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wise ordered a plate of brass like a medal to be given to each of them, bearing an inscription engraved in all languages, with the name of 'The King Dom Joam of Portugal, brother of the Christian King,' which they might show to Prester John, and to whomsoever they thought fit.[1]
Expedition under Vasco de Gama, 1497. The celebrated expedition of Vasco de Gama which followed this inquiry is generally described as consisting of three vessels, one of 120 tons, another of 100 tons, and the third somewhat less.[2] Correa says*
- ↑ The two young men were named, respectively, Pero de Covilhan, and Gonsalvo de Pavia. Though accounts differ, they seem to have travelled together by Venice, Alexandria, and Cairo, to Mecca, where they separated. One of them (and here again accounts vary) went on to Aden, Cananore, Calicut, and Goa (Mr. Stanley and Mr. Major think this was Covilhan), the other to Abyssinia. It is certain that Pavia died soon afterwards, probably at Cairo; and that, by the agency of a Spanish Jew, Covilhan was able to send home word that India could be reached by sea by continuing the coasting voyage from Guinea round the Cape to Sofala. Mr. Major, therefore (p. 339), is justified in stating that to him belongs the honour of the theoretical discovery of the Cape. His report to the king, however, did not reach Portugal till shortly after Bartholomew Dias and Joam Infante had started, in August 1486. Covilhan, on his way home, went to Abyssinia, and was detained there for the rest of his life (33 years).
- ↑ The author is of opinion that the vessels engaged under Vasco de Gama were, as in the case of Columbus, much larger than historians have represented, though very much alike, as Correa describes, especially in the size of their yards and sails. Unable to find any work which furnished an illustration of any kind of these vessels, he applied to his friend Mr. Edward Pinto Basto, of Lisbon, for information on the subject. After considerable research, (for which he is greatly indebted,) Mr. Basto furnished the author with the drawing—see following page—which in his letter he describes as a "sketch representing the San Gabriel passing the Cape of Good Hope on November 25th, 1497. This sketch," he remarks, "is copied from an original picture in Lisbon that belonged to D. Ioam de Castro, and I have no doubt," he adds, "that it is a correct representation of Gama's ship. I have spoken," he continues, "to the Marquis of Nisa, whom you know, and who is the lineal descendant of the renowned navigator, and he confirms that opinion. The expedition," he adds, "sailed from Lisbon (Belem) on July 9th 1497. It consisted of the San Gabriel,
