owed, each showing a light one to another.
Finding that they did not make the land, they were convinced that their
great object was accomplished--the dreaded Cape of Storms, now joyfully
called the Cape of Good Hope, doubled. So it was, and Vasco da Gama had
established for himself a name imperishable on the page of history.
With great joy, they praised God for delivering them from the dangers to
which they had been exposed.
Sailing free, with all canvas spread, they one morning sighted a range
of lofty mountains, their peaks touching the clouds, at which, falling
on their knees, they returned thanks to Heaven. Though they ran on all
day, they were yet unable to reach the land till the evening. At night
they continued along the coast, which here trended from west to east.
During the night they sailed on under single canvas to the eastward.
They passed several large bays and rivers, from which fresh water came
forth with powerful currents. They also found many fish, which they
killed with spears.
A bright look-out was kept in the fore-top for shoals which might be
ahead, while the pilots hove the lead, but found no bottom. At night
they stood off shore under easy sail.
Thus for three days they ran on, until they discovered the mouth of a
large river, when, shortening sail, they entered it, a boat going before
and sounding. At length they came to an anchor. Here they found good
fishing, but no beach was to be seen, rocks and crags forming the shore.
Vasco da Gama and Coelho then went on board Paulo's ship, where the
three captains dined together, and talked cheerfully over the dangers
they had encountered and their prospects for the future. The
Captain-Major next day sent Coelho up the river in a boat; but after
proceeding twenty leagues, finding no inhabitants, he returned, when the
ships got up their anchors, and, aided by the current, the boats towing,
they sailed once more into the open ocean.
They now continued their course along the land, entering several other
great rivers and bays, but meeting with no one on shore nor any boats at
sea, and keeping all the time a good look-out so as not to run on the
rocks or on shoals. As the country appeared to be unpeopled, the
Captain-Major determined to enter no more rivers. All day long they ran
on in sight of the shore in the hope of at length seeing some towns and
villages, and at night they stood away to sea, shortening sail.
After being becalmed fo
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