All the ships that reached Calicut returned, except one
which was lost on certain rocks, but the crew saved, which ship was of
six hundred tons burden. As yet only one caravel has come into port, but
the rest are said to be not far off. This lately arrived ship came into
port on St Johns day, 6th May, at which time I happened to be with the
king, who addressed me in these words. "_Hah!_ congratulate me, good sir,
as my fleet is already in the river, loaded with all kinds of spices." I
received the news joyfully, as became me, and made my compliments of
congratulation to the king. The tidings were welcomed with exceeding joy
and all kind of festivity, with the sound of trumpets, cymbals, and
flutes, and the continual firing of cannon. On the day following there
was a solemn thanksgiving, at which all the people assisted. When I again
waited on the king, he desired me to apprize your serenity of his good
fortune, saying that you may send your ships hither in safety to purchase
his spices; adding, that he should take such measures as to prevent the
prefect of Syria, that is the sultan[7]; from procuring spices in India.
He founds this hope assuredly on the success which his fleet had lately
in contending with the numerous vessels of the Moors, and has no doubt of
being able to reduce India under his own authority. The ship already
arrived is commanded by a Tuscan named Bartholomew, a native of Florence.
Her cargo consists of 300 _cantari_ or quintals of pepper, 120 cantari of
cinnamon, 60 cantari of lac, and 15 cantari of castor and other perfumes
of that kind[8]. They have no cloves or ginger, having been prevented by
the Moors, as these could only be procured at Calicut; neither have they
any of the lesser spices. They had purchased many pearls of different
sorts, which were all lost in the disturbances at Calicut, in which many
of their men and much riches were destroyed.
I must not omit to mention, that there have lately arrived messengers
from _Ubenus_[9] king of Ethiopia to the king of Portugal, bringing gifts
of ivory and many other things. These are soon to return in two ships,
which are to go to India after stopping at the new gold mines. While this
ship which has first arrived was on its voyage home, it met two ships
steering their course from the _new gold mines_[10] for India. These;
thinking themselves lost, or that they would be plundered by the
Christians, offered to pay them a ransom of 15,000 ducats for leave to
continue their voyage: But the Christians, though tempted by so much gold,
gave these people many gifts and permitted them to continue their course,
that they might hereafter be allowed a free trade with their country.
[1] This letter is dated on the 20th of June 1501, and obviously refers to
the voyage of Cabral, who had returned from India not long before. The
writer is described as a native of Crete, and envoy from the lords of
Venice to the king of Portugal. - E.
[2] The strange geographical language here used is inexplicable, probably
because the ideas of the writer were confused. He seems to mean the
_Mina_ in Guinea, which is _five or six_ degrees _within_ the equator,
or to the north; but is at least 18 west from the meridian of Sicily.
- E.
[3] Meaning the tropic of Capricorn, on which the sun is during our
winter solstice - E.
[4] The recession of the coast inwards from Cape Delgado to Melinda,
which may be called the Bay of Zanzibar. - E.
[5] In the map of Grynaeus already mentioned, this _Terra Psittacorum_ or
Land of Parrots, is placed on the _south-west_ coast of Africa,
between the Cape of Good Hope and Congo. Yet there can be no doubt
that the recent discovery of Brazil on the _eastern_ coast of South
America is here alluded to: Consequently, instead of the _lebeccio
vento_, or S.W. wind of the text, it would naturally have required a S.
E. wind to force the Portuguese fleet so far to the westward of its
intended course. - E.
[6] The author assuredly uses these words to denominate two kinds of
ordnance or cannon then used in the Portuguese ships of war. - E.
[7] By the sultan or prefect of Syria, twice so designed in this dispatch,
is evidently meant the Mameluk sultan of Egypt; but who was soon
afterwards defeated and slain by the Turkish emperor. The ineffectual
exertions of the Mameluks and Turks, instigated by Venice, to obstruct
the Portuguese trade in India, will be afterwards mentioned. - E.
[8] It is difficult to say what is meant by a _cantarus_ in the text;
perhaps a quintal or 100 pounds. The castor of the text, and other
perfumes, may mean musk, civet, and ambergris. - E.
[9] Perhaps the king of Congo, or some other prince of the west coast of
Africa is here alluded to; or perhaps the xeque or prince of the Moors
at Sofala. - E.
[10] By the new gold mines Sofala seems indicated, as contradistinguished
from the _old_ gold mines of Guinea. The story of the two ships on
their voyage to India from Sofala, obviously alludes to the Guzerate
vessels, more particularly mentioned already in the voyage of Cabral
- E.
SECTION II.
_Letter from certain Merchants and Bankers of Spain,[1] to their
correspondents in the cities of Florence and Venice, respecting a treaty
of peace and league between the kings of Portugal and Calicut._
We have been informed by those who were on board of the fleet which
sailed from Lisbon to India in May 1502, and returned on the 15th
December 1503, that the king of Calicut has concluded a peace with our
sovereign on the following conditions.
