Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/211

 Chap. VIT] LORENZO KILLED. 177

attacked and, with scarcely any loss, destroyed a native squadi'on far larger than ad. isot

his own, and afterwards at Anchediva, where sixty Moorish and native vessels had made an attempt on the fort, arrived in the harbom- of Choul, or Chowul, about twenty-three miles south of Bombay, jast in time to see the Egyptian admiral enter it. A tierce conflict immediately ensued, and was continued a navai without any decided advantage till night separated the combatants. Next day an immense preponderance was given to Ameer Hoossein by the arrival of Mullik Eiaz with the Gujerat fleet. Lorenzo, still undismayed, immediately renewed the battle, but found the Egyptian admiral a much more formidable antagonist than he had been accustomed to deal with. After another day's fighting had left the victory undecided, the Portuguese ships were so much shattered that it was determined by a council of war to take advantage of the niijht and effect a retreat.

Lorenzo, who had previously incurred his father's displeasm'e, by declining on Heroism of

^ . . Almeida's

one occasion to lorce the fleet oi the zamorin to action, wtis very reluctant son. i,o- to take a step which would justly be considered as an acknowledgment of defeat, and continued to linger on till the day began to dawn. He had by this time consented to retreat, and several of his vessels had set sail. Unfortunately when he began to follow, his ship grounded, and after some ineffectual efforts to tow it off", the rest of the squadron continued their flight, and left him to his fate. He might have escaped in his boat, but at )uce made up his mind to sell his life as dearly as possible, and die at his post. The enemy at first attempted to board, but was so bravely resisted, that he adopted the more cjiutious method of keeping at a distance and pouring in his shot. Lorenzo, having been struck by a ball, which broke his thigh, ordered himself to be placed against the mainmast, and there remained, encouraging his men, till another ball broke his back and killed him. Tiie shij) shortly after sunk. Of His death, its crew of 100 men only nineteen escaped. According to Faria y Sousa, the whole loss of the Portuguese amounted only to eighty-one men, while the enemy lost 600. The Mahometan account given by Ferishta is very different. After mentioning that the Portuguese flag-ship, valued at a crore of rupees (a million sterling), was sunk, and every man on board perished, he adds, that the Mahometan fleet returned victoriously; for although 400 Turks were honoured with the crown of mtu'tyi-dom, no fewer than 3000 or 4000 Portuguese infidels were at the same time sent to the infernal regions.

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