The Mountaineer. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1859-1861, 1860-04-07

TINT In ancient times the Cartharininns
had attempted to circnmnayirate Africa;
but they knew no more concerning II.
than they then did about the continent 81
America, which had not vet been dis.
covered BY Columbus. Henry the Illus
strious began to build ships and instruct
men TO sail along the coast Of Africa. He
told the commanders Of his expeditions
that be firmly believed, II they would saiI
lar enough south, they would be enabled
70 pass around the southern extremity az
i Africa, and SO be enabled by this route
70 reach the rich countries Of India. He
had In bis mind the great countries 81
Hindostan and CHM, of which remark ahIe
/ accounts had been brought 10 Europe by
Marco Polo. The Portuguese CAPTAINS.
acting under the instructions Or this prince
pushed their discoveries along the coast
lOf Africa, and discovered the Madeira
Islands; and under the princes instrnc-
lions they planted there the sugar cane.
and now for the. first time cultivated ii
an European colony They made many
important discoveries along the coasts Of
Africa, but they did rot accomplish the
doubling or sailing around the southern
extremity Of Africa, which had been con.
tenlplated By the prince. This enlight.
ened prince not only contemplated the
possibility Of sailing round Africa, but he
alsop forth ideas that there must be
some great body Of land in the western
ocean be continually dweit upon the idea
In talking with the men that surrounded
him. lie dwelt on d lofty cape where he
could observe continually the great vest
ern ocean. But am sorry 70 say that
this great aud noble young prince did not
live until this notable discovery was Inadc,
which bic had planned. But il was ne
conplished shortly after his death, by
men who acted in accordance with the in
structions he had left Bartholomew
Diaz FIRST discovered the Cape OF Good
Hope; but il wasanother Portuguese cap-
tain. called Vasco de CANA, who first
sailed around it, trayersed the Indian
Ocean, and thus by this ocean route
reached HindOstan.
VI Nox, as 4 have arrived at India, i will
mike some mention Of The first Portn-
gnese. cornnianders md az what they nc
cOmplished IN these regions. to establish
Portuguese dominion in the cast, and in
the discovery not only of countries or con-
tinental India, but also OF the Indian
Islands; that Is, Of Snmatra, Borneo, and
others Of which have been speaking. II
was thus IN the commencement Of the If
teenth century, that the FIRST knowledge
was brought 20 Europe concerning these
great and rich islands. Alphonzo Albu-
qnefque, called tile Great, was the first
one who had any especial encounter with
the natives Of these islands. He had
heard Of tho great riches OF q Malay
town called Malacea. He had heard Of
its numerous population, and of It's i'm
mense wealth, not only in gold aud silver,
but In spices and ivory, and other things
Therefore he sought q pretext 10 pick 81
quarrel with the natives, which is easily
accomplished when q man contemplates
mischief. He attacked the city Of Ma
lacea, continuing desperate assault for
nine days, and on the last, he fought d
terrible battle, In which there were about
one hundred and twenty thousand Malay
warriors opposed to him on shore; and, if
j remember rightly, there were two or
three thousand prows, or large warSboats,
on the water to attack his vessels Eu-
ropean skill and superiority OF weapons
succeeded In defeating the brave bat un-
skilled Malays: and Albuquerque cap
tnred on this occasion, as it Is stated By
Portuguese historians, three thousand
large brass cannon Thispeople cast can
non hundreds OF years ago, and by many it |
.hus been supposed that they did so long |
before the use Of gnnpowder was known TO
Europeans This commander also OBJ /
tanned M immense booty Of gold and
silver, the tenth part Of which belonged
to the king, and his share amounted to- /
eight hundred thousand crnsadues, which |
would be worth more than d million Of
dollars, in our money. =. 5::. r {. .
f Then there was another Portuguese
commander called De Britto, who at |
tempted the conquest oil Sumatra. He
came with greatfee aud well appointed
army to q country called Aehin3 on the
northern part Of Suaatra; but he was
signaily defeated. and was slain; and IL
was with much difllcalty that portion OF /
his men were enabled TO save the fleet,
But it is net my iatention.to dwell upon
the warlike Intercourse Of the Portuguese
in their first intercourse with the Aialays /
and Indian Islands; woald rather say,
md it is a fact, that in their FIRST inter-
course with the islanders, tile most of the
Portuguese were prudent aud kind, aud (
wise in their conduct TOWARDS thsnl. So
Among the most prominent Of the good
men who went ont shortly after these |
discoveries and conquests, was the eele-
brated Francis Xavier, who was q jesuit
priest lie had a spirit and desire within
him for the welfare Of men, that would
seem to point him out as one Of the truly
great and good men Of the world; be was
Q man possessing true apostolic spirit
Ho visited one Of the small islands Of the