The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-22
AT CALCUTTA.

India by Way of the Sea.
Good fortune had favored the feet,
and at the end of months pleasant
sailing the high hills near Calicut came
in sight. Anchoring some distance
from the city, Da CANA sent on shore
to reconnoitre one of the criminals he
had brought with him for the purpose.
The man was conducted to the house ot
= Moor who could speak Spanish, and
who at once roughly demanded what
he had come for After some conversa-
ton, however, he grew more courteous,
and accompanied his visitor back to the
ship, where he accosted Da Cana in
Spanish with the words: Good luckl
good luck! many rubies; many emer-
aids. Thou art bound to give God
thanks, for He has brought you where
there are all sorts of spices, and
precious stones, with all the riches of
the world" The admiral and his COM
panions were so much delighted at
hearing this good news in Christian
tongue when so far from home that
they wept for JOY. The Moor promised
to do all the service he could for them,
and returned to land leaving them in
high spirits.
Very soon an invitation came from
the samorin, as the king of Calicut was
called, to pay him a visit. Taking
twelve of his companions, Da Cana ac-
cepted it, although his brother officers
feared treachery on the part of the
Moors, who were very numerous and
influential. They were received with
much pomp, and borne in splendid lit
ters through crowded streets to the
palace, where the samorin welcomed
them with every mark of respect He
was found reclining in large room,
the floor and walls of which were COW
cred with rich velvets and silks, while
he himself was clothed in fine linen,
stiff with gold embroidery and pearls,
his turban cleaning with precious
stones, and his fingers and toes being
laden with diamond rings. His attend
ants all held their left hands before their
mouths, lest their breath should reach
the royal beings.
The visitors having been duly seated,
refreshments in the form of fruits were
introduced, followed by water in a
curious vessel having a long golden
spout Being informed that it was a
gross breach of etiquette to let the
spout touch their lips, the Portuguese
were fain to hold the vessel off at some
distance and try to pour the water into
their gaping mouths as the natives did.
But being unused to the proceeding,
they made poor business of it, aud
spilled a good deal, whereupon the
courtiers showed that they could be as
guilty of bad manners as they subse-
quently proved of bad faith by laugh
ing outright at their guests awkward
ness
At the outset the samorin evinced
every desire to be friendly and to graft
ify Da Gama's desire to open up trade.
But no sooner was this apparent than
the MoOrs, who for long time had had
a monopoly of the commerce Of India,
which they carried on by way of the
Red sea and Alexandria, began to plot
against their European rivals, and by
bribing the samorin's courtiers sue
ceeded in filing his mind with sus-
picion about the newcomers. The ne
gotiations which had opened so pros
perously were interrupted and finally
the admiral and some of his companions
were seized and confined, not being re-
leased until Da Gama's brother had
sent a quantity Of goods as ransom.
On regaining his liberty Da Cana
was so disgusted at this trcachery that
he resolved to set out for home. Two
days after he sailed he was attacked
during calm by sixty large boats full
Of soldiers Happily wind sprung up
in time to save the Portuguese fleet
from falling into the hands of these
rascals and the homeward
voyage was begun without further mis-
hap. -Harper's Young People.