SS4 SUMATRA. 
the place, and fo fecure did they make theinfelvefl of their prey, that 
they refufed permiffion to a ihip lately arrived, and which did not be- 
long to their fquadron, to join them or participate .in the profits of 
their adventure. They prepared to land two hundred men in fmall 
boats ; a larger ^ with a more confiderable detachment and their aitiliery, 
being ordered to follow. About day break they had proceeded half way 
lap the river, and came near to a litElc fort defigned to defend the paffage, 
where Brito thought it advifable to flop till the remainder of their force 
ihoiild join them ; but being importuned by bis people, he left a party 
of fifty men to facilitate the landing, and advanced to make himfelf 
mafter of the fort, which was readily effc£ted. Here he again refolvcd 
to make his ftand, but by the imprudence of his cnfign, who had drawn 
fome of the party into a ikirmiih with the Achenefe, he was forced to 
quit that poft in order to favc his colors which were in danger. At 
this juncture the king appeared at the head of eight hundred or a thou- 
fand meni and fix elephancs. A defperate conflict enfued, in which the 
Portuguefe received confiderable injury, Brito fent orders for the party 
he had left to come up, and endeavored to retreat to the fort, but he 
found himfelf fo fituated, that it could not be executed without much 
lofsj and prefently after he received a wound from an arrows through 
the cheeks. No alfifhancc arriving, it was propofed that they fhould 
retire in the beft manner they could to their boats ; but that Brito would 
not confent to, preferring death to flight. Immediately upon this ^ 
lance pierced his thighs, and he fell to the ground. The Portuguefe, 
rendered defperate, renewed the combat with redoubled vigor, ail croivd- 
ing to the fpot where their commander lay, but their exertions availed 
them nothing againft fuch unequal force, and they only rufhed on to 
facrifice* Almoft every man was killed, and among thefe were near 
fifty pcrfons of family, who had embarked as volunteers. Thofe who 
efcaped belonged chielly to the corps de referve, who did not, or could 
nor^ come up in time to fuccour their unfortunate companions. Upon 
this merited defeat, the fquadron immediately weighed anchor, and after 
falling in with two veflels bound on the difcovery of the iUbas d^Ourg^. 
arrived at Pafay, where they found Alboquerque employed in the con- 
flrudion 
