_ 223 _ It was then the end of December, and the time was approaching for the return to Portugal. Lopo Soares took leave of the King of Cochin. He left him a squadron of two carracks and two caravels commanded by Manuel Teles, to the great regret of the sovereign who would have preferred to keep Duarte Pacheco in his service(A). The fleet left Cochin on 26th December(B) and headed for Mount Eli, the laden vessels sailing well offshore and the others nearer the coast(C). It was escorted by the caravels of Pero Rafael and Diogo Pires, send ahead to discover the haven of the Calicut merchant fleet, which was hidden in one of the deep and rugged inlets of the coast so that it (A) The chroniclers do not agree here on the composition of the squadron: two caravels and one carrack, commanded by Manuel Teles de Vasoncelos, Pero Rafael and Diogo Pires according to Castanheda (1/96, p. 199)/ Diogo Dias (not Pires), Manuel Teles Barreto (not Vasconcelos), and Cristovâo Jusarte according to Barros (1/7-11, p. 295) Two carracks, two caravels and 200 men under the command of Manuel Teles according to BM Anonymous (p. 125). We are inclined to choose the version of Damiâo de Góis (I/99, p. 241) who names Manuel Teles, whose ship was detached from the fleet and who reunited the three ships that had taken part in the defence of Cochin in the preceding year, that is the ships of Pero Rafael, Diogo Pires and Cristovão Jusarte. (B) BM Anonymous, p. 1257 Barros, 1/7-11, p. 296. (C) Barros, 1/7-11, p. 296: Correia, 1/2, p. 509.
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