148 



PORTUGUESE HISTORY OF MALACCA. 



some of their [countrymen who had been cast away in their 

 former ships, and some others who had been made prisoners 

 for endeavouring to pass false money; but as the natives 

 demanded too high a ransom they attempted to rescue them 

 by force ; but two boats full of armed men being sunk in the 

 attempt, they were forced to comply with the terms demanded. 

 They settled a trade' at Aniboina, and two of the ships opened 

 a factory at Banda, where they loaded with spice, and return- 

 ed into Holland on the 20th of April 1600. Those who were 

 left in the remaining ship at Amboina went to Ternate in the 

 Moluccas, where they were well received by the king, and 

 after procuring a lading of cloves returned home. 



The Hollanders, becoming powerful at the Molucca is- 

 lands, and forming an alliance with these islanders, who were 

 weary of the avarice and tyranny of the Portuguese, expelled 

 them from Amboina and established themselves at Ternate, 

 whence the Portuguese had been formerly expelled by the 

 natives, by the aid of the king of Ternate. The Holland- 

 ers likewise about 1604 got possession of the fort of Tidore, 

 whence about 400 Portuguese were permitted to retire by 

 sea to the Philippine Islands, where they were hospitably 

 received by Don Pedro de Cunha, who commanded there for 

 the Spaniards. In February 1605, de Cunha sailed from the 

 Philippines with 1,000 Spanish and 400 native troops, and 

 recovered the fort of Ternate, chiefly owing to the bravery of 

 Joan Rodrigues Camalo, who commanded a company of Por- 

 tuguese in this expedition. De Cunha thence proceeded for 

 Tidore, which he likewise reduced, by which conquest the 

 Molucca islands became subject to Spain. 



About this time a large English ship and a ketch had an 

 engagement with two Portuguese ships beyond the Cape of Good 

 Hope, which escaped after suffering a severe loss. These Eng- 

 lish ships went afterwards to Surat, where they were found by 

 Nunus de Cunha, who had four well-manned galleons, but ill 

 provided with gunners, who were ignorant and cowardly. On 

 descrying these large ships, though the English had reason to 

 be afraid of their number, they undervalued them as heavy 

 sailors, and immediately engaged and fought them till even- 

 ing, killing 30 of the Portuguese. The engagement recom- 



