Events of Vasco da Gama - First Voyage (1497-1499)

FIRST VOYAGE (1497 - 1499)

Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon on July 8, 1497 with a fleet of four vessels, namely
Sao Gabriel, Sao Rafael, Berrio and a large storeship. Another ship, commanded by Bartholomew Diaz accompanied them to the Cape Verde Islands. Since Diaz had discovered the Cape of Good Hope a few years earlier, he was helpful. With Vasco ’s fleet were two Arabic interpreters and one who spoke several Bantu dialects. The fleet also carried stone pillars to be set up as markers, en route.

Passing the Canary Islands on July 15, they reached the Cape Verde Islands on July 26 and stayed there until August 3. Then to avoid the currents in the sea, he took a circular course through the South Atlantic and reached Santa Helena Bay (Cape of Good Hope) on November 7. They departed from there on November 16, but could not round the Cape until November 22. Three days later the storeship was broken up and burnt down. Sailing again, the fleet reached the coast of Natal on Christmas Day.

The east African coast was governed by various Sultanates and there were inter-Sultanate rivalries. This turned out to be fortuitous for Vasco da Gama's fleet. On January 25, the fleet reached a place in Mozambique. By then,the crew had been afflicted with scurvy. They rested there for a month. The ships also needed repairs. On March 2, they reached Mozambique, but were forced out of Mozambique too. They were welcomed in rival Malindi. The Sultan of Malindi saw the advantage of aligning himself with the Portuguese.

On April 7, they dropped anchor at Malindi, Mombasa (now Kenya). At Malindi, Vasco da Gama was able to observe the intricacies of the ongoing trade which had made the East African Sultans wealthy. A flourishing trade existed in gold, ivory and slaves which were being exported from East Africa to the Red Sea towns, cities around the Arabian Gulf and to the various kingdoms on the Indian subcontinent. Vasco da Gama was no businessman and for him this was an excellent opportunity to learn the ropes of trade and commerce.

Malindi and Portugal signed the first ever treaty of peace and friendship between an East African territory and a European nation. The Sultan of Malindi assisted Vasco da Gama by providing him with an Arab pilot for the onward journey to India. The Arabs were well versed with the route from Africa to India as well as the monsoons.

The locals believed the Portuguese to be Muslims like themselves. Earlier Arabs had traded gold, jewels, silver and spices. Then Vasco learnt that they traded with the Arab merchants and that four Arab vessels laden with gold, silver, jewels and spices were then in the port. He was also told that a long-sought Christian ruler lived in the interior but held many coastal cities.

On May 18, 1498, after a month at sea, Vasco da Gama and his fleet, now under the guidance of the Arab pilot from Malindi, sighted the Malabar coast. There were

quite a few Arab trading vessels in the coastal area, some more hostile than others. The owners of these boats were quite disturbed by the new presence in their midst. But even so, the better armed Vasco da Gama fleet was able to drop anchor at Calicut on May 20, 1498.

The Portuguese were interested in setting up a trading post in Calicut. Their primary intent was to buy spices which they could ship back to Portugal and resell to Europe. Also in Calicut at that time were Chinese and the Arabs traders who appeared to have a comfortable relationship. The Hindu ruler of Calicut was Zamorin. He had two major problems to contend with. The first problem was that he was the puppet of the rich and powerful Arab Muslim traders. The Arab administrators were the effective bosses of the port of Calicut. The second was that he faced strong opposition from his mortal enemy, the Raja of Cochin.

Voyage II (1502-03) Voyage III (1524)