There is scarcely any better instance of this on a large scale than the longing to find a route to India by sea, and the attainment3 of this only after long years and years. As a study of perseverance4 it is remarkable5: but the inspiration of the whole project was to get at the world’s great treasure-house, to find the way thereto and then unlock its doors. For centuries there had been trade routes between Europe and India overland. But the establishment of the Ottoman Empire in the fifteenth century placed a barrier across these routes. This suggested that there might possibly be—there was most probably—a route via the sea, and this would have the advantage of an easier method of transportation. It is very curious how throughout the ages a vague tradition survives and lingers on from century to century, finally to decide men’s minds on some momentous6 matter. It is not quite a literal inspiration, for often enough these ancient traditions had a modicum7 of truth therein contained.
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In my last book, “Ships and Ways of Other Days,” I gave an instance of this which was remarkable enough to bear repeating. A reproduction was given of a fourteenth-century portolano, or chart, in which the shape of Southern Africa was seen to be extraordinarily8 accurate: and this, notwithstanding that it was sketched9 one hundred and thirty-five years before the Cape10 of Good Hope had been doubled. Some might suppose this knowledge to have been the result of second-sight, but my suggestion is that it was the result of an ancient tradition that the lower part of the African continent was shaped as depicted11. For there is a well-founded belief that about the beginning of the sixth century B.C. the Ph?nicians were sent by Neco, an Egyptian king, down the Red Sea; and that after circumnavigating the African continent they entered the Mediterranean12 from the westward13.
The dim recollection of this voyage over a portion of the Indian Ocean, coupled with other knowledge derived14 from the Arabian seamen15, doubtless left little hesitation16 in the minds of the seafaring peoples of the Mediterranean that the sea route to India existed if indeed it could be found. The various fruitless attempts, beginning with Vivaldi’s voyage from Genoa in 1281, are all evidence that this belief never died. For years nothing more successful was obtained than to get to Madeira or a little lower down the west coast of Africa, yet almost every effort was pushing on nearer the goal; even though that goal was still a very long way distant. The East was exercising a magnetic influence on the minds of men: India was bound to be discovered sooner or later, if they did not weary of the attempt.
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Then comes on to the scene the famous Prince Henry the Navigator, who built the first observatory17 of Portugal, established a naval18 arsenal19, gathered together at his Sagres headquarters the greatest pilots and navigators which could be collected, founded a school of navigation and chart-making, and then sent his trained, picked men forth20 to sail the seas, explore the unknown south with the hope ultimately of reaching the rich land of India. I have discussed this matter with such detail in the volume already alluded21 to that it will be enough if I here remark briefly22 that though Prince Henry died in the year 1460 without any of his ships or men attaining23 India, yet less than forty years were to elapse ere this was attained24, and his was the influence which really brought this about. We must never forget that on the historical road to India through the long ages from the earliest times down to the fifteenth century the name of Prince Henry the Navigator represents one of the most important milestones25.
THE HONOURABLE26 EAST INDIA COMPANY’S SHIP “GENERAL GODDARD,” COMMANDED BY WM. TAYLOR MONEY, WITH HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP “SCEPTRE” AND “SWALLOW,” PACKET, CAPTURING SEVEN DUTCH EAST INDIAMEN OFF ST. HELENA, ON 14th JUNE, 1795.
(By courtesy of Messrs. T. H. Parker Brothers)
Larger image
You know so well how that thereafter, in the year 1486, the King of Portugal sent forth two expeditions with the desire to find an eastern route to India, and that one of these proceeded through Egypt, then down the Red Sea, across the Arabian Sea, and finally after some hardships reached Calicut, in the south-west of India. The other expedition consisted of a little squadron under Bartholomew Diaz, and although it did not get as far as India, yet it passed the Cape of Torments27 without knowing it—far out to sea—and even sighted Algoa Bay. The Cape of Torments he had called that promontory28 on his way back, remembering the bad weather which he here found: but the Cape of Good Hope his master,13 King John II., renamed it when Diaz reached home in safety. And then, finally, the last of these efforts was fraught29 with success when Vasco da Gama, in the year 1497, not only doubled the Cape of Good Hope, but discovered Mozambique, Melinda (a little north of Mombasa), and thence with the help of an Indian pilot crossed the ocean and reached Calicut by sea in twenty-three days—an absolutely unprecedented30 achievement for one who had sailed all the way from the Tagus.
This was the beginning of an entirely31 new era in the progress of the world, and till the crack of doom32 it will remain a memorable33 voyage, not merely for the fact that da Gama was able to succeed where so many others had failed, but because it unlocked the door of the East, first to the Portuguese35, and subsequently to other nations of Europe. The twin arts of seamanship and navigation had made this possible, and it was only because the Portuguese, most especially Prince Henry, had believed “in ye sea” that the key had been found. As Columbus, by believing in the sea, was enabled in looking for India to open up the Western world, so was da Gama privileged to unlock the East. And since the sea connotes the ship we arrive at the standpoint that it is this long-suffering creature, fashioned by the hand of man, which has done more for the civilisation36 of the world than any other of those wonderful creations which the human mind has evolved from the things of the earth.
The first cargo37 which da Gama brought home was, so to speak, merely a small sample of those goods which were to be obtained by the ships that came after for generation after generation till the present14 day. It showed how great and priceless were the riches of the East—spices and perfumes, pearls and rubies38, diamonds and cinnamon. The safe arrival of these, when da Gama got back home, made a profound impression. But it was no mere34 sentimental39 wonder, for the receipt of all these goods repaid the cost of the entire expedition sixty-fold. From this time forth the Portuguese were busily engaged in extracting wealth as men get it out from a gold mine. Their ships went backwards40 and forwards in their long voyages, sometimes narrowly escaping the attentions of the Moslem41 pirates anxious to relieve them of their valuable cargoes42. Some Portuguese settled in India, and gradually there came into existence a fringe of Portuguese nationality extending from the Malabar coast right away to the Persian Gulf43. Even as far as Japan was the East explored, and the vast fortunes which were brought back ever astonished the merchants of Europe. The first Portuguese factory was established at Calicut in the year 1500. For about a hundred years they were able to benefit, unrivalled, by their newly found treasure-house and to use their best endeavours, unfettered, to empty it.
In 1503 they erected44 their first fortress45 and strengthened their position. In their hands was the monopoly: theirs were the great and invaluable46 secrets of this amazing trade. And considering everything—the enterprise and training of Prince Henry, the far-sighted prudence47 in believing in the sea, the years and years of distressful48 voyages, the final attainment of the treasure-land only after many vicissitudes49 and the loss of ships and men—we cannot marvel50 that the Portuguese preserved these15 secrets, and held on to their monopoly, to the annoyance51 of the rest of civilised Europe. The fact was that Portugal was then the sovereign of the seas: she was far too strong afloat for any other country to think of wresting52 from her by force what she had obtained only by much study, skill and perseverance. What she had obtained she was going to hold. Those who wanted these Eastern goods must come to Lisbon, where the mart was held: and come they did, but they went back home envious53 that Portugal should enjoy this secret monopoly, and wondering all the time how India could be reached by a new route.
Curiosity and envy combined have been the means of the unravelling54 of many a secret. It was so now. Let us not fail to realise how greatly these human feelings influenced many of the voyages during the next hundred years. We justly admire the great daring of the Elizabethan seamen, but though the spirit of adventure and the hatred55 of Spain had a great deal to do with the cause of their setting forth to cross the ocean, yet there was another reason: and this explains much that is not otherwise quite clear. It is always fair to assume that men do not act except at the instigation of some clear motive56. They do not persuade merchants to expend57 the whole of their small wealth in buying or building ships, victualling them and providing all the necessary inventories58, without some rational cause. In the Elizabethan times, when wealth was much rarer than it is to-day, the prime motive of these expeditions was the pursuit of greater wealth.
But as England was not yet as expert at sea as the Portuguese, she could not hope to obtain the treasures of distant lands. Before she was ready16 there was, however, still Spain: and the latter was determined59 to do her best to obtain on her own what Portugal was enjoying. In a word, then, many of the sixteenth-century voyages which we have attributed, rashly, solely60 to a hope for adventurous61 exploration were in fact animated62 by the desire to find some new route to India. To this inspiration must be attributed many of those long sea journeys to the north, the north-east and the north-west. Men did not endeavour to find north-east or north-west passages merely for fun, but in order to discover a road to India. No one knew that it was impossible: if the Portuguese had been able to go one way, why should not they themselves go by another route? Remembering this, you must think of Spain sending Magellan to the west; of England sending Davis to the north-west; and of Holland sending Barentsz to the north-east to find a passage to the treasure-land of India or China.
The Spaniards discovered a way to India through the straits which are called after Magellan, and henceforth did their utmost to keep the ships of other countries out of their newly found waters, until the increase of English sea-power and the daring of our more experienced seamen showed that this Spanish sovereignty on sea could not be maintained by force. But still the English seamen had not yet reached India. We must turn for a moment to the Dutch, who were destined63 to become a great naval power. In the year 1580 the Spanish and Portuguese dominions64 had become united under the Spanish crown, and the Dutch were excluded from trading with Lisbon, their ships confiscated65 and their owners thrown into prison. Now, one of these captains17 while undergoing his imprisonment66 obtained from some Portuguese sailors a good deal of information concerning the Indian Seas, so that when he reached the Netherlands again he told the most wonderful accounts to his countrymen. The latter were so impressed by what was related that they decided67 to send an expedition to find the Indies themselves.
Presently, then, we shall see the Dutch not merely casting longing eyes towards India, but actually getting a footing therein, building up a very lucrative68 trade and employing great, well-built craft: but before we come to that stage we must note the gradual and persistent69 way in which the countries outside the Iberian Peninsula felt their way to this land of spices and precious stones, and after groping some time in the dark found that which they had been searching for during generations.
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1
maxim
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| n.格言，箴言 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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attainment
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| n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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modicum
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| n.少量，一小份 | |
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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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observatory
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| n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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milestones
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| n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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Moslem
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| n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的 | |
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cargoes
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| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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distressful
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| adj.苦难重重的，不幸的，使苦恼的 | |
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vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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wresting
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| 动词wrest的现在进行式 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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unravelling
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| 解开，拆散，散开( unravel的现在分词 )； 阐明； 澄清； 弄清楚 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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expend
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| vt.花费，消费，消耗 | |
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inventories
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| n.总结( inventory的名词复数 )；细账；存货清单（或财产目录）的编制 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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confiscated
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| 没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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lucrative
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| adj.赚钱的，可获利的 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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