62 THE QUEST FOR INDIA BY SEA sorrow to strengthen his position on the African coast: Columbus in 1492 discovered for the Spanish crown the American islands which proved to be the outworks of a new world. The discovery caused consternation at the Portu- guese court. To the king it seemed that a short cut COLUMBUS PROPOUNDING HIS THEORY OF A ROUTE TO INDIA. had been laid open to India: Columbus himself believed to his dying day that Cuba formed part of Asia. The Portuguese sovereign did not at first despair of snatch- ing the fruits of the achievement. His treaty of Alca- c.ora with Spain in 1479 had conceded to Portugal the exclusive right of navigation and discovery along the African coast, together with the possession of all known
