Storia do Mogor 338.19.8

338.19.8

Upon this the captain of the galleon São Thome, seeing that he was lost for want of support, set fire to his powder magazine, so that no one escaped alive. The Dutch hastened in pursuit of the others, who withdrew, firing a shot from time to time to persuade themselves they were winning, and then came to an anchor in the waters of Marmagão under cover of their forts. Thereupon the Dutch let go their anchors in their usual place. During the following night there came a boat from the Dutch and set fire to a galleon lying under cover of the guns of Marmagão. There was not a living creature on board ; all had gone on shore. Then came news of the peace between Portugal and Holland, and the ships of the latter nation then sailed away from the river-mouth at Goa, and the Portuguese were delivered from them. But to this day the Portuguese are interfered with by the Arabs of Masqat, as will have been seen already in my statements (IV. 154). They go in great fear of them, as I have myself experienced. Coming from the town of Damão (Damān) in a ship of war on my way to Goa, during the voyage a sail was seen. At once they all exclaimed that it must be an Arab ship, began to commend themselves to God, and hugged the shore, with the idea that if any ship made for them they could run for the land and save their lives. But God was pleased to bring us safely to port without anyone having hailed or overhauled us.