STREIGHTS OF xMALACCA, 27 



and other rich productions of India ultra Gangem, and its 

 iflands, as he did before thofe of Hindoojlan, by the capture of 

 the famous city of Goa. 



^¥L'E Portuguefe continued in pofleflion oi Malacca till the Expelled bv 



THE Dutch. 

 year 1641, when it was wrefted out of their hands by the 



Dutch, after a fix months fiege. The governor is accufed by 



hiftorians of treachery, and to have been bribed into a furrender; 



but it is certain that he did not give the jdace up till after the 



moil gallant defence. The Dutch, fenfible of its value, paid the 



utmoft attention to its fortifications, and to every thing that 



could revive the antient commerce, which had almoft funk to 



nothing, by the tyranny and ufual ill condud^ of the Portu- 



guefe. 



The city had in their time feveral fine churches, and num- 

 bers of monafteries ; and the Jefuits a noble college, in which 

 they exercifed great hofpitality. All thefe of courfe fell to 

 decay under the reign of the fons of Calvin. Sharp as they 

 are, they were outwitted by the fons oi Rome : the religious of 

 the feveral convents made a requefl to the conqueror, that they 

 might be permitted to quit their houfes in folemn proceflion ; 

 €ach carried a large waxen taper in his hand, within which were 

 concealed their diamonds, and all the lelTer treafures. The vic- 

 tors were defrauded of the fruits of their valor, and, ns Son- 

 nerat fays, their commander loft his head, on his return to 

 Holland, for not having fagacity enough to difcover the trick. 



Malacca, is exceedingly large ; much of it is built of ftrong 

 bamboo, but the feveral ftone buildings, among them the gover- 

 nor's houfe, make a confpicuous figure. A narrow but deep and 



E 2 rapid 



