Gama

Dom Vasco da, a Portuguese navigator; born in Sines, a small seaport of Portugal, in 1450; was the first navigator who made the voyage to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope. On July 8, 1497, ‘he set. sail from Lisbon and on Nov. 22 « doubled the Cape. In the beginning of 1498 he reached the B. coast of Africa, and March 10 entered the harbor of Mozambique. He left Mozambique on March 29, and arrived on April 24 at Mombaza. He reached Melinda on April 15, where the king gave him an experienced pilot and all the nautical information at his command. Holding his course straight acro the Indian Ocean toward the eoast of Malabar, Gama arrived in May at Calicut. On his arrival he was favorably received; but the Mohammedan merchants found means to disturb this amicable understanding. Gama restored it by his resolution and prudence. The Zamori, the Hindu sovereign of Calicut, afterward sent him a letter for King Emmanuel. In August he set out on his return journey, which occupied one Fue On his arrival at the capital Gama was named Admiral of the Indies and received the title of Dom, with an annual pension and extensive privileges in Indian commerce. After he had remained 20 years in obscurity Gama was a Viceroy of India in 1524, e left the harbor of Lisbon with 14° ve els; he visited several small colonies, using all means in his power for their defense and the preservation of the authority of the Portuguese arms among the natives; but he had scarcely administered his office for the = of three months when he died in Goa, Dec, 24, 1524. In 1538 his body was brought to Portugal.