Page "History of Portugal" Paragraph 24

João da Nova discovered Ascension in 1501 and Saint Helena in 1502 ; Tristão da Cunha was the first to sight the archipelago still known by his name 1506.

In 1505, Francisco de Almeida was engaged to improve the Portuguese trade with the far east.

Accordingly, he sailed to East Africa.

Several small Islamic states along the coast of Mozambique, Kilwa, Brava and Mombasa were destroyed or became subjects or allies of Portugal.

Almeida then sailed on to Cochin, made peace with the ruler and built a stone fort there.