VESSELS EMPLOYED IN THE SPICE-TRADE: 



SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



SPREAD OF THE PORTUGUESE EAST INDIAN EMPIRE ALPHONZO D'ALBUQUER- 



QUE IMMENSE SACRIFICE OF LIFE ANCIENT ROUTE OF THE SPICE-TRADE 



WITH EUROPE COMMERCE BY CARAVANS REVOLUTION PRODUCED BY OPEN- 

 ING THE NEW ROUTE — FRANCESCO ALMEIDA DISCOVERY OF CEYLON TRISTAN 



D'ACUNHA THE PORTUGUESE MARS HIS VIEWS OF EMPIRE AN ARSENAL 



ESTABLISHED AT GOA REDUCTION OF MALACCA SIAM AND SUMATRA SEND 



EMBASSIES TO ALBUQUERQUE — THE ISLAND OF ORMUZ — DEATH OF ALBU- 

 QUERQUE EXTENT OF THE PORTUGUESE DOMINION ORMUZ BECOMES THE 



GREAT EMPORIUM OF THE EAST FALL OF THE PORTUGUESE EMPIRE. 



Having narrated, in the preceding chapters, the incidents 

 which led to the circumnavigation of Africa, and having de- 

 scribed the several voyages which introduced the Europeans into 

 the East, by the n3w route of the Indian Ocean and the Cape 

 of Tempests, we must briefly allude to the sequel, — the spread 

 of European commerce among the islands and seaports of this 

 highly favored region. Alphonzo and Francesco dAlbuquer- 

 que, with a fleet of nine vessels, and Edoardo Pacheco, with 

 three vessels, carried terror and revenge to the Malabar coast : 

 forts were built to protect the Portuguese commerce, kings were 

 forced to pay tribute, fleets were swept from the seas ; and, as a 

 proverb of the time expressed it, pepper began to cost blood. 



Again the King of Portugal sent out a formidable squadron, — 



219 



