Gaspar Da Gama, Jewish explorer. According to some, he was born in Posen (Poland), traveled to Jerusalem and then Alexandria where he was taken prisoner and sold as a slave in India. There he was freed and served the ruler of Goa. When Vasco da Gama, Portuguese explorer, arrived off Angediva in 1498 he forced him to convert and gave him the name of Gaspar da Gama. Gaspar consequently served the King of Portugal. In 1502 he returned to India with Vasco da Gama and met an Indian princess whom he married. He was with Coelho when he first stepped ashore in Brazil. On the return voyage he met Amerigo Vespucci, the Tuscan explorer after whom America is named, at Cabo Verde and was consulted by him.