ashore. When they saw that we would do nothing to them, many merchants came out each day, and even others who were not merchants came out of curiosity, and all were made welcome by us, and given something to eat.

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E ao domingo seguinte vieram obra de vinte e cinquo homens, antre os quaes vinham seis delles que eram honrrados, e o capitam vendo que por aquelles lhe poderiam dar os nossos homens que estavam em terra rretehudos e presos, lançou mãoo por elles, e dos outros mais somenos tomou doze, e asy que tomou por todos dezanove, e os outros que ficáram mandou-os em [p.60] huma das suas barcas em terra, e mandou por elles huuma carta ao mouro feitor d’ellrey, em que lhe mandava dizer que lhe mandáse os homens que tinha presos e que elle lhe mandaria os que tomára. E quando elles víram que lhes tinham homens tomados, foram logo muita gente por elles aa casa da mercadaria e trouxeram-os a casa do feitor, e isto sem lhes fazerem nenhum mall.

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On the following Sunday [19 August] about twenty-five men came out, among whom were six men of quality. The Captain judged that by these men we might recover our own men who were detained as prisoners on land. He therefore seized them, and of the lesser ones we took twelve and thus in all we captured eighteen. He then ordered the remaining ones landed in one of his boats. He sent with them a letter to the king’s factor, in which he declared that if he [the factor] would send out his men, that had been taken prisoner, he would release those he had taken. And when they learned that they had men taken as well, a crowd soon went for those at the house where the merchandise was kept, and they conducted our men to the factor’s house, doing this without inflicting any harm on them.

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Ha quarta feira, que foram vinte e tres dias do dito mês, nos fezemos aa vella dizendo que nos vinhamos pera o Portugall, e que esperavamos que mui cedo tornariamos, e que entam saberiam se eramos ladrõees. E fomos a pousar a julavento de Qualecut obra de quatro legoas, e isto por respeito do vento que era por davante,

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On Thursday, the 23rd of that month, we made sail, saying we were going to Portugal, and we hoped to return very soon, and that then they would know whether we were thieves. We dropped anchor about four leagues to the leeward of Calicut, and did this because of the prevailing headwind.

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e ao outro dia viemos na volta da terra, e nam podémos cobrar huns baixos que estavam davante a cidade de Qualecut, e emtam tornámos na volta do mar e pousámos em vista da cidade.

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On the next day [24 August] we returned toward land, and not being able to cross without difficulty the shoals that are found in front of Calicut; we again stood off and anchored within sight of the city.

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E ao sabado fomos iso mesmo na volta do mar e pousámos tanto em mar que casy nom viamos a terra,

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On Saturday [25 August], we again stood off , and anchored so far out at sea that we could barely see the land.

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e ao domingo, estando amquorados aguardando pella viraçam, vêo huma barca do pego que fora em nosa busca, e dise como Diogo Diz era em casa d’elrey e que como viese que elles ficavam de os trazerem a bordo. E o capitam perecendolhe que hos tenriam mortos e que aquillo que diziam era por nos deter até que armasem contra nós ou viesem naoos de Meca que nos tomasem, lhes dise que fosem e nom viesem mais a bordo sem lhe trazerem os seus homens ou cartas suas, e [p.61] que lhes mandaria tirar com as bombardas, e que se logo nam tornasem com rrecado, que elle esperava de cortar as cabeças aaquelles que elle elle tomára. Depois de tudo isto vêo viraçam e fomos prelomgando a costa e ao sol posto tornámos a pousar.

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On Sunday [26 August], while anchored waiting for a breeze, a boat [de pego], came in search of us and approached, and said that Diogo Dias was at the king’s house, and that if we released those whom we held that they would bring him on board. The Captain, however, believed that they had already killed him and that they had said this merely to detain us until they had sufficiently armed themselves against us, or ships from Mecca capable of capturing us had appeared. He told them that they should depart, and not to return again without bringing out his men, or at least letters from them, or that he would order his bombards to fire on them. He added that unless they returned soon with a response, he intended to cut the heads off those he held. After all this happened, a breeze sprang up, and we cruised along the coast, and at sunset we anchored.

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De como elrey mandou chamar Diogo Diaz, e lhe dise o que se segue:

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How the king sent for Diogo Dias, and told him what follows:

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Quando foram nouas a ellrey que nós eramos partidos pera Portugall e como já nom tinha remedio pera fazer o que desejava, cuidou de tornar a correger o que já d’antes tinha danado. E mandou chamar Diogo Diaz, o quall como foy presente fez-lhe grande gasalhado nom lho fazendo d’antes quando lhe levára o serviço, perguntandolhe porque tomára o capitam aquelles homens? Diselhe o dito Diogo Diaz que porque elle nom quisera que se elles fosem pera seus navios, e que os rretevera na cidade presos. Dise ellrey que fezera bem, e tornou a preguntar que se lhe pedira o feitor alguma cousa, querendo dar a emtemder que elle nom sabia parte do que elle tinha fecto, mas que ho feytor o fezera por lhe dar alguma cousa, dizendo contra o dito feitor: « Nom sabe elle que ha pouco tempo que eu matey outro feitor porque levou peitas a huns mercadores que ha esta terra vieram? » – Dise mais ellrey: « Tu vayte e eses outros que hi estam contigo aos navios, e dize ao capitam que me mande eses homens que tem, e que ho padram que me mandou dizer que queria poerr em terra, que os que te levarem o tragam e o ponham, e mais que tu fiques em esta terra com a mercadaria. » E asy mesmo mandou huma carta ao capitam [p.62] a qual dése a ellrey de Portugall, a quall erra escripta por mão de Diogo Diaz em huma folha de palma, porque todas as cousas que se em esta terra escrepvem sam em as ditas folhas, e a pena com que se escrepvem he de ferro, da quall carta o teor he este que se segue:

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When word reached the king that we had departed for Portugal, as he did not already have a means for accomplishing what de wished, he thought instead of undoing the evil that he had already done. He sent for Diogo Dias, to whom, when he arrived, he showed great kindness (as he had not previously done, when he brought the [da Gama’s] present). He asked why the Captain had seized these men. Diogo Dias told him it was because he [the king] would not allow him and his men to return to their ships, and that he had held them as prisoners in the city. The king said that he had done well. He then asked if the factor had asked for anything (wishing to give the impression that he knew nothing about what he had done, and that the factor alone had demanded something) saying to the factor: “Do you know that not so long ago, I killed another factor, because he had levied tribute on some merchandise which came to this country?” The king then said: “You, and the others here with you, go to the ships; tell your captain to send me the men he has taken, and as for the pillar that he informed me he wanted erected on the shore, the men who take you back, will bring it and put it up, and finally you will remain here with the merchandise.” At the same time, he sent a letter to the captain, intended for the king of Portugal, which had been written by the hand of Diogo Dias on a palm leaf, as everything written in this land is done on these leaves; with an iron pen. The tenor of this letter was as follows:

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« Vasquo da Gama fidalguo de vossa casa vêo a minha terra, com o qual eu folguey. Em minha terra ha muita quanella e muito cravo e gingibre e pimenta e muitas pedras preçiosas, e o que quero da tua he ouro e prata e corall e escrallata. »

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“Vasco da Gama, noble of your household, came to my country; which gave me much pleasure. My country is rich in cinnamon, cloves, ginger, pepper, and precious stones. That which I desire from you in exchange is gold, silver, coral, and scarlet cloth.”

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[The Fleet off Calicut]

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Ha segunda feira pella manham, que eram vinte e sete dias do dito mês, estando pousados, vieram sete barcas em as quaes vinha muita gente e traziam Diogo Diaz e outro que com elle estava, e nam ousando de o poer a bordo, poseramno em a barca do capitam que vinha ainda por popa, e nom traziam a mercadoria cuidando que o dito Diogo Diaz tornáse a terra. E tanto que o capitam os vio em ho navio nom quis que tornasem mais a terra, e deu o padram aos da barca como lho ellrey mandára que posése da barca como lho ellrey mandára que posése em terra, e mais deu por elles seis homens os mais honrrados que elle tinha, ficando outros tantos, e dise que hao outro dia lhe trouxesem a mercadoria, e que logo daria os outros que ficavam.

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On Monday morning, which was the 27th of this month, while we were anchored, seven boats approached, filled with many men, bringing Diogo Dias and the others who were with him. Not daring to put him on board, they placed him in the Captain’s boat, which was still tied to the stern; but not bringing the merchandise, believing that Diogo Dias would return to shore with him. Yet, as soon as the Captain had them aboard the ship, he would not allow them to return to shore. He merely gave the pillar to those in the boat, as the king had ordered that it be set up on shore. The Captain major also turned over six men to them, the most distinguished that he held, keeping six others, stating that the following day if they brought out the merchandise, he would immediately turn over those who remained.

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Á terça feira, estando nós pousados pella manham, se vêo metter comnosco em os navios hum mouro de Tunez que [p.63] nos entendeo, dezendonos que lhe tomáram quanto tinha e que nam sabia se lhe fariam mais mal; que estava nesta ventura, e que os da terra diziam que elle era christãoo e que viera a Calecut por mandado d’ellrey de Portugall, pello quall ante se queria vir com elles que estar em terra honde esperava que cada dia o matasem. E quando vêo ás dez oras do dia vyeram sete barcas com muita gente; tres dellas traziam sobre as tostes alanbés postos, daquelles que nos fycáram em terra, dandonos a emtender que alii traziam a mercadoria toda. Estas tres chegavam se aos navios e as outras quatro ficavam de largo, e nam se chegavam tanto que nom andasem hum bom pedaço arredados dos navios, e diziam que posesemos os homens em a nossa barca e que elles ponriam a mercadoria em ella e que tomariam os seus homens. E depois de conhecermos esta rraposía o capitam moor lhes dise que se fosem que nom queria mercadoria, senam levar os homens a Portugall, e que aguardasem bem que elle esperava çedo tornar a Calecut, e que entam saberiam se eramos ladrõees como lhes diziam os mouros.

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On Tuesday morning [28 August], while at anchor, a Moor from Tunis took refuge on one of our ships. He spoke our language telling us that they had taken everything he possessed, and that he feared worse things would happen, as that was his luck! The people of this country said that he was a Christian and that he had come to Calicut by order of the king of Portugal. He desired to come with us, rather than remain in a country where any day they might kill him. At ten o’clock that day, seven boats with many people approached. Three of them carried the bolts of striped cloth on their benches, which we had left on shore, giving us to understand that they were thus bringing out all our merchandise. These three closed on our ships, while the other four stood off a good distance from us. They told us that if we put the men in one of our boats, they would then place the merchandise in it, in exchange for their men. After we saw through this ruse, the captain Major told them to go away, declaring that he cared nothing for the merchandise, but would rather bring these men to Portugal. He also warned them to be careful as he expected to return soon to Calicut, and that then they would know whether they were thieves, as the Moors had told them . . .

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[Calicut to Angediva]

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Huma quarta feira, que foram vintanove dias do dito mez d’agosto, visto como já tinhamos achado e descuberto o que vinhamos buscar, asy de espiciaria como de pedras preçiosas, e como nom podyamos acabar de nos despidir da terra com paz e amigos da jente, ouve por conselho o capitam moor com os outros capitãees de nos partirmos e levarmos aquelles homens que tinhamos, [p.64] porque aquelles tornando a Calecut fariam fazer as amisades,

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On Wednesday, which was the 29th of August, seeing that we had already found and discovered what we had come in search of, both in terms of spices and precious stones, and as it seemed unlikely that we could establish peace and cordial relations with the people here, the Captain major and the other captains agreed, that we should depart. [They decided] to take with us the men that we held, as they, upon returning to Calicut, might help us establish friendly relations.

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e logo fezemos as vellas e nos partirmos caminho de Portugall, vindo todos muito ledos por sermos tam bem aventurados de acharmos huma tam grande cousa como tinhamos achada.

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We therefore set sail and departed for Portugal, greatly rejoicing at our good fortune in discovering the great things that we had found.

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Á quinta feira oras de mêo dia, amdando nós em calma abaixo de Calecut obra de huuma legoa, vieram a nós obra de setenta barcas com muita gente imfinda, e traziam davante hum emparo de pano vermelho dobrado como loudell muito forte. Estas sam as suas armas do corpo e das mãos e da cabeça. . . (Ficou na ponta da pena ao autor deste livro como estas armas sam fectas.)

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On Thursday [30 August] at noon while becalmed about a league below [north] of Calicut, about seventy boats approached us, crowded with men; wearing cuirasses of red folded cloth, much like a strong leather breastplate. Their weapons for the body, arms, and head were these . . . (the author has omitted to tell us how these weapons were made).

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E como chegáram dos navios a tiro de bonbarda tiraramlhes logo do navio do capitam moor e asy dos outros navios. E vinriam depós nós asy obra de huma ora e mêa. Elles indo asy depós nós deunos huma trovoada que nos levou pera o mar, e quando viram que já nom podiam fazer nada tornáram-se pera terra. E nós syguimos nosso caminho.

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As soon as they came within range of our ship’s bombards, the Captain major ordered his ship and the others to fire upon them. But they followed us for about an hour and a half. As they were doing this, a thunderstorm broke which carried us out to sea; and when they saw that they could no longer do us harm, they returned to shore, while we continued with our route.

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[The Commerce of Calicut]

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Desta terra de Calecut, que se chama India Alta, vay a espiciaria que se come em ponente e em levante e em Portugall e bem asy em todas as provinçias do mundo; asy mesmo vam desta cidade chamada Calecut muitas pedras preciosas de toda sorte: scilicet, em esta dita cidade ha de sua propria colhença esta espiciaria que se segue: muito gyngivre e pimenta e canella, posto que nom he tam fina como he ha de huma ilha que se chama Çillam, a qual está de Calecut oyto jornadas: toda esta [p.65] canella vem ter a esta çidade de Calecut e ha huma ilha que chamam Melequa, donde vem o cravo a esta cidade: aquy carregam as náos de Meca a especiaria e a levam a huma cidade que está em Meca e que se chama Judeá, e poem desta ilha laa cincquoenta dias de vento á popa, que as náos desta terra nom andam pella bolina, e alii descarregam e pagam ao gram soldam seu direito; e d’alii a tornam a carregar em outras naos mais piquenas e a levam por ho mar rruyvo a hum logar que está junto com Santa Caterina de Monte-Synay, que se chama Tuuz, e tambem aquy pagam outro direito; aquy carregam os mercadores esta espiçiaria em camellos alugados a quatro cruzados cada huum camello e a levam ao Quayro em dez dias, e aquy pagam outro direito. E neste caminho pera o Cairo muitas vezes os salteam ladrões que ha naquella terra, os quaes sam alarves e outros.

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From this land of Calicut, which is also called Upper India, comes the spices that are consumed in the east and west, in Portugal, and in all the countries of the world. Precious stones of every type also come from this city called Calicut. That is: in this city there are, of local production, the following spices: much ginger; pepper, cinnamon, even though this is not as fine as that coming from an island, called Çilam [Ceylon], which is eight days journey from Calicut. All this cinnamon passed through the city of Calicut. There is an island, called Melaca [Melaka], which sends cloves to this city. The ships from Meca [Mecca] load spices here and carry them to a city in Mecca, called Judea [Jidda]. And from this island [Melaka] to there [Jidda] takes fifty days of sailing before the wind, since the ships of this country cannot tack; and there they unload their cargoes, and they pay the Grand Sultan his customs duties. And from there the merchandise is transshipped in smaller vessels, which carry it up the Red Sea to a place close to Santa Catarina of Mount Sinai, called Tuur, and here again customs duties are paid. From that place the merchants load the spices on camels, hired for four cruzados each, and they carry it to Quayro [Cairo] in ten days’ time, and here they pay more customs duties. On this road to Cairo, many times they are robbed by thieves who live in that country, like the Bedouins and others.

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Aquy tornam ha carregar outra vez em huumas naoos que andam em hum rrio que se chama o Nillo que vem da terra de Preste Joham das Imdias Baixas, e vam por este rrio dous dias até que chegam a hum lugar que se chama Roxete, e aquy pagam outro direito: e tornam outra vez a carregar em camelos e a levam em huma jornada a huma cidade que se chama Alexandria, a quall é porto de mar: a esta cidade d’Alexandria vem as galés de Veneza e de Genoa buscar esta especiaria, da quall se acha que ha o gram soldam de direito seiscentos mill cruzados, dos quaees dá em cada hum ano a hum rrey [p.66] que se chama Cidadym cem mill, porque faça guerra ao Preste Joham, e este nome de gram soldam comprase por dinheiro, que nom hade ficar de pay a filho.

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Here [Cairo] the spices are loaded on ships plying a river, called the Nile, which rises from the land of Prester John, in Lower India; and descending this river for two days they reach a place called Roxete [Rosetta], where they pay more duties. There the spices are loaded on camels, and brought in a day to a city called Alexandria, which is a seaport. The galleys of Venice and Genoa come to this city of Alexandria in search of these spices, which yield the Grand Sultan a revenue of six hundred thousand cruzados, out of which he gives each year a king called Çidadim [Muḥammad b. Azhar ad-dīn b. Abī Bakr b. Saʿd ad-dīn, the ruler of ʿAdal], one hundred thousand, to make war on Prester John. The title of Grand Sultan is bought for money, and does not pass from father to son.

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Torno a falar de nossa vinda.

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I return now to describing our voyage home:

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Indo nós asy ao longo da costa por rrespeito do vento que era pouco, com o vento da terra pera o mar e a viraçam pera terra, de dia com a calma lançavamos anquoras.

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Going along this coast, with feeble winds, we tacked often with shifting land and sea breezes; and when becalmed during the day we dropped anchor and lay to.

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A huuma segunda feira, que eram X dias do mês de setenbro, vindo nós asy ao lomgo da costa, mandou o capitam moor por um homem daquelles que traziamos, o quall era torto de huum olho, humas cartas a ellrey Camolim escriptas em mourisco por mãoo de hum mouro que comnosco vinha. Esta terra, onde lançámos este mouro com as cartas, chamam Compia e ao rrey della Biaquolle; este tem guerra com ellrey de Calecut.

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On a Monday, which was the 10th of September, as we sailed along the coast the Captain major landed one of the men whom we had taken, who had lost an eye, with letters to the Samorin king written in Moorish [Arabic] by the hand of one of the Moors who came with us. The country where we landed this Moor with these letters, is called Compia [Kannur], and its king Biaqoule. This king is at war with the king of Calicut.

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E o outro dia, andando nós em calma, vieram a nós barcas que traziam pescado, e emtraram dentro nos navios sem nenhum reçêo os homens dellas.

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On the following day [11 September], while becalmed, boats approached carrying fish to sell, and the men came onboard our ships without exhibiting any fear.

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E ao sabado syguinte, que foram XV dias do dito mês, fomos com huns ilheos que estavam obra de duas legoas da terra:

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On Saturday, the 15th of the said month, we found ourselves near some islets, which were about two leagues from land.

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[The Santa Maria Islands]

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aquy lançámos hum batel fóra e posemos hum padram em o dito ilheo, ao quall poseram nome ho padram de Santa Maria; isto porque elrey disera ao capitam que posesem tres padrões, e que a hum posesem nome de Sam Rafaell e ao outro de Sam Graviell e ao outro de Santa Maria; asy que com este acabámos de os ponr todos tres: scilicet, ho primeiro posemos [p.67] no rrio dos Boons Sinaees, o quall foy de Samrrafaell e o segundo em Calecut, e foy de Sam Graviell, e este derradeiro de Santa Maria:

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There were launched a boat and put up a pillar on one of the islets, to which we gave the name: the pillar of Santa Maria. This was because the king had ordered the Captain to erect three pillars, one with the name S. Rafael, another S. Gabriel and the other Santa Maria. We had thus, with this, succeeded in this task of putting up all three; namely the first we set up along the Rios dos Bons Sinais, named S. Rafael; the second in Calicut, named S. Gabriel; and this final one named Santa Maria.

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aquy nos vieram tambem aos navios muitas barcas com pescado, e o capitam lhes deu camisas e lhes fez muito gasalhado, e preguntou-lhes se folgariam alii com hum padram que elle queria poonr em aquelle ilheo: diseram elles que folgariam muito e que se o posesemos que emtam se afirmariam que eramos christãoos como elles. E este padram foy aquy pôr com muyta amisade.

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Here again many boats loaded with fish came out to the ships; and the captain gave the fishermen shirts and a very warm welcome. And he asked them if they would take pleasure with a pillar that he wished to erect on the island. They replied that they would be very happy, and that if we erected it, that it would thereby confirm that we were Christians like themselves. And this pillar was indeed erected with much amity.

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E em esta noute seguinte com vento da terra nos fezemos á vella e syguimos noso caminho,

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During this same night, with an off shore wind we set sail, and followed our route.

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e á quinta feira seguinte, que foram XIX dias do dito mês, fomos com huuma terra alta muito graçiosa e de boons ares, a qual tinha junto com a terra seis ilhas pequenas: aquy pousámos bem junto com terra,

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On Thursday, which was the 20th12 of the said month, we reached a hilly country, very beautiful and with a pleasant climate, close to which there were six small islands. We anchored here close to land.

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[Anjediva]

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e botámos hum batell fóra pera avermos de tomar agoa e lenha que nos bastáse em aquella travése que esperavamos de cometer, se nos os ventos trezasem como desejavamos; e como fomos em terra achámos hum homem mançebo que nos foy amostrar por dentro de hum rrio hua aguada de huma agoa muito boa, a quall nacia antre dous penedos. A este homem deu o capitam-moor hum barrete, e preguntoulhe se era mouro, se cristam; dise elle que era christãoo, e quando lhe nós disémos que tambem nós eramos christãos folgou muito.

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We launched a boat, as we had to take on water and wood sufficient to last us during our voyage across [the Gulf] which we hoped to accomplish, if the winds favored us, as we much desired. Upon landing, we encountered a young man who showed us along the bank of a river, a spring with excellent water, which flowed from between two boulders. The Captain major gave this man a cap, and asked him if he was a Moor or a Christian. He replied that he was a Christian; and when we told him that we too were Christians, he was much pleased.

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E ao outro dia pella manham vêo a nós huma almadia com quatro homens, e trouxeram muitas [p.68] abobaras e pipinos: pregountoulhe emtam o capitam moor que se avia alii naquella terra canella ou gingivre ou outra alguma especiaria: diseram que canella avia muita, mas que nom avia outra nenhuma especiaria. Mandou loguo o capitam com elles dous homens a terra pera lhe trazerem amostra della, os quaes os leváram a huma mata em que avia imfimda arvores della, das quaes arvores cortaram dous grandes rramos com sua folha, e nós fomos com os batés pera avermos de tomar augoa, e achámos aquelles dous homens com os rramos que traziam da canella, e com elles vinham já obra de vinte homens, os quaes troxeram ao capitam muitas galinhas e leite de vaquas e abobaras, e diseram ao capitam que mandáse com elles aqueles dous homens, porque elles tinham d’alii huum pedaço muita quanella seca, e que ha hiriam ver e trariam amostra della. Depois que tomámos agoa viemonos pera os navios, e eles ficáram que hao outro dia vinriam aos navios e que trariam ao capitam hum serviço de vaquas e porcos e galinhas.

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On the following morning [21 September], an almadia came out with four men, who brought gourds and cucumbers. The Captain major then asked them if cinnamon, ginger, or any other spices were to be found in this country. They replied that there was a good deal of cinnamon, but no other types of spices. The Captain at once sent two men ashore with them to bring him a sample of it. These men took them to a forest, where there was a limitless number of cinnamon trees, and from these trees they cut two large branches with their leaves. When we went in our boats to take on water, we met these two men with the cinnamon branches they were carrying, and with them there were already about twenty others, who brought the Captain many chickens, cow’s milk, and gourds. They told the Captain that he should send these two men with them, because they had, a short distance from there, much dried cinnamon, which they would show them and bring back samples as well. After we had taken on water, we returned to the ships, while they remained, promising to come out to the ships the following day with a present for the Captain of cows, pigs, and chickens.

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Quando vêo ao outro dia, em amanheçendo vimos junto com terra dous barcaços, os quaees estariam de nós obra de duas legoas, dos quaes nom faziamos nenhuma conta. Fomonos a tomar lenha em terra em quanto a maré nos vinha pera avermos d’entrar em or rrio pera tomarmos aoa e a já andando nós cortando a lenha parçeo ao capitam que aquelles barcos eram mairoes do que lhe antes parçêram. Mandou logo que todos fosemos emtrar em os batés e fosemos [p.69] comer, e que tanto que comêsemos que yryamos ver nos batés se eram aquillo mouros, se cristãoos; e como o dito capitam moor foy em a sua naoo mandou huum marinheiro aa gavea que vise se pareçyam alguuns navios, o quall marinheiro vio a mar de nós obra de seis legoas oyto naoos, as quaes andavam em calmaria, polla qual o capitam mandou logo poor os navios a pique: e elles como lhes ygou a viraçam vieram de loo quanto podéram, e como foram tanto avante como nós, porèm averia de nós a elles duas legoas, que nos pareçeo que nos poderiam ver, fomos a elles. E como viram que nós hiamos a elles começaram árribar a popa pera terra, e huma dellas ante que chegase a terra quebroulhe o governalho, e os que hiam nella metêramse na sua barca, que levavam por popa, e foramse a terra, e nós que hiamos mais preto della abalrroámos logo com ella, e nom achámos em ella salvo mantimento e armas, e o mantimento era coquos e quatro talhas de huuns queijos d’açuquar de palma, e todo o all era arêa que vinha por lastro: as outras sete deram comsyguo em seco, e com os batés as fomos esbombardear.

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Early the next morning [22 September], we sighted two ships close to land, about two leagues off. But we paid them no heed. We went to cut wood ashore, as the tide was not right for entering the river to take on water. While we were thus engaged, it occurred to the Captain that these ships were larger than he had earlier believed. He therefore ordered us into the boats, as soon as we had eaten and sent us to discover if these boats belonged to Moors or Christians. And when the Captain returned aboard ship, he ordered a seaman to go aloft to the mainsail top, to look out for other ships. This seaman sighted, about six leagues out to sea from us, eight ships which were becalmed. When he heard this, the Captain immediately gave orders to sink these ships. But as they found a favorable breeze, they came about to the lee as much as they could; and when they were abreast of us, but still two leagues distant, and we thought they might be able to sight us, we went out to meet them. When they saw us approaching them, they began to come about with their sterns making for land; and one of them, before it reached shore, broke its helm, and the men aboard placed themselves in the boat that they towed astern, and reached shore. We, who were closest to that vessel, at once boarded her. We found nothing aboard her save for some provisions and arms. The provisions consisted of coconuts and four jars of palm sugar, and all the rest was sand, which they carried as ballast. The other seven vessels grounded, and we bombarded them from our ships.

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Ao outro dia pella manham, estando nós pousados, vieram a nós sete homens em huuma barca, e diseram como aqueles navios eram de Calecut, e que vinham em nossa busca, e que se nos tomáram que nos matáram todos.

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On the following morning [23 September], while at anchor, we saw seven men approaching us in a boat. They said that these vessels had come from Calicut, in search of us, and that if they had taken us, they would have killed us all.

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Ao outro dia, depois que partimos daquy, fomos a pousar aalem d’onde de primeiro estavamos dous tiros de bombarda, em huma ilha em a quall nos [p.70] diseram que avia agoa. Mandou logo o capitam mor a Nycolao Coelho em hum batell armado a ver onde estava a aguada, o quall achou em a dita ilha huum edeficio de huuma igreja de grande quantaria, a quall estava derrubada dos mouros, segundo os da terra diziam, senam quanto a capella estava cuberta de palha, e elles faziam oraçam a tres pedras negras, as quaees estavam em mêo do corpo da capella; e mais achámos, álem desta igreja um tanque de quantaria, iso mesmo lavrado, em o quall tomámos quanto agoa quesemos, e em cima de toda a ilha estava hum grande tanque d’altura de quatro braças, e mais achámos defronte desta igreja huma praya em a quall espalmámos o navio Berrio, e o navio do capitam moor: o Rafaell nom foy a monte por respeito dos incomvenyentes abaixo escriptos.

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The next day [24 September], having left this place, we anchored about two bombard shots from the place where we had first been, close to an island where they told us we could find water. The Captain at once sent Nicolao Coelho out in an armed boat, to find the watering hole. On this island, he found the ruins of a large stone church. This church had been destroyed by the Moors, according to what the local people told us, except for a chapel which had been roofed with straw, where they prayed before three black stones, which stood in the middle of the body of the church. In addition to this church, we found [a tank] of stone, made in the same fashion, from which we took as much water as we wanted. At the highest point of the island, there was a large tank four fathoms deep. In front of this church we also found a beach, where we careened the Berrio and the ship of the Captain major; the Rafael was not beached, on account of difficulties described below.

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Estando hum dia em ho Berrio a monte vieram a nós duas barcas grandes á maneira de fustas, as quaes traziam muita gente imfinda, e vinham a rremos tangendo tambores e charamellas e com estendartes nos topos dos mastos, e ficavam por rresguardo dellas outras cinquo ao lomgo da costa. E antes que chegasem aos navios preguntáram áquelles que nós traziamos que homes e que gente era aquella. Diseramnos que os nam leixasemos chegar a bordo, que eram ladrõees, e que vinham pera nos tomar se podesem; que os homens desta terra que andavam armados emtravam por bem em hos navios, e que depois de serem dentro, se se achavam poderosos lançavam mãoo pella naoo: [p.71] os quaees como chegaram de nós a tiro de bombarda tiraram lhes da Rafaell e da naoo do capitam moor. Elles começaram a dizer « Tambaram » dizendo que eram christãos, porque os christãos desta terra da Imdia chamam a Deus Tambaram, e quando elles viram que lhes nom conheciam desta rrezam começáram de fugir pera terra, e Nycollao Coelho foy depós elles em hm batell hum pedaço, até qe da naoo do capitam moor lhe poseram huma bandeira que se tornáse.

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One day being aboard the Berrio which was then beached, two large boats or fustas approached us loaded with many people. They rowed toward us to the sound of drums and flutes and with flags on the tops of their masts. Five others remained along the coast for their protection. Before they reached our ships, we asked the people whom we carried with us, who these men were. They told us that we should not allow them to board us, as they were thieves who had come to capture us, if they were able; that the men of this country carried arms and boarded ships as friends but that as soon as they were aboard, if they felt powerful enough, they would seize the ship and those aboard. Accordingly, as soon as they came within range of our bombards, they were fired upon by the guns of the Rafael and the ship of the Captain major. They then began to shout: “Tambaram!” saying they were Christians, because Christians of this land of India call God — Tambaram. And when they saw that we took no notice of this reasoning, they began to flee toward land. Nicolau Coelho followed them for a short distance in a boat, until he was recalled, by a signal flag displayed from the Captain major’s ship.

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Ao outro dia, estando os capitãees em terra com muita gente alinpando o dito navio Berrio, vieram duas barcas pequenas e traziam obra de doze homens linpos com seus panos, e trouxeram ao capitam moor em serviços hum feixe de canas d’açuquar, os quaees como foram em terra começáram de pidir ao capitam que lhes leixáse ir ver os navios. O capytam parecendolhe que elles vinham por emculcas começouse a agastar com elles. Estando nisto vinham outras duas com outra tanta gente, e elles conhecendo que ho capitam nom lhes mostrava boa vontade diseram aos que vinham que nom saisem em terra e que se tornasem. E elles tambem logo embarcaram e foramse depós elles.

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The following day [25 September?], while the captains were ashore with many men cleaning the Berrio, two small boats approached. They carried about a dozen well dressed men, and brought the Captain major as a present, a bundle of sugar cane. These men, after they landed, began to ask the Captain for permission to see the ships. The Captain, believing that they had come as spies, began to grow angry with them. Just then, two other boats with just as many people appeared. But those already there, knowing that the captain was not well disposed toward them, told those who were approaching not to disembark, and to turn back. They too re-embarked at once, and followed behind the others.

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Estando o navio do capitam mor alinpandose vêo hum homem de ydade de quorenta anos, o qual falava muito bem venezeano, todo vestido de pano de linho e huma touca muito boa na cabeça, e hum traçado na çinta, e como saýo fóra foy loguo abraçar o capitam mor e capitãees, e começou a dizer como elle hera christãoo e era da parte do levante, e que viera muito pequeno [p.72] em esta terra, e como vivya com hm senhor que tinha corenta mill homens de cavallo, o qual era mouro, e que elle asy mesmo era mouro, porèm que a vontade de dentro era toda de christãoo, e que em elle estando em sua casa lhe vieram dizer como estavam em Calecut huns homens qe nynguem nom hos emtendia, e que andavam todos vistidos, e que quando elle aquillo ouvira disera que taees homens nom podiam ser senam francos, que asy chamam a nósoutros em estas partes: emtam elle pidira liçença que o leixáse vir vernos e que se o nam leixasem que de nojo morreria, e que emtam seu senhor lhe dise que viese e que nos disése que se alguma cousa nos conprise de sua terra que nolla daria, offereçendo naoos e mantimentos, e mais que se em sua terra quisesemos viver que elle folgaria muito. Dandolhe o capitam d’isto muitos agradacimentos, que elle lhe parecia que estava bem, dise mais que pidia por mercê ao capitam que lhe dése hum queijo pera mandar a hum seu companheiro que ficava em terra, porque elle lhe ficára que se lhe fose bem que elle lhe mandaria hum signall com que elle descançáse. Mandoulhe emtam dar o capitam hum queijo e dous pãees molles: elle ficou em terra, e falava tanto e tantas cousas que de cando em quando se alcançava:

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While the Captain major’s ship was being careened, a man of about forty years of age arrived, who spoke very fluent Venetian, dressed all in linen, with a very fine toque on his head, and a sword in his belt. As soon as he landed, he quickly embraced the Captain major and the captains. He began to tell us that he was a Christian from the west, and that he had come to this country at a young age, and now served a Moorish Lord [Yūsuf ʿĀdil Khān, the ruler of Bijapur] who possessed forty thousand horsemen; and that he too had become Moorish. Yet, in his heart he had remained a Christian. One day while at his Lord’s house, news arrived that some men had reached Calicut whom no one could understand, and who went about fully clothed; and that when he heard this, he said that these men must be Franks, for this is what they call us in these parts. So he begged permission to come and visit us, saying that if he [his Lord] would not permit it he would die of sorrow! His Lord had thereupon told him that he could go and to tell us that if we required anything in his country that he would provide it, including ships and provisions, and that moreover if we desired to remain in his country, it would give him great pleasure. The Captain gave him many thanks for this offer, which seemed to him to have been made in good faith. The man then said that he would ask a favor from the Captain, namely that he be given a cheese to bring to one of his companions who had remained on the mainland. Because he had told him, that if things went well, he would bring him a token which would relax him. The Captain accordingly ordered a cheese and two soft loaves to be given to him; and he remained on the island, talking so much and of so many things, that from time to time he contradicted himself.

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[Note: This bright and articulate man was evidently a Jewish merchant from Europe or the Levant who had traveled to India and according to Burton married a Jewess in Cochin before serving the Muslim sultan of Bijapur. He would accompany the fleet back to Portugal, and was known as Gaspar da Gama after his subsequent baptism in honor of his “godfather” Vasco da Gama. In Lisbon, he was also called Gaspar da Índia and offered his advice on Indian affairs to D. Manuel. Eventually he was knighted for these services. For details cf. Barros and Góis who state that he was a Polish Jew who had come to India via Sarajevo, Jerusalem, and Alexandria; Castanheda noted that he had married in Cochin and taken the name Gaspar to honor one of the three Magi. Cf. also Elias Lipiner, Gaspar da Gama: Um converso na frota de Cabral (Rio de Janeiro: 1986).]

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foyse emtam Paulo da Gama aos christãos da terra que o traziam, e preguntoulhes que homem aquelle era: diseram elles que era o armador que nos viera alii cometer, e que tinha em terra as suas naos com muita jemte; e sabido isto com o mais em que comprendêram, tomáramno [p.73] e leváramno ao dito navio que estava em seco, e começaram de o açoutar que comfesáse se era elle ho armador que viera depós elles, e o porque vinha: descobriunos que elle sabía que toda a terra nos queria mall, e que muitos por essas emseadas, porém que nenhuns nom ho ousavam de vir cometer, e que estes estavam aguardando por huumas correnta vellas que se estavam armando pera virem sobre nós, porèm que elle nom sabía quando vinriam a nós; de sy nom dise emtam nada senam o que dito tinha da primeira: depois foy preguntado tres ou quatro vezes; posto que decraradamente nom ho dizia, porèm por jeitos ho emtendiamos, e dizia que elle vinha ver os navios pera saber a gente e armas que traziamos.

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Meanwhile, Paulo da Gama had gone over to the local Christians who had brought him, and asked them who this man was. They said that he was a privateer, who had come there to attack us, and that along the coast he had his ships loaded with many people. Knowing this much, and divining the rest, we seized him and took him to the ship drawn up on the beach. We began to flog him, in order to make him confess whether he was indeed a privateer followed by others, or why else he had come. We learned that he knew that the whole country wished us ill and that many armed men were around us, hidden among these inlets and creeks. However, none of them would dare come out and attack us now, since they were waiting for some forty ships which were begin armed to fall upon us; yet, he did not know when they would attack. As for himself he said nothing, except for what he had said at first. After he was flogged three or four times, though he did not openly declare it; by his gestures we understood him. And he admitted that he had come to see the ships in order to discover the number of men and arms we carried.

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Nesta ilha estevemos doze dias onde comemos muito pescado que os da terra nos traziam a vender e muitas abobaras e pipinos, e asy traziam barcas carregadas de lenha verde de canella, a qual lenha trazia sua folha;

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We remained on this island for twelve days, eating much fish that the people of the mainland brought out to sell, and also many pumpkins and cucumbers. They also brought out boats loaded with green cinnamon wood, with the leaves still attached.

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[Angediva to Malindi]

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e depois que tevemos os navios linpos e agoa tomada quanta nos era necesaria, e a naoo que tinhamos tomada desfecta, nos partimos a huma sesta feira, que foram çinquo dias do mês d’outubro.

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After our ships were cleaned and we had taken on as much water as we needed, and the ship we had captured was broken up, we departed on a Friday, which was the 5th day of October.

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Antes que a naoo fose desfecta davam ao capitam mill fanones, e elle dise que ha nom avia de vender, porque era de seus contrairos, e que nom queria senam queymálla.

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Before this [prize] ship was broken up, they offered the Captain major 1000 fanões for it. But he said that it was not for sale, and because it belonged to his enemies, he preferred to burn it.

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Indo nós obra de duzentas legoas em pégo donde par- [p.74] tiramos, dise o mouro que tomaramos que já lhe parecia tempo pera nom emcobrir nada; que era verdade que estando elle em casa de seu senhor lhe vieram dizer como nós andavamos perdidos ao lomgo da costa, que nos nom sabiamos tornar pera nossa terra, e como por este rrespeito andavam muitas armadas pera nos averem de tomar, e que emtam lhe diséra seu senhor que nos fose ver em que maneira andavamos, e que vise se nos podia leva a sua terra, e isto porque diziam que se nos o armador tomáse que lhe nom daria parte, e que como fosemos em terra que nos tomaria, e porque eramos valentes homes faria comnosco guerra aos outros rreys comarcãoos. Esta conta era fecta sem óspeda.

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When we were about two hundred leagues out to sea from where we had departed, the Moor, whom we had taken with us declared, that enough time had already passed to stop hiding things from us. It was true that while at the house of his Lord, word had come that we were wandering lost along the coast, and that we did not know how to return home. For this reason many armed ships had been sent out to capture us. He said that his Lord had told him to come and discover what we were doing, and to see if he could bring us to his country. For if a pirate had taken us, he would not have received a share of the booty; but if we had landed in his country he would have taken us. And because we were valiant men he would have used us to make war against the neighboring kings. But he who reckons without the host pays twice.

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Andámos tamto tempo em esta travésa que tres meses menos tres dias gastámos nella; isto com muitas calmarias e ventos comtrairos que em nella achámos, de maneira que nos adoeçêo toda a gente das gingivas, que lhes creçiam sobre os dentes em tall maneira que nom podiam comer, e iso mesmo lhes inchavam as pernas, e grandes outros inchaços pelo corpo, de guisa que lavravam hum homem tanto até que morria sem ter outra nenhua doença; da qual nos morrêram em o dito tempo trinta homes, afóra outros tantos que já eram mortos, e os que navegavam em cada naoo seryam sete ou oyto homens, e estes nom eram ainda sãos como aviam de ser, do que vos afirmo que se nos mais durára aquelle tempo quinze dias andaramos por ese mar atravês, que nom ouvera hii quem navegara os navios. Em tall ponto eramos que era já todo composto: e andando nós asy nesta coyta faziamos muitos pro- [p.75] metimentos a santos e pititores pellos navios. E os capitães tinham já fecto comselho que se nos vento igual acudise, que nos tornáse a terra da India d’onde partiramos, de arribarmos a ella.

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We spent so much time on this crossing [the Gulf] that three months less three days were devoted to it; with many calms and contrary winds, which we encountered along the way. So that all our men fell ill with their gums, which grew over their teeth, in such a fashion that they could not eat. Their legs also swelled, and other parts of their bodies as well. This affliction spread until the men died without having any other disease. Thirty of our men died in this manner during this crossing, not counting a similar number who had already died. And those who could navigate each ship were thereby reduced to merely seven or eight men; and even these men were not as well as they needed to be. So that I assure you that if this crossing had lasted another fifteen days; there would have been no men at all to sail the ships! At that point, we had reached our limit. Thus proceeding in the midst of this affliction, we made many vows to the Saints, and petitions to them on behalf of the ships. The captains had already agreed that if a favorable wind allowed us to return to India, from whence we had come, we would head there.

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Quys nos Deus por sua misericordia dar tal vento, que em obra de seis dias nos trouxe a terra, com a quall folgámos tanto como se fora de Portugall, porque esperavamos com ajuda de Deus guareçer em ella como da outra vez.

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But it pleased God, in his mercy, to provide us with a wind which in about six days brought us to land. At this we rejoiced as much as we had reached Portugal, because we hoped, with the help of God, to recover our health there, as we had done once before.

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E foy huma quarta feira dous dias de fevereiro da era de mill CCCCLXLIX anos; e porque já eramos perto da terra e era de noute fezemos em outra banda e payrámos;

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This took place on a Wednesday, the 2nd of January of the year 1499. As it was already night as we approached land, we came about and lay to.

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e como foy manham fomos a demandálla terra pera sabermos honde Nosso Senhor nos tinha lançados, porquanto nom avia já hii piloto nem homem que cartear soubése pera saber em que parajem eramos, senam quanto alguns diziam que nom podiamos ser senam antre humas ilhas que estam através Maçombique obra de trezentas legoas de terra. E isto hera porque hum mouro dizia que nos tomaramos em Macombiquy; que as ilhas eram muito doentias, e que mesmo os que em ellas viviam adoeçiam das nossa doenças.

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And when morning came [3 January], we went to reconnoiter the coast, in order to discover where Our Lord had taken us. For there was not a pilot among us, nor any other man who could fix our position, in order to know in what place we then were, even though some said that we had to be among some islands that are off Mozambique, about three hundred leagues from the mainland. They said this because a Moor (one of those we had taken at Mozambique) stated that these islands were very unhealthy, and that even those people who inhabited them suffered from the same disease which had afflicted us.

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[Mogadishu]

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E achámos nos d’avante huuma cidade muito grande e de casarias sobradadas, e em mêo da cidade tinha huuns grandes paços, e arredor da cidade tinha quatro torres; e estava esta cidade bem a caram do mar, a quall he de mouros e se chama Magadoxó; e como fomos tanto avante bem junto com ella tirámos muitas bombardadas,

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We found ourselves off a very large city, with houses of several stories, and large palaces in its center, and four towers around it. This town faced the sea; and belonged to the Moors, and was called Mogadoxo. And as we passed before it, nearly upon it, we fired off many bombards.

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e fomos noso caminho com mui bom vento á popa [p.76] ao lomgo da costa, andando de dia e pairavamos de noute, porque nom sabiamos quanto avia de nós a Milingue onde nós desejavamos de hir.

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We continued on our way along the coast, with a very fair wind behind us, sailing during the day and laying to at night, since we did not know how far we were from Malindi, where we much desired to go.

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E ao sabado que foram cinquo dias do dito mês, indo nós em calma, com hua trovoada que sobrevêo de supito quebráram as ostagas ao Rafaell. Indo nós corregendo asy o dito navio saýo a nós huum armador a nós de huma villa que se chama Pate, com oyto barcas com muita gente a nós, e como elles foram de nós a tiro de bombarda lhes tirámos e elles fogíram loguo pera terra. Nom fomos depós elles porque nom tinhamos vento.

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On Saturday, which was the 5th of that month, while becalmed, a thunderstorm suddenly burst upon us, breaking the ties of the Rafael. While we were repairing this ship, a privateer came out toward us, from a town called Pate [Pate Island], with eight boats with many men. As soon as they came within range of our bombards, we fi red at them and they soon fled toward land; we did not pursue them since we did not have a favorable wind.

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[Malindi]

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Ha segunda feira, que foram nove dias do dito mês, fomos a pousar d’avante Milindy, honde logo elrey mandou hum barco longo, o quall trazia muita gente, e mandou carneiros, e mandou dizer ao capitam que elle fose bem vindo, que já avia dias que esperava por elle, e asy mandou dizer outras muitas palavras d’amisade e paz, e o capitam mandou com estes que vieram hum homem a terra pera o outro dia trazer laranjas que muito desejavam os doentes que traziamos, como de fecto as trouxe logo com outras muitas fruytas, postoque nom aproveitáram aos doentes, que a terra os apalpou em tal maneira que aqy se nos fináram muitos; e asy vinham muitos mouros a bordo por mandado d’elrey e traziam muitas galinhas e ovos a rresgatar.

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On Monday, which was the 7th of that month [January], we cast anchor off Malindi. The king at once sent out a long boat, carrying many men, with a gift of some sheep. He ordered the Captain informed that he was welcome, and that for several days he had been expecting him, and he also sent many other words of amity and peace. The Captain in turn sent a man back to shore with these messengers who had come out, to return the following day with oranges, that were much desired by the sick that we carried. In fact he brought these promptly, along with many other fruits, although the sick did not profit by these — since the climate affected them in such a way that many of them died here. Many Moors also came on board by order of the king, and they brought many chickens and eggs to barter.

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E o capitam vendo como nos fazia tanta honrra em tempo que nos era tam neçesaria, mandoulhe hum serviço e mandoulhe dizer por hum dos nossos homens, o quall era o que sabía falar aravía, que lhe pidia que lhe [p.77] dése huuma bozina de marfim pera trazer a ellrey seu senhor e que lhe mandáse poonr huum padram em terra que ficáse em sinall d’amizade. E ellrey dise que era muito comtente de fazer todo aquillo que elle dizia por amor d’ellrey de Portugall, a que elle desejava de servir e ser sempre a seu serviço, como de fecto logo mandou a bozina ao capitam e mandou levar o padram em terra.

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The Captain, seeing that the king was showing us such courtesy at a time when we were so in need of it, sent him a present. He also ordered him told by one of our men, who knew how to speak Arabic, that he might provide a tusk of ivory to bring to the king [of Portugal] his Lord, and that he permit a pillar erected ashore, to remain as a sign of friendship. The king replied that he was very happy to do everything he had been asked, out of love for the king of Portugal, whom he desired to serve and to be always in his service. In fact, he promptly ordered a tusk taken to the Captain, and he ordered the pillar erected.

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E asy emviou huum mouro mançebo pera viir comnosco, que queria viir ver Portugall, o quall mouro ellrey mandou muito emcomendar ao capitam, e bem asy lhe mandou dizer que elle mandava aquelle mançebo pera que ellrey de Portugal soubése quanto elle dezejava sua amizade.

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He also sent out a young Moor, who wanted to see Portugal, who was invited to go with us. This Moor was strongly recommended to the Captain by the king, Moreover, he said that he had sent the young man so that the king of Portugal might know how much he desired his friendship.

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Neste logar estevemos çinquo dias folagando e desquansando de quanto trabalho tinhamos passado na travessa, onde todos ouveramos de morrer.

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We remained for five days at this place, enjoying ourselves and recovering from the hardships we had endured on our crossing — where all of us had confronted death.

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[The East Africa Coast: Malindi to the Cape of Good Hope]

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E a huma sesta feira polla manham nos partimos, e quando vêo ao sabado, que foram doze dias do dito mês, pasámos por jumto com Monbaça,

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On a Friday morning we departed. On Saturday, which was the 12th of that month, we passed close to Mombasa.

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e ao domingo fomos pousar em hos baixos de Sam-rrafaell, onde posemos o ffogo ao navio deste nome, porquanto era cousa imposivell navegarem tres navios com tam pouca gente como eramos: aquy pasámos todo o fato deste navio aos outros dous que ficáram.

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On Sunday, we anchored at the shoals of São Rafael, where we burned the ship of that name, as it was impossible to sail three ships with so few men as remained. During our stay, we transferred all the riggings of this ship to the others.

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Aquy estevemos çinquo dias, onde nos traziam de huuma villa que defronte de nós estava, que se chama Tamugata, muitas galinhas a vender e rresgatar por camisas e manilhas.

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We remained here for fifteen days, and from a town in front of us called Tamugata [Mtangata], many fowl were brought out to us to sell and barter in exchange for shirts and bracelets.

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E a hum domingo, que foram XXVII dias do dito mês, nos partimos d’aquy com mui bom vento á popa, e a noute se- [p.78] guinte payrámos,

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On Sunday, which was the 27th of this month, we departed from this place with a fair wind behind us, and the following night we lay to.

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e quando vêo a manham nos achámos junto com huuma ilha muito grande que se chama Jamgiber, a qual he povoada de muitos mouros, a quall estará de terra bem dez legoas.

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And when morning came [28 January], we found ourselves close to a very large island called Jangiber [Zanzibar], peopled by many Moors; which lies a good ten leagues from the mainland.

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E ao primeiro dia de fevereiro á tarde fomos pousar davante as ilhas de Sam Jorge em Mocombiquy.

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On the 1st day of February, in the afternoon, we dropped anchor in front of the island of S. Jorge [Goa Island / Watólofu], near Mozambique.

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E ao outro dia pella manham fomos poonr em a ilha, onde á ida diseramos misa, hum padram. E foy tanta a chuva que nunca podémos fazer fogo pera derretermos chumbo pera lhe pormos a cruz; o quall ficou sem ella,

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On the following day [2 February], in the morning, we set up a pillar on that island, where we had said mass going out. But it rained so heavily that we could not light a fire to melt the lead to affix the cross, and it therefore remained without one.

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e nós viemonos aos navios e partimonos logo.

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We then returned to the ships and departed soon thereafter.

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Aos tres dias do mês de março chegámos á Amgra de Sam Brás, onde tomámos muita achoa e lobos marinhos e sotelycairos, dos quaees fezemos salga pera o mar;

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On the 3rd of March, we reached the Angra de São Brás, where we caught many anchovies, seals, and penguins, which we salted for our voyage.

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e aos doze dias do dito mês nos partimos. Sendo alèm d’aguada dez ou doze legoas ventou o ponente de guisa que nos fez tornar a pousar em a dita amgra,

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On the 12th of the said month, we departed. When we were ten to twelve leagues from the watering place, however, the wind gusted so violently from the west that we were forced to return and anchor in this bay.

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e como foy bonança tornámos a sair, e deunos Noso Senhor tam bom vento que aos vinte dias do dito mês pasámos pollo cabo de Boa Esperança. E eses que atéquy chegámos eramos de saude e rrijos, e ás vezes bem mortos de frio de grandes bisas que aquy achavamos em esta terra. E mais o punhamos a vyrmos de terra quente que ao frio ser grande,

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When the wind calmed, we started out once more. Our Lord gave us such a good wind, that on the 20th day of this month we doubled the Cape of Good Hope. And the men, who had managed to reach here, were in good health and robust, although at times nearly dead from the winter blasts that we encountered in this land. But we attributed this to coming from such a hot climate more than the cold being so great.

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e seguimos nosso caminho com grande desejo de chegarmos, e vinhamos com vento á popa que nos durou bem vinte e sete dias, de maneira que nos pôs em boa para- [p.79] jem da ylha de Samtiago, que em as cartas de marear ao mais que della nos faziamos eram çem legoas, e alguns eram já com ella, e aquy nos acalmou o dito vento, e alguum que nos yguava era muito pouco e por davante, e por avermos conhecimento donde eramos com alguumas trovoadas que nos vinham de terra hiamos de lloo quanto podiamos;

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We followed our route with a great desire of reaching home. And we sailed with the wind astern for a good twenty seven days, so that it brought us not far from the ilha de Santiago, which on the charts appeared no further than one hundred leagues away, while some believed that we were already quite near. But here the wind fell off and we were becalmed, and the little wind there was contrarily came from ahead. Some thunderstorms which came from the land, allowed us to determine where we were, and we sailed to windward as much as we were able.

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e huma quinta feira vinte e cinquo dias do mês d’abrill achámos fundo de trinta e cinquo braças, e todo o dia fomos por este caminho, e o menos fundo foram vinte braças, e nom podémos aver vista da terra, e os pilotos diziam que eramos nos baixos do Rio Grande.

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On Thursday, the 25th of April, we took soundings of thirty five fathoms. All day long we followed our route, never sounding less than twenty fathoms, but we could not catch sight of land. Yet, the pilots said that we were near the shoals of the Rio Grande [the Rio Geba in Guiné Bissau].

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[The Journal ends abruptly at this point. The final stages of the voyage, however, can be summarized. Shortly after the 25th April, the São Gabriel and Berrio were separated in a storm. Nicolau Coelho headed directly for Lisbon and reached the Tagus on 10 July 1499, after a voyage of 732 days. Vasco da Gama, after waiting a day for the Berrio put into the island of Santiago, where he turned over command of the São Gabriel to João de Sá with orders to make for Lisbon. Paulo da Gama was then gravely ill, most probably in the final stages of tuberculosis and his brother chartered a swift caravel to get him home as quickly as possible. But Paulo da Gama’s condition only worsened and the caravel instead put into the port of Angra on the island of Terceira in the Azores. There, Paulo died ‘as the good Christian that he was’ and was buried with all possible honors. The exact date that João de Sá and the São Gabriel reached Lisbon is not definitively recorded, but it was probably in early August and definitely before the 28th of that month. Similarly, the exact date of the triumphal return of Vasco da Gama to Lisbon is also debated. The generally accepted date is sometime between 29 August and 14 September 1499.]