The existing pillar, of which we give an illustration, is built up of concrete made of coral rock and lime. It rises to a height of 16 feet, and is surmounted by a cross, bearing on the sea side the arms of Portugal, but no inscription. It is not the pillar put up at the request of Vasco da Gama, but Sir John Kirk feels sure that the cross is very ancient. The latter is of sandstone, and evidently of local make, whilst the other crosses discovered hitherto are of limestone or marble. See Introduction. [228] This ambassador returned with Cabral in 1501. [229] The figure-head of the _S. Raphael_ was taken away by Vasco da Gama and treated as an heirloom by the family, several members of which carried it with them on their travels. It ultimately found a resting-place in the church of Vidigueira, founded by D. Francisco da Gama. When the church was desecrated in 1840, the figure was removed to another church, where Texeira de Aragão discovered it in 1853. It is now in the church at Belem. The figure is carved in oak, and about 24 inches in height (see _Texeira de Aragão_, in the Boletim of the Lisbon Geographical Society, VI, 1886, p. 621.) [230] The author says five, but from January 13 to January 27, both included, is fifteen days. [231] Barros says _Tangata_. It is Mtangata (see note, p. 33). [232] Zanzibar is only twenty miles (six leagues) from the mainland. [233] Twenty-seven days carry us from March 20 to April 16. [234] The author here evidently refers to tornadoes or violent gusts of wind peculiar to the west coast of Africa, and more frequent at the beginning and termination of the rainy season. They generally blow off shore, their approach being indicated by an arch of clouds, from which lightning and thunder constantly proceed. At Sierra Leone the rainy season begins at the end of April (see _Africa Pilot_, 1893, Part II, p. 10). [235] The Rio Grande of the Portuguese is an arm of the sea from five to thirteen miles in breadth, called Orango Channel on the Admiralty Chart. It lies between the mainland and the Bissagos islands. [236] This church was demolished in 1646; the place of burial can no longer be identified. [237] See _Jose da Silva Mendes Leal_ (Transactions of Lisbon Academy, 1871), and _Texeira de Aragão_ (Boletim Lisbon Geogr. Soc., VI, 1886, p. 583). [238] This trustworthy man can have been no other than the “Moor” who was carried off from Anjediva (see Appendix E), and who, having been baptised, became known as Gaspar da Gama. [239] The frazila of Calecut is equal to 10.4 kilogr.; the fanão is worth 25-5/7 reis of 1555 (about 7.45_d._) and the cruzado is worth 9_s._ 8_d._ But if 3 cruzados are accepted as the equivalent of 50 fanãos, the value of a fanão would be 6.96_d._