De Cunna held so far to the south that he discovered the islands still called by his name.  At this place the ships were parted in a storm, each following a separate course till they met again at Mozambique.  Alvaro Tellez, however, who commanded one of these ships, overshot Mozambique and proceeded to Cape Guardafu, where he took six ships belonging to the Moors, so laden with all kind of goods, that he made a sort of bridge from them to his own vessel, consisting of bales thrown into the sea, over which his men passed as on dry land.

During this part of the voyage likewise, Ruy Pereyra put into the port of Matatama in the island of Madagascar; and being informed that this island abounded in spice, especially ginger, Tristan de Cunna was induced to go there, and anchored in a bay which his son Nunno named Angra de Donna Maria, after a lady whom he courted.  By others it is named the bay of Santa Maria delta Conception.  As some Negroes appeared on the coast, De Cunna sent a Moor to converse with them; but when he mentioned that the ships belonged to Christians, they endeavoured to kill him, and had to be driven away by the Portuguese cannon.  About three leagues farther on, they came to a village, the xeque or sheikh of which carried them to another town on an island in a well sheltered bay into which the great river Lulangan discharges its waters.  This town was inhabited by Moors[89] somewhat civilized, who, being afraid of the fleet made their escape to the main-land, but so overloaded their boats that many of them perished by the way.  The Portuguese surrounded the island and took 500 prisoners, only twenty of whom were men, among whom was the xeque or chief, an aged man of a respectable appearance.  Next morning the sea was covered with boats, bringing over 600 men to demand the release of their wives and children.  After some negociation, the Portuguese commander restored the prisoners to their liberty.  He here learnt that the island of Madagascar was chiefly inhabited by negro cafrs, and produced but little ginger.  He afterwards wished to have entered a town on this island called Zada, but the inhabitants set it on fire.

[Footnote 89:  By Moors in the writings of the early Portuguese, Mahometans are always to be understood.  The Moors of Madagascar were a mixed breed between the Arabs and Negroes.—­E.]

From this place, De Cunna sent on Alfonso de Albuquerque with four ships to Mozambique, with orders to reduce some places on the coast of Melinda; while he went himself with three ships to Matatama in Madagascar, where he was told that cloves, ginger, and silver were to be had.  On this expedition however, he lost one of his ships, only the pilot and seven men being saved; on which account he steered for Mozambique, but was forced by stress of weather into the island of Angoza.  At night he discovered the lights of the ship St Jago which he had left at Mozambique,