artedness that they had given
way before, he forgave them. He pictured to them the joy they would
feel when, on their return to Portugal, he would present them to the
King, and describe their dangers and labours.

With tears of joy they exclaimed, "May the Lord, in His great mercy, so
will it!" Returning to their ships, the anchors were weighed, and, with
a fair breeze, on the 24th of February, 1498, they sailed out of the
river.

After running along the coast for some distance, they sighted a sail,
which, on observing, they stood out to sea; but it was lost sight of
during the night. Proceeding on, when close to land they arrived off a
large creek, near the mouth of which they saw a zambuk at anchor. On
this Vasco da Gama ordered the ships to heave to, and sent a boat in
chase of a canoe which was seen leaving the zambuk, carrying her crew,
who were trying to escape, on shore. She was soon overtaken, when the
six blacks who were on board her threw themselves into the sea. One
Moor alone remained on board, he being unable to swim. He wore on his
head a round skull-cap, made of silk of various colours, sewn with gold
thread, and small rings in his ears. His shirt was of white stuff, and
a girdle of coloured cloth was fastened round his waist.

The Portuguese, taking him into their boat, went to the zambuk; but she
was empty, the Moor having been about to freight her with a cargo for a
certain merchant, for whom he acted as agent.

Returning with their captain to the ship, the Portuguese were delighted
at finding a man from whom they could obtain information about the
country. They then set sail, and continued their course. The Moor was
well entertained, and seemed perfectly contented with his lot. Great
difficulty was, however, found in carrying on a conversation with him,
as the only interpreter on board was an African slave, who spoke Arabic,
of which the Moor understood but a few words. He made his captors
comprehend, however, by signs, that farther on there were people who
understood that language. Vasco da Gama offered him cakes of sugar,
olives, and wine. He freely ate of everything, but would not touch the
wine. The Captain-Major then presented him with a long robe, with which
he appeared highly pleased, and examined with curiosity everything he
saw. On showing him spices, he gave the Portuguese to understand that
he could fill their ships with such things. He was, as it turned out, a
broker,