ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

334 S U M A T R A .
the place, and fo fecure did they make themfelves of their prey, that
they refufed permiffion to a fhip lately arrived, and which did not belong
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 artillery,
being ordered to follow. About day break they had proceeded half way
up the river, and came near to a little fort defigned to defend the paffage,
where Brito thought it advifable to flop till the remainder of their force
fhould join them; but being importuned by his people, he left a party
of fifty men to facilitate the landing, and advanced to make himfelf
mafter of the fort, which was readily effected. Here he again refolved
to make his ftand, but by the imprudence of his enfign, who had drawn
fome of the party into a fkirmifh with the Achenefe, he was forced to
quit that poft in order to fave his colors which were in danger. At
this juncture the king appeared at the head of eight hundred or a thoufand
men, and fix elephants. 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
lofs, and prefently after he received a wound from an arrow through
the cheeks. No affiftance 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 a
lance pierced his thighs, and he fell to the ground. The Portuo-uefe,
rendered defperate, renewed the combat with redoubled vigor, all crowding
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 perfons of family, who had embarked as volunteers. Thofe who
efcaped belonged chiefly to the corps de referve, who did not, or could
not, 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 ilbas d'Ouro,
arrived at Pafay, where they found Alboquerque employed in the con-
ftruftion