da gama had married a lady of good family, caterina de ataíde perhaps in 1500 after his return from his first voyage and he then appears to have retired to the town of évora. arriving in goa in september 1524, da gama immediately set himself to correct the many administrative abuses that had crept in under his predecessors. whether from overwork or other causes, he soon fell ill and died in december 24, 1524 kochi india. in 1538 his body was taken back to portugal.