Part 2 (1/2)

Take your map of the world. Before the pa.s.sage to India was discovered by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, Africa, the trade between Asia and Europe was carried on in this manner: There was a great commercial city on the southern coast of Arabia (Arabia Felix) called Alda, or Port Alda. It was a city of merchants. To this port came the s.h.i.+ps from the East--China, j.a.pan, India--laden with gold, silk, and spices. The merchants of Alda carried these goods to the Port of Suez on the Red Sea. Thence the merchandise was conveyed on camels to the Nile and to Alexandria, Egypt, and thence by s.h.i.+ps to the ports of the Mediterranean.

Vasco da Gama discovered a new way to India by doubling the Cape of Good Hope, and when he returned from that voyage all Europe rang with his praise. His discovery of the way to India from the Mediterranean by rounding Africa was one of the most momentous ever made. Vasco da Gama holds rank with Columbus in the unveiling of the mysteries of the ocean world.

King John the Navigator had heard such wonderful tales of India that he wished to find a way there by water. He accordingly sent one Bartholomeu Diaz on an expedition with this end in view. Diaz did not find India, but he found a cape on the southernmost point of Africa, which he doubled.

So fearful were the tempests there that he called it the Cape of Storms.

But King John saw that the islands of India lay in that direction, and he exclaimed in delight on hearing Diaz's narrative of the tempestuous place:

”'Tis the Cape of Good Hope!” This gave the cape its name.

A Jewish astrologer told Dom Manoel, King of Portugal, that the riches of India could yet be found by way of the sea. Of such a discovery the new King dreamed. Who should he get to undertake a voyage with such a purpose?

One day, as he sat in his halls among his courtiers and grandees studying maps, a man of about thirty years, who had a n.o.ble bearing, entered an outer apartment. A sword hung by his side.

The King, who had been thinking of his great mariners, lifted his face and said:

”Thank G.o.d! I have found my man. Bring to me Vasco da Gama.”

He it was that stood in the outer hall.

”Vasco,” said the King, ”I know your soul. For the glory of Portugal you must find India by the way of the sea!”

”I am at your service, sire, while life shall last.”

”Depart in all haste.”

It was March, 1497. Vasco da Gama raised his sails and departed from Lisbon.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Vasco da Gama.]

He pa.s.sed the ”Cape of Good Hope,” and met with many adventures, the narratives of which would fill a book.

He crossed the India Ocean, blown pleasantly on by the trade winds.

One day a loud cry arose:

”Land! land!”

The pilot came running to Vasco da Gama, and fell at his feet.

”Captain, behold India!”

The sh.o.r.es of India rose in the burning light of the tropic seas. Vasco da Gama saw them and fell upon his knees.

Mountain rose above mountain, and hill over hill; then green palms and s.h.i.+ning beaches came into view like scenes of enchantment.

”That is Cananor,” said the Moorish pilot; ”the great city of Calicat is twelve leagues distant.”