[380] In Book VIII of his Natural History.
[381] This last paragraph is not found in the Paesi novamente retrovati, and is taken from Ramusio.
[382] This paragraph is rather puzzling. July 10th, 1499, was the date of Coelho’s arrival. Of the four vessels, two are correctly stated to have been burnt, though not near Cape Verde, namely, the store ship of 110 tons, and one of the vessels of 90 tons (the S. Raphael). Coelho brought home the small vessel of 50 tons, and the “captain” himself is stated to have returned in the remaining vessel of 90 tons.
[383] The Cape Verde islands.
[384] Grão or gran (Portuguese), kermes-grain, anciently scarlet, is not mentioned by Ramusio.
[385] Rosebeeren (Roseberries) seems to stand for Rose mallus, or Rossamalha, an aromatic resin containing benzoic acid, yielded by the majestic Rasamala tree (Altingia excelsa) of Java, where it is used as a substitute for benzoin.
[386] I need hardly direct the reader’s attention to the fact that the fustas of the Sabayo were fought after Vasco’s return from Calecut, and that he visited neither Cochin nor Cananor in the course of this first voyage.
[387] A MS. in the Torre do Tombo quoted by Texeira de Aragão (Boletim, VI, 1886, p. 580), ornamented with the coloured coats of arms of the Counts of Vidigueira, and extending to 1641, seems to be identical in several respects with the MS. from which the above is quoted. The concluding portion, beginning with “returned to this kingdom”, is taken word for word from the earlier Jornal. Vasco da Gama is stated to have gone in the S. Raphael, whilst Paulo’s vessel, the S. Gabriel, is said to have been destroyed on the homeward voyage near Cabo de S. Vicente.
[388] Paulo da Gama came back in this vessel, his own having been burnt by order of Vasco da Gama, off Tangáta. [Note by the author.]
[389] Pavia, a small town twenty miles to the north of Evora.