Of our men who had been
saved out of the admirals ship[10]. We remained five months at this
harbour, occupied in building the fort, and in loading our ships with
Brazil-wood; our stay being protracted by the small number of our hands
and the magnitude of our labour, so that we only made slow progress.
Having finished our labours, we determined on returning to Portugal, for
which we required a wind that would allow us to hold a N.N.E. course. We
left twenty-four of our men in the fort, with twelve cannon, abundance of
other weapons, and provisions for six months, having entered into a treaty
of friendship with the natives. Of these I omit any particular notice,
although we saw vast numbers of them, and had much and frequent
intercourse with them during our long stay; having penetrated about forty
leagues into the interior of the country, accompanied by thirty of the
natives. In that expedition I saw many things worthy of notice, which I do
not here insert, but which will be found in my book describing my four
voyages. The situation of this fort and harbour is in latitude 18 deg. S. and
35 deg. W. longitude from Lisbon. Leaving this place we steered our course
N.N.E. for Lisbon, at which place we arrived in seventy-seven days after
many toils and dangers, on the 28th June 1504. We were there received very
honourably, even beyond our expectations, the whole city believing we had
perished on the ocean, as indeed all the rest of our companions did,
through the presumptuous folly of our commander. I now remain in Lisbon,
unknowing what may be the intentions of his majesty respecting me, though
I am now desirous of resting myself after my great labours.
[1] Such is the expression in the original, the eastern horizon being so
named apparently by way of eminence. - E.
[2] As written by an Italian, Melcha has the sound of Melka, and the place
here indicated is obviously the city of Malacca in the Malayan
peninsula, long a famous emporium for the trade of eastern India and
China. - E.
[3] The Bay of Bengal and sea of China. - E.
[4] In the original these positions are thus unaccountably misrepresented,
as literally translated: "Melcha is more to the west, and Calicut
more to the south; being situated 33 deg. from the Antarctic pole." - E.
It would appear from some circumstances in the sequel, that this fleet
was directed to visit Brazil on its way to India; and that the
ultimate object of the voyage was frustrated through its early
misfortunes. - E.
[5] Per suduestium, qui ventus est inter meridiem et lebeccium: Between
the S. and S.W. or S.S.W. - E.
