The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-11-14

Portuguese Prince, was tempted TO crafty
the intelligent readers Of the FRIEND with
some few additional incidents of interest in
the history Of his favorite hero. That Henry
led the way TO all the ocean discovery since
his day, will be recognized from the facts
already adduced but let US follow a little
farther the progress Of his lieutenants along
the coast of Africa, and observe his efforts
TO reach India by a direct sea way, which
was we know the sole purpose of Columbus.
ANCIENT DREAD OF OCEAN NAVIGATION.
Those who read old chroniclers Of the
fifteenth century, and more particularly Cas-
taheda, Galvan, Barros and other writers Of
the early part Of the sixteenth century, can
appreciate from their account the dread en-
tertained IN the mind Of civilized Europe, in
respect TO the dangers Of the sea along
Africa's southern coast line, and the terror
of ocean navigation before the genius of
Henry dissipated those fears. For a time,
none of his enthusiastic associates and brave
officers could be induced 10 attempt to double
the stormy cape of Bojador in the 9th de-
gree of north latitude. 1t is difficult at first
thought, for US TO understand their fears
we who have run down the whole coast Of
Africa, and have struck out boldly on many
an ocean path, with a well appointed ship
and with ample sailing appliances,-with
chrOnOmeter, quadrant, compass and chart.
But our surprise ceases when we reflect that
Henry's navigators had 10 cruise in vessels
that were little better than large open boats.
Where are the mariners of this day that will
voluntarily venture, even on a well known
ocean path, in an unlocked craft? Where
as those amateur Portuguese seamen were
persuaded to make ventures with their fail
vessels out into unknown seas, and without
any Of the appliances that enlighten our
way. We cannot appreciate their fears
when sailing In a modern we'll built, well
appointed thousand ton clipper; but we
might better understand them if buffeted
about in mid Atlantic on board a fifteenth
century twenty or thirty ton caravel. There
fore we may recognize some good reason for
the fears of navigators early in the fifteenth
century,-not only in the ignorance Of the
sea, but in the weakness and Ill appointed
condition of the ships that had to venture on
an obscure and stormy ocean path and so
we can understand that when Lancelot Gill
anez, one of Henry's lieutenants, doubled
Cape Bojador in 1884, his exploit awakened
as great an interest, and excited Europe
quite as much in his time, as the doubling
of the Cape of Good Hope by de Cana, or
even the discovery of America by Columbus,
did in their day.Is
EUROPE AROUSED To MARITIME ENTERPRISE.
The voyage of Gilianez, and the subse-
quent voyages of Gonzalez and Baldaya, and
especially that of Tristan in l443, who first
brought slaves from the coast of Guinea, and
gold from Rio d. Orc, which were all expe-
ditions planned and fitted out by Henry,
fully aroused the spirit Of adventure in Por-
tugal. Henry had his enthusiasm satisfied
by geographical discovery alone, without
caring for any prizes TO crafty cupidity but
his countrymen and the other peoples Of Eu-
rope were only aroused somewhat to recog-
nize the correctness of his views and the
wisdom of his enterprises, when the shining
gold and the profitable glossy black slave
dazzled their eyes. The western ports of
the Iberian Peninsula then became the start
ing points and chief sources IF European on
terprise, and of all modern progress in navi-
CATION, discovery and trade. Portugal alone
led the civilized world in the fifteenth GEN.
fury to discover another savage world, nearly
a century in advance of others,-and Henry
was the sole inspiration of Portugal.i7
THE POPE GIVES TO HENRY THE NEW WORLD.
Our patriotic Prince had great hopes, after
the doubling of the redoubtable Cape Boja-
dor, to win a mighty domain from the I'M
known world for his country land hoping
III OAAAA OAGNNA AAAC c " EAC
interests of his native land, he appealed to
an authority and an influence, then esteem
ed superior to that of all earthly kings,-to
Christ's Vicegerent at Rome, TO grant unto
him in behalf of his beloved country all po-
litical authority forevermore over all the
new found lands acquired by his enterprises
of ocean navigation and discovery. The
great and enterprising Prince was sustained
by an enlightened pope,-and he who was
esteemed the king of kings in 1882, Martin
", issued a bulla from the Vatican, granting
unto Prince Henry in behalf of the crown of
Portugal, the suzerainty in perpetuity over
all territories, states and kingdoms, which
should be discovered by Portuguese naviga-
tors, in the regions lying beyond Cape Boja-
dor unto the Indies, and all new countries of
the African and Indian seas eastward unto
the great ocean, whose princes and whose
peoples were heathens; and furthermore
there was granted to all the officers and ma
riners OF Henry a pIenary indulgence, and
ample assurance of everlasting bliss in hea-
ven,-should they perish in carrying out the
designs of their great patron.is All! this
was success for Henry,-who had been
laughed at by his royal father, when he pro-
posed the expedition TO Ceuta,-and Knocked
and scorned by his brother princes for his
so-called visionary schemes of adventure
now to be recognized as sovereign lord over
new domains, a hundred fold greater than
his own little native strip of Europe and
he and his associates TO be assured of being
saints, should they die whilst prosecuting
16 Provost says .'Cette action fut mise par les
serivains de son tens. au dessus des travaux d.