Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-05-28

the world. In l86g AlpnOnsO rented the
commerce Of the African coast TO Fernando
G. 'm'z for five years, only reseIving the
ivory trade to the crown, and s,ipuatinz
that every year Gomez should explore 100
new leagues todhe south.
Ga the death Of Alphonso the kingdom
was inherited by John III the monarch
stained In story by the unworthy trick he
| played upon Columbus. While the Geno-
ese adventurer waite 4 the kings answer to
| his request for assistance ia his enterprise,
John himself fitted out fleet under pretext
of sending provisions to the Portuguese COL
ony at the Cape Verdes, bat really to an-
ticipate the voyage for which Columbus
was begging his aid. This uukindly act was
| quite out Of keeping with the usual wise
! aud generous policy of this monarch, aud
! proved deservedly unsuccessful.
1t was King John who sent out the expe-
| dition of Bartholomew DiaS, the most uuta-
bic voyage which preceded the discovery
of the New World for it was Dias who led
the way which De Cana followed. Step by
step tho Portuguese mariners had crept
down tho shores OF Africa, but none had yet
seen the rounded outline Of the cape, past
| which they might sail eastward.
Just before Dias was to sail, new rumors
arose of the wonderful Prester Johu' who,
it was now declared, with positiysness had
turned up in central Ethiopia, where dwelt
a large nation of advanced civilization, and
with rich aud populOus cities. This report,
| which had so much vitality, that il had OBJ
tanned some credence even ia our own day,
was generally accepted. Diss was fur
nished with letters from the crown of Por-
tugl to the great unknown monarch, and
| KING John hattered him self with the hope
that lie should not only do u service to COM
MERGE by his discoveries, but that by means
Of his alliance with Prestor John, he should
aid in spreading the holy religion over the
whole world.
The story Of the voyage Of Dias and his
| troubles with his crew resemble that of
Columbus, as that Of Columbus il epeated
in the trials Of Magellan, of Hudson, and
many other brave men, tormented with the
unwilliugness and faintheartedness of igno-
rant and superstitious crews. Again and
sgain his sailors attempted to turn Oack and
| threat, ned to rise sgvinst their commander
| even to murder him # he went on. But by
decision, by persuasion and by all the power
1 which Que brave soul exercises over many
cowardly spirits, Dias led them past the
| CAuaries, past the Cape Verdes, over the
mysterious line Of the Equator, and away
beyond the Southern limit Of the Torrid
Zone till at length he stood off the long de-
sired Cape aud saw the unimpeded Oceon
stretching far to the east. His widest hope
was realized-the dearest dream ofhis cen
fury was fulfilled.
The weather was so furious and the point
so dashed with waves that even Dias did not
urge his men to go further, but straiGhtway
returned to his king with tidings of the dis
covery Of the southern extremity of Africa,
which he called the Cape of Storms, For
better augury that monarch rechristened it
the Cape OF Good Hope.
Ten years after the return Of BArthole-
NEW Dias, Don Manuel, the cousin and sue
cessor Of John H., was on the throne of
Portugal. The project of sending an ex-
petition past the Cspo Of Coed Hope
| 20 tho Indies, which now seemed
feasible if any captain &C Id be
found bold enough to undertake was a
flvorite design with him, az it had been the
darling hope OF SO many of his royl prede-
cessors. One afterLo ~, as he sat win.
dow Of his palace in deep thought, saw a
lit red faced man, with firm step and
yesolute bearing, cross the COURT ai 4 under
lis ewes. As If the marked face ard bear.
ing had inspired him with sudden deter
mination, the King at once arose and. sent
for the passerby. This was Vasco da CANA
a gentleman of the regal household, and {
bold and skllful sailor. The King prompt
" offered him the command OF an expedition
I
ted Il.
Never was choice, seemingly so acciden
tai, better made. Da Cana possessed tn,
requisite intrepdity, perseverance, anC
capacity to command. In few months ht
was fitted out with four ships and 100 men
| Two of his ships, the San Gabriel and thu
San Rafael, we're of over 100 tuns burden
: the other two were csraval and small
store-ship Of only about so tons each.
Da Cana bore with him the credeDtial
T Of his sovereign, and letters L. the mystic
rious Prester Jonn, who had so 'ong elude'
the poientates of Enrope, but 10 chose exis
( tence their uuwaveripg faith continued to b
fixed. Then the little fleet, sailing south
: ward, made its way past the Cape Of Goo
{ Hope. After the fragile ships had crosses
: the line, the torments Of wind, ran, an
s fogs began continually TO Cypress them
S Tossed widely upon strange waters an
among dark skies, II is no wonder trait Tn
. frightened crew besought their captain
4 take them back. But he was iron to thei
= entreaties, and his anger was more terribl
{ to them than the horrors that encomplsse
Il them. or cons, men in such frame {
A mind could not round the dreaded poir
. without some supernatural vision. At tn
i promoutory of Good Hope a to rble appar
@ ton confronted them. 1t was tho demo
j. Adamastor, the genius of the Stormy Cape
j. But d, Cana feared failure more tina
Adamastor or a whole legion Of demons, an
o right in the teeth OF the tempes,s he pOsse
10 on. His bravery was rewarded, and fro
l. the time he rounded the cape his voyag
70 seems to have been among iaVorlng gale
D. lie Landed here aud there on the coast
n Africa, making small trades with the nj
=. tives, and meeting generally Win irien'
r liness and good faith, 1t was in May, l49
n, the same wear in which Columbus FIR
10 touched the continent of America, th'
Vasco da Cana anchored at Calicut, on u
\ MalAbar coast 10 Hindoostan.
ir The entrsnce of European ships into u
o. harbor at Cilicut created the greatest wo
IA dor aud excitament. The nativos crowd'
a to the shores TO see the POrtugees disei
ne bark. When Dl Cana and his officers 9
I'd tempted to pass through the streets on the
n way to the palace OF the Zlmorin the pre-
If, was q, great that many were crushed
ut death. The Zamondri Rsjah, "a title viii
ad the Portuguese abbreviated to Zamorip) "
IT. a prince of much dignity and Intelligent
to He granted to Ds Cana, as an envoy nc
he the Portuguese monarch, aprivate audien
ny which was declared to be an unPVoedel
e. ed honor.
he Reclining on a sofa cf white silk cmbro
ID. cred with gold, be listened while Da eau
o. by the aid of a NOLAN. nedan inierpret
rs- declared 10 HIN tue glory Oh ming manu
ut and his desire for au alliance wit he L
90, tern Monarch. "The Zlmorin," avs I
,st Portuguese chronicler, "@ore unic
or, white muslin embroidered with SEES a
is. and branches Of beaten gold. II Vas b
do toned with large pearles, aid the butt
ice holes we're wrought with gold. A out
his waist was a sash Of white muslin. lis BE-
by had a nitro studded with jewels, his 4
10 and his iingers sparkled with diamo DIS.
his arms aud legs we're bare, except for
I'VE bracelets which covered them"
in But diplomacy even there proved full
pitfalls. As soon as Il became Known
he what errand the strange ships hal col
sea and that their captain was an embasSsdoI
Al estat fish trade between the East aud
ne. West, a strong faction arose IN the Court
nto the ZAmorin against the Portuguese.
re Arab merchants, who did a large /
led monopolizing Trade with Calicui, begur
GA ! far hoth for e1Nfr mr. fits and their rplipi