33 



sion to erect a fort SuUhaim Mahomed Shah 

 would have yielded to these imperious demands, 

 had not the king of Pahan^ joined the war party, 

 and a de6ance was consequently returned. Or 

 the 24 th July, being the eve of saint James the 

 Apostle, Albuquerque disembarked his troops and 

 attempted to storm the place. The result of a 

 sbarplv contested action was so far in the favor 

 of the Portuguese that they actually carried se- 

 veral of the defences, but they were unable to 

 maintain their ground, and re-embarked under- 

 cover of the night, having lost ten of their number 

 by poisoned arrow^s, leaving the Malays mas.,ters 

 of the field. The principal advantage obtained 

 by the Portuguese ^yas the secession of the king 

 of Pahan^» who, under the pretence of going for 

 re-inforcements, withdrew from Malacca and ne- 



Ter returned. 



Albuquerque having rested his men on board-^ 

 ship for some days, prepared for another attack ; 

 the Malays had mean while considerably sirength- 

 ened the defences, dug* mines in the principal 

 streets, and planted ranjowsf m the different 

 approaches. The Portuguese commander after 

 a sharp contest succeeded in obtaining possession 

 of the bri dge, and, having been apprized of the 



* De Fari*. 1 sofpect thti these roinefi w^-re nothiiiB but the com^ 



rJ^raiio^^t i*Sy8, ihelr knowledge of gun powder wa* at this 

 « jyTe^T« prfid*lJZd limitad to ao ims«rfect ^ of fire -amu*, and 

 ilniftlfs or hwivHii. ^ . . _ . ^ 



f ShurDenrdMiikeaof dlfrerrni ittw wd figures, m»dB .^th^rofth* 



Pm'tmintt n^hi ihnmijh Uie foot. The«« wo^adi are moxa dimcult.U 

 heal ihao guiisbot oncj. 



E 



