14 THE CAPTURE OF MALACCA, A.D, 1511. 
The effect was immediate. The ships in the harbour—Chinese 
junks and Gujerati trading-vessels—tried to sail away, but were 
intercepted and brought back to their moorings with every show of 
friendship. They then offered to join the Viceroy in the attack on 
the town, but this offer was declined with thanks; the Portuguese 
admiral could afford to bide his time. Meanwhile the Malays and 
the Sultan were too dumbfoundered to act; no boat put out from 
the shore, no message was sent. By the following morning, 
however, the Sultan, regaining some of his old assurance, sent a 
boat to. greet d’Alduquerque and to say that the wicked Bendahara 
who had instigated the attack on Sequeira had been punished with 
death for all that he had done. D’Albuquerque replied, expressing 
his gratification, but pointing out that the Portuguese prisoners had 
not been released, and that pending their release the town must be 
regarded as accessory to the attack on Sequeira. The Sultan was 
now in a dilemma. He realized that he could not keep the 
prisoners without removing bis mask of friendliness, nor could he 
release them without giving up his hostages for the secuvity of the 
town. He tried the Bendahara’s policy; he temporized, But 
d’ Albuquerque was no Sequeira. He knew that any general attack 
would be the signal for the death of his. fellow-countrymen ; still, 
risk must always be taken. He entered into secret into secret 
communication with Ruy d’Aranjo who was the leader among the 
captives and his own personal friend. Ruy d’Aranjo spoke of 
divided counsels in the city, and advised attack. ‘The Viceroy 
continued to feel his way. He seized some of the shipping and 
sent afew shots into the town. Then he waited. The hint was 
taken ; Ruy d’Aranjo was released. 
The Vicorey was now in a stronger position. He went on to 
ask for a heavy indemnity and for permission to open a permanent 
trading-station at Malacea. .The Sultan demurred ; he might have 
allowed the factory but he was quite unable to spare any money 
for the purpose of buying off the Portuguese. Meanwhile the war- 
party in the town was coming slowly to the front. It was headed 
by the Sultan’s son Alaedin, by the Prince of Pahang, and by the 
young bloods of the place whe knew nothing of war and were eager 
for the fame that it brings. The Sultan himself preferred peace 
and quiet. He thought he could secure what he wanted by letting 
the Portuguese and the war-party oblige each other with the 
necessary quantum of fighting; as for himself he was a peaceful 
person who cared for none of these things. He told the Viceroy 
that he was poor and anxious for friendship, but quite unable 
to meet the demands that were being made upon him. 
D’ Albuquerque began now to prepare for war. He knew his 
own mind and had a definite policy : that of substituting a Portuguese 
for a Malay government and leaving the foreign traders undisturbed. 
He gave the Javanese and Indian leaders assurances to that effect 
and received their promise of neutrality in return. In the matter 
of local knowledge he was well served by the fact that Ruy d’Aranjo 
Jour. Straits Branch 
