170 WESTER N H I N D O O S T A K. 



1497, to the important command of the fleet deftined for the 

 difcovery of the Indies. We have fucceffively mentioned his 

 name, on feveral glorious occalions ; our bufinefs now is only 

 to trace him to his end : He furvived to the reign of John III. 

 10 be appointed to a third voyage, and to finifh his days on that 

 lliore, wliere he had begun his career of glory. He failed from 

 'Lijdon on April 10, 1524. Prodigies attended his voyage ; on 

 liis arrival off the coaft of Cambajj in the itillnefs of a calm, a 

 dreadful fwelling of the fea, the then unknown fymptons of an 

 earthquake, appalled the boldeft. Gama difcovered the phceno- 

 mcnon: " Courage!" fays he, " h^dia trembles at our approach!" 

 Another danger followed this. From the defcription, his fliip 

 was nearly foundered by the fall of a water-fpout. He arrived, 

 at length, at this port, w-here he gave up his great foul, on Dt?- 

 €ember 24, 1525, to be judged according to unerring juflice ; 

 for, amidft all his fine qualities, he was deeply tainted wath the 

 charadler of his nation, cruelty. His body lay depofited at 

 Cochin till 1538, when it was brought to Lijbon, Mhere it was 

 received with greater honor than was ever before paid to any 

 perfon, excepting thofe of the blood royal. 

 Of a fate fimilar to that of Gama attended Alphonfo Albiiqim'- 



que^ defcended illegitimately from the blood royal of Portugal. 

 He was fent out by his prince, for the firft time in 1503, and in 

 fucceffive voyages fliewed himfelf to have been fuperior to any 

 one of his nation, before or after him, both in the military and 

 political line : he was fitted by his talents to be the founder of a 

 great empire. We trace him almoft every where from the Red 

 Sea to the utraoft limits of his India7i expedition, as far as Su- 



nwtra^ 



ALBUqUERQUE. 



