°AMA, Dom VASCO DA, the discoverer of the maritime route to India, was born, it is not precisely known when, at Sines, a small seaport of Portugal. He was descended of an aicient family, which was even supposed to have royal blood in its veins, though not legitimately. At an early period, he distinguished himself as an intrepid mariner; and after the return bf Bartolommeo Diaz, in 1487, from doubling the cape of Good Hope, King Joao, in casting about for a proper man to undertake the dis covery of a southern passage to India, fixed on G., so great was the confidence which his abilities inspired. The intentions of Joao were frustrated by death; but his suc cessor, Manoel the fortunate, fitted out four vessels, manned altogether with 100 men, and intrusted them to the command of G., presenting him at the same time with let ters to all the potentates whom it was thought likely he might require to visit; among others, one to the mythical " Prestor John," then supposed to be reigning in splendor somewhere in the e. of Africa. The little fleet left Lisbon July 8, 1497, but having been tormented by tempestuous winds almost the whole way, only arrived at the haven now known as Table bay on Nov. 10, where they cast anchor for a few days. On Nov. 19, G., after encountering a series of frightful storms, and being obliged to sternly suppress a mutiny among his terrified crew, who wanted him to return to Portugal, sailed round the southern extremity of Africa, and touched at various places on the hitherto unknown eastern coast of Africa. At Melinda, where he found the people far more civilized than he expected, he obtained the services of a well-educated pilot, a native of Guzerat, in India, who seemed familiar with the astrolabe, the compass, and quadrant. Under his guidance, G. struck out to sea, crossed the Indian ocean, and arrived at Calicut, in India, on May 20, 1498. His reception by the ruler of Calicut (the " samudri-rajah," or prince of the coast, shortened into zamorin) was not very favorable, nor did G.'s intercourse with him subsequently improve. The Arab mer chants residing there were jealous of the new-comers, who might interfere with their monopoly of traffic, and incited the Hindus against them. Other complications also arose, and the result was that, on his departure, G. had to fight his way out of the har bor. Satisfied with the discoveries he had made, the Portuguese commander now turned his course homeward, touched at several of the places he had previously vis ited, and in Sept., 1499, cast anchor at Lisbon, where he was received with great dis tinction. High-sounding titles were conferred on him. He was allowed the rare privi lege of prefixing don), to his name, and obtained a large indemnity for his trouble, besides certain monopolies in the commerce about to be opened with India. King Manoel immediately dispatched a squadron of 13 ships, under Pedro Alvarez Cabral, to India, for the purpose of establishing Portuguese settlements in that country. In this they were successful only in a few places. At Calicut, 40 Portuguese, who had been left behind, were murdered by the natives. To avenge this injury, and, more
particularly, to secure the Indian ocean commerce, the king fitted out a new squad ron of 20 ships, which set sail under G.'s command in 1502. This fleet reached in safety the e. coast of Africa, founded the Portuguese colonies of Mozambique•and Sofala, which still exist, and sailed to Travancore. On his way, G. captured a richly laden vessel filled with Mussulmans from all parts of Asia, on their way to Mecca. He barbarously set it on fire; and the whole crew, amounting to about 300, were burned or slain, with the exception of some 20 women and children. What adds to the tragic character of this fearful incident is, that it occurred through a mistake. G. con founded these Asiatic followers of the prophet with the Moors of Africa, the hereditary enemies of his nation, and proceeded to extremities on that assumption. On reach ing Calieut, G.. after a delay of a few days. bombarded the place, destroyed a fleet of 29 ships, and compelled the rajah to conclude a peace with suitable indemnification. If this act of vengeance or of punishment, executed as it was with prudence and determination, inspired the natives with fear of the power of the Portuguese. it con tributed to confirm the alliances made With several of the native princes. So rapid had been G.'s proceedings, that before the close of Dec., 1503, he was back in Portugal with 13 richly laden Vessels. He was :',ot,however,again employed for a period of 20 years; and it would appear that Manoel, for sonic reason or other, failed properly to appre' elate his great services. Meanwhile, the Portuguese conquests in India increased, and were presided over by five successive viceroys, while G. was lying inactive at home. The fifth of these viceroys, however, was so unfortunate, that king Joao III., the successor of Manoel, was compelled to have recourse to the old hero; and in 1524, bearing the title of viceroy, G. set sail once more for the scene of his former triumphs with a fleet of 13 or 14 vessels. As lie approached the coast of India, an unaccount able agitation of the water was observed by all. There was no wind to cause it, and the superstitious sailors were greatly alarmed. "Why fear?" said G., "the sea trem bles before its conquerors." His firmness and courage succeeded in making Portugal once more respected in India; but while engaged in his successful schemes, he was surprised by death at Cochin, Dec., 1525. His body was conveyed to Portugal, and buried with great pomp. In the character of G., resolution was found combined with prudence and great presence of mind. His justice, loyalty, honor, and religious fervor distinguished him above most of the great navigators and conquerors of his time. His discovery of a passage to India almost vies iu importance with the discovery of America by Columbus, which took place only a few years before. Consult Barros, Decades; Castanpeda and Lathan, Met Conga. Portug.; and Cooley, Mist. Mar. Disco,. His achievements are also celebrated by Camoens in the Lusiad.