Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 2).djvu/49

 signed by the king and all who were with him, presents were exchanged, while the rich Arab, whose treachery soon afterwards became known, was left on board, by way of security for the delivery of other articles which had been promised; but the king sent word that Mahomed Arcone "might pay himself, since he had deceived him." On receipt of this information the captain-major became very angry with the rich Moor, and ordered him and the Moors who had accompanied him to be "stripped naked, and bound hand and foot, and put into his boat, and to remain thus roasting in the sun until they died, since they had deceived him; and when they were dead he would go on shore and seek the king, and do as much for him, lading his ships with the wealth of the city, and making captive slaves of its women and children." It was not, however, necessary to carry into effect these terrible threats. The Moor sent to fetch from his house a ransom, valued at 10,000 cruzados (£1,000 sterling), which he gave with other perquisites to the "Christian" ambassador, who immediately afterwards pursued his voyage to Melinde.

On arriving in sight of the port, the king, who had already received the news, was prepared with "much joy to welcome his great friend Dom Vasco de Gama;" while the fleet anchored amidst a salvo of artillery. The king with haste embarked in a barge which he had ready, to visit and pay his respects to the captain-major, "bringing after him boats spread with green boughs, accompanied by festive musical instruments; and De Gama, as soon as he was aware that it was the king, went to receive