SIGHT POBTO SANTO. 
27 
continue the search along the African coast, and to 
return to Portugal with their present acquisition of 
knowledge, and with the evidences of their discovery. 
Prince Henry, who had been the means of fitting 
out the expedition, was so delighted with the ac- 
count of this first discovery that he immediately 
planned a scheme of colonisation. Vessels left Lisbon 
with a number of labourers fitted out for settling, who 
had been persuaded to go by tempting inducements, 
and who carried with them a varied stock of domestic 
animals, and all kinds of grains and plants suitable 
for cultivation. This expedition was placed in charge 
of Bartholomeu Perestrello, who was also appointed 
governor of the island. Thus was the father-in-law 
of Columbus engaged in the important pioneer work 
of discovery. He was the first coloniser and planter 
in newly discovered western ocean lands. 
But Perestrello failed in the cultivation, and aftei 
three years abandoned the governorship which had 
been vested in him. Some short time afterwards, 
Columbus and his wife Philippa came here to reside, 
in order to get a living out of the wild property 
bequeathed to him by his father-in-law. But he 
gained nothing by it, unless, perhaps, some increase 
of knowledge, and the birth of his son Diego in 
Porto Santo. 
We remained for a short time sounding and 
dredging in the vicinity of Porto Santo, which 
appears, on nearing it, like two islands. As we 
