_ 135 _ When these words were heard in the flagship most wept with joy to find themselves in a land of Christians that had been hidden for such a long time. The governor then gave orders to dress overall and ordered a flag to be made of white damask, depicting a red cross, as a sign of peace, and with it in reply sent another letter. He sent them back in the brig, and when they had gone he fired all the artillery of the fleet as a signal for celebration, and before the brig arrived at the port the Moor threw himself overboard so that he might swim ashore and be the first to bring the news that the brig had arrived and of the flag the governor was sending. When this news reached Arguico there was great excitement among both Christians and Moors alike, and at least two thousand souls went running to the beach. As the brig arrived, they began throwing themselves into the water with great joy and holding on to it to bring it to land. At this moment the town governor saw it and he received the flag with great reverence, adoring the cross and received our men most hospitably. He ordered his people to form a procession and with it the flag was carried into the town, and it was raised above the houses. The governor wrote that he would like to see some monks of a monastery called Bissan, which was twenty
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