EARLY VOYAGES

TO THE

EAST INDIES.

AFTER the fortunate discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, 10 years elapsed before the Portugueze attempted to penetrate to the East Indies. But, on the 8th of July, 1497, VASCO DE GAMA sailed from Lisbon, on this important enterprize. His squadron consisted of four ships, armed by 148 experienced soldiers and seamen. On the 20th of November they doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and ran along the coast with a fair wind, sounding their trumpets and shewing other symptoms of joy. After coasting along the east shores of Africa, until the 1st of March, they cast anchor at the island of Mozambique. Here they were entertained with great kindness, and procured pilots to take the ships to Calicut, which, they were informed was 900 leagues distant. But, when the Moors discovered they were Christians, they plotted to destroy them; however, in consequence of some information from one of the pilots respecting their designs, they narrowly escaped. De Gama, after taking water by force, battered the town and departed.

At Mombassa De Gama and his companions again narrowly escaped destruction, but, suspecting treachery, two Moors were put to the torture, until they confessed the plot. On the 21st of April they determined to quit the shore, which they

had hitherto coasted, and stand out to sea, trusting to the conduct of the pilot. On the next day they saw both the north and south polar stars; the former of which they had not seen for a long time: they were also agreeably surprized to meet with no storms at this season of the year, but rather fair weather. They were 23 days out of sight of land, when they saw on the 17th of May, a high shore, eight leagues distant: on sounding they found 45 fathoms; and to avoid getting into shoal water, they stood to the south-east until next day, and hauled in again for the land, but not so close as to be certain what part of the coast it was; but by some showers which fell, the pilot judged it to be the coast of India, that being their winter season. On the 20th they discovered some hill over the city of Calicut, which the pilot knew, and with much joy demanded his reward of De Gama, assuring them that this was the land he so much desired to see. general paid him, and immediately went to prayers, saying the salva, and returning thanks to God for their happy arrival; after prayer they feasted and rejoiced, and on the evening came to anchor two leagues from Calicut. Immediately four little boats, or almadias, came on board, to inquire what ships they were, having never seen any such on the coast before. The people were naked, except their private parts, covered with pieces of linen cloth; they were of a brown complexion. They went on board the general's ship, who treated them well, although his pilot told him they were only fishermen, (a name applied on this coast to poor people) and directed his men to purchase their fish. From them he learned that the town in sight was not Calicut, that being further off, and offered to pilot him thither; which they did.

The

Calicut is a city situated on the coast of Malabar, in Hindostan, beginning at mount Delhi, and ending at cape Comorin: it is in length 61 leagues, and 15 in breadth: all the country is low, and often overflowed. It has many islands belonging to it, and is divided from a great kingdom, called Narsinga, by a high hill. The Indians have a tradition, that this land of Malabar was once sea, and reached as far as the Maldive islands, which were then firm land.

The province of Malabar was anciently governed by a king, who resided at Coulan. In the reign of their last king, the Moors of Mecca discovered the Indies, and settled in Malabar, the people being then heathens. They converted the king, who became so zealous a devotee, that he détermined to go and end his days at Mecca. Before he departed, he divided his dominions among his kindred, reserving only a small portion of 12 leagues, from which he was to embark, and which was never before inhabited. This he gave to a kinsman, who had been his page, commanding that the same should be inhabited, in memorial of his embarkation, investing him with his sword and turban, and commanding all others to be obedient to him as their emperor. This was the origin of Calicut: at the place where he embarked, the city was built, and out of a principle of devotion, they now ship all goods from hence; by which means the port of Coulan became neglected. The merchants removing hither, it was soon one of the richest marts in India. It had the advantage of a good road, the other parts of the coast being very dangerous.

All the kings of Malabar have one person charged with the administration of justice, who is equally obeyed with the king himself. The soldiers are all nayres, or gentlemen, and carry arms, which are bows, arrows, spears, daggers made like a hook, and targets. They go naked, except a painted cloth from the girdle to the knee; bare-footed, and have turbans round their heads: they are all supported by the king and nobility, who allow them stipends for their maintenance: they esteem themselves so highly, that they will not permit any husbandman to touch them, or to come into their houses.

The general having come to anchor without the bar of Calicut, sent one of his convicts in the boat, to see what sort of country it was, and if they should be received. When the man landed, a number of people immediately came round to look at him. They asked the Malabar who carried him on shore, what he was, who answered, that they took him for a Moor, and that he came in one of the three ships they then saw. The people of Calicut observed, he was dressed different from the Moors. Among the people who flocked round him,