268 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[March, 
Strait of Madura. After delivering his message, and obtaining a 
favourable reply, Abrew sailed on the same errand to the Mo- 
luccas, or Spice Islands, lying further east. The final result of 
this embassy was the erection of a Portuguese factory at Bantam, 
where then reigned a Hindoo prince, although Mahommedanism 
was rapidly spreading over the whole island. 
In fifteen hundred and thirteen, Joan Lopez Alvrin was sent to 
Java by the Governor of Malacca, on commercial business, and 
was well received at every port where he touched, but particularly 
at Sidaye, which hes north of Gresik, then belonging to a prince 
who had been defeated at Malacca. About this time Albuquerque 
was superseded in his command, which disgrace broke his heart, 
and he died on his passage to Goa, on the sixteenth of December, 
fifteen hundred and fifteen. About six years afterward, Antonio 
de Brito, a Portuguese, with six vessels under his command, 
bound to the Spice Islands, touched at Gresik, in the Strait of 
Madura, where he remained seventeen days ; during which time 
he sent a boat across the strait to the Island of Madura, for the 
purpose of exploring it ; but the men landing incautiously, were 
surprised and made prisoners. They were subsequently ransomed 
with much difiiculty. 
The first notice with which Java was honoured by the British, 
was in fifteen hundred and seventy-nine ; and that was merely a 
flying visit, as Sir Francis Drake only sailed along the coast, with- 
out holding any intercourse with the inhabitants. But eight years 
afterward, in fifteen hundred and eighty-seven, Cavendish coasted 
the island, and opened a friendly communication with some of the 
chiefs. This event occurred subsequently to the reign of a sove- 
reign in Java, called Pananbaham Senapati, who reduced the 
provinces of Madion and Branaraga, and built a palace, the walls 
of which are still standing at Krapiac, a place at the foot of a 
range of hills lying along the South Sea, a short distance from 
Matarem. He died after a reign of twelve years, esteemed on 
account of the general tranquiUity which prevailed after the firm 
establishment of his government. 
His successor, who was distinguished by the title of Agung, 
or the great, commenced a flourishing reign by a victory which 
brought all the eastern provmces under his subjection ; and shortly 
afterward brought the whole of the western chiefs to acknowl- 
