Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra17181886roya).pdf/239

 demned to death as spies. The rigour of his sentence was mitigated, but the embassy was not received, and PEREZ was sent back as a prisoner to Canton, with orders that the Por- tuguese should restore Malacca to its native king, who was a vassal to China; in which case the embassy would be re- ceived, but otherwise the ambassador and his suite were to be put to death, and the Portuguese for ever excluded from China as enemies. SIMON DE ANDRADA conducted himself with a high hand, as if he had been king of Tamou, where he raised a fort, and set up a gallows to intimidate the people. He committed violence against the merchants who resorted to the port, and bought young people of both sexes, giving occa- sion to thieves to steal them from their parents. These ex- travagant proceedings lost nothing in their transmisssion [sic] to court, and were the cause of the severe orders respecting PEREZ and his followers.

At this time DIEGO CALVA arrived, with one ship from Lisbon and several others from Malacca, and in consequence of this addition to their strength, the Portuguese acted still more insolently than before, and so exasperated the gover- nors of the province that they apprehended several of them, and even contrived to take the last-arrived ship. At the commencement of hostilities, DUARTE COELLO arrived from Malacca with two ships well manned and armed. The Itao, or Chinese admiral in these seas, attacked the Portuguese with fifty ships, and though he did them some damage, he was so severely handled by the artillery that he was forced to retire and to remain at some distance, keeping up a strict blockade. After matters had remained in this state for forty days, AMBROSE DE REGO arrived with two additional ships from Malacca, and the Portuguese determined upon forcing their way through the Chinese fleet. The battle on this occa- sion was very bloody, but, in consequence of a gale of wind dispersing the Chinese fleet, the Portuguese were enabled to get away from the island of Tamou. The Itao revenged him- self upon such of the Portuguese as had fallen into his hands, and particularly upon THOMAS PEREZ and his companions, who were all slain, and their baggage robbed of the present intended for the emperor, and of all the commodities which