STREIGHTS-OF MALACCA. 25 



from Perjiciy Arabia^ and even Africa^ filled its harbor. The 

 Arabians brought with them their religion, and eftabliihed Ma- 

 hometanifm in the court of this kingdom, as they had done in 

 that of Hindoojlan. 



This port was firft vifited in 1508 by the Portuguefe ad- Taken by the 



• IT- rv- ^,. -,, -11 rL Portuguese. 



miral Lopez Seqmera. On his arrival he met with the molt 

 friendlv reception from the reigning monarch ; but fuch a jea- 

 loufy arofe among the commercial people of the different na- 

 tions, efpecially the Arabs, which they fo efFecftually inftilled 

 into the prince, as foon to deftroy the good underftanding be- 

 tween him and the ftrangers he had fo fuddenly taken an affec- 

 tion for. His conduct had lulled the Fortuguefe into fo deep a 

 fecurity, that numbers of them took up their refidence in the 

 city, and Sequiera even appointed Araujo, a favorite of Albu- 

 querque'^, as conful. The prince did not dare to attack the ad- 

 miral by open force, but ufed every fpecies of treachery to de- 

 ftroy him. Finding his plots dete6ted, he ordered his fubjects to 

 mafTacre the JLuropeans who were in their power. Numbers 

 M'ere flain ; but Araujo and a few others were 'k.^^X. as hoflages 

 to prevent the revenge of the' admiral, who, after various endea- 

 vors to recover them, was obliged to leave them behind, and to 

 fet fail for the Malabar coaft. 



Albuquerque took advantage of the quarrel ; he failed from 

 Goa in 151 1, and foon appearing before the port of Malacca, 

 clamed the releafe of his countrymen. Thefe demands were 

 at firft refufed ; but after fome hoflilities, the king was fo terri- 

 fied as to fend to Albuquerque, Araujo and all the furviving Por- 

 tuguefe. Notwithftanding this, it was difcovered that he intended 



Vol. III. E nothing 



