298
LIFE
AND
VOYAGES
OF
[BOOK
XIV.
CHAPTER V. PREPARATIONS OF COLUMBUS FOR A FOURTH VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. [1501-1502.]
THE speculation relative to the recovery of the holy sepulchre, held but a temporary sway over the mind of Columbus. His thoughts soon returned, with renewed ardor, to their wonted chan足 nel. He became impatient of inaction, and soon conceived a lead足 ing object for another enterprise of discovery. The achievement of Vasco de Gama, of the long-attempted navigation to India by the Cape of Good Hope, was one of the signal events of the day. Pedro Alvarez Cabrai, following in his track, had made a most successful voyage, and returned with his vessels laden with the precious commodities of the East. The riches of Calicut were now the theme of every tongue, and the splendid trade now opened in diamonds and precious stones from the mines of Hin足 dostan ; in pearls, gold, silver, amber, ivory, and porcelain ; in silken stuffs, costly woods, gums, aromatics, and spices of all kinds. The discoveries of the savage regions of the New World, as yet, brought little revenue to Spain ; but this route, suddenly opened to the luxurious countries of the East, was pouring immediate wealth into Portugal.