ABSTRACT
The chief captain, Tristão da Cunha, being ready with his fleet to set sail from the port of Biziguiche, despatched the captain of the caravela, and wrote by him to the king, concerning the state all were in, and how on their arrival there the Lord had been pleased to stay the plague. The caravela having sailed, all the ships stood out to double the Cape of St. Augustine, but as it was now late in the season, and the winds contrary, and as they had to delay because of the chief captain’s ship, which was a bad sailer, they were unable to double the Cape, and tacked again towards Guiné, wherein much time was spent. While they were making this latter run, so severe a storm broke over the fleet that the ships parted company, one from the other, and two days after collected together again, and shaped their course for St. Augustine’s, all except the ship of Job Queimado, which was not to be seen. And they kept on their course, keeping back very often for the chief captain’s ship. When Afonso Dalboquerque saw that time was wasted in waiting for this ship, and the other captains dared not say a word, he had an audience of the chief captain, and told him he could see that the principal reason why they could not double Cape St. Augustine was the constant waiting for his ship, and as the season was far advanced it was very doubtful whether they would get to India that year, and since he could not keep up with the rest they must leave him behind with another ship in his company, whichever he might select, while he himself set sail aud kept on his voyage with the rest. The chief captain replied that if the king, D. Manoel, had entrusted him with the fleet, it was for his advantage, and 24therefore he would have them wait for his ship, as in it he carried his cargo. As Afonso Dalboquerque would lose much if he did not get to India that year, a few days afterwards he went again to beg the chief captain to let his ship go, which produced angry words between them, and with good reason, to which Afonso Dalboquerque made no reply, nor for the future was he minded to say any more with respect to the voyage. When the chief captain, a few days afterwards, perceived the mistake he had made, and that he lost more in not reaching India that year than he gained by making the fleet wait for his ship, and that all the masters and pilots, when they spoke with him, told him of it, he made up his mind to adopt a remedy. So when they were in the latitude of the Island of the Ascension, he hung out a square flag, and all the captains came on board immediately to know what he wished. The chief captain told them that he had resolved that they should all set their sails, and not wait for any one, but each make way with what speed he could, and wait for him at Moçambique. And when they were all in their course for doubling the Cape of Good Hope, as the morning broke they came in sight of land very extensive and very beautiful. When Afonso Dalboquerque saw it, he went and spoke with the chief captain, and told him that since it had not yet been discovered, they ought to make for it, and know what land it was. As this advice seemed good to the chief captain, he gave orders to work his ship to windward, so as to come up with it, and all the others did the same, and when the evening was come he shaped his course again as at first. This land proved to be some islands, 1 to which they gave the name of “Tristão da Cunha”, as he was the first who discovered them. And sailing along past them just as the sun was on the point of setting, the wind began to blow so hard, and with so many showers, that the ships were unable to keep with the chief 1 In the South Atlantic, 37 deg. 6 min. S., 12 deg. 2 min. W. 25captain, and all separated from him, except Afonso Dalboquerque, who followed him, and they kept on their way together for some days, with a favourable wind. And one night they encountered such a great storm from the front that it separated them; and the ship of Afonso Dalboquerque was forced to lie to for seven watches 1 with great labouring, and refused to answer her helm.
