Part 8

[Here the Journal ends abruptly. The succeeding events may be shortly stated. Vasco da Gama and Coelho were separated in a storm, according to Resende. Coelho continued his voyage, arriving at Cascaes, below Lisbon, on July 10, 1499. Vasco da Gama, having waited one day for his consort, proceeded to the island of São Thiago, placed João de Sá in charge of the _S. Gabriel_, and chartered a caravel in which he conveyed his dying brother Paulo to the island of Terceira. João de Sá arrived soon after Coelho, and certainly anterior to August 28th, on which day the king addressed a letter to the Cardinal Protector of Portugal (see Appendix). Paulo died a day after he had landed at the Angra of Terceira, and was buried in the church of the Monastery of S. Francisco.[236] A resident of Terceira, one Arthur Rodriguez, at once started in a caravel to carry the news of Vasco da Gama’s arrival to Lisbon.

The date of Vasco da Gama’s return to Lisbon is not known with certainty. The commission appointed in 1871 to remove the remains of Vasco da Gama from the church of Vidigueira to Belem made every effort to ascertain the exact date, but in vain; and whilst Barros, Goes, and Pero Barretto de Resende state that it happened on August 29th, Castanheda fixes upon September 8th, and a MS. in the Torre do Tombo, consulted by Texeira de Aragão, has September 18th. Herculano, in a note to the second edition of the “Roteiro”, is content with saying that it happened at the end of August or at the beginning of September. Texeira de Aragão assumes (on the ground of a vague expression in De Barros) that he reached Terceira on August 29th, arrived at Lisbon on September 9th, and made his triumphal entry into the town on September 18th. This assumption is partly supported by the statement of Barros that Vasco da Gama, after his arrival at Belem, on account of the loss he had suffered in the death of a beloved brother, spent nine days in retirement.[237]

I am myself inclined to believe that Vasco da Gama reached Lisbon on August 29th, and made his triumphal entry on September 8th.]

[THE KINGDOMS TO THE SOUTH OF CALECUT.]

The following are the names of certain kingdoms on the coast to the south of Calecut, together with the productions of each, and what they are worth, all of which I have learnt in the most trustworthy manner from a man who spoke our language and who had come to those parts from Alexandria thirty years before.[238]

CALECUT, where we were. The articles of merchandise mentioned below are sent to it, and the vessels of Mecca take their cargoes to that city. The King, who is called Çamolim, can muster 100,000 fighting men, including auxiliaries, for the number under his proper jurisdiction is very small.

In the following we give the articles of merchandise brought thither in the vessels of Mecca, and their value throughout this part of India[239]:—

_Copper_, of which the frazila of nearly 30 pounds is worth 50 fanãos or 3 cruzados.

_Stone of Baqua_,[240] which is worth its weight in silver.

_Knives_, worth one fanão each.

_Rosewater_, worth 50 fanãos the frazila.

_Alum_, worth 50 fanãos the frazila.

_Camlot_, worth 7 cruzados the piece.

_Red cloth_, worth 2 cruzados the _pequy_[241] of three spans (palmas).

_Quicksilver_, worth 10 cruzados the frazila.

QUORONGOLIZ [Corongolor][242] is a Christian country and the king is a Christian. Its distance from Calecut by sea, and with a favourable wind, is 3 days. The king can muster 40,000 fighting men. There is much pepper, the frazila being worth 9 fanãos, whilst at Calecut it is worth 14.

COLEU [Colam, Coulão][243] is Christian. Its distance from Calecut by sea, and with a good wind, is 10 days. The king can muster 10,000 men. There is much cotton-cloth in this country, but little pepper.

CAELL [Cael],[244] the king of which is a Moor, whilst the people are Christians. Its distance from Calecut, by sea, is 10 days. The king can assemble 4,000 fighting men, and owns 100 war-elephants. There are many pearls.

CHOMANDARLA [Choramandel][245] is inhabited by Christians, and the king is a Christian. He can muster 100,000 men. There is much lac here, worth half a cruzado the frazila, and an extensive manufacture of cotton cloths.

CEYLAM [Ceylon] is a very large island inhabited by Christians under a Christian king. It is 8 days from Calecut, with a favourable wind. The king can muster 4,000 men, and has moreover many elephants for war as well as for sale. All the fine cinnamon of India is found here, as well as many sapphires, superior to those of other countries,[246] besides rubies, few but of good quality.

CAMATARRA [Sumatra] is Christian. It is 30 days from Calecut with a favourable wind. The king can muster 4,000 fighting men, and has 1,000 horsemen and 300 war-elephants. In this country much spun[247] silk is found, worth 8 cruzados the frazila. There is also much lac, worth 10 cruzados the bahar of 20 frazilas [208 kilo.].

XARNAUZ[248] is Christian and has a Christian king. Its distance from Calecut is 50 days with a good wind. The king can muster 20,000 fighting men and 4,000 horse, and owns 400 war-elephants. In this country is found much benzoin,[249] worth 3 cruzados the frazila, as also much aloes,[250] worth 25 cruzados the frazila.

TENACAR[251] is Christian with a Christian king. It is 40 days’ sail from Calecut, if the wind is favourable. The king can muster 10,000 fighting men and possesses 500 fighting elephants. In this country is found much Brazil-wood[252] which yields a red dye, as fine as kermes, and is worth 3 cruzados the bahar, whilst at Quayro [Cairo] it fetches 60. There is likewise a little aloes.

BEMGALA [Bengal].[253] In this kingdom there are many Moors and few Christians, and the king is a Christian. He can muster 20,000 fighting men on foot and 10,000 horse. In this country there is much cloth made of cotton and of silk, and much silver. The distance from Calecut is 40 days’ sail, with a favourable wind.

MELEQUA [Malacca] is Christian with a Christian king. It is 40 days’ sail from Qualecut [Calecut], with a good wind. The king can muster 10,000 fighting men, including 1,200 horse. All cloves[254] come from here, being worth on the spot 9 cruzados the bahar,[255] as also nutmeg, which is worth the like amount. There is also much porcelain, much silk and much tin, of which last they coin money; but this money is heavy and of little value, 3 frazilas being worth only 1 cruzado. There are many big parrots in this country, whose plumage is red, like fire.

PEGUO [Pegu] is Christian and has a Christian king. The inhabitants are as white as we are. The king can muster 20,000 fighting men, _scilicet_ 10,000 horse and the others on foot, besides 400 war-elephants. This country produces all the musk[256] of the world. The king possesses an island about four days’ sail, with a good wind, from the mainland. In this island there are animals like deer, who have pouches containing this musk, attached to their navels. At a certain period of each year they rub themselves against trees, when the pouches come off. It is then that the people of the country gather them. Their abundance is such that they give you four large pouches, or ten to twelve small ones, which would fill a large chest, for one cruzado. On the mainland many rubies[257] and much gold are found. For ten cruzados as much gold may be bought here as for twenty-five at Calecut. There is also much lac and benzoin of two kinds, white and black. The frazila of white benzoin is worth three cruzados, of black only a cruzado and a half. The silver to be obtained here for ten cruzados is worth fifteen at Calecut.

The distance of this country from Calecut is thirty days with a fair wind.

BEMGUALA [Bengal][258] has a Moorish king, and is inhabited by both Moors and Christians. Its distance from Calecut is thirty-five days with a fair wind. There may be 25,000 fighting men, _scilicet_ 10,000 horse and the remainder on foot, as also 400 war-elephants. In this country the following merchandise is found:—much corn and much cloth of great value. Cloth which may be bought here for ten cruzados is worth forty at Calecut. There is also much silver.

CONIMATA[259] has a Christian king and Christian inhabitants. It is fifty days’ sail from Calecut, with a good wind.

The king can assemble five or six thousand men, and owns one thousand fighting elephants. In this country there are many sapphires and much brazil-wood.

PATER[260] has Christian inhabitants and a Christian king, and there is not a single Moor. The king can assemble four thousand fighting men, and has a hundred war-elephants. In this country is found much rhubarb, the frazila on the spot being worth nine cruzados. There are also many spinel rubies and much lac, a bahar of which is worth four cruzados. The distance from Calecut is fifty days with a fair wind.

[ABOUT ELEPHANTS.]

_How the Elephants fight in this country._

They make a house of wood holding four men, and this house is put on the back of the elephant with the four men in it. The elephant has attached five naked swords to each of his tusks, being ten for the two tusks. This renders him so redoubtable that none awaits his attack if flight is possible. Whatever those seated on the top order to be done is done as if he were a rational creature, for if they tell him “kill this one, or do this thing or another”, he does it.

_How they capture Elephants in the Primeval Forests._

When they wish to capture a wild elephant they take a tame female, and dig a large hole on the track frequented by elephants, and cover its mouth with brushwood. They then tell the female “Go! and if you meet with an elephant, entice him to this hole, in such a way that he falls into it, but take care that you do not fall into it yourself.” She then goes away, and does as she has been told, and when she meets one she draws him on in such a way that he must fall into the hole, and the hole is so deep that unaided he could never get out of it.

_How they are got out of the hole and broken-in._

After the elephant has fallen into this hole, five or six days are allowed to pass before he is given anything to eat. When that time has elapsed, a man brings him a very small supply of food, the supply being increased from day to day until he eats by himself. This is continued for about a month, during which time those who bring him food gradually tame him, until at last they venture to descend into the hole. This is done for several days until he permits the man to put his hands upon his tusks. He then goes into the hole and puts heavy chains around the legs, and whilst in this condition they train him so well that he learns all but to speak.

These elephants are kept in stables like horses, and a good elephant is worth 2,000 cruzados.[261]

PRICES AT ALEXANDRIA.[262]

[Value per Pound.] _£_ _s._ _d._

One quintal of cinnamon is worth 25 cruzados, 0 2 5 ” ” cloves ” 20 ” 0 1 11 ” ” pepper ” 15 ” 0 1 5 ” ” ginger ” 21 ” 0 2 0 (At Calecut one bahar, equal to 5 quintals, is worth 20 cruzados) 0 0 5 One quintal of nutmeg is worth 16 cruzados, 0 1 7 ” ” lac ” 25 ” 0 2 5 ” ” Brazil-wood ” 10 ” 0 1 0 One ratel of rhubarb ” 12 ” 5 16 0 One mitikal of musk ” 1 ” 50 5 4 One ratel of aloe-wood ” 2 ” 0 19 4 ” ” benzoin ” 1 ” 0 9 8 One quintal of frankincense ” 2 ” 0 0 2½ (At Mecca the bahar is worth 2 cruzados) 0 0 0½

[A VOCABULARY OF MALAYALAM.]

THIS IS THE LANGUAGE OF CALECUT.[263]

See, look! nocane [nōkka]. Hearest thou? que que ne [kēlka]. Take him away criane. To draw balichene [walikkān]. Rope coraoo [kayara]. Largely lacany. Give me cornda. To drink carichany [kutippān]. Eat tinane [tinmān]. Take y na. I do not wish to totenda. To go mareçane. Go away! poo [pō]. Come here! baa [bā or wā]. Be silent! pote. Rise! legany. To throw carecane [karikkān]. To speak para ne [parane, speak thou]. Mad, silly moto. Serious monday decany. Lame mura call [murakāl]. To fall biamçe. Many, much balidu [walare]. Bad betall [chītta]. Wind clarle [kātta]. Little chiredu [chiratu?]. Give him criane. Timber, wood mara [maram]. Stone calou [kallu]. Teeth faley. Lips çire [chīra?]. Nose muco [mūkka]. Eyes cana [kanna]. Forehead necheim [nīcha?]. Hair talanay [talla]. Head tabu. Ears cadee [chewi]. Tongue naoo [nākka]. Neck caestez. [Breast] mulay [mula]. Breasts nane. Arms carit. Stomach barri [wayara]. Legs cali [kāla]. — canay. — seyrim. — cudo. Hands lamguajem [kai]. Fingers beda. — cula. Fish miny [mīna]. Mast mana. Light, fire tiir [tī]. To sleep teraquy. Man amoo [āna]. Women pena [penna]. Chin, beard tari. Lobster xame. Parrot tata [tatta]. Doves cayninaa. — baly. To kiss mucane. To bite canchany [katikkān]. To see, look noquany [nokkuwān]. To hear çegade [kēlkawān]. To beat catane. Wound morubo. Sword batany. Shield cutany. Bow cayny. Arrow ambum [anpa]. Spear concudoo. To shoot with a bow heany. Sun nerara. Moon neelan. Heaven mana. The earth caraa. The sea caralu. Ship capell [kappal]. Boat çambuco. Night erabut. Day pagalala. Eat tinane [tinmān]. — matara. To mount arricany. To be on foot anicany. To go, travel narecane. To embrace traigany. Blows talancy. To mourn, wail que ne. To raise alagany. To dance canechane. To throw with stones or wood ouriany. To sing fareny. Rain ma jaa [mara]. Water tany [tanni]. Blind curuge [kurutan, _blind man_]. Maimed of a hand muruquay [murukai]. — panany. Take! ennay. Let us go! pomga [pomka]. East careçache [kirakka]. West mecache [patinynyara]. North barcangache [watakka]. South tycamgarche [tekka]. Dog naa [nāya]. Bitch pena [pennāya]. Young man hum nee. Girl co poo. House pura [pura]. Needle cu doo. Rod parima. Oar tandii [tandu]. A great gun ve dii. Top-sail talii. Halyard anguaa. Anchor napara. Flag çoti [koti]. Rudder, helm xoca. Pilot cu pajaoo. Shoe cacu paja. Cap tupy [topi].

_The following are some of the Names [of Persons]._

Tenae. Aja paa. Anapa. Pumi. A rreco. Canapa. Paramganda. A xirama. Gande. Uja pee. Cuerapa. Rremaa. Quilaba. Cutotopa. Mamgala. Gouaa.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX A.

TWO LETTERS OF KING MANUEL, 1499.

The first of these letters is addressed to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, of Castile, whose daughter, Doña Isabella, King Manuel had married in October 1497.[264] The letter is dated July 1499, and may have been written immediately after the arrival of Coelho’s vessel on July 10.

The draught, or copy, of this letter in the Torre do Tombo[265] has been published by A. C. Texeira de Aragão in the _Boletim_ of the Lisbon Geographical Society, VI, 1886, p. 673. It was published a second time in _Alguns Documentos do Archivo National da Torre do Tombo_, Lisbon, 1892, p. 95. There are several omissions in the latter version, due probably to the illegibility of the manuscript. In our rendering of this valuable document, all passages omitted in _Alguns Documentos_ are printed in italics, while attention is directed to other differences by means of foot-notes.

The draught of the letter addressed to the “Cardinal Protector” also exists in the Torre do Tombo,[266] but is evidently very illegible, for the text published by Texeira de Aragão is full of blanks. The original, as also the letter to Pope Alexander VI, to which reference is made, may possibly be discovered in Rome. The letter is dated August 28, 1499, that is, the day before Vasco da Gama’s supposed return to Lisbon. It was certainly written _after_ the arrival of the _S. Gabriel_, for it refers to the “Moor of Tunis” or Monçaide, to the “Jew”, who subsequently became known as Gaspar da Gama, and to the men carried off from Calecut, none of whom is likely to have been on board Coelho’s small vessel.[267]

The “Cardinal Protector” can be identified with D. Jorge da Costa, a man of mean extraction, whom Doña Catharina, the virgin daughter of King Duarte, and sister of King Afonso IV, appointed her chaplain, and who subsequently rose to high dignities in the Church, until, finally, the Pope bestowed upon him a cardinal’s hat. King John took a dislike to the cardinal, who went to reside at Rome; but King Manuel had a high opinion of his wisdom, and soon after his accession, in 1495, he invited him, through Pedro Correa,[268] his special ambassador to the Court of Rome, to return to Lisbon. The cardinal declined this invitation, pleading his great age and infirmities as an excuse, but ever afterwards attended most faithfully to the King’s business with the Pope.

I.—KING MANUEL’S LETTER TO THE KING AND QUEEN OF CASTILE, JULY 1499.

Most high and excellent Prince and Princess, most potent Lord and Lady!

Your Highnesses already know that we had ordered _Vasco da Gama, a nobleman of our household, and his brother Paulo da Gama, with_ four vessels to make discoveries by sea, and that two years have now elapsed since their departure. And as the principal motive of this enterprise has been, with our predecessors, the service of God our Lord, and our own advantage,[269] it pleased Him in His mercy to speed them on their route. From a message which has now been brought to this city by one of the captains,[270] we learn that they did reach and discover India and other kingdoms _and lordships_ bordering upon it; that they entered and navigated its sea, finding large cities, large edifices and rivers, and great populations, among whom is carried on all the trade in spices and precious stones, which are forwarded in ships (which these same explorers saw and met with in good numbers and of great size) to Mecca, and thence to Cairo, whence they are dispersed throughout the world. Of these [spices, etc.] they have brought a quantity, including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, _and pepper_, as well as other kinds, together with the boughs and leaves[271] of the same; also many fine stones of all sorts, such as rubies and others. And they also came to a country in which there are mines of gold, of which [gold], as of the spices and precious stones, they did not bring as much as they could have done, for they took no merchandise with them.[272]

As we are aware that your Highnesses will hear of these things with much pleasure and satisfaction, we thought well to give this information. And your Highnesses may believe, in accordance with what we have learnt concerning the Christian people whom these explorers reached, that it will be possible, notwithstanding that they are not as yet strong in the faith or possessed of a thorough knowledge of it, to do much in the service of God and the exaltation of the Holy Faith, once they shall have been converted and fully fortified (confirmed) in it. And when _they shall have thus been fortified in the faith there will be an opportunity for destroying the Moors of those parts. Moreover, we hope, with the help of God, that_ the great trade which now enriches the Moors of those parts, through whose hands it passes without the intervention of other persons or peoples, shall, in consequence of our regulations (ordenanços) be diverted _to the natives and ships of our own kingdom_, so that henceforth all Christendom, _in this part of Europe_, shall be able, _in a large measure_, to provide itself with these spices and precious stones. This, with the help of God, who in His mercy thus ordained it, will cause our designs and intentions to be pushed with more ardour [especially as respects] the war upon the Moors _of the territories conquered by us in these parts_, which your Highnesses are so firmly resolved upon, and in which we are equally zealous.

And we pray your Highnesses, in consideration of this great favour, which, with much gratitude, we received from Our Lord, to cause to be addressed to Him those praises which are His due.[273]

Most high _and excellent Prince and Princess, most potent Lord and Lady, may the Lord our God ever hold your persons and kingdoms in His holy keeping_.

_Written at Lisbon, July 1499._

II.—KING MANUEL TO THE CARDINAL PROTECTOR, AUGUST 28TH, 1499.

Most Reverend Father in Christ, whom we love much as a brother!