OF THE ARCHIPELAGO. 899 construed the retreat of the Portuguese into fear ; but, notwithstanding this impression, prudently oc- cupied his time in strengthening the town, by making trendies across the streets, and strewing the avenues with poiso7ied caltrops. After some delay, and preparing a vessel to accompany the army with a supply of water and provisions, he renewed the attack. The Portuguese carried the entrench- ments of the town with enthusiastic bravery ; and, passing the bridge, the governor-general in per- son stormed an entrenched position in the prin- cipal street, where the chief force of the enemy was stationed, and where they made a gallant but in- effectual resistance. Albuquerque now gave his attention to for- tifying the bridge, from whence he sent de- tachments into the town, which still continued t# resist, with orders to put the inhabitants to the sword. These orders were strictly executed, and the streets and rivers were choked with the dead bodies of the massacred inhabitants. The king abandoned his palace in the course of the night ; and for three days the city was given up to plunder. The riches obtained in it, by the Por- tuguese accounts, were immense. The fifth part of the booty, which was the king's share, amount- ed to two hundred thousand crusados of gold.*
- li there be any truth in this account^ we may conclude.
