The whole Turkish forces were drawn out in order of battle on the 30th, and advanced to that side of the castle next the harbour to make a general assault, for which purpose they carried a great number of scaling-ladders.  Another party of the Turks mounted the breach on the land side of the castle, which they could do at pleasure as the place was entirely opened by the fire of the batteries.  But after remaining there three hours without sufficient courage to enter the place, the besieged leapt upon the breach and pushed the Turks into the ditch, killing four hundred of them.  On the 31st the Moorish captain[230] went with eleven gallies to attack the little castle, but was forced to desist by the cannon from the great castle, which sunk some of his vessels.

[Footnote 230:  This person has been several times mentioned under this title, as a principal officer under Solyman Pacha, but we have no indications by which to conjecture who he was.—­E.]

On the 2d of November, the Sanjak with the janizaries and all the rest of the Turks embarked, leaving all their artillery behind, which they had not time to carry off.  This was occasioned by receiving news that the Portuguese fleet was advancing in order of battle.  The 5th, twenty sail of Portuguese vessels appeared in sight, and came to anchor twenty miles distance from the Turkish fleet.  In the morning only three of these ships were seen at a distance, at which time the Turks put off from the land:  But at sunrise many ships were seen, which shot off a great number of guns, though nothing could be perceived but the flash of the powder.  Upon this the Pacha gave orders for each of his gallies to fire three guns; after which, the trumpets were sounded, all the ships hoisting their foresails and plying their oars.  This was done at one o’clock at night, and at four the whole fleet departed with hardly any wind, and by day-break had run 30 miles, shaping their course S.S.W.

The 7th, we sailed forty miles in the same direction, the weather being still calm.  The 8th, we proceeded 30 miles W. during the day, and 20 in the night.  The 9th, we went 20 miles W. and this day the Christians had their irons taken off.  The 10th, we made no way, the weather being a dead calm.  The 11th, the wind blew from the W.S.W.  We stood to N.W. advancing 30 miles in the day and night.  The 12th, the wind being N.W. by N. we entered the gulf of Ormuz[231] and then sailed W.S.W. advancing all that day and night only 30 miles.  The 13th, we proceeded W. 70 miles by day and 90 during the night.  The 14th, 100 miles during the day and as much in the night.  The 15th, 80 by day and 80 by night.  The 16th, 80 by day and 70 in the night.  The 17th, 90 in the day and 80 in the night.  The 18th, 100 in the day and 70 in the night.  The 19th, 70 by day and 80 by night; all this time the course being due west.  The 20th, we sailed W. by S. 90 miles, and saw land to windward, and proceeded