ABSTRACT
The chief captain, having arrived at Moçambique, determined, as it was now too late to cross over to India, to fit out his fleet there, for making the passage to Çocotora, wherein the king, D. Manoel, had ordered him to build a fortress for the rallying of some Christians, who, as he was informed, were living in that island, that they might not be troubled by the Fartaquins and other Moorish vessels which went thither to take in water, when they passed through the strait of Meca. At this juncture, Rui Pereira arrived and told him that at the time of that storm, wherein he had parted from him, he went into a harbour of the Island Sn. Lourenço, and while he was casting anchor, two almadias 1 with some negroes came up to his ship as peaceful people, and showed him silver, was, and cotton stuffs; and they told him that if he would go in they would trade with him, for there was much of these things in the land; and all this they said by signs, for there was no one in the ship who could understand them. Bat when he would have gone in to get more certain information about this, the pilot, master, and factor of the ship, made a great demand that he should not go in, but keep on the voyage towards Moçambique, for the ship belonged to them, and they were not obliged to discover new lands, and they furthermore promised to indemnify him. And hearing their demands, he had brought these two negroes, as they seemed intelligent men, and set sail. The chief captain was very much pleased with this news, because if it were true, he could load his ships there and return to Portugal; and he sent immediately for a 27native Moor of Quiloa, who was in Moçambique and was conversant (as he had information) with the language of the men, and bade him inquire of these negroes what there was in their land, and by what name it was called. They told him that their land was called Tananá, and that it contained much ginger, cloves, silver, and wax. Hereupon the chief captain ordered that Afonso Dalboquerque, and all the other captains, masters, and pilots of the fleet should be summoned, and informed them of all that had passed with the negroes, adding that he thought that, as they had to remain there some days, they ought to go and search for this port which Rui Pereira had discovered, and so he would have them point out which route he should take, for he was determined to go thither. The pilots and masters of the fleet were of opinion that he ought to explore this land on the northern side. Afonso Dalboquerque, as he was a mariner and understood navigation very well, perceiving that the masters and pilots were speaking in error, asked them why it was their opinion that the northern route should be chosen, since the island was not explored on that side, nor was there in the fleet a single person who knew how far the land stretched out on the northern side. The pilots and masters made no reply to this, for they had none to make, but adhered to what they had said. When Afonso Dalboquerque saw that they were unwilling to withdraw from their opinion, he would have nothing more to do with them in the matter. To end these differences, the chief captain begged him to tell him his opinion; he replied, that since this exploration was determined upon, it ought to be made from that southern part, whence Rui Pereira had come, for it was not good advice to explore new parts by an uncertain route, and the more so, as he had a pilot who could carry him, without any trouble, to the port which Rui Pereira had discovered, and which could be reached in six days sailing before the wind; and, further, in the present season it would be very difficult to double the point of the land of the Island, which was in twelve degrees north latitude, for the east winds were blowing, and the currents running fast, and much time would be spent in doubling it, and it was time that they were more in need of than anything else. And although in this advice there was no one who could contradict Afonso Dalboquerque’s opinion, yet, since what he alleged did not agree with the chief captain’s opinion, he was not satisfied with what he had told him, and was guided by the opinion of the pilots and masters. Not many days, however, elapsed before he perceived the mistake he had made; and when he was at length desirous of remedying it, he had wasted three months along the coast, suffering many hardships and perils without achieving anything.
