As Otherwise, If We Returned Without Any Of The Productions Of
The Indies, Their Discovery Would Be Discredited, And Their Honour And
Veracity Called In Question.
"Think not therefore," said he, "but I will
rather die, than leave it in hazard that the long time
We have already
spent, and may yet employ, shall be lost, and others sent to ascertain
the truth of our discoveries, while envious persons may have it in their
power to discredit our services. Neither do I run into such hazard of
death, nor expose you to such dangers as you suppose; seeing that I am
going to a city inhabited by Christians, and to a king who wishes the
concourse of many merchants in his dominions, as the more of these that
frequent his port so much the greater must be his revenue from the
customs upon trade. It is not my intention to stay long on shore, so as
to give opportunity to the Moors to complot against me; as I propose only
to talk with the king and to return in three days, by which time you may
have every thing in readiness for our departure. If I should have the good
fortune, by the will of God, to establish trade and amity with the king of
Calicut, I would not exchange the honour and credit of that transaction
for any treasure that could be given me; neither can the king of Calicut
settle this affair so well with any other person, as he will honour me the
more for being the captain-general of this fleet and the ambassador of our
king. Should any other go in my stead, the king might look upon himself as
slighted and insulted, under an idea that I do not esteem him worthy to be
visited by myself, or that I do not trust him on his word and assurance.
Besides, it is not possible for me to give sufficiently ample instructions
to any one I might send, to enable him to do what may be necessary under
every circumstance that may arise, as I myself might do. Even if it should
chance that they kill me, it were better this should happen in the
discharge of my duty, than that I should preserve my life by neglecting to
perform it. You, my friends, remain at sea in good ships: And if you hear
of any mischance befalling me, my desire is that you shall immediately
depart and carry home news of our discovery. As for our present subject,
there need be no farther argument; as I am determined, with the blessing
of God, to proceed to visit the king at Calicut."
When this determination was made known the captains made no farther
objections, and chose out twelve persons to accompany him, among whom
were Diego Diaz his secretary, Fernan Martinez the interpreter, John de
Sala who was afterwards treasurer of the Indies, and nine others; and
Paulo de Gama, his brother, was appointed to act as captain-general
during his absence. The general, before going on shore, gave pointed
orders that no person should on any account be permitted to come on board
the ships; but that all who were desirous of any intercourse with them
should remain in their boats or almadias. He likewise directed that
Nicholas Coello should come every day with his boat well armed as near
the shore as he could with safety, on purpose to keep up an intercourse
between the ships and himself. All these things being settled, the
general went on shore with his twelve attendants, all in their best
attire; their boat furnished with much ordnance, dressed out with flags
and streamers, and sounding trumpets all the way from the ships to the
shore. On landing, the general was received with every demonstration of
respect by the kutwal, attended by 200 nayres, and a great concourse of
natives, both of the country and from the city of Calicut. After
compliments were passed, the general was placed in an _andor_ or litter,
which the king of Calicut had sent for his use. In this country it is not
customary to travel on horseback, but in these andors. This vehicle is
like a horse-litter, except that they are very plain with low sides, and
are carried by four men on their shoulders, who run post in this manner,
carrying the king or any noble person when on a journey, and going at a
great rate. The person in the andor may either sit or lie as he pleases;
and certain servants carry umbrellas, which they call _bueys_, to shelter
the person in the andor from the sun and rain. There are other andors
which have a curved cane over them like a bow, and are so light that they
can be carried by two men.
The general being mounted in one andor and the kutwal in another, they
set out for a town called Capocate[59], all the rest being on foot; but
the kutwal appointed certain people of the country to carry the baggage
of our men, which was restored to them at Capocate, where the party
stopped for refreshment, the general and his people being in one house
and the kutwal in another. Our people were here provided with boiled fish,
with rice and butter, and some of the country fruits which are very good,
though quite different from ours. One of these fruits is called _lacas_,
and another Mango, and they have figs likewise. The water was excellent,
and as good as any in Portugal. After resting and refreshing themselves
at Capocate, the general and his suite were embarked in a vessel called
an _ensangada_, consisting of two almadias lashed side by side. The
kutwal and his train embarked in many other boats; and the whole went up
a river which discharges itself into the sea at this place. The numbers
of people that came to the river side to view our men as they passed was
quite countless, by which it appears that the country was well inhabited.
After going about a league up this river, our people came to a place
where many large ships were drawn up on the shore.
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