ABSTRACT
As soon as the great Afonso Dalboquerque had put the affairs of the land in order, he wished immediately to set about fitting out his fleet, so as to sail at the new moon, which would be on the tenth day of August, for this was 57the time, as the Moorish pilots, whom he had brought from Melinde, said, that he might start for the coast of Arabia. So he ordered Pero Yaz Dorta, factor of the fleet, and João Estão, scrivener, to overhaul all the ships, and find out what supplies each one had on board, and from the information they acquired he understood that there were only fifteen days’ supplies on board the fleet. When this was reported to Afonso Dalboquerque, he ordered a bread-room to be opened which was in his ship, and which he had caused to be carefully guarded, when he saw that Tristão da Cunha was not managing well in that voyage after he left Portugal, being fearful lest the delay should consume all, and he ordered the contents to be divided among all the captains, he himself taking his fair share, as each one of them did, for he did not wish that what was wanting to the others should abound with himself. When all was ready, and waiting the time for starting on the second of the month, such a great storm from the south-west struck them that all the ships were like to have been overset, and by stress of weather they broke all the cables they had, and the Rey Grande went nearly out of soundings, but by a miracle one cable held her. So Afonso Dalboquerque, finding himself by night in this misfortune, was very anxious, as he had not arranged with the captains what course they were bo take, and whither they were to go and wait for him if the ships slipped their cables. And at once, in the night, while the storm was at its height, he ventured his skiff and wrote to the captains, that in case his sins deserved that any ship should break cables at that time, it was to make its way to, and wait for him at, the Islands of Curia Muria, and there all would take counsel respecting the course to be followed. And, with this message, he sent to each one a pilot of the Moors, whom he brought with him from Melinde. And it pleased Our Lord that when morning broke the weather cleared up, and the mariners had an opportunity of mending 58their cables. As soon as the day of departure was come, Afonso Dalboquerque summoned the captains and all the pilots, both Moors and Christians, and told them the time of setting out was come, and it would be well to discuss the route they were to take, whether by the Straits of Meca 1 or of Ormuz, or whether they should go at once to Dio and Cambaia, and in which part of these the fleet could be best supplied with supplies; for there was great need of them. These questions being brought before the assembly, and all the obstacles which were alleged being removed, it was agreed that, with the west winds then blowing, they should make for the Straits of Ormuz and take Mazcate, and there make up their minds what to do, and in that latitude of Çocotora, Fartaque, 2 and Dofar, 3 cruise about for eight days, watching the ships which at that season started from Barbara 4 and Zeilo, 5 and all the Red Sea, for Dio and Cambaia, and all the ports of Malabar.
