Cabral's fleet, heading north, takes a wide…

Cabral's fleet, heading north, takes a wide sweep to avoid Calicut, and pays a quick visit to Cannanore.

Cabral is warmly received by the Kolathiri Raja of Cannanore who, eager for a Portuguese alliance, offers to sell the Portuguese spices on credit.

Cabral accepts the cargo but pays him nonetheless (not a splendid cargo—only low-quality ginger, as it turns out, but Cabral is appreciative of the gesture.)

His ships now filled with spices, Cabral decides not to visit Quilon, as he had earlier promised, but to make way back home to Portugal.

In late January, Cabral takes aboard an ambassador from Cannanore, and starts his ocean crossing back to East Africa.

On the way, the Portuguese capture a Gujarati ship, replete with a magnificent cargo.

They steal the cargo, but spare the crew, once they realize they are not Arabs.