But The
Zamorin Sent Him Word That There Was No Necessity To Take This Person Away,
Who Was Desirous Of
Remaining in India; and if the captain-general would
remain he should have the pepper which was promised.[13] At
This time
Alonso de Albuquerque returned from Coulan, and joined Francisco at
Cananor; and a letter was brought from Rodrigo Reynel, giving information
that the zamorin was certainly resolved to attempt the conquest of Cochin,
as soon as the Portuguese ships should leave the coast; and that his only
intention in making an offer of pepper was with a view to prevent them
from burning the ships which were then in the harbour of Calicut.
All matters being arranged, the Portuguese fleet sailed from Cananor on
the 31st of January 1504. Alonso de Albuquerque and Antonio del Campo came
to Lisbon on the 23d of August, and presented to the king 400 weight of
seed pearls, which are called _Alhofer or Ragges_, 144 pound weight of
great pearls, and eight of the oysters from which the pearls are procured.
[14] He gave likewise to the king a diamond as big as a large bean, and
many other jewels; and two Persian horses of wonderful swiftness.
Francisco de Albuquerque and Nicholas Coello, who left Cananor some time
after Alonso, were cast away on the voyage and never more heard of. Pedro
de Tayde was driven to Quiloa, where his ship was lost on the bar and most
of his men drowned.
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