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 conquest of Malacca, during all which time he kept up a secret correspondence with the Javan Malays who inhabited that city. Several of his ships were equal in size to the largest Portuguese galleons, and the one destined for himself was larger than any ships then built by the Europeans. Having completed his preparations, he embarked with 12,000 men and a formidable train of artillery, and appeared suddenly before the city. FERDINANDO PEREZ immediately embarked with 350 Portuguese and some native troops in seventeen vessels, and attacked the Javan fleet, with which he had an obstinate engagement, doing considerable damage to the enemy, but night parted the combatants. Next morning PATI UNUS endeavoured to get into the river Muar with his fleet, but PEREZ pursued him, and penetrating into the midst of the enemy, plied his cannon and fireworks with such success that many of the Javan ships were sunk or set on fire. After a furious battle of some endurance, UNUS fled, and was pursued all the way to Java, where he preserved his own vast vessel as a memorial of his escape and of the grandeur of his fleet, and not without reason, as a merchant of Malacca engaged to purchase it of PEREZ for 10,000 ducats if taken. This victory cost the Portuguese some blood, as several were slain, and few escaped without wounds. From this time for- wards, the natives of Java were for ever banished from Malacca.

Soon after this brilliant victory, FERDINANDO PEREZ sailed from Malacca to Cochin with a valuable cargo of spice, accom- panied by LOPEZ DE AZEVEDO and ANTONIO DE ABREU, who came from the discovery of the Molucca islands with three ships. After their arrival at Cochin, ANTONIO DE MIRANDA arrived there from Siam, to the great joy of ALBUQUERQUE, who thus reaped the rich fruits of his care and labour for the acquisition of Malacca, and the happy return of those whom he had sent upon other discoveries.

King MAHMUD had not yet lost all hope of recovering Malac- ca, to which he now drew near; and having in vain attempted to succeed by force, he had recourse to stratagem. For this purpose he prevailed on a favourite officer named Tûan MAXI-