_ 578 _ people in her. On the way out a ship was lost which was carrying the patrão môr [fleet master] and a great deal of munitions and pepper. She was coasting along Socotra and reached Cape Gardafui where she ntruck the coant, and everyone died(A). Now I must tell Your Highness that today is 19 November, and no carrack has arrived from Portuga1(B). This is perhaps due to the sins of those of us in this country, but I am sure that these ships will winter in Mozambique, to serve God and Your Highness, and the Governor will come in them. Because I am so sure of this, I shall say no more. As Your Highness has cared so much for this country and those who serve in it you must care for it now, for it has great needs. All this land and the people in general are poorer now than I have ever known It since I have been in India and (A) Miguel da Cunha, in the letter already quoted, also refers to 'a high-aided ship in which the patrão mõr of this land was sailing, with things necessary for the voyage. It was carried off course and struck Cape Gardafui and was wrecked with the loss of all who were in her. The patrão mõr was Afonso Vaz, and the small galleon in which he was sailing belonged to António Correa, a casado of Goa. (B) Martim Afonso de Sousa, who was coming as Governor, left Portugal in 1542 with five carracks ' and encountered such weather that he did not reach Mozambique until October, when he could not cross to India (Lendas, IV, p. 214).
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