Have been Christians.
Bontaybo applied the same significant term of kafr to the image
worshippers of all denominations, without discriminating one species
of idolater from another. - E.
[61] On this part of the text, the author, or the original translator,
makes the following singular marginal reflection: - "The general
deceived, committeth idolatry with the Devil." - E.
[62] Astley, I. 24. a.
[63] Called in Astley _sharafins_. - Astl. I. 36.
[64] De Faria says that this fleet belonged to a pirate named Timoja, of
whom frequent mention will be made hereafter; and that the eight ships
were so linked together, and covered over with boughs of trees, that
they resembled a floating island. - Astl. I. 38. a.
[65] More probably Anche-diva, or Ange-diva. - Astl. I. 38. b.
[66] These vessels seem more probably to have been the squadron of Timoja.
- Astl. I. 38. c.
[67] Frangnes, Franghis, or Feringays, a common name all over the East
for Europeans; assuredly derived from the Francs or French, long known
as the great enemy of the Mahometans, by their exploits in the
crusades. - E.
[68] De Faria says this person was a Jew, and that he made the sign of
the cross from the shore to be taken on board. - Astl. I. 39. b.
[69] Or rather one of the three kings of Collen. - Astl. I. 39.
[70] Since called Cuama. - Astl. I. 39. c.
[71] Magadoxo is in lat. 2 deg. 20' N. and about 45 deg. 40' E. long. - E.
[72] Pate stands on the coast of Zanguebar, on the Rio Grande, one of the
mouths of the river Zebee, in lat. 1 deg. 50' S. and about 41 deg. 20' E. long.
- E.
[73] De Faria says this ship was lost on the shoals called after her name
but the men were saved. - Astl. I. 40. a.
[74] De Faria alleges that Coello was separated by a storm near Cape Verd,
and arrived at Lisbon, thinking De Gama had got home before him. - Astl.
I. 40. b.
[75] De Faria says fifty-five, and that they were all rewarded by the
king. - Astl. I. 40. c.
[76] The translator values this pension at 200l. a-year, perhaps equal in
present value to 2000l. - E.
[77] This does not appear to have been actually done until his return
from India the second time, as will be mentioned hereafter. - E.
[78] According to Astley, but without quoting any particular authority,
De Gama had a grant from the king of the title of Don for himself and
his descendants, and a pension of 3000 ducats: Coello was raised to
the rank of Fidalgo, or gentleman, and had an appointment of 100
ducats yearly. - Astl. I. 40.
SECTION III.
_Voyage of Pedro Alvarez Cabral to India in 1500; being the second made
by the Portuguese to India, and in the course of which Brasil was
Discovered._
The certainty of a navigable communication with India, and the vast
riches that were to be had in that country, being now ascertained, the
king resolved to prosecute the discovery, on purpose to spread the gospel
among the idolaters, and to augment his own revenues and the riches and
prosperity of his subjects. For these purposes, he determined to attempt
the settlement of a factory in Calicut by gentle means; hopeful that they
might be persuaded to a friendly intercourse, and might afterwards listen
to the word of God.
He therefore commanded that a fleet of ten ships and two caravels should
be got ready against next year, to be well laden with all the commodities
which De gama had reported to have current sale in Calicut. There went
others also to Sofala and Quiloa, where also he commanded factories to be
established, both on account of the gold which was to be found there, and
that the ships might have a place to touch and refresh at in their way to
and from India. Over the fleet intended for Calicut, he appointed Pedro
Alvarez Cabral, a gentleman of an honourable house, to be captain-general,
Sancho de Toar being captain of his ship. The names of the other captains,
so far as have come to my knowledge, were Nicholas Coello, Don Luis
Continho, Simon de Myseranda, Simon Leyton, Bartholomew Diaz, who
discovered the Cape of Good Hope, and his brother Diego Diaz, who had
been purser to Vasco do Gama in the former voyage. Of the caravels, Pedro
de Tayde[1] and Vasco de Silviera, were captains. Arias Correa was
appointed supercargo of the whole fleet, and was ordered to remain as
factor in Calicut, having Gonsalo Gil Barboso and Pedro Vas Caninon as
his clerks. Two ships were to remain with the merchandize at Sofala,
where Loriso Hurtado was to be factor. In the whole of this fleet there
embarked 1500 men[2].
The general was instructed, besides settling the factories, that if the
zamorin would not quietly consent or give sufficient lading to the ships,
he should make cruel war upon him for his injurious conduct to Vasco de
Gama. If the zamorin consented to the establishment of a factory and
trade, the general was secretly to request him not to allow any of the
Moors of Mecca to remain or to trade in Calicut, or any other harbour in
his dominions, and to promise that the Portuguese should hereafter supply
all such commodities as used to be brought by the Moors, of better
quality and cheaper than theirs. That he should touch at Melinda, to land
the ambassador who had been brought from thence by De Gama, together with
a present for the king of that place. Along with this fleet, the king
sent five friars of the order of St Francis, of whom Fra Henrique was
vicar, who was afterwards bishop _Siebta_, and who was to remain in the
factory to preach the Catholic faith to the Malabars[3].
The fleet being in full readiness, the king went in procession, on Sunday
the 7th of March 1500, to hear mass at the monastery of Belem,
accompanied by the captain-general, whom he took along with himself
behind the curtain in the royal seat, to do him the more honour.
