SUMATRA. 
of communication, and the boats on the river were ftationed m fuch a 
manner, that the ploce was compleatly inveftcd* Matters were in this 
pofture, when a force of two thoufand men came to the afliftance of 
the befieged, from the king of Pabam, and likewife five fail of Portu- 
guefe velfels from the coaH of Coromatidel ; but all was infufficient 
to remove fo powerful an enemy, although by that tune they had loft 
four thoufand of their troops in the different attacks and fkirmiflics. 
In the latter end of the year a fleet of thirty fail of Ihips, large 
and fmall^ under the command ofNunno Alvarez Botello, having on 
board nine hundred European foldiers, appeared off Malacca, and blocked 
up the fleet of Acheen in a river about three miles from the town. 
This entirely altered the complexion of affairs. The befiegers retired 
from their advanced works, and haftened to the defence of their gal lies ; 
eroding batteries by the fide of the river. Maharaja being fummoned 
to furrcnder, returned a civil, but refolute anfwer. In the night, en* 
deavoring to make his efcape with the fmaller veffels, through the midft 
of the Portuguefe, he was repulfcd and wounded. Next day the whole 
force of the Achenefe dropt down the ftream, with a defign to fight their 
w^ay,but after an engagement of two hours, their principal galley, named 
the " Terror of the world** was boarded and taken, after lofing five 
hundred men of feven which Ihe carried. Many other veffels were af- 
terwards captured or funk, Lacfemanna hung out a white flag, and 
fent to treat with Nonno, but fome difHcuky arlfing about the terms, 
the engagement was renewed with great warmth. News was brought to 
the Portuguefe that Maharaja was killed, and that the king of Paham 
was approaching with an hundred fail of veffels to reinforce them. Still 
the Achenefe kept up a dreadful fire, which feemed to render the final 
fucccfs doubiful ; but at length they fent propofals, defiring only to be 
allowed three gallics of aJl their fleet, to carry away four thoufand men 
who remained of twenty that came before the town. It was anfwered 
that they mufl furrender at difc'retion ; which Lacfemanna hefitating to 
do, a furious affaulttook pbce both by water and land, upon the gal- 
lies and works of the Achenefe, which were all totally deftroyed or cap- 
tured, 0Ot a ffiip, and fcarcely a man efcaplng. Lacfemanna in the 
4 Z laft 
