A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 8 | Page 8

May to the 10th August. In like manner, ships can go from these places
to Goa every time of the year except in winter; but the best time is in
the months of December, January, and February.

In the first monsoon from Goa for Pegu, the ships depart from Goa
between the 15th and 20th of April, and winter at San Thome, whence
they sail for Pegu after the 5th of August. In the second, they leave Goa
between the 8th and 24th of August, going direct for Pegu; but, if they
pass the 24th of August, they cannot make out their voyage that
monsoon, and must wait till next April. It may be noticed, that the best
trade for Pegu is to take ryals and patechoni to San Thome, and there
purchase Tellami, which is fine cotton cloth, of which great quantities
are made in Coromandel. Other merchandize is not good in Pegu,
except a few dozens of very fair oriental emeralds. Gold, silver, and
rubies are in Pegu sufficiently abundant. In coming from Pegu for
Western India, ships sail between the 15th and 25th of January, and
come to Goa about the 25th of March, or beginning of April. If it pass
the 10th of May before reaching Goa, ships cannot reach Goa that
monsoon; and if they have not then made the coast of India, they will
with much peril fetch San Thome.
In the first monsoon for Malacca, the ships leave Goa between the 15th
and 30th of September, and reach Malacca about the end of October. In
the second, they leave Goa about the 5th of May, and arrive at Malacca
about the 15th of June. In the first monsoon from Malacca for Goa,
they leave Malacca about the 10th September, and come to Goa about
the end of October. In the second, they leave Malacca about the 10th
February, and reach Goa about the end of March. If any ship is detained
on this voyage till the 10th May, they cannot enter the harbour of Goa;
and, if they have not then got to Cochin, they must return to Malacca,
as the winter and the contrary winds then come on.
Ships sail from Goa for China in the month of April; and they must sail
in such time from China as to reach Goa before the 10th of May. If not
then arrived, they must put back to Cochin; and if not able to get in
there, must go to Malacca to winter.
Ships going from Goa for the Moluccas must sail on or before the 10th
or 15th May; after which period they cannot pass the bar of Goa: and
the ships returning from the Moluccas usually reach Goa about the 15th
of April.
The ships from Portugal for India usually depart between the 10th and
15th of March, going direct for the coast of Melinda and Mozambique,
which they reach in July, whence they proceed to Goa. If they do not

reach the coast of Melinda in July, they cannot fetch Melinda that year,
but must return to the island of St Helena. If they are unable to make
that island, then they run as lost on the coast of Guinea. If they reach
the coast of Melinda in time, and set forwards for Goa, but are unable
to make that port by the 15th September, they then go to Cochin; but, if
unable to get into Cochin, they must return and winter on the coast of
Mozambique. Yet, in the year 1580, the ship San Lorenzo arrived there
on the 8th of October, sore tempest-beaten, to the great admiration of
every one, as the like had not been seen before.
The ships bound for Portugal leave Cochin between the 15th and 31st
January, steering for Cabo de buona Speranza, and the isle of St
Helena, which island is about midway, being in lat. 16° S. It is a small
island, but fruitful of all things, with great store of fruit, and gives great
succour to the ships homeward-bound from India to Portugal. It is not
long since that island was discovered, by a ship that came from the
Indies in a great storm. They found in it such abundance of wild beasts
and boars, and all sorts of fruit, that, by these means, this ship, which
had been four months at sea, was wonderfully refreshed both with food
and water. It received its name because discovered on the day of St
Helen. This island is so great a succour to the Portuguese ships, that
many of them would surely perish if it were not for the aid they get
here. For this reason, the King of Portugal caused a church to be built
here to the honour of St Helena, where only two