Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra17181886roya).pdf/243

 vessels that were burnt or sunk. Seven hundred of the enemy were taken or slain, with the loss only of five men on the side of the victors. The Portuguese ships waited three days in the river to see if the enemy would return, and then carried the joyful news to Malacca, where it could hardly be believed. The king of Acheen appears to have raised the siege of Ma- lacca after this naval victory.

Scarcely had India begun to enjoy some respite after the late troubles, when the queen of Japara sent her general QUIAFDAMAND to besiege Malacca, with 15,000 chosen natives of Java, in a fleet of 80 large galleons and above 220 smaller vessels. TRISTAN VAZ DE VEGA happened to be then at Ma- lacca, and was chosen by common consent to assume the com- mand, FRANCISCO ENRIQUEZ, the former commandant, being dead. TRISTAN VAZ sent immediate notice to Goa of his danger, on which MONIY issued orders to all the neighbouring places to send succours, and to fit out a fleet for its relief. In the meantime the Javanese army landed and besieged Malacca. VAZ sent JUAN PEREYRA and MARTIN FERREYRA with 150 men to drive the enemy from a fort. After killing 70 of the enemy, they levelled the work, and brought off seven pieces of can- non. PEREYRA afterwards burnt 30 of their galleons, and de- stroyed some great engines which they had constructed for attacking a bastion. Two other officers, in a sortie, burnt the palisades which the enemy had erected for straitening the garrison and defending their own quarters. After this, PEREYRA, going out of the river with the Portuguese vessels, besieged the besiegers, and at Jor took a large quantity of provisions that were going to the Javanese army. Upon these repeated misfortunes, the Javanese embarked in great conster- nation and withdrew under cover of night, but were pursued by PEREYRA, who cut off many of their vessels in the rear. Al- most half of this great army perished by the sword or sick- ness in this siege, which lasted three months.

Hardly was the army of the queen of Japara gone from Malacca, when the king of Acheen arrived before it with 40 galleys and several ships and smaller vessels, to the number of 100 in all, with a great train of artillery. TRISTAN VAZ gave orders to JUAN PEREYRA in a galley, BERNARDIN DE SILVA