Cabral's fleet reaches Mozambique Island. As there…

Cabral's fleet reaches Mozambique Island. 

As there is no sign or news from Diogo Dias awaiting him, Cabral realizes he must take responsibility for the Sofala mission himself.

Cabral orders the private ship Anunciada of Nuno Leitão da Cunha, the fastest in the fleet, to be placed under the command of veteran hand Nicolau Coelho, and dispatched ahead of the rest of the fleet to deliver the results of the voyage to Portugal.

Vice-admiral Sancho de Tovar, having lost the El Rei), is given a chance to make amends by taking command of the caravel São Pedro (hitherto commanded by Pêro de Ataíde) and seek out Sofala and to proceed home alone from there.

Ataíde is transferred to the command of Coelho's old nau.

In the meantime, Cabral lands a degredado, António Fernandes, on the African coast, with letters of instruction for Diogo Dias and any passing Portuguese expeditions, informing them of the dramatic turn of events in India, and warning them to avoid Calicut.

Matters settled, Cabral takes the remaining three ships—his own flagship, the large nau of Simão de Miranda and Coelho's ship, now under Pêro de Ataíde—and sets sail from Mozambique island.