VascodaGama:RoundAfricatoIndia,14971498

VascodaGamawasbornabout1460atSines,Portugal.BothPrinceJohnand
PrinceManuelcontinuedtheeffortsofPrinceHenrytofindasearoutetoIndia,
andin1497ManuelplacedVascodaGama,whoalreadyhadsomereputationas
awarriorandnavigator,inchargeoffourvesselsbuiltespeciallyfortheexpedition.
TheysetsailJuly8,1497,roundedtheCapeofGoodHopefourmonthslater,and
reachedCalicutMay20,1498.TheMoorsinCalicutinstigatedtheZamorinof
Calicutagainsthim,andhewascompelledtoreturnwiththebarediscoveryand
thefewspiceshehadboughtthereatinflatedprices[butstillhemadea3000%
profit!].AforceleftbyasecondexpeditionunderCabral(whodiscoveredBrazilby
sailingtoofarwest),leftbehindsomemenina"factory"ortradingstation,but
thesewerekilledbytheMoorsinrevengeforCabral'sattacksonArabshippingin
theIndianOcean.VascodaGamawassentonamissionofvengeancein1502,
hebombardedCalicut(virtuallydestroyingtheport),andreturnedwithgreatspoil.
HisexpeditionturnedthecommerceofEuropefromtheMediterraneancitiestothe
AtlanticCoast,andopeneduptheeasttoEuropeanenterprise.
1497TheBayofSt.Helena[onthewestcoastofthepresentcountryofSouth
Africa].OnTuesday(November7)wereturnedtotheland,whichwefoundtobe
low,withabroadbayopeningintoit.Thecaptainmajor[i.e.,daGamaspeaking
inthethirdperson]sentPerod'Alenquerinaboattotakesoundingsandto
searchforgoodanchoringground.Thebaywasfoundtobeveryclean,andto
affordshelteragainstallwindsexceptthosefromtheN.W.Itextendedeastand
west,andwenameditSantaHelena.
OnWednesday(November8)wecastanchorinthisbay,andweremainedthere
eightdays,cleaningtheships,mendingthesails,andtakinginwood.Theriver
Samtiagua(S.Thiago)entersthebayfourleaguestotheS.E.oftheanchorage.
Itcomesfromtheinterior(sertao),isaboutastone'sthrowacrossatthemouth,
andfromtwotothreefathomsindepthatallstatesofthetide.
Theinhabitantsofthiscountryaretawnycolored.Theirfoodisconfinedtothe
fleshofseals,whalesandgazelles,andtherootsofherbs.Theyaredressedin
skins,andwearsheathsovertheirvirilemembers.Theyarearmedwithpolesof
olivewoodtowhichahorn,brownedinthefire,isattached.Theirnumerousdogs
resemblethoseofPortugal,andbarklikethem.Thebirdsofthecountry,
likewise,arethesameasinPortugal,andincludecormorants,gulls,turtledoves,
crestedlarks,andmanyothers.Theclimateishealthyandtemperate,and
producesgoodherbage.Onthedayafterwehadcastanchor,thatistosayon
Thursday(November9),welandedwiththecaptainmajor,andmadecaptive
oneofthenatives,whowassmallofstaturelikeSanchoMexia.Thismanhad
beengatheringhoneyinthesandywaste,forinthiscountrythebeesdeposit
theirhoneyatthefootofthemoundsaroundthebushes.Hewastakenonboard
thecaptainmajor'sship,andbeingplacedattableheateofallweate.Onthe
followingdaythecaptainmajorhadhimwelldressedandsentashore.

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Onthefollowingday(November10)fourteenorfifteennativescametowhere
ourshiplay.Thecaptainmajorlandedandshowedthemavarietyof
merchandise,withtheviewoffindingoutwhethersuchthingsweretobefoundin
theircountry.Thismerchandiseincludedcinnamon,cloves,seedpearls,gold,
andmanyotherthings,butitwasevidentthattheyhadnoknowledgewhatever
ofsucharticles,andtheywereconsequentlygivenroundbellsandtinrings.This
happenedonFriday,andtheliketookplaceonSaturday.
OnSunday(November12)aboutfortyorfiftynativesmadetheirappearance,
andhavingdined,welanded,andinexchangefortheeitilswithwhichwecame
provided,weobtainedshells,whichtheyworeasornamentsintheirears,and
whichlookedasiftheyhadbeenplated,andfoxtailsattachedtoahandle,with
whichtheyfannedtheirfaces.Thecaptainmajoralsoacquiredforoneeitilone
ofthesheathswhichtheyworeovertheirmembers,andthisseemedtoshow
thattheyvaluedcopperveryhighly;indeed,theyworesmallbeadsofthatmetal
intheirears.
OnthatdayFernaoVelloso,whowaswiththecaptainmajor,expressedagreat
desiretobepermittedtoaccompanythenativestotheirhouses,sothathemight
findouthowtheylivedandwhattheyate.Thecaptainmajoryieldedtohis
importunities,andallowedhimtoaccompanythem,andwhenwereturnedtothe
captainmajor'svesseltosup,hewentawaywiththenegroes.Soonafterthey
hadleftustheycaughtaseal,andwhentheycametothefootofahillina
barrenplacetheyroastedit,andgavesomeofittoFernaoVelloso,asalsosome
oftherootswhichtheyeat.Afterthismealtheyexpressedadesirethathe
shouldnotaccompanythemanyfurther,butreturntothevessels.WhenFernao
Vellosocameabreastofthevesselshebegantoshout,thenegroeskeepingin
thebush.
Wewerestillatsupper;butwhenhisshoutswereheardthecaptainmajorrose
atonce,andsodidweothers,andweenteredasailingboat.Thenegroesthen
beganrunningalongthebeach,andtheycameasquicklyupwithFernao
Vellosoaswedid,andwhenweendeavoredtogethimintotheboattheythrew
theirassegais,andwoundedthecaptainmajorandthreeorfourothers.Allthis
happenedbecausewelookeduponthesepeopleasmenoflittlespirit,quite
incapableofviolence,andhadthereforelandedwithoutfirstarmingourselves.
Wethenreturnedtotheships.
RoundingtheCape.AtdaybreakofThursdaythe16thofNovember,having
careenedourshipsandtakeninwoodswesetsail.Atthattimewedidnotknow
howfarwemightbeabafttheCapeofGoodHope.Perod'Alenquerthoughtthe
distanceaboutthirtyleagues,buthewasnotcertain,foronhisreturnvoyage
(whenwithB.Dias)hehadlefttheCapeinthemorningandhadgonepastthis
baywiththewindastern,whilstontheoutwardvoyagehehadkeptatsea,and
wasthereforeunabletoidentifythelocalitywherewenowwere.Wetherefore

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stoodouttowardsS.S.W.,andlateonSaturday(November18)webeheldthe
Cape.Onthatsamedayweagainstoodouttosea,returningtothelandinthe
courseofthenight.OnSundaymorning,November19,weoncemoremadefor
theCape,butwereagainunabletoroundit,forthewindblewfromtheS.S.W.,
whilsttheCapejutsouttowardsS.W..Wethenagainstoodouttosea,returning
tothelandonMondaynight.Atlast,onWednesday(November22),atnoon,
havingthewindastern,wesucceededindoublingtheCape,andthenranalong
thecoast.TothesouthofthisCapeofGoodHope,andclosetoit,avastbay,six
leaguesbroadatitsmouth,entersaboutsixleaguesintotheland.
1498.Calicut.[Arrival.]Thatnight(May20)weanchoredtwoleaguesfromthe
cityofCalicut,andwedidsobecauseourpilotmistookCapna,atownatthat
place,forCalicut.StillfurtherthereisanothertowncalledPandarani.We
anchoredaboutaleagueandahalffromtheshore.Afterwewereatanchor,four
boats(almadias)approachedusfromtheland,whoaskedofwhatnationwe
were.Wetoldthem,andtheythenpointedoutCalicuttous.
Onthefollowingday(May22)thesesameboatscameagainalongside,when
thecaptainmajorsentoneoftheconvictstoCalicut,andthosewithwhomhe
wenttookhimtotwoMoorsfromTunis,whocouldspeakCastilianandGenoese.
Thefirstgreetingthathereceivedwasinthesewords:"MaytheDeviltakethee!
Whatbroughtyouhither?"Theyaskedwhathesoughtsofarawayfromhome,
andhetoldthemthatwecameinsearchofChristiansandofspices.Theysaid:
"WhydoesnottheKingofCastile,theKingofFrance,ortheSignoriaofVenice
sendthither?"HesaidthattheKingofPortugalwouldnotconsenttotheirdoing
so,andtheysaidhedidtherightthing.Afterthisconversationtheytookhimto
theirlodgingsandgavehimwheatenbreadandhoney.Whenhehadeatenhe
returnedtotheships,accompaniedbyoneoftheMoors,whowasnosooneron
board,thanhesaidthesewords:"Aluckyventure,aluckyventure!Plentyof
rubies,plentyofemeralds!YouowegreatthankstoGod,forhavingbroughtyou
toacountryholdingsuchriches!"Weweregreatlyastonishedtohearhistalk,for
weneverexpectedtohearourlanguagespokensofarawayfromPortugal.[
ThecityofCalicutisinhabitedbyChristians.[ThefirstvoyagerstoIndiamistook
theHindusforChristians.]Theyareoftawnycomplexion.Someofthemhavebig
beardsandlonghair,whilstotherscliptheirhairshortorshavethehead,merely
allowingatufttoremainonthecrownasasignthattheyareChristians.They
alsowearmoustaches.Theypiercetheearsandwearmuchgoldinthem.They
gonakeddowntothewaist,coveringtheirlowerextremitieswithveryfinecotton
stuffs.Butitisonlythemostrespectablewhodothis,fortheothersmanageas
besttheyareable.Thewomenofthiscountry,asarule,areuglyandofsmall
stature.Theywearmanyjewelsofgoldroundtheneck,numerousbraceletson
theirarms,andringssetwithpreciousstonesontheirtoes.Allthesepeopleare
welldisposedandapparentlyofmildtemper.Atfirstsighttheyseemcovetous
andignorant.

Page 4
WhenwearrivedatCalicutthekingwasfifteenleaguesaway.Thecaptainmajor
senttwomentohimwithamessage,informinghimthatanambassadorhad
arrivedfromtheKingofPortugalwithletters,andthatifhedesiredithewould
takethemtowherethekingthenwas.Thekingpresentedthebearersofthis
messagewithmuchfinecloth.Hesentwordtothecaptainmajorbiddinghim
welcome,sayingthathewasabouttoproceedtoCalicut.Asamatteroffact,he
startedatoncewithalargeretinue.Apilotaccompaniedourtwomen,with
orderstotakeustoaplacecalledPandarani,belowtheplace(Capna)wherewe
anchoredatfirst.AtthistimewewereactuallyinfrontofthecityofCalicut.We
weretoldthattheanchorageattheplacetowhichweweretogowasgood,
whilstattheplacewewerethenitwasbad,withastonybottom,whichwasquite
true;and,moreover,thatitwascustomaryfortheshipswhichcametothis
countrytoanchorthereforthesakeofsafety.Weourselvesdidnotfeel
comfortable,andthecaptainmajorhadnosoonerreceivedthisroyalmessage
thanheorderedthesailstobeset,andwedeparted.Wedidnot,however,
anchorasneartheshoreastheking'spilotdesired.
Whenwewereatanchor,amessagearrivedinformingthecaptainmajorthatthe
kingwasalreadyinthecity.Atthesametimethekingsentabale,withother
menofdistinction,toPandarani,toconductthecaptainmajortowheretheking
awaitedhim.Thisbaleislikeanalcaide,andisalwaysattendedbytwohundred
menarmedwithswordsandbucklers.Asitwaslatewhenthismessagearrived,
thecaptainmajordeferredgoing.
Onthefollowingmorning,whichwasMonday,May28th,thecaptainmajorset
outtospeaktotheking,andtookwithhimthirteenmen.Onlanding,thecaptain
majorwasreceivedbythealcaide,withwhomweremanymen,armedand
unarmed.Thereceptionwasfriendly,asifthepeoplewerepleasedtoseeus,
thoughatfirstappearanceslookedthreatening,fortheycarriednakedswordsin
theirhands.Apalanquinwasprovidedforthecaptainmajor,suchasisusedby
menofdistinctioninthatcountry,asalsobysomeofthemerchants,whopay
somethingtothekingforthisprivilege.Thecaptainmajorenteredthepalanquin,
whichwascarriedbysixmenbyturns.Attendedbyallthesepeoplewetookthe
roadofCalicut,andcamefirsttoanothertown,calledCapna.Thecaptainmajor
wastheredepositedatthehouseofamanofrank,whilstweotherswere
providedwithfood,consistingofrice,withmuchbutter,andexcellentboiledfish.
Thecaptainmajordidnotwishtoeat,andaswehaddoneso,weembarkedon
arivercloseby,whichflowsbetweentheseaendthemainland,closetothe
coast.Thetwoboatsinwhichweembarkedwerelashedtogether,sothatwe
werenotseparated.Therewerenumerousotherboats,allcrowdedwithpeople.
AstothosewhowereonthebanksIsaynothing;theirnumberwasinfinite,and
theyhadallcometoseeus.Wewentupthatriverforaboutaleague,andsaw
manylargeshipsdrawnuphighanddryonitsbanks,forthereisnoporthere.
Whenwedisembarked,thecaptainmajoroncemoreenteredhispalanquin.The
roadwascrowdedwithacountlessmultitudeanxioustoseeus.Eventhewomen

Page 5
cameoutoftheirhouseswithchildrenintheirarmsandfollowedus.Whenwe
arrived(atCalicut)theytookustoalargechurch,andthisiswhatwesaw:The
bodyofthechurchisaslargeasamonastery,allbuiltofhewnstoneand
coveredwithtiles.Atthemainentrancerisesapillarofbronzeashighasamast,
onthetopofwhichwasperchedabird,apparentlyacock.Inadditiontothis,
therewasanotherpillarashighasaman,andverystout.Inthecenterofthe
bodyofthechurchroseachapel,allbuiltofhewnstone,withabronzedoor
sufficientlywideforamantopass,andstonestepsleadinguptoit.Withinthis
sanctuarystoodasmallimagewhichtheysaidrepresentedOurLady.Alongthe
walls,bythemainentrance,hungsevensmallbells.Inthischurchthecaptain
majorsaidhisprayers,andwewithhim.
Wedidnotgowithinthechapel,foritisthecustomthatonlycertainservantsof
thechurch,calledquafees,shouldenter.Thesequafeesworesomethreads
passingovertheleftshoulderandundertherightarm,inthesamemanneras
ourdeaconswearthestole.Theythrewholywateroverus,andgaveussome
whiteearth,whichtheChristiansofthiscountryareinthehabitofputtingontheir
foreheads,breasts,aroundtheneck,andontheforearms.Theythrewholywater
uponthecaptainmajorandgavehimsomeoftheearth,whichhegaveincharge
ofsomeone,givingthemtounderstandthathewouldputitonlater.Manyother
saintswerepaintedonthewallsofthechurch,wearingcrowns.Theywere
paintedvariously,withteethprotrudinganinchfromthemouth,andfourorfive
arms.Belowthischurchtherewasalargemasonrytank,similartomanyothers
whichwehadseenalongtheroad.
Afterwehadleftthatplace,andhadarrivedattheentrancetothecity(ofCalicut)
wewereshownanotherchurch,wherewesawthingslikethosedescribed
above.Herethecrowdgrewsodensethatprogressalongthestreetbecame
nexttoimpossible,andforthisreasontheyputthecaptainmajorintoahouse,
anduswithhim.Thekingsentabrotherofthebale,whowasalordofthis
country,toaccompanythecaptainmajor,andhewasattendedbymenbeating
drums,blowingarafilsandbagpipes,andfiringoffmatchlocks.Inconductingthe
captainmajortheyshowedusmuchrespect,morethanisshowninSpaintoa
king.Thenumberofpeoplewascountless,forinadditiontothosewho
surroundedus,andamongwhomthereweretwothousandarmedmen,they
crowdedtheroofsandhouses.
Thefurtherweadvancedinthedirectionoftheking'spalace,themoredidthey
increaseinnumber.Andwhenwearrivedthere,menofmuchdistinctionand
greatlordscameouttomeetthecaptainmajor,andjoinedthosewhowere
alreadyinattendanceuponhim.Itwasthenanhourbeforesunset.Whenwe
reachedthepalacewepassedthroughagateintoacourtyardofgreatsize,and
beforewearrivedatwherethekingwas,wepassedfourdoors,throughwhich
wehadtoforceourway,givingmanyblowstothepeople.When,atlast,we
reachedthedoorwherethekingwas,therecameforthfromitalittleoldman,
whoholdsapositionresemblingthatofabishop,andwhoseadvicethekingacts
 Page 6
uponinallaffairsofthechurch.Thismanembracedthecaptainmajorwhenhe
enteredthedoor.Severalmenwerewoundedatthisdoor,andweonlygotinby
theuseofmuchforce.
May28.Thekingwasinasmallcourt,reclininguponacouchcoveredwitha
clothofgreenvelvet,abovewhichwasagoodmattress,anduponthisagaina
sheetofcottonstuff,verywhiteandfine,moresothananylinen.Thecushions
wereafterthesamefashion.Inhislefthandthekingheldaverylargegolden
cup(spittoon),havingacapacityofhalfanalmude(8pints).Atitsmouththiscup
wastwopalmas(16inches)wide,andapparentlyitwasmassive.Intothiscup
thekingthrewthehusksofacertainherbwhichischewedbythepeopleofthis
countrybecauseofitssoothingeffects,andwhichtheycallatambor.Ontheright
sideofthekingstoodabasinofgold,solargethatamanmightjustencircleit
withhisarms:thiscontainedtheherbs.Therewerelikewisemanysilverjugs.
Thecanopyabovethecouchwasallgilt.
Thecaptainmajor,onentering,salutedinthemannerofthecountry:byputting
thehandstogether,thenraisingthemtowardsHeaven,asisdonebyChristians
whenaddressingGod,andimmediatelyafterwardsopeningthemandshutting
fistsquickly.Thekingbeckonedtothecaptainmajorwithhisrighthandtocome
nearer,butthecaptainmajordidnotapproachhim,foritisthecustomofthe
countryfornomantoapproachthekingexceptonlytheservantwhohandshim
theherbs,andwhenanyoneaddressesthekingheholdshishandbeforethe
mouth,andremainsatadistance.Whenthekingbeckonedtothecaptainmajor
helookedattheothers[i.e.,daGama'smen],andorderedthemtobeseatedon
astonebenchnearhim,wherehecouldseethem.Heorderedthatwaterfor
theirhandsshouldbegiventhem,asalsosomefruit,onekindofwhich
resembledamelon,exceptthatitsoutsidewasroughandtheinsidesweet,
whilstanotherkindoffruitresembledafig,andtastedverynice.Thereweremen
whopreparedthesefruitsforthem;andthekinglookedatthemeating,and
smiled;andtalkedtotheservantwhostoodnearhimsupplyinghimwiththe
herbsreferredto.
Then,throwinghiseyesonthecaptainmajor,whosatfacinghim,heinvitedhim
toaddresshimselftothecourtierspresent,sayingtheyweremenofmuch
distinction,thathecouldtellthemwhateverhedesiredtosay,andtheywould
repeatittohim(theking).Thecaptainmajorrepliedthathewastheambassador
oftheKingofPortugal,andthebearerofamessagewhichhecouldonlydeliver
tohimpersonally.Thekingsaidthiswasgood,andimmediatelyaskedhimtobe
conductedtoachamber.Whenthecaptainmajorhadentered,theking,too,
roseandjoinedhim,whilsttherestremainedwheretheywere.Allthishappened
aboutsunset.Anoldmanwhowasinthecourttookawaythecouchassoonas
thekingrose,butallowedtheplatetoremain.Theking,whenhejoinedthe
captainmajor,threwhimselfuponanothercouch,coveredwithvariousstuffs
embroideredingold,andaskedthecaptainmajorwhathewanted.
 Page 7
AndthecaptainmajortoldhimhewastheambassadorofaKingofPortugal,
whowasLordofmanycountriesandthepossessorofgreatwealthofevery
description,exceedingthatofanykingoftheseparts;thatforaperiodofsixty
yearshisancestorshadannuallysentoutvesselstomakediscoveriesinthe
directionofIndia,astheyknewthattherewereChristiankingstherelike
themselves.This,hesaid,wasthereasonwhichinducedthemtoorderthis
countrytobediscovered,notbecausetheysoughtforgoldorsilver,forofthis
theyhadsuchabundancethattheyneedednotwhatwastobefoundinthis
country.Hefurtherstatedthatthecaptainssentouttraveledforayearortwo,
untiltheirprovisionswereexhausted,andthenreturnedtoPortugal,without
havingsucceededinmakingthedesireddiscovery.Therereignedakingnow
whosenamewasDomManuel,whohadorderedhimtobuildthreevessels,of
whichhehadbeenappointedcaptainmajor,andwhohadorderedhimnotto
returntoPortugaluntilheshouldhavediscoveredthisKingoftheChristians,on
painofhavinghisheadcutoff.Thattwolettershadbeenintrustedtohimtobe
presentedincasehesucceededindiscoveringhim,andthathewoulddosoon
theensuingday;and,finally,hehadbeeninstructedtosaybywordofmouththat
he[theKingofPortugal]desiredtobehisfriendandbrother.
Inreplytothisthekingsaidthathewaswelcome;that,onhispart,heheldhim
asafriendandbrother,andwouldsendambassadorswithhimtoPortugal.This
latterhadbeenaskedasafavor,thecaptainmajorpretendingthathewouldnot
daretopresenthimselfbeforehiskingandmasterunlesshewasableto
present,atthesametime,somemenofthiscountry.Theseandmanyother
thingspassedbetweenthetwointhischamber,andasitwasalreadylateinthe
night,thekingaskedthecaptainmajorwithwhomhedesiredtolodge,with
ChristiansorwithMoors?Andthecaptainmajorreplied,neitherwithChristians
norwithMoors,andbeggedasafavorthathebegivenalodgingbyhimself.The
kingsaidhewouldorderitthus,uponwhichthecaptainmajortookleaveofthe
kingandcametowherethemenwere,thatis,toaverandalitupbyahuge
candlestick.Bythattimefourhoursofthenighthadalreadygone.
Thecaptainmajorwentonthebackofsixmen[inapalanquin],andthetime
occupiedinpassingthroughthecitywassolongthatthecaptainmajoratlast
grewtired,andcomplainedtotheking'sfactor,aMoorofdistinction,who
attendedhimtothelodgings.TheMoorthentookhimtohisownhouse,andwe
wereadmittedtoacourtwithinit,wheretherewasaverandaroofedinwithtiles.
Manycarpetshadbeenspread,andthereweretwolargecandlestickslikethose
attheRoyalpalace.Atthetopofeachoftheseweregreatironlamps,fedwithoil
orbutter,andeachlamphadfourwicks,whichgavemuchlight.Theselamps
theyuseinsteadoftorches.
ThissameMoorthenhadahorsebroughtforthecaptainmajortotakehimtohis
lodgings,butitwaswithoutasaddle,andthecaptainmajorrefusedtomountit.
Wethenstartedforourlodgings,andwhenwearrivedwefoundtheresomeof
ourmen[whohadcomefromtheships]withthecaptainmajor'sbed,andwith
 Page 8
numerousotherthingswhichthecaptainmajorhadbroughtaspresentsforthe
king.
OnTuesday,May29,thecaptainmajorgotreadythefollowingthingstobesent
totheking,viz.,twelvepiecesoflambel,fourscarlethoods,sixhats,fourstrings
ofcoral,acasecontainingsixwashhandbasins,acaseofsugar,twocasksof
oil,andtwoofhoney.Andasitisthecustomnottosendanythingtotheking
withouttheknowledgeoftheMoor,hisfactor,andofthebale,thecaptainmajor
informedthemofhisintention.Theycame,andwhentheysawthepresentthey
laughedatit,sayingthatitwasnotathingtooffertoaking,thatthepoorest
merchantfromMecca,oranyotherpartofIndia,gavemore,andthatifhe
wantedtomakeapresentitshouldbeingold,asthekingwouldnotacceptsuch
things.Whenthecaptainmajorheardthishegrewsad,andsaidthathehad
broughtnogold,that,moreover,hewasnomerchant,butanambassador;that
hegaveofthatwhichhehad,whichwashisownprivategiftandnottheking's;
thatiftheKingofPortugalorderedhimtoreturnhewouldintrusthimwithfar
richerpresents;andthatifKingCamolimwouldnotacceptthesethingshewould
sendthembacktotheships.Uponthistheydeclaredthattheywouldnotforward
hispresents,norconsenttohisforwardingthemhimself.Whentheyhadgone
therecamecertainMoorishmerchants,andtheyalldepreciatedthepresent
whichthecaptainmajordesiredtobesenttotheking.
Whenthecaptainmajorsawthattheyweredeterminednottoforwardhis
present,hesaid,thatastheywouldnotallowhimtosendhispresenttothe
palacehewouldgotospeaktotheking,andwouldthenreturntotheships.They
approvedofthis,andtoldhimthatifhewouldwaitashorttimetheywouldreturn
andaccompanyhimtothepalace.Andthecaptainmajorwaitedallday,butthey
nevercameback.Thecaptainmajorwasverywrothatbeingamongso
phlegmaticandunreliableapeople,andintended,atfirst,togotothepalace
withoutthem.Onfurtherconsideration,however,hethoughtitbesttowaituntil
thefollowingday.Themendivertedthemselves,singinganddancingtothe
soundoftrumpets,andenjoyedthemselvesmuch.
May30.OnWednesdaymorningtheMoorsreturned,andtookthecaptainmajor
tothepalace.Thepalacewascrowdedwitharmedmen.Ourcaptainmajorwas
keptwaitingwithhisconductorsforfullyfourlonghours,outsideadoor,which
wasonlyopenedwhenthekingsentwordtoadmithim,attendedbytwomen
only,whomhemightselect.Thecaptainmajorsaidthathedesiredtohave
FernaoMartinswithhim,whocouldinterpret,andhissecretary.Itseemedtohim
thatthisseparationportendednogood.Whenhehadentered,thekingsaidthat
hehadexpectedhimonTuesday.Thecaptainmajorsaidthatthelongroadhad
tiredhim,andthatforthisreasonhehadnotcometoseehim.Thekingthensaid
thathehadtoldhimthathecamefromaveryrichkingdom,andyethadbrought
himnothing;thathehadalsotoldhimthathewasthebearerofaletter,which
hadnotyetbeendelivered.Tothisthecaptainmajorrejoinedthathehad
broughtnothing,becausetheobjectofhisvoyagewasmerelytomake

Page 9
discoveries,butthatwhenothershipscamehewouldthenseewhatthey
broughthim;astotheletter,itwastruethathehadbroughtone,andwould
deliveritimmediately.
Thekingthenaskedwhatitwashehadcometodiscover:stonesormen?Ifhe
cametodiscovermen,ashesaid,whyhadhebroughtnothing?Moreover,he
hadbeentoldthathecarriedwithhimthegoldenimageofaSantaMaria.The
captainmajorsaidthattheSantaMariawasnotofgold,andthatevenifshe
werehewouldnotpartwithher,asshehadguidedhimacrosstheocean,and
wouldguidehimbacktohisowncountry.Thekingthenaskedfortheletter.The
captainmajorsaidthathebeggedasafavor,thatastheMoorswishedhimill
andmightmisinterprethim,aChristianabletospeakArabicshouldbesentfor.
Thekingsaidthiswaswell,andatoncesentforayoungman,ofsmallstature,
whosenamewasQuaram.Thecaptainmajorthensaidthathehadtwoletters,
onewritteninhisownlanguageandtheotherinthatoftheMoors;thathewas
abletoreadtheformer,andknewthatitcontainednothingbutwhatwouldprove
acceptable;butthatastotheotherhewasunabletoreadit,anditmightbe
good,orcontainsomethingthatwaserroneous.AstheChristianwasunableto
readMoorish,fourMoorstooktheletterandreaditbetweenthem,afterwhich
theytranslatedittotheking,whowaswellsatisfiedwithitscontents.
Thekingthenaskedwhatkindofmerchandisewastobefoundinhiscountry.
Thecaptainmajorsaidtherewasmuchcorn,cloth,iron,bronze,andmanyother
things.Thekingaskedwhetherhehadanymerchandisewithhim.Thecaptain
majorrepliedthathehadalittleofeachsort,assamples,andthatifpermittedto
returntotheshipshewouldorderittobelanded,andthatmeantimefourorfive
menwouldremainatthelodgingsassignedthem.Thekingsaidno!Hemight
takeallhispeoplewithhim,securelymoorhisships,landhismerchandise,and
sellittothebestadvantage.Havingtakenleaveofthekingthecaptainmajor
returnedtohislodgings,andwewithhim.Asitwasalreadylatenoattemptwas
madetodepartthatnight.
May31.OnThursdaymorningahorsewithoutasaddlewasbroughttothe
captainmajor,whodeclinedtomountit,askingthatahorseofthecountry,thatis
apalanquin,mightbeprovided,ashecouldnotrideahorsewithoutasaddle.He
wasthentakentothehouseofawealthymerchantofthenameofGuzerate,
whoorderedapalanquintobegotready.Onitsarrivalthecaptainmajorstarted
atonceforPandarani,whereourshipswere,manypeoplefollowinghim.The
others,notbeingabletokeepupwithhim,wereleftbehind.Trudgingthusalong
theywereovertakenbythebale,whopassedontojointhecaptainmajor.When
theyreachedPandaranitheyfoundthecaptainmajorinsidearesthouse,of
whichthereweremanyalongtheroad,sothattravelersandwayfarersmightfind
protectionagainsttherain.
May31toJune2.Thebaleandmanyotherswerewiththecaptainmajor.Onour
arrivalthecaptainmajoraskedthebaleforanalmadia,sothatwemightgoto

Page 10
ourships;butthebaleandtheotherssaidthatitwasalreadylateinfact,the
sunhadsetandthatheshouldgonextday.Thecaptainmajorsaidthatunless
heprovidedanalmadiahewouldreturntotheking,whohadgivenorderstotake
himbacktotheships,whilsttheytriedtodetainhimaverybadthing,ashe
wasaChristianlikethemselves.Whentheysawthedarklooksofthecaptain
majortheysaidhewasatlibertytodepartatonce,andthattheywouldgivehim
thirtyalmadiasifheneededthem.Theythentookusalongthebeach,andasit
seemedtothecaptainmajorthattheyharboredsomeevildesign,hesentthree
meninadvance,withordersthatincasetheyfoundtheship'sboatsandhis
brother,totellhimtoconcealhimself.Theywent,andfindingnothing,turned
back;butaswehadbeentakeninanotherdirectionwedidnotmeet.
TheythentookustothehouseofaMoorforitwasalreadyfarinthenight
andwhenwegottheretheytoldustheywouldgoinsearchofthethreemenwho
hadnotyetreturned.Whentheyweregone,thecaptainmajororderedfowlsand
ricetobepurchased,andweate,notwithstandingourfatigue,havingbeenall
dayonourlegs.Thosewhohadgoneinsearchofthethreemenonlyreturnedin
themorning,andthecaptainmajorsaidthatafteralltheyseemedwelldisposed
towardsus,andhadactedwiththebestintentionswhentheyobjectedtoour
departurethedaybefore.Ontheotherhandwesuspectedthemonaccountof
whathadhappenedatCalicut,andlookeduponthemasilldisposed.
Whentheyreturned[June1]thecaptainmajoragainaskedforboatstotakehim
tohisships.Theythenbegantowhisperamongthemselves,andsaidthatwe
shouldhavethemifwewouldorderourvesselstocomenearertheshore.The
captainmajorsaidthatifheorderedhisvesselstoapproachhisbrotherwould
thinkthathewasbeingheldaprisoner,andwouldhoistthesailsandreturnto
Portugal.Theysaidthatifwerefusedtoordertheshipstocomenearerwe
shouldnotbepermittedtoembark.ThecaptainmajorthatsaidKingCamolin
hadsenthimbacktohisships,andthatastheywouldnotlethimgo,asordered
bytheking,heshouldreturntotheking,whowasaChristianlikehimself.Ifthe
kingwouldnotlethimgo,andwantedhimtoremaininhiscountry,hewoulddo
sowithmuchpleasure.Theyagreedthatheshouldbepermittedtogo,but
affordedhimnoopportunityfordoingso,fortheyimmediatelyclosedallthe
doors,andmanyarmedmenenteredtoguardus,noneofusbeingallowedtogo
outsidewithoutbeingaccompaniedbyseveraloftheseguards.Theythenasked
ustogiveupoursailsandrudders.Thecaptaindeclaredthathewouldgiveup
noneofthesethings:KingCamolinhavingunconditionallyorderedhimtoreturn
tohisships,theymightdowithhimwhatevertheyliked,buthewouldgiveup
nothing.
Thecaptainmajorandweothersfeltverydownhearted,thoughoutwardlywe
pretendednottonoticewhattheydid.Thecaptainmajorsaidthatastheyrefused
himpermissiontogoback,theywouldatleastallowhismentodoso,asatthe
placetheywereintheywoulddieofhunger.Buttheysaidthatwemustremain
wherewewere,andthatifwediedofhungerwemustbearit,astheycared

Page 11
nothingforthat.Whilstthusdetained,oneofthemenwhomwehadmissedthe
nightbeforeturnedup.HetoldthecaptainmajorthatNicolauCoelhohadbeen
awaitinghimwiththeboatssincelastnight.Whenthecaptainmajorheardthishe
sentamanawaysecretlytoNicolauCoelho,becauseoftheguardsbywhomwe
weresurrounded,withorderstogobacktotheshipsandplacetheminasecure
place.NicolauCoelho,onreceiptofthismessage,departedforthwith.Butour
guardshavinginformationofwhatwasgoingon,atoncelaunchedalargenumber
ofalmadiasandpursuedhimforashortdistance.Whentheyfoundthatthey
couldnotovertakehimtheyreturnedtothecaptainmajor,whomtheyaskedto
writealettertohisbrother,requestinghimtobringtheshipsnearertotheland
andfurtherwithintheport.Thecaptainmajorsaidhewasquitewilling,butthat
hisbrotherwouldnotdothis;andthatevenifheconsentedthosewhowerewith
him,notbeingwillingtodie,wouldnotdoso.Buttheyaskedhowthiscouldbe,as
theyknewwellthatanyorderhegavewouldbeobeyed.Thecaptainmajordid
notwishtheshipstocomewithintheport,foritseemedtohimasitdidto
usthatonceinsidetheycouldeasilybecaptured,afterwhichtheywouldfirstkill
him,andusothers,aswewerealreadyintheirpower.
Wepassedallthatdaymostanxiously.Atnightmorepeoplesurroundedusthan
everbefore,andwewerenolongerallowedtowalkinthecompound,within
whichwewere,butconfinedwithinasmalltiledcourt,withamultitudeofpeople
aroundus.Wequiteexpectedthatonthefollowingdayweshouldbeseparated,
orthatsomeharmwouldbefallus,forwenoticedthatourjailersweremuch
annoyedwithus.This,however,didnotpreventourmakingagoodsupperoff
thethingsfoundinthevillage.Throughoutthatnightwewereguardedbyovera
hundredmen,allarmedwithswords,twoedgedbattleaxes,shields,andbows
andarrows.Whilstsomeoftheseslept,otherskeptguard,eachtakinghisturnof
dutythroughoutthenight.
Onthefollowingday,Saturday,June2,inthemorning,thesegentlemen[i.e.,the
baleandothers]cameback,andthistimetheyworebetterfaces.Theytoldthe
captainmajorthatashehadinformedthekingthatheintendedtolandhis
merchandise,heshouldnowgiveorderstohavethisdone,asitwasthecustom
ofthecountrythateveryshiponitsarrivalshouldatoncelandthemerchandiseit
brought,asalsothecrews,andthatthevendorsshouldnotreturnonboarduntil
thewholeofithadbeensold.Thecaptainmajorconsented,andsaidhewould
writetohisbrothertoseetoitsbeingdone.Theysaidthiswaswell,andthat
immediatelyafterthearrivalofthemerchandisehewouldbepermittedtoreturn
tohisship.Thecaptainmajoratoncewrotetohisbrothertosendhimcertain
things,andhedidsoatonce.Ontheirreceiptthecaptainwasallowedtogoon
board,twomenremainingbehindwiththethingsthathadbeenlanded.Atthis
therewasgreatrejoicing,thanksbeingrenderedtoGodforhavingextricatedus
 fromthehandsofpeoplewhohadnomoresensethanbeasts,forweknewwell
thatoncethecaptainmajorwasonboardthosewhohadbeenlandedwould
havenothingtofear.Whenthecaptainmajorreachedhisshipheorderedthat
nomoremerchandiseshouldbesent.

Page 12
From:OliverJ.Thatcher,ed.,TheLibraryofOriginalSources(Milwaukee:
UniversityResearchExtensionCo.,1907),Vol.V:9thto16thCenturies,pp.26
40.
Scannedby:J.S.Arkenberg,Dept.ofHistory,Cal.StateFullerton.Prof.
Arkenberghasmodernizedthetext.
ThistextispartoftheInternetModernHistorySourcebook.TheSourcebookisa
collectionofpublicdomainandcopypermittedtextsforintroductorylevelclasses
inmodernEuropeanandWorldhistory.
Unlessotherwiseindicatedthespecificelectronicformofthedocumentis
copyright.Permissionisgrantedforelectroniccopying,distributioninprintform
foreducationalpurposesandpersonaluse.Ifyoudoreduplicatethedocument,
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Sourcebook.
PaulHalsallJune1998halsall@murray.fordham.edu

The Portuguese nobleman Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) sailed from Lisbon in 1497 on
a mission to reach India and open a sea route from Europe to the East. After sailing
down the western coast of Africa and rounding the Cape of Good Hope, his expedition
made numerous stops in Africa before reaching the trading post of Calicut, India, in May
1498. Da Gama received a heros welcome back in Portugal, and was sent on a second
expedition to India in 1502, during which he brutally clashed with Muslim traders in the
region. Two decades later, da Gama again returned to India, this time as Portuguese
viceroy; he died there of an illness in late 1524.

CONTENTS
o Vasco da Gamas Early Life and First Voyage to India
o Relations with Local Population & Rival Traders
o Da Gamas Later Life and Last Voyage to India
VASCO DA GAMAS EARLY LIFE AND FIRST VOYAGE TO INDIA
Born circa 1460, Vasco da Gama was the son of a minor nobleman who commanded
the fortress at Sines, located on the coast of the Alentejo province in southwestern
Portugal. Little else is known about his early life, but in 1492 King John II sent da Gama
to the port city of Setubal (south of Lisbon) and to the Algarve region to seize French
ships in retaliation for French attacks on Portuguese shipping interests.

DID YOU KNOW?

By the time Vasco da Gama returned from his first voyage to India in 1499, he had spent
more than two years away from home, including 300 days at sea, and had traveled
some 24,000 miles. Only 54 of his original crew of 170 men returned with him; the
majority (including da Gama's brother Paolo) had died of illnesses such as scurvy.

In 1497, Johns successor, King Manuel I (crowned in 1495), chose da Gama to lead a
Portuguese fleet to India in search of a maritime route from Western Europe to the East.
At the time, the Muslims held a monopoly of trade with India and other Eastern nations,
thanks to their geographical position. Da Gama sailed from Lisbon that July with four
vessels, traveling south along the coast of Africa before veering far off into the southern
Atlantic in order to avoid unfavorable currents. The fleet was finally able to round the
Cape of Good Hope at Africas southern tip in late November, and headed north along
Africas eastern coast, making stops at what is now Mozambique, Mombasa and Malindi
(both now in Kenya). With the help of a local navigator, da Gama was able to cross the
Indian Ocean and reach the coast of India at Calicut (now Kozhikode) in May 1498.

RELATIONS WITH LOCAL POPULATION & RIVAL TRADERS

Though the local Hindu population of Calicut initially welcomed the arrival of the
Portuguese sailors (who mistook them for Christians), tensions quickly flared after da
Gama offered their ruler a collection of relatively cheap goods as an arrival gift. This
conflict, along with hostility from Muslim traders, led Da Gama to leave without
concluding a treaty and return to Portugal. A much larger fleet, commanded by Pedro
Alvares Cabral, was dispatched to capitalize on da Gamas discoveries and secure a
trading post at Calicut.

After Muslim traders killed 50 of his men, Cabral retaliated by burning 10 Muslim cargo
vessels and killing the nearly 600 sailors aboard. He then moved on to Cochin, where
 he established the first Portuguese trading post in India. In 1502, King Manuel put da
Gama in charge of another Indian expedition, which sailed that February. On this
voyage, da Gama attacked Arab shipping interests in the region and used force to reach
an agreement with Calicuts ruler. For these brutal demonstrations of power, da Gama
was vilified throughout India and the region. Upon his return to Portugal, by contrast, he
was richly rewarded for another successful voyage.

DA GAMAS LATER LIFE AND LAST VOYAGE TO INDIA

Da Gama had married a well-born woman sometime after returning from his first voyage
to India; the couple would have six sons. For the next 20 years, da Gama continued to
advise the Portuguese ruler on Indian affairs, but he was not sent back to the region
until 1524, when King John III appointed him as Portuguese viceroy in India.

Da Gama arrived in Goa with the task of combating the growing corruption that had
tainted the Portuguese government in India. He soon fell ill, and in December 1524 he
died in Cochin. His body was later taken back to Portugal for burial there.

Article Details:

Vasco da Gama
Author
History.com Staff
Website Name
History.com
Year Published
2009
Title
Vasco da Gama
URL
http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/vasco-da-gama
Access Date
April 18, 2017
Publisher
A+E Networks
Vasco da Gama Biography >> Explorers for Kids Vasco da Gama by Antonio Manuel
da Fonseca Occupation: Explorer Born: 1460 in Sines, Portugal Died: December 23,
1524 in Kochi, India Best known for: The first European to sail from Europe to India
around Africa Biography: Vasco da Gama (1460 - 1524) was a Portuguese explorer.
He led the first expedition that traveled from Europe to India by sailing around
Africa. Where did Vasco da Gama grow up? Vasco da Gama was born in a small
coastal town in Portugal named Sines. His father was a knight and an explorer. He
followed in his father's footsteps and soon commanded ships in the king's name. A
Trade Route to India Spices from India were very popular in Europe, however, the
only way to travel from Europe to India was over land. This was a long and
expensive trip. The King of Portugal figured if he could find a way to get to India by
sailing on the ocean, he would become rich trading spices in Europe. An explorer by
the name of Bartolemeu Dias had discovered the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of
Africa. It was thought that there may be a way around the Cape and to the
northeast towards India. However, many were skeptical and thought that the Indian
Ocean did not connect with the Atlantic Ocean. Vasco da Gama was given a fleet of
ships by the king and told to find a trade route around Africa to India. He was also
told to find any other trading opportunities along the way. The First Voyage Vasco da
Gama left on his first voyage from Lisbon, Portugal on July 8, 1497. He had 170 men
and 4 ships: the Sao Gabriel, Sao Rafael, the Berrio, and a fourth ship unnamed and
used for storage. Route traveled by da Gama on his first voyage Map by Ducksters
Click to see larger view The expedition rounded the southern tip of Africa at the
Cape of Good Hope on November 22. They then headed north up the coast of Africa.
They stopped at trading ports along the way including Mombasa and Malindi. At
Malindi they gained a local navigator who knew the direction to India. With the help
of a Monsoon wind they were able to cross the Indian Ocean and arrive in Calicut,
India in less than a month. At Calicut, Vasco ran into issues when trying to trade. He
had brought little of value in his ships. This made the local traders suspicious. Soon
he had to leave. The voyage back was disastrous. Around half of his crew died from
scurvy as the trip back took much longer. However, when he returned home, he was
a hero. He had found the much needed trade route to India. Later Voyages Vasco da
Gama commanded two more fleets to India. The second voyage was more of a
military expedition where he captured Arab ships and tried to show the might of the
Portuguese navy. On the third voyage Vasco was to take over as Viceroy of
Portuguese India. However, he died of malaria shortly after arriving.

Read more at: http://www.ducksters.com/biography/explorers/vasco_da_gama.php

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