_ 99 _ they were Christians, because the Christians of the land of India call God "Tamberam". When they saw that we had ignored this sign, they began to flee in the direction of the land. Nicolau Coelho pursued them for a while in a boat until those from the carrack hoisted a flag for him to return. The next day, when the captains were cleaning the Berrio with numerous men, two small craft arrived with about a dozen well-dressed men with bolts of cloth. They brought a bundle of sugar canes as a present for the captain-major. When they returned ashore they asked him to allow them to go and visit the ships. As the captain suspected that that they had come to gather information, he became annoyed with them. While this was going on, another two boats arrived with more people. When those who had first come realised that the captain was ill-disposed towards them, they warned the others not to approach but to go back. Then they too embarked and followed them. During the careening of the captain-major's ship, a man of about forty arrived, all decked out in linen clothes with a very fine cap on his head and a short sword at his waist, who spoke fluent Venetian. When he made his
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