voyage, and arrived safe at Lisbon on the last day of July, in the year 1501.  Soon after his arrival, the ship which had separated in a storm off the Cape of Good Hope, came in; and shortly after that, Sancho de Toar arrived from Sofala.  He described Sofala as a small island close on the continent of Africa, inhabited by a black people called Caffres; and reported that much gold is brought to this place from certain mines on the adjacent continent; on which account Sofala is much frequented by Moors from India, who barter merchandize of small value for gold.  He brought along with him to Lisbon a Moor whom he had received as an hostage or pledge for the safety of one of his own men, whom he had left there to acquire a knowledge of the country and its language; and from this Moor they got ample information respecting the people and trade of those parts of Africa, which I shall afterwards communicate.  Including this last ship, there returned six to Portugal out of the twelve which had sailed on the voyage for India, the other six having been lost.

[1] It will appear in the sequel that there was another captain named
    Vasco de Tayde.—­E.

[2] Astley says only 1200,—­Astl.  I. 40.

[3] According to Astley, there were eight Franciscan friars besides the
    vicar, eight chaplains, and a chaplin-major; and that their orders
    were to begin with preaching, and in case that failed, to enforce the
    gospel by the sword.  In other words, to establish the accursed
    tribunal of the inquisition in India, to the eternal disgrace of
    Portugal, and of the pretended followers of the ever-blessed Prince of
    Peace.—­E.

[4] The remainder of this paragraph is given in the precise words and
    orthography of the original translator, Nicholas Lichfild, as a
    curious specimen of the nautical language of Britain in 1582.—­E.

[5] According to De Faria, this vessel parted in a storm near Cape Verd,
    and returned to Portugal.—­Astl.  I. 41. a.

[6] By some unaccountable mistake, the translation of Castaneda by
    Lichefild says to the east.—­E.

[7] It appears that Cabral had twenty malefactors on board for such
    purposes, who had received pardon on condition of submitting to be
    landed on occasions of danger.—­E.

[8] Puerto Seguro is in lat. 16 deg.S. and about long. 39 deg. 40’W.  This country
    of Brasil derived its name from the dye-wood so called.—­E.

[9] Originally, according to Castaneda, there were only ten ships and two
    caravels:  Both the caravels have been already accounted for as having
    left the fleet; and after the loss of four ships, six only ought to
    have remained.  Astley makes the whole fleet originally to have
    consisted of thirteen vessels, which will allow of seven now remaining. 
    —­E.