172
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book I.
AD 1501. were urgent that the demand slioulfl be complied with, but the rajah stood finn, and, though his force was comparatively insignificant, advanced to the enc^junter. The contest, however, was too unequal ; and he was driven from post to post, till he was at last obliged to abandon his capital, and seek an asylum in the island of Vaipi, or Vipeen, in its vicinity.
Arrival of While iu this extremity he received no support from Vicente Sodre, who
Alfonso Al- . . , , .
bunuorquB. Kept cruizmg about raakmg captm-es, but on some shallow pretext or other refused to give any direct assistance. Powerful aid, however, was approach- ing. Nine ships had sailed from Lisbon, in three equal .squadroas, under the
respective commands of Alonso or Alfonso
Albuquerque, Francisco Albuquerque, and Antonio Saldanha. Tlie last was to cruize in the mouth of the Red Sea ; the others were to proceed directly to India. Franci.sco Albuquerque arrived first, and with a con- siderable addition to his squadron, in con- sequence of having fallen in with some of the ships belonging to Vicente Sodi-e. This powerful reinforcement completely changed the a-spect of affairs, and tlie zamorin wa.s defeated at every point. Triumpara, in the joy of his heart, not only conferred new privileges on the Portuguese, but gave them permission to build a fort.
On the arrival of Alfonso Albuquerque new energy was thrown into the Portuguese operations, and many successful expeditions were made both by land and sea. The eflfect of these wa.s manifested in various ways. In the south Coulan, or Quilon, then under female government, made a voluntary offer to lade two ships, and consent to the establishment of a factory; while the zamorin, dispirited by a series of disastrous defeats, was compelled to sue for peace. It was granted, but on terms so disadvantageous, that he availed liimseLf of the first pretext for a rupture, and was soon again at open war. For some reason not explained the two Albuquerques, at this very time, wdien theii' presence seemed more necessary than ever, set sail for Europe, lea^^ng only Duarte Pacheco with the ship which he commanded, two caravels, and 110 men, for the defence of Cochin. Francisco Albuquerque appears to have perished in a storm, for he was never more heard of; Alfonso, reserved for greater things, amved in safety, bringing with him for the king forty pounds of pearls, a diamond of remarkable size, and two horses, a Persian and an Arab, the first of the kind which were imported into Portugal.
The zamorin had become convinced that he would never be able single-
The .lbu- (luerqnes sail for Europe.
Alfon'so de Albuquerque. From a print after Silva.
