CHAPTER XIV

Summary

How, when the great Afonso Dalboquerque was ready to set out, Vasco da Silveira arrived from Cocotora with a message from Duarte de Lemos, begging him to send ships and men; and what took place thereupon.

At the very moment that the fleet was ready to set out, and the greater part of the men on board, Vasco da Silveira arrived, coining from Çocotora in a vessel, to beg Afonso Dalboquerque, on the part of Duarte de Lemos, who had gone as chief captain on the Coast of Arabia, that he would send him some ships, for those he had were so decayed that he feared he should be unable to carry out his instructions with them only. And, as soon as Vasco da Silveira had arrived, he proceeded to Afonso Dalboquerque, and told him how Duarte de Lemos found himself in great need of ships, for two of his squadron had gone to the bottom with old age, and the others he had left were so completely eaten through that they would not float, and how he desired that some relief might be afforded to him in this respect before the departure of the fleet.