and arrows; and having been apprised of the mines in the principal street, he took another way and gained the mosque. At night, after a prodigious slaughter of the enemy, he gained entire possession of the city, having only with him in this action 800 Portuguese and 200 Malabars. At the end of nine days, every one of the Moors who inhabited this great city were either slain or driven out, and it was repeopled with strangers and some Malays[1] who were permitted to take possession of the vacant houses. Among those left was Utimuti Râjah, whose son had formerly endeavoured to assassinate Sequeira. Utimuti was a rich and powerful native of Java, of whom more hereafter will be said. The soldiers were allowed to plunder the city during three days. There were found 3,000 pieces of great cannon, out of 8,000 which king Mahmud had relied upon for the defence of his city, the rest having been carried off to Bintang,[2] where the king and Prince Ala'Eddin had fortified themselves. As it might have been of dangerous consequence to permit these princes to establish themselves so near the city of Malacca, Albuquerque sent a force to dislodge them, consisting of 400 Portuguese, 400 Malays belonging to Utimiuti, and 300 men belonging to the merchants of Pegu who resided in Malacca. On the approach of these troops, the King and Prince took flight, leaving seven elephants with all their costly trappings, and the Portuguese returned to Malacca. Now reduced to wander in the woods and mountains of the interior, Mahmud so severely reflected upon the obstinacy of his son and the king of Pahang, that he and his son quarrelled and separated, each shifting for himself.
To secure this important conquest, Albuquerque built a fort or citadel at Malacca, which from its beauty was called
- ↑ According to the Commentaries, the Peguans were the first to come in to Albuquerque, and ask for peace and leave to trade.
- ↑ This must probably be meant for Bĕrtam, about 8 miles up the river, where the Commentaries say the King's son put up a stockade, which was demolished by a boat expedition sent up by Albuquerque.
