208 VASCO DA GAMA AT CALICUT moreover, that it was customary for the ships which came to this country to anchor there for the sake of safety. We ourselves did not feel comfortable, and the captain-major (Vasco da Gama) had no sooner received this royal message than he ordered the sails to be set, and we departed. We did not, however, anchor as near the shore as the king's pilot desired. When we were at anchor, a message arrived informing the captain- A NATIVE VESSEL OF CALICUT. major that the king was already in the city. At the same time the king sent a bale (Arabic wall, " gov- ernor "), with other men of distinction, to Pandarani, to conduct the captain-major to where the king awaited him. The bale is like an alcaide (Portuguese alcaide, " governor "), and is always attended by two hundred men armed with swords and bucklers. As it was late when this message arrived, the captain-major deferred going. On the following morning, which was Monday, May 28th (1498), the captain-major (Vasco da Gama) set
