VALENTYN’S ACCOUNT OF MALACCA. 299 
soa and SEBASTIAAN SoAREZ (both captains of galleons), then two 
cousins of ~oarrEz, then Joan Bravo who commanded the 
galleon of Don Anronto pp Menusez, the Governor of Malak- 
ka, then one Don FerNanpo pEL Murcanpo, a merchant and 
finally a priest. 
Admiral Marenis¥ was not pleased with this decision, for 
he did not like to intrcdace the practice of ransoming men into 
India, but it was carried by a majority of votes, under pretext, 
that EnEs ransoll, when distributed among the sailors, would 
make them in the future more willing to fight. 
When up to the 28th of October not one Hollander had yet 
come back, Maraitzr convoked an extraordinary meeting of 
the Council to reconsider the question of throwing the Portu- 
guese overboard ; but whilst they were still deliberating, two 
prahus appr oached our vessels con taining three Dut chmen, who 
declared that there were really no more Hollanders here in 
Malakka, but that there were still four or five more in the fleet off 
the Nicobar islands. Whereupon the Portuguese were liberated 
and landed on the ist of November. One Don Roprico 
p Acosta having agreed to take a letter to the Viceroy of In- 
dia in which he was re equested to set at liberty and to send to 
Djoher all the Hollanders who were still prisoners in India, our 
Admiral gave him a passport for a whole year. 
About this time (the 12th November) Mr. Marenrer order- 
ed the ship Aletne Son to take back the ambassador whom 
the Prince of Keidah had sent to him to invoke his as- 
sistance against the Portuguese, whilst he (the Prince) should 
attack them by land. ‘Though Marerrier knew that this same 
Prince had welcomed the Portuguese when they passed his coun- 
try and that he only came because he (Marztizr) had beaten 
the Portuguese, stiil he promised him his assistance. 
He first despatched thither the Amsterdam with the super- 
cargo JASPER JANSOON, arriving himself on the 19th before ~ 
Keipan. The King having warned him onthe 24th that 
there were two bvats in the river filled with Portuguese and black 
soldiers, Mate1sEr despatched thither one galley and one barge 
under the orders of Pimrrr VAN pER Dussen who soon returved 
with only five Portuguese, who had left Malacca thirteen days 
