Celebrated Travels and Travellers Vol 1 First Part Chapter VIII part 1b - The conquest of India and of the spice countries.

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Section 20 of Celebrated Travels and Travellers, Volume 1

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Recording by William Tomko Celebrated Travels and Travellers, Volume 1 Exploration of the World by Jules Verne First Part, Chapter 8, Part 1b The Viceroy Coletam, who imagined he was dealing with Muslims, came on board several times, and was magnificently entertained. He returned to civility by sending presents, and even furnished Gamma with two skillful pilots. But when some Moorish merchants who had traded in Europe told him that these foreigners, far from being Turks, were in reality the worst enemies of the Mohammedans, the viceroy disgusted at his mistake, made preparations for seizing the Portuguese by treachery, and killing them. Gamma was obliged to point his artillery at the town, and threatened to reduce it to ashes, before he could obtain the water needed for the prosecution of his voyage. Blood flowed, and Paul de Gamma captured two barks, whose rich cargo was divided amongst the sailors. The ships quitted this inhospitable town on the 29th of March, and the voyage continued, a close surveillance being kept over the Arab pilots, whom Gamma was obliged to cause to be flogged.

On the 4th of April, the coast was seen, and on the 8th, Mombasa, or Mombaz, was reached. A town, according to the pilots, inhabited by Christians and Musselmen. The fleet dropped anchor outside the harbour, and did not enter it, notwithstanding the enthusiastic reception given to them. Already, the Portuguese were reckoning upon meeting at mass the next day with the Christians of the island, when, during the night, the flagship was approached by a sacra, having on board a hundred armed men, who endeavoured to enter the ships in a body, which was refused them. The king of Mombaz was informed of all that had occurred at Mozambique, but pretending ignorance, he sent presents to Gama, proposing to him to establish a factory in his capital, and assuring him that so soon as he should have entered the port, he might take on board a cargo of spices and aromatics. The captain Moore, suspecting nothing, immediately sent two men to announce his entry for the morrow. Already they were weighing anchor. When the flagship refusing to tack, the anchor was let fall again. In graceful and poetic fiction, Camoans affirms that it was the Nerides led by Venus, the protectress of the Portuguese, who stayed their ships when on the point of entering the port. At this moment, all the moors on board the fleet quitted it simultaneously, whilst the Mozambique pilots threw themselves into the sea.

Two moors who were put to the question with a drop of hot oil confessed that the intention was to take all the Portuguese prisoners as soon as they should be inside the harbor. During the night, the moors endeavored several times to climb on board and to cut the cables in order to run the ships aground. But each time they were discovered, under these circumstances, no prolonged stay was possible at Mombas, but it had been long enough for all those ill of scurvy to recover their health.

At the distance of four and twenty miles from land, the fleet captured a bark richly laden with gold, silver, and provisions. The next day, Gamma arrived at Melinda, a rich and flourishing city whose gilded minarets sparkling in the sunshine and whose mosques of dazzling whiteness stood out against the sky of the most intense blue. The reception of the Portuguese at Melinda was at first very cold. The capture of the bark the evening before being already known there, but as soon as explanations had been given, the people became cordial. The King's son came to visit the Admiral, accompanied by a train of court-heirs, splendidly dressed, and a choir of musicians who played upon various instruments. The greatest astonishment was shown at the artillery practice, for the invention of gunpowder was not yet known on the east coast of Africa. A solemn treaty was made, ratified by oaths upon the Gospel and the Qu'ran, and cemented by an interchange of presents. From this moment, the ill will, the treachery, the difficulties of all kind, which had hitherto beset the expedition, ceased as if by magic. This must be attributed to the generosity of the king of Melinda, and to the aid which he furnished to the Portuguese.

Faithful to the promise which he had made to Vasco de Gama, the king sent him a Gujarat pilot named Malimo Cana, a man well instructed in navigation, understanding the use of charts, of the compass and the quadrant, and who rendered the most important service to the expedition. After a stay of nine days, the fleet weighed anchor for Calicut. The coasting plan here the two pursued was now to be abandoned, and the time was come when, in reliance upon the blessing of God, the Portuguese must venture out upon the wide ocean. Without other guide than an unknown pilot furnished by a king whose kind welcome had not sufficed to lull to sleep the suspicions of the foreigners. And yet, thanks to the ability and loyalty of this pilot, thanks also to the clemency of the sea, and to the wind being constantly in its favor, the fleet, after twenty-three days voyage, reached the land on the seventeenth May, and the next day anchored at the distance of six miles below Calicut. The enthusiasm on board was great. At last they had arrived in those rich and wonderful countries. Fatigues, dangers, sickness, all were forgotten. The object of their long labors was attained, or rather, it seemed to be so, for there was still needed the possession of the treasures and rich productions of India.