124 PORTUGUESE HISTORY OF MALACCA. 



querque began some military operations, ( x ) and the king re- 

 stored the captives. After this some further negociations en- 

 sued, as the king was desirous of peace, which Albuquerque 

 offered to agree to, on condition of having permission to build 

 a fortress at Malacca, and that the king should repay the 

 entire charge incurred by Sequeira and the present armament, 

 all the damage having been occasioned by his own treachery 

 and falsehood ; but he demanded to have an immediate answer, 

 whether the king chose peace or war. The king was willing 

 to have submitted to the terms demanded by the Portuguese 

 viceroy, but his son and the king of Pahang opposed him, and 

 it was at length determined to stand on their defence. 



On the 24th of July, being the eve of St. James the Apos- 

 tle, everything being disposed in order for attack, the signal 

 was given for landing by the discharge of artillery, and im- 

 mediately the Portuguese leapt on shore and charged the ene- 

 my with loud shouts. The hottest of the battle was about 

 gaining and defending the bridge, which enterprise Albuquer- 

 que undertook in person, and where the enemy, after a vigo- 

 rous defence, in which great numbers of them were slain, were 

 forced to leap into the river, where many of them were drown- 

 ed. The prince and the king of Pahang bravely opposed 

 another party of the Portuguese who endeavoured to force 

 their way to the bridge to join the viceroy, and at the same 

 time king Mahmud came out on a large elephant, attended 

 by two others having castles on their backs, whence numbers 

 of darts were launched against the Portuguese. But the ele- 

 phants, being soon severely wounded, turned and fled through 

 among their own men, trampling many of them to death, and 

 making way for the Portuguese to join those who had 

 possession of the bridge. At this place Albuquerque forti- 

 fied himself, and as considerable harm was done to his men by 

 poisoned arrows discharged from the tops of the adjoining 

 houses, he caused them to be set on fire. After bestowing 

 great praises on his captains for their courageous behaviour, 



( x ) i.e. He burnt some houses on the shore, and ships belon 

 to the Guzaratis and other traders. 



