The Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalboquerque, Second Viceroy of India (Volume 53)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1875. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Moorish merchants from Cairo living in Calicut,1 which they were constantly giving both to him and to his Governors, -- being fearful of losing their trade and sailing traffic if our people were established in the land: --at this time, and to remedy these troubles, the King D. Manoel determined to send to India the great Afonso Dalboquerque and Francisco Dalboquerque, the son of Joao Dalboquerque, his uncle, to build a fortress in Cochim for the shelter of the people and the storage of the merchandise he might send. And, in order to bring this about, he gave order that six vessels should be made ready, with soldiers, artillery, and munitions of war; for these, with the others which the Admiral was about to leave there, as he (Afonso) took them under his command, were sufficient. He relied also upon the peace and friendship which Pedralvarez Cabral, at the time of his departure for these kingdoms, had left established with the Kings of Cananor2 and Cochim, and upon the presents and recommendations which he had sent him through his ambassadors who had accompanied him. And he gave the chief command of three of the ships to Afonso Dalboquerque, and of the other three to Francisco Dalboquerque. So, when all that was needful for the voyage had been prepared, they set sail from the port of Belem3 in the early part of April, in the year fifteen hundred and three; and, although Afonso Dalboquerque had taken such pains to despatch his affairs that he was able to start first, yet he experienced such bad weather, and met with so many storms and calms on the voyage, that when he reached Cochim some days had that the King of Calicut should be recognised as the chief sovereign, and gave to him the title of Qamorim; the signification of which is: -- Supreme Emperor and G...