e boat approached the
beach, a concourse of people came down, discharging flights of arrows
and stones from slings at her.  This being seen from the ships, Vasco da
Gama declared that he would go at once and burn the Moorish vessels; but
he was overruled by his brother, who represented that their men might
thus be exposed to danger, and that though it would be easy to send the
vessels to the bottom with their artillery, should they do so in a new
country, they would be looked upon as pirates, and the help they
required denied them.

In consequence it was resolved to send on shore a complaint to the
Sheikh of the outrage; but Davane declined going, on the plea that he
should very likely, if he did so, be killed.  It was deemed prudent,
therefore, to leave the place.

Soon after the anchors were got up, and the ships were under sail, a
boat came off with a white flag, bearing a message from the Sheikh, who
complained of the attempt made to kill his pilot, and of his visitors
going away without any sufficient cause for their departure.  He
promised, should anyone have done them injury, to inflict summary
justice on the offender.

On this the Captain-Major ordered one Joao Machado, a convict, who
understood a little Arabic, to go on shore in the canoe, and explain to
the Sheikh that they had been deceived by the pilot, and that when the
Portuguese tried to catch him, his people had come out with arms in
their hands to fight, and that it was on account of the want of
sincerity in the Sheikh and his countrymen that the Portuguese were
going away.  It was intended that Joao Machado should remain in the
country in older that on their return he should be able, should he live,
to give them full information about the people.

While the _Saint Raphael_ was hove to, she struck upon a shoal, and was
with difficulty got off, in consequence of which it was afterwards named
the Banks of Saint Raphael.

Vasco da Gama, irritated at being unable to punish the chief, put the
pilot in irons to prevent his escape.  The wind being contr