[3] If Saturday were the 5th July, on which the fleet sailed from Lisbon,
the 3d of August must have been on Thursday. But it does not seem
necessary to insist upon such minute critical accuracy; which, besides,
is unattainable. - E.
[4] This strange expression probably means, that Gama stretched directly
across the gulf of Guinea, not creeping as usual along the coast, and
endeavoured to make a direct course for the Cape of Good Hope. - E.
[5] Our old English translator, Lichefield, strangely mistakes in calling
this place the _island_ of Sancta Haelena; which is assuredly St Elena
bay, in lat. 32 deg. 40' S. It has since been sometimes named St Martin's
bay, but the proper and general name is the bay of St Elena, the S. W.
point of entry being called St Martin's Point. - E.
[6] Perhaps the Berg river, at the bottom of St Elena bay. - E.
[7] This paragraph is added to relation of Castenada from the works of
Faria and Osorius. - Clarke.
[8] If the Thursday on which they came in sight of the Cape were the 16th,
the Wednesday following must have been the 22nd of the month. - E.
[9] This paragraph is an addition to the text of Castaneda from Osorius -
Clarke, I. 342
[10] From the circumstances in the text, this watering-place of St Blaze
is probably what is now called St Katherines or St Sebastians Bay; yet
that place hardly exceeds forty-seven Portuguese leagues east from the
cape. The sixty leagues of the text would carry us almost a degree
farther east, to what is now called Kaffercroyts river. Clarke removes
this place still farther to Flesh Bay, otherwise called Angra de St
Braz, or Aguada de St Braz by De Barros. This latter place is seventy
Portuguese leagues, or above eighty marine leagues east from the cape.
- E.
[11] This account seems erroneous, whether St Katherines or Flesh Bay be
the one in question, as both ought to be safe in north winds, and the
winds between the S and E points give both a lee shore. - E.
[12] Probably a species of Penguins: Lichefield calls them _stares_, as
large as ducks; Osorius says the natives called them _satiliario_, and
that they were as big as geese. - E.
[13] Probably Rock Point, forming the western boundary of Algoa or
Zwartkops bay, in long. 27 deg. E. bring the rocky extreme promontory of
the Krakakamma ridge. - E.
[14] It is infinitely difficult to guess the course of these early voyages,
without latitudes or longitudes, and only estimated distances by dead
reckoning in uncertain leagues; but the Rio del Infante of this voyage
and that of Diaz, is probably that now called Great-fish river, in the
Zuureveld of Graaff Reynet, in long. 28 deg. 20' E which, however, is
twenty-six Portuguese leagues, or thirty geographical leagues from
Rocky Point, instead of the fifteen leagues of the text.