74 



l■;.\KI.^■ r(iKTi-(,ri-,sK discox i-.kies in aJ'RIca. 



it not been for da Gama's prudence and tirmness, the whole 

 expedition would certainly have failed. On the 22nd of Novem- 

 ber the Commander had the joy of doubling the dreaded Cape 

 safely with all his ships. Milder winds were encountered, and 

 a few days later the fleet reached Mossel Bay, where da Gama 

 decided to drop anchor, so as to give his men a rest, and to 

 procure fresh provisions. Friendly relations were at first estab- 

 lished with the natives, who gladly exchanged fresh eatables and 

 some live sheep for beads and other low price articles brought 

 in da Gama's ships, which astonished these simple people. But 

 as some altercations occurred between the Hottentots and his 



^^ . %m 



V.\.SC(J DA (jAMA. 



men with regard to the exchange of curios, da Gama suspected 

 treachery and moved to another anchorage, where be decided to 

 abandon the storeship, as there was no further need for her. 

 Everything was transferred to the other vessels and she was 

 burned, whereupon the three ships proceeded on their course 

 eastward, keeping close to the land, which was observed to 

 improve constantly in appearance. On the 25th of December, 

 the country then in sight was named Natal by da Gama in 

 honour of the day which was being celebrated on board his 

 vessels. Our Durban friends have erected at the Point a small 

 but daintv monument to the leader of the first Europeans who 



