[173] According to G. Correa’s not very credible narrative, the captain slept at the factory, which had been established previously to the audience of which an account has just been given. [174] _Lambel_, striped cloth, see p. 41, note 3. [175] As a matter of fact, Vasco da Gama was very poorly provided with suitable merchandise, as may be seen from the king’s letter printed in the Appendix. [176] Barros writes Çamorij; Correa, Samori and Çamorin, and others Zamorin. It is a title; according to some a corrupt reading of Tamuri Rajah, Tamuri being the name of the most exalted family of the Nair caste, whilst others derive it from “Samudriya Rajah”, that is, “King of the Coast” (see G. P. Badger’s _Varthema_, pp. lxii and I, 37). [177] Whom others call his “veador”, that is butler or comptroller of the household. [178] That is, a man of Guzerat. [179] “Bisarma” in the original. Herculano accepts the definition of Spelmann (_[v]_. Ducange, _sub_ bisarma). [180] These men were Diogo Dias, as factor, and Alvaro de Braga as his assistant (Castanheda, I, 74.) [181] The fanão of Calecut (according to Nunes, _O Livro dos Pesos_, 1554) is worth 25-5/7 reis, or 7.45_d._ Three hundred reis of the coinage of 1485 were of the value of 7_s._ 7_d._, taking the gold cruzado at 9_s._ 8_d._ [182] The bahar at Calecut is equivalent to 208.16 kilogrammes (Nunes, _O Livro dos Pesos_.) [183] The xerafin at Calecut is worth about 7_s._ 5_d._; the sum demanded therefore amounted to £223. [184] Can this be Ormuz? [185] This Moor was Monçaide, elsewhere more accurately referred to as “a Moor of Tunis”. See Appendix E. [186] The author says nineteen; but it appears from what precedes that there were only eighteen in all. See Appendix E. [187] The author says Wednesday, but that day was the 22nd. [188] A reference to the 600 xerafins. [189] The “tenor”, not the literal phraseology; and hence the absence of the complimentary verbiage so usual with Orientals must not be interpreted as an intentional insult to the King of Portugal. [190] This pillar was dedicated to S. Gabriel. There exists apparently no record of its having actually been set up by the king, as promised. [191] This “Moor of Tunis”, according to Castanheda (I, c. 24, p. 8), was Bontaibe (Monçaide), concerning whom see Appendix E. [192] As a matter of fact, it was only a portion of what had been landed, and Cabral was instructed to demand payment from the Samorin for what had not been returned (_Alguns documentos_, p. 98). [193] Five of these men of Calecut were actually taken to Lisbon. They were restored to their country by Cabral (see _Alguns documentos_, p. 97). [194] Castanheda calls these “barcas”, _tones_. The “tone” is a rowing boat, the planks of which are “sewn” together. [195] A note by the copyist says:—“The author has omitted to tell us how these weapons were made.” [196] The country of Prester John (Abyssinia) was known as “Lower India.”