tell more of the details of what he saw than we have hitherto heard from
other voyagers, and who was himself his own chronicler.

In 1454, Ca da Mosto, a young Venetian, who had already gained some
experience in voyaging, happened to be on board a Venetian galley that was
detained by contrary winds at Cape St. Vincent. Prince Henry was then
living close to the Cape. He sent his secretary and the Venetian consul on
board the galley. They told of the great things the prince had done,
showed samples of the commodities that came from the lands discovered by
him (Madeira sugars, dragon's blood, and other articles), and spoke of the
gains made by Portuguese voyagers being as great as 700 or 1000 per cent.
Ca da Mosto expressed his wish to be employed, was informed of the terms
that would be granted, and heard that a Venetian would be well received by
the prince, "because he was of opinion, that spices and other rich
merchandise might be found in those parts, and know that the Venetians
understood these commodities better than any other nation."

In fine, Ca da Mosto saw the prince, and was evidently much impressed by
his noble bearing. He obtained his wishes, and being furnished with a
caravel, he embarked his merchandise in it, and set off on a voyage of
discovery. There was now, for the first time, an intelligent man on board
one of these vessels, giving us his own account of the voyage.


TRADE WITH THE ARABS.

From Ca da Mosto the reader at once learns the state of things with regard
to the slave-trade. The Portuguese factory at Argnim was the headquarters
of the trade. Thither came all kinds of merchandise; and gold and slaves
were taken back in return. The "Arabs" of that district (Moors, the