. Vasco da Gama, his voyages and adventures . CHAPTER XI. VASCO VISITS THE KING OF MELINDA. EFORE fulfilling his promise to trusthimself and his brother Paulo near theshore, Vasco da Gama thought it best tosend the other captain, Coello, to Melinda, withthe Moor Davane, to have an interview with theking, and see if he were really sincere. Accordingly, the next day, Coello and Davanewent off in a boat, and landed on a quay not farfrom the royal palace. Coello was very hand-somely dressed ; and so eager was the curiosityof the inhabitants to see him, and so closely didthey press around him, that
. Vasco da Gama, his voyages and adventures . CHAPTER XI. VASCO VISITS THE KING OF MELINDA. EFORE fulfilling his promise to trusthimself and his brother Paulo near theshore, Vasco da Gama thought it best tosend the other captain, Coello, to Melinda, withthe Moor Davane, to have an interview with theking, and see if he were really sincere. Accordingly, the next day, Coello and Davanewent off in a boat, and landed on a quay not farfrom the royal palace. Coello was very hand-somely dressed ; and so eager was the curiosityof the inhabitants to see him, and so closely didthey press around him, that the kings guard wereforced to resort to blows to keep them at a re-spectful distance. Coello and the Moor were at once conductedwithin the palace, and ushered into the royal. CO be e? w a H toH M oo 0 c? tfl VASCO VISITS THE KING OF MELINDA. 137 presence. The king was sitting on a stool, orottoman, covered with brocade, and inlaid withgold and ivory; while on the floor was spread agorgeous carpet. The captain was well satisfied with the inter-view. He told the king that the Portuguese werefrom one of the greatest and most enterprisingnations in Europe; that King Manuel was pow-erful, and had mighty armies and fleets; thatVasco da Gama had set sail more than a yearbefore; that they had been endangered eversince by frequent tempests, many hardships, andmuch treachery ; and that Vasco was fully re-solved never to return home until India had beenreached. The aged king responded kindly, andso impressed Coello with his sincerity and goodfaith, that when he returned, and recounted whathad passed, Vascos suspicions almost whollyvanished. It was on a bright, sunny morning that Vascoand Paulo set out in one of their large boats togo near the shore, and there hold an
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