Scheeps-togt van Pedro da Nhaya na Oost-Indien, met een vloot van 8 scheepen, in het jaar 1505 en vervolg...

1505

Desired to speak to the Sheikh.

There they sought to divert him from it.

The fleet commander da Nhaya made it understood that he wished to speak with the Sheikh local ruler/chieftain, or their King. Notwithstanding that they tried to dissuade him by feigning that the King was blind, lame, and of an advanced age of 80 years, claiming that because he was very talkative he would gladly hear the fleet commander if he wished to come there, the place where the King stayed was a good distance away, reachable only by land because the river was unnavigable due to its multitude of trees. After much resistance, he had to follow their wishes and,

The fleet commander goes to the King's house.

having let the Moors go, he took the boats with him and went to the King’s house, which was situated one and a half miles from there, in a populated area where more than 1,000 houses stood. His own house stood out, provided with many large courtyards and rooms, mostly made with only one floor and built in a hoop-like original: "hoepels-gewijse", implying a domed or circular structure fashion.

In what condition the King was found.

In such a hoop-like structure they found the King on a small bed as large as the entire room, placed there in the manner of a seat, to be able to hear everyone who was in the hall. This hall was covered with silk cloths that matched the bed in color.

Blind King.

When Pedro da Nhaya had arrived in this palace, the Moors who had accompanied him immediately brought him to the King, who was of a brown complexion and a quick mind, showing—even though he was blind and therefore forced to lie and sit—by his authority and dignity that he was superior to the others.

The fleet commander presents his matters.

After our fleet commander had spoken for a while about indifferent matters, he presented the reason for his arrival, which only extended to building a fort there, just as his Lord and Master had ordered to be done in Quiloa and Mombasa, and to establish a trading post in Melinde.