122 PORTUGUESE HISTORY OF MALACCA. 



the town. At this time likewise a son of Utimuti Rajah 

 came on board under pretence of a visit to Lopez, and finding 

 him engaged at draughts, requested him to continue his game, 

 that he might have the better opportunity of assassinating him 

 unobserved ; and in fact he frequently put his hand to his 

 dagger for the purpose, but waited till the other branches of 

 the intended treachery should begin. At this time, a seaman 

 on one of the tops, who was on the look-out, seeing a throng 

 in the town and hearing a considerable noise, called out 

 c Treachery ! treachery ! they kill our men ! ' Lopez instantly 

 threw away the draught-board, calling out ' Arms,' and the 

 son of Utimuti, perceiving the treacherous designs discov- 

 ered, leapt into his boat with his attendants in great conster- 

 nation. The fleet of boats now came round the point and 

 attacked the Portuguese, who exerted themselves as well as 

 possible in their defence, considering the suddenness of the 

 attack ; and sinking many of the enemy's boats, forced the 

 rest to retire. 



Not having a sufficient force to take vengeance for this 

 treachery, Lopez was under the necessity of quitting Malacca, 

 where he left sixty of his men in slavery, who were made pri- 

 soners on shore, and having eight slain. On his way back he 

 took two Moorish ships bound for Malacca; and having 

 arrived at Cape Comorin, he sent on Teixeyra and Souza 

 with their ships to Cochin, resolving, though ill-provided, to 

 return alone to Portugal, being afraid of Albuquerque, as he 

 had sided with Almeyda in the late disputes respecting the 

 Government of India. He reached the island of Tercerawith 

 much difficulty, and from thence proceeded to Lisbon. 



We now come to Albuquerque, who had sailed from Por- 

 tugal under Almeyda. But having been very successful in 

 all the sieges and battles he had undertaken, and being of a 

 bold and enterprising spirit, he assumed the Government of 

 India in opposition (^to Almeyda. Having been informed 

 of the fate of Sequeira's expedition, he resolved to go and 



O As he had proper credentials from the king, the expression is 

 odd. Almeyda certainly opposed him. 



