292 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XIX. 



Joao Homem,* 

 Gonyalo Vaz de Goes,f 

 Antao Vaz, 

 Felipe Rodriguez, J 



The details of the voyage§ need not detain us. Suffice it to 

 say that, ten days after leaving, the Bella sprang a leak and 

 foundered, all on board and most of the cargo being saved 

 and distributed among the other ships ; that Quiloa on the 

 African coast was stormed and captured, a new king placed 

 on the throne, and a fortress built, of which Pero Ferreira 

 Fogaca was made captain, with other officials and a garrison 

 of 150 men, while Goncalo Vaz de Goes with his caravel and 

 a brigantine was left to guard the coast ; that then Mombaca 

 was stormed and burnt, D. Fernando Deca being wounded by 

 a poisoned arrow, from which he died a few days later ;|| and 

 that on 27 August the fleet^f set sail from the coast of 

 Africa for India. 



* A cavalier of the feather-brained type (see Whiteway's Rise of 

 Portuguese Power in India 106). On account of his indiscretions in 

 India he was soon deprived of the command of his caravel, the Saa 

 Jorge, which was given to Nuno Vaz Pereira. 



f Correa omits this name. Bar. has in two places " Boes," but 

 elsewhere " Goes." Cast, has " Goyos." Couto calls him " Gonsalo 

 Gil de Goes." 



% Cast., Cor., and Couto are the only ones that include this man's 

 name in their lists. The first mentions him as in command of the 

 Spera (Esphera), as does Barros later. 



§ In addition to the accounts of the historians — Castanheda, Barros, 

 and Correa — -there have come down to us several contemporary narra- 

 tives of the voyage. One is by Balthazar Sprenger, who was super- 

 cargo on board the Lionarda, and another is by Hans Mayr, who was 

 factory clerk on the S. Rafael. For details of these and other narratives 

 see Henry Harrisse's most valuable book Americus Vespuccius, to 

 which I am greatly indebted. There is also a description of the voyage 

 (with many lacunae) by Pero Fernandes Tinoco in a letter to King 

 Manuel printed in Cartas de Affonso de Albuquerque ii. 335-41 ; and a 

 shorter one by Gaspar da India in Cartas iii. 200-4. The best account 

 in English is that in Theal's Beginning of South African History 165-73. 



|| The command of his vessel (the S. Miguel ?) was thereupon given 

 to Rodrigo Rabelo, a cavalier of the royal household. 

 f[ Of 14 sail, says Barros. 



