Page:A Grammar and Dictionary of the Malay Language with a Preliminary Dissertation- Dissertation and Grammar, in Two Volumes, Vol. I (IA dli.granth.52714).pdf/304

 persons under him. It was this last personage, a man of 80, that, with his son-in-law and grandson, was put to death by Albuquerque, apparently on suspicion, and as a measure of precaution. The historian describes the execution as the first act of justice, according to the Portuguese laws, carried into effect in the city!

In further proof of the enterprise of the Javanese when Europeans first became familiar with the Archipelago, may be mentioned, on the same authority, the expedition which, in January, 1513, or the third year of the Portuguese occupation of Malacca, a Javanese prince of Japara undertook against the city. According to De Barros, it consisted of a fleet conveying 12,000 men, with much artillery; for, says the historian, "the Javanese are skilled in the art of founding, and in all manner of work in iron, besides what they receive from the continent of India." This armada was, of course, easily defeated and dispersed by a Portuguese squadron. I have already alluded to the share which the Javanese had in the spice trade on the first appearance of Europeans in the waters of the Archipelago. The testimony of De Barros on this point is very explicit. "Finally," says he, "when we first entered India, the two nations, the Javanese and Malays, carried on the whole trade in spices and other eastern produce,—bringing them to the celebrated emporium and fair of Malacca, which is now in our possession." To this I may add, that the first information given to the Portuguese of the arrival of the companions of Magellan was by the Javanese trading to the Spice islands. Portuguese ships from Malacca, some going to the Spice islands, and some returning, met at Gresik, in the island of Java. "Here," says De Barros, "they found a Javanese vessel, which had also been to Banda for a cargo of spices, the crew of which informed them that they had met white people like ourselves, lately arrived in the country, and that they had given to them, the Javanese, a letter of safe conduct in case they should encounter others of their party. Antonio de Brito, having seeu the letter, found it to be in the Castilian language, given by Castilians in the name of the king of Castile, as pompous, and as abounding in words, as is usual with this people in their writing, dealing