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Cabral,
PEDRO ALVAREZ, Portuguese navigator; born about 1460. In
1499, after VASCO DA GAMA returned
from India, Cabral was sent by King Emanuel, with thirteen ships, on
a voyage from Lisbon to the East Indies, for the purpose of
following up Gama's discoveries. He left Lisbon on March 9, 1500. In
order to avoid the calms on the Guinea shore, he went so far
westward as to discover land on the coast of Brazil at lat. 10° S.
He erected a cross, and named the country "The Land of the Holy
Cross." It was afterwards called Brazil, from brasil, a dyewood that
abounded there. Cabral took possession of the country in the name of
the King. After it was ascertained that it was a part of the
American continent, a controversy arose between the crowns of Spain
and Portugal concerning the right of possession, but it was settled
amicably - Portugal to possess the portion of the continent
discovered by Cabral, that is, from the River Amazon to the Plate
(De la Plata). This discovery led Emanuel to send out another
expedition (three ships) under
AMERICUS VESPUCIUS, in May, 1501. They touched Brazil at lat. 5°
S., and returned home after a voyage of sixteen months. Cabral died
about 1526.
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