having heard all that
had taken place, resolved to win the friendship of the Portuguese.

No sooner did the ships approach than he sent off a large boat, carrying
a minister, to invite them to his country. Following the first boat
came a number of others, laden with provisions of all sorts. The King
stated that he would fill up their ships with cargoes of the goods they
had come in search of, at more favourable prices and in better condition
than those they had obtained in Calecut.

Vasco da Gama, highly pleased, as soon as the ships came to an anchor,
sent off a boat with Nicolas Coelho, bearing valuable presents, similar
to those before presented to the King of Calecut, but no one else was
allowed to land.

Nicolas Coelho was well received, and was sent back in a native boat by
the King, with a message expressing a hope that the Captain-Major would
visit him. He also brought word that the King had ordered a wooden pier
to be run out into the water, with a small pavilion at the end of it.

The next day his Majesty came with numerous attendants and took a seat
in the pavilion, which was adorned with silken stuffs, and had also
within it a dais covered with silk. As soon as he came in sight the
captains, in their most splendid costumes, accompanied by a number of
their men handsomely dressed, the boats being highly decorated, and
having streamers flying of white and red silk, and the trumpets
sounding, while salutes were fired as they left the ships, rowed for the
pier.

On approaching the pavilion in which the King was seated, the two
Captains, taking off their hats, bowed profoundly, when he, stepping to
the front, entreated them to come up and take seats by his side. He
then asked which of them had been imprisoned in Calecut. Paulo da Gama,
pointing to his brother, answered, "That is the person whom the King of
Calecu: thus insulted."

The King of Cananor then told them that he had received a letter from
the King of Calecut exculpating himself, and saying that what had been
done was without his sanction, and that he was determined to inflict a
severe punishment on the guilty persons. Much further conversation took
place of a satisfactory character, when the Captains returned to their
ships.

They were three days taking on board the goods and provisions with which
the King of Cananor supplied them. Vasco da Gama here dismissed Davane,
and signed a document calling on all the captains coming from Portug