On Saturday, the 4th of the same month [November 1497], a couple of hours before break of day, we had soundings in 110 fathoms, and at nine o’clock we sighted the land. We then drew near to each other, and having put on our gala clothes, we saluted the captain-major [da Gama, speaking in the third person] by firing our bombards, and dressed the ships with flags and standards. In the course of the day we tacked so as to come close to the land, but as we failed to identify it, we again stood out to sea.