INTRODUCTION. 



HEN Vafco dc Gama had opened 



to the Europeans a paflage to the 

 feas of Afia, by the Cape of Good Hope, 

 the Portuguefe endeavoured, to the exclu- 

 fion of every* other nation, to fecure to 

 themfelves the rich commerce of that vafl; 

 continent. 



Before this period, an epoch memorable 

 in the annals of navigation^ the Moorifti 

 flag only was feen floating in the gulfs of 

 Perfiaand Bengal. 



The Moorifli veflels, when they fet out 



a 



from 



