35$ 
THE EASTERN COAST. 
mented, when a boat came off with several leading 
men on board, who welcomed them, and assured 
them of being supplied with every thing they 
wanted. It Was only added, that, according to the 
law of the place, it was necessary that the vessels 
should first come into the harbour. The admiral 
was by no means gratified with this condition ; but 
in a day or two, the necessity of his situation, and 
the earnest entreaties of his men, induced him to 
consent. The ships therefore began to move, to the 
equal joy both of Portuguese and Moors, one ima- 
gining that they were at the end of all their troubles, 
and the other that their prey was finally secured. 
In this crisis the expedition was saved by an inter- 
position, which the historian hesitates not to con- 
sider as miraculous. The admiral's vessel being 
in danger of running into shallow water, a loud 
ery was raised for an anchor ; and as the casting 
one, at this era of nautical science, was a compli- 
cated operation, the Portuguese ran from all quar- 
ters to the spot. The Moors, imagining that these 
symptoms indicated the discovery of their treacher- 
ous design, hurried to their boats, and some even 
leaped into the sea, and gained them by swimming. 
This extraordinary panic opened the eyes of the 
Portuguese, whose movements into the harbour 
were immediately stopped. They defeated an at- 
tempt made by the Moors during the night to cut 
their anchors, and next day set sail for the north- 
ward. Their next trial was at Melincla, where 
