ARRIVAL OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. 



15 



with the King of Calcutta, and to create a factory in the same city. Merchan- 

 dise of the best taste was selected for the outward cargo, and the ships were 

 to be laden in return with spices. For the command of this fleet, which consisted 

 of ten caravels, and three larger vessels, a fidalgo was chosen, called Pedro Al- 

 varez Cabral. The number of persons on board amounted to twelve hundred well 

 selected and well armed. The fleet was prepared in front of the Rastello, now 

 called Belem ; and it was determined that it should sail on the 9th of March, 

 1500. At the vespers preceding, which was on Sunday, the King went with 

 all the court to open mass, in the hermitage of our Lady of Belem, (or Bethlehem,) 

 which site is occupied at this day by the magnificent monastery of P. P. Jero- 

 nymos. Diogo Ortiz, Bishop of Ceuta, delivered a discourse upon the object 

 of the expedition ; and, during the service, a flag was placed upon the altar, 

 with the cross of the order of Christ, which the Bishop, with imposing ceremony, 

 consecrated ; and the King, with his own hands, delivered it to Cabral, who 

 was near his Majesty during the ceremonies. The fungdb being finished, the 

 colours were carried in procession, accompanied by the King, to the beach, where 

 Cabral and most of the captains kissed his hand, and at the same time a grand 

 salute was fired by the whole fleet. This was considered the most powerful and 

 brilliant armament that had ever sailed from Portugal for distant countries. 

 The other captains were Sancho de Thoar (with succession to Admiral Cabral), 

 N. Coelho (who had been with Vasco da Gama), S. de Miranda d'Azevedo, 

 A. G. da Sylva, V. d'Athayde, S. de Pina, N. Leytao, P. d'Athayde, L. Pirez, 

 Gaspar de Lemos, the celebrated Bartholomew Dias, discoverer of the Cape of 

 Good Hope, and Diogo Dias, his brother, who were to remain with the fiictory 

 to be established. There were, besides, seven Franciscan friars, subordinate 

 to one named Frey Henrique, who was afterwards bishop of Ceuta, eight chap- 

 lains, and a vicar, to administer the sacraments in the factory of Calcutta. 

 Ayres Correa was appointed factor, or head of the establishment; and G. 

 Barboza, and Pedro Vas de Caminho, escrivads, or writers. 



On the 14th of March, the fleet passed the Canaries ; and after having seen 

 the island of St, Nicholas, one of the Cape de Verds, on the 22d, they disco- 

 vered that the vessel of V. d'Athayde was missing, Cabral took every pains to 

 fall in with it again, but without effect. He continued his voyage, and in order to 

 avoid being detained by the calms peculiar to the coast of Africa, and to profit by 

 the prevailing north-east trade wind, they stood so much to the westward, that, on 

 the 21st of April, (the last Oitava of Pascal,) they met with signals of land, (which 

 were certain floating plants,) and late on the following day, in latitude 17° south, 

 they saw a large round mountain with smaller hills, which were the highest por- 



