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The King accordingly sent a message to Vasco da Gama, who immediately directed Davane to take a boat and tow the zambuk, with the old Moor and all his property, to the city, and present them to the King. When Captain Dias and the others heard this, they exclaimed, raising their hands to heaven, "May God reward you and all your company, and restore you to your country in health and safety!"
The old Moorish captain, to whom the name of Dias was given, with his wife and her attendants, were brought on board the Saint Raphael, where they were treated so courteously by da Gama, that he completely won their hearts. The crew of the zambuk were divided among the two ships, and ten Portuguese were put into her, with directions to touch nothing, and not to lose sight of the squadron.
The Portuguese, taking him into their boat, went to the zambuk; but she was empty, the Moor having been about to freight her with a cargo for a certain merchant, for whom he acted as agent. Returning with their captain to the ship, the Portuguese were delighted at finding a man from whom they could obtain information about the country. They then set sail, and continued their course.
The squadron sails along the coast on Christmas Day That part is named Natal Reaches the "River of Mercy" Careen ships The Saint Miguel broken up Coelho ascends the river Meets natives, who come on board A column erected A native vessel sighted Chase another Davane, a Moorish broker, captured Offers to conduct them to Cambay A zambuk taken Davane engaged in the service of the Portuguese Squadron enters harbour of Mozambique The sheikh visits the Saint Raphael Promises to send pilots His intended treachery Machado left on shore Voyage along coast continued The pilots plot to wreck the ships Anchor off Mombas Two convicts sent on shore Narrow escape of the Saint Raphael A zambuk taken, with her owner and his wife Melonda reached Friendly reception by the King of Nicholas Coelho visits him The captains pay him a visit in great state The King comes on board the Saint Raphael Pleasant intercourse with the people.
After steering on for twenty days, they arrived towards the end of March, 1498, off Mozambique, and, piloted by the zambuk, entered the harbour, where they dropped anchor in a spot sheltered from the sea winds. On the shore a large number of houses covered with thatch and many people were seen.
The Captain-Major gave the blacks biscuit, salt fish, and wine, which they ate and drank with evident satisfaction, not refusing the wine as the Moor had done. The vessel called a zambuk was probably the style of craft similar to the dhow of the present day, with a high stern, the bow sharp and low, and either perfectly open or partially decked over with light planking.
The Portuguese sailors were now brought from the zambuk, and the blacks, rewarded with pieces of white stuff, were sent to their own vessel. The blacks having gone on shore and reported how well they had been treated, canoes came off from the beach with cocoa-nuts and hens.
On this Vasco da Gama ordered the ships to heave to, and sent a boat in chase of a canoe which was seen leaving the zambuk, carrying her crew, who were trying to escape, on shore. She was soon overtaken, when the six blacks who were on board her threw themselves into the sea. One Moor alone remained on board, he being unable to swim.
The blacks, though from opposite sides of the coast, perfectly understood each other, showing that at that period the language of Congo extended from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. The zambuk was laden with pigeons' dung, and was bound for Cambay, where it is used in dyeing stuffs.
The old Moor, Captain Dias, who had been taken out of the zambuk, now requested that he might be sent on shore, promising to bring back a report of whatever the King had to say. This being approved of, he was put into a skiff which was passing and conveyed on shore.
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