Notable Voyagers, From Columbus to NordenskioldKingston, William Henry Giles
History
Notable Voyagers, From Columbus to Nordenskiold
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Explorers; Voyages and travels
On his way to the boats Vasco da Gama met the factor, who informed him
that the factory had been robbed, no doubt by the order of the King, but
he would not allow the factor to complain, though he warned the overseer
of the treasury that he would at some time come back and revenge on the
heads of the Moors the wrongs he had received. He then embarked with
all his men, and proceeded to the ships. The Castilian, as they were
shoving off, leaped into the boat and begged leave to accompany them.
Vasco da Gama was received with unbounded joy by his brother and the
officers and crews of the ships.
He rewarded the Castilian for his services by giving him five
Portugueses of gold and a piece of cloth and several red caps, and he
signed a paper to the effect that he was a sincere friend to the
Portuguese, a faithful Christian, and that all confidence might be
placed in him. With this the Castilian returned on shore, when he told
the Moors of the hatred they had produced in the breasts of the
Portuguese, who swore that they would revenge themselves on their return
to India. He also informed the overseer of the treasury that the
Portuguese, when they came back, would be his sincere friends. These
things were related to the King, who immediately dispatched the
Castilian with one of his chief ministers again to express his regret at
what had happened, saying that if the Portuguese would come again on
shore they would see the punishment he would inflict on the persons who
had injured them.
The Captain-Major replied that he should not return to the port, and
that he would take upon himself at a future time the punishment of the
Moors who had behaved ill to him and his followers.
As there was a fair wind the ships set sail and ran down the coast until
they came off Cananor. The King of that country having heard all that
had taken place, resolved to win the friendship of the Portuguese.
No sooner did the ships approach than he sent off a large boat, carrying
a minister, to invite them to his country. Following the first boat
came a number of others, laden with provisions of all sorts. The King
stated that he would fill up their ships with cargoes of the goods they
had come in search of, at more favourable prices and in better condition
than those they had obtained in Calecut.
Vasco da Gama, highly pleased, as soon as the ships came to an anchor,
sent off a boat with Nicolas Coelho, bearing valuable presents, similar
to those before presented to the King of Calecut, but no one else was
allowed to land.
Nicolas Coelho was well received, and was sent back in a native boat by
the King, with a message expressing a hope that the Captain-Major would
visit him. He also brought word that the King had ordered a wooden pier
to be run out into the water, with a small pavilion at the end of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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