ABSTRACT
When the great Afonso Dalboquerque had his ships already prepared, and had embarked to sail for Portugal, the factor came on board and told him that Francisco Dalboquerque had gone away to Cananor without taking any commodities, although he had frequently besought him to take some, for he had some ready within the fortress, and he begged Afonso earnestly that he would be pleased to perform this service for the king and take the commodities to Cananor, as he was to meet Francisco Dalboquerque 17there. To serve the king, Afonso Dalboquerque, although his ships were very mach overburdened with cargo, took in all the cloves and cinnamon which the factor sent him; and leaving port, put in at Calicut, where he found Francisco Dalboquerque treating for peace; but without coming to any settlement, they set out in company and went away to Cananor, where Afonso Dalboquerque transferred to him all the cloves and cinnamon he carried. And because Francisco Dalboquerque had to complete the lading of the ships, and was getting on rather slowly, though the King D. Manoel had given orders that they should keep together, yet all the officers of the factory agreed that Afonso Dalboquerque should wait till the 20 th of January, and, after that time was passed, should sail at once. When the 25th day of the month had come, and Afonso Dalboquerque saw that Francisco was not hastening the lading of his ships, he made up his mind to sail, and to wait no longer. Respecting the course he was to take there were many advices and opinions, but last of all they agreed that he should steer his course direct to Moçambique; and because that course was not very much frequented at that time, Afonso Dalboquerque carried with him a Moorish pilot from Cananor—against the opinion of all, who said that that Moor would bring misfortune upon him—but the Moor was so well acquainted with his trade, and knew the passage so well, that he carried him direct to Moçambique by a fair course without any accident, and there left him, receiving fifty cruzados 1 for his trouble. Then, without making any stoppage, he shaped his course direct for the Cape of Good Hope. And because Fernão Martinz Dalmada ran very short of water, they put in for water at S. Bras, and remained there for two days, working night and day all the 18time. While engaged on this business, they lost the boat of Afonso Dalboquerque, for it was utterly decayed. And there they found a letter, sealed up, and wrapped in a piece of waxed cloth, fastened upon a post, which stated that Antonio de Saldanha and the Taforéa, 1 and the ship from Setubal, had arrived there in the month of October. As soon as his ships had taken in water, Afonso Dalboquerque set sail, and shaped his course for the current of the Cape of Good Hope, and having fair weather, doubled it on the 1st day of May. When they had doubled the Cape, at the advice of the pilots they kept on their course till they were in ten degrees north latitude; and here they experienced great calms, so that some of the men fell ill. On the morning of St. John’s Day they sighted Cape Darca, which is between the shallows of Arguim and Cenaguá; and because Afonso Dalboquerque’s ship leaked very much, he determined, as he was in such proximity, to go in search of Cape Verde Island, and there refit his ships with what was required, for that was the nearest place. And, although the winds were contrary at this season, Our Lord so helped them that they sighted the island. And having run aground, the main-yard of Afonso Dalboquerque’s ship was broken and the mainsail torn down, for they were beating up against the wind to catch sight of the island, and he anchored with foresail only flying, in the port of the beach of Santa Maria, with the other two ships of his fleet, all being now very deficient in cables, sails, and all other necessaries required for so long a voyage. For had Our Lord not miraculously carried them thither (as this was not the true navigation they had to make), they would have been swallowed up by the sea. So they were there for three days, and having repaired the ships in all that was wanted, and taken water and provisions for their voyage, they started for Portugal, and with favourable breezes, without touching at any other place, they arrived at Lisbon at the end of July in the said year 1504, where Afonso Dalboquerque was very well received by the King Dom Manoel, who paid him much honour and entertainment, evincing his great pleasure at the good success that had attended the voyage, and at the completion of the fortress of Cochim.
