History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce, Volume 2 (of 4)Lindsay, W. S. (William Schaw)
History
History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce, Volume 2 (of 4)
Lindsay, W. S. (William Schaw)
Commerce -- History; Shipping -- History; Steam navigation -- History
As De Gama refused to grant the king even one hour for consultation,
he submitted, and this submission, having been ratified on a leaf of
gold, and signed by the king and all who were with him, presents were
exchanged, while the rich Arab, whose treachery soon afterwards became
known, was left on board, by way of security for the delivery of other
articles which had been promised; but the king sent word that Mahomed
Arcone “might pay himself, since he had deceived him.” On receipt of
this information the captain-major became very angry with the rich
Moor, and ordered him and the Moors who had accompanied him to be
“stripped naked, and bound hand and foot, and put into his boat, and
to remain thus roasting in the sun until they died, since they had
deceived him; and when they were dead he would go on shore and seek
the king, and do as much for him, lading his ships with the wealth of
the city, and making captive slaves of its women and children.” It was
not, however, necessary to carry into effect these terrible threats.
The Moor sent to fetch from his house a ransom, valued at 10,000
cruzados (£1,000 sterling), which he gave with other perquisites to the
“Christian” ambassador, who immediately afterwards pursued his voyage
to Melinde.
[Sidenote: Arrives at Melinde.]
On arriving in sight of the port, the king, who had already received
the news, was prepared with “much joy to welcome his great friend Dom
Vasco de Gama;” while the fleet anchored amidst a salvo of artillery.
The king with haste embarked in a barge which he had ready, to visit
and pay his respects to the captain-major, “bringing after him boats
spread with green boughs, accompanied by festive musical instruments;
and De Gama, as soon as he was aware that it was the king, went to
receive him on the sea, the two at once embracing and exchanging many
courtesies.”[28]
[Sidenote: Departs 18th Aug., 1502.]
An exchange of presents continued for the three days the fleet
remained at Melinde, and much rejoicing and festivity prevailed.
Fresh provisions of every kind were sent in abundance for each of
the vessels, as also tanks for water, which the king of Melinde had
prepared in anticipation of the arrival of the expedition, with pitch
for the necessary repairs to the ships, and coir sufficient for a
fresh outfit of hawsers and cordage for the whole expedition. On the
day of departure the king went on board, and gave De Gama a valuable
jewelled necklace for his sovereign, worth three thousand cruzados, and
others of not much less value for himself, with various other gifts,
among which were a bedstead of Cambay, wrought with gold and mother of
pearl, a very beautiful thing, and he gave him letters for the king,
and a chest full of rich stuffs for the queen, with a white embroidered
canopy for her bed, the most delicate piece of needlework, “like none
other that had ever been seen.”[29]
[Sidenote: Encounter with the Moors.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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