Vasco da Gama - Cape Town - South Africa   In 1495 King John II died.  His successor, Manuel the Fortunate, was determined to have the discoveries of Diaz pursued.  He saw himself as the founding sovereign of a great Portuguese empire in the East and the rich Indies trade was by no means the least of his considerations.   Eleven years had passed since Diaz had set eyes on the Cape and although the might of Spain and, more recently, the enterprise of England was busy in the Western Hemisphere, who could tell how long or how soon it would be before they or others began paying acquisitive attention to the fabled wealth of the East?  Haste was now imperative and so, in 1497, the King chose Vasco da Gama, whose exploits were to make him the hero of Portugal, to captain an expedition to the Indies.   Da Gama set sail, he rounded the Cape and sailed the southern coast of Africa.  Continuing Northward he sighted Natal, which he so named in honour of the Nativity, it being Christmas.