Page 95 - English Expedition Class 4

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had come from. Among the boats were some fishing smacks . Vasco ordered his men
to call the fishermen and offer to buy their fish. The native fishermen were delighted
to trade. The sailors also told them the story which Vasco da Gama had constructed
about the fleet of fifty ships. Their story soon reached the Zamorin. He told the

fishermen to return to the ships and to find out all they could about the Portuguese
guests.
For three days nothing was done except trading with the fishermen. On the fourth
day, however, a large boat came out. A messenger had come from the Zamorin! He

17
carried a small round shield, some wooden slings and a short naked sword with
18
19
an iron hilt . He spoke to Vasco da Gama through an interpreter from his boat.
His message from the Zamorin was to ask who they were and what they wanted in
Calicut.

Vasco da Gama replied that he
would gladly send his messenger to
the Zamorin who would speak on
his behalf and answer all his questions.

Thus, one of Vasco’s trusted crew
members went as a messenger and
told the Zamorin the same story that
Vasco had instructed him to tell. He

added that the Portuguese had come
to make peace and build friendship
with the Zamorin. They would buy
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cargoes of pepper and spices with the
rich cloths, gold and silver which they
had brought with them. The Zamorin
replied, ‘Tell Vasco da Gama that I will
fill his ships with as much pepper and

spices as he can carry with him.’ The return of the messenger with good news pleased
21
the shipmates. They rejoiced at the prospect of obtaining the Zamorin’s goodwill 22
and a valuable cargo with which they could return to Portugal.

George M. Towle (adapted)

16 fi shing smack: fi shing boat 20 cargo: valuable goods (to be carried by the ship)
17 sling: catapult 21 prospect: possibility of something good
18 hilt: the handle of a sharp weapon 22 goodwill: friendly relations
19 interpreter: a person who translates from one language
to another
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