[297] Peutinger says: “if they would stay till new moon, when the waters would grow small, they would give them gold in plenty in exchange for their money or merchandise.” The Zambezi begins to subside in the beginning of April. Vasco da Gama left on February 25th. This is a very satisfactory confirmation of the writer’s information. [298] From the Kiliman River (Zambezi) to Melinde is 330 leagues. [299] The writer must have misunderstood his informants. Gaspar da Gama is evidently referred to. See Appendix E. [300] From Melinde to Calecut is about 2,340 miles, or 682 leagues. [301] This sentence is omitted by Ramusio. [302] The “Bab el mandeb”. [303] The Strait of Romania is the Bosporus, ancient cartographers (Ortelius and others) very properly writing “Romania” for the Turkish “Rum-ili”, instead of the corrupt “Roumelia” of most modern authors. [304] The “Sinus Arabicus” of Pliny (vi, 28) is a gulf of the Erythrean, identical with our Red Sea. [305] Peutinger adds that the people of Calecut were neither black nor white; and that they were Christians, although bad ones. [306] Peutinger says: “churches and convents.” [307] Peutinger’s version of this sentence is as follows: “Large and small are baptized in a state of nudity, once every three years, in a river near the town.” [308] The writer evidently refers to the roads in Portugal, but Ramusio says “as in Italy”. [309] Ramusio: “Esquires, doorkeepers and chamberlains.” [310] Ramusio and Peutinger say: “by about fifty persons.” [311] Peutinger says the couch “was hung round (umhangen) with blackish-green velvet, and had a white coverlet, all worked with gold, and above it a sumptuous curtain. The walls were hung with fine velvet of various colours.” [312] Peutinger: “the king had the captain asked what he wanted or sought.” [313] Ramusio: “carried on in their vessels.” [314] Peutinger translates: “Irrkirche,” _i.e._, heterodox church. [315] Industria: The word in Peutinger’s letter, “gescheidigkeit”, or intelligence, seems more appropriate. [316] Ramusio adds here “partly”. The island is Ceylon. [317] Ramusio adds: “and not by Christians, and the Moors are the masters (signori).” [318] The Italian original has “stapola”. [319] Babylonia of Egypt. Ramusio omits “Babylonia”. Peutinger has Alkeiro (Cairo). [320] The xerafins of Portuguese authors, worth about 7_s._ 10_d._ (at Calecut). [321] The _Paesi_ and Ramusio add “zetanini velutati”; and Ramusio introduces also “damasked Lucca cloth”, in place of “scarlet cloth”. Prof. Dalla Vedova suggests that “cetanini” may stand for “setini”, a silken stuff of narrow width used in decorating the columns of churches. Bandini says it means “zendado, a kind of cloth”. Lucca was famous in the sixteenth century for its silks and woollen cloths. [322] Tin, from Malacca. [323] The _Paesi_, Ramusio, and Peutinger say May 19. According to the “Roteiro”, Vasco da Gama anchored off Capua on May 20.