ANTONIO GONCALVEZ AND HIS CAPTURE OF MOORS

The old world had now obtained a glimpse beyond Cape Bojador. The fearful
"outstretcher" had no longer much interest for them, being a thing that
was overcome, and which was to descend from an impossibility to a
landmark, from which, by degrees, they would almost silently steal down
the coast, counting their miles by thousands, until Vasco de Gama should
boldly carry them round to India. But now came stormy times for the
Portuguese kingdom, and the troubles of the regency occupied the prince's
attention to the exclusion of cosmography.

In 1441, however, there was a voyage which led to very important
consequences. In that year Antonio Goncalvez, master of the robes to
Prince Henry, was sent out with a vessel to load it with skins of
"sea-wolves," a number of them having been seen, during a former voyage,
at the mouth of a river about a hundred and fifty miles beyond Cape
Bojador. Goncalvez resolved to signalize his voyage by a feat that should
gratify his master more than the capture of sea-wolves; and he accordingly
planned and executed successfully an expedition for seizing some Azeneghi
Moors, in order, as he told his companions, to take home "some of the
language of that country." Tristam, another of Prince Henry's captains,
afterwards falling in with Goncalvez, a further capture of Moors was made,
and Goncalvez returned to Portugal with the spoil. This voyage seems to
have prompted the application which Prince Henry made, in the same year,
to Pope Martin the Fifth, praying that his holiness would grant to the
Portuguese crown all that should be conquered, from Cape Bojador to the
Indies, together with plenary indulgence for those who should die while
engaged in such conquests. The pope granted these requests; though
afterwards, as we shall see, the Spanish discoveries of Columbus and his
successors rendered it necessary that the terms of the grant should be
modified. "And now," says a Portuguese historian, "with this apostolic
grace, with the breath of royal favour, and already with the applause of
the people, the prince pursued his purpose with more courage, and with
greater outlay."

COMMENCEMENT OF THE SLAVE TRADE.

One proof of this popular approval was furnished by the formation of a
company at Lagos, in 1444, who received permission from the prince to
undertake discovery along the coast of Africa, paying him a certain
portion of any gains which they mi