Le VALENTYN’S DESCRIPTION OF MALACCA. 
cartridges for the same, from the vessel Dordrecht and with an 
iron pederero (small field piece ) and ten small barrels of 
eunpowder and some shot-cartridges from one of Warwycx’s 
vessels, in order that he should be better able to repel the 
assaults of the Portuguese. 
Admiral van Warwyckx left Djohor on the 10th December 
with his vessel the Wissingen, after having strongly recom- 
mended the King to take good care of his people, who were 
left behind with a valuable cargo, and the Admiral Srpasvia- 
ANSE soon followed him with his vessel the Amsferdam and the 
earrack St. Anthony. 
At the beginning of January, 1605, our Admiral CorneExts 
MatrEviEr pE JoNGE having met with Admiral STEVEN van 
pER Hacen off the island of Mauritius, and having heard from 
him in what state Malakka was, set sail with his fleet to that 
town, but Don ANDReEa Furtapo had fortified it considerably 
during the last three years, and besieged Djohor with an army 
of 8,000 men. The said Admiral sailed for Malakka on the 
27th January and dropped anchor on the 30th April at haifa 
mile distance from the town. (‘) 5 
He at once manned all his boats and sloops and ordered 
them to set fire to four ships, jast aground opposite the town. 
These were ships of 20), 109, and 89 lasts each. Though the 
garrison fired five shots, they all missed the boats. 
The same night Marsnizr informed the King of his arrival. 
The day before, our sloops having captured three prahus of 
the King of Quedah, loaded with sarongs, the Admiral sent 
them back to that King and assured him, that he wished to 
live in peace with him. 
The Admiral. then assembled a Couneil of war, and the 
Council of all the shipmasters and merchants, and they resolved 
to approach as near Malakka as five fathoms of water (1) would 
bring them, and to bombard the town from the feet. 
The vessels neared the coast with neap tide to.a depth of 34 
fathoms of water, (1) but even at that distance their small can-- 
nons-royal were of no use; though a few balls did hit some 
of the houses, they could not reach the fortress. 
(1) There is something wrong about the distances and cannon 
range here, perhaps “league” should be read for “ mile ? ” 
