ough the streets. The officer invited them to his house,
and on their way they encountered a man clothed as a Moor, but who
addressed them in Castilian, and requested them to come to his house,
which they obtained permission from the officer to do. The seeming Moor
gave them a brief outline of his history. He was, he said, a native of
Seville, but that when a boy he was made a prisoner, and after having
served many masters, had obtained his freedom. Although he had all the
time, he averred, pretended to be a Moor, he was still at heart a
Christian. On hearing the account he gave of himself, Joab Nunez
invited him off to see the Captain-Major, and the next day he made his
appearance on board. He then acknowledged that his object had at first
been to betray the Portuguese, but on entering the cabin his heart had
been changed, and his great desire was now to serve them. He warned
them of the treachery intended them by the Moors, and offered to go on
shore to obtain all the information he could, so as to give it to them.

At a council held soon after by the three Captains, Paulo and Nicolas
Coelho entreated Vasco da Gama not to go on shore, as he would hazard
his life; but he replied that he had resolved to do so in the service of
the King; that his life he did not value, and that should he be killed,
they must make the best of their way back to Portugal with the account
of their important discovery.

He consented, however, before he went himself, to send Nicolas Coelho to
obtain an audience of the King, and to ascertain his feelings towards
the Portuguese. Accordingly he got ready the presents intended for his
Majesty, and ordered twelve of the best-looking of his men, handsomely
dressed, to accompany the brave captain.

The presents consisted of a piece of the finest scarlet cloth, one of
crimson velvet, and another of yellow satin, a chair covered with
brocade and studded with silver-gilt nails, a cushion of crimson satin
with tassels of golden thread, a smaller one of red satin for the feet
to rest on, a hand-basin and ewer chased and gilt, a splendid gilt
mirror, fifty scarlet caps, and fifty sheathed knives with ivory handles
gilt.

These things being arranged, were placed in napkins on the deck. The
Nair, who soon afterwards came on board, greatly admired them, and
intimated that the King was ready to receive the ambassador.

On this Nicolas Coelho, accompanied by the twelve men in rich costumes,
at onc