pers in their hands, chanting a litany, to
which a great concourse of people uttered responses, rode down to the
harbour. The King went with them in his barge as they joined their
several ships, bestowing on them his blessing, and earnestly praying
that they might enjoy a prosperous voyage and return home in safety.
Vasco da Gama embarked in the _Saint Raphael_, Paulo in the _Saint
Gabriel_, and Nicholas Coelho in the _Saint Miguel_. The ships were all
of the same size, measuring about one hundred and twenty tons, and each
carried about eighty persons, officers and men. They were accompanied
by a store ship of two hundred tons, under the command of Gonzalo Nunez,
which was to continue with them only a part of the way, and to supply
them with provisions and stores. It was on Saturday, the 8th of July,
1497, the anchors being weighed and the sails loosed, that Vasco da Gama
proceeded down the Tagus on his memorable voyage.

He first steered so as to reach the Cape de Verde Islands, where he had
ordered the ships to rendezvous in case of separation.

Having sighted the African coast, they again stood out to the westward,
meeting with a heavy gale, against which they had to beat for several
days, until the crews were almost worn out, and the ships received no
little damage. Being separated, as it was expected would be the case,
they all steered for the Cape de Verde, where Paulo da Gama, Coelho,
Diaz, and Nunez rejoined one another, but the Captain-Major had not
arrived.

At length his ship made her appearance, when, to show their joy, they
saluted him with salvoes from their artillery, for fears had been
entertained that he was lost.

Having taken in water and repaired the damaged spars and rigging, they
again sailed. Here Diaz parted from his friends to proceed on his
separate voyage.

After battling with wind and waves for five months, they entered a bay
to which the name of Saint Elena was given. Here they set up an
astrolabe of wood three spans in diameter, which they mounted on as many
poles in the manner of shears, to ascertain the sun's altitude.

While Vasco da Gama was thus employed with his pilots, he observed
behind a hill two negroes, apparently gathering herbs. He immediately
ordered his people to surround them, which they did, one being caught.

As the poor captive was too frightened to understand the signs made, the
Captain-Major sent for two negro boys from his ship, and made them sit
by him