120 ON THE MALA'YU NATION. 



!« quantities of merchandize brought there from all quarters. Such is the 

 u account of the country of Maldca under the Portuguese. 



" It is related that after this period a Dutch Vessel arrived at Maldca 

 ** for the purpose of trade ; the vessel's name was Afterlenden, and that 

 " of the captain Ibir. The captain perceived that Maldca was a very 

 i( fine place, and had a good fort; therefore, after the Dutch vessel had 

 " traded for fifteen days', he set sail for Europe, and arriving after a con- 

 ie siderable time at the great country, he gave intelligence to the great 

 " Raja of what he had seen, of the beauty of Maldca, the extent of its 

 ee commerce, and the excellence of its fort, On this the Raja of Europe 

 (S said, ' If such is the account of Maldca, it is proper that I should order 

 *' it to be attacked/ Twenty-five vessels were thereupon ordered by the 

 " Raja of Europe, for the purpose of attacking Maldca ; and troops being 

 " embarked on each, they first set sail for the kingdom of Bantam, in the 

 " country of Java t where the Dutch were on terms of friendship. 



44 At Bantam they found two Dutch ships and a ketch, and after 

 " having taken on board buffaloes, and provisions for the use of the per- 

 " sons on board, the vessels then sailed for Maldca. 



" As soon as the fleet arrived at Maldca, the Dutch sent a letter to the 

 " Portuguese, telling them to hold themselves in readiness, as it was the 

 " intention of the Dutch to commence the attack on the morrow at mid=> 

 c( day. To this the Portuguese replied , & Come when you please, we are 

 " ready. 8 



" On the next day the Dutch commenced the attack and the war con~ 

 cc tinued for about two months, but the country of Maldca was not car-* 

 a ried and the Dutch returned to Bentan, where they remained ciuiet for 



