_ 111 _ waiting there for the end of winter so that they could go to Socotra to see Afonso de Albuquerque, were joined by Fernao Soares, who had left Portugal the previous year. He came as commander-in-chief of a small fleet, the other captains being Rui da Cunha and Goncalo Carneiro, who also arrived at the same time. Felipe de Crasto who was in command of his own and of his brother Jorge de Crasto’s ship, also joined them. After all these captains had arrived, they agreed amongst themselves that they should elect an overall leader and try to render the King of Portugal, some service for they had to spend six months in Mozambique. Any day now they were expecting the first westerly winds, for it was the month of March. With these they could sail to Cape Guardafui and the coast of Aden, for they wished to capture Aden just as Tristan da Cunha had captured Socotra, Fernao Soares said that they should chose a leader, each man naming his choice aloud. But there were many disagreements over this question, Jorge de Melo Pereira wanted them to cast lots, whereas Jorge de Crasto wanted each of them to take command in turns, so that no one might be dissatisfied. They were unable to agree. Besides the ships’ masters and the pilots swore that they didn’t know how to take them to Aden and that they didn’t have enough anchors and cables.
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