Source 12.2: Vasco da Gama at Calicut, India

On May 20, 1498, the Portuguese marked a major milestone in over eighty years of voyaging down the west coast of Africa when Vasco da Gama led a small fleet of four ships around the Cape of Good Hope, across the Indian Ocean, arriving at the south Indian port city of Calicut. That event represented the first direct entry of Europeans into the long-established network of Indian Ocean commerce from which they had long obtained precious spices, gemstones, and other luxury goods, albeit only through Muslim intermediaries. Now they were directly operating within this complex, international system of exchange, much of it dominated by Muslims. Commercial desires combined with an anti-Muslim crusading sensibility to fuel Portuguese entry into what was for them another “New World.”

When da Gama arrived, the coast of southwestern India hosted a number of small states, cities, and kingdoms, fierce rivals for the rich profits of trade in spices and especially pepper. Calicut, the most prominent of these states, was ruled by Hindus, but Arab Muslims were the most strongly established trading community operating in the city. Both economic interest and religious hostility to Christians ensured that they did not look favorably on the arrival of da Gama.

This initial encounter lasted about three months, much of it recorded in an official journal of da Gama’s voyage compiled by an unknown author. Excerpts from the journal provide a flavor of that encounter, obviously from a Portuguese perspective, but “between the lines” we can perhaps discern other perspectives as well.

Questions to consider as you examine the source:

A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama, 1498

[The first sustained interaction between da Gama and local people occurred in an encounter with two Arab Muslims from Tunis, who could speak Spanish and Italian.]

The first greeting that he [da Gama] received was in these words: “May the Devil take thee! What brought you hither?” They asked what he sought so far away from home, and he told them that we came in search of Christians and of spices. . . . [One of the Muslims] said these words: “A lucky venture. . . . Plenty of rubies, plenty of emeralds! You owe great thanks to God, for having brought you to a country holding such riches!” We were greatly astonished to hear his talk, for we never expected to hear our language spoken so far away from Portugal. . . .

[A few days later, da Gama traveled inland for an audience with the ruler of Calicut. The journal notes that his party observed “many large ships,” huge crowds of curious people, and an elaborate “church,” most likely a Hindu temple. The Portuguese initially mistook Hindus for Christians, perhaps because they had heard rumors of a small Christian community, allegedly derived from the early missionary work of Saint Thomas, that did in fact live in southern India.]

On landing, the captain-major [da Gama] was received by [an official], with whom were many men, armed and unarmed. The reception was friendly, as if the people were pleased to see us, though at first appearances looked threatening, for they carried naked swords in their hands. A palanquin [a covered chair carried on poles by four men] was provided for the captain-major, such as is used by men of distinction in that country. . . .

The king was in a small court, reclining upon a couch covered with a cloth of green velvet, above which was a good mattress, and upon this again a sheet of cotton stuff, very white and fine . . . . The king . . . asked the captain-major what he wanted. And the captain-major told him he was the ambassador of a King of Portugal, who was Lord of many countries and the possessor of great wealth of every description, exceeding that of any king of these parts; that for a period of sixty years his ancestors had annually sent out vessels to make discoveries in the direction of India, as they knew that there were Christian kings there like themselves. This, he said, was the reason which induced them to order this country to be discovered, not because they sought for gold or silver, for of this they had such abundance that they needed not what was to be found in this country.

[This visit seemed to go well, but the next day, when da Gama was preparing gifts for the king, several officials came to inspect the gifts.]

They came, and when they saw the present they laughed at it, saying that it was not a thing to offer to a king, that the poorest merchant from Mecca, or any other part of India, gave more, and that if he wanted to make a present it should be in gold, as the king would not accept such things. . . .

[The next day, the king kept da Gama waiting for four hours and then belittled Portuguese goods.]

The king then said that he [da Gama] had told him that he came from a very rich kingdom, and yet had brought him nothing. . . . The king then asked what it was he had come to discover: stones [gems] or men? If he came to discover men, as he said, why had he brought nothing? The king then asked what kind of merchandise was to be found in his country. The captain-major said there was much corn, cloth, iron, bronze, and many other things. The king asked whether he had any merchandise with him. The captain-major replied that he had a little of each sort, as samples, and that if permitted to return to the ships he would order it to be landed. . . . The king said no! He might take all his people with him, securely moor his ships, land his merchandise, and sell it to the best advantage [in the private market]. . . . [But even in this private trading], we did not, however, effect these sales at the prices hoped for when we arrived . . . , for a very fine shirt which in Portugal fetches 300 reis, was worth here only 30 reis. And just as we sold shirts cheaply so we sold other things, in order to take some things away from this country, if only for samples. Those who visited the city bought there cloves, cinnamon, and precious stones.

[The Portuguese had little doubt as to the source of this apparent hostility.]

We also felt grieved that a Christian [actually a Hindu] king, to whom we had given of ours, should do us such an ill turn. At the same time we did not hold him as culpable as he seemed to be, for we were well aware that the Moors [Muslims] of the place, who were merchants from Mecca and elsewhere, could ill digest us. They had told the king that we were thieves, and that if once we navigated to his country, no more ships from Mecca, nor . . . any other part, would visit him. They added that he would derive no profit from this [trade with Portugal] as we had nothing to give, but would rather take away, and that thus his country would be ruined. They, moreover, offered rich bribes to the king to capture and kill us, so that we should not return to Portugal.

[What followed was a series of controversies about the unloading of da Gama’s ships, the mutual seizure of hostages, the payment required before leaving Calicut, and more. Several minor naval engagements showed da Gama that even if his goods were not so appealing, his on-board artillery far surpassed anything available locally. When he arrived home, da Gama found a very pleased king of Portugal, who wrote with pleasure to the monarchs of Spain about da Gama’s achievement.]

[W]e learn that they did reach and discover India and other kingdoms and lordships bordering upon it; that they entered and navigated its sea, finding large cities, large edifices and rivers, and great populations, among whom is carried on all the trade in spices and precious stones, which are forwarded in ships . . . to Mecca, and thence to Cairo, whence they are dispersed throughout the world. Of these [spices, etc.] they have brought a quantity, including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and pepper as well as other kinds, together with the boughs and leaves of the same; also many fine stones of all sorts, such as rubies and others. And they also came to a country in which there are mines of gold. . . .

[W]hat we have learnt concerning the Christian people whom these explorers reached [is] that it will be possible, notwithstanding that they are not as yet strong in the faith or possessed of a thorough knowledge of it, to do much in the service of God and the exaltation of the Holy Faith, once they shall have been converted and fully fortified (confirmed) in it. And when they shall have thus been fortified in the faith there will be an opportunity for destroying the Moors of those parts. Moreover we hope, with the help of God that the great trade which now enriches the Moors of those parts . . . , shall, in consequence of our regulations, be diverted to the natives and ships of our own kingdom.

Source: E. G. Ravenstein, trans., A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama, 1497–1499 (London: Hakluyt Society, 1898), https://openlibrary.org/books/OL6912713M/A_journal_of_the_first_voyage_of_Vasco_da_Gama_1497-1499.