626 
A Defcriftion of the Coafls of 
Ithe^^epiion of Don Vajea dc 
oryrv. 
GamaV 
iSjxeeh to 
the Sam- 
moryn. 
One of the King's Attendants ofFer'd 
his Ma jelly a Golden Veffel with Arak 
and Betel^ which the Indians chaw almofl: 
continually to preferve their Teeth and 
Gums, and treat their Guefts with it as 
we do with Wine, ftrong Liquors being 
not much in ufe here. Gama after having 
paid his Obeyfance to the King began 
thus : 
" Emanuel^ the prefent King of Portugal^ 
my Mafter, mov'd by the Renown of 
the Greatnefs of your Majelty among 
the Kings of Malabar^ has fent me 
with Credentials, to enter into a ftridt 
League with You, in order to fettle a 
firm Correfpondence and Commerce 
betwixt both Nations *, which my Ma- 
iler would have been willing to have 
perform'd in Perfon, had not the vaft 
" diftance of your Majefty's Dominions 
proved an invincible Obftacle to his 
" generous Intentions. After which ha- 
ving deliver'd his Prefents, the King 
Tk Kinii anfwer'd by his Interpreter : That he 
Anjwsr, had not the leaft doubt of the good 
" Intentions of his Brother Emanuel^ 
King of Portugal^ having fuch convin- 
ring Proofs thereof before his Eyes, 
(C 
by honouring him with fo fplendid a 
Legation notwithftanding the vaft 
diftance of their Countries that he 
was willing to enter with them into 
a ftrid League and Amity, and that 
they fiiould enjoy the benefit of a free 
Commerce in his Territories. Thea 
the King having ask'd them feveral Par- 
ticulars concerning their Voyage, Ship- 
ping and TrafEck, order'd Gama to be 
condudled to the Lodgings prepar'd for 
his Reception. 
The News of this Embafly foon came The Moors 
to the Ears of the Moorifh Merchants in endeavour 
thofe parts, who fearing, not without Jj^^^g^ 
reafon, that the Portuguefes would do them ^j\f,f p^j, 
confiderable Mifchicf in their TrafEck, tuguefc*. 
join'd with the Arabians trading in thofe 
parts, to hinder the Confumraation of 
this Treaty ; for which purpofe having 
purchafed the favour of many of the 
Courtiers by Mony, they infinuated 
into the King, that Gama was no 
more than a great Pirate, who endea- 
vour'd to get a footing in the King's 
Dominions, which in time might prove 
his ruin whereas he might refl fecure in. 
his Dominions, by incouraging his Sub« 
+ lefts 
