CHAPTER XVI - Of the Traffic to Brazil, the River de la Plate, Angola, Congo, St. Thomas, Mina, and the Slaves of Africa

Summary

The Portuguese that carry on the sea trade to Brazil, the West Indies, Angola, and other places on this side the Cape of Good Hope, use not great vessels in this behalf, but only caravels, whereof the largest are not more than six or seven score tons burthen; or else they use round ships, bought of the French, English, or Flemings. For the caravels have lateen sails, and are masted differently from those round vessels, which have square sails; also they are of greater burthen, viz., about two hundred tons. Thus do they steer a course for Brazil, setting out from Lisbon, laden with all manner of European merchandises necessary for the life or convenience of men, such as linens, woollen, and silk cloths, wines, oils, and other things, whereof they take in the greater part on their way at the Canary Islands and the Azores, among other things, wine, wheat flour, salt beef, oxhides, and salt fish. The Azores wine is much poorer than that of the Canaries and Spain; also the flour cannot be kept for long without difficulty. All these merchandises they obtain in exchange for others brought from Portugal.