Volume 1

A new general collection of voyages and travels. Consisting of the most esteemed relations, which have been hitherto published in any language; comprehending everything remarkable in its kind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.

Date:
1745-1747
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new general collection of voyages and travels. Consisting of the most esteemed relations, which have been hitherto published in any language; comprehending everything remarkable in its kind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    60/764 (page 26)
    H98- De Gama. Kecks of St. George. Voyages to the East Indies i a with thf*ir Ouns in fuch a a fuffer only four to come aboard, and thofe with- 1498. ssts tau“““ Th Envcnty-fevcnth they departed, and came handfomely. They faid the King wa5 apprized .. / rx 1 . ■ r) r't 'T'l 1Z-J t ^4* fK^tr Am to the two little Rocks of St.George: The flrit of April, they came to certain Iflands very near the Shore, the firft whereof they called Afotado, be- caufe there the Moor Pilot was whipped for feve- ral Mifcarriagesj who after confefled, that his J)efi2.n was to have cafl the Ships away. The fourth, they had Sight of Land, and two Iflands near it, with many Shoals, three Leagues beyond 6)uiloa ; which De Gama was forry to have over- Ihbt, becaufe the Pilots had told him, there were ChrijUans in the Place. This they did with a Defign to have brought them there to be flaugh- tered ; for De Gama would have landed without any DiRrufl. The Pilots having laboured in vain to recover that Town, (the Winds and Currents being contrary) it was refolved at length, to go on to the Ifland of Mombaja, feventy Leagues c farther North. In the Way, the St. Raphael ran aground, two Leagues from Land ; but they got her off, giving thofe Shoals the Name of the Ship. Here fome Moors from Land were taken on board, to be carried to MombaJJJa, where they arrived the feventh of April; and from that Moment his few Men who were Rck, began to recover; the reR having died with Difeafes. Mombafla MO MB ASS A is an Ifland clofe to the Con- drfcriied. tinent, made by a River that falls into the Sea by <] two Mouths. Here is Plenty of Provifions, as Millet, Rice, Hens, and Cattle all very fat; chiefly their Sheep, which have no Tails. The Ifland is very pleafant, being full of Orchards, planted with Pomgranates, Indian Figs, Oranges of both Kinds, Lemons and Citrons. Here alfo is excellent Water. The City, which is govern¬ ed by a King, is very large, feated on a rocky Hill, againR which the Sea beats; fo that it can¬ not be undermined. At the Entrance of the ( port, and upon the Bar, is a little low Fort near the Water. MoR of the Houfes are built with Stone, like thofe of Spain, and the Ceilings wrought in Figures with Plaifler of Paris4 the Streets are very fair. The Inhabitants are Moors, fome white, others brown, and appear to be good Horfemen. They go richly dreffed, efpecially the Women, who wear Silk Gowns adorned with Gold and Jewels. There is a great Trade for all Sorts of Merchandize; and the Harbour, which is a good one, is continually full of Ships. From the Land there comes Ivory, Wax, and Honey. of their Arrival, and would fend to viflt them next Dav. They promifed to load his Ships with Spices; and told the General, there were many ChrijUans in the Ifland ; which agreeing with the Report of the Pilots, De Gama believed to be true : However, he kept upon his Guard. Next Day the King fent to compliment the General on his Arrival, with certain Prefents of Fruit ; and to tell him, there were many ChrijUans in the Ifland, (which the Meffengers feigned them- felves to be) and that if he would come into the Harbour, he fhould have whatever he flood in Need of. De Gama, believing them to be fin- cere, treated them very kindly, and fent them back with Thanks and Prefents to the King: He fent with them alfo Men to obferve the Place. The King fhewed no great State, but received them well, and ordered fome Moors to Ihew them the City. In their Way they faw many Prifon- ers in Irons; and were carried to the Houfe of two Merchants of India, who were ChrijUans. The King fent them back with Samples of Spices and Corn; bidding them tell the General, he might have Gold, Silver, Amber, and other Com¬ modities, in what Quantity he pleafed, at a lefs Price than any where elfe. O n their Return, it was refolved to accept ofDifcovercd the Offer of Spices, and to lade here, in cafe b Cadent. they fhould not meet with a Market to their liking at Kalehut. Next Morning at Flood, they prepared to enter the Harbour ; but De Ga?na’s Ship ftriking on a Shoal, they caft Anchor again: Which, when the Moors, who were aboard, faw, they went into their Boat, believing the Fleet would not get into Port that Day. The two Pi¬ lots, at the fame Inftant, jumped into the Sea, : and were taken up by the Moors, who could not be prevailed upon to return and deliver them. This gave De Gama a DiRrufl of the King, who indeed had heard of what had been done by the Fleet at Mozambik, and had refolved to be re¬ venged. Two of the Moors, brought from Mo¬ zambik, being thereupon put to the Torture, by dropping hot Bacon upon their Flelh, confefled, that they had plotted theDeftru&ion of the Ships; and that the Pilots had efcaped, fearing the fame f had been difeovered. In the Night, the Watch perceiving the Cable to fhake, imagined it was caufed by fome Tunny, which are Plenty there¬ abouts^ till looking more attentively, they found Jblifice of the Arabs. A s the Ships lay without the Bar, in the Night it was the Moors, who fwam about, and were cut- a Bark approached, with about a hundred Men, ting it with their wooden Swords, in order that armed with Swords and Targets; who coming up the Ship might run aground. Some alfo had got would all have entered: But De Gama would among the Tackle of the Foremaft of another