MALHEIRO, Pedro Alfonso.

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Gesta proxime per Portugalenses in India, Ethiopia, et aliis orientalibus terris. Rare first edition of the first account of European colonization in India. It documents Portuguese conquests in East Africa and India, and the first European arrival in Sri Lanka. This work described events mere months after their occurrence. It gives a summary of Portugal's key military actions in 1505 undertaken by Francisco de Almeida (1450-1510), the first viceroy of Portuguese India, who laid the framework that became the Estado da Índia. His voyage was distinguished from those of Vasco da Gama or Cabral by his mission as viceroy, a would-be ruler rather than trading partner. The mission's goal was to secure complete control of the spice trade and build several forts and trading posts on the east coast of Africa and in India, to forge alliances with local lords. Lourenço de Almeida, son of Francisco de Almeida, was the first Portuguese to reach Sri Lanka, accidentally landing while en route to the Maldives. In describing his visit, this work is believed to contain the earliest printed reference to that island, identified by its classical name "Taprobana." The text is framed as an address to Manuel I, king of Portugal, and is often catalogued with his name as the author. In later editions, the authorship is ascribed to Pedro Alfonso Malheiro, chaplain to the Cardinal Bishop of Oporto, named in the incipit here.Only five copies are traceable in institutional collections - British Library, Bib

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