held a council of war to deliberate upon a plan of attack, when it was determined to send their two sons in two barks and several boats to attack the place, while the viceroy and admiral should follow in a galley.  When the foremost of the Portuguese assailants were attacking the trenches, on which some of them had mounted, Pedro Cam having even planted the colours of Lorenzo Almeyda on the summit, the viceroy on coming up observed his son climbing up with some difficulty.  He immediately called out, “How comes it Lorenzo that you are so backward?” When the young man answered, “I have given way, Sir, to him who has gained the honour of the day.”  At this moment a gigantic Moor assailed Lorenzo and even wounded him; but in return he cleft the head of the Moor down to the breast.  The town was now carried by storm, and all its defenders put to the sword, after which all the ships in the port were burnt.  In this exploit the Portuguese lost only eighteen men, none of whom were of any note; but above 500 of the enemy were slain.  Though the plunder of this place was of great value, it was all burnt along with the town and ships, the artillery only being carried off.

[Footnote 97:  In an after part of De Faria, this officer is said to have been a Chinese.—­E.]

After this the fleet and army returned to Cananor where De Cunna completed his lading, and then set sail for Portugal.  At Mozambique, on his way home, he met several ships belonging to a squadron of twelve sail sent from Lisbon in the former year; seven of which were to return with goods, and the other five to cruise on the eastern coast of Africa, under the command of Vasco Gomez de Abreu, who was likewise to command in the fort of Sofala.  There were also two other ships in this fleet, destined to reinforce the squadron of Albuquerque on the coast of Arabia.  Of this fleet, the ship commanded by Juan Chanoca was lost in the river Zanaga, that of Juan Gomez in another place, and Abreu was lost with four vessels while going to Mozambique.  Other vessels of this fleet were driven to various parts, after enduring terrible storms and imminent dangers; yet these dire misfortunes were insufficient to damp the boldness of our nation in quest of riches, so prevalent is covetousness over every consideration of difficulty or danger.

We must now return to Alfonso de Albuquerque, who parted from De Cunna, after the taking of Socotora on the 20th of August, as formerly related, being bound for the coasts of Arabia and Persia, pursuant to the commands of the king, having with him seven ships and 460 soldiers.  He came first to Calayate, a beautiful and strong place in the kingdom of Ormuz, built after the manner usual in Spain, but which had once been more populous.  Sending a message to the governor, he received supplies of water and provisions, and entered into a treaty of peace.  Proceeding to Curiate, ten leagues farther on, he was very ill received, in revenge for which he took the place by