We may say, once for all, that the dates given in the “Journal” may confidently be accepted as correct, allowing for a few _lapsi calami_ (or errors of the copyist), which can fortunately be rectified in nearly every instance, as the Author names the day of the week, and often even the name of the Saint to whom the day is dedicated. [427] This date is doubtful. See p. 3, note 3. The wrong date is not August 18th, but August 22nd. [428] The variation being about 19° E., according to João de Castro, the true course would have been nearly S. by E. [429] See p. 4, note 1. [430] See Admiralty “Chart showing the tracks of sailing vessels with auxiliary steam power”; the valuable track-charts by Capt. A. Schück in the _Jahresbericht_ of the Hamburg Geographical Society, for 1874; Dr. G. Schott, “Die Verkehrswege” in _Zeitschrift für Erdkunde_, 1895, with maps; the sailing directories of all ages since Duarte Pacheco wrote his _Esmeraldo_ in 1505. [431] According to Barros, Bartholemeu Dias kept in his company until he took the direction of Mina. [432] See, for instance, _The Voyage of François Leguat_, by Capt. Pasfield Oliver (Hakluyt Society, 1891), i, p. 25. [433] Modern sailing vessels do much better. The passage from São Thiago to the Cape by way of Trinidad (5,140 miles) is made on an average in forty-six days, being a daily run of 125 miles, as compared with 54 miles daily, with which we have credited Vasco da Gama (see the Table at the end of this Appendix). [434] One league of Columbus = 4 Italian miles = 3.38 nautical miles. [435] In note 3, p. 3, we have assumed a somewhat shorter course, but after due consideration we now give the preference to the track laid down upon our chart. On an old map of Africa, by H. Moll, a “tract” passing to the east of Ascension and St. Helena is recommended as “a good course of sailing from Great Britain to the East Indies in the Spring and Fall”. What would Admiral Wharton say to this? [436] These islands are distinctly shown on the Cantino Chart, but unfortunately not named. They are not, however, the _Ys. Tebas_ of Juan de la Cosa, as is supposed by the Editor of Spruner’s _Historical Atlas_, for the chart of the Spanish pilot which contains this name was completed before Cabral’s return. If we can credit a statement of Correa (Stanley’s _Vasco da Gama_, p. 825), who quotes Gaspar da Gama as his authority, Cabral also discovered Tristão da Cunha. He certainly must have been very near these islands when several of his vessels foundered. [437] King Manuel, in his letter of 1505, to King Ferdinand of Castile (“Centenario do descobrimento da America”, Lisbon, 1892), says that João da Nova sailed to the Terra de Santa Cruz (Brazil), and thence to the Cape. He does not mention Ascension (Conceiçao). This, however, is not conclusive, for Kings, unlike Popes, are not infallible. Barros, Goes, and Galvão are our authorities for the discovery of the island of Concepçao in 8° S.