The Pelican was the device of King João II. It may have been on the padrãos erected by Dias, but has not been discovered on those of Cão.
[419] See Texeira de Aragão (Boletim, VI, 1886, p. 562).
[420] See Stanley’s Vasco da Gama, pp. 38, 73, 94, 96.
[421] According to J. de Escalante de Mendoso (1575), quoted by D’Albertis, loc. cit., p. 84.
[422] In quoting authorities I refer to the following editions:—João de Barros, Da Asia, Lisbon, 1788; Castanheda, Historia da India, Lisbon, 1833; Manuel de Faria y Sousa, Asia Portuguesa, Lisbon, 1666; Gaspar Correa, Lendas da India, Lisbon, 1858-64; Damião de Goes, Chronica do Rei D. Manuel, 1790.
[423] If Correa (I, p. 656) can be trusted, he still had a wife at Cochin in 1506. Sernigi (see p. [136]) credits him with a wife and children at Calecut.
[424] Barros, Dec. I, IV, c. 1; Goes, 1, c. 23; Castanheda, I, c. 2.
[425] Correa gives a circumstantial account of the embarkation in the King’s presence, but the description of the paintings which were to have been executed by the King’s order in illustration of the discovery and “conquest” of India, shows very conclusively that the King was not there (Alguns documentos, p. 516).
[426] This, without a doubt, is the correct date. The author of our “Journal”, Barros, Goes, Castanheda, and Faria y Sousa, they all agree in this. Sernigi gives July 9th; Correa fixes upon March 25th as the day of departure.
We may say, once for all, that the dates given in the “Journal” may confidently be accepted as correct, allowing for a few lapsi calami (or errors of the copyist), which can fortunately be rectified in nearly every instance, as the Author names the day of the week, and often even the name of the Saint to whom the day is dedicated.