ARRIVAL OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. 



21 



have been the commander, and Francisco de Cunha says, that the King " Mandou 

 " logo preparar outra armada de caravellas que entregou a Christovam Jacques, 

 *' Jidalgo de sua casa e com o titulo de Cap-Mor, o mandou continuar n este em- 

 " pressa descubrindo aquella costa, sahui armada, e seguindo viagem chegou a 

 " costa, sondando baixos e rios pondo padroes d'armas Portuguezes, foi dar a 

 " huma iahia, aquepoz o nome de Todos Santos, e depots deligencias se recolhou a 

 " Portugal."* But Damian de Goes assigns the command to Goncallo Coelho. 

 " No mesmo anno de 1503 mandou Goncallo Coelho com sets naus a terra de St. 

 " Cruz com que partiu de Lishoa a hos dez dias de mez de Junho ; das quaes por 

 " ainda terem pouca noticia da terra perdeu quatro, e has outras duas trouxe aho 

 " regno com mercadorias da terra que entam nam eram outras que pau vermelho 

 *' que chamam Brazil, e papagaios"'\ 



The testimony of three writers attribute the command of these six caravels 

 to three distinct individuals ; but, from a fair investigation of each statement, 

 that of Goes, who assigns the command to Coelho, appears more con- 

 sonant with truth and the intentions of the King, than the other two relations. 

 The collateral supporter of Vespuccius' claim, represents the object of the ex- 

 pedition to be for the discovery of the Moluccas, Avhich certainly does not 

 coincide with the desire of an immediate and continued exploration of St. Cruz, 

 (or Vera Cruz,) that seemed to actuate his Maj esty solely in fitting it out ; nor 

 does this account say any thing of the loss of four of the caravels, which is 

 generally admitted. Cunha, who gives the command to Jacques, most pro- 

 bably alludes to the armament which that person had under his orders in the 



*' After entering the Bay of All Saints, he navigated as far as the Abrolhos and the river Curababa. 

 " As he had provisions only for twenty months, he took the resolution of returning to Portugal, 

 " where he arrived on the 18th of June, 1504." — Murery Dice. Grand. Paris, 1699. 



* " Ordered immediately to be prepared another armament of caravels, which he delivered to 

 " C.Jacques, a lidalgo of his house, and with the title of Captain Mor, ordered him to continue in this 

 " undertaking of discovery. The armament sailed, and pursuing the voyage, arrived upon the coast, 

 " sounding bays and rivers, erecting pillars with the Portuguese arms upon them. He entered a 

 " bay to which he gave the name of All Saints, and after all necessary diligence he returned to 

 " Portugal."— CwnAfl. 



t " In the same year, 1503, Gonsallo Coelho was sent to the land of St. Cruz, with six ships, with 

 " which he left Lisbon on the 10th day of the month of June. In consequence of not having much 

 " knowledge of the land, four were lost, and the other two brought to the kingdom merchandise 

 " of the land, which then were no others than red wood, which was called Brazil, and parrots." — Goes. 



