A History of Agriculture in India v2.c72.s7.1

v2.c72.s7.1

Vasco da Gama, *A.D. 1498-1502*. The news of the discoveries of Columbus spurred the Portuguese to reach India by the South African route. King Emmanuel selected Vasco da Gama, a nobleman, to find a direct route to India via the Cape of Good Hope. He was assisted by two able captains, Paul da Gama and Nicolas Coelho. With four ships they sailed from the Harbour of Belem on 8 July 1497. At the mouth of the Quelimane River they first saw signs of civilized life, and a little later they came to Mozambique, where Arab ships lay loading in the harbour. The Muslim sheik of the place first gave the Portuguese a good reception, but on learning that they were Christians he changed his attitude and Gama had to leave the port in haste. At the next Muslim city, Mombasa, the whole expedition was nearly destroyed, but managed to escape and reach Malindi, a city in the present Kenya. Here the local sultan treated the Portuguese well. He visited their ships in person, and they spent eleven days in his port before venturing across the Indian Ocean to Hindustan.