CHAPTER XI - How the two ships left the river of Mercy, and ran along the coast to Mozambique, and of what they found and did before they arrived there

Summary

Vasco da Gama made that caressing speech to the crews from apprehension that some of them might run away on finding some country with which they might be satisfied, in which case it would be the most certain perdition that might be. And he was fearful of the vagabonds whom he brought with him, because he had begged the king to order some men who had been condemned to death to be given to him, in order to risk them in sending them ashore in certain countries of doubtful safety; in which also, and wherever it was expedient, he would leave them, as he might greatly benefit by what they learned when he found them later. The king had highly approved of this, and had commanded to put six such men on board each ship, of whom some were already dead. Then, with the favourable wind which they had, and the ships well repaired, they sailed with much satisfaction along the coast, with a good look-out by day and night. Running in this manner, they sighted a sail, which was making from the sea to the land: at which they felt great satisfaction, and gave great thanks to the Lord for having brought them into a region of navigation. The ships at once made after the sail, which, on seeing our ships, fled to seawards, and our people lost sight of it at night, at which they were very sad, and continued on their course as they saw it no more.