Storia do Mogor 338.23.3

338.23.3

Salvador de Mello, touched on the point of honour, sent his answer by some volleys of cannon and musketry, which wounded an officer. Upon this [224] Monsieur le Baron [de Pallières] ordered Monsieur Martin to force a surrender. The order was executed, and on approaching Senhor Salvador de Mello's ship a broadside was delivered which dismasted it and killed many of the crew. The commander, finding his frigate disabled, hauled down his flag. His companion at once did the same; [the French boarded at once, when five officers from the chief ship were attacked by the Portuguese soldiers, and although they made a brave defence, some were killed and some wounded. The latter would also have been killed had not the officer highest in rank forced himself into De Mello's cabin, and, pointing his sword at his breast, obliged him to order his men to disarm. Following this, the leading frigate surrendered without a fight. Baron de Pallières was extremely angry at De Mello's conduct, and wanted to punish him. But the latter pleaded in excuse that he had been born in India, and thus was not acquainted with the usages of war. Accordingly he was pardoned], and placing the wounded men in the second captured frigate, it was ordered to proceed to Goa. In it sailed a Jesuit, who on arrival in Goa was put in prison, as they said he was a spy. They found on him seventy thousand patacas, which he said he had brought for trading in diamonds. Upon the first opportunity he was deported to Lisbon.