To the Ends of the Earth by Peter O. Koch

Author:Peter O. Koch
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: McFarland

Hoping to mix business with politics, Vasco da Gama invited the sultan of Mozambique to dine with him aboard the São Gabriel. When he felt the moment was right, the Portuguese commander presented the sultan with a gift—a small sampling of the various items that he intended to trade at the magnificent markets of Mozambique. Much to his surprise, the sultan became highly enraged over the tribute being offered to him. This was a ruler who was accustomed to receiving presents of great value, usually precious stones or metals, and when he saw the cheap trinkets da Gama had laid before him he demanded a more fitting tribute. But the Portuguese sailors had nothing better to offer. As his scheme to win the sultan’s favor had backfired, the Portuguese commander decided to leave the city, hoping for better success at ports lying directly to the north. The Sultan generously provided them with two experienced pilots, the ostensible motive being to help guide da Gama and his ships through the treacherous waters of the Indian Ocean. When one of the Muslim pilots discovered that the men he was sailing with were actually Christian infidels he immediately abandoned the cause. Placing their trust in the remaining Muslim pilot, the crew soon learned of the true intentions of the sultan of Mozambique. Having been insulted even more than the Europeans had realized, the offended ruler had ordered his pilots to navigate these beggarly traders to Mombasa, then the largest town along the eastern coast of Africa. Once there, they were to be taken by force and held as prisoners until their scheduled day of execution. Arriving at Mombasa on the 7th of April, the Portuguese sailors were greeted that very night by one hundred hired thugs who attempted to board their vessels. After successfully fending off their attackers, da Gama had the sultan’s pilot put to a test of torture—droplets of boiling oil that painfully seared his flesh—until his forced confession confirmed what they already suspected.

Leaving Mombasa behind them, the expedition ventured onward until they dropped anchor on the 14th of April at the splendid city of Malindi. Located along the coast of present day Kenya, Malindi was a favorite port of call for traders bringing their wares from across the Indian Ocean. Unlike their host at their previous port of call, the sultan of Malindi, who had an ongoing rivalry with the powerful sultan of Mozambique, welcomed the Portuguese with open arms. However, with the bitter experience at Mozambique and Mombasa still fresh in his mind, the Portuguese commander understandably chose not to risk going ashore. Since da Gama would not come to him, the sultan broke with the traditional protocol and presented himself before the Portuguese captain. As a token of his friendship, the monarch presented the visitors with a small but significant portion of the precious spices they cherished just as much as gold: cloves, pepper, nutmeg, and ginger.

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