the sea, while
the fighting men, who were few in number, made but a faint resistance.
They were all immediately killed, while the fusta went about destroying
the hapless wretches who were in the water. A number also who had taken
refuge on the island were made prisoners, not one escaping. The boats
and fusta, having thus finished the work, returned to the ships. The
Portuguese then selected from among the captives twelve of the
strongest-looking men, to work the pumps and do other service, while the
rest were killed in the presence of the fishermen, who accordingly knew
there would be none left to betray them.

The Captain-Major gave the fishermen permission to carry off the fustas;
but this they declined doing, taking only the sails and tackling for
their own boats.

The Jew, seeing the punishment inflicted on the other prisoners, became
dreadfully alarmed, suspecting that he also would be put to death. The
Captain-Major, however, ordered him to be taken below, and confined in a
cabin.

The monsoon having just commenced, the pilots advised that the ships
should proceed on their voyage. They accordingly made sail and steered
westward, their great object accomplished, across the Indian Ocean. The
wind was fair, and the sea, as before, calm; but sickness broke out
among the men, and many more died. The first land made was near the
city of Magadaxo. The Captain-Major having had ample experience of the
Moorish rulers of these coasts, bombarded it as he sailed by. He then
proceeded, without stopping, until he came off another city called Pate,
from which eight large zambuks came out to attack him. A few broadsides
drove them away, and he sailed on until he reached Melinda.

Owing to calms, the voyage lasted nearly four months during which, from
the want of fresh provisions, scurvy, scarcely before known, attacked
the crews. Ulcers broke out on their arms and legs, and their gums
became swollen and rotten, so that thirty men died, and others could
hardly move about. Some of the pilots also mutinied, and wanted to put
back to Calecut; but Vasco da Gama had them placed in irons, and
undertook the guidance of the ships himself.

On the shore near Melinda they found the King waiting to receive them,
and standing in the water. The Captains leaping out of their boats, he
embraced them and conducted them to his palace, where he treated them
right courteously. He wrote a letter on gold leaf to the King of
Portuga