e it put into the factory, and that after that
the King would fill them up with what they required.

Vasco da Gama replied that he would obey the commands of the King, but
that it would be necessary to send a message to the ships, or otherwise
the merchandise would not be delivered up. To this, however, the
minister appeared in no way inclined to agree.

In the meantime the men who had landed with the Captain-Major, and who
had been kept separated from him, were in great alarm as to what had
happened, as were also those on board the ships; for the factor could
give them no information, and serious fears were entertained that he had
been murdered. The hostages had also made an attempt to escape, as the
minister had sent them word by the boy who brought their food to do so;
but Paulo had kept too strict a watch to allow them to get out of the
cabin in which they were confined.

At length one of the men who had accompanied the Captain-Major, Joab
Setabal, came on board, in a native boat, saying that he had been sent
by Vasco da Gama, to let his brother know how treacherously he had been
entrapped, and directing him to send a boat laden with merchandise of
all sorts, and also that, should he himself not appear, he was to take
back the factor, and allow nobody else to go on shore.

Paulo da Gama, mild as he generally was, became furious on hearing this,
but at once sent back the native boat laden with merchandise. When the
boat arrived at the factory, the factor sent to the minister--who had
let him know where he was, and that the Captain-Major was with him--to
say that it had arrived, but that unless Vasco da Gama was allowed to
return on board, no more would be sent.

On hearing this the Captain-Major was much annoyed, and told the
minister that if he would dispatch ten large native boats, he would
agree to go off and bring them back full of goods.

When, however, he was about to embark, the minister stopped him, saying
that all the Portuguese might return to their ships with the exception
of himself, the interpreter, and two others, who must remain on shore
for the present; and that when the merchandise arrived, then he would
send him on board.

The Captain-Major, clearly seeing the treachery intended by the
minister, dissembling his anger, sent word to his brother that he was
convinced, even should the boats full of goods be landed, he himself
would not be given up; and he therefore charged him to send the host