The Fourth Armada arrives at the mouth…
August 1502 CE
The Fourth Armada arrives at the mouth of the river that leads up to the city of Bhatkal, south of Honnavar, the day after the raid on the latter city.
Perceiving what he considers hostile gestures from shore, the captain-major dispatches his cousin, Estêvão da Gama, upriver to the town to investigate.
Surveying the Bhatkal docks, Estêvão spies several Arab merchant ships and prepares for hostilities, but his attention is soon drawn to a small group of men in ornate robes, rushing down to the docks, frantically calling to him.
It is an embassy from the raja of Bhatkal, requesting an immediate audience with the Portuguese captain-major.
Estêvão brings the embassy to his cousin.
Evidently hearing of the fate of Honnavar, the embassy offers to submit to the Portuguese.
Vasco da Gama agrees to leave Bhatkal in peace in return for a yearly tribute of one thousand bags of plain rice and five hundred bags of quality rice, probably Basmati.
Bhatkal is also to agree to the exclusion of the Arab merchants from the city, that no pepper trade is to be carried at this port, and that no ship be allowed to travel between Batecala and Calicut.
The treaty is set down in writing and signed.
Described by Correia as simply a modest rice, iron and sugar port, Bhatkal is actually the principal port and sea outlet of the Vijayanagara Empire, and its primary line is the horse trade; specifically, importing large numbers of splendid Persian and Arabian horses for the armies of Vijayanagara princes.