Possible Discovery of Brazil
It has also been suggested that Pereira discovered Brazil in 1498. In the book Foundations of the Portuguese empire, 1415-1580 the authors make the following comment:
"What really is important," Duarte Leite says, is "to know whether Pacheco arrived in Brazil before Alvares Cabral" (April 22, 1500). In agreement with Luciano Pereira, such modern Portuguese historians as "Faustino da Fonseca, Brito Rebelo, Lopes de Mendonça, and Jaime Cortesão say he did. as does . . . Vignaud; and I believe he does not lack supporters in Brazil." However, says Leite, if Pacheco did discover areas east of the Line of Demarcation and did bring back news of this to Manuel, "the reason which induced Don Manuel to keep secret. . . such an important discovery escapes me."' As soon as Cabral returned in 1501, Manuel announced the discovery of Brazil to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. Why would he not in 1499, after the return of Vasco da Gama, make a similar announcement if Pacheco had already discovered Brazil? "No objection could come on the part of Spain," given the division made by the Treaty of Tordesillas, as "indeed none came in 1501" when Cabral's discovery was announced. "I am persuaded that Pacheco neither discovered Brazil in 1498 nor was present two years later at its discovery by Cabral.""
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