originals themselves.[2] I have inserted a facsimile of two pages of
the text, so that no doubt may remain on this point. The first portion
consists of the conclusion of the text of Fernao Nuniz; the second
of the covering letter written by the person who sent the originals
to Europe; the third of the beginning of the text of Domingo Paes.

Paes being the earlier in date (about 1520) I have given his account
of personal experiences first, and afterwards the historical summary
composed by Nuniz about the year 1536 or 1537.

I have stated that the person to whom the documents were sent from
Goa was probably the celebrated historian Barros. He is alluded to
in the covering letter in the words: "It seemed necessary to do what
your Honour desired of me," "I send both the summaries ... because
your Honour can gather what is useful to you from both;" and at the
end of the long note on "Togao Mamede," king of Delhi, quoted in my
introduction, "I kiss your Honour's hand."

Since the first DECADA of Barros was published in 1552,[3]
this argument is not unreasonable; while a comparison between the
accounts given by Nuniz and Barros of the siege and battle of Raichur
sufficiently proves that one was taken from the other. But we have
fortunately more direct evidence, for the discovery of which we have
to thank Mr. Ferguson. I have mentioned above that at the end of the
MS. volume are copies of two letters concerning China. These were
written subsequent to the year 1520 by Vasco Calvo and Christovao
Vieyra. Mr. Ferguson has pointed out to me that, in the third DECADA
(liv. IV, caps. 4, 5), after quoting some passages almost verbatim
from this chronicle of Nuniz regarding Vijayanagar, Barros writes:
"According to two letters which our people had two or three years