mpowered to arrange the terms
of the treaty his sovereign desired to make with the Zamorin of Calecut.
To impress the natives with an idea of the power of the King of
Portugal, and to prevent them from venturing on any hostile proceedings,
for fear of the consequences, he added that he had been separated from
the rest of his fleet for a couple of years, during which he had had
visited Melinda, with whose King he had formed a lasting treaty of peace
and friendship. He now requested the Zamorin to conclude one of the
same character between their two nations; and, this being done, he would
ask permission to land and carry on a trade with his people.

Soon after the Nair had gone back to the shore, a boat laden with fowls,
figs (fresh and dry), and cocoa-nuts, came off. They were accepted out
of courtesy, but the Captain-Major sent word that he could neither buy
nor sell anything until the treaty was concluded. He stated, moreover,
that he could not go on shore until the King had sent hostages for his
safety.

Now, as was afterwards ascertained, a large number of wealthy Moors
resided in Calecut, who had got the entire trade of the country into
their hands. They were Mohammedans, and by means of their wealth had
won over a large number of the common people to their faith.

They, on hearing of the arrival of the Portuguese, at once became
jealous lest the new-comers should take the trade from them, and
therefore resolved by every artful means to defeat their object, by
representing to the King that they were spies, come to gain information
about the land and to possess themselves of it. For this purpose the
Moors had won over the chief ministers of the King to favour their
designs, though the liberality exhibited by the Portuguese had at the
first gained his good-will.

Before going on shore himself, the Captain-Major sent Davane,
accompanied by Joab da Nunez, one of the convicts,--a Christian and a
man of talent, who could speak Arabic and Hebrew, and also understood
the Moorish language, although he could not speak it,--that he might go
to the city and ascertain the way of transacting business; he was
ordered to buy only provisions, while he listened to what was said
without speaking himself.

On reaching the shore the two were so mobbed that they had great
difficulty in making their way, until an officer appeared, who took them
under his charge, and compelled the people to move aside so that they
could pass thr