_ 336 _ back, he decided to use his oars and they increased the stroke to reach a promontory, in order to escape out to sea from there. Dom Fernando de Meneses came close in with his galleon until he reached eight fathoms, then he ordered the anchor to be dropped while the caravels continued approaching the shore in the direction of the galleys. Ali Chelebi, who was sailing in front with nine of the lightest galleys, reached the headland first before our ships arrived, but the six that were behind were unable to round it. Because the caravels were smaller and lighter, they were able to sell well inshore. When Dom Antonio de Castelo Branco, the brother of Dom Jeronimo, who was sailing with Dom Fernando de Meneses, saw his brother overtaking all of them. He mounted the bowsprit and shouted to him: "Hey, lad, run that caravel aground for me", and Dom Jeronimo did just that because, by bringing the head as close to the wind as he could, he arrived at the shore before the galleys, and it was God's will that at that moment a cannon-shot from the captain major's galleon hit a galley that was sailing in front, causing it to veer and the others crashed into it. At the same time, Dom Jeronimo de Castelo Branco arrived and steered between the galleys. Manoeuvring his
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