DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 63 
of the present monarch, had been confirmed to his 
father Alfonso. It was, indeed, observes the his- 
torian, less a donation, than the confirmation of a 
hereditary title, since the kings of Portugal had al- 
ways considered as rightfully theirs, every territory 
which they were able to conquer from the infidels. 
After three years possession of the fort of Mina, 
the king no longer hesitated to add to his other 
titles that of " Lord of Guinea." From this time, 
he gave directions, that the naval commanders 
who discovered any new line of coast, should no 
longer content themselves, according to former 
custom, with planting merely a cross of wood upon 
the shore. They were to raise a pillar of stone, 
twice the height of the human body, and adorned 
with an escutcheon of the royal arms of Portugal. 
On this pillar were to be placed two inscriptions, one 
in Latin, and the other in Portuguese, expressing 
the date of the discovery, the name of the king 
who had sent the expedition, and that of the cap- 
tain by whom the pillar had been erected. On the 
top, a cross of stone, inlaid with lead, was to be 
erected. The first who set out to establish these 
ensigns of dominion, was Diego Cam, who took 
his departure from the castle of Mina. He touch- 
ed first at Cape Lopez Gonsalvo, and then at Cape 
St Catherine, the farthest point yet discovered. 
He had not proceeded far when a very strong cur- 
rent set in from the land. The waters were dig* 
coloured, and, when tasted, were found to be fresh-. 
