At Cannanore, Vasco da Gama and his fleet awaited an Arab ship, eventually

capturing one filled with trading goods and 200 to 400 passengers, including women
and children. Seeking revenge for Portuguese deaths in Calicut, they confiscated the
cargo and set the ship ablaze, causing the tragic demise of everyone on board. Da
Gama then sailed to Calicut, demanding Arab traders to leave, firing cannons at the
port. His men killed Hindu fishermen, casting their bodies into the sea as a warning.
The Portuguese fleet later defeated Arab traders in a sea battle near Calicut, securing
control of the spice trade. Da Gama returned to Portugal with newfound honors. In
1524, at the age of sixty-four, he was offered the title 'Viceroy of the East' and sailed
to India, where he succumbed to fever after two months. Despite his short-lived rule,
Da Gama had established Portuguese presence in India, paving the way for further
European exploration to the East.