Vasco da Gama and the Sea Road to India (1497-1499)

1. 1. Lisbon

   Today: Lisbon, Portugal · Arrived 8 July 1497

   Vasco da Gama and his fleet departed from Lisbon, beginning their historic voyage to India under the command of King Dom Manuel.

   We left Restello[28] on Saturday, July 8, 1497. May God our Lord permit us to accomplish this voyage in his service. Amen!

   Also called at by Christopher Columbus, Bartolomeu Dias, Bartolomeu Dias. Identified as Lisbon

2. 2. São Thiago

   Today: Santiago, Cape Verde · Arrived 27 July 1497

   Vasco da Gama's fleet arrived and lay at anchor in the harbour of São Thiago, the largest of the Cape Verde Islands, after a voyage of about fourteen days from Lisbon.

   reached the Ilha do Sal, 1,590 miles from Lisbon, in the course of fourteen days, if not earlier, and on July 27th the little armada lay snugly in the harbour of São Thiago.

3. 3. the Guinea coast

   Today: Gulf of Guinea, Atlantic Ocean (off West Africa) · Arrived 1 August 1497 · position reconstructed

   Vasco da Gama's fleet, after leaving São Thiago, sailed in the direction of the Guinea coast and encountered the doldrums, with calms, baffling winds, and squalls, before eventually crossing the equator.

   His actual course, in any case, must have been a circuitous one, and we may suppose it to have been as follows:—Having left São Thiago in an easterly direction,[431] he kept in the direction of the coast for a considerable distance, but when he came within the influence of the dreaded _doldrums_ he met with unpleasant weather in the shape of calms, baffling winds, and squalls, which prevail more especially during the months of June, July, and August.

   Why is this position reconstructed?

4. 4. Santa Helena

   Today: St. Helena Bay, Western Cape, South Africa · Arrived 7 November 1497

   Vasco da Gama's fleet returned to the land and entered a broad bay, which they named Santa Helena. They sent a boat to take soundings, found good anchorage, and anchored there, remaining for eight days to clean and repair the ships and take on wood.

   On Tuesday [November 7] we returned to the land, which we found to be low, with a broad bay opening into it. The captain-major sent Pero d’Alenquer[43] in a boat to take soundings and to search for good anchoring ground. The bay was found to be very clean, and to afford shelter against all winds except those from the N.W. It extended east and west, and we named it Santa Helena.

5. 5. bay (angra) of Sam Brás

   Today: Mossel Bay, Western Cape, South Africa · Arrived 25 November 1497

   Vasco da Gama's fleet entered the bay of Sam Brás (now Mossel Bay), where they remained for thirteen days, broke up their store-ship, and transferred its contents to the other vessels.

   Late on Saturday, November 25, the day of St. Catherine’s, we entered the bay (angra) of Sam Brás, where we remained for thirteen days, for there we broke up our store-ship and transferred her contents to the other vessels.[56]

   Also called at by Bartolomeu Dias — who called it “Sao Bras”. Identified as Mossel Bay

6. 6. Cape of Good Hope

   Today: Cape of Good Hope, South Africa · Arrived 22 November 1497

   Vasco da Gama and his fleet succeeded in doubling the Cape of Good Hope after several days of adverse winds, finally rounding the Cape on November 22, 1497, and then continued along the coast.

   At last, on Wednesday [November 22], at noon, having the wind astern, we succeeded in doubling the Cape, and then ran along the coast.

   Also called at by Bartolomeu Dias — who called it “Cabo das Tormentas”, Francis Drake — who called it “Cape Hope”, Ferdinand Magellan. Identified as Cape of Good Hope

7. 7. Rio do Infante

   Today: Great Fish River, Eastern Cape, South Africa · Arrived 1 December 1497

   No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.

   Also called at by Bartolomeu Dias. Identified as Great Fish River

   The record survives. Why is this stage empty?

8. 8. Natal

   Today: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa · Arrived 25 December 1497

   On Christmas Day, Vasco da Gama's fleet reached the coast of Natal, having discovered seventy leagues of new coastline beyond Dias’ furthest point. The crew discovered that the mast had sprung and made temporary repairs, hoping to fix it properly in a sheltered port.

   By Christmas Day, the 25th of December, we had discovered seventy leagues of coast [beyond Dias’ furthest]. On that day, after dinner, when setting a bonnet, we discovered that the mast had sprung ... and ... secured it with lashings below the top, and that the crack opened and shut. We patched it up with backstays, hoping to be able to repair it thoroughly as soon as we should reach a sheltered port.

9. 9. Mozambique

   Today: Mozambique Island, Mozambique · Arrived 2 March 1498

   Vasco da Gama's fleet arrived off Mozambique Island on March 2, 1498, anchoring in front of the town after following the coast for six days.

   On February 24th the vessels once more gained the open sea, and following the coast for six days arrived off Mozambique on March 2nd. During this voyage of 330 miles they kept outside the islands which here skirt the coast, and lay to at night, as usual, which accounts for the slow rate of progress made during this coasting voyage. Coelho, as before, led the way, and entered by the shallow southern channel, between the islands of S. Thiago and S. Jorge. The three vessels anchored in front of the town (see p. 23).

10. 10. Mombaça

    Today: Mombasa, Kenya · Arrived 7 April 1498

    The Portuguese fleet anchored off Mombaça (Mombasa) on April 7, 1498, but did not enter the port. They were met by local vessels, exchanged displays of flags, and hoped to go ashore to meet Christians reportedly living there, but were instead met with suspicion and an attempted boarding by armed men.

    On Saturday [April 7] we cast anchor off Mombaça, but did not enter the port. No sooner had we been perceived than a _zavra_[113] manned by Moors came out to us: in front of the city there lay numerous vessels all dressed in flags.[114] And we, anxious not to be outdone, also dressed our ships, and we actually surpassed their show, for we wanted in nothing but men, even the few whom we had being very ill.

11. 11. Milinde (Malindi)

    Today: Malindi, Kenya · Arrived 14 April 1498

    Vasco da Gama's fleet anchored off Malindi on April 14, 1498, where they were warmly received and remained for nine days, enjoying festivities and securing a pilot for the crossing to India.

    That same day [April 14] at sunset, we cast anchor off a place called Milinde (Malindi),[121] which is thirty leagues from Mombaça. The following places are between Mombaça and Milinde, viz., Benapa, Toça and Nuguoquioniete.[122]

12. 12. the Arabian Gulf

    Today: Arabian Sea · Arrived 24 April 1498

    On April 24th, Vasco da Gama and his fleet departed from Melinde, having secured a Gujarati pilot, and began their crossing of the Arabian Sea toward India, aided by the southwest monsoon.

    On April 24th Vasco da Gama, who had secured the services of a Gujarati pilot, started for India. By that time the S.W. monsoon was blowing steadily, though not as yet very strongly. The African coast was kept in sight for a couple of days, after which the vessels stood boldly across the “Great Gulf.”

13. 13. Calecut

    Today: Kozhikode, Kerala, India · Arrived 20 May 1498

    Vasco da Gama and his fleet arrived off the coast of Calecut (modern Kozhikode), sighting the land on May 18th, 1498, and soon after took up a position in front of the city, marking the first direct European sea voyage to India.

    On April 24th Vasco da Gama, who had secured the services of a Gujarati pilot, started for India. By that time the S.W. monsoon was blowing steadily, though not as yet very strongly. The African coast was kept in sight for a couple of days, after which the vessels stood boldly across the “Great Gulf.” They passed in all probability to the south of the _Baixos de Padua_. They had been twenty-one days at sea, and were still 24 miles from the land, when there rose in front of them a lofty wooded mountain. This was Mount Eli, 2,220 miles from Melinde, and the day on which India was first beheld by Europeans who had come direct from a European port was May 18th, a Friday (see p. 47).[447]

14. 14. Calecut

    Today: Kozhikode, Kerala, India · Arrived 20 May 1498

    Vasco da Gama's fleet arrived off the coast of Calecut (Calicut), anchoring two leagues from the city after mistaking the nearby town of Capua for their destination. Local boats approached, and the Portuguese learned they were indeed in sight of Calecut.

    That night [May 20] we anchored two leagues from the city of Calecut, and we did so because our pilot mistook _Capua_,[142] a town at that place, for Calecut. Still further[143] there is another town called _Pandarani_.[144] We anchored about a league and a half from the shore. After we were at anchor, four boats (_almadias_) approached us from the land, who asked of what nation we were. We told them, and they then pointed out Calecut to us.

15. 15. Anjediva

    Today: Anjediva Island, Karnataka, India · Arrived 20 September 1498 · position reconstructed

    Vasco da Gama arrived at the Anjediva Islands, where he landed on the largest island and remained until October 5th, careening his ships and waiting for favorable winds for the return voyage.

    On September 20th Vasco da Gama arrived at the Anjediva Islands, about 14° 45´ N., having thus spent twenty-one days in accomplishing 240 miles. He seems, first of all, to have anchored near the Oyster Rocks, off the Kalipadi river, but on September 24th he landed on the largest of these islands, where he remained until October 5th, waiting for a propitious wind, and availed himself of the enforced leisure to careen the flagship and the _Berrio_ (p. 83).

16. 16. Milinde (Malindi)

    Today: Malindi, Kenya · Arrived 1 January 1499

    Vasco da Gama's fleet anchored off Malindi on the return voyage, where they sought pilots and provisions, and remained for several days while interacting with the local inhabitants.

    That same day [April 14] at sunset, we cast anchor off a place called Milinde (Malindi),[121] which is thirty leagues from Mombaça.

17. 17. Magadoxo

    Today: Mogadishu, Somalia · Arrived 1 January 1499

    No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.

    The record survives. Why is this stage empty?

18. 18. Mozambique

    Today: Mozambique Island, Nampula Province, Mozambique · Arrived 2 March 1499

    Vasco da Gama's fleet arrived off Mozambique Island on March 2nd, 1499, anchoring in front of the town after following the coast for six days. They later moved to the island of S. Jorge, where mass was read before continuing their voyage north.

    On February 24th the vessels once more gained the open sea, and following the coast for six days arrived off Mozambique on March 2nd. During this voyage of 330 miles they kept outside the islands which here skirt the coast, and lay to at night, as usual, which accounts for the slow rate of progress made during this coasting voyage. Coelho, as before, led the way, and entered by the shallow southern channel, between the islands of S. Thiago and S. Jorge. The three vessels anchored in front of the town (see p. 23). Later on they removed to the island of S. Jorge, where mass was read on March 12th, after which the little flotilla set sail for the north.

19. 19. Cape of Good Hope

    Today: Cape of Good Hope, South Africa · Arrived 22 November 1497

    Vasco da Gama and his fleet succeeded in rounding the Cape of Good Hope after several days of adverse winds, finally doubling the Cape on November 22, 1497, and then continued along the coast.

    At last, on Wednesday [November 22], at noon, having the wind astern, we succeeded in doubling the Cape, and then ran along the coast.

    Also called at by Bartolomeu Dias — who called it “Cabo das Tormentas”, Francis Drake — who called it “Cape Hope”, Ferdinand Magellan. Identified as Cape of Good Hope

20. 20. Angra of Terceira

    Today: Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal · Arrived 1 July 1499 · position reconstructed

    Vasco da Gama brought his dying brother Paulo da Gama to the Angra of Terceira, where Paulo died a day after landing and was buried in the church of the Monastery of S. Francisco.

    Paulo died a day after he had landed at the Angra of Terceira, and was buried in the church of the Monastery of S. Francisco.[236] A resident of Terceira, one Arthur Rodriguez, at once started in a caravel to carry the news of Vasco da Gama’s arrival to Lisbon.

21. 21. Lisbon

    Today: Lisbon, Portugal · Arrived 29 August 1499

    Vasco da Gama returned to Lisbon after his first voyage to India, arriving in a caravel on August 29th, 1499, following the death and burial of his brother Paulo da Gama on Terceira.

    Vasco da Gama himself reached Lisbon in a caravel on August 29th, two years and nearly two months after he had left that port.

    Also called at by Christopher Columbus, Bartolomeu Dias, Bartolomeu Dias. Identified as Lisbon

Published under CC BY-SA 4.0. Sources keep their own open licences. See the Magna Carta of the Seas for how this was verified.