CHAPTER III - Of the navigation of the fleet, and of what happened during the voyage until arriving at Mozambique, and what was done there

Summary

The fleet, having left Lisbon, made its navigation after the manner which had been discovered, going to Guinea, where they found frequent calms, so that many people fell sick, and Fernan d'Atouguia who was in the Leitoa nova, which was a large ship, died of fever, and the captain-major ordered Pero Affonso d'Aguiar to pass over to the Leitoa; and he made Pero de Mendoça, an honourable gentleman who accompanied him, captain of the ship of Pero Affonso. But as the Lord gave them wind they got out from Guinea, and made the coast of Brazil, which was already discovered, and they ran along as far as Cape Santo Agostinho, whence they crossed over to the Cape of Good Hope; and when they found themselves in the neighbourhood of the isles, where the Moorish pilot said that the storm had fallen on Pedralvarez Cabral, they paid great attention to the sails, and kept a careful watch by day, and especially at night with all the small sails taken in, and sailed under the large sails without the studding sails, and by day under all sail. However, they met with a storm which separated them all, and which lasted six days, but followed their course: there only remained with the captain-major two ships and three caravels which kept up with him. The weather then became milder, and they spread all sail, and went on their course, and later they found another ship and two small vessels. The others all ran for Mozambique, as all had instructions that if they parted company they were to go to Mozambique and wait for the captain-major.